I remember when I was 8 years old walking home from school, and I'd hear Large Professor's voice booming over a car stereo as I walked by. To this day, I won't forget that Main Source brought me into hip-hop, real hip-hop nonetheless. I grew up in Toronto, Canada and probably because of the lack of homegrown cats we had, everyone (and I mean everyone) banged the shit out of Main Source. After Main Source broke up in 94, I was really hoping and waiting on Large Professor's supposed "solo career", but it never took off. But then early in 2001, I remember hearing that Large Professor was set to release a shelved album that was supposed to be released in 95' or 96'... and of course I scooped it up as soon as it came out. And I loved it, it obviously wasn't as much an album as it was a compilation of remixes and b-sides off vinyl records... but it had the same effect. It bought me back to real hip-hop. And then Large Pro released another album just a few months later called "The Class". If you can't tell by now, I'm really biased, and I honestly believe "The Class" to be one of the best hip-hop albums released in 2002. But then sadly, just as Xtra P had created insane buzz for another album, he fell off the map (as an rapper not a producer) for nearly half a decade. That is until today, when he releases his quote-unquote comeback album...
1. The Entrance- I forgot to mention that Large Professor is a fucking Nobel-Prize winner in the studio... so you know this whole album will have the hottest instrumentals known to man. The instrumental has heavy sampling of funk and heavy jazz which should set it apart as a great instrumental, but when you add Large Pro's multisyllabic rhymes in here, you get an unbelievable intro. I could quote something, but he spits fire for two minutes straight.
2. Hot: Sizzling, Scorching, Torching, Blazing- And this is a bit of a dropoff, the beat is boring and really detaches from the insane lyricism again. The hook is pretty weak too, but since Large P adds a new loop just for the hook it sounds infinitely better. The vibe's still there though!
3. Maica Living- This is more of what I was expecting from this album: gritty, raw production with grimy underground rhymes. Weak hook and the beat is pretty simple, which is to be expected when you've got 2 features on one song, I do like the pow-pow sample though... livens things up a little bit. This is one of those 90's tracks, which you just nod your head to unconsciously. Watch for Killer Sha's "killa" verse too.
4. Pump Ya Fist- Wasn't feeling this track at all... the beat is too poppy and moves way too fast and that makes it hard to keep up with Mikey D Lotto and Xtra P. This was a delete/skip for me.
5. Party Time- So Large Pro called a political/social commentary song "Party Time" and he called a fast moving party song "Pump Ya Fist"... this song needs to trade titles with the above song. After I got past that confusion, I found a great song with another simple yet effective instrumental which Xtra P tears to pieces. The hook seems forced as it is not necessary at all on this track. But don't confuse a weak hook for a weak track... cuz this shit bangs.
6. In The Ghetto- I had to listen to this song a few times before it grew on me. It doesn't seem very good at first, but once you get past the nearly non-existent beat and almost spoken-word rhymes... you will discover a song that makes you think. Great use of storytelling.
7. Hardcore Hip-Hop- Everything I love about hip-hop all mixed into one on this track. Add a soulful jazzy beat to 60 bars of straight crack and turntabling on the hook. One word: fire! Should have called this track Dragontales.
8. Frantic Barz- Really weak... that's all I can really say. Any time an artist spells bars "Barz", you can tell your in for a disaster. Trust me and just skip.
9. Sewin' Love- Ain't really feeling this track so much either. It's not bad, it's just really boring, in fact I just heard this track and don't remember a thing about it.
10. Ru Dope- Starts off in "Who Shot Ya" style... and ends in Jeru The Damaja spitting a hot 30 second verse. This track was nice, even though it is only a minute long.
11. Dap- Another short verse, except this time it's Big Noyd, who firebreaths all over this track.
12. Noyd- Big Noyd stars on a track called "Dap" and Lil Dap stars on a track called "Noyd"... is there some inside joke I'm not in on? This is the song that will end the three song run of Gang Starr family features... and it's by far the worst of the three. BY FAR!
13. Classic Emergency- Large Pro's awkward flow ruins this promising beat, and very promising hook. I'm definitely not feeling the weak metaphors either.
14. Rockin Hip-Hop- I don't even know what to say about this song. Probably because I've already forgotten all about it.
15. Large Pro Says- Your typical interlude produced by the artist. "Do the bounce like you from down south" ?
16. To The Meadows- Large Pro starts off by murdering this soft instrumental and then he lets the beat go for a minute. Great song... probably the best display of lyricism on the whole album.
17. The Hardest- Wow... I was about to say this album fell off something crazy in the second half but this track takes it back. You could already tell this track was gonna be hot with AZ and Styles P, and they definitely deliver. This track goes hard the whole way, great way to end.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 84. This is definitely not what I was expecting from this album. If your expecting gritty, raw rhyming on every track you'll be disappointed. And if your expecting Large P to come with fire on every track, you'll be disappointed too... but if you have your expectations in check and are hoping for a consistently good album, you won't be disappointed. The first half of this album actually really surprised me... but once you get to track 12, this album really drops off, and doesn't pick up until the very last track (which is fucking fire).
Download: Download song: Hardcore Hip Hop
Download Album Here
I did a post awhile back introducing Atmosphere and their label Rhymesayers Entertainment... You can check it here. I assume most of you have heard of Atmosphere, as their probably the first group to fit into "mainstream underground hip-hop". Also called emo-rap, presumably because the duo strays away from "Fuck bitches, Get Money"... instead opting to rhyme about everyday marital problems and blue-collar life (pretty emo if I do say so myself). Anyway, as a Minnesota hip-hop-head, the scene 10 years ago was nearly dead... there's always a few people doing there thing... but one person can't support an entire state's musical reputation. When these guys arrived on the scene 10 years ago, they were met with very little attention, as most good rappers are, and it's taken years for critics to pay attention to Ant's superb production skills and Slug's innate rhyming... but now that the world has begun to pay attention, it's pretty funny how much support these guys have gotten from the same people who shot them down a few years before. Aside from creating an extremely well respected record label, Atmosphere has also created a stronghold in underground and alternative hip-hop... After that long-ass intro, let's see what they bring to the table...
The Good:
1. The Arrival- I've always thought that Slug sounds best over these loud-multi sampled instrumentals... and this track is no exception. Only problem is that the lyrics waver from ill to wack and incoherent... beat still fucking knocks though.
4. Musical Chairs- I don't know what the fuck the last two tracks were... but the album gets back on point after this track, although the lyrics are questionable (rapping about Pilgrims and 18th century civilization with no tie whatsoever to the song).
5. Say Hey There- Probably the most brilliant elevator music sample ever... but sadly the slow flow and quick moving instrumental take a while to mesh... you'll be feeling this track halfway through.
8. Pour Me Another- One of countless songs Sean Daly has written about alcohol... this is one of the better ones although it's not all that memorable.
9. Smart Went Crazy- Probably the best song to ever come out of Minnesota (maybe even the Midwest).
10. Angelface- Another one of those songs that's pretty good but not memorable in any sense.
12. Get Fly- A hustlin' anthem for all the non weed carriers. This is one of the better songs off this album, and it's only marred by the last two minutes of the track which nearly put me to sleep.
13. Little Man- Echo the comment from "Smart Went Crazy", this song is amazing in a different way but in the same breadth as song number 8.
This album was very well produced, Ant has always been one of the most consistent producers I have ever heard, and his productions are always enjoyable. Slug is much more inconsistent, he has a few out-of-the park successes "Smart Went Crazy" and "Little Man" which are amazing tracks... but he also has his fair share of missteps: spoken word on lots of the songs, he opts to sing at times, and the lyricism is very shaky.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 78. I noticed that HipHop DX rated this as one of their best albums ever... which it isn't. I don't know if I even recommend a download, you could probably be on your merry way if you just downloaded the standout tracks listed above.
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I feel like Dave Chappelle at the Hater's Ball whenever I see this album, I really really got hate for this album... even though Mase has supposedly turned his life around, which hasn't stopped him from rapping and collecting a few million dollars (in the name of Christ of course). But whenever I see the album cover I'm just reminded about the ugly side of hip-hop, P Diddy and Bad Boy records back in the 90's. Back in about 1996, P Diddy was the Lil' Wayne of the rap world, he could do no wrong in the eyes of his fans. Think about it, here was a clever record producer with charisma, a hard work ethic, and an ability to spot talent instantly... you'd think that would equate to a great job behind the scenes. Not if your name is P Diddy, or Puff Daddy or Puffy, or Diddy, or Sean Combs. Wait, actually think about the name Puff Daddy... Puff Daddy? Yeah, the symbolism there is really unrivaled. Anyway, Puff Daddy signed all sorts of "street dudes" to cement his reputation, and of course the only real street dude out of all of them, Shyne, gets into a gun fight in front of the press... even P Diddy probably thought that was too good to be true. And of course, now we all now that P Diddy has bored of the rap game, and releasing terrible R&B albums, and when he isn't Making A Band or bossing around college students begging for camera time, Diddy is starring in commercials for Burger King and making weird YouTube videos (Swagger like Puff?). Anyway, all that's kind of off topic, so let's get back on topic and underway...
The Good:
3. Take What's Yours- Still a great song, no matter how I feel about Mase and Bad Boy, I will always bump this track because it is straight PROPANE.. fire! Everything is on point... and I'm surprised this DMX hook hasn't been sampled more, this is one of the very few times when I can actually applaud Earl Simmons' singing.
9. The Player Way- This track is average, but it's much better than the sewer garbage that preceded it. It looks kind of weird that 8Ball and MJG were on this album, and it sounds even weirder... really out of place feature.
11. Niggaz Wanna Act- Mase sounds really good over these soft instrumentals, but surprisingly Busta Rhymes' tribal yells don't make Mase sound better... who would have knew?
16. 24 Hrs. To Live- Mase packs in about 4 or 5 good feature verses before DMX ruins the last minute of this track... shit's still banging.
19. Wanna Hurt Mase?- For those hoping this was about Mase's insecurities and easy ways to murk him, you'll be dissapointed, but for those who want to hear a loud beat overpower soft feminine lyrics which are really hard to hear... you'll be very pleased!
And that'll do it... I think it was pretty obvious from the beginning that this album wouldn't be all that good and it wasn't... the four above listed tracks (I hope you could tell I was joking about 19) are actually really good and the rest of the album doesn't compare to them.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 53... yeah I know that's nice of me.
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I never heard of Elzhi, but quickly realized hes a part of Slum Village. Of course, I heard of em, but never really check their music doe. I heard alotta people luvd Elzhi's new record The Preface, so I thought Id give it a shot. BTW..its mostly produced by Black Milk. Lets c if its worth da praise.
1. Intro (The Preface) - Elzhi n his boy complain bout da rap game n show us how 2 make a classic. He then kix a brief rhyme. All which is over sum beautiful soul production. Nice intro track.
2. The Leak - This is prob da most borin track on da album, which says a whole lot bout The Preface (Ull ketchup lata). I say borin cuz of da production, which seems repetitive but catchy. I keep hearin "its the leak" over n over n my head. Im not sayin its a bad song either. Elzhi comes correct doe, hes such a great lyricist. But its "the leak you wanna hear."
3. Guessing Game - Da title of da song says it all. Jus listen 2 da chorus. Its a guessin game. Elzhi spits a line which ends n 1 syllable of a 2 syllable word n b4 he spits da 2nd, ur supposed 2 guess da word. Dont let him fool ya doe. Very creative song. I luv it. Hip Hop needs more shit like this. Nice drums 2.
4. Motown 25 - Elzhi rips this soulful work of art, while Royce "seems kinda lazy." His flow was jus slower. Dont worry he still spits flames. This no hook track is nice 2 sling darts round.
5. Brag Swag - This rite here is prob my fav cuz I luv da beat, Elzhi's brag sway n da Hov sample, "nigga u heard what I said." Im glad sum producer still use scratchin.
6. Colors - "OK kids, today we learn the color schemes." Here he name drops all da colors n his short stories over a nice catchy beat. "What exactly did we learn?" "We learned that Elzhi's da shit!" "Oh you right."
7. Fire (Remix) - Posse cut here over a simplistic beat. Get 2gether ur metaphors n similes. I mostly hit skip. Its jus not as good as da other songs.
8. D.E.M.O.N.S. - Elzhi gives several meanings of da acronym which is da title of da song. My fav would b "Devils Effecting Music Out Now on your Stations." Jus more creative shit 4 ya ears.
9. Save Ya - Da message here is he isnt Captain Save A Ho. Mo soulful shit 4 ya ears.
10. Yeah - This 1s got sum mesmerizin horns. Elzhi's boy Fat Cat schools da hatas on this track..."I dont water my shit down 4 da record execs." Elzhi spits gems 2..."I light up White Pubs like light bulbs." Nice!
11. Transitional Joint - Another nice track wit a soul sample. Here he rhymes bout love. Nuthin real excitin, but not bad either.
12. Talking In My Sleep - This 1 sounds like it coulda been produced by 4th Disciple or Mathematics for a Killah Priest joint. Nice production. Elzhi raps bout all his dreams, his 4 real dreams. Great track.
13. The Science - "On that 2Pac Juice tip." Descent track that is 1 of 2 that wasnt produced by Black Milk.
14. Hands Up - I dont no y no1 has used these samples n concept b4. Great story bout stickin up a store. "Hands up! Freeze, Freeze, Freeze, Freeze!"
15. What I Write - I luv da writtin n da background. Its on sum Stan shit n I think Proof had a song like that 2. Did I mention that I luv a good soul sample? Ha! This track is self explanatory, he talks bout what he writes bout.
16. Growing Up - Da sample n this track was used n Red Gone Wild. Personally, I like Redman's version better, but not a whole lotta difference.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe 1 good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half r good songs, half r weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all r great songs
1 word...CLASSIC! I would give this album a 95 rating. WoW, is that even high nuff? But then again, maybe Im bein bias cuz this is da kinda Hip Hop I luv. BOY...was I blown away! I had 2 listen 2 it over n over 2 soak up da entire feel. Elzhi's creative ideas n messages r great n really hit home wit me. There wasnt a bad track at all. Not 2 mention Elzhi's lyrically game is quite high n hes a very witty writer as well. When I think bout it, I havent been this excited bout an album since Blu & Exile's Below The Heavens. I think older heads r gonna appreciate this album since younger fans luv da shit on da radio, but if u r younger I would still encourage u 2 give it a listen. Basically, if ur a fan of great lyrics over soulful production, then dont even DL it...go buy The Preface.
4 Da Thieves
What? A.I. released an album? Yep, this was before David Stern decided to cut down on the "urban" influence on the NBA. Allen aka Jewels probably felt bored and decided to throw an album together, that's what I'm guessing anyways. Although I have heard good things about this album, guess I'll find out soon enough...
The Good:
1. 40 Bars- Damn... don't let the album cover throw you off, cuz this song is gritty as fuck. Like Wu-Tang gritty, not Shaquille O'Neal gritty... and did I mention that Jewels can spit fire?
2. Answer VI- I don't know any self-respecting rapper that would put an basketball commercial on their debut album. But after a good listen I noticed that it's an above average collab between Jada and Jewels. By the way I'm just wondering how Allen was able to secure all these exclusive guest features on his album.
3. Crystalized- Allen has a great ear for instrumentals, this jazzy beat illuminates the calm flow that shines throughout this track... also note that A.I. rhymes circles around both of his features, which can either be interpreted as A.I. being superhuman, or that the rap game was in shambles even in 1997.
5. Gunlow- Goddamn... another banging instrumental, and Jewels rips this track a new asshole, maybe more than one asshole... I think Cormega features here too, which proves that A.I. really is a street dude.
9. Rapin Tha Game- After skipping a few club tracks, you reach this song. And once again Allen rhymes circles around his guest feature... sounds like Lil Kim, which makes the feat less credible, but still commendable.
11. Stronjay- This is a double track, and both songs are hot. The first song displays Jewels' great storytelling, and the second track is just insane lyricism.
12. War Games- It's one of those tracks you nod your head to, but don't remember anything about it 2 minutes later.
14. Answer V- Another commercial verse, except this one is much hotter over the same instrumental.
15. Time To Build- Allen's verse is crazy sick, and almost compares to Jay's verse... Jay as in Jay-Z, who sounds awkward as fuck over this instrumental, but still turns in a fly 16.
And that'll do it. I was really surprised by this album, I thought it would be a gimmick, but A.I. can really rhyme and flow with the veterans. There are actually quite a few good tracks to check out on this album, so I would suggest a download.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 85... minus the club bangers and the few weak tracks, and this album would have been a sparkling debut. In fact, I still see this album as a sparkling debut, kinda makes me wonder why Jewels ended his rap career prematurely... oh yeah, David Stern.
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You knew it was just a matter of time before I got to this album, and honestly I don't think there's much more I can say beyond "Tupac and Biggie are both insanely overrated"... bet someone will be leaving me hatemail at the bottom:
The Good:
2. Things Done Changed- This song is still over-played, and I for one do not mind in the least bit... it still sounds uniquely like Biggie Smalls.
3. Gimme The Loot- This is the unique storytelling that made Biggie's dark and suicidal lyrics appear artistic and hard... this track is still great 14 years later.
4. Machine Gun Funk- This is Easy Mo Bee proving that not all Bad Boy instrumentals are pure shit... in fact this instrumental makes Biggie sound real good (not that he needs a good instrumental for that).
5. Warning- Another great storytelling effort that would later be quoted countless times... and Easy Mo provides his 3rd straight sick-ass instrumental. And the hook although simplistic, is great.
6. Ready To Die- And Easy Mo Bee's 4th straight instrumental, and this shit is sick as AIDS... and Biggie illuminates this dark-ass beat with his flow-tastic rhymes... and only the weak hook detaches from this superb song.
10. Juicy- The message is admirable, but it's delivery and execution is somewhat spotty, and it's not as much Biggie as it is Total.
11. Everyday Struggle- Probably the most introspective song off the whole album, and thus it's probably my favorite... and remember how people were on Weezy's dick for this line on "Fireman": "I see she wearing them jeans that show her butt crack
My girls can't wear that why, that's where my stash at"... Listen to this track again, and see how Weezy stole that line almost directly from Biggie.
12. Me and My Bitch- The whole "I sell rocks to get out of the struggle, and support you (my bitch)" lyrics are getting a bit old...
13. Big Poppa- There's no possible way you haven't heard this song before. I was also really surprised to find out that Puffy produced this track (really)?
14. Respect- And it's just obvious how Biggie actually overpowers this terrible instrumental.
16. Unbelievable- Insert the guaranteed to be hot DJ Premier track... if Preemo produced, I shouldn't even have to tell you that this track is hot.
And that will conclude this review... shouldn't be anything new, because I'm assuming everyone has already heard this album, and if you haven't yet, then there's a download link at the bottom. Now, I want to set things straight, Biggie released this one album before he died... comprehend that, one album and he's a legend... everything else is posthumous. Now think about 2Pac, who released over 50 albums, all of them pretty average, and consider his legendary status. And now consider the rap game if both of them were alive today... imagine a 2Pac/Weezy track... you don't want to? Neither do I.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 91. It's fun to listen to, but you can tell it is a debut album, with lots of little missteps (P Diddy cough)...
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So I actually got some time, and I decided to dive head-first into one of my favorite albums. One Be Lo, born Nahshid Sulaiman represents pure alternative hip-hop in it's purest form. Think the straight hip-hop dedication like J Dilla, mixed with Common's good guy/conscious rap message, fused with politically charged rhymes. Add all those together, and you get about half of Nahshid's overall message and appeal... I'm telling y'all don't sleep on this dude.
The Good:
1. Intro- The instrumental is awesome, and the lyrics by themself are also great, but together they don't really work.
2. The UNDERground- As ignorant as this sounds, this track really embodies what hip-hop would have were it not for the rise of the South and hip-pop... and ultimately this song sums up all my feelings about hip-hop in a concise three minutes.
3. enecS eht no kcaB- Compare every song ever made to this one. It's beyond perfect.
4. Questions- This is one of those verses that sounds like it was taped by telephone (maybe it was). But if you really focus on what Nahshid's saying, you will marvel at how cruel the world really is.
5. Oggie- This track is a little bit weaker, One Be Lo is quite the vivid storyteller, but you can tell when he's lacing the wax with filler...
6. Propaganda- Every line is true, and I'm Jewish (listen and you will see the irony).
8. Axis- This track is an underground classic, ask any hip hop head what they think of this track and they'll answer with one word: CLASSIC.
10. True Love- A Tribe beat, you know how I say I don't like tracks that are female-oriented... this once, and probably only once will I change my mind completely... love this track.
12. Used To Be Fly- You know shit is tight when you can listen to a track that's pretty much acapella, over and over and over and over and over and over again.
13. Deceptions- I'm about halfway done with this review, and I'm running out of synonyms for perfect... um... this song is great!
14. Can't Get Enough- Fuck replay potential, this track has got "Live my life by this track" potential.
16. Evil Of Self- Back to the basics!! An insanely smooth jazz sample, that itself is probably a supreme track... lends an upper hand to one of the better narratives on this album (and that's definitely saying something).
17. The Future- Another sick instrumental, laced with great lyricism. It's getting hard to not sound repetitive (I'm sorry)!
18. E.T.- The instrumental matches the title of the track, a very funky almost "One Love" type vibe.
20. Rocketship- It's almost funny after hearing One Be Lo share part of his soul with his intensely personal rhymes, to hear him on that old school tip talking about how fake the industry is... but this track is still tight.
22. Follow My Lead- And if you ever think you've heard a good rap outro, YOU WERE WRONG!!
If you couldn't tell I was biased coming into this review, now you can... this album is something everyone must have, EVERYONE! Yes, that includes you...
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 98.
First, when I gave "Illmatic" a 95, I said no album would ever get higher... I was wrong, very wrong... I always held this album in high acclaim, but after hearing it again. Damn... it's nearly perfect.
After listening to this album and falling in love with hip-hop once more, I expect all of you to go out and cop this shit.
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I am so proud of Solange! I am so proud of her because she is not in her sisters shadow anymore. Before it would be like "WELL SHE IS NO BEY" well now you don't even want to compare her... you should be saying Beyonce is no Solange. Well back to her music the cd had a very good vibe 2 it of a old school meets new school vibe. Her single "I Decided" was a jam you would sing in your car and just have your own peronal performance to. Solange is a woman that marches to her own drum with alittle more soul beat. I also loved how nothing was off limits like my personal favorite track off the cd F*@k The Industry (signed Sincerly). She basicly says she is what she is and she doesn't have to compare to anyone. Lets get thi shit straight she is no Byadu but she definitely not the traditional pop-R&B that so many artists are into especially most notably her sister QUEEN BEY! I am not saying this was legend work but it was a better effort than her last album and it really gives you a sense of this is who she is. Her voice doesn't have amazing range but she makes it work. I want to aplaude to her for her effort and hard work of being a individual!
TRACKS THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR IPOD:
F*@k The Industry (signed Sincerly) (NOT ON ALBUM)
ChampagneChroniKnightCap ft LIL WAYNE (MY FAVORITE TRACK)
God Given Name
I Told You So
Sandcastle Disco
ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10 (1o being amazing and 1 not worth mentioning) I GIVE Sol-Angel and The Hadley Street Dreams a 6.5
There's one series that towers over all mixtapes, and that is "Gangsta Grillz" (you bastards) lol... it's really how DJ Drama and Don Cannon have made their names. Although mixtapes are usually a place to exhibit new talent and unsigned hype, Gangsta Grillz uses a different formula which is very clever if I may say so myself. DJ Drama aka Tyree Cinque Simmons compiles the latest songs off artist's mixtapes and makes a definitive list of what's hot right now... kind of like "Kidz Bop" for online gangsters. Usually included are singles and remixes. Also a fun fact, maybe I'm speaking too early, but Tyree really enjoys to take pictures of himself from the side... in fact I've never seen an album cover where he faces forward. Off topic, so let's start:
The Good:
2. Gangsta Grillz Intro- Somehow they manage to fit in 5 guest verses into less than two minutes... if anything only check this track out for Ludacris' sick ass verse.
6. 3000 Something- I've read everywhere that Andre 3k kills this Jay beat, but it's only average for me...
7. They Know (Remix)- This beat is fucking ill! But Shawty Lo can't rhyme to save his fucking life, how the hell did he get this beat in the first place?
9. Never- The new Scarface verse which has appeared in more places than his Greatest Hits album (which probably has yet to sell one copy). Not a good time to put out a best of album... but if he makes a few more of these tracks Scarface will be relevant soon enough.
11. I'm A Beast- This has always been one of my favorite Lil Wayne tracks... which is saying something, crazy beat, and always sharp lyricism (imagine if Lil Wayne could flow, had an ear for beats, and didn't flood the market).
16. For The Love of Money- The orgasm sample is terribly out of place, but you will be pleasantly surprised by LA The Darkman's verse on here even if Willie The Kid takes lyricism to an all-time low a few seconds later.
17. Umma Do Me (Remix)- Just check out the original... Rocko blows.
19. For A Minute- B.G. actually goes hard on this track, and the production is very well done. T.I. only appears on the hook which is actually a good thing.
21. Hand On My Glock- Another sick-ass La The Darkman and Willie The Kid collab... even Willie comes with some fire.
22. I'm So Hood (Remix)- I really wanted to hate this song, but I just can't... at the same time I don't love it. It's a pretty decent remix, too many features for my liking.
25. Ridin Down The Freeway- A good Young Buck track? Can't be... but it is. Make sure you read carefully, this song is only good, and nothing more, but it's not the usual garbage that Buck comes with. The instrumental is just begging to be sampled, another great production job by Drama.
And we're done. I was actually really surprised by this mixtape, I was expecting something terrible when I looked at the track listing, but it's actually pretty good.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this mixtape a 76..
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Thanks to all who voted on the poll, and for each vote, I will post an album in that specific genre, so 2 votes for mixtapes, I will post two mixtape reviews... and accordingly for the other categories.
There's not much to say about this mixtape, just picked out at random, been in my music library for a while, and I decided I'd give it a spin. I've known about Big Mike for a while, dude's been on the circuit for a second and has definitely put in work. For those who only listen to albums, you will find that the biggest difference is DJ's talking over somebody's lyrics... like somebody care what they got to say. I do however like how mixtape DJ's all have their different personality, all have different catchphrases, even though I hate G-Unit, I love DJ Kool Kid's signature catchphrase. I've just about run out of filler text so let's get started...
The Good:
3. Freestyle- A well-thought out title. Regardless, this is pretty decent for a freestyle, Sheek Louch always comes with fire, and is better off the top of the head then he is with a pen and a pad. Big Mike sure has a lot of shoutouts...
5. Stronger- Even though the hook is weak, I do like this instrumental and this D-Block posse cut is tyte... still not feeling Styles P though.
7. Can't Take It No More- Cassidy almost always comes with that real shit... and this track is no exception, FIRE!
11. Superstar Remix- If you can get past Jeezy's abhorrently terrible verse, you will reach Lupe's verse which is pretty hot... then Tip kills it, but that's what you get when you match two average southern rappers with a lyricist.
14. Freestyle- Damn... I had been hearing about Remo Da Rapstar, but this was my introduction to him... and this shit sounds real good, not to mention it's over a sick Little Brother instrumental. I've heard that beat 100's of times so needless to say I was bound to love this song, but all biases aside this track is nice.
16. Stop Breathing- This shit is hater-proof, all I got to say.
19. Dope Boy For Real- It's not good, but then again it's not bad... it's probably all you can hope for based on the title.
20. Paper Touchin- G-Unit made a good song... Really? Well kinda... Kool Kid made his first good instrumental and that makes everyone from G-Unot sound much better. I've probably heard this song on every G-Unit mixtape, so needless to say, this is probably the best 50 and company can do.
21. Fucked Ya Girl- Wait!! I know this song isn't good... in fact I just wanted to mention that this is one of the worst songs I've ever heard.
26. Freestyle- One of the better outros you will ever hear on a mixtape, a good Bun B and Weezy collab. For some reason I really doubt that Bun B was freestyling.... but maybe it's just me.
And we're done...
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this mixtape a 68. One of the better mixtapes I've heard lately, primarily because of the lack of an intro, outro and interludes. But at the same time there are some good tracks on here... there's also a fair share of garbage too... but as always the decision is yours:
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I have long been a Joey Crack stan, and I remember the days when it was cool to listen to Terror Squad, sadly I think Bad Boy has even overtaken Joey's squad nowadays. But back in the day, Joseph Cartagena rapped alongside the greats of Big Pun, Big L, Notorious and many other New York rap kingpins. And even though most heads will only acknowledge Joey as the dude who found Big Pun... I believe that the music he was making in the 90's (minus the bullshit-which is about half) stands neck to neck with "Capitol Punishment". And even though he's fallen off tremendously, I wouldn't count Joey Crack out, after all Primo, Cool & Dre, and The Alchemist produced on here.
The Good:
1. The Fugitive-This song is awesome... it takes me back to playing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (not so much for you)?
5. Get It For Life- First things first DJ Khaled can eat a dick, (insert Ice-T sound-bite here). Second, this track is pretty average but has sporadic moments where it's decent.
8. K.A.R. (Kill All Rats)- The second StreetRunners contribution, besides "The Fugitive" and it's fire just like the first one.
12. That White- The aforementioned DJ Premier contribution, and this instrumental is fucking crazy good. Even Joe's lines are fire.
That will do it for this album. I was really disappointed because of all the terrible songs on here, don't get me wrong, this is an decent album, but the "good" songs are really good... and the bad songs are horrible.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 58. If you do download you will be rewarded with a few good tracks...
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Can't pretend this is exclusive or nothing, cuz this dropped a few weeks ago... but I'm giving it my first listen today. I've never been a big fan of Tip Harris unless he's dropping heat like "Rubberband Man" but that's usually once an album, so I've never given him much of my attention. I do however own "King" and it has gotten a few spins in my car... I've heard "Front, Back" quite a few times and I do say that Mannie Fresh created the sickest beat in the South's history. But other than that track the album was weak (I might just review it one day when I'm busy). But I'll give the homie Clifford a spin...
The Good:
1. What's Up, What's Happening- A huge beat but the only lyrics I heard was: "I'm the king/ quit hating sucka niggas"... I was expecting a lot more over this promising beat.
2. Life Of The Party- I have to believe even Tip could have done better over this chill instrumental. The hook is uninspired and the R Kelly verse is half-assed, and T.I.'s verses aren't much better.
4. No Matter What- This is some early 2000 Tip shit... and the hook is very well done. This song sounds really fucking good.
5. A Better Day- Consistent throughout, but not spectacular by any means...
9. Message To The Government- Fire
10. Swagger Like Us- This song isn't good, but if you want to witness a good artist throw away his career to fit in with the cool kids, you have Exhibit A: Kanye West.
14. Let My Beat Pound- Although this isn't that good of a track, the production is pretty interesting, and that itself will make you listen to this track again before you delete it.
15. No Matter What (Official Remix)- This song is actually really good... probably the best off the whole album. Real slow flow and Yung Joc shines on this track... and T.I. comes with some fire.
16. What Up Remix- This version sounds a lot better than the original, even though it is only one or maybe two new verses.
This was a pretty average, bland, boring album. It's exactly why people get the wrong impression of southern rap. There's also an exorbitant amount of songs for the club on here... and I actually like Tip when he doesn't write, even though I barely noticed a difference. When you don't like this album, don't say I didn't warn you...
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 63... lots of hype for no reason... shit is pretty average and boring at times.
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I've been wanting to give Project Pat a listen, and 3 6, but I found this on my Zune first. I just saw "Hustle And Flow" last night, and it was aight, the ending was epic as hell, but ultimately part of the soundtrack sounded really good which made me want to get into some Memphis rap. Not gonna front and pretend like I know a lot about this dude besides that he was on the funniest show to ever appear on MTV: "Adventures In Hollyhood". If I ever watch that show again, you can expect either a 3 6 or a Lil Wyte review the next day, but for today, readers will have to settle for Patrick Stephen Houston
The Good:
2. Rubberband Me- As much as I should hate this song, for some reason I find it enjoyable. The instrumental is pretty hot, and the hook is even pretty good, and for a southern lyricist Pat can flow pretty well even if he isn't very lyrical.
4. Talkin' Smart- Probably one of the last songs that Pimp C would ever make, and it's actually really good.
6. Powder- Another track that I shouldn't like, but it sounds good... I especially like the slow flow and the hook is menacing as fuck.
10. Hit It- I just noticed how well produced this album is, and this track is an overt example, even though the hook is downright fucking horrible.
14. See Me- Ehh... I guess this song is alright.
15. Bull Frog Yay- Another very well produced track... the hook is hot, and this great instrumental almost drones out Project Pat's voice (which is always a plus).
And that will be it, not a very good album, a few good songs, and quite a few terrible ones.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 45... only a few songs that are actually recommendable, and I can find alternatives that are much better.
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I probably should have reviewed this album right after Common's to exhibit how Mr. Lynn has influenced the state of conscious hip-hop... but better late than never. So, who is Rhymefest? Other than Kanye West's admitted ghostwriter, Che Smith (long live Guevara) is an MC's MC. Like many other Chicago MC's (Consequence to be specific) he rhymes about topics that everyday people can relate to... working blue-collar or family problems. And as much as I hate how sentimental that above statement sounded, I still mean it... and respect Rhymefest for actually creating a true-to-life positive message among hip-hop fairy tales. If you liked this album, Che is coming out with a new one sometime soon, supposedly fall 2008, but these rappers can never stick to a deadline...
The Good:
2. Dynomite (Going Postal)- The Just Blaze instrumental is definitely over-the-top. And Fest sounds real gimmicky on the hook and even with his lyrics... not a bad effort just makes you kind of cringe at times.
3. Brand New- "The motherfucker you love to hate but can't because you love what I make" Kanye uttered this quotable... and that's exactly how I feel about Kanye these days. Sounds like "Breathe In Breathe Out" part two. Again, it's not bad, just not all that good.
4. Fever- The first song that I loved off this album, the metaphors on this song are crazy:"You seem weak homey like yo' heart pump green tea/ I stack greenbacks then lean back, scorchin hot/My torch'll leave yo' ass charcoal black/" Who fucking with that!?
5. All I Do- The instrumental is kind of boring and it doesn't really bring any sort of attention to what Rhymefest is saying... which may be good because he jumps topics every line.
6. Get Down- A cover of the Nas' song by the same name... I'm kidding. A No I.D. job equipped with some more crazy lines.
7. More- After hearing this album quite a few times, I can confidently say that this is by far my favorite song. But today was the first time I looked and realized that Cool & Dre produced this amazing instrumental... damn. This is the way the whole album should have gone, chill instrumentals, Kanye on the hook not on the beat, and Rhymefest kicking some deep shit.
8. Chicagorillas- Sort of a posse cut even though Fest doesn't really affiliate with either of these dudes. The beat is sick, but the tiger purring doesn't really fit in with the "Chicago Gorilla's" theme. Still a tight track.
10. All Girls Cheat- This is weird. My second favorite track off the whole album and guess who produced? Cool & Dre... I'll ponder that situation later, but for now what excites me about this track is it's potential. This is a great track that will appeal to the mainstream even though anyone can appreciate it, and remember I usually stay away from the tracks for the ladies.
11. Devil's Pie- If you ever decide to check out Rhymefest's mixtape(s?) you will hear more instrumentals like this one... Fest is signed to Mark Ronson's label and Ronson is a producer who likes to incorporate elements of rock into his beats. And it seems to be working, he does produce both Rhymefest and Wale.. two up and coming artists with crazy potential. Oh, the song, it's pretty good.
12. Sister- Surprisingly Cool & Dre didn't produce this track, yet it's amazing. The soulful sound that Common and Kanye became famous for... yet Fest and No I.D. recreate their vibe perfectly. The instrumental is beautifully done... and the lyrics are on point, but the hook is terrible.
14. Bullet- Good song, good storytelling, good chorus, good hook... combined equals an pretty good song, that isn't very memorable.
And we're done. This album is well-produced with a few misses here and there, but overall it is definitely a great listen. The first thing you have to check out are the Cool & Dre produced tracks because they are amazing!
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 88. A great listen, that needs a few improvements to reach it's full potential.
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People that don't know too much about today's hip-hop are quick to label two innovative New-York MC's as hip-hop's saviors: Talib Kweli and Mos Def. Kweli for his lyricism and optimistic message, and Mos Def for his old-school sound and resemblance for what hip hop really stands for. Needless to say, Dante Terell Smith has his fair share of fans, and very few haters. Not surprisingly, Mos Def has taken his successful rap career and translated it into the money cow that is movies. He started with hip-hop related movies, and now he can secure any role he wants... and it's good to see the good guy finally receive what he deserves. Mos Def proved that you can sell records and make great albums without "gun's, sex, drugs, and ho's". And it's amazing how the hip-hop community embraced this guy, from Ali Shaheed Muhammad to Primo to Diamond D to countless others... on a debut album, how insane is that...
The Good:
2. Hip Hop- Samples from Eric B and Rakim, O.C. and David Axelrod should be placed on a track named "hip-hop"... the opening line:
"Speech is my hammer/bang the world into a shape and let it fall"... yeah I know it doesn't rhyme, but that's a crazy opening line. Accompanied by that sitting in the park kicking rhymes vibe. The instrumental is insanely engaging.
3. Love- Deeply introspective Mos Def lyrics over a blatant 88 Keys instrumental, this is a song that will get you thinking. If only Mos would rhyme more than he sings...
4. Ms. Fat Booty- If you haven't yet heard this song, it should be number one on your list.
5. Speed Law- At first this track sounds boring, but upon a second listen you will learn to love this track. The lyricism is crazy.
6. Do It Now- This seems like it would be an ill-fated collaboration with Mos and Busta, but this song is mad sick. Check it out... Do it now.
11. Know That- Supposedly Mos Def only sounds good with Kweli, and even though that isn't true... this may be the most underrated song off this album. No hype, yet this song is AWESOME.
13. Brooklyn- Never been a fan of changing instrumentals mid-song... but this track makes me a believer. The first two instrumentals are commendable pieces of work, but the "Who Shot Ya" instrumental is very out of place and ruins an otherwise great song.
14. Habitat- This track just takes me back, and it's not so much about what Mos is saying, but what memories his lyrics trigger. I love the hook (not a constant occurrence) and the instrumentals is supremely produced.
15. Mr. Nigga- I remember I was reading about this album back in 99 and I read about the semi-controversial "Mr. Nigga" and I instantly knew that Q-Tip was going to jump on the track. 9 years later, I am now working as a telephone psychic... and still banging this track.
Gets back on that "Ms. Fat Booty" tip with the storytelling, and interestingly Mos gives all women the same accent.
16. Mathematics- What songs didn't DJ Premier sample for the hook? Regardless this was the song with the most hype, obviously because of the producer... but Mos makes the instrumental his own and murders this instrumental. Probably his best lyricistic performance.
And that will conclude this review. I had this album on my to-do list for quite a long time, and after finishing it, I can honestly say that this album is a huge addition for the site, as well as for hip-hop in general.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 91. Like I said, supremely produced, and when Mos Def isn't singing, he's spitting fire.
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"Would someone please just put a dick in that guy's mouth please"... Classic Carlin
Oh yeah and there will be multiple posts coming today and tomorrow... word.
I've been swamped for time, so I decided to do an easy review, and I thought who better than David Banner? Even though his career has been short, Lavell Adrian Crump is one of the worst producers I have ever heard... and his rhymes are on the same level. I actually have known about David Banner for a good five years, "Mississippi: The Album"(not the state) got crazy hype, and even though I didn't check it out, I was still interested to see if David Banner could live up to his hype. Then I started to see his name on production values, probably because making scary faces on an album cover is all the qualification one needs to create instrumentals these days. Needless to say, I wouldn't have given this album my time of day if a friend hadn't (conveniently) forgotten this album in my car. So for my love of blogging, I have decided to suffer through the rap version of the dentist's office...
The Good:
4. 9 MM- A catchy Akon instrumental and hook, decent Weezy verse, and then a ear-breaking terrible performance by both David Banner and Snoop. Not a bad track, but check out the remixes...
9. Syrup Sipping Break- The sad thing is that I'm listing an instrumental/skit as a good part of this album.
10. Hold On- A weak story-telling attempt, but it's one of the better songs I've heard so far. The hook's not bad...
13. I Get By- The instrumental (not produced by Banner) is great, and the Carl Thomas hook is soulful... and even David Banner comes with some below-average lyrics (which is good for him).
18. Ball With Me- I guess this is was supposed to be a street single, but it fucking sucks, and Chamillionare sounds worse than Davey so...
21. Faith- Probably the best song off the whole album, the instrumental is boring, the hook is terrible, the Lil Jon sample is unbelievably awkward, but it sounds somewhat alright.
I ripped this album onto my computer to listen to it, and I have deleted every last track off my computer already.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 12. I could not find one "average" song, all of them were downright terrible besides "9 mm" and there are remixes all over the web which sound much better than the album version... this album is a disaster. At the same time, I do wish this disaster was mine, because it did sell 132,600 copies... which is mind-blowing. Here's a download link for those of you who are illiterate:
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Before Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West, before The Coup and Immortal Technique, and even before Common and Nas, Public Enemy was the first group to mix political/ socially conscious lyrics with instrumentals full of samples and heavy bass. To have an Ice Cube, or a Paris, first you need a Chuck D, to have Just Blaze or Timbaland you need The Bomb Squad, and lastly Public Enemy would never be the group it is today without Flavor Flav, useless or not, he partly creates the unique sound that made "PE" relevant today. Let's go back to 88', 10 years after Afrika Bambaataa established Afrocentricity in hip-hop, his influence had declined and hip-hop and it's subject matter was being carved by 5 "Niggaz With Attitudes" who saw insane commercial success rapping about "money,hoes and guns"(the rims would come later). On the opposite coast, Rick Rubin and Def Jam held the threshold of successful rap records and picked the winners by hand. At the same time, just as Def Jam was losing it's reign at the top, the second coming of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five was quietly recording records in Long Island. Def Jam quickly scooped them up, released "Yo! Bum Rush the Show" and grew confident in the socially-conscious group. Just a year later, Chuck D, Flavor Flav and company released their second album under a more controversial name: "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back"... the two protagonists behind bars. The album was met with positive acclaim, eventually peaking at #42 on the Billboard Top 100. Then years later, people really began to appreciate this album for what it is; a modern masterpiece.
The first thing you'll notice when you give this CD a listen is the bass-tastic instrumentals and Chuck D's controlling baritone voice. Beyond that, The Bomb Squad did a great job sampling and controlling FLAVA FLAVVVVVV's random outbursts to a bare minimum. Chuck laces the wax with insane lyricism:"From a rebel it's final on black vinyl/ Soul, rock and roll comin' like a rhino/Tables turn/ suckers burn to learn"
And my personal favorite: "Never badder than bad cause the brother is madder than mad/ At the fact thats corrupt as a senator/ Soul on roll, but you treat it like soap on a rope/ cause the beats in the lines are so dope/".
This album is a seamless combination of Chuck D's ardent pro-black lyricism and The Bomb Squad's innovative and eventually influential production. What more could you want than an album that's a great listen from 1-16....
I did promise, and here it is... King Nicky aka Dre Dog aka Andre Nickatina aka I don't know his first name. Hailing from the West Coast, more specifically San Francisco, Nickatina has been crafting rhymes for 15 years now. Nicky has created his own genre of music, think Wu-Tang samples meets Rick Ross boss rap meets hyphy. I'm from Minnesota, pretty much as opposite of San Fransisco as possible... but Andre Nickatina is huge here, he really can flow and what appeals him to me is his enigma, no one really knows a lot about this dude, and his rhymes are one of a kind. His affiliates are even more underground, his boy Equipto can spit for days, but has even less acclaim than his partner. All that being said, this album is known as an underground classic and for good reason....
The Good:
1. Conversation With A Devil- Instrumental is crazy, and the rhyme scheme is interesting... and the Daddy Kane reference fits perfectly.
2. Fly Like A Bird- That annoying voice at the beginning, that's Mac Dre... Kansas City's hip-hop savior. This shit is amazing.
4. Pick-Cha- Damn... the metaphors are crazy, and the dark lyrics are perfectly placed beneath the dark samples and grimy instrumentals.
5. Dice Of Life- I've always been confused by this track... only Andre could spit cocaine rhymes over a Scottish instrumental and the hook: "Mike Tyson likes custom models"? But still I love it...
6. 5th Gear- The first Equipto contribution and it's fucking ill.... and Nickatina outshines Equipto's nearly immaculate lines. Another unique instrumental.
7. Soul Of A Coke Dealer- This instrumental has always taken me to a different place, and the storytelling just immerses you into this song for the sheer 4 minutes it lasts.
9. The Falcon and The Snowman- GODDAMN!!!! Listen, words can't explain this avalanche of HIV- ILLNESS!!
10. Summer In Florida- Slows it down to screw-n-chop level, and Nickatina sounds menacing as fuck. This is the song to drive slow to.
11. Ayo For Yayo- Widely regarded as Nicky's best song ever made, silky smooth delivery over a soft instrumental and every word is brought out beautifully. THIS MAY BE THE BEST SONG EVER MADE... by anybody... in rap... and in any genre.
12. Fist Full Of Dollars 'Green Eyes'- The instrumental is a bagpipe, but the lyricism is insane.
13. Train With No Love- Sounds like "5th Gear", but another interesting narrative that's obviously exaggerated, but it's still a good waste of 4 and a half minutes.
14. Nino Did The Cartah- I wish Nino did the Carter, but I'll settle for this track.... I'd quote a line, but their all immaculate.
And we're done. I'll admit that I loved this album a year ago, and I love it even more today. Everyone who feels they love hip-hop needs this album, because even if Andre isn't the most original or honest cat, he spits fucking heat 99.99999 % of the time, and the instrumentals are like nothing you've ever heard.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 92, I searched for this link forever, so people please give my dude a listen and holla back.
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Did you ever wonder where all your favorite rappers stole their rhymes from (besides their ghostwriters)? A likely place to look is this album. Eric B and Rakim are "pioneers" of old-school hip-hop, and Rakim is considered the best MC of all time by a wide variety of critics. Supposedly Rakim created some rhyme scheme that everyone bases their rhymes around now (no big deal). And Eric B revolutionized the production process by including jazzy riffs into his instrumentals (no big deal either). That being said, I'm going into this review pretty unbiased...
The Good:
1. I Ain't No Joke- The sampling, the jazz riffs, the horns, and the smooth delivery is what made this group as legendary as it is today. It's amazing how easy Rakim's flow is.
5. Move The Crowd- The instrumental seems like a separate entity from Rakim's verses. This song doesn't mesh very well... still decent though.
6. Paid In Full- The first time I heard this track, I recognized it from "CB4", which is pretty embarrassing. Kind of a boring track, the hook is non-existent... and Eric B is one ugly ass motherfucker, what girl is he talking about?
9. Eric B Is President- Eric B should be president after this superb production job... damn, this song is fire.
And we're done... that was relatively short, I might have to do more of these types of albums. I wasn't very impressed, as a hip hop head who enjoys 80's and 90's rap, this shit was boring. Eric B rarely displays his wizardry on a turntable and Rakim only sounds good on a select few songs.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
Maybe I'm being harsh but I give this album a 71... I'd advise everyone to give it a listen as it is part of hip-hop history, but it's not the most entertaining piece of work I've ever heard.
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I just saw "Prison Song" last night and as I thought about it, I remembered an album that needs to be on a site called "Hip hop album reviews". What is hip-hop without "The Low End Theory"? What is conscious rap without "The Low End Theory"? And what is rap music without A Tribe Called Quest? All harrowing questions when you realize the breadth of people influenced by "The Low End Theory"... it is literally an album every rapper should be able to recite word for word. It is an album that defines conscious hip-hop, it evokes all the feelings of real hip-hop, and it is the album all others are compared to. What hip-hop head can honestly say they don't have this album? After all this album's fanfare, I, like most of the hip-hop community was amazed with "Fiascogate"... I love Lupe, Lupe is my generation's conscious rap, but how do you cover a Tribe song and not know the words? Damn... that's more than not showing respect for your elders, that's called tourism... making your money and being out, not caring at all about the culture your profiting from. Only this album could evoke so many feelings from hip hop purists...
The Good: (I know it's pointless)
1. Excursions- One of my good friends quotes Tip's opening line every time we talk hip-hop. This track is on the top of Q-Tip's resume for "Best MC ever".
2. Buggin' Out- Proof that Phife Dawg is more than just complementary to Tip. Together they unleash some crazy vibes that bring you back to New York in 1991.
3. Rap Promoter- I've never loved this song... I'll admit that it's alright, but not much more.
4. Butter- Smooth as butter, and Phife shines on his solo verse. Maybe the basis for Dane Cook's jokes... drawing inspiration from everywhere now (or maybe copying from everywhere).
5. Verses From The Abstract- Always been one of my favorite cuts, 4 minutes of perfection. Q-Tip at his absolute best.
6. Show Business- It's hard to appreciate this track to the fullest because of it's placement... but it's ill as hell. More upbeat than the rest, and the posse cut sounds awesome.
7. Vibes And Stuff- And we drop off again to a more chill instrumental, and it's another great back-to-back effort by Q and Phife. The jazz meshes with the lyrics and creates an super relaxed vibe.
8. The Infamous Date Rape- Same jazzy instrumental, same flowtastic rhymes, and the same song with different lyrics.
9. Check The Rhime- Probably the song you can always listen to. The instrumental bangs, and the hook which consists of jazz samples is amazing... and the lines are crazy fresh.
11. Jazz (We've Got)- Probably my favorite song off this impeccable album... this instrumental makes there superb lyrics sound heavenly.
12. Skypager- These are the abstract sounds and hooks that A Tribe Called Quest would later transform into... personally, I'm lovin it.
14. Scenario- This song is a lot more obnoxious and arrogant than the ones that preced it... yet it's not bad, a good introduction to Busta Rhymes who would prove to be an average rhymer. Not a bad outro...
I've heard this album countless times, I assume most people interested in hip-hop have heard this album before so this review should be pointless... but if you haven't this is an album you have to acquire through any means. I'm no advocate of anarchy, but if you have to steal, it might be worth it...joking of course. A very chill album the whole way through and a true gem to listen to.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 94... it's truly something everyone must here at least once.
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Sorry it's been so long, I've been insanely busy... but I promise to be more active. I've been dying to listen to "State Of The Arts" for a long ass time... Afu-Ra has long been a dude I've wanted to check out, it doesn't hurt that he has affiliations with Gang Starr (I promise to review Jeru The Damaja). I've heard material from Aaron Phillips before but never payed much attention... because his music is hit or miss to the max. But then a few of my friends recommended this album and I read up on it and sounds like it was met with some acclaim. So here goes:
The Good:
4. Pusha- This instrumental is fucking fire, and the lyrical competition between Afu and Royce da 5'9 is insane.
6. Living Like That- Amazing.... besides the hook.
7. Rumble- This should be a stand-out track, but the chorus is terrible: "You, do you want to rumble? Come rumble with me"... what the fuck? I guess the rock and roll aspect of this track is innovative, but it just doesn't sound good. Axl-Ra...
9. Why Cry- What should I say? This track has the potential to be something amazing and serve a purpose... but instead it becomes a Caribbean reggae song full of political satire and commentary. Someone has an ear for beats...
11. Cry Baby- The lyricism drops down, but the instrumental makes it sounds so much better. I've never been one for these "songs for the ladies".
12. Dynamite- What? What is he saying? Oh he's spitting fire over horns that drone his voice out.
16. Only U- Either Memphis Bleek sampled Afu, or Afu sampled Bleek because this is the instrumental for "534".
17. Poisonous Taoist- The sampling is out of place, the instrumental takes the focus off the lyrics, which clearly outshine any part of this song.
Huh... this album was hard to listen to because the instrumentals are horrible, or just don't fit and I didn't hear one good hook. But when you pay attention to what Afu is saying, you will realize that he is a very special talent... no one spits fire like he does. Dude just needs some more Primo beats.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 63. I'd find a different Afu album, bit if you have your heart set on this one...
Download Here
Any hip hop head would be inclined to think of Nas when they think of AZ, he was the only feature on an untouchable album. His verse on "Represent" is sick as hell, and provides Nas' the motivation to unleash maybe his best lyrics of all time. AZ has achieved a fair amount of success in his career disregarding his Nasir Jones affiliation, and he is often listed as one of the co-creators of "Mafioso Rap" a genre that has already burned out. And dude is still grinding, recording, and selling records to this day, he released an album titled "Undeniable" this year, and I would say it is better than Nas' "Untitled". But back in 1995 people were excited to see what type of shit Anthony Cruz would come with. This album has been mentioned on countless lists as "must-have albums", but that doesn't mean a thing to me so...
The Good:
2. Uncut Raw- I don't know how to explain this instrumental's appeal but it sounds real good. This track is the definition of grimy, raw, gritty and all those other adjectives Fonzworth Bentley overuses.
3. Gimme Yours- This sounds like a worse version of "The World Is Yours"... but not by much at all. The lyricism is great, and AZ still sounds good when he quotes himself... can't say I'm feeling the hook at all.
4. Ho Happy Jackie- This does not sound like the same Buckwild who produced "Lifestylez ov Da Poor And Dangerous".... but I am really feeling this instrumental. It's amazing how effort free AZ's flow is.
5. Rather Unique- Only Pete Rock could have produced this song, AZ flows some fucking lyrical murder, and the sample job on the hook is amazing. No, this whole song is amazing.
7. Sugar Hill- I want to hate this song, I want to delete this song, but I just can't do it. I don't know why, I think I hate this hook... but I'm not sure.
8. Mo Money Mo Murder (Homicide)- I don't want to love this song, I don't want to favorite this song, but I just have to. I don't know why, but I love this song. The hidden track is halfway decent but that's it.
9. Doe or Die- It's usually a rule that the album title song is never good. But this shit is fucking awesome. Another "Represent" sample... but that's the only bad part.
11. Your World Don't Stop- Damn this track would be better acapella... weak hook, unbelievably simplistic beat. And then you have AZ's rhymes which overpower this track.
12. Sugar Hill Remix- Much better, in every aspect.
And that raps up yet another review of a supposedly "classic" album (I know the quotations were unnecessary). This was not a classic album, this was classic lyricism, classic storytelling, classic rhyming and rapping... but the instrumentals and hooks are HIV-stricken weak. Even the producers that always come through with heat only provide average beats (cough... Pete Rock... cough). So I will say this is an interesting listen, I wouldn't say it's something you must hear, and I doubt an album like this will make your musical taste anymore widened.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
After ragging on AZ, I give this album an 82. One of the weaker ratings for a "classic"... so that should say enough, but if your really interested:
Download Here
The Invisible Man aka Dan Johnson reached out to me to check out this EP. I can't say I know anything about this cat, so let's get started. Since it's a 6 track EP, I will do track by track.
1. Medical Crew- The production isn't the best, and The Invisible Man doesn't have a very exciting voice, but the lyricism and flow is something you have to check out. "Step into the doctor's office and I'll check your reflex/ Get it bouncin like I'm steppin with a T Rex". And the hook (sampled in a Wu Tang sort of way) sounds awesome.
2. Breathmints (Something Fishy)- The instrumental is dull, but the storytelling is impressive. And the hook is wierd but in a good way.
3. Nonsense- Huh... he flows crazy and the lyric are crazy. A better instrumental and this would be a banger.
4. Hyde and Seek- Start to drift away and relax, the lyrics are crazy again.
5. Fresh To Death- This track is well-produced and it is enjoyable to listen to... and it is uniquely made. I really enjoyed this track.
6. Rebirth of The Fresh- Another unique instrumental, great lyricism... yet it's still a little dull.
I'm a brutally honest person, and even though Dan Johnson is a great person, this EP was not my cup of tea. The production is severely lacking, all the beats sound good but are too eerie and gray to enjoy. The Invisible Man has the biggest monotone ever, it really detaches from the overall message. After abusing my man, I'll say that his lyrical game is crazy, if you really start to listen, you'll hear crazy rhyme schemes and flow adjustments. Even if The Invisible Man never makes it as a rhymer, he'll probably be your favorite rapper's favorite ghostwriter.
This album needs no rating, I gave you guys all the motivation you will need. If your interested in good lyricism... check out this album.
His personal blog:
http://hiphopsprivateeye.blogspot.com/
His Myspace if you like what you heard:
myspace.com/1nvisibleman
Download Here
I just thought this was funny, every white teen wants to vote for Obama because he's black (the only change he'll bring is ethnicity). And McCain gets a woman to run with him so he can at least get the woman vote (seriously fucking Alaska?). And these republicans try to find all the dirt they can against Obama...
Enough ranting, kind of reminded me of this video, Mad TV classic.
I will admit I'm biased when it comes to Young Jeezy, this is the first album I ever bought. Jeezy is the first southern rapper that I really could listen to, and "Hypnotize" has got more than 100 plays on my Zune... I'm feeling this cat. I'm obviously not doing the reviews in chronlogical order, so "I'm feeling this cat" doesn't exactly pertain to "The Recession"... a decent album that is not worthy of Jeezy's name. I first heard of Jay Jenkins as Lil J, and paid very little mind to him... then he started featuring on Akon and company's tracks... and then he released "Thug Motivation 101" and 102... which have gone down in history chronicling actual good Southern music. What separates Jeezy from the rest of the pack is subtle, and something you probably would have never known about. Jenkins releases about a mixtape a month, mixtapes not featuring him, just his face... which makes him seem like other southern rap kingpins (T.I. and Weezy). But Jeezy's work ethic sets him apart, most people have heard how he recorded over 100 songs for TM 102 and only chose 17 to make the album. Even though the spares probably became mixtape fodder, you don't see Kanye throwing away instrumentals simply because their not album material. I believe Young Jeezy is the one thoroughly "mainstream" rapper who stands out from the heap of bullshit clouding the top of commercial rap. On a side note, this may be a longer review, because I have heard this album countless times:
The Good:
1. Hypnotize (Intro)- The perfect combination of Jeezy boasts, ad-libs, and Southern production. Shawty Redd produced almost all the great songs off TM 101. "They think I'm shallow but I think so deep/ Deep as the abyss/ So when you get a second take a look at my wrist/ Perfect...
4. J.E.E.Z.Y.- Shawty Redd produced this track too and it sounds a lot better than the two previous tracks. More ad-libbing, and another weak hook... but a decent song still.
5. I Luv It- You can tell why this was a single... not necessarily a bad song but I've heard better....
6. Go Getta- The second single, the beat bumps, the R Kelly hook is hot... but there's not much substance to this track. Still hot though.
8. The Realest- I can picture a suburban high school kid riding to this song. Maybe it's just the hook, the instrumental is too dramatic for my liking, the lyrics don't exactly grab your attention either. But it's a pretty good track still.
10. Bury Me A G- Fucking ill (PERIOD).
11. Dreamin'- Despite Keyshia Cole this song fucking rocks. A different hook and instrumental would make this a classic.
12. What You Talkin Bout'- More of a "Thug Motivation 101" track, but it's still legit. Think "Go Crazy" meets "And Then What"
14. Mr. 17.5- Fucking classic.
And that will conclude this review. After promising a classic, I couldn't even convince myself, this album does not sound as good as it used to. The few great songs on this album are among the best the South has to offer... there is a lot of filler on this album though. I'm gonna have to give TM 101 another listen, but for now...
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this album a 76. Like I said, it's a great album at times, but at other times this album put me to sleep. I would still recommend a download, because there are some songs you just have to hear...
Download Here
I won't pretend I know even a little bit about this cat, besides that he's from the west coast, and is signed to some small record label. I copped this shit from dubcnn.com, and I advise anyone who is looking for underground music to check that site out. So now for the review....
The Good:
1. Fasho Flow- Two minutes of straight fucking fire, check this song out. You will not regret it.
3. Get Money- The instrumental doesn't fit at all and the hook is weak... but this song is pretty decent still.
5. Ollie At Me- Another weak hook, how exactly do you "ollie" at someone? But I love the instrumental, literally light bass with a flute sample... but the lyricism puts me to sleep.
11. He Said She Said- Grimy as hell, an introduction to SUPe's affiliates, who you've assuredly never heard of. SUPe changes up his flow and spits some fire over this slow instrumental. Can't say I love the hook though...
14. Wow- Sadly no Flavor Flav sample. Another slow beat, and I slowly grew to like this track.
18. No Pain- Another unique instrumental equipped with some slick rhymes leads to a great outro.
For a random-ass mixtape(?) I found a few great songs, most were weak, but the few great songs (namely the intro and outro) fucking rock.
0-20: Terrible listening experience
21-40: Maybe one good song
41-60: A few good songs
61-80: Half are good songs, half are weak
81-100: Great listening experience, almost all are great songs
I give this a 47. Like I said, the intro and outro are amazing, especially the intro... but the rest of the songs don't compare. Here's a link for anyone who feels experimental...
Download Here