Ricky B is not merely a pioneering bounce artist—he’s also an essential geographer. With this reissue on vinyl of nine classic tracks, we get a detailed map of the city’s sound and its streets as they were circa ‘94-’95.

Previously only available as a cassette single, the album’s version of “What School’s in the House?” reminds us how rhythmic and beautiful the most commonplace names are when strung together: “Is it 35? What about Xavier Prep? Is it Ehret? What about West Jeff?” (In the era of reform, the track also provides a checklist of the survival and closure of public schools.) Credit is due to the folks at Sinking City/Urban Unrest for making these cuts available for today’s parties. J. Yuenger’s transfer from tape is made all the more impressive by the conditions of the source: “Let’s Go Gitt Em (with the Mac Band)” challenges him with several voices amid second line chants and horns. Reborn on wax, the track remains live and present in all its messy squawking.

These songs give more fodder to anyone looking for bounce’s ties to other indigenous musics; they also resist overly-serious study. A “Hoo na nae” refrain opens up “Who’s Got That Fire,” a ward-to-ward odyssey in search of sess. Yes, there are Indians in the room and, yes, they’re trying to get high, too. On “City Streets,” the chorus is rich for musicologists: “Hey pocky way/this is for the villains!” over a tuba pulse. The brief third track gives us Hambone-as-drug dealing math: “When them ten big bricks sell fast, Papa know them Feds gonna be on that ass.” Just as it is in contemporary forms, reinvention was part of the invention of bounce.

You can take this music apart for academic inspection, but, above all, these ingredients came together to make people shout when they’re neighborhood got mentioned. They remain perfect for such purposes.