Using no instruments, DJ Shadow produced an album that features hip-hop in its purest form but plays like a history book of funk, quoting jazz, rock and classical sources, all squeezed into 60 minutes. Not bad for a first album.

Despite critics hailing Endtroducing. . . as a revolutionary step forward for the hip-hop genre, as well as being vital to the burgeoning trip-hop movement, the album failed to create even a ripple in the mainstream music scene.

This leaves the album often sitting on store shelves or in the hands of a few cherishing listeners, much like the records that were used to create the album.

Shadow, whose real name is Josh Davis, grew up in Davis, Calif., while listening to a steady diet of early hip-hop. He later became part of the hip-hop collective known as Solesides, which included Blackalicious, Latyrx and Lyrics Born.

What makes his music so special is the fact that DJ Shadow constructs his songs entirely out of samples from other sources, often old, vinyl records.

DJ Shadow's pioneering style and sound on several early indie singles caught the attention of James Lavelle, who signed the DJ to his London-based Mo' Wax label, with Endtroducing. . . soon to follow.

Despite the hundreds of musical bits that Shadow used in producing the album, the music flows seamlessly from start to finish.

Unlike other rap hits that blatantly sample hooks from old songs, Endtroducing. . . is fresh and unique, never sounding like the original song rehashed, and often being entirely unrecognizable as a previous song.

The album is almost entirely instrumental, with the exception of several vocal and dialogue samples scattered throughout. The sounds are diverse, ranging from the smooth sax on "What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 4)" to the looping organ on "Organ Donor."

The foundation of the music is always the beats, which above all give the music its hip-hop feel. Shadow deftly constructs a variety of patterns and tempos, altering them subtly throughout each song. Just as rhythmic complacency begins, a drum break or fill cuts in.

Shadow takes each rhythmic track and slowly builds an elaborate structure around it.

This is best exemplified by the aptly titled "Building Steam With a Grain of Salt." The song begins with a simple piano loop, adding beats and other layers while the original loop continues hypnotically underneath.

Shadow's music also exudes a deceptive simplicity that may make it seem repetitive on first listen. Each subsequent listen reveals something new though.

A tiny sample here, a pause there or an underlying melody all give the music depth.

And throughout Endtroducing... are the warm pops and fuzz of vinyl records in their unedited glory.

This is hip-hop meant for headphones more than the system in a car.

Shadow, who was also integral to the U.N.K.L.E. project, a hip-hop supergroup formed by Lavelle, recently finished a tour with Cut Chemist, the DJ for Jurassic 5.

He is currently in England working on his upcoming album, slated for release in February.