Video:

The footage looks like it was shot with a single-chip digital video camera. The color is muted, the images are pixilated when the camera makes any sudden moves (which is often – the footage is primarily hand-held). The entire production from the technical side comes off as amateurish.

Sound:

The feature is in 5.1 surround sound for no apparent reason. The only time the rear speakers are truly utilized is in concert footage for crowd noise. But the interviews sound fine, and the soundboard feed from the concert footage is clear.

Extras:

This is the saving grace of Definitive Jux Presents The Revenge of the Robots. It starts with a Dutch documentary program on the label that is infinitely more informative and interesting than the main program. This is where the viewer really gets a taste of how different Def Jux is and why its music is so important in hip-hop today. Despite only being a half-hour, it would have been more appropriate for this to be the title program on the disc and The Revenge of the Robots to be an extra.

Five music videos are also included on the disc, ranging from the interesting animation on Mr. Lif's "The Return of the B-Boy, Pt II" to the no-budget, consumer-grade digital video of Murs' "Risky Business." They combine with uncut concert footage to show why Def Jux is so popular – and by themselves do more to show off the label's strengths than Revenge.

Included on a bonus CD is three live tracks and RJD2's 15-minute "mega-mix" of label tracks.

Final Thoughts:

Def Jux is one of a small handful of record labels that still cares about hip-hop. Definitive Jux Presents The Revenge of the Robots is an attempt to let fans inside the label and show off the genuine affection for the music form and the skills of the emcees and producers involved. But despite the plethora of extras, the money spent on Revenge would be better spent either attending a live show or picking up a couple of Jux CD releases (I'd suggest the aforementioned Dead Ringer and Aesop Rock's 2001 effort Labor Days).