Ok Most people haven’t heard this album… Most of y’all probably let it slide over y’all cos of the rumours that Jay was goin to go all commercial on us…
Its true that Puffy & His BadBoy team handles production 4 some of the album… why? I dunno. Probably to make Jay mo’ appealing to a wider audience…
While Meth used that as an excuse 2 get out of some blame to his poor showin on tical 0, Jay-Z on the other hand stays true to his hustle and doesn’t let the badboy shine take away from his street lyrics and HE STILL MAKES AN ESSENTIAL Hip-HOP ALBUM albeit a borderline poppish production or two!!!
And if you thot Reasonable Doubt was a fluke, In My Lifetime squashed that thot!!! And in hindsight, with the right 1st single, this album could’ve blown up more than its 1.2 million sold.
Lets get 2 the track by track
*Intro/A Million And One/Rhyme No More*
In my opinion, nobody makes a better intro than Jay-Z!!! This one aint no exception. The first of two DJ PREMIER joints. All I’ll say is dude needed more tracks on this album. Its an awesome start off to the album. Jay-Z flows sick over a Premo beat, that’s official!!! The second half of this track gets me bopping my head everytime… PREMO 4 PRESIDENT!!! And Jay-Z brings the heat again signaling the rise of a rap great.
*City IS Mine*
I like this sample! Nice feel 2 it… although it sounds like a soundtrack to an action movie! Lol! Ted Riley on production but you’d think it was BadBoy at the helm cos the beats scream mainstream. But the production along with the hook is catchy and gets me singin along 2 d chorus!!! Lmao
If the production borders round commercialization, jay-Z doesn’t follow suit. He starts off conversation to the late BIG and cheekily assumes the throne & the rest of the song jus serves to stamp his claim on the throne!!!
The lyrics are pretty basic, nothing mind-blowin but Jay still keeps em on a high enuff level. As with conceited songs, there’s only so much you can say but Jay does it well as he styles on the haters. Like he said, he’s controlling the game.
*I know What Girls Like*
The worst track on this album by a mile and a half. Puffy’s adlibs start to get me tuned off from the start & Jay doesn’t impress on his verses… production is really annoyin, its so monotonous and lack creativity.
Lil kim spits less than adequate rhymes.
The chorus??? Its not any better than the production. Jay-Z steps up a lil on the final verse as the beats gets drowned out a little but to be fair, this song is less than mediocre at best. To think its longer than Imaginary Player… atleast I enjoyed that one!!!
Puffy shut up already!!!
This track should have been left out. Puffy ruins it with production and Jay cannot save it with his lyrics unlike one or two others…
*Imaginary Players*
Straight clownin at all those Jay-Z wannabes! It’s an enjoyable track, it has that badboy ghetto fab gloss sprinkled all over it (from Prestige being on production) though which is not always a bad thing. It has an R&B feel to it with a funk sound that’s typical of Prestige songs…
I like his bars but really, the flow is lazy but at the same time appropriate as the production doesn’t really challenge Jay to go hard. Its sufficient though and its short and sweet.
Nothin Long.
*Streets is Watching*
Are these the vocals from the ‘Sleeper’ movie in the background?? I like this SkI beat better than ‘who you wit II’. It brings that trumpetty jazzy feel into the song. Its yet another song directed at the street politikin with the jealousy and envy as he tries to invite you into the life of a hustler… his life! His descriptive skills shine over this SKI beats which kinda felt worn out in the middle of the 3rd verse but Jay’s short stories keep you listenin all thru 2 the end.
*Friend Or Foe 98*
The Second PREMO beat and it fits the theme of the track… Jay in story telling mode equals greatness boi!!! Motion Picture sh*t he says and I concur!!!
The production is nothing special from PREMO but its short and its bangin… gets your head bouncin and it goes along more than adequately… you’re caught on how this story pans out that for one minute and a half anyway!!!
*Lucky Me*
My favourite song on this album and one of my fav Jay-Z songs period. The production is tight. How the guitar drops is beautiful and that instrument in the background… A-STAR!!!
This song would be lovely to hear live with an acoustic set I bet!!!
Buckwild & Stevie J from BadBoy worked up this soulful production.
Jay laments about the downfalls of being in the spotlight in ways only he can… lawsuits, the envy, the stress, the gold diggers, fake friends… all the hype talk & I feel his pain!!! The vocal on chorus by Karen Anderson rides with Jay perfectly and it all gels with the simplicity of this beats to create a masterpiece.
*Sunshine*
The first single… what a 1st single is these days. Made 4 mainstream audience and if you’ve seen the video, then you’ll know why this album as a whole doesn’t get enuff cred… you thot Jay was goin commercial on us… I explain all dat at the beginnin
Back 2 the song…Jus listenin, this screams marketable all over it… the lyrics aren’t vintage Jay, they’re rather dumbed down if I may be so bold. Obviously aimed at that special lady.
I mean what is “If I need it, would you gimme your kidneys?”
Foxy makes a minimal cameo. They have that chemistry but I’d rather have ‘aint no nigga’ on this rather than this pawn!!!
Babyface blesses the chorus. It jus feels altogether like a Pop song (hate to say it but its true)
Very nice skit… best bit of the song if I may say so!!! Lmao
*Who You Wit II*
I dunno much bout music technically but I do have a good ear 4 whats hot and this is a bangin production by Ski!!!
A song telling all y’all ladies to get rite and come roll with you know who! Jay’s flow is on point as he rides on an obviously commercially made production (Ok I’m gone give Ski the benefit of the doubt and take that back but it does come off a bit commercial)… the overridin theme is ‘cash, money & ladies’ and asides the braggadocio and catchy wordplay, there’s really nuthin here… its usual Jay speakin 2 his ladies.
If a song doesn’t have 2 be conscious for you 2 listen, then this will do as it did 4 me… I could definately feel this in the club!!!
The continuing skit from ‘sunshine’ sounds it off nicely!!! Playerz 4 lyfe!!! Lmao
U probably recognize the 1st verse from an Amerie remix…
*Face Off*
Jay-Z and Sauce Money have that back & forth; Shaq & Kobe thing goin on in this song. I didn’t like the chorus that much, its not sayin nothing really but the verses are worth givin the song a listen…
They feed off of each other rather nicely as they conversate bout the ladies & stayin fly among other things & I guess hence the ‘face off’ title.
If you really aint a Jay-Z head, then the 1st or 2nd listen is enuff cos it really is jus a track showcasing both their wordplay/flow prowess…
Production is weak… Ok its not weak but it sounds too commercial (trackmasters). It sounds like suthin Puffy & Mase would ride, no offense!!!
I like the verses, its enjoyable to listen to this tag-team, it obviously works, now if only we could cut off the chorus somehow, the glossy beat, we could live with. I was boppin 2 this.
*Real Niggaz*
Very mellow song… very very mellow… I thot it was one of Puffy’s men on production cos it does sound like a few BadBoy tunes of that era but its some dude called Anthony Dent & I was right, he was a BadBoy hitman!!! You’re caught in 2 minds here… this is obviously a ‘made 4 mainstream audience’ beat that tries to let you into the life but Jay & Too Short aint speakin mainstream, there’s no traditional tuny hook, its jus Jay & Short talking bout what they know… getting that money while still stayin true to the game.
Somehow that 3rd verse, I wasn’t feelin it! Jay & Short don’t quite vibe on d same verse as they did in the previous 2 but with lines like
“If you ballin, keep ballin… if you jealous, stop…
…I want BIG to rest in peace as well as Pac… how real is that”
Its hard not to like this song!!!*
Rap Game/Crack Game*
A well nice comparison. Production from Jaz-O (Big Jaz) not the best! Its incoherent as it starts, took me a few listens to get into the flow. Aint that a sample of Nas on the Chorus??? I like the creativity that Jay shows here as he takes a different route in telling his hustlin tales. At the end though, he lets you know he’s at home on either turf!!!
It ends too early though as there are only as many ways the rap game looks like the crack game.
*Where I’m From*
This is a real HARD steady beat from surprisingly Derrick D Dot with hard kickin rhymes from the boi! Its kinda hard 2 swallow attimes if you’re jus on here 2 catch a glimpse of the glossier Jay-Z (ICEBERG). This is not bout the girls and money & the fabulous lifestyle… this is real!!!
This gives you a first hand account of the Marcy projects. Its hardcore… drugs, thugs, police, deaths, politics and the hustle! His lyrics don’t quite take you there and that’s OK cos it don’t sound like a nice place 2 be, however the depiction of where he’s from is vivid and you do get a Birdseye view.
A recommended listen.
*You Must Love Me*
Before 'soon you'll understand', there was this... much better (I might add) retrospective apology to his mum, elder brother and girl in his life!!!
The song starts off real nice with a lil interlude.
Kelly Price on hooks and backin vocals in MAGIC.
The vocals are real soulful and it gels with Jay's verses which are on point all the way thru as they tell rather sad stories!!!
The production is a bit eerie which i luv... I like the beats on here, its simple and it efficiently adds to the retrospect feel of the song.
One of my favourites!!!
OVERALL VERDICT!!! 8.9/10...!!!
comments???
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Can I Borrow A Dollar? - Album Review
The album that shoulda, coulda, woulda been a classic.
I'm gonna write as if I don't really know what's coming next, for those who may or may not have heard it. I'll quote, cuz there's quotables all over this album. Okay then.
A Penny for My Thoughts
First of all, the samples in the beginning are kinda interesting, tryna place where they came from. I think I caught Superfly in there and some snippets from In Living Color. All right, the beat is great, classic material. A very sped-up sample of Eddie Kendrick's Intimate Friends... And Common drops a couple of great verses to go along with it. Pretty much one of those confessional life tracks... There's not too much to be said for this track, but the first track on the album should pretty much always be good, and this one
delivers.
"I'm comin' around the mountain high, ass lower than a valley
I'm the cat from the alley, from the back, I'ma rally
and tally up points, rollin' joints, risin to the tops
Somewhat of a playwright, 'cause like a stage, I got props
My crew's a strange brew, a drink a day'll keep the stink away
We been through A.A., but hey, what can I say?"
Charms Alarm
The beat is just decent, but Common flows on the track real well, if anything. Well, it's the first beat that 2 pc. DRK work on as a team. This is like one of the earlier types of songs he does that criticizes the state of hip hop, before H.E.R. comes around. Not sure what the sampled hook has to do with anything, but whatever. The beats not so bad that it's unlistenable, so this song ain't that bad.
Take It EZ
Ah... the next 2 pc. DRK beat, and I really like this one. Very jazzy touch, but more lively than most jazz rap beats tend to be. You can tell Common's real young on this album, because this is one of the few songs where his voice cracks really loudly. Lyrically this song's great as well. It's mostly about how dope Common is, but some of the lines he drops are stinging. He rhymes the same word for a pretty impressive length of time, and the pace of his flow reminds of early Jay-Z, back when he used to run with Jaz-O. Also, I didn't know the Allstate motto was the same back in '92, interesting... Either way, the future for this album looks good by now.
"I be kickin' it with the doubly-dope rhymer
I'm trippin' and dippin' and slippin' with the rhyme like Slimer
[Who ya gonna call?] Ghostbuster
I'm Petey Wheatstraw, and I'm just a
Hustler, I tried to scheme for a sec
But the record got wreck, tried to write a bad check
So I checked myself, before self got buck-
wild, tried to live how I had to fluctuate
To a snake, and metriculate, yo, I had to elevate"
Heidi Hoe
WOOOOOW... This is bullshit, any way you hack it. Production and hype-man chorus done courtesy of the Beatnuts, who I honestly never liked anyway, but since they're Native Tongues peripherals, I acknowledge their existence. Common at his very worst, making these immature threats at hoes around his neighborhood and how he hates them shit... I tihnk he says somethin' like, "after I bill you, kill you/'cause your shit smells like mildew"... This is the kinda song I wish had never been made, but, alas, it was. The only saving grace is that it is Common here, so the lyricism is competent. But still, terrible song.
Breaker 1/9
So yeah, No I.D. sampled the Isley's Between the Sheets before Biggie ever rapped over it. However, he only uses two bars of the song and repeats them, rather than letting it go into the bridge, which I always thought was a mistake, because it makes what could have been a really good beat into just a decent one. This song's about girls and skills, nothing we haven't hear before, but Common spits capable rhymes that makes the song worth listening to anyway. Not an album highlight.
Two Scoops of Raisins (feat. No I.D.)
Album highlight! Well, sorta... You have to listen to it real loud to catch, but the beat's actually dope in a very subtle kinda way. Funky, no other word for it. They're basically rapping cleverly about cereal and life, lol... But it works. No I.D. is a very good rapper, as far as producer rappers go, because they usually care too much about their beats to really try and kill the song. Not too much to say about the song, lol, it's about cereal. One important thing to notice, tho, is that No I.D. and Ynot seem to have schizophrenia on this album... several of the songs completely change around into another beat. A very different one. It's actually nice to hear, because it gives the song a different pace. It's not so blatant here, but it's there.
No Defense
Ynot showing off his DJ skills.... this is really an interlude. However, he's pretty good at it, seeing as he's looping 5 or more sources saying the words "No defense", "against" and "Common Sense."
Blows to the Temple
Ynot's first solo beat debut, and what a beat it is. Best song so far, by far. It's some kinda piano riff with an electric bass underlying... And the drums are sick, and then it sorta switches into a neo-Jamaican style cover for a few seconds before the hook comes around. This is essentially a diss track to no one, but anybody who thought that Bitch In Yoo is the only type of flow that Common can diss someone with will have another thing comin'. Speedy rappin', overall good song with some great quotables.
"A tisket a tasket, you're gonna get your ass kicked
You better wonder what's in my jacket, fuck the basket
Oh, God damn child, I mean it's drastic
You end up on a stretched cause I stretch you like Plastikman
Fuck with me ("you end up the in the cas-ket")
You flaw ass pussy nigga sucka duck bastard
(Yo Common calm down, you gots to calm down!)
This Grape tried to step to me, with his arms down
Lesson number one: when you're ready to throw
Never step up talkin'
That's like tryin to pitch, but you're balkin'
And I'ma steal first, hide the base, but you base
You can call me Pencil Petey cause the marks I erase
In case of emergency, it's urgent see, that you see a doctor
You tried to Gamble, but I'm the Proctor
I knock that ass, bringin' it down and then slash
Tried to play me with a skit, but now you got a cast
You character, 'fore ya inherit a, neckbrace
Makin' ya thousand deaths times worser than a Screwface"
Just In the Nick of Rhyme
And ya don't stop... This beat is also good, quieter, but Common basically brings the same heat, like he didn't burn all of it off the last time. His flow is really fast here. It's crazy. But this is the biggest beat change, in the last beat they do as 2 pc. DRK. I have a theory that No I.D. did the mellow part of the track, but it changes very quickly into this crazy Salsa beat that's insanely effective, and I think Ynot may have did this. Common doesn't lose it through the beat change, this song's fire as well.
"Fella a city dweller, it's poison salmonella
Auntie's name is Stella, style as def as Helen Keller
Nail a flammer with the Hammer for comin 'incorrect
Not with his grammar or bad mamma jamma
Similar to Bruce Banner
So don't get me angry, or maybe you won't like me
Kid just in the nick I kick more ass than Bruce Lee's Nike's did"
Tricks Up My Sleeve (feat. Rayshel)
So I don't much care for this song... I never noticed this before, but it's pretty much like the '92 version of Water for Chocolate's A Film Called Pimp... and I don't really like either so much, but this one doesn't even feature MC Lyte. Plus, it's disturbingly graphic... rappin' slowly about fucking girl's philopian tubes. Charming. Also, Rayshel sounds really implausible to me, because she sounds a lot like a lesbian. But hey... Skippable song.
Puppy Chow
ARRGH!!!! Now this song pisses me the fuck off. Ynot makes what is arguably the best beat of his career, sampling the Isley Bros and then following it with some dope guitar tune... Great. Only problem is, it's Common rapping about why girls are just dogs that he treats accordingly. Hey, interesting factual here... the woman singing on the track is Miss Jones from Hot 97. Weird, right? Well appropriate also, because she certainly is a bitch.. And I mean, the song is clever with its references, but it's one of those bad clever songs instead of good. Disappointed in you here, Com.
Soul By the Pound
Ahhh, another great one as we wind down in this pretty short album. The beats actually pretty cool in a minimalist sorta way, and it's covered by some wonderfully offbeat whistling sound It's cool because it's like the whole hip hop consciousness within the "I'm dope" flavor. Lyrically, I don't know what's better, this or Blows to the Temple. Either way, it's insane. I love it. Quooooooootable.
"It's sick you sick, I'm sicker, I flick a flea flicker
Think of that boa constrictor but the venom I inflict-a
is stricter, I stick, I stick the stinkin' to a stunk
If soda was a forty dog, then I would be like, drunk
If if was a fifth I would lift the fifth and a spliff
it's not a myth about our dick width
I'm swift and I shoot the presents
In essence count your blessings I got a Wessun if you riff
I'm a nigga with SOOOOOOOUL
My last name should be Smithsonian
I'm gassin girls heads, just like petroleum
Get 'em ready to bone me and, then I play custodian
And turn off the lights this is the likes of a
Ticketing wallowing high jumping radio rumping brother
Got Seoul like Korea, gimme an inch, I'll take a liter
A chick is a chick that's how I treat her
never go pop I'm not a two liter
A true leader, don't choose to follow, choose what I swallow
Whether water or a beer bottle, of course I play the lotto
Wear 'em? No, share 'em? A hoe
I like the girls, the girls I share a life with a bro
'Cause U-A-C is family, much tighter than foundations
that holds up the walls, so you better proceed with caution"
Pitchin' Pennies
This is disappointing too, but only 'cause the No I.D. beat is very very dope, but he only uses the song to name all his Chicago buddies. Maybe Kanye and Lupe got it from him, but hey, who knows. Then he... pisses at the end. WTF. Complete waste of a track, but if you're like me, you enjoy the song and then turn before he actually says "I gotta piss."
Overall, this is a very solid album, with a few fundamental mistakes. But it's a good debut anyway. Common's grown a lot since then, and hey, this is just him when he's a teenager. But still, great album, sorta an explosion of talent and some immaturity, but the more you listen to it, I think you'll learn to really really like the good songs and really really hate the bad ones. It's that catchy.
Rating: 8.7/10
I'm gonna write as if I don't really know what's coming next, for those who may or may not have heard it. I'll quote, cuz there's quotables all over this album. Okay then.
A Penny for My Thoughts
First of all, the samples in the beginning are kinda interesting, tryna place where they came from. I think I caught Superfly in there and some snippets from In Living Color. All right, the beat is great, classic material. A very sped-up sample of Eddie Kendrick's Intimate Friends... And Common drops a couple of great verses to go along with it. Pretty much one of those confessional life tracks... There's not too much to be said for this track, but the first track on the album should pretty much always be good, and this one
delivers.
"I'm comin' around the mountain high, ass lower than a valley
I'm the cat from the alley, from the back, I'ma rally
and tally up points, rollin' joints, risin to the tops
Somewhat of a playwright, 'cause like a stage, I got props
My crew's a strange brew, a drink a day'll keep the stink away
We been through A.A., but hey, what can I say?"
Charms Alarm
The beat is just decent, but Common flows on the track real well, if anything. Well, it's the first beat that 2 pc. DRK work on as a team. This is like one of the earlier types of songs he does that criticizes the state of hip hop, before H.E.R. comes around. Not sure what the sampled hook has to do with anything, but whatever. The beats not so bad that it's unlistenable, so this song ain't that bad.
Take It EZ
Ah... the next 2 pc. DRK beat, and I really like this one. Very jazzy touch, but more lively than most jazz rap beats tend to be. You can tell Common's real young on this album, because this is one of the few songs where his voice cracks really loudly. Lyrically this song's great as well. It's mostly about how dope Common is, but some of the lines he drops are stinging. He rhymes the same word for a pretty impressive length of time, and the pace of his flow reminds of early Jay-Z, back when he used to run with Jaz-O. Also, I didn't know the Allstate motto was the same back in '92, interesting... Either way, the future for this album looks good by now.
"I be kickin' it with the doubly-dope rhymer
I'm trippin' and dippin' and slippin' with the rhyme like Slimer
[Who ya gonna call?] Ghostbuster
I'm Petey Wheatstraw, and I'm just a
Hustler, I tried to scheme for a sec
But the record got wreck, tried to write a bad check
So I checked myself, before self got buck-
wild, tried to live how I had to fluctuate
To a snake, and metriculate, yo, I had to elevate"
Heidi Hoe
WOOOOOW... This is bullshit, any way you hack it. Production and hype-man chorus done courtesy of the Beatnuts, who I honestly never liked anyway, but since they're Native Tongues peripherals, I acknowledge their existence. Common at his very worst, making these immature threats at hoes around his neighborhood and how he hates them shit... I tihnk he says somethin' like, "after I bill you, kill you/'cause your shit smells like mildew"... This is the kinda song I wish had never been made, but, alas, it was. The only saving grace is that it is Common here, so the lyricism is competent. But still, terrible song.
Breaker 1/9
So yeah, No I.D. sampled the Isley's Between the Sheets before Biggie ever rapped over it. However, he only uses two bars of the song and repeats them, rather than letting it go into the bridge, which I always thought was a mistake, because it makes what could have been a really good beat into just a decent one. This song's about girls and skills, nothing we haven't hear before, but Common spits capable rhymes that makes the song worth listening to anyway. Not an album highlight.
Two Scoops of Raisins (feat. No I.D.)
Album highlight! Well, sorta... You have to listen to it real loud to catch, but the beat's actually dope in a very subtle kinda way. Funky, no other word for it. They're basically rapping cleverly about cereal and life, lol... But it works. No I.D. is a very good rapper, as far as producer rappers go, because they usually care too much about their beats to really try and kill the song. Not too much to say about the song, lol, it's about cereal. One important thing to notice, tho, is that No I.D. and Ynot seem to have schizophrenia on this album... several of the songs completely change around into another beat. A very different one. It's actually nice to hear, because it gives the song a different pace. It's not so blatant here, but it's there.
No Defense
Ynot showing off his DJ skills.... this is really an interlude. However, he's pretty good at it, seeing as he's looping 5 or more sources saying the words "No defense", "against" and "Common Sense."
Blows to the Temple
Ynot's first solo beat debut, and what a beat it is. Best song so far, by far. It's some kinda piano riff with an electric bass underlying... And the drums are sick, and then it sorta switches into a neo-Jamaican style cover for a few seconds before the hook comes around. This is essentially a diss track to no one, but anybody who thought that Bitch In Yoo is the only type of flow that Common can diss someone with will have another thing comin'. Speedy rappin', overall good song with some great quotables.
"A tisket a tasket, you're gonna get your ass kicked
You better wonder what's in my jacket, fuck the basket
Oh, God damn child, I mean it's drastic
You end up on a stretched cause I stretch you like Plastikman
Fuck with me ("you end up the in the cas-ket")
You flaw ass pussy nigga sucka duck bastard
(Yo Common calm down, you gots to calm down!)
This Grape tried to step to me, with his arms down
Lesson number one: when you're ready to throw
Never step up talkin'
That's like tryin to pitch, but you're balkin'
And I'ma steal first, hide the base, but you base
You can call me Pencil Petey cause the marks I erase
In case of emergency, it's urgent see, that you see a doctor
You tried to Gamble, but I'm the Proctor
I knock that ass, bringin' it down and then slash
Tried to play me with a skit, but now you got a cast
You character, 'fore ya inherit a, neckbrace
Makin' ya thousand deaths times worser than a Screwface"
Just In the Nick of Rhyme
And ya don't stop... This beat is also good, quieter, but Common basically brings the same heat, like he didn't burn all of it off the last time. His flow is really fast here. It's crazy. But this is the biggest beat change, in the last beat they do as 2 pc. DRK. I have a theory that No I.D. did the mellow part of the track, but it changes very quickly into this crazy Salsa beat that's insanely effective, and I think Ynot may have did this. Common doesn't lose it through the beat change, this song's fire as well.
"Fella a city dweller, it's poison salmonella
Auntie's name is Stella, style as def as Helen Keller
Nail a flammer with the Hammer for comin 'incorrect
Not with his grammar or bad mamma jamma
Similar to Bruce Banner
So don't get me angry, or maybe you won't like me
Kid just in the nick I kick more ass than Bruce Lee's Nike's did"
Tricks Up My Sleeve (feat. Rayshel)
So I don't much care for this song... I never noticed this before, but it's pretty much like the '92 version of Water for Chocolate's A Film Called Pimp... and I don't really like either so much, but this one doesn't even feature MC Lyte. Plus, it's disturbingly graphic... rappin' slowly about fucking girl's philopian tubes. Charming. Also, Rayshel sounds really implausible to me, because she sounds a lot like a lesbian. But hey... Skippable song.
Puppy Chow
ARRGH!!!! Now this song pisses me the fuck off. Ynot makes what is arguably the best beat of his career, sampling the Isley Bros and then following it with some dope guitar tune... Great. Only problem is, it's Common rapping about why girls are just dogs that he treats accordingly. Hey, interesting factual here... the woman singing on the track is Miss Jones from Hot 97. Weird, right? Well appropriate also, because she certainly is a bitch.. And I mean, the song is clever with its references, but it's one of those bad clever songs instead of good. Disappointed in you here, Com.
Soul By the Pound
Ahhh, another great one as we wind down in this pretty short album. The beats actually pretty cool in a minimalist sorta way, and it's covered by some wonderfully offbeat whistling sound It's cool because it's like the whole hip hop consciousness within the "I'm dope" flavor. Lyrically, I don't know what's better, this or Blows to the Temple. Either way, it's insane. I love it. Quooooooootable.
"It's sick you sick, I'm sicker, I flick a flea flicker
Think of that boa constrictor but the venom I inflict-a
is stricter, I stick, I stick the stinkin' to a stunk
If soda was a forty dog, then I would be like, drunk
If if was a fifth I would lift the fifth and a spliff
it's not a myth about our dick width
I'm swift and I shoot the presents
In essence count your blessings I got a Wessun if you riff
I'm a nigga with SOOOOOOOUL
My last name should be Smithsonian
I'm gassin girls heads, just like petroleum
Get 'em ready to bone me and, then I play custodian
And turn off the lights this is the likes of a
Ticketing wallowing high jumping radio rumping brother
Got Seoul like Korea, gimme an inch, I'll take a liter
A chick is a chick that's how I treat her
never go pop I'm not a two liter
A true leader, don't choose to follow, choose what I swallow
Whether water or a beer bottle, of course I play the lotto
Wear 'em? No, share 'em? A hoe
I like the girls, the girls I share a life with a bro
'Cause U-A-C is family, much tighter than foundations
that holds up the walls, so you better proceed with caution"
Pitchin' Pennies
This is disappointing too, but only 'cause the No I.D. beat is very very dope, but he only uses the song to name all his Chicago buddies. Maybe Kanye and Lupe got it from him, but hey, who knows. Then he... pisses at the end. WTF. Complete waste of a track, but if you're like me, you enjoy the song and then turn before he actually says "I gotta piss."
Overall, this is a very solid album, with a few fundamental mistakes. But it's a good debut anyway. Common's grown a lot since then, and hey, this is just him when he's a teenager. But still, great album, sorta an explosion of talent and some immaturity, but the more you listen to it, I think you'll learn to really really like the good songs and really really hate the bad ones. It's that catchy.
Rating: 8.7/10
Labcabincalifornia - Album Review
Just an overall appreciation for the album's dopeness. The rapping is slower, but I think you can also take in way more of it, which I think is most important.
And I think it's just as good if not better than their debut... So shoot me.
One thing to remember, this album is full of early Dilla... Like 7 tracks I think. I'm talkin' pre-Stakes Is High Dilla. In a lot of ways tho, the production on this album seems ahead of its time. Anyway.
Bullshit
The beat (courtesy of Dilla) isone of those smooth and slightly haunting jazz loops that wouldn't have sounded out of place on Do You Want More?!!?!, which I think came out the same year... Maybe. Anyway, this is a cool smooth song, nice way to open an album.
Pharcyde
I actually like this beat, sort of a sonic piano thing, but the sample is sorta atmospheric and the lyrics are great. And Slim Kid 3 is great scratching, I think. This one was produced by Bootie Brown. Fatlip and Bootie's verse are ones to look out for. Still, the album has yet to truly start flowing.
Groupie Therapy
After about a minute skit, the beat finally kicks in. I think most experienced hip-hoppers can automatically tell who produced this track, I could immediately. Beat's cool, very catchy and pretty fast paced. Fatlip and Bootie fight over the ownership of this song too... Personally, I think Bootie wins. It's about groupie's by the way, but it's still very likeable.
Correction, way more paid is why she laid and played
The charade in the game of deception
This mysterious mistress is just an actress, of the mattress
Cuz, she's a wanna be macktress
Well built, but equipped with the tackiest of tactics
-Bootie Brown
Runnin'
What can I say, if you haven't heard this song, odds are you aren't really big on hip hop. Dilla's second beat, my personal favorite song off the album, dope lyrics all around, one of my favorite songs out there, and a definite candidate for top 10 hip hop songs.
She Said
This is about I guess classy type women, but not always. Anyway, I like the beat by Slim Kid 3. It's one of those songs you can drive while playing. I think the outro singing's a little long, but this track's infectious.
So I commenced the mackin' to baby to see what's crackin
So maybe I get her back at the cabin and start attackin'
Threw back a shot of yack and started jabberin' gibber
Fibbin' and ad libbin', just to get her to my crib then
We was chillin' on the bed bumpin' some Isley
Thought I was about to spread the thighs but she surprised me when she said
-Fatlip
Splattitorium
One of those weed tracks, which I guess weren't so popular back then, so whatever. Nice instrumentals by Dilla, which, especially now that he's passed, gotta wish they rapped over, you know? It's nice either way... Mellows you out, like weed! Weird how these things work out.
Somethin' that Means Somethin'
As close as The Pharcyde gets to criticizing public hip hop, another dope beat from J Dilla... One of those Dynamite type beats that are simple but catchy as hell. Fatlip steals this song.
You best believe I put in time to conceive
Deep concentration from sunrise to eve
And even in my feet sometimes rhymes formulate
We form lyrical storms falling from a cloudy brain
In my dreamlike state
Then I awake to make these silly saps collapse
As I dilapitate the wack
When it comes to rhymes I'm kinda like a mack
I got these flows strollin' up and down the track - Fatlip
All Live
De La-esque interlude.
Drop
Another Dilla beat, I hear this uses a sample backwards, which is SICK. Lyrically it's another album high. I can't really decide who's best here. The beat's weird, but nice nevertheless. A lot of people should know this song too, it was the first single.
Hey You
Ahh... I like this song better than Drop. The beat's really heavy, made by Slim Kid 3. It's really dope. Lyrically, this is better than Drop too, all of 'em at the top of their form. Imani might take this actually. Nah, gotta give it to Bootie. Sorta storytelling of hip hop artists. Check it.
Because of my high altitude
The attitude of this one dude was so lewd
That he was viewed as rude
And pursued by the side he was BOOED
And chewed like food in the feud
Ending the career WAAAY shorter than an interlude
And dude, the word I heard was that your vision was blurred
-Bootie Brown
Y?
One of those tracks, just like Jadakiss' in terms of intent for the song. Tell me why, blah blah... Great song. Bootie keeps takin' this shit. Dilla beat, so guess what? It's dope.
Know why I said it
Hear me clearly though, it's so severe and dreaded
That they need to be beheaded
Why I'm, readily, steadily, stimulatin' and mutilatin'
All sloppily copy imitations, cuz they irritatin'
So I'm intimidatin' them over the snare - Bootie Brown
It's All Good!
Interlude.
Moment In Time
DOOOOOPE... One of those reminiscent beats that feel slightly sad as well... Think Summertime or Reminding Me [of Sef]. Produced by this excellent nobody named M. Walk who really deserves exposure. It's a Bootie Brown solo, so yeah, he takes this one too. Lyrically it's sick, it's dedicated to a friend who died, but it's not like T.R.O.Y. Great song. This album is really consistent, something you accept by this time.
The Hustle
Bootie Brown produced. Another great song. Has sort of one of those movie scene type feelings to the beat. Lyrically top notch performances from all MCs concerned... I could listen to this song all day. At one point, Bootie's voice sounds scarily like Andre 3000's. I'd say Fatlip or Imani take this one, but I really can't decide. Imani's still in it tho, have faith. Get it?
Little D
Interlude, actually kinda fucked up.
Devil Music
By Fatlip, the beat, which is cool. Smooth, reminiscent of Bullshit. Not what you would expect from the title, but very nice song. Check it. Don't sleep.
The E.N.D.
Another beat by that dope nobody, M. Walk. It's just nice to listen to, and it's a great finisher. Lyrically their bringing the heat again, and the lyrics are all about their lives. Gotta love this track, you really can't. It's amazing, 17 tracks and odds are you won't be ready for the E.N.D. Nice closer.
Excellent album. Cop it, download it, listen to it and hit me up.
Score: 9.5/10
And I think it's just as good if not better than their debut... So shoot me.
One thing to remember, this album is full of early Dilla... Like 7 tracks I think. I'm talkin' pre-Stakes Is High Dilla. In a lot of ways tho, the production on this album seems ahead of its time. Anyway.
Bullshit
The beat (courtesy of Dilla) isone of those smooth and slightly haunting jazz loops that wouldn't have sounded out of place on Do You Want More?!!?!, which I think came out the same year... Maybe. Anyway, this is a cool smooth song, nice way to open an album.
Pharcyde
I actually like this beat, sort of a sonic piano thing, but the sample is sorta atmospheric and the lyrics are great. And Slim Kid 3 is great scratching, I think. This one was produced by Bootie Brown. Fatlip and Bootie's verse are ones to look out for. Still, the album has yet to truly start flowing.
Groupie Therapy
After about a minute skit, the beat finally kicks in. I think most experienced hip-hoppers can automatically tell who produced this track, I could immediately. Beat's cool, very catchy and pretty fast paced. Fatlip and Bootie fight over the ownership of this song too... Personally, I think Bootie wins. It's about groupie's by the way, but it's still very likeable.
Correction, way more paid is why she laid and played
The charade in the game of deception
This mysterious mistress is just an actress, of the mattress
Cuz, she's a wanna be macktress
Well built, but equipped with the tackiest of tactics
-Bootie Brown
Runnin'
What can I say, if you haven't heard this song, odds are you aren't really big on hip hop. Dilla's second beat, my personal favorite song off the album, dope lyrics all around, one of my favorite songs out there, and a definite candidate for top 10 hip hop songs.
She Said
This is about I guess classy type women, but not always. Anyway, I like the beat by Slim Kid 3. It's one of those songs you can drive while playing. I think the outro singing's a little long, but this track's infectious.
So I commenced the mackin' to baby to see what's crackin
So maybe I get her back at the cabin and start attackin'
Threw back a shot of yack and started jabberin' gibber
Fibbin' and ad libbin', just to get her to my crib then
We was chillin' on the bed bumpin' some Isley
Thought I was about to spread the thighs but she surprised me when she said
-Fatlip
Splattitorium
One of those weed tracks, which I guess weren't so popular back then, so whatever. Nice instrumentals by Dilla, which, especially now that he's passed, gotta wish they rapped over, you know? It's nice either way... Mellows you out, like weed! Weird how these things work out.
Somethin' that Means Somethin'
As close as The Pharcyde gets to criticizing public hip hop, another dope beat from J Dilla... One of those Dynamite type beats that are simple but catchy as hell. Fatlip steals this song.
You best believe I put in time to conceive
Deep concentration from sunrise to eve
And even in my feet sometimes rhymes formulate
We form lyrical storms falling from a cloudy brain
In my dreamlike state
Then I awake to make these silly saps collapse
As I dilapitate the wack
When it comes to rhymes I'm kinda like a mack
I got these flows strollin' up and down the track - Fatlip
All Live
De La-esque interlude.
Drop
Another Dilla beat, I hear this uses a sample backwards, which is SICK. Lyrically it's another album high. I can't really decide who's best here. The beat's weird, but nice nevertheless. A lot of people should know this song too, it was the first single.
Hey You
Ahh... I like this song better than Drop. The beat's really heavy, made by Slim Kid 3. It's really dope. Lyrically, this is better than Drop too, all of 'em at the top of their form. Imani might take this actually. Nah, gotta give it to Bootie. Sorta storytelling of hip hop artists. Check it.
Because of my high altitude
The attitude of this one dude was so lewd
That he was viewed as rude
And pursued by the side he was BOOED
And chewed like food in the feud
Ending the career WAAAY shorter than an interlude
And dude, the word I heard was that your vision was blurred
-Bootie Brown
Y?
One of those tracks, just like Jadakiss' in terms of intent for the song. Tell me why, blah blah... Great song. Bootie keeps takin' this shit. Dilla beat, so guess what? It's dope.
Know why I said it
Hear me clearly though, it's so severe and dreaded
That they need to be beheaded
Why I'm, readily, steadily, stimulatin' and mutilatin'
All sloppily copy imitations, cuz they irritatin'
So I'm intimidatin' them over the snare - Bootie Brown
It's All Good!
Interlude.
Moment In Time
DOOOOOPE... One of those reminiscent beats that feel slightly sad as well... Think Summertime or Reminding Me [of Sef]. Produced by this excellent nobody named M. Walk who really deserves exposure. It's a Bootie Brown solo, so yeah, he takes this one too. Lyrically it's sick, it's dedicated to a friend who died, but it's not like T.R.O.Y. Great song. This album is really consistent, something you accept by this time.
The Hustle
Bootie Brown produced. Another great song. Has sort of one of those movie scene type feelings to the beat. Lyrically top notch performances from all MCs concerned... I could listen to this song all day. At one point, Bootie's voice sounds scarily like Andre 3000's. I'd say Fatlip or Imani take this one, but I really can't decide. Imani's still in it tho, have faith. Get it?
Little D
Interlude, actually kinda fucked up.
Devil Music
By Fatlip, the beat, which is cool. Smooth, reminiscent of Bullshit. Not what you would expect from the title, but very nice song. Check it. Don't sleep.
The E.N.D.
Another beat by that dope nobody, M. Walk. It's just nice to listen to, and it's a great finisher. Lyrically their bringing the heat again, and the lyrics are all about their lives. Gotta love this track, you really can't. It's amazing, 17 tracks and odds are you won't be ready for the E.N.D. Nice closer.
Excellent album. Cop it, download it, listen to it and hit me up.
Score: 9.5/10
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
The Notorious B.I.G. Duets-The Final Chapter
Before I start I will give you an introduction. Many people have made albums of people after death this is only Biggie’s 2nd(Born again) the Biggie duets is supposed to be a the best of biggies verses collaborated with artists of nowadays or of the past he never got to work with. The challenge of the collaborating artist as well as the production staff is to complement B.I.G.’s verses. I will give a little backround of the song and a review of it after.
1.Live from Jamacia---eh it’s the intro only talking basically an intro as if B.I.G. was doing a concert in Jamacia one listen is enough.
2.It Has Been said(Eminem,Obie Trice, P. Diddy) prod. Eminem-----The first song on the CD and the first song that shows you this isn’t gonna be a Biggie CD. Eminem, Obie Trice and P. Diddy are the only people with verses. Eminem’s verse was a tribute to his legacy and was good not great but good. Obie’s verse another tribute verse and seemed like he just tried to hard to make it sound like he really wrote this for B.I.G., then Diddy’s verse of tribute was nothing but trash. One of the worst Diddy has spit in a while. He tried to get his point across that biggie was his friend and this CD was not just a scheme to get money, However with verses like this it doesn’t work.
3.Spit your game(Notorious B.I.G., Twista, Krazie Bone) prod. Swizz Beats----It combines Biggie’s verse on Notorious Thugs with new verses with Krazie bone and an addition of Twista. Big’s verse is sped up to match the Swizz Beats beat. It defiantly doesn’t add to the song but it doesn’t take away from it either. The beat is nothing special and “Swizzy’s” adlibs in the background give the song a bad appeal. Final verdict waste of a good B.I.G. verse.
4.Whatchu Want(Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z)prod. Danja----Finally the third B.I.G./Jay collab that had been recorded. These two have always worked well together from Brooklyn’s finest to Love this Dough. Biggie’s two verses were also the first unreleased ones on the CD. Nice verses from B.I.G. but one of his predictable battle verses and Jay stepped up to improve the song with a great verse that included this line “You based on us, you fiction/Ya eight's don't bust, you a constant contradiction” Danja also gives the best production so far on this disc.
5.Get your Grind on(Notorious B.I.G., Big Pun, Fat Joe)prod. Sean C.----- The intro to this song gets you ready for greatness as a collab between B.I.G. and Big Pun is talked about. The beat creeps in as B.I.G. spits excerpts from “My Downfall” while freeway spits another uninspired chorus. Big Pun comes in with a verse along with Fat Joe. Puns verse is average at best but delivered nice, while Fat Joe’s verse explains how far he’s has fallen since he was just starting in the terror squad. Terrible is the only word to describe it. Skipping this track is a good idea unless you love pun’s delivery and B.I.G.’s verses. Sean C and Diddy did nothing with this beat just a simple piano loop some quiet violins.
6.Living The Life(Notorious B.I.G., Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Faith Evans, Bobby Valentino)prod. The Hitmen----- A song about the Life after making it “B.I.G.” . Biggie starts this with his verse of “Let Me Get Down” off of Born again. A highly upbeat song however this song doesn’t seem to fit anyone’s verses. And sounds really crowded with three R&B voices on it(Faith Evans, Cheri Dennis, Bobby Valentino). The verses have a couple punchlines but not something you can’t wait to listen too again.The Hitmen and Diddy cooked up what sounds like the finished beat to the previous song(Get your grind on). This is yet another song with just Big names.
7.The Greatest Rapper---an interlude where his Son C.J. states his dad was the Greatest Rapper Ever….in other words a waste of 8 sec.
8.1970 somethin’(Notorious B.I.G., The Game)prod. Dre & Vidal------ The title can tell a Biggie fan where his verses will be coming from(Respect for those that don’t know) and as it intro’s to the beginning the Chorus and beat are sounding nice until…. You hear the verses. NO B.I.G.’s verses are the same except his voice is changed and is chopped up. His delivery is destroyed and If you since Game only has one lackluster verse with a coupl nice lines Biggie Fans are recommended to just listen to “Respect” off of Ready to Die. Not a good song at all.
9.Nasty Girl(Notorious B.I.G., P. Diddy, Jagged Edge, Nelly)prod. Jazze Pha----The first single off the CD and a single is exactly what it sounds like. I wouldn’t even recommend DJ’s playing this at a club it’s so bad. Jazze Pha the only beat it seems he knows how to create and Biggie’s verse is from Nasty Boy and tells the story of going out and getting with a girl. However Didd’y verse and Jagged edge sound like they are at a strip club throwing money. Not only don’t they fit Nelly, spits half a verse and it sounds like he was busy doing something else during his verse. This song is definitely shippable material. As much as I dislike this song Jagged edge sounds nice on the track.
10.Living in Pain(Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Nas, Mary J. Blige)prod. Just Blaze-----This is clearly the Best song on the CD. It looks a little intimidating seeing 3 hip hop Legends combining with an R&B Legend but this is what the other songs on the CD were trying to be. This song is great and worth many spins. Mary J delivers heart felt vocals along with an amazing chorus as only she can. Biggie and 2pac both spit unreleased verses that sound meant to go together. Nas comes after and sounds determined to spit one of his best for the simple fact he understands he’s on the track with greatness and man does he do it. I wouldn’t say it’s his best but it’s nothing short of great. All this is Backed up by a Gloomy hard hitting beat from Just Blaze definitely something special. The three verses by Nas, 2Pac and B.I.G. complement each other so well. They all talk about the House of Pain but three different houses. Biggie speaks on the pain of growing up and doing stuff that hurt him emotionally and the people around him physically. 2Pac spoke on the pressures that pain a man trying to make it in this world and all outside forces that can get you down. Nas Brings it to 2005 and gives explains how we are still living in this world that’s a “House of Pain”.
11.I’m Wit Whateva(Lil' Wayne, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones)prod. Stevie J-------This wasn’t a good look No Biggie on the track at all. In the original version of this song which was one a Diplomat’s mix tape has Biggie with the first verse off Ready to die. This track without Biggie has no place on this CD. As far as Lil’ Wayne he has a predictable punch line after punch line verse but rides the beat well on this track. After wheezy says his piece the song needs to be turned off ASAP. Juelz’s verse is very choppy and after listening to it many times I still have not figured out on good thing to say about it.
12.Beef(Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep)prod. Havoc------This verse is the best one from Biggie on the CD, wasn’t changed much and the beat while not similar to the one on Life After Death it is a good one nonetheless I would say that this one is actually better. It is the first verse from What’s Beef. Mobb Deep was a nice touch to the song showing the violent side of beef. P.Diddy managed to effect this song in a negative way by trying to seem intimidating with his high pitched curses over the end of the record including that this is the second best song on the CD.
13.My Dad-----another interlude from his daughter saying that Biggie was her Dad and at the risk of sounding unsympathetic to her situation I will have to say she also should have been left off because her and her brother have now wasted 18 sec combined of my life. These interludes are annoying and should have been left off at all costs.
14.Hustler’s story(Notorious B.I.G., Akon, Scarface, Big Gee)prod. Reefa------- WOW I usually don’t like Akon but he did his thang with the Chorus of this track.This song is overall surprisingly good. Scarface is a nice touch and If Akon would not have “sung” his verse if you call what Akon does singing. Big Gee delivers a nice verse and complements the theme of the song while adding his ownlittle touch. This is a very Underrated track.
15.Breakin’ Old habit’s(Notorious B.I.G., T.I., Slim Thug)prod. Chink Santana------another well produced track(3 in a row) and If T.I. would have stayed on the chorus would have greatly impacted the song. B.I.G.’s verse is nothing short of amazing with lines like “While I just, slang coke, smoke pounds to choke/Got lawyers watching lawyers so I won't go broke” The song is about after fighting all your life your habits of fighting still impact you in everything you do and are hard to break. Slim Thug delivers another surprisingly good verse with lines like “I roll strapped glock 40 in my lap/I rap but still think like I'm grinding in the trap/Trying to adapt to the change from the streets to the game/Can't be selling CD's and still selling dem thangs” T.I.’s chorus is great and this is where you get the sense that the album is flowing.
16.Ultimate Rush(Notorious B.I.G., Missy Elliot)prod. Scott Storch------This song is not good anyway you slice it. Missy Elliot comes off and does her verse and it sounds like she is only on the song because lil’ kim was not. Missy is the main reason for the failure of this is a song. She has terrible lines after terrible lines. B.I.G.’s verse is lackluster and doesn’t sound like it belongs on this beat. Storch’s beat is way to cluttered and is another problem with this song. This song starts the decline of the album.
17.Mi Casa(Notorious B.I.G., R. Kelly, Charlie Wilson) prod. DJ Green Lantern----- The beat on this song is not terrible but is far from good. Then the fact that R. Kelly didn’t even try to be on the same page as B.I.G. was upsetting. B.I.G.’s verses of friend of mine were altered, again his voice was made into a higher pitch. Another skippable track unless you really like hearing the words to friend of mine and even then I would suggest just getting out ready to Die.
18.Little Homie----- Interlude saying Biggie is and will always be the king of New York.
19.Hold Ya Head(Notorious B.I.G., Bob Marley)prod. Clinton Sparks------ on first listen the intro to this song is great the beat is moderately upbeat and Bob Marley repeating a little hook and sounding nice. After about 20 sec. The beat drops out and it’s more of somebody banging on the left side of a piano and the lyrics from Suicidal Thoughts come in. His voice is noticeably different to someone who is used to hearing it on RTD. My first problem with this song is that it sounds like too different songs they tried too hard to put it together. My Second and main problem with this song is that these once poetic and sad lyrics were chopped up into three verses with way too many pauses. The third thing about this song is that it is completely unnecessary, There are already too many songs and this is just changing a good song that needed not to be messed with.
20.Just a Memory(Notorious B.I.G., The Clipse)prod. Scram Jones-----Scram Jones and the Clipse make this such a nice track they actually take the attention completely away from B.I.G. Malice and Pusha-T’s verses were much better than the verse that biggie spit by a long shot. Biggie’s verse was the first off of the song “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Kills you” and is a good verse. The Clipse make this one of the best songs on the CD with their great descriptive verses. This beat sounds exactly like the type the Clipse usually uses not overly complex or overly simplistic; it is just complex enough to not take away from the lyrics.
21.Wake Up(Notorious B.I.G., Korn)prod. Jonathan Davis------- Korn and Biggie may sound strange but I like the way he sounds under these guitar’s the beat is sort of dark and gloomy and becomes really energetic as biggies verses change. He spits the classic If I should die before I wake’s first verse. Where he starts “I’m loco bro but ain’t no Mexican/I got nines in the bedroom, Glocks in the kitchen/ and a shotty by the shower if you wanna shoot me while I’m shittin.” When the song get’s more up beat B.I.G. kicks the lyrics to “Kick in the Door” too finish off the song. All in all an interesting concept for a song and sounds nice together very pleasantly surprised by this song. Even though I couldn’t figure what wake up has to do with it. DISCLAIMER if you don’t like rock and roll or corn after Biggies second verse you may want to press skip because that’s all that’s left.
22.Love is everlasting-------- A track where Biggies mother say’s what I think is a poem she wrote for her son. I don’t like the sound of her voice and if you don’t then another skippable interlude ends the CD.This CD has it’s up’s and it’s Downs It has some nice unreleased verses and different versions of many other verses Biggie has created over the years. Not many songs came together and really meshed well but the ones that did were fantastic.
Rating:6.3 way too many skippable tracks and poor attempts of duets mixed in with some classic tracks. Overall It get’s my three step system.
1. insert and press play.
2. Skip around.
3. Eject.
Review Done by the one and only Jonathan Layon Crook
1.Live from Jamacia---eh it’s the intro only talking basically an intro as if B.I.G. was doing a concert in Jamacia one listen is enough.
2.It Has Been said(Eminem,Obie Trice, P. Diddy) prod. Eminem-----The first song on the CD and the first song that shows you this isn’t gonna be a Biggie CD. Eminem, Obie Trice and P. Diddy are the only people with verses. Eminem’s verse was a tribute to his legacy and was good not great but good. Obie’s verse another tribute verse and seemed like he just tried to hard to make it sound like he really wrote this for B.I.G., then Diddy’s verse of tribute was nothing but trash. One of the worst Diddy has spit in a while. He tried to get his point across that biggie was his friend and this CD was not just a scheme to get money, However with verses like this it doesn’t work.
3.Spit your game(Notorious B.I.G., Twista, Krazie Bone) prod. Swizz Beats----It combines Biggie’s verse on Notorious Thugs with new verses with Krazie bone and an addition of Twista. Big’s verse is sped up to match the Swizz Beats beat. It defiantly doesn’t add to the song but it doesn’t take away from it either. The beat is nothing special and “Swizzy’s” adlibs in the background give the song a bad appeal. Final verdict waste of a good B.I.G. verse.
4.Whatchu Want(Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z)prod. Danja----Finally the third B.I.G./Jay collab that had been recorded. These two have always worked well together from Brooklyn’s finest to Love this Dough. Biggie’s two verses were also the first unreleased ones on the CD. Nice verses from B.I.G. but one of his predictable battle verses and Jay stepped up to improve the song with a great verse that included this line “You based on us, you fiction/Ya eight's don't bust, you a constant contradiction” Danja also gives the best production so far on this disc.
5.Get your Grind on(Notorious B.I.G., Big Pun, Fat Joe)prod. Sean C.----- The intro to this song gets you ready for greatness as a collab between B.I.G. and Big Pun is talked about. The beat creeps in as B.I.G. spits excerpts from “My Downfall” while freeway spits another uninspired chorus. Big Pun comes in with a verse along with Fat Joe. Puns verse is average at best but delivered nice, while Fat Joe’s verse explains how far he’s has fallen since he was just starting in the terror squad. Terrible is the only word to describe it. Skipping this track is a good idea unless you love pun’s delivery and B.I.G.’s verses. Sean C and Diddy did nothing with this beat just a simple piano loop some quiet violins.
6.Living The Life(Notorious B.I.G., Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Faith Evans, Bobby Valentino)prod. The Hitmen----- A song about the Life after making it “B.I.G.” . Biggie starts this with his verse of “Let Me Get Down” off of Born again. A highly upbeat song however this song doesn’t seem to fit anyone’s verses. And sounds really crowded with three R&B voices on it(Faith Evans, Cheri Dennis, Bobby Valentino). The verses have a couple punchlines but not something you can’t wait to listen too again.The Hitmen and Diddy cooked up what sounds like the finished beat to the previous song(Get your grind on). This is yet another song with just Big names.
7.The Greatest Rapper---an interlude where his Son C.J. states his dad was the Greatest Rapper Ever….in other words a waste of 8 sec.
8.1970 somethin’(Notorious B.I.G., The Game)prod. Dre & Vidal------ The title can tell a Biggie fan where his verses will be coming from(Respect for those that don’t know) and as it intro’s to the beginning the Chorus and beat are sounding nice until…. You hear the verses. NO B.I.G.’s verses are the same except his voice is changed and is chopped up. His delivery is destroyed and If you since Game only has one lackluster verse with a coupl nice lines Biggie Fans are recommended to just listen to “Respect” off of Ready to Die. Not a good song at all.
9.Nasty Girl(Notorious B.I.G., P. Diddy, Jagged Edge, Nelly)prod. Jazze Pha----The first single off the CD and a single is exactly what it sounds like. I wouldn’t even recommend DJ’s playing this at a club it’s so bad. Jazze Pha the only beat it seems he knows how to create and Biggie’s verse is from Nasty Boy and tells the story of going out and getting with a girl. However Didd’y verse and Jagged edge sound like they are at a strip club throwing money. Not only don’t they fit Nelly, spits half a verse and it sounds like he was busy doing something else during his verse. This song is definitely shippable material. As much as I dislike this song Jagged edge sounds nice on the track.
10.Living in Pain(Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Nas, Mary J. Blige)prod. Just Blaze-----This is clearly the Best song on the CD. It looks a little intimidating seeing 3 hip hop Legends combining with an R&B Legend but this is what the other songs on the CD were trying to be. This song is great and worth many spins. Mary J delivers heart felt vocals along with an amazing chorus as only she can. Biggie and 2pac both spit unreleased verses that sound meant to go together. Nas comes after and sounds determined to spit one of his best for the simple fact he understands he’s on the track with greatness and man does he do it. I wouldn’t say it’s his best but it’s nothing short of great. All this is Backed up by a Gloomy hard hitting beat from Just Blaze definitely something special. The three verses by Nas, 2Pac and B.I.G. complement each other so well. They all talk about the House of Pain but three different houses. Biggie speaks on the pain of growing up and doing stuff that hurt him emotionally and the people around him physically. 2Pac spoke on the pressures that pain a man trying to make it in this world and all outside forces that can get you down. Nas Brings it to 2005 and gives explains how we are still living in this world that’s a “House of Pain”.
11.I’m Wit Whateva(Lil' Wayne, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones)prod. Stevie J-------This wasn’t a good look No Biggie on the track at all. In the original version of this song which was one a Diplomat’s mix tape has Biggie with the first verse off Ready to die. This track without Biggie has no place on this CD. As far as Lil’ Wayne he has a predictable punch line after punch line verse but rides the beat well on this track. After wheezy says his piece the song needs to be turned off ASAP. Juelz’s verse is very choppy and after listening to it many times I still have not figured out on good thing to say about it.
12.Beef(Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep)prod. Havoc------This verse is the best one from Biggie on the CD, wasn’t changed much and the beat while not similar to the one on Life After Death it is a good one nonetheless I would say that this one is actually better. It is the first verse from What’s Beef. Mobb Deep was a nice touch to the song showing the violent side of beef. P.Diddy managed to effect this song in a negative way by trying to seem intimidating with his high pitched curses over the end of the record including that this is the second best song on the CD.
13.My Dad-----another interlude from his daughter saying that Biggie was her Dad and at the risk of sounding unsympathetic to her situation I will have to say she also should have been left off because her and her brother have now wasted 18 sec combined of my life. These interludes are annoying and should have been left off at all costs.
14.Hustler’s story(Notorious B.I.G., Akon, Scarface, Big Gee)prod. Reefa------- WOW I usually don’t like Akon but he did his thang with the Chorus of this track.This song is overall surprisingly good. Scarface is a nice touch and If Akon would not have “sung” his verse if you call what Akon does singing. Big Gee delivers a nice verse and complements the theme of the song while adding his ownlittle touch. This is a very Underrated track.
15.Breakin’ Old habit’s(Notorious B.I.G., T.I., Slim Thug)prod. Chink Santana------another well produced track(3 in a row) and If T.I. would have stayed on the chorus would have greatly impacted the song. B.I.G.’s verse is nothing short of amazing with lines like “While I just, slang coke, smoke pounds to choke/Got lawyers watching lawyers so I won't go broke” The song is about after fighting all your life your habits of fighting still impact you in everything you do and are hard to break. Slim Thug delivers another surprisingly good verse with lines like “I roll strapped glock 40 in my lap/I rap but still think like I'm grinding in the trap/Trying to adapt to the change from the streets to the game/Can't be selling CD's and still selling dem thangs” T.I.’s chorus is great and this is where you get the sense that the album is flowing.
16.Ultimate Rush(Notorious B.I.G., Missy Elliot)prod. Scott Storch------This song is not good anyway you slice it. Missy Elliot comes off and does her verse and it sounds like she is only on the song because lil’ kim was not. Missy is the main reason for the failure of this is a song. She has terrible lines after terrible lines. B.I.G.’s verse is lackluster and doesn’t sound like it belongs on this beat. Storch’s beat is way to cluttered and is another problem with this song. This song starts the decline of the album.
17.Mi Casa(Notorious B.I.G., R. Kelly, Charlie Wilson) prod. DJ Green Lantern----- The beat on this song is not terrible but is far from good. Then the fact that R. Kelly didn’t even try to be on the same page as B.I.G. was upsetting. B.I.G.’s verses of friend of mine were altered, again his voice was made into a higher pitch. Another skippable track unless you really like hearing the words to friend of mine and even then I would suggest just getting out ready to Die.
18.Little Homie----- Interlude saying Biggie is and will always be the king of New York.
19.Hold Ya Head(Notorious B.I.G., Bob Marley)prod. Clinton Sparks------ on first listen the intro to this song is great the beat is moderately upbeat and Bob Marley repeating a little hook and sounding nice. After about 20 sec. The beat drops out and it’s more of somebody banging on the left side of a piano and the lyrics from Suicidal Thoughts come in. His voice is noticeably different to someone who is used to hearing it on RTD. My first problem with this song is that it sounds like too different songs they tried too hard to put it together. My Second and main problem with this song is that these once poetic and sad lyrics were chopped up into three verses with way too many pauses. The third thing about this song is that it is completely unnecessary, There are already too many songs and this is just changing a good song that needed not to be messed with.
20.Just a Memory(Notorious B.I.G., The Clipse)prod. Scram Jones-----Scram Jones and the Clipse make this such a nice track they actually take the attention completely away from B.I.G. Malice and Pusha-T’s verses were much better than the verse that biggie spit by a long shot. Biggie’s verse was the first off of the song “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Kills you” and is a good verse. The Clipse make this one of the best songs on the CD with their great descriptive verses. This beat sounds exactly like the type the Clipse usually uses not overly complex or overly simplistic; it is just complex enough to not take away from the lyrics.
21.Wake Up(Notorious B.I.G., Korn)prod. Jonathan Davis------- Korn and Biggie may sound strange but I like the way he sounds under these guitar’s the beat is sort of dark and gloomy and becomes really energetic as biggies verses change. He spits the classic If I should die before I wake’s first verse. Where he starts “I’m loco bro but ain’t no Mexican/I got nines in the bedroom, Glocks in the kitchen/ and a shotty by the shower if you wanna shoot me while I’m shittin.” When the song get’s more up beat B.I.G. kicks the lyrics to “Kick in the Door” too finish off the song. All in all an interesting concept for a song and sounds nice together very pleasantly surprised by this song. Even though I couldn’t figure what wake up has to do with it. DISCLAIMER if you don’t like rock and roll or corn after Biggies second verse you may want to press skip because that’s all that’s left.
22.Love is everlasting-------- A track where Biggies mother say’s what I think is a poem she wrote for her son. I don’t like the sound of her voice and if you don’t then another skippable interlude ends the CD.This CD has it’s up’s and it’s Downs It has some nice unreleased verses and different versions of many other verses Biggie has created over the years. Not many songs came together and really meshed well but the ones that did were fantastic.
Rating:6.3 way too many skippable tracks and poor attempts of duets mixed in with some classic tracks. Overall It get’s my three step system.
1. insert and press play.
2. Skip around.
3. Eject.
Review Done by the one and only Jonathan Layon Crook
Thursday, February 15, 2007
50 Cent: Power of the Dollar
Once again, I'm gonna split this into three parts.
50 Cent is one of the few rappers that is hated by hip hop fans of all types, even the kinds that don’t normally agree on anything. The “backpackers” hate him for being the living embodiment of everything that’s wrong with hip hop nowadays, labeling him a no-talent hack who appeals to the mainstream crowd. The “socially conscious” crowd labels him a modern day minstrel show caricature, an ignorant thug perpetuating negative black stereotypes in exchange for a quick buck. You have the “hardcore” crowd who views him as a snitch and a wannabe gangsta who appeals only to white suburban kids and has lost all respect in the streets. Finally, you have the crowd that I’m sure the majority of the people in this group fall under; the fans of plain old good hip hop no matter its background. They dislike him for the simple fact that as of now, he sucks. His lyrics are lazy, his concepts cliched, and his present catalogue devoid of any sort of substance. If you fall under the first three categories it’s doubtful that 50's never released debut Power of the Dollar will change your perception of him. The title alone should be evident that content wise, its not all that different from the usual that we’ve seen from Mr. Jackson. Drug dealing, money, hoes, shit talking, and killing run rampant throughout the entire CD. However, if you’re simply a fan of good hip hop, I urge you to check this album out. Those who have grown accustomed to the uninspired and just plain crappy music that 50 has put out lately will likely be surprised by what you hear.
Intro:
The album starts with a very cinematic intro. Police and ambulance sirens are heard in the background and dark and soulful music that you might hear out of a blaxploitation film plays. A man, one of 50's “boys” I imagine, starts to speak about the concept of change and how the whole world revolves around it. 50 then joins in and the two of them both label themselves as “winners.” They then deliver a message that many today would see as a stark contradiction to 50's modern day image. To paraphrase “It aint about how many cars you got, or how much ice you rock, it aint about that shit, its about how the fuck you feed your family. Understand that, simple minded muthafuckas. Ya’ll busy getting pimped. So think about that shit, when you recoup your record deal. Yeah, think about that shit cuz you living off the strength of the next nigga anyway.” The sincerity of this little monologue is debatable. But one things for certain, it’s a very strong album intro that pulls the listener in from the get go.
The Hit:
The production of this song, like all the songs on the album, are done by the Trackmasters. Because of this, the majority of the songs sound similar but I like what Tone and Poke do. The beats aren’t as epic and booming as the ones on Get Rich or Die Trying but they have a very smooth and soulful sound that mend well with 50's flow. And that’s the first thing you’ll notice about this song; 50's flow. Keep in mind, the album was made before he got shot in the mouth, and the difference that it caused in his voice is striking. There’s no slurred mumble. His voice is clear, powerful, and engaging. That’s what you’ll notice the most because the song itself isn’t all that memorable. Its basically a way for 50 to introduce his style to the listener and it contains the typical gangsta boasting. But one thing that it does achieve is establish 50's undeniable mic presence and swagger. There’s something about the calm and icy cold demeanor that he has when he raps about his gangsta lifestyle. He doesn’t sound angry, aggressive, or like he has anything to prove. He simply sounds indifferent. This makes him all the more powerful.
The Good Die Young:
I’ve heard this beat before but I can’t remember from which song. I’m sure Tone and Poke used it again since the album was never released. But anyway, this is one of the better songs on the album. It has a very laid back feel as 50 muses about street life and the lifestyle that he lives. It’s one of the few songs where 50 really “opens up” and the listener gets a reasonable look at where 50 is coming from.
Corner Bodega
This is more of a skit than an actual song. Basically 50 tells a story about him making a drug deal. The way that 50 describes it is very engaging and he paints a visual and atmospheric picture that gives insight into the life of a drug dealer. Definitely better than your typical album skit.
Your Life’s A Line
I’m sure most of you have heard this song. It’s a bonus track on Get Rich or Die Trying. Its basically 50 bragging about how gangsta he is while throwing some subliminal shots at Ja Rule. 50 has some decent punchlines and his flow is on point, but to be honest I never really liked this song that much. The chorus is annoying to me.
That Aint Gangsta
This song has one of the better beats on the album. The song is once again 50 bragging about how gangsta he is, but like the whole album, it has a lot more depth than you might think. The level of detail and insight that he gives into the gangsta life is incredible. In a way, he’s educating the listener, almost giving a journalistic account of life on the streets. As you’ll find out later on though, the amount of information that 50 gives gets even bigger as the album progresses.
As the World Turns
This is a song that features U.G.K. The beat is banging and it has a very down south type beat. The song basically talks about the importance of money. 50 tries a southern type flow on this but to be honest I don’t like it that much. I’ll give him an A for effort but it sounds forced. This becomes even more evident once Bun B starts spitting and completely murders 50 on the track.
Ghetto Qu’ran
I’m sure most of you have heard about this, the infamous Ghetto Qu’ran. Many people think it’s the reason that 50 got shot as he describes the street life and various drug dealers in a way that might have been a little TOO accurate. I’m not hear to debate whether it was right for 50 to make this song and whether or not it makes him a snitch. What I can say is that the song is incredible. The emotion and the amount of detail that 50 brings is amazing and after listening, you truly feel as if you’ve just gone on a 4 ½ minute journey into the mean streets of Jamaica, Queens.
Da Repercussions
Self-explanatory. 50 basically goes over the codes of the street and the consequences of not following those rules. Pretty ironic that he has this song play right after Ghetto Qu’ran but whatever. It’s another strong song with good production by the Track Masters.
Money By Any Means
This song is amazing because of the simple fact that its not redundant. At this point in the album, 50 has already told us time and time again that money is important. The fact that he can do it yet again but still sound fresh is pretty incredible. Once again though, he gets outshined by a guest artist. This time its Noreaga.
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Material Girl 2000
Not really feeling this song. It’s basically a song about gold diggers. The beat is hot and 50 rides it well but I just didn’t like the concept of the song.
Thug Love
This is easily the most commercial song on the album and I think it was supposed to be the first commercial single as it features Destiny’s Child. The song isn’t all that bad and 50 actually has some nice verses but it doesn’t belong on an album like this. This would’ve fit better on The Massacre.
Slow Doe
All right, so Money By Any Means was cool but by now the whole “money” theme is overkill. Still, 50's flow is strong once again so I was able to tolerate it.
Gun Runner
This is probably one of my favorite skits/story songs on a hip hop album ever. It basically starts off with 50 asleep and being woken up by an old friend who is interested in buying guns from him. I won’t ruin the rest but I will say that 50's story telling techniques on this one are incredible. In the span of 2 minutes, 50 manages to make a song with realistic dialogue, an interesting plot, and a darkly humorous surprise ending.
You Aint No Gangsta
All right, I know this is gonna sound cliched but this is easily the most “gangsta” song on the album. The beat is probably the darkest and most foreboding on the whole album and 50 works his gangsta bravado to perfection on this one. Once again, its his laid back and matter of fact tone that works so effectively.
Power of the Dollar
Probably my favorite song from 50 Cent ever. The beat, 50's flow, his lyrics, his intensity, his emotion. This is 50 at his best. I know I sound hypocritical praising this song when I complained earlier about the money theme being redundant but this song is so good that it transcends its own tired concept. The song is probably the best examples of 50's flow perfectly matching the beat. I LOVE this song.
I’m A Hustler
With a song as great as Power of the Dollar preceding it, it would be easy for this track to be overshadowed. But it surprisingly holds its own. The beat is a BANGER, reminds me of something that Primo could’ve produced. 50 doesn’t say anything too substantial on this one but he does have a few interesting lines. “I hate a liar more than I hate a thief, a thief is only after my salary, a liar’s after my reality” and also “Here’s a jewel, love your enemies and hate your friends, your enemies remain the same, your friends always change.” Philosophical wisdom coming from the creator of Candy Shop? Maybe not, but the lines are interesting nonetheless.
How to Rob
This is probably the most memorable song on the album and it’s the track that really gave 50 his first major buzz. You’ve probably heard the song or at least heard about it but basically its 50 describing different ways in which he’d rob popular artists in the recording industry. And he spares no one. Everyone from Lil Kim, to the Wu Tang Clan, to Kirk Franklin(yes, you read that right) is a victim of his crime spree. The single caused a lot of controversy and pissed a lot of people off. Was it right or responsible for 50 to make a song like this? No. Is it hilarious and entertaining as hell? You bet ya. Here are my two favorite lines. “I’ll rob Pun without a gun, snatch his piece and run, this nigga weighs 400 pounds how he gon’ catch me son?” and “Caught Timbaland and Missy with the pound, I was like ‘you, give me the cash and put the hot dog down!” Great song and the perfect way to end the album.
In closing, to me, this album is in many ways like a very good blockbuster film. Not a whole lot of substance but so well crafted and made that I can look past that. Way better than the Massacre and in my opinion(and I’m sure a lot of people disagree with me on this) better than Get Rich or Die Trying. 8 out of 10.
50 Cent is one of the few rappers that is hated by hip hop fans of all types, even the kinds that don’t normally agree on anything. The “backpackers” hate him for being the living embodiment of everything that’s wrong with hip hop nowadays, labeling him a no-talent hack who appeals to the mainstream crowd. The “socially conscious” crowd labels him a modern day minstrel show caricature, an ignorant thug perpetuating negative black stereotypes in exchange for a quick buck. You have the “hardcore” crowd who views him as a snitch and a wannabe gangsta who appeals only to white suburban kids and has lost all respect in the streets. Finally, you have the crowd that I’m sure the majority of the people in this group fall under; the fans of plain old good hip hop no matter its background. They dislike him for the simple fact that as of now, he sucks. His lyrics are lazy, his concepts cliched, and his present catalogue devoid of any sort of substance. If you fall under the first three categories it’s doubtful that 50's never released debut Power of the Dollar will change your perception of him. The title alone should be evident that content wise, its not all that different from the usual that we’ve seen from Mr. Jackson. Drug dealing, money, hoes, shit talking, and killing run rampant throughout the entire CD. However, if you’re simply a fan of good hip hop, I urge you to check this album out. Those who have grown accustomed to the uninspired and just plain crappy music that 50 has put out lately will likely be surprised by what you hear.
Intro:
The album starts with a very cinematic intro. Police and ambulance sirens are heard in the background and dark and soulful music that you might hear out of a blaxploitation film plays. A man, one of 50's “boys” I imagine, starts to speak about the concept of change and how the whole world revolves around it. 50 then joins in and the two of them both label themselves as “winners.” They then deliver a message that many today would see as a stark contradiction to 50's modern day image. To paraphrase “It aint about how many cars you got, or how much ice you rock, it aint about that shit, its about how the fuck you feed your family. Understand that, simple minded muthafuckas. Ya’ll busy getting pimped. So think about that shit, when you recoup your record deal. Yeah, think about that shit cuz you living off the strength of the next nigga anyway.” The sincerity of this little monologue is debatable. But one things for certain, it’s a very strong album intro that pulls the listener in from the get go.
The Hit:
The production of this song, like all the songs on the album, are done by the Trackmasters. Because of this, the majority of the songs sound similar but I like what Tone and Poke do. The beats aren’t as epic and booming as the ones on Get Rich or Die Trying but they have a very smooth and soulful sound that mend well with 50's flow. And that’s the first thing you’ll notice about this song; 50's flow. Keep in mind, the album was made before he got shot in the mouth, and the difference that it caused in his voice is striking. There’s no slurred mumble. His voice is clear, powerful, and engaging. That’s what you’ll notice the most because the song itself isn’t all that memorable. Its basically a way for 50 to introduce his style to the listener and it contains the typical gangsta boasting. But one thing that it does achieve is establish 50's undeniable mic presence and swagger. There’s something about the calm and icy cold demeanor that he has when he raps about his gangsta lifestyle. He doesn’t sound angry, aggressive, or like he has anything to prove. He simply sounds indifferent. This makes him all the more powerful.
The Good Die Young:
I’ve heard this beat before but I can’t remember from which song. I’m sure Tone and Poke used it again since the album was never released. But anyway, this is one of the better songs on the album. It has a very laid back feel as 50 muses about street life and the lifestyle that he lives. It’s one of the few songs where 50 really “opens up” and the listener gets a reasonable look at where 50 is coming from.
Corner Bodega
This is more of a skit than an actual song. Basically 50 tells a story about him making a drug deal. The way that 50 describes it is very engaging and he paints a visual and atmospheric picture that gives insight into the life of a drug dealer. Definitely better than your typical album skit.
Your Life’s A Line
I’m sure most of you have heard this song. It’s a bonus track on Get Rich or Die Trying. Its basically 50 bragging about how gangsta he is while throwing some subliminal shots at Ja Rule. 50 has some decent punchlines and his flow is on point, but to be honest I never really liked this song that much. The chorus is annoying to me.
That Aint Gangsta
This song has one of the better beats on the album. The song is once again 50 bragging about how gangsta he is, but like the whole album, it has a lot more depth than you might think. The level of detail and insight that he gives into the gangsta life is incredible. In a way, he’s educating the listener, almost giving a journalistic account of life on the streets. As you’ll find out later on though, the amount of information that 50 gives gets even bigger as the album progresses.
As the World Turns
This is a song that features U.G.K. The beat is banging and it has a very down south type beat. The song basically talks about the importance of money. 50 tries a southern type flow on this but to be honest I don’t like it that much. I’ll give him an A for effort but it sounds forced. This becomes even more evident once Bun B starts spitting and completely murders 50 on the track.
Ghetto Qu’ran
I’m sure most of you have heard about this, the infamous Ghetto Qu’ran. Many people think it’s the reason that 50 got shot as he describes the street life and various drug dealers in a way that might have been a little TOO accurate. I’m not hear to debate whether it was right for 50 to make this song and whether or not it makes him a snitch. What I can say is that the song is incredible. The emotion and the amount of detail that 50 brings is amazing and after listening, you truly feel as if you’ve just gone on a 4 ½ minute journey into the mean streets of Jamaica, Queens.
Da Repercussions
Self-explanatory. 50 basically goes over the codes of the street and the consequences of not following those rules. Pretty ironic that he has this song play right after Ghetto Qu’ran but whatever. It’s another strong song with good production by the Track Masters.
Money By Any Means
This song is amazing because of the simple fact that its not redundant. At this point in the album, 50 has already told us time and time again that money is important. The fact that he can do it yet again but still sound fresh is pretty incredible. Once again though, he gets outshined by a guest artist. This time its Noreaga.
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Material Girl 2000
Not really feeling this song. It’s basically a song about gold diggers. The beat is hot and 50 rides it well but I just didn’t like the concept of the song.
Thug Love
This is easily the most commercial song on the album and I think it was supposed to be the first commercial single as it features Destiny’s Child. The song isn’t all that bad and 50 actually has some nice verses but it doesn’t belong on an album like this. This would’ve fit better on The Massacre.
Slow Doe
All right, so Money By Any Means was cool but by now the whole “money” theme is overkill. Still, 50's flow is strong once again so I was able to tolerate it.
Gun Runner
This is probably one of my favorite skits/story songs on a hip hop album ever. It basically starts off with 50 asleep and being woken up by an old friend who is interested in buying guns from him. I won’t ruin the rest but I will say that 50's story telling techniques on this one are incredible. In the span of 2 minutes, 50 manages to make a song with realistic dialogue, an interesting plot, and a darkly humorous surprise ending.
You Aint No Gangsta
All right, I know this is gonna sound cliched but this is easily the most “gangsta” song on the album. The beat is probably the darkest and most foreboding on the whole album and 50 works his gangsta bravado to perfection on this one. Once again, its his laid back and matter of fact tone that works so effectively.
Power of the Dollar
Probably my favorite song from 50 Cent ever. The beat, 50's flow, his lyrics, his intensity, his emotion. This is 50 at his best. I know I sound hypocritical praising this song when I complained earlier about the money theme being redundant but this song is so good that it transcends its own tired concept. The song is probably the best examples of 50's flow perfectly matching the beat. I LOVE this song.
I’m A Hustler
With a song as great as Power of the Dollar preceding it, it would be easy for this track to be overshadowed. But it surprisingly holds its own. The beat is a BANGER, reminds me of something that Primo could’ve produced. 50 doesn’t say anything too substantial on this one but he does have a few interesting lines. “I hate a liar more than I hate a thief, a thief is only after my salary, a liar’s after my reality” and also “Here’s a jewel, love your enemies and hate your friends, your enemies remain the same, your friends always change.” Philosophical wisdom coming from the creator of Candy Shop? Maybe not, but the lines are interesting nonetheless.
How to Rob
This is probably the most memorable song on the album and it’s the track that really gave 50 his first major buzz. You’ve probably heard the song or at least heard about it but basically its 50 describing different ways in which he’d rob popular artists in the recording industry. And he spares no one. Everyone from Lil Kim, to the Wu Tang Clan, to Kirk Franklin(yes, you read that right) is a victim of his crime spree. The single caused a lot of controversy and pissed a lot of people off. Was it right or responsible for 50 to make a song like this? No. Is it hilarious and entertaining as hell? You bet ya. Here are my two favorite lines. “I’ll rob Pun without a gun, snatch his piece and run, this nigga weighs 400 pounds how he gon’ catch me son?” and “Caught Timbaland and Missy with the pound, I was like ‘you, give me the cash and put the hot dog down!” Great song and the perfect way to end the album.
In closing, to me, this album is in many ways like a very good blockbuster film. Not a whole lot of substance but so well crafted and made that I can look past that. Way better than the Massacre and in my opinion(and I’m sure a lot of people disagree with me on this) better than Get Rich or Die Trying. 8 out of 10.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Volume 10 - Pawn Shop
This review is gonna be on Volume 10 - Pawn shop. Alot of you have no idea who I'm talkin about. So I'm gonna give you a little knowledge before this one just so ya know what your dealin with:
"Part of Los Angeles' Heavyweights Crew, which included Freestyle Fellowship, Medusa, and Ganjah K, Volume 10 was part of the West Coast's vibrant underground rap scene in the '90s. Like many Los Angeles MCs, Volume 10 honed his skills during battles at the Good Life Cafe, but set himself apart as an MC able to balance both thuggish violent imagery and skill-heavy open mike styles. After a guest spot on Freestyle Fellowship's Inner City Griots in 1993, he released his debut full-length, Hip-Hopera. The album spawned a hit single, Pistol Grip Pump, which would later be covered on Rage Against the Machine's Renegades. 10 also appeared on the Project Blowed compilation in 1995, considered by many to be one of the underground's defining moments. A second solo CD, Psycho, appeared in 2000 on 10's own Pump Productions."
Due to the fact this album hasnt even been released yet. I cant be too exact on the Production but I know most of it was handled by Bionik of beat science. So now that I've got you up to date on this cat I'll jump right into this same as always. Track by track
_____
1.Aint Talkin Bout Shit
This is a great way to start of any album. A Great bangin beat with some nice keys and drums it just bounces along beautifully. Volume comes nicely on this track and shows of a little of both sides of his style a little gangsta a little battle rhymer as he raps about "nothing". He just makes up some nice bullshit rap about all the things he has and how hard he is in a mokcery of all the Bling bling rappers. Nice track and 10's flow is great.
2. Skate F/ P.E.A.C.E of Freestyle Fellowship
Now to start off i should say had this been the first track i probably would have just deleted the album but the first one actually made me pay attention to this. I'm happy I did. The beat comes off like 90% of the crap on the radio it's not bad its just very commercial sounding the hook is also pretty commercial sounding. HOWEVER Volume 10 and P.E.A.C.E Kill it they both hit the mic hard and do a great job over this fast paced beat. They are basically tellin other cats not to F*%k with them basic concept but a good song!
3. Ghetto Children F/ P.E.A.C.E of Freestyle Fellowship
When this track starts out your givin the hook and man does it suck! its Volume singing and man does he suck at singing! the rest of the song is pretty nice as they rap about life as a kid in the ghetto. The beat is simple but nice. P.E.A.C.E makes another solid appearance and i quote "Mary J shoulda been on this one" I couldnt have put it better myself. Other then the hook this song ain't bad but holy fuck does the hook suck!
4. Gangsta is as Gangsta Does
This is the side of Volume i dont like that much. I've never been a fan for "gangsta rap" i dont understand the whole concept of being proud of something which in essesnce is a plague on society's but anyway Volume raps about being a gangsta (surprised?) the beat is very simple with a heavy Kick and some weird synth behind it it works nicely for the track. not bad overall
5. Suga Wuga
The beat on this track is pretty cool its a very repetitive beat with some nice female vocals sampled in the back. Volume goes a lil different on this track he lays it down nicely but it's not his standard flow and he's constantly changing it up. The best part of this track is he speaks the chorus and a childs voice is sampled over it saying the same thing (think Common - Watermelon). The whole song is about his child and he does a great job on it. Definatley one worth checkin out.
6.Pawn Shop
The title track doesnt dissapoint at all the beat reminds me of something Illmind would do with some nice keyboard and a mix of other instruments and good use of samples. 10 does a great job of spitting on this track and he RIPS it up then slows it down its a a great listen. I Slept on this track a bit and havent really had alot of time to analyze the lyrics but i believe whats he's gettin at is his little known status in rap.
7.Peeka-Boo
Petey Pablo anyone? no he's not on this track but if they did a remix with him I wouldnt be surprised at all the beat instantley made me think Petey Pab although it sounds kinda nice is not my choice. Volume 10 does a good job on this I guess but I dont like it that much the beat kinda makes me feel sick.
8.Jubilate
I don't even care what this song is about the beat is a shitty attempt to sound like a producer made it as opposed to a 9 year old on his computer. really shitty song. Volume 10 sounds like crap the hook makes me want to beat him senseless and it upsets the nice flow the album had going. SKIP IT!
9.Zeke
Ok I've been waiting to get to this one. Its fuckin DIRTY!! The beat is alot like Peter Frampton talking through his guitar repeated with a nice simple drum beat. Now here is the part I can't believe. Volume 10 comes with the LAZIEST FLOW EVER! It's like he weighed 450lbs and just ran up a flight of steps only better (haha i dont know how else to discribe it). With 10's flow over top of such a weird beat this track is killer!!! It alone makes this album almost worth the money and definatley worth a download. The song as far as I can tell is about a friend named zeke and him and the shit they did. Please check out this track this is the only place you'll hear something like this!
10. Donky Donk
Ok here is a track for the guilty pleasures thread. The beat sounds like something off of a 50 album and somehow 10 sounds completely different his voice becomes all nasally and weird. For some reason tho i really enjoy this song the hook sounds hilarious and as far as i can tell its all about ass. I know better then to like tracks like this but im sure it will grow old soon.
11. Happy
This song has been buggin me for days as I cant figure out the beat I know its an old rock song with some drums added and I know I've heard it I wanna say Zepplin but somehow it doesnt seem right anyway it sounds real nice. 10 comes nice on this track and gets his Hendrix on in the hook. A nice change up on his part and gives a nice balance to the album after previous tracks.
12. Family Tree
Okay so ya know how earlier I said 10 shouldnt sing? That isnt always true. The beat is fantastic and has a bit of a Dr Dre feel to it. The way 10 sings\raps over this beat is great another very original track which gives some understanding to why he is as respected as he is, or at least was before the world forgot about the Heavyweights crew! To be honest I've listened to this track many times and everytime I think I understand what he's talkin about he says something that throws me off but I'm pretty sure he is talking about god and family. If I'm wrong my apoligies for misinforming you. Like I said great track.
13. Good Life
I didnt think it was possible but this song actually manages to Suck & Blow at the same time. 10 sounds very good over it but the beat sounds unfinished and messy. The hook sounds like absolute garbage and brings back the whole Volume 10 shouldnt sing comment. The funny thing about this track is that he's talkin about how great his music is. Its enjoyable Irony! Everytime I listen to it it does kinda grow on me (3rd listen since I started reviewing the track) but the hook just kills it I mean its not a good song by any means but the rhyming and flow are pretty on point regardless.
So there is my review for Volume 10 - Pawn Shop. By no means is this album a classic there are a few tracks that should not be on any album,mixtape or webpage but despite it's weak points i still enjoyed this album and some of the originality displayed by Volume 10 is responsible for making it as enjoyable as it is. i wouldnt reccomend this album to everyone but i think everyone should get there hands on "Zeke" that track is Fantastic. Anyone wants the one song lemme know i'll hook you up over MSN. Volume 10 has been fairly entertaining over the years and has always had great presence on the mic. This album is no different and makes for a nice listen when ya wanna switch things up a bit.
Overall 7.2/10
Comments???
"Part of Los Angeles' Heavyweights Crew, which included Freestyle Fellowship, Medusa, and Ganjah K, Volume 10 was part of the West Coast's vibrant underground rap scene in the '90s. Like many Los Angeles MCs, Volume 10 honed his skills during battles at the Good Life Cafe, but set himself apart as an MC able to balance both thuggish violent imagery and skill-heavy open mike styles. After a guest spot on Freestyle Fellowship's Inner City Griots in 1993, he released his debut full-length, Hip-Hopera. The album spawned a hit single, Pistol Grip Pump, which would later be covered on Rage Against the Machine's Renegades. 10 also appeared on the Project Blowed compilation in 1995, considered by many to be one of the underground's defining moments. A second solo CD, Psycho, appeared in 2000 on 10's own Pump Productions."
Due to the fact this album hasnt even been released yet. I cant be too exact on the Production but I know most of it was handled by Bionik of beat science. So now that I've got you up to date on this cat I'll jump right into this same as always. Track by track
_____
1.Aint Talkin Bout Shit
This is a great way to start of any album. A Great bangin beat with some nice keys and drums it just bounces along beautifully. Volume comes nicely on this track and shows of a little of both sides of his style a little gangsta a little battle rhymer as he raps about "nothing". He just makes up some nice bullshit rap about all the things he has and how hard he is in a mokcery of all the Bling bling rappers. Nice track and 10's flow is great.
2. Skate F/ P.E.A.C.E of Freestyle Fellowship
Now to start off i should say had this been the first track i probably would have just deleted the album but the first one actually made me pay attention to this. I'm happy I did. The beat comes off like 90% of the crap on the radio it's not bad its just very commercial sounding the hook is also pretty commercial sounding. HOWEVER Volume 10 and P.E.A.C.E Kill it they both hit the mic hard and do a great job over this fast paced beat. They are basically tellin other cats not to F*%k with them basic concept but a good song!
3. Ghetto Children F/ P.E.A.C.E of Freestyle Fellowship
When this track starts out your givin the hook and man does it suck! its Volume singing and man does he suck at singing! the rest of the song is pretty nice as they rap about life as a kid in the ghetto. The beat is simple but nice. P.E.A.C.E makes another solid appearance and i quote "Mary J shoulda been on this one" I couldnt have put it better myself. Other then the hook this song ain't bad but holy fuck does the hook suck!
4. Gangsta is as Gangsta Does
This is the side of Volume i dont like that much. I've never been a fan for "gangsta rap" i dont understand the whole concept of being proud of something which in essesnce is a plague on society's but anyway Volume raps about being a gangsta (surprised?) the beat is very simple with a heavy Kick and some weird synth behind it it works nicely for the track. not bad overall
5. Suga Wuga
The beat on this track is pretty cool its a very repetitive beat with some nice female vocals sampled in the back. Volume goes a lil different on this track he lays it down nicely but it's not his standard flow and he's constantly changing it up. The best part of this track is he speaks the chorus and a childs voice is sampled over it saying the same thing (think Common - Watermelon). The whole song is about his child and he does a great job on it. Definatley one worth checkin out.
6.Pawn Shop
The title track doesnt dissapoint at all the beat reminds me of something Illmind would do with some nice keyboard and a mix of other instruments and good use of samples. 10 does a great job of spitting on this track and he RIPS it up then slows it down its a a great listen. I Slept on this track a bit and havent really had alot of time to analyze the lyrics but i believe whats he's gettin at is his little known status in rap.
7.Peeka-Boo
Petey Pablo anyone? no he's not on this track but if they did a remix with him I wouldnt be surprised at all the beat instantley made me think Petey Pab although it sounds kinda nice is not my choice. Volume 10 does a good job on this I guess but I dont like it that much the beat kinda makes me feel sick.
8.Jubilate
I don't even care what this song is about the beat is a shitty attempt to sound like a producer made it as opposed to a 9 year old on his computer. really shitty song. Volume 10 sounds like crap the hook makes me want to beat him senseless and it upsets the nice flow the album had going. SKIP IT!
9.Zeke
Ok I've been waiting to get to this one. Its fuckin DIRTY!! The beat is alot like Peter Frampton talking through his guitar repeated with a nice simple drum beat. Now here is the part I can't believe. Volume 10 comes with the LAZIEST FLOW EVER! It's like he weighed 450lbs and just ran up a flight of steps only better (haha i dont know how else to discribe it). With 10's flow over top of such a weird beat this track is killer!!! It alone makes this album almost worth the money and definatley worth a download. The song as far as I can tell is about a friend named zeke and him and the shit they did. Please check out this track this is the only place you'll hear something like this!
10. Donky Donk
Ok here is a track for the guilty pleasures thread. The beat sounds like something off of a 50 album and somehow 10 sounds completely different his voice becomes all nasally and weird. For some reason tho i really enjoy this song the hook sounds hilarious and as far as i can tell its all about ass. I know better then to like tracks like this but im sure it will grow old soon.
11. Happy
This song has been buggin me for days as I cant figure out the beat I know its an old rock song with some drums added and I know I've heard it I wanna say Zepplin but somehow it doesnt seem right anyway it sounds real nice. 10 comes nice on this track and gets his Hendrix on in the hook. A nice change up on his part and gives a nice balance to the album after previous tracks.
12. Family Tree
Okay so ya know how earlier I said 10 shouldnt sing? That isnt always true. The beat is fantastic and has a bit of a Dr Dre feel to it. The way 10 sings\raps over this beat is great another very original track which gives some understanding to why he is as respected as he is, or at least was before the world forgot about the Heavyweights crew! To be honest I've listened to this track many times and everytime I think I understand what he's talkin about he says something that throws me off but I'm pretty sure he is talking about god and family. If I'm wrong my apoligies for misinforming you. Like I said great track.
13. Good Life
I didnt think it was possible but this song actually manages to Suck & Blow at the same time. 10 sounds very good over it but the beat sounds unfinished and messy. The hook sounds like absolute garbage and brings back the whole Volume 10 shouldnt sing comment. The funny thing about this track is that he's talkin about how great his music is. Its enjoyable Irony! Everytime I listen to it it does kinda grow on me (3rd listen since I started reviewing the track) but the hook just kills it I mean its not a good song by any means but the rhyming and flow are pretty on point regardless.
So there is my review for Volume 10 - Pawn Shop. By no means is this album a classic there are a few tracks that should not be on any album,mixtape or webpage but despite it's weak points i still enjoyed this album and some of the originality displayed by Volume 10 is responsible for making it as enjoyable as it is. i wouldnt reccomend this album to everyone but i think everyone should get there hands on "Zeke" that track is Fantastic. Anyone wants the one song lemme know i'll hook you up over MSN. Volume 10 has been fairly entertaining over the years and has always had great presence on the mic. This album is no different and makes for a nice listen when ya wanna switch things up a bit.
Overall 7.2/10
Comments???
Strange Fruit Project - The Healing - Album Review
So the review you've got comin at you in case you randomly click on threads without reading them first is: "Strange Fruit Project - The Healing". Strange fruit Project consists of 3 members S1/Symbolic One (Rappin, Production) Myth (Rappin) Myone (Rappin). One thing you need to know about this review is that there are 2 versions of this cd a North American Release and Japan Release. Most of the tracks are the same its just the last couple that vary. I have included the tracks from both versions in my review.
Same deal as before track by track. Let's Get It On!
1. Intro
Kinda weird start to the album its crying and wierd eerie music in the back. it sounds kinda cool and as you listen to the album you understand that it goes through the stages of a man's Spiritual Healing hence the title of the album. however for people buying the album and poppin it in the deck for the first time it sounds a little weird. nothin wrong with it other then confusion.
2. Ready Forum
So here we go the first Real track on the album. Symbolic One comes hard on the beat its a quick piano laced beat with some nice additions throughout the track. Lyrically these guys are tight the combination of S1, Myth & Myone are a fierce trio on the mic. However because I've never heard anything solo from any of them I really dont know which one is which meaning for most of this review I will be refering to them as a whole (lyrically). Great track to start things off.
3. You (the only ones)
Illmind sets SFP up with a beautiful beat and a great sample to work the background and the hook depending on how he breaks it. I'm really starting to become a bit of an Illmind mega fan due to beats like these he's really starting to impress me. when listen to this track the beat takes it for me but lyrically this is a very very very tight track the hook is tight and fits perfectly with the beat. Definatley a highlight on the album
4. Under Pressure
S1 is back on production for this track and he does a nice job its a slow rolling beat with a nice tuba or some shit which adds a nice kick to the beat. Lyrically its a nice track but not really a highlight to me its well done and they flow nicely over the beat. It just doesnt do alot for me but I think thats more opinion then any fault of SFP.
5.Good Times
S1 teams up with Roger Blevins on this track to give an almost latin feel to this very up tempo beat. All 3 members rap there ass's off on this track and really flow nicely over such a fast beat. the hook is real nice aswell with a nice sound. Another real nice track on this so far enjoyable album but things are just getting started.
6.Liberation f/ Toby
The foundation comes on for production on this one and this is the first beat I've heard by them. It's a nice slow jam with some nice drums and a simple bassline but overall a nice beat. SFP does a fairly nice job of slowing it down and rollin with the beat although this isnt really there style. It's a nice track with a good hook but SFP are at there best when playing verbal b-ball.
7. Get Live f/ Erykah Badu
HOLY CRAP! Now i don't know how this little group from Waco texas got Ms Badu on their album but i like it and Illmind once again brings some fire on the beat. Erykah as always sounds amazing her vocals just roll out over the beat and everyone just comes together and flows amazingly on this track. Fantastic!
8. Soul Clap
Jake one did the beat for this track and generally I'm not a big fan of his beats although the one he did for El Da Sensai was pretty tight. This one is even better! with some sick horns and a great drum line. SFP rips it up on this track and lyrically I think they are at there best here the hook just goes beautifully and was a great choice for there single!
9. Special F/Thesis
the beat on this track was done by 9th wonder and he gives them a slow beat although they do a much better job of holdin it down really flowin nicely Thesis does a beautiful job on the hook and her vocals add a real nice flavour to the track. Throughout the track the discuss different points in life when they feel "Special".
10. Pinball
Vitamin D provides this beat and its about as close to a gangsta track as SFP will ever get the beat sounds like something out of super mario and its a braggin big talk kinda track. Nothing special but in the flow of the album it fits nicely.
11. Rise F/ Little Brother
Alright now we get to the real heat. Once again Illmind provides a great beat Piano's a nice drum beat and it really goes nice with the flow of the track. all them members do a great job here both rapping and also on some vocals for the hook. Big Pooh sounds great on this track and as usual Phonte brings his "A" game they are both great additions to SFP's sound and most fans of LB will probably like this album. the main concept of the track is just about the rise to the top of the game. Being a big LB fan makes this one of my favorites.
12.Cali Cruisin F/ Deloach & Bavu (NA Retail)
This is a nice track with S1 on the beat. Overall I'm not a big fan of this track but I'm a huge fan of Deloach so its always in the rotation for him alone. The name of the track basically tells you everything you need to know for this track. They spit about Cali and thats that. it sounds good nothing wrong here, just not a favorite of mine.
13 Parachutes F/ Thesis (NA Retail)
Once again S1 handles the production and comes up with a nice beat. For adult contemporary audiences. Thesis sounds good and SFP sounds great but i just can't enjoy this track! thats all i have to say listen to it and dont let me ruin your opinion but I just dont like it.
14 The Plague (JP Retail)
So everyones favorite producer Nicolay comes in for this track. Man this guy can make a nice beat. This track is really really nice its slowed down which as i said doesnt fit SFP all the time but they make it work and the beat helps alot. the song basically touches on the struggles of life in society with religion etc. I Love it i gotta say one of the best tracks on the album!
15 Makin My Way (JP Retail)
Now this is the track that did it for me! M-Phazes of all people comes in with a DIRTY beat i love the piano the drums the sample everything is just great on this beat! Myth, S1, & Myone all kill it on this track the way they use the beat in there rhymes is amazing and the hook is MAD infectious I've got 3 freidns on SFP from this track alone. This track is basically about just doin your thing hustlin rhymin and keep movin. My Favorite track for sure.
16. God Is F/ Darien Brockington & Yahzarah
I have to say this is probably S1's weakest beat on the album its not horrible but has a weird flow to it and the drums dont seem to match although lyrically this track is tight and Yahzarah and Darien Brockington add that amazing soul that only they can put on a track! they discuss God and life and its nice track despite the beat.
*Hidden Track
After The Healing F/ Verbal Seed, K-Otix,Tahiti, Skotch & Kay
S1 again comes up with a strange beat but it works better in this situation then before. Everyone comes strong lyrically but this track doesnt do a whole lot for me although it is well done and im sure many people would really like it.
After sitting and having a really good listen to this album I've found some of the weaknesses in what seemed like a flawless album. Although it is still a Fantastic release and one definatley worth checking out. The high points on this album are Stunning to say the least and the lows are still better then the inconsistencies found on other albums. I really dont have any complaints with SFP's album there are just some tracks that are better then others and im sure different listeners will appreciate different tracks. The production is farely solid through the bulk of the album and a few tracks are Phenominally produced. Lyrically this album is 100% sound they flow beautifully and show off some great wordplay and teamwork on the mic. The collaborations are all wisely chosin and really add to the variety of the album. The overall flow of the album is great and makes a nice listen all the way through. personally i feel the Japan retail is the superior product but I'd suggest everyone getting both versions just to get a taste of all the tracks.
Overall 8.1/10
Same deal as before track by track. Let's Get It On!
1. Intro
Kinda weird start to the album its crying and wierd eerie music in the back. it sounds kinda cool and as you listen to the album you understand that it goes through the stages of a man's Spiritual Healing hence the title of the album. however for people buying the album and poppin it in the deck for the first time it sounds a little weird. nothin wrong with it other then confusion.
2. Ready Forum
So here we go the first Real track on the album. Symbolic One comes hard on the beat its a quick piano laced beat with some nice additions throughout the track. Lyrically these guys are tight the combination of S1, Myth & Myone are a fierce trio on the mic. However because I've never heard anything solo from any of them I really dont know which one is which meaning for most of this review I will be refering to them as a whole (lyrically). Great track to start things off.
3. You (the only ones)
Illmind sets SFP up with a beautiful beat and a great sample to work the background and the hook depending on how he breaks it. I'm really starting to become a bit of an Illmind mega fan due to beats like these he's really starting to impress me. when listen to this track the beat takes it for me but lyrically this is a very very very tight track the hook is tight and fits perfectly with the beat. Definatley a highlight on the album
4. Under Pressure
S1 is back on production for this track and he does a nice job its a slow rolling beat with a nice tuba or some shit which adds a nice kick to the beat. Lyrically its a nice track but not really a highlight to me its well done and they flow nicely over the beat. It just doesnt do alot for me but I think thats more opinion then any fault of SFP.
5.Good Times
S1 teams up with Roger Blevins on this track to give an almost latin feel to this very up tempo beat. All 3 members rap there ass's off on this track and really flow nicely over such a fast beat. the hook is real nice aswell with a nice sound. Another real nice track on this so far enjoyable album but things are just getting started.
6.Liberation f/ Toby
The foundation comes on for production on this one and this is the first beat I've heard by them. It's a nice slow jam with some nice drums and a simple bassline but overall a nice beat. SFP does a fairly nice job of slowing it down and rollin with the beat although this isnt really there style. It's a nice track with a good hook but SFP are at there best when playing verbal b-ball.
7. Get Live f/ Erykah Badu
HOLY CRAP! Now i don't know how this little group from Waco texas got Ms Badu on their album but i like it and Illmind once again brings some fire on the beat. Erykah as always sounds amazing her vocals just roll out over the beat and everyone just comes together and flows amazingly on this track. Fantastic!
8. Soul Clap
Jake one did the beat for this track and generally I'm not a big fan of his beats although the one he did for El Da Sensai was pretty tight. This one is even better! with some sick horns and a great drum line. SFP rips it up on this track and lyrically I think they are at there best here the hook just goes beautifully and was a great choice for there single!
9. Special F/Thesis
the beat on this track was done by 9th wonder and he gives them a slow beat although they do a much better job of holdin it down really flowin nicely Thesis does a beautiful job on the hook and her vocals add a real nice flavour to the track. Throughout the track the discuss different points in life when they feel "Special".
10. Pinball
Vitamin D provides this beat and its about as close to a gangsta track as SFP will ever get the beat sounds like something out of super mario and its a braggin big talk kinda track. Nothing special but in the flow of the album it fits nicely.
11. Rise F/ Little Brother
Alright now we get to the real heat. Once again Illmind provides a great beat Piano's a nice drum beat and it really goes nice with the flow of the track. all them members do a great job here both rapping and also on some vocals for the hook. Big Pooh sounds great on this track and as usual Phonte brings his "A" game they are both great additions to SFP's sound and most fans of LB will probably like this album. the main concept of the track is just about the rise to the top of the game. Being a big LB fan makes this one of my favorites.
12.Cali Cruisin F/ Deloach & Bavu (NA Retail)
This is a nice track with S1 on the beat. Overall I'm not a big fan of this track but I'm a huge fan of Deloach so its always in the rotation for him alone. The name of the track basically tells you everything you need to know for this track. They spit about Cali and thats that. it sounds good nothing wrong here, just not a favorite of mine.
13 Parachutes F/ Thesis (NA Retail)
Once again S1 handles the production and comes up with a nice beat. For adult contemporary audiences. Thesis sounds good and SFP sounds great but i just can't enjoy this track! thats all i have to say listen to it and dont let me ruin your opinion but I just dont like it.
14 The Plague (JP Retail)
So everyones favorite producer Nicolay comes in for this track. Man this guy can make a nice beat. This track is really really nice its slowed down which as i said doesnt fit SFP all the time but they make it work and the beat helps alot. the song basically touches on the struggles of life in society with religion etc. I Love it i gotta say one of the best tracks on the album!
15 Makin My Way (JP Retail)
Now this is the track that did it for me! M-Phazes of all people comes in with a DIRTY beat i love the piano the drums the sample everything is just great on this beat! Myth, S1, & Myone all kill it on this track the way they use the beat in there rhymes is amazing and the hook is MAD infectious I've got 3 freidns on SFP from this track alone. This track is basically about just doin your thing hustlin rhymin and keep movin. My Favorite track for sure.
16. God Is F/ Darien Brockington & Yahzarah
I have to say this is probably S1's weakest beat on the album its not horrible but has a weird flow to it and the drums dont seem to match although lyrically this track is tight and Yahzarah and Darien Brockington add that amazing soul that only they can put on a track! they discuss God and life and its nice track despite the beat.
*Hidden Track
After The Healing F/ Verbal Seed, K-Otix,Tahiti, Skotch & Kay
S1 again comes up with a strange beat but it works better in this situation then before. Everyone comes strong lyrically but this track doesnt do a whole lot for me although it is well done and im sure many people would really like it.
After sitting and having a really good listen to this album I've found some of the weaknesses in what seemed like a flawless album. Although it is still a Fantastic release and one definatley worth checking out. The high points on this album are Stunning to say the least and the lows are still better then the inconsistencies found on other albums. I really dont have any complaints with SFP's album there are just some tracks that are better then others and im sure different listeners will appreciate different tracks. The production is farely solid through the bulk of the album and a few tracks are Phenominally produced. Lyrically this album is 100% sound they flow beautifully and show off some great wordplay and teamwork on the mic. The collaborations are all wisely chosin and really add to the variety of the album. The overall flow of the album is great and makes a nice listen all the way through. personally i feel the Japan retail is the superior product but I'd suggest everyone getting both versions just to get a taste of all the tracks.
Overall 8.1/10
Kenn Starr - Starr Status - Album Review
Ok so I finally found an album I really wanted to review and in the same style as Hemz I'm goin Track by Track. I've had this album for a little while now but never really got around to listening to it until about a week ago an then i realised i was missin out on something good so here it is.....
____
Kenn Starr - Starr Status
1. Starr Status (Intro)
Like it says this is just an intro track. It is 2:54 and Oddisee gave a great beat to start this album off with. It's a nice piano laced beat with what sounds like a girl moaning sampled beautifully. Kenn just flows nicely over the beat and basically runs through what to expect after buying the cd. Nice intro and sets the feel for the album instead of wasting your time like so many others.
2. Against The Grain
This track starts off with a classical piano playing and Illmind adds some nice drums and although it's a simple beat it's really nice. Kenn shows of a bit of his flow on this track and spits pretty hard over this beat. This track is basically Kenn sayin that he knows how the game works but still chooses to "do it for the love" and not for the wealth hence the title. Great track and really liked the Illmind beat.
3. Relentless f/ Kev Brown
Okay, So I'm definatley a little biased on this track due to not only Kev Brown spittin on it but he also laced it with one of his classic soulful beats. There is something about a good Kev Brown beat that just makes me wanna lay back an zone out with the headphones on. This is no different. Starr spits some nice lyrics and him and Kev Brown basically throw it back an forth ridin the beat beautifully from start to finish. There is no hook on this track and its pretty much just a nice "Low Budget reppin, Maryland Hailin" Bragging track. Overall a tight track but nothin breakthrough.
4. The Same Pt. 2
Oddisee has takin a page out of 9th Wonders book for this beat with a nice set of drums and a dope sample it really has the feel of a 9th track to me. Kenn raps about how hip hop is polluted with Ice and capitalism. This track is alright the beat is nice Kenn's flow is nice but the hook is a little weak alright track overall but nothin to write home about.
5. Mr Nice Guy f/ Wayna
This is definatley one of my favorite tracks on the album. This is a great Oddisee beat and the hook with Wayna is great. Kenn spits about women and how they "Wanna thug but she dont want everything that goes along with it" and how nice's guys finish last. Kenn does a really nice job on this track all 3 verses are really well put together and does a great job gettin his point across. Great song
6. Middle Fingaz
M-phazes does the beat for this track and I'm not really feelin it that much. The whole story on this song is that Kenn is gonna do what he wants and only cares about those who care about him but the hook is weak and his verses seem rushed an unoriginal. One of the weaker tracks on the album.
7. U Will
The worst track on the album. Kenn Starr comes pretty hard on this track but the production by DJ Roddy Rod (???) is really bad its a very simplistic beat with a wierd bassline and just ruins the track it sounds out of place and makes it hard to focus on the lyrics. Had this been an acapella track I'd love it but the weak production takes away all enjoyment.
8.Never Too Late f/ Sean Born
After the previous 2 tracks this is a godsend The beat by Kev Brown is one of his best and the hook fits perfectly. Kenn Starr & Sean Born both spit real nice with Kenn definately comin out on top as they rap about stayin on the grind and doin there thing. This is one of the best tracks on the album both rhymin and production.
9. Carry On f/ Supastition & Darien Brockington
Oddisee comes through again with a nice piano laced track and Kenn & Supastition dont dissapoint either. With Darien Brockington on the hook this track is just Killer!! Hard to move on with the review as I could go on about this track for awhile My favorite track forsure! Really Really great track I can't stress that point enough!
10. Waitin' On You
Kenn Starr takes it down a notch on this great beat by Khrysis of Justus League fame. He spits some nice emotional lyrics and shows he can do a nice slow jam. nothin wrong with this track at all. Starr holds it down really well.
11. Inside f/ Wayna
This right here is Illmind at his finest a soulful beat with a nice keyboard base and a great sample used in the hook. Wayna does a nice job on the hook and Kenn spits some nice lyrics about how he feels about different situations in his life. Another great emotional track with a beat that showcases Kenn's Style perfectly.
12 Back @ It Again f/ Median & M-Phazes
M-Phazes redeems himself for his earlier beat with this one and Median flows over it like it was made just for him. M-phazes also spits on this track which is a talent I didnt know he had and really hold it down well. Kenn comes strong again with some nice lines. This is a nice track with your standard Braggin and Metaphors. Good track
13. Nothing but Time f/ Oddisee
This is an alright track and the beat by Young Cee is good but nothin special here. oddisee and Kenn rap back an forth about bein on top of the game an shit which seems almost stupid since its his first album but I guess thats just part of hip hop's nature so all in all not a bad track.
14. Another Day f/ Sean Born & Chronkite
This is one of those tracks that just feels like a ton of thought went in on it. The Kev brown beat is great and Chronkite kills it on the hook. Kenn Starr and Sean Born both bring nice verses to the track and just talk about payin the bills an stayin on the hustle. This is a beautifully put together track and a great listen every time.
15. Know Too Much (To Go Back)
Oddisee switches up his style a bit here and comes up with a great beat with quick drums and a fantastic sample on the hook. At times it sounds like Kenn falls behind the beat but always catches it again later in the verse. He raps about life, its struggles and being yourself. This is a real nice listen with the beat being the highlight.
16. If f/ Asheru & Talib Kweli
This is listed as a bonus track on the album and it is a GREAT way to finish things off. The Oddisee beat has another sample for the hook of the track which states "If it wasnt for this. If it wasnt for that. It would be a better world." Kenn Starr, Asheru & Kweli all bring fire to this track and follow suit with the Hook discussing the problems in the world. Fantastic track to finish.
I was really impressed by Kenn Starr's debut the production was solid all the way through minus a few tracks. Kenn really brought some great lyrics and a tight flow to the table. The collabo's were all good choices and didnt really disappoint or take away from Kenn's presence. In my opinion this album is one of the better ones from 2006 but it probably wont get the recognition due to poor promotions. Kenn Starr hasn't broken down any hip hop barriers or come with anything THAT different he just came to spit some great rhymes and brought some amazing beats with him. I would definitley recommend this album regardless of personal preferences. Hopefully my review here will get some people checkin out this album and maybe throwin a lil money his way. I tried to keep my review short an sweet hopefully I still covered all the bases for everyone.
Overall 8.8/10
Comments??
____
Kenn Starr - Starr Status
1. Starr Status (Intro)
Like it says this is just an intro track. It is 2:54 and Oddisee gave a great beat to start this album off with. It's a nice piano laced beat with what sounds like a girl moaning sampled beautifully. Kenn just flows nicely over the beat and basically runs through what to expect after buying the cd. Nice intro and sets the feel for the album instead of wasting your time like so many others.
2. Against The Grain
This track starts off with a classical piano playing and Illmind adds some nice drums and although it's a simple beat it's really nice. Kenn shows of a bit of his flow on this track and spits pretty hard over this beat. This track is basically Kenn sayin that he knows how the game works but still chooses to "do it for the love" and not for the wealth hence the title. Great track and really liked the Illmind beat.
3. Relentless f/ Kev Brown
Okay, So I'm definatley a little biased on this track due to not only Kev Brown spittin on it but he also laced it with one of his classic soulful beats. There is something about a good Kev Brown beat that just makes me wanna lay back an zone out with the headphones on. This is no different. Starr spits some nice lyrics and him and Kev Brown basically throw it back an forth ridin the beat beautifully from start to finish. There is no hook on this track and its pretty much just a nice "Low Budget reppin, Maryland Hailin" Bragging track. Overall a tight track but nothin breakthrough.
4. The Same Pt. 2
Oddisee has takin a page out of 9th Wonders book for this beat with a nice set of drums and a dope sample it really has the feel of a 9th track to me. Kenn raps about how hip hop is polluted with Ice and capitalism. This track is alright the beat is nice Kenn's flow is nice but the hook is a little weak alright track overall but nothin to write home about.
5. Mr Nice Guy f/ Wayna
This is definatley one of my favorite tracks on the album. This is a great Oddisee beat and the hook with Wayna is great. Kenn spits about women and how they "Wanna thug but she dont want everything that goes along with it" and how nice's guys finish last. Kenn does a really nice job on this track all 3 verses are really well put together and does a great job gettin his point across. Great song
6. Middle Fingaz
M-phazes does the beat for this track and I'm not really feelin it that much. The whole story on this song is that Kenn is gonna do what he wants and only cares about those who care about him but the hook is weak and his verses seem rushed an unoriginal. One of the weaker tracks on the album.
7. U Will
The worst track on the album. Kenn Starr comes pretty hard on this track but the production by DJ Roddy Rod (???) is really bad its a very simplistic beat with a wierd bassline and just ruins the track it sounds out of place and makes it hard to focus on the lyrics. Had this been an acapella track I'd love it but the weak production takes away all enjoyment.
8.Never Too Late f/ Sean Born
After the previous 2 tracks this is a godsend The beat by Kev Brown is one of his best and the hook fits perfectly. Kenn Starr & Sean Born both spit real nice with Kenn definately comin out on top as they rap about stayin on the grind and doin there thing. This is one of the best tracks on the album both rhymin and production.
9. Carry On f/ Supastition & Darien Brockington
Oddisee comes through again with a nice piano laced track and Kenn & Supastition dont dissapoint either. With Darien Brockington on the hook this track is just Killer!! Hard to move on with the review as I could go on about this track for awhile My favorite track forsure! Really Really great track I can't stress that point enough!
10. Waitin' On You
Kenn Starr takes it down a notch on this great beat by Khrysis of Justus League fame. He spits some nice emotional lyrics and shows he can do a nice slow jam. nothin wrong with this track at all. Starr holds it down really well.
11. Inside f/ Wayna
This right here is Illmind at his finest a soulful beat with a nice keyboard base and a great sample used in the hook. Wayna does a nice job on the hook and Kenn spits some nice lyrics about how he feels about different situations in his life. Another great emotional track with a beat that showcases Kenn's Style perfectly.
12 Back @ It Again f/ Median & M-Phazes
M-Phazes redeems himself for his earlier beat with this one and Median flows over it like it was made just for him. M-phazes also spits on this track which is a talent I didnt know he had and really hold it down well. Kenn comes strong again with some nice lines. This is a nice track with your standard Braggin and Metaphors. Good track
13. Nothing but Time f/ Oddisee
This is an alright track and the beat by Young Cee is good but nothin special here. oddisee and Kenn rap back an forth about bein on top of the game an shit which seems almost stupid since its his first album but I guess thats just part of hip hop's nature so all in all not a bad track.
14. Another Day f/ Sean Born & Chronkite
This is one of those tracks that just feels like a ton of thought went in on it. The Kev brown beat is great and Chronkite kills it on the hook. Kenn Starr and Sean Born both bring nice verses to the track and just talk about payin the bills an stayin on the hustle. This is a beautifully put together track and a great listen every time.
15. Know Too Much (To Go Back)
Oddisee switches up his style a bit here and comes up with a great beat with quick drums and a fantastic sample on the hook. At times it sounds like Kenn falls behind the beat but always catches it again later in the verse. He raps about life, its struggles and being yourself. This is a real nice listen with the beat being the highlight.
16. If f/ Asheru & Talib Kweli
This is listed as a bonus track on the album and it is a GREAT way to finish things off. The Oddisee beat has another sample for the hook of the track which states "If it wasnt for this. If it wasnt for that. It would be a better world." Kenn Starr, Asheru & Kweli all bring fire to this track and follow suit with the Hook discussing the problems in the world. Fantastic track to finish.
I was really impressed by Kenn Starr's debut the production was solid all the way through minus a few tracks. Kenn really brought some great lyrics and a tight flow to the table. The collabo's were all good choices and didnt really disappoint or take away from Kenn's presence. In my opinion this album is one of the better ones from 2006 but it probably wont get the recognition due to poor promotions. Kenn Starr hasn't broken down any hip hop barriers or come with anything THAT different he just came to spit some great rhymes and brought some amazing beats with him. I would definitley recommend this album regardless of personal preferences. Hopefully my review here will get some people checkin out this album and maybe throwin a lil money his way. I tried to keep my review short an sweet hopefully I still covered all the bases for everyone.
Overall 8.8/10
Comments??
Canibus - Rip the Jacker - Album Review
So I'm back at it again this time reviewing Canibus - Rip The Jacker. The album was produced entirely by Stoupe Enemy Of Mankind (of Jedi Mind Tricks fame). There are no collaborations on this disc it is simply Canibus over stoupe beats from start to finish. a little background on Canibus:
"Expectations were high when Canibus unleashed his Wyclef-produced debut full-length, Can-I-Bus (1998), on Universal. Critics unfortunately panned the album and listeners did so as well, so Canibus receded from the spotlight quickly. He returned two years later with his follow-up for Universal, 2000 B.C., but it too found little embrace, and Canibus soon found himself returning to the underground circuit from which he came. He interestingly sought to battle his way back into the spotlight as he originally had, ultimately confronting Eminem of all rappers. The tactic proved fruitless, though, and alienated Canibus even further from the mass market. Even so, he retained a cultish following and continued to release albums independently of the majors,(including 2002's Mic Club, 2003's Rip the Jacker, and 2005's Mind Control); furthermore, he retained a small base of fans as well,occasionally firing off more of the battle raps he remains most known for, yet his days as the next-big-thing had clearly come and gone, as they similarly had for so many other talented rappers."
1. Intro
A nice little drum beat playing behind a sample of I'm assuming a movie about Jack the Ripper its only 33 seconds long but kinda cool.
2.Genabis
Stoupe does a nice job on this beat with a nice drum layer and some sampled vocals in the back which give this beat an eerie feel. Canibus makes good use of the beat and raps about his mic skills and greatness and other topics. this is one of the better tracks on the album as the beat suits canibus' flow quite nicely and the hook comes across fast and vicious with a nice spit to it.
3.Levitibus
Another interesting beat from Stoupe with his trademark sampled vocals in the back giving that eerie undertone to so many of his beats. Canibus spits hard as usual although he once again raps about how great he is and how everyone should love him etc. I'm not a huge fan of this track although i know some feel it is one of the best on the album.
4.M-Sea-Cresy
Stoupe comes up with a great beat on this track nice drums and some nice samples comin through on the hook. Canibus slows down his flow a bit but it doesnt sound bad as one might think its almost a nice change hearing canibus flow with a little less edge. Once again Canibus raps about his lyrical skill and how he is underrated etc. Great beat and an enjoable listen
5.No Return
The beat on this track has alot of different instruments mashed up throughout it and what probably shouldnt work actually sounds pretty nice. The hook is a vocal sample that really fits great over the beat. Canibus does a fantastic job on this track he lays down 3 verses and each is a different story of his death. he demonstrates a little of that potential he's always had on this track. One of my favorites on the album
6.Spartibus
Stoupe delivers a very simple beat on this with a beautiful Rakim sample for the hook. This is just another battle rap track from Canibus and he comes with his usual hard spit lyrics and imagery. An Enjoyable track but nothing to exciting as the sample of Rakim outshines Canibus.
7.Indibisible
Stoupe comes with a quick beat that has a spanish feel to it and an interesting sample on the hook. Canibus sounds a little awkward over this beat and i think it just a slight clash of styles on this one. Another battle rap in 3 verses from Canibus. The beat is a nice listen the hook is great but the overall track leaves something to be desired.
8.Showtime at the Gallow
Man this track is out of character on the album. It sounds like it was produced by the Beatnuts. Its a nice beat and Canibus sounds good over it although the samples brought in on the hook dont seem to fit to well. On this track Canibus returns to stating his superiority over other emcees and lyrical firepower. another okay track although Canibus' choice of lyrical matter on this disc starts to grow old by this point.
9.Psych Evaluation
Stoupe comes back with another ferocious beat and some great samples including a couple from Portishead which sounds great. Canibus does his standard battle raps and declares his greatness his flow comes across tight as usual but nothing new from him on this track.
10.Cemantics
The beat Stoupe brings on this track is like Nightrider meets Batman with more drums. It's an interesting beat with another sample heavy hook in between Canibus' standard rhymes and flow. The album is beginning to wear on and lose a bit of its appeal.
11. Poet Laureate II
Finally a track for Canibus that he can just spit over. It's a tight fast paced beat which Canibus just rips for 7:19 it switches up twice into 2 less then stellar Stoupe beats more suited to a more versatile emcee although it doesnt take much away from the track and eventually switches back to the original heat. Canibus still lays down his standard battle style raps but he never stops. It is all 1 long verse and it is downright impressive. His flow only makes modest adjustments to the changing beats but this is truely Canibus at his finest.
Canibus has always been hailed as an incredible lyricist and when it comes down to spitting it fast and hard he is one of the best. The biggest flaws with Canibus is his versatility and ability to remain interesting. On this album with the solid production from Stoupe it makes a far more listenable album then Canibus' other works and being only 10 tracks in length also makes it easier. Canibus doesnt really do anything extraordinary on this album as far as his individuall verses go and really there are only a few tracks that warrant alot of listens. I would definitaley reccomend this album to anyone looking to check out Canibus for the first time as it is definatley his finest work so far. I think in the future if canibus were able to recruit some solid artists to collaborate on his albums it would give them a much more interesting sound. Although only produced by 1 producer there still seems to be little flow to this album often times it seems as if it just a collection of 10 tracks throwin on 1 cd. Not being a big Canibus fan, this has been a tough review for me as it is hard to remain un-biased while listening, I hope I have done an acceptable job and havent upset any fans of this album.
Overall 6.3/10
Comments???
"Expectations were high when Canibus unleashed his Wyclef-produced debut full-length, Can-I-Bus (1998), on Universal. Critics unfortunately panned the album and listeners did so as well, so Canibus receded from the spotlight quickly. He returned two years later with his follow-up for Universal, 2000 B.C., but it too found little embrace, and Canibus soon found himself returning to the underground circuit from which he came. He interestingly sought to battle his way back into the spotlight as he originally had, ultimately confronting Eminem of all rappers. The tactic proved fruitless, though, and alienated Canibus even further from the mass market. Even so, he retained a cultish following and continued to release albums independently of the majors,(including 2002's Mic Club, 2003's Rip the Jacker, and 2005's Mind Control); furthermore, he retained a small base of fans as well,occasionally firing off more of the battle raps he remains most known for, yet his days as the next-big-thing had clearly come and gone, as they similarly had for so many other talented rappers."
1. Intro
A nice little drum beat playing behind a sample of I'm assuming a movie about Jack the Ripper its only 33 seconds long but kinda cool.
2.Genabis
Stoupe does a nice job on this beat with a nice drum layer and some sampled vocals in the back which give this beat an eerie feel. Canibus makes good use of the beat and raps about his mic skills and greatness and other topics. this is one of the better tracks on the album as the beat suits canibus' flow quite nicely and the hook comes across fast and vicious with a nice spit to it.
3.Levitibus
Another interesting beat from Stoupe with his trademark sampled vocals in the back giving that eerie undertone to so many of his beats. Canibus spits hard as usual although he once again raps about how great he is and how everyone should love him etc. I'm not a huge fan of this track although i know some feel it is one of the best on the album.
4.M-Sea-Cresy
Stoupe comes up with a great beat on this track nice drums and some nice samples comin through on the hook. Canibus slows down his flow a bit but it doesnt sound bad as one might think its almost a nice change hearing canibus flow with a little less edge. Once again Canibus raps about his lyrical skill and how he is underrated etc. Great beat and an enjoable listen
5.No Return
The beat on this track has alot of different instruments mashed up throughout it and what probably shouldnt work actually sounds pretty nice. The hook is a vocal sample that really fits great over the beat. Canibus does a fantastic job on this track he lays down 3 verses and each is a different story of his death. he demonstrates a little of that potential he's always had on this track. One of my favorites on the album
6.Spartibus
Stoupe delivers a very simple beat on this with a beautiful Rakim sample for the hook. This is just another battle rap track from Canibus and he comes with his usual hard spit lyrics and imagery. An Enjoyable track but nothing to exciting as the sample of Rakim outshines Canibus.
7.Indibisible
Stoupe comes with a quick beat that has a spanish feel to it and an interesting sample on the hook. Canibus sounds a little awkward over this beat and i think it just a slight clash of styles on this one. Another battle rap in 3 verses from Canibus. The beat is a nice listen the hook is great but the overall track leaves something to be desired.
8.Showtime at the Gallow
Man this track is out of character on the album. It sounds like it was produced by the Beatnuts. Its a nice beat and Canibus sounds good over it although the samples brought in on the hook dont seem to fit to well. On this track Canibus returns to stating his superiority over other emcees and lyrical firepower. another okay track although Canibus' choice of lyrical matter on this disc starts to grow old by this point.
9.Psych Evaluation
Stoupe comes back with another ferocious beat and some great samples including a couple from Portishead which sounds great. Canibus does his standard battle raps and declares his greatness his flow comes across tight as usual but nothing new from him on this track.
10.Cemantics
The beat Stoupe brings on this track is like Nightrider meets Batman with more drums. It's an interesting beat with another sample heavy hook in between Canibus' standard rhymes and flow. The album is beginning to wear on and lose a bit of its appeal.
11. Poet Laureate II
Finally a track for Canibus that he can just spit over. It's a tight fast paced beat which Canibus just rips for 7:19 it switches up twice into 2 less then stellar Stoupe beats more suited to a more versatile emcee although it doesnt take much away from the track and eventually switches back to the original heat. Canibus still lays down his standard battle style raps but he never stops. It is all 1 long verse and it is downright impressive. His flow only makes modest adjustments to the changing beats but this is truely Canibus at his finest.
Canibus has always been hailed as an incredible lyricist and when it comes down to spitting it fast and hard he is one of the best. The biggest flaws with Canibus is his versatility and ability to remain interesting. On this album with the solid production from Stoupe it makes a far more listenable album then Canibus' other works and being only 10 tracks in length also makes it easier. Canibus doesnt really do anything extraordinary on this album as far as his individuall verses go and really there are only a few tracks that warrant alot of listens. I would definitaley reccomend this album to anyone looking to check out Canibus for the first time as it is definatley his finest work so far. I think in the future if canibus were able to recruit some solid artists to collaborate on his albums it would give them a much more interesting sound. Although only produced by 1 producer there still seems to be little flow to this album often times it seems as if it just a collection of 10 tracks throwin on 1 cd. Not being a big Canibus fan, this has been a tough review for me as it is hard to remain un-biased while listening, I hope I have done an acceptable job and havent upset any fans of this album.
Overall 6.3/10
Comments???
Eminem: Infinite
It’s always interesting to hear people complain about how badly Eminem has fallen off. Aside from his decrease in lyrical skill and creativity, the chief complaint always seems to be that he's "not being true to himself" because of his dramatically toned down content. According to these people, Eminem's true self is the crazed and psychotic "Slim Shady" persona that dominated both the Slim Shady and The Marshall Mathers LP. Yet they might have a different opinion after listening to Infinite. With little money and promotion Em released the album out of the trunk of his car back in 96. The album was a flop, barely selling anything and generating accusations that Em was biting off of Nas and AZ. The failure of the album had a significant impact on both Em’s career and his personal life as he contemplated suicide because of it. It also was the foundation of the anger, bitterness, and rage that led to the creation of the Slim Shady persona. Em used this persona to shock and entertain and the rest as we say is history. Em’s career blew up and Infinite was long forgotten. While today the few people who have listened to it give it more respect than it initially received, Em’s debut is hardly ever held in the same esteem as his first two commercial albums. This is upsetting to me because from a lyrical standpoint, I truly believe that Infinite is just as good if not better than any of his commercial work. True hip hop fans who appreciate raw lyricism need to check it out. Before you do though, be warned. Infinite is mainly a lyrics driven album. The lack of money that Em had while making it can be heard in the lackluster beats and sound quality. It took me awhile to get used to it when I first heard it. But after giving it many listens, I was able to appreciate the simplicity and subtlety of the production. Like the Rza’s earliest work, the production has a “less is more” philosophy and the stripped down beats serve as a good contrast to the intense lyrics that Em spits. Still, I can understand if you’re not feeling the production. What is undeniable however, is the lyrical fire that Em brings on this. But anyway, I’ve rambled on long enough and I’m starting to sound like Noah(just playing man) so without further ado, here’s my track for track review.
Infinite
The title track has a slow build. Soft pianos are heard and Em introduces himself and what he represents. Then the snare hits and the song goes into full gear. Em then precedes to spit some of the most clever and mind boggling lyrics I’ve ever heard from any rapper. Here’s a little sample.
“Imitator intimidator, stimulator, simulator of data, eliminator, there’s never been a greater, since the burial of Jesus, fuck around and catch all the venereal diseases, my thesis will smash a stereo to pieces, my accapella releases, classic masterpieces through telekinesis, that eases you mentally, gently, sentimentally, instrumentally, with entity, dementedly, meant to be, infinite.” Wow. Just look at all the internal rhymes and multis. Incredible. Not only the best song on the album but one of the best songs of Eminem’s entire career.
W.E.G.O.
Nothing substantial here. Kind of a pointless skit introducing the next song. Its Proof that does the introduction though.
It’s Okay
In my opinion, this song has the best production on the whole album. A very soothing and laid back beat. Its in this song that you realize just how different Eminem’s whole persona and mindset was on this album. He talks about the struggles of his life. But rather than express anger and violence he expresses hope for the future. He talks about his love for his daughter AND his wife. Yes, he actually says something nice about Kim. And there’s even more of that later. There’s one line here that really emphasizes the dramatic change that he’d eventually go through though. “And in the midst of this insanity, I found my Christianity, and through God, there’s a wish he granted me.” Who would’ve thought that the man who would evilly corrupt the minds of little boys and girls was a self professed Christian? Makes you realize the ridiculousness of taking the whole Slim Shady persona seriously.
Tonite
The most commercial song on the album, basically a typical party song except with weaker production and MUCH stronger lyricism. Em’s flow on this is on point and he drops some nice punchlines. “You couldn’t see me with binoculars, I’m armed like an Octupus, step on stage and you’ll get socked and pushed”
313
This song is pretty substantial. It features an underground Detroit rapper named Eye-Kyu. What’s so amazing about it is that it might just be the only song I’ve ever heard where Eminem gets upstaged by a guest rapper. I wont say that Em gets murdered because he holds his own. But this Eye-Kyu dude(has anyone heard other stuff from him) spits some of the most ridiculous shit that I’ve heard in awhile. I can’t even pick any sample lines for you to read so I’m just gonna post his entire verse.
“Yo some people say I'm whack, now if that's right
I'm the freshest whack MC that you ever heard, in your
lifetime
My slick accapella sounds clever with the beats
Boy I'm the deepest thing since potholes to ever hit the
streets
Forgot a gold digger's succubus , my souls thick with
ruggedness
With the mic I'm like a dyke, can't no nigga fuck with this
I got more Different Strokes than Philip Drummound
On open mic I bone your women just to keep my lyrics coming
(bitch)
We elevated to new heights premeditated
Let it be that I stated they hate it now that they see that I
made it
The escalated can be put to the test of greatness
Snatch the heart from MC's and I ate it
So I take it that's the reason I'm hated
To represent my temperment
If rap was a dick all you so called hard MC's would not be
impitant
But pimping it, and acting like you could rock a show (so)
Harder than LL's Rock the Bells, but you is a ho (now)
Everything that you collaborate I lacerate
My rhymes they keep coming like nympho maniacs that
masturbate
At a faster rate, yeah I got something for your ass to hate
I blasterate, and have you all running master gates
And as for face clutching and touching the flows
I got them open like marijuana smoke up in your nose
Bucking these hoes, I got that shit down to a science
Leaving them hot and bothered, turned on like an appliance
Defiance, no we won't have that
You want your shit to blow up?
Well I'ma stuff some dynamite in your ass crack
And blast that shit to kingdom come
Then bring them some of this real hip-hop
I drop beats and you ain't singing or gonna do a thing about
And you all knew from Meeko
That you couldn't hold your own with the strength of Lou
Forigno
So stop that bullshit and flow
Yo, you need to come with the real skills, and act like you
know”
So yeah, he pretty much kills it and he definitely outshines Em. But Em does have one punchline that had me rolling. “Cuz you can be quick, jump a candle stick and burn your back, and fuck Jill on a hill, but you still aint Jack.”
Maxine
Not really feeling this song. Em has a nice verse but the song is brought down by the guest rappers. One of them is Denaun Porter aka Kon Artist of D12. Its basically a cautionary tale about a promiscuous woman.
Open Mic
Another lyrically amazing battle track from Em. Once again, production is lacking and the chorus from some underground emcee named Thyme is annoying. But Eminem makes up for it by completely murdering the track with incredible rhymes showcasing his battle rap background.
Never 2 Far
This song is basically the prequel to Lose Yourself. A very inspirational song that shows Eminem at his most hopeful and optimistic.
Searchin
All right, I couldn’t even believe this song when I first heard it. Its pretty much the anti-Kim. It’s actually a love song dedicated to her. And theres no gimmicks or anything like that. Its just a straightforward love song. Yet another song that’ll make you wonder if Eminem really made the album.
Backstabber
Didn’t really like this song. The beat is weak. Em’s rhymes are good(he pretty much spits consistently on every track) but the content and concept is lacking. The title is self-explanatory. Em rants for awhile about backstabbers.
Jealousy Woes
A decent song but definitely the wrong song to end the album with it. The album starts off so strongly with its two best songs back to back, has a consistent middle and then slowly declines toward the end. Its basically a song about Eminem complaining about a particularly jealous woman. The song is decent and it belongs on the album but it definitely shouldn’t have been the closer.
To conclude, if the album had better production and better song order I would’ve considered it a classic. Lyrically I think it ranks up there with the legendary lyrical albums. And its interesting to think about the direction that Em’s career would’ve gone in if this album hadn’t bombed. Once again, this is a must have for any Eminem fan and any hip hop fan in general. I give it an 8.5 out of 10.
Infinite
The title track has a slow build. Soft pianos are heard and Em introduces himself and what he represents. Then the snare hits and the song goes into full gear. Em then precedes to spit some of the most clever and mind boggling lyrics I’ve ever heard from any rapper. Here’s a little sample.
“Imitator intimidator, stimulator, simulator of data, eliminator, there’s never been a greater, since the burial of Jesus, fuck around and catch all the venereal diseases, my thesis will smash a stereo to pieces, my accapella releases, classic masterpieces through telekinesis, that eases you mentally, gently, sentimentally, instrumentally, with entity, dementedly, meant to be, infinite.” Wow. Just look at all the internal rhymes and multis. Incredible. Not only the best song on the album but one of the best songs of Eminem’s entire career.
W.E.G.O.
Nothing substantial here. Kind of a pointless skit introducing the next song. Its Proof that does the introduction though.
It’s Okay
In my opinion, this song has the best production on the whole album. A very soothing and laid back beat. Its in this song that you realize just how different Eminem’s whole persona and mindset was on this album. He talks about the struggles of his life. But rather than express anger and violence he expresses hope for the future. He talks about his love for his daughter AND his wife. Yes, he actually says something nice about Kim. And there’s even more of that later. There’s one line here that really emphasizes the dramatic change that he’d eventually go through though. “And in the midst of this insanity, I found my Christianity, and through God, there’s a wish he granted me.” Who would’ve thought that the man who would evilly corrupt the minds of little boys and girls was a self professed Christian? Makes you realize the ridiculousness of taking the whole Slim Shady persona seriously.
Tonite
The most commercial song on the album, basically a typical party song except with weaker production and MUCH stronger lyricism. Em’s flow on this is on point and he drops some nice punchlines. “You couldn’t see me with binoculars, I’m armed like an Octupus, step on stage and you’ll get socked and pushed”
313
This song is pretty substantial. It features an underground Detroit rapper named Eye-Kyu. What’s so amazing about it is that it might just be the only song I’ve ever heard where Eminem gets upstaged by a guest rapper. I wont say that Em gets murdered because he holds his own. But this Eye-Kyu dude(has anyone heard other stuff from him) spits some of the most ridiculous shit that I’ve heard in awhile. I can’t even pick any sample lines for you to read so I’m just gonna post his entire verse.
“Yo some people say I'm whack, now if that's right
I'm the freshest whack MC that you ever heard, in your
lifetime
My slick accapella sounds clever with the beats
Boy I'm the deepest thing since potholes to ever hit the
streets
Forgot a gold digger's succubus , my souls thick with
ruggedness
With the mic I'm like a dyke, can't no nigga fuck with this
I got more Different Strokes than Philip Drummound
On open mic I bone your women just to keep my lyrics coming
(bitch)
We elevated to new heights premeditated
Let it be that I stated they hate it now that they see that I
made it
The escalated can be put to the test of greatness
Snatch the heart from MC's and I ate it
So I take it that's the reason I'm hated
To represent my temperment
If rap was a dick all you so called hard MC's would not be
impitant
But pimping it, and acting like you could rock a show (so)
Harder than LL's Rock the Bells, but you is a ho (now)
Everything that you collaborate I lacerate
My rhymes they keep coming like nympho maniacs that
masturbate
At a faster rate, yeah I got something for your ass to hate
I blasterate, and have you all running master gates
And as for face clutching and touching the flows
I got them open like marijuana smoke up in your nose
Bucking these hoes, I got that shit down to a science
Leaving them hot and bothered, turned on like an appliance
Defiance, no we won't have that
You want your shit to blow up?
Well I'ma stuff some dynamite in your ass crack
And blast that shit to kingdom come
Then bring them some of this real hip-hop
I drop beats and you ain't singing or gonna do a thing about
And you all knew from Meeko
That you couldn't hold your own with the strength of Lou
Forigno
So stop that bullshit and flow
Yo, you need to come with the real skills, and act like you
know”
So yeah, he pretty much kills it and he definitely outshines Em. But Em does have one punchline that had me rolling. “Cuz you can be quick, jump a candle stick and burn your back, and fuck Jill on a hill, but you still aint Jack.”
Maxine
Not really feeling this song. Em has a nice verse but the song is brought down by the guest rappers. One of them is Denaun Porter aka Kon Artist of D12. Its basically a cautionary tale about a promiscuous woman.
Open Mic
Another lyrically amazing battle track from Em. Once again, production is lacking and the chorus from some underground emcee named Thyme is annoying. But Eminem makes up for it by completely murdering the track with incredible rhymes showcasing his battle rap background.
Never 2 Far
This song is basically the prequel to Lose Yourself. A very inspirational song that shows Eminem at his most hopeful and optimistic.
Searchin
All right, I couldn’t even believe this song when I first heard it. Its pretty much the anti-Kim. It’s actually a love song dedicated to her. And theres no gimmicks or anything like that. Its just a straightforward love song. Yet another song that’ll make you wonder if Eminem really made the album.
Backstabber
Didn’t really like this song. The beat is weak. Em’s rhymes are good(he pretty much spits consistently on every track) but the content and concept is lacking. The title is self-explanatory. Em rants for awhile about backstabbers.
Jealousy Woes
A decent song but definitely the wrong song to end the album with it. The album starts off so strongly with its two best songs back to back, has a consistent middle and then slowly declines toward the end. Its basically a song about Eminem complaining about a particularly jealous woman. The song is decent and it belongs on the album but it definitely shouldn’t have been the closer.
To conclude, if the album had better production and better song order I would’ve considered it a classic. Lyrically I think it ranks up there with the legendary lyrical albums. And its interesting to think about the direction that Em’s career would’ve gone in if this album hadn’t bombed. Once again, this is a must have for any Eminem fan and any hip hop fan in general. I give it an 8.5 out of 10.
Ma$e: Harlem World
Harlem World is the multi-platinum solo debut of Harlem's rapper Ma$e. Ma$e started his career in Children of the Corn alongside Big L, Killa Cam, and Bloodshed as Murder Mase, but the group eventually broke-up after Bloodshed's death, and Ma$e signed with Bad Boy Records. This is where he released Harlem World in 1997.
1.) Puff's Intro
It's actually a pretty sweet intro. The beat has like this "Shaft" feel, actually more like a "Super Fly" vibe. It intensifies as it continues building the intro up and making it more suspenseful. Puffy gives the introduction to the album, and explains the listener is about to enter Ma$e's world, the Harlem World. A really good intro.
2.) Do You Wanna Get $? (ft. Puff Daddy)
The beat is sub-par it seems like the meter is off or something, and there is a squeak that repeats throughout the song, that gets quite annoying as the song progresses. Ma$e lyrics and flow are simple and nothing impressive. Nothing you couldn't find from any "Lil" or "Young" on the radio today. The chorus is the strongest part to the song and it's nothing spectacular. An average song at best.
3.) Take What's Yours? (ft. DMX)
A "gangsta" song in which Ma$e telling everyone he's not one to mess with. Even if you are not into rapper's talking about guns, and acting like thugs Ma$e does a nice job doing so again with some very strong lyrics. "Word from the wise, niggas jerk pies, we hurt them guys Bust lead, to skin they head and leave them circumcised So how you wanna settle this? Rappin' or on some ghetto shit We can do it yo way, with mics or with metal shit"One of my favorite songs despite the overdone premise for a song, Ma$e's lyrics are on point. And when you make a track telling people not to mess with you, who else but DMX do you want telling them so in the chorus. DMX sings in his raspy voice, but it fits the song perfect and is well done. The beat is simple with laced with several pauses; a solid beat nothing fancy, but good for rapping over. A good track.
4.) Mad Rapper (Interlude)
A stupid interlude, where they have a mock TV Show and talk to his producer. It's pretty lame.
5.) Will They Die For You? (ft. Puff Daddy and Lil' Kim)
Song about how far your "boys" will go for you, how loyal they really are. Puff Daddy opens the track with a weak verse talking about his money, even though he didn't write the lyrics are poor and his delivery are poorer. Ma$e has a strong verse on this track. One of my favorite verses he spits in the whole album, good lyrics and some multi-syllable rhymes, make for a good verse. "Make my own chips, I copped my own 6/I knock my own shit, like I'm on my own dick." The third verse from Lil' Kim is pretty solid with some nasty lyrics like: "I'm the same bitch all ya'll wanna try ya'll luck with/Lil' Kim spreads like syphilis/You think I'm pussy?/ I dare you to stick your dick in this." Haha. Any alright nothing beat, has a little funk feel to it, but a little to repetitive. A decent track minus the Puffy verse. The chorus is weak, and shows why Ma$e is better off having someone else sing the hook on his songs.
6.) Lookin' At Me (ft. Puff Daddy)
Catchy hook, and nice beat definitely makes the song an easy listen. The beat is actually by Pharrell so there's no surprise it's very easy to get stuck in your head, but it's definitely a recycled beat (Probably of Puffy's influence), but I'm not exactly sure the source. Ma$e uses his ultra slow flow in this song. He raps about "haters" looking at him in a club, because he's got money, power, and beautiful girls. As cliche as it sounds, it's a pretty decent track, you have to consider how Ma$e deals with the criticism considering he went from Murder Mase to Ma$e (w/ the dollar sign). One line says it all to me, "I was Murder/P. Diddy made me pretty/Did it for the money, now can you get with me." Clever line explaining how can you hate on him for clocking loot. Ma$e has strong displays of lyrical talent in this song:"And if it's not a problem you can meet me at 10I'll be in room 112 and bring four friendsAnd if you gon' hit me, it gotta be a quickieAnd please no hickies, cause wifey's with me"One of the best tracks on the album.
7.) White Girl (Interlude)
Surprise another stupid interlude about putting Ma$e on the phone with two girls. Terrible, except in the background you can hear "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems".
8.) Love U So (ft. Billy Lawrence)
The beat just doesn't fit Ma$e's style of rapping. The chorus is a total rip and the voice of Billy Lawrence is somewhat annoying. Lyrics are sound, but not solid enough to make up for the songs many other weak spots. A weak track.
9.) The Player Way (ft. Eightball & MJG)
Eightball has the first verse and comes strong on the track, MJG follows doing the chorus and does a nice job. Ma$e's verse is alright, but is followed by another better Eightball verse. Eightball and MJG come stronger than Ma$e on this track, which makes sense seeing the topic of the song. The beat is alright, has a nice feel that fits the rest of the album.
10.) Hater (Interlude)
An interlude about Ma$e not coming back to the hood once he got with P. Diddy. Could have gone without.
11.) Niggaz Wanna Act (ft. Busta Rhymes)
Another "gangsta" song about "niggaz" coming after Ma$e and how he's prepared to deal with them. He opens with a weak verse, nothing strong lyrically, but lacks a strong flow too. Granted the beat is a hard one to handle. Second verse from Ma$e is a tight one, where he multi-syllable rhymes for the most part and has some quality lines like: "Shock niggas who thought I was a pop nigga/You go against Ma$e you get your wig rocked nigga." Third verse is strong, but nothing amazing. You start to hear Busta Rhymes in the background as the verse begins. As it ends you hear Busta doing the chorus of the song that Ma$e was doing previously and Ma$e finishes up the song with shout outs. An average song with an average beat and average production. Busta should have been used more in this song, like when you see featured you expect him to spit a verse, but he doesn't. The song doesn't meet the expectations.
12.) Feel So Good
If you aren't familiar with the album Harlem World, this is one of the two singles you are more than likely already familiar with. Song has nice production, when it starts you immediately recognize it from the introduction of the song. Catchy hook "Bad, bad, bad, bad boy/ You make me feel so good." The lyrics are pretty solid with clever responses to criticism of Puffy and his producing techniques : "Do Ma$e got the ladies?/Do Puff drive Mercedes?/Take hits from the '80's?/But don't it sound crazy?".This is one of those songs that is the epitome of Bad Boy Records. A solid song that could be played daily, and not get real repetitive.
13.) What You Want (ft. Total)
The other of the two singles from Harlem World that most hip hop listeners are already familiar with. Another very good beat with solid production. An easy beat to rap over, and Ma$e does a nice job riding th beat with another display of his slow flow. Another strong hook just like Feel So Good, which makes sense as to why both these songs were hits, solid hooks = solid fan base. The premise is about Ma$e spoiling his girl with ridiculous gifts just to make her happy. Decent lyrics with lines like "I wanna do my thing so we be established/And I don't want you rockin' in them fabrics/Girl, I will give you karats 'til you feel you a rabbit." A good example in this song how Ma$e makes words rhyme by slightly altering pronunciations, a style he uses frequently. Another strong song.
14.) Phone Conversation (Interlude)
Wow, another pointless interlude, where I can barely understand Ma$e. It's supposed to show he's a player. Weak, but again you here another Biggie track in the background. Does someone have a crush on Biggie?
15.) Cheat on You (ft. Jay-Z & Lil' Cease)
Sample "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" a pretty nice beat, another song showing strong production. 112 sings the chorus, and harmonize well. The song is about why a girl would cheat on any of them. Ma$e has the first verse, and does a decent job. Lil' Cease is up next, and spits a pretty weak verse as expected, it flows well, but that's it. Next on the mic is Jay-Z who spits a decent Jay verse not one of his best, his flow tends to be a little choppy. A decent song overall, but average at best.
16.) 24 Hrs. to Live (ft. Black Rob &DMX & LOX)
Puff intro's the track and Ma$e spits the first verse. The song is pretty self-explanatory, what they would do with 24 hours to live. Ma$e is verse isn't that strong one you might expect from the current Ma$e. Jadakiss is next, and spits a pretty funny "fuck it" attitude verse. "Yo, yo if I had 24 hrs. to kick the bucket, fuck it/I'd probably eat some fried chicken and drink a Nantuckett." Black Rob is next, and raps a solid verse. It's nice because all three verses flow into one another without any interruption. The chorus comes through, then Sheek is up followed by Styles, Styles spits the better verse of the two with much stronger lyrics. DMX is the last to spit, and quite frankly raps an average verse. No rapper distinguishes himself on this track by spitting a far better verse than any of the others; however, this is a good track, it's always fun to have 6 different MC's spit on a track, plus Diddy and 112.
17.) I Need to Be (ft. Monifah)
The opening is funny about Ma$e's boy messing with an underage girl. The chorus by Monifah is solid, she has a good sound for the beat. Ma$e uses his extra slow flow on this track, an understatement to call it lazy. His flow is so slow and monotonous it makes the song unbearable. Easily the second worst song on the album.
18.) Watch Your Back (Interlude)
Stupid, some guy calling to warn Ma$e he's tired of him giving his girl his number and if he doesn't stop, he'll have to deal with him.
19.) Wanna Hurt Mase?
A nice beat, seems a little overdone at certain points but Ma$e does a nice job with it. The chorus is stupid and it's similar to when 50 Cent tries to sing a hook. But the verses are pretty strong. A good track, if you like the "Cookie Monster singing", naw but a good track, just not the best listen, a little choppy.
20.) Jealous Guy (ft. 112)
The song opens up and you think that Ma$e is now part of Boyz II Men, it's seems like one of their songs without a doubt. The beat fits their style perfectly. It's a good beat and has nice production. 112 sings the chorus and it sounds okay, but then Ma$e sings his verse, hilarious, haha. It's gotta be a joke, worse than Ja Rule singing. Then Diddy sings and it doesn't sound like Diddy at all, surprisingly sounds worse than Ma$e. Reminds me of Keith from American Idol, if you don't know youtube it. Ma$e sings again and does slightly better, but is still terrible. Without a doubt the worse track on the album. A must listen though if you love a good laugh, and appreciate rappers failing at trying to sing R&B.
Alright, Ma$e's Harlem World is a solid album. After listening to it you definitely get the idea that Ma$e is a talented rapper. Definitely has the Bad Boy feel all over the album. One weak spot is the themes of his music do get repetitive and that's one of the worst parts. But the album is definitely worth a listen for anyone who has never heard it. It has many catchy hooks and some good lyrics, solid production throughout the album, by a credited list of like 20 producers with P. Diddy's name "topping" them. It's honestly worth a listen for anybody who thinks Ma$e is a garbage rapper.
Overall 7.5/10 . . .
* Any credit given to production, is given in this regard: Bad Boy's production style is designed to move units and if you listen to the album you'll know the only thing important to Ma$e and Diddy is making money. So in that regard the production was quite efficient and well done. It's a commercial success going Multi-Platinum.
1.) Puff's Intro
It's actually a pretty sweet intro. The beat has like this "Shaft" feel, actually more like a "Super Fly" vibe. It intensifies as it continues building the intro up and making it more suspenseful. Puffy gives the introduction to the album, and explains the listener is about to enter Ma$e's world, the Harlem World. A really good intro.
2.) Do You Wanna Get $? (ft. Puff Daddy)
The beat is sub-par it seems like the meter is off or something, and there is a squeak that repeats throughout the song, that gets quite annoying as the song progresses. Ma$e lyrics and flow are simple and nothing impressive. Nothing you couldn't find from any "Lil" or "Young" on the radio today. The chorus is the strongest part to the song and it's nothing spectacular. An average song at best.
3.) Take What's Yours? (ft. DMX)
A "gangsta" song in which Ma$e telling everyone he's not one to mess with. Even if you are not into rapper's talking about guns, and acting like thugs Ma$e does a nice job doing so again with some very strong lyrics. "Word from the wise, niggas jerk pies, we hurt them guys Bust lead, to skin they head and leave them circumcised So how you wanna settle this? Rappin' or on some ghetto shit We can do it yo way, with mics or with metal shit"One of my favorite songs despite the overdone premise for a song, Ma$e's lyrics are on point. And when you make a track telling people not to mess with you, who else but DMX do you want telling them so in the chorus. DMX sings in his raspy voice, but it fits the song perfect and is well done. The beat is simple with laced with several pauses; a solid beat nothing fancy, but good for rapping over. A good track.
4.) Mad Rapper (Interlude)
A stupid interlude, where they have a mock TV Show and talk to his producer. It's pretty lame.
5.) Will They Die For You? (ft. Puff Daddy and Lil' Kim)
Song about how far your "boys" will go for you, how loyal they really are. Puff Daddy opens the track with a weak verse talking about his money, even though he didn't write the lyrics are poor and his delivery are poorer. Ma$e has a strong verse on this track. One of my favorite verses he spits in the whole album, good lyrics and some multi-syllable rhymes, make for a good verse. "Make my own chips, I copped my own 6/I knock my own shit, like I'm on my own dick." The third verse from Lil' Kim is pretty solid with some nasty lyrics like: "I'm the same bitch all ya'll wanna try ya'll luck with/Lil' Kim spreads like syphilis/You think I'm pussy?/ I dare you to stick your dick in this." Haha. Any alright nothing beat, has a little funk feel to it, but a little to repetitive. A decent track minus the Puffy verse. The chorus is weak, and shows why Ma$e is better off having someone else sing the hook on his songs.
6.) Lookin' At Me (ft. Puff Daddy)
Catchy hook, and nice beat definitely makes the song an easy listen. The beat is actually by Pharrell so there's no surprise it's very easy to get stuck in your head, but it's definitely a recycled beat (Probably of Puffy's influence), but I'm not exactly sure the source. Ma$e uses his ultra slow flow in this song. He raps about "haters" looking at him in a club, because he's got money, power, and beautiful girls. As cliche as it sounds, it's a pretty decent track, you have to consider how Ma$e deals with the criticism considering he went from Murder Mase to Ma$e (w/ the dollar sign). One line says it all to me, "I was Murder/P. Diddy made me pretty/Did it for the money, now can you get with me." Clever line explaining how can you hate on him for clocking loot. Ma$e has strong displays of lyrical talent in this song:"And if it's not a problem you can meet me at 10I'll be in room 112 and bring four friendsAnd if you gon' hit me, it gotta be a quickieAnd please no hickies, cause wifey's with me"One of the best tracks on the album.
7.) White Girl (Interlude)
Surprise another stupid interlude about putting Ma$e on the phone with two girls. Terrible, except in the background you can hear "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems".
8.) Love U So (ft. Billy Lawrence)
The beat just doesn't fit Ma$e's style of rapping. The chorus is a total rip and the voice of Billy Lawrence is somewhat annoying. Lyrics are sound, but not solid enough to make up for the songs many other weak spots. A weak track.
9.) The Player Way (ft. Eightball & MJG)
Eightball has the first verse and comes strong on the track, MJG follows doing the chorus and does a nice job. Ma$e's verse is alright, but is followed by another better Eightball verse. Eightball and MJG come stronger than Ma$e on this track, which makes sense seeing the topic of the song. The beat is alright, has a nice feel that fits the rest of the album.
10.) Hater (Interlude)
An interlude about Ma$e not coming back to the hood once he got with P. Diddy. Could have gone without.
11.) Niggaz Wanna Act (ft. Busta Rhymes)
Another "gangsta" song about "niggaz" coming after Ma$e and how he's prepared to deal with them. He opens with a weak verse, nothing strong lyrically, but lacks a strong flow too. Granted the beat is a hard one to handle. Second verse from Ma$e is a tight one, where he multi-syllable rhymes for the most part and has some quality lines like: "Shock niggas who thought I was a pop nigga/You go against Ma$e you get your wig rocked nigga." Third verse is strong, but nothing amazing. You start to hear Busta Rhymes in the background as the verse begins. As it ends you hear Busta doing the chorus of the song that Ma$e was doing previously and Ma$e finishes up the song with shout outs. An average song with an average beat and average production. Busta should have been used more in this song, like when you see featured you expect him to spit a verse, but he doesn't. The song doesn't meet the expectations.
12.) Feel So Good
If you aren't familiar with the album Harlem World, this is one of the two singles you are more than likely already familiar with. Song has nice production, when it starts you immediately recognize it from the introduction of the song. Catchy hook "Bad, bad, bad, bad boy/ You make me feel so good." The lyrics are pretty solid with clever responses to criticism of Puffy and his producing techniques : "Do Ma$e got the ladies?/Do Puff drive Mercedes?/Take hits from the '80's?/But don't it sound crazy?".This is one of those songs that is the epitome of Bad Boy Records. A solid song that could be played daily, and not get real repetitive.
13.) What You Want (ft. Total)
The other of the two singles from Harlem World that most hip hop listeners are already familiar with. Another very good beat with solid production. An easy beat to rap over, and Ma$e does a nice job riding th beat with another display of his slow flow. Another strong hook just like Feel So Good, which makes sense as to why both these songs were hits, solid hooks = solid fan base. The premise is about Ma$e spoiling his girl with ridiculous gifts just to make her happy. Decent lyrics with lines like "I wanna do my thing so we be established/And I don't want you rockin' in them fabrics/Girl, I will give you karats 'til you feel you a rabbit." A good example in this song how Ma$e makes words rhyme by slightly altering pronunciations, a style he uses frequently. Another strong song.
14.) Phone Conversation (Interlude)
Wow, another pointless interlude, where I can barely understand Ma$e. It's supposed to show he's a player. Weak, but again you here another Biggie track in the background. Does someone have a crush on Biggie?
15.) Cheat on You (ft. Jay-Z & Lil' Cease)
Sample "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" a pretty nice beat, another song showing strong production. 112 sings the chorus, and harmonize well. The song is about why a girl would cheat on any of them. Ma$e has the first verse, and does a decent job. Lil' Cease is up next, and spits a pretty weak verse as expected, it flows well, but that's it. Next on the mic is Jay-Z who spits a decent Jay verse not one of his best, his flow tends to be a little choppy. A decent song overall, but average at best.
16.) 24 Hrs. to Live (ft. Black Rob &DMX & LOX)
Puff intro's the track and Ma$e spits the first verse. The song is pretty self-explanatory, what they would do with 24 hours to live. Ma$e is verse isn't that strong one you might expect from the current Ma$e. Jadakiss is next, and spits a pretty funny "fuck it" attitude verse. "Yo, yo if I had 24 hrs. to kick the bucket, fuck it/I'd probably eat some fried chicken and drink a Nantuckett." Black Rob is next, and raps a solid verse. It's nice because all three verses flow into one another without any interruption. The chorus comes through, then Sheek is up followed by Styles, Styles spits the better verse of the two with much stronger lyrics. DMX is the last to spit, and quite frankly raps an average verse. No rapper distinguishes himself on this track by spitting a far better verse than any of the others; however, this is a good track, it's always fun to have 6 different MC's spit on a track, plus Diddy and 112.
17.) I Need to Be (ft. Monifah)
The opening is funny about Ma$e's boy messing with an underage girl. The chorus by Monifah is solid, she has a good sound for the beat. Ma$e uses his extra slow flow on this track, an understatement to call it lazy. His flow is so slow and monotonous it makes the song unbearable. Easily the second worst song on the album.
18.) Watch Your Back (Interlude)
Stupid, some guy calling to warn Ma$e he's tired of him giving his girl his number and if he doesn't stop, he'll have to deal with him.
19.) Wanna Hurt Mase?
A nice beat, seems a little overdone at certain points but Ma$e does a nice job with it. The chorus is stupid and it's similar to when 50 Cent tries to sing a hook. But the verses are pretty strong. A good track, if you like the "Cookie Monster singing", naw but a good track, just not the best listen, a little choppy.
20.) Jealous Guy (ft. 112)
The song opens up and you think that Ma$e is now part of Boyz II Men, it's seems like one of their songs without a doubt. The beat fits their style perfectly. It's a good beat and has nice production. 112 sings the chorus and it sounds okay, but then Ma$e sings his verse, hilarious, haha. It's gotta be a joke, worse than Ja Rule singing. Then Diddy sings and it doesn't sound like Diddy at all, surprisingly sounds worse than Ma$e. Reminds me of Keith from American Idol, if you don't know youtube it. Ma$e sings again and does slightly better, but is still terrible. Without a doubt the worse track on the album. A must listen though if you love a good laugh, and appreciate rappers failing at trying to sing R&B.
Alright, Ma$e's Harlem World is a solid album. After listening to it you definitely get the idea that Ma$e is a talented rapper. Definitely has the Bad Boy feel all over the album. One weak spot is the themes of his music do get repetitive and that's one of the worst parts. But the album is definitely worth a listen for anyone who has never heard it. It has many catchy hooks and some good lyrics, solid production throughout the album, by a credited list of like 20 producers with P. Diddy's name "topping" them. It's honestly worth a listen for anybody who thinks Ma$e is a garbage rapper.
Overall 7.5/10 . . .
* Any credit given to production, is given in this regard: Bad Boy's production style is designed to move units and if you listen to the album you'll know the only thing important to Ma$e and Diddy is making money. So in that regard the production was quite efficient and well done. It's a commercial success going Multi-Platinum.
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