What better way to see a city, tried and true or foreign and unknown, than through the eyes of the artists that course through its underground. The fifth installment in an innovative series of multimedia city guides valuable to even the most weathered local, The Other Side Los Angeles is a CD/DVD city guide to L.A. that leaves Stones Throw heartfelt moguls Peanut Butter Wolf and Madlib with the culture compass of Los Angeles.

Ignoring the trademarks of L.A. like the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman's Chinese Theatre, this guide shows you how to absorb the city instead of passively observing its well-known landmarks. The DVD by Peanut Butter Wolf provides a shortcut to the city's hidden treasures of shopping, food, nightlife and accommodations otherwise unknown to travel guides, with a miscellaneous section that I even took a few notes from.

The DVD is simply produced, divided into chapters titled by its content like “Accommodations” and “Sights” and substantiated by Peanut Butter Wolf experiencing his own obscure L.A. favorites. His slightly awkward hosting skills are expected for an entrepreneurial genius like himself and are endearing to the seriousness and respect he lends his label and its artists.

Madlib, one such artist and a catalyst for Stones Throw's success, is the other half of the Los Angeles street team duo. With a reputation for innovation and affinity towards soul and jazz infused with hip-hop, Madlib mixes a CD that paints the diversity of the Los Angeles human landscape.

With a spattering of Stones Throw artists including Madlib and his own personal favorites, the diversity of the beats and artists on this CD compels you to start your car, roll down the windows and experience the city's consistent sunshine in the most non-tourist way possible: driving in your car.

Grade: A