GP’s not a very famous rapper. After doing 10 years in the pen he came out and appeared on the Death Row release “Too gangsta 4 radio”, and on the Suga Free Mausberg Connected CD. GP’s making sure that we know this on his album cover… He’s also wearing a Death Row chain, and that seemed weird to me considering he’s not on Death Row. In the booklet of this album he’s explaining why he’s wearing it tho… out of respect for Suge Knight and Tupac Shakur… Apparently Suge Knight gave it to him. GP released one album before this one named “Finally”. I haven’t heard it tho.

From the previous tracks I heard from GP, the only thing I know is that he sounds like a rawer version of DMX or Ja Rule.

1 Intro

2. Back 2 back heat

GP sounds kinda like DMX or Ja Rule, minus the singing. GP come out raw on this track even though the production is too slow for him. The chorus is almost the same as on “The Coff” from “Too gangsta 4 radio”. I still think this is a cool song.

3. What type of nigga U-B (feat. Lil Darrelle & Mally Mall)

When this album came out, Lil Darrelle and Mally Mall has both released their solo albums on “Just on GP Records”. These artists sound really good to me, especially Lill Darrelle. GP’s raw as usual and the beat is a little bit more up-tempo than the last one. Overall a good track.

4. Can’t get enough (feat. Keak Da Sneak)

“Can’t get enough” has a really neat beat and the hook is tight and very catchy. Keak Da Sneak is overshining GP, who is kind of wack on this track. It’s still the best song this far.

5. The Beast (feat. L.A Strange) (Titled as “Who don’t know”)

This track got an intro and it’s funny. They’re talking about GP on Death Row and someone says; “We don’t need GP and Suge Knight to hook up!”. The song itself is a slow jam and I can’t help but thinking about DMX when listening to it. GP’s doing one of those track DMX always do – talking to/about god and how some people shouldn’t have died. I also can’t help but thinking that GP is raw. It seems impossible for GP to come out like a softie. Overall a nice production by Kreep, who also produced the 2 previous tracks. The album says this is “Who don’t know”, but it’s clearly “The Beast”.

6. Who don’t know (feat. Skee 64oz) (Titled as “The Beast”)

They talk that shit, but they don’t walk that shit. They ain’t gangsta. This is the message and GP’s stressing that he’s worked with Death Row and some other shit he says that everyone knows, i.e he worked with Quik. GP seems to be a lil off beat on this one, but it’s got a cool beat and a tight hook so overall it’s still an average track. Too bad they *****ed up the tracklisting on the cover.

7. The hustle inside of me (feat. Sunny B)

Big Hollis produced this. He also produced the GP track on Too gangsta 4 radio called “The Coff”. It’s the same beat but mixed. They removed some sounds and added others. GP’s got new verses and a new hook tho and it’s a cool track overall. GP’s raw as ***** and I like that.

8. Skit (But titled as “Bad seed” on the cover)

9. Bad seed (feat. JJ of the Capital Boyz) (Titled as “Skit” on the cover)

GP’s gonna be the first to make them bleed. The track is about how hard GP and JJ are… They’re doing it over a really soft production tho and that’s taking the edge off it. It’s a nice track but not one of my favourites.

10. Sneaky (feat. Lil Darrelle, Doe & Mally Mall)

Mally Mall starts off this track with a tight verse to poor production, and then GP kicks in with a tight chorus. The production’s getting better and better as the track is playing and that, together with tight guests, saves the track. GP seems mad as ***** and he’s coming out raw like he always do.

11. Gangstad out (feat. Gangsta)

The intro for this track is a clip of George Bush saying “Fellow Americans… it’s time… let’s roll!” and GP’s saying that he’s trying to be gangsta, laughing at him. The intro’s also the best part of this song because the rest is wack. The production might be good, and GP might be coming out good, but together they suck. It also seems weird that a rapper named himself “Gangsta”.

12. The letter

An other track where GP’s saying how he’s fresh out the pen. Not one of my favourite tracks. It’s a skipper.

13. Like that (feat. Da-Da, Zo & Bra)

Just as I was getting tired of this album, this track kicks in. With tight production from Da-Da, who is also rapping on the track, this is a banger. Da-Da, Zo, Bra and GP are all coming out very tight here. This is definitely a banger and by far the best track on this album this far!!! This is the kinda shit I want!!!

14. Pimp bones (feat. Skee 64oz & B-Bay)

Damn, I was hoping for another track like “Like that”, but this track is kind of wack. “Pimp bones” is about how GP is a pimp and a gangsta. I don’t like this one at all. The only highlight is the last verse by GP. It’s cool.

15. I blow wit (feat. Lil Darrelle)
Keep rollin up fatties! I think you can guess what this one is about… yep, smoking. The beat is up-tempo and it’s cool, but the production overall is not above average. It’s an average track.

16. Finally etc

This is more of a skit than a full song. The track is 2,37 long and the intro for it is about 1,30. It’s about how GP’s escaping from prison to look for whoever set him up. If I understand him right, this is a snippit from his first album. I haven’t heard it and just like he’s saying… I better get it if I wanna hear the full track.

This album sold 6000 copies and that might seem very little, but keep in mind that GP is independent and 99% of the albums sold was probably in Los Angeles only.

Overall, I liked this album. It was very good for being a totally independent release. GP’s coming out very raw and I like that. I DID kinda get tired of him, tho. A lot of the tracks sounded the same and when I got to nr 12 I was tired of it. Nr 13 was “Like that” and that cheered me up. It’s a very tight track and my favourite track on this album. Production on the album wasn’t what I had hoped for, so that’s gonna lower the grade. If GP will ever hook up with a major record company I’ll be the first to cop his album.

I’ll grade this album 3 out of 5, which is a good grade for an underground release like this.

1. Intro

2. Bar Code(Feat Xzibit)
E-Swift lays down a pretty good beat but it’s nothin special. The chorus re-uses Freaknasty’s “Da Dip” but replacing “dip” with “sip”. Xzibit rips it.

3. Run Wild(Feat Shae Fiol)
Rockwilder lays down a bangin beat. Tash rips the track(As usual), but the lady singin is annoying.

4. L-I-K-S-E
Swift lays down a dope horn type beat. Good song.

5. Bully Foot Skit

6. Bully Foot(Feat Busta Rhymes)
Wow they really blew what coulda been a classic collab track. Awful beat, awful song.

7. My Dear(Feat Defari)
The most slept on rapper ever Defari guests on this track. They re-use the “My dear my dear my dear” from the Pharcydes “Passin Me By”.

8. Interlude

9. DA DA DA DA
Very dope track, though the numerous “da da da da da” sayings get annoying in the beginning. Tash and J-Ro rip it.

10. 40 Oz Quartet Part 1
I guess this is a skit, it’s like a minute long but does feature J-Ro rappin a lil.

11. Sickness(Feat Butch Cassidy)
Ok track nothin to write home about, average Rockwilder beat.

12. Goin Crazy
E-Swift produces a banger. Dope track. J-Ro rips it.

13. Best U Can
Never thought the Liks would work with the Neptunes but they did and this is the track. This is your average Neptunes beat, but Tash and J-Ro try their best to make it sound dope. Decent track not my fav. Pharrell sings an awful chorus.

14. 40 Oz Quartet Part 2
Same as part 1, but Tash is rappin.

15. Anotha Round
Ok track nothin special.

16. Yo Mouth(Skit)

17. The Bubble(Feat King T)
E-Swift produces a weird soundin beat, it’s ok though. Legendary King T joins the Liks on this track. Average song.

18. 151(Feat Xzibit)
My fav song on the album, man this song is a Lik’s classic. J-Ro and Tash rip it, with Xzibit doin the chorus. This one is a banger.

19. Promote Violins(Feat Kurupt)
E-Swift produces a crazy orchestra type beat and Kurupt starts it off and rips the track, J-Ro does the second verse and probably has the best verse on the song, and Tash rips it. Banger.

All in all I’ll give this one a 4/5, I’m a huge Likwit Crew fan and this one quenched my thirst. Cop this album!

1. Don Doggy-Intro

2. Da Bo$$ Would Like To See You
Ok what was the point of this? It’s just Snoop sayin he’s the boss over an annoying beat produced by E-Swift.

3. Stoplight
Jelly Roll produces a wack beat, this track sucks. Skip it.

4. From Tha Chuuuuch To The Palace(Feat Pharrell)
Dope track produced by the Neptunes. Dope chorus(Though simple) and Snoop comes tight.

5. I Believe In You(Feat Latoiya Williams)
Hi-Tek produces a beautiful beat. Great track. Latoiya sings great. Her and Snoop have good chemistry.

6. Lollipop(Feat Jay-Z, Soopafly, and Nate Dogg)
Just Blaze produced the track and it has a funky whistle type beat. Average song though.

7. Ballin(Feat Dramatics and LiL Half Dead)
Battlecat produced the beat. This song sucks. Skip it.

8. Beautiful(Feat Pharrell and Charlie Wilson)
Neptunes produced the track and it’s the average soundin Neptunes beat. This song is boring.

9. Paper’d Up(Feat Mr. Kane and Traci Nelson)
Fredwreck produced the track and this song is about of course “money”. Kokane is awful. Other than that it’s a dope track.

10. Wasn’t Your Fault
LT Hutton produced the track and it’s an average beat, just basically talkin about ho’s. Nothin special and played out.

11. Bo$$ Playa
Fredwreck produced a banger, dope track.

12. Hour Glass(Feat Goldie Loc and Mr. Kane)
Wack skip it.

13. The One And Only
This is what I’m talkin about. The Legendary DJ Premier finally produces a Snoop solo track. Best song on the album, man with all that wack garbage in the beginning it’s nice to hear some real hip hop.

14. I Miss That *****(Feat E-White)
Hi-Tek produced the track and it’s ok. The numerous “I miss that *****” singin in the background will make you skip this track.

15. From Long Beach 2 Brick City(Feat Redman, Nate Dogg, and Warren G)
Very very dope track. Fredwreck produced a banger. Redman straight rips it. Nate sings a dope chorus and Snoop comes tight.

16. Suited And Booted
Meech Wells produced the track and it’s decent.

17. You Got What I Wanted(Feat Ludacris, Goldie Loc, and Charlie Wilson)
Awful awful track. Skip it.

18. Batman & Robin(Feat Lady of Rage & RBX)
DJ Premier produced another banger, really clever track as RBX plays the commissioner, Lady of rage plays Robin, and Snoop plays Batman. Tight track.

19. A Message 2 Fat Cuzz-Interlude

20. Pimp Slapp’d

Josef Leimberg produced the track, and this is Snoop’s diss to Suge Knight, it’s okay.

All in all I give this a 2.5/5, really just a bad album. Too many cliche’d tracks and piss poor production. Some bright spots but those are buried under the garbage.

Do not cop this album.

1. Intro

2. Jada’s Got A Gun
Dope beat by Swizz, nice singin at the begining of the song. Jada comes tight as usual.

3. Show Discipline(Feat Nas)
QB Lyricist Nas joins Jada on this Mahog beat. The chorus shows nothing new. Ok song not feelin the beat.

4. Knock Yourself Out
Neptunes produced this and the beat is average Neptunes. Nothin special, average at best.

5. We Gonne Make It(Feat Styles)
Alchemist produces this one and it uses the same beat as Ras Kass’ “Home Sweet Home”. Great beat, and Styles and Jada trade off tight verses.

6. None Of Yall Betta(Feat Styles and Sheek)
DJ Premier produces a brilliant beat as the Lox flow well over it. Premo and Lox work well together, first “Recognize” now this. Tight track.

7. Stick Yourself(Skit)

8. I’m A Gangsta(Feat Parle)
PK produces this one and it’s ok at best.

9. Nasty Girl(Feat Carl Thomas)
Timbaland lays down an average beat, sounds robotic. Pretty wack song. Skip it.

10. Put Ya Hands Up
Wayne O produced a banger on this one. Dope track, Jada rips this track to pieces. Chorus is catchy and tight.

11. Jay Jerkin(Skit)

12. On My Way
Jada hooks back up with Swizz on this one and the chorus may be the worst chorus ever. Wack song. Skip it.

13. Cruisin(Feat Snoop Dogg)
Oh man this song is straight garbage. Awful track. Skip it.

14. Kiss Is Spittin(Feat Nate Dogg)
Beat is similar to “Regulators”, Jada just can’t remake the classic even with one of the original regulators. Ok at best.

15. *****in Or What?
What a waste of a perfectly good Swizz Beats beat. Man the piano’s are very dope, but man what a waste. It’s your usual “Sex” song. They coulda used that Neptunes beat for this, but nooooo they gotta use the dope Swizz beat. Beat is good, chorus is trash and lyrics are trash.

16. It’s Time I See You(Feat Sheek, Styles, Drag On, Eve, Infa Red, and Cross)
Just Blaze lays down a very dope beat and the Rough Ryders rip it to pieces. All you Drag On doubters should peep this, he rips it.

17. What You Ride For?(Feat Fiend, Yung Wun, and Eightball)
Yea Yung Wun’s on the track! Ok anyway Fiend(Yes former NL soulja) produces a banger. Every1 comes dope, I even think Fiend has grown as a lyricist. Dope track.

18. Uh-Hunh(Feat DMX)
DMX sounds unmotivated, but still he comes tight. Jadakiss rips it! Good track.

19. Feel Me(Skit)

20. Keep Ya Head Up(Feat Ann Nesby)
Dope track, Ann Nesby sings a pretty good chorus. Good beat by Mahog. Jadakiss comes with some nice reflective lyrics.

All in all I’ll give this a 3.5/5 A solid album no doubt, but there was some wack fillers all throughout this. Buy it if you’re a Ruff Ryders fan.

1. The Start(Interlude)
Just the intro

2. Ghetto Stories(Swizz Beats)
Well Swizz takes the mic, and the first thing he says is “I am not a rapper” which is ironic, because he’s rappin on this song. Dope beat by Swizz. Good track.

3. Big Business(Jadakiss Feat Ron Isley)
Swizz produced a fairly odd sounding beat, but it works. Ron isley is great on the chorus. Jadakiss of course is spittin flames on this track. Great track.

4. Turn It Up(Interlude)
Just an interlude

5. Endalay(Swizz Beats Feat Busta Rhymes)
Starts off terribly, but it kicks in and it’s a great song. Dope beat by Swizz. Busta is well Busta on this track and that’s not a bad thing.

6. Shyne(Shyne Feat Mashonda)
This will please the Shyne fans, but I don’t see what’s so special about him. Decent track.

7. Ghetto Love(LL Cool J Feat Mashonda)
ZZZZZZZ… oh I’m sorry, this track is boring. Skip it.

8. Alien(Interlude)
Just another interlude.

9. Good Times(Styles)
I’m sure you have heard this track before, as it was on Styles solo. Great beat by Saint Denson and Swizz.

10. Gone Delirious(LiL Kim & Swizz Beats)
The beat is pretty good by Swizz. LiL Kim actually comes pretty tight. Good song.

11. N.O.R.E.(N.O.R.E.)
Noreaga comes with some funny lines(Of course), and Swizz lays down an ok beat. Decent song, not my favorite.

12. Let Me See Ya Do Your Thing(Baby & Yung Wun)
They waste Yung Wun on this track? And with Baby? I woulda liked to see a Yung Wun solo track but oh well you take what you can get. Kid Klever and Swizz drop a terrible beat. Yung Wun shines though.

13. Island Spice(Eve)
Blah this track sucks. Skip it.

14. Guilty(Swizz Beats Feat Bount Killer)
Bangin beat by J Brown and Swizz, sounds kinda like “Get At Me Dogg”. This is the lead single and it’s very catchy. Swizz comes pretty dope, and Bounty Killer comes tight.

15. Salute Me Remix(Nas, Fat joe, and Cassidy)
Swizz Beats produced a bangin track. Nas has a short but ok verse, Fat Joe has a pretty tight verse, and Cassidy kills it, man this guy is ill as hell. Dope track.

16. We Did It Again(Metallica, Ja Rule, and Swizz Beats)
Make it stop please make it stop. Metallica hasn’t been good since “And Justice For All” and Ja hasn’t been good since “VVV”. TERRIBLE!

17. Bigger Business(Swizz Beats Feat Ron Isley, P Diddy, Baby, Jadakiss, Snoop Dogg, Cassidy, and TQ)
Same beat, basically same chorus, and different verses and guests. Good track but P Diddy’s appearance is pointless and why have Baby on this track? Pointless. Cassidy kills this track(Of Course), Snoop comes with the usual stuff. Good track, nice way to end the album.

All in all I give this album a 3.5/5, good album, but some guests were pointless. I really don’t see why Yung Wun was only used on 1 track and he was a feature for Baby. Cop it if you’re a Ruff Ryders fan or a fan of Swizz’ production.

1. Stayin 4 Eva
This is your “I’m not goin anywhere” type track. That Nigga Moel produced the track and it’s a sick beat. Benzino actually comes pretty dope.

2. Call my Name(Feat Jadakiss)
L.E.S. produced the track. Jadakiss makes a nasty appearance. The chorus is pretty wack as Benzino tries to sing it. Good track(For jada’s appearance)

3. Rock The party(Feat Mario Winans)
I’m sure you’ve heard this before, this is the lead single and Mario produced this. Nice bouncy club beat, catchy chorus. Sure to be a club banger.

4. Would You(Feat mario Winans and Lisa Raye)
Well I can see Mario Winans in this song but Lisa Raye? I know she hosted the awful Source All Access show but man what in the hell is this? And she raps also. Mario Winans produced this but who cares this track sucks.

5. Make You Wanna Holla
Bangin track produced by Hangmen 3. Benzino talkin about the hard times he’s goin through (Um ok lol). The chorus is pretty good. Dope track.

6. Neva Shuvin(Feat Wyclef and M3)
Hangmen 3 produced a banger. Clef does guitar, sings background, and raps. Good track.

7. Gangstas Touch(Feat Cadillac Tah & Black Child)
Hangmen 3 produced this one and it’s not that great, the beginning singin type chorus will make you wanna skip this one.

8. Redemption(Rosary)(Feat Fatal and Kid Javi)
Former Outlaw Fatal joins Benzino on this track and it’s pretty dope. Tone Capone produced a great beat.

9. X-Tra Hot(Feat Daz & Jewel)
LT Hutton produced the track and the beat is annoying. Skip this one.

10. I Remember(Feat Mario Winans)
Hangmen 3 produced the beat and it’s a slow type beat which isn’t that great. Mario sings a pretty wack chorus. Skip it.

11. Get It On
Mario Winans produced this and all the beats he produced on this album sound the same. Wack.

12. 44 Cal Killa(Feat Scarface & M3)
Houston legend Scarface joins Benzino on this track while Trackmasters lay the beat. Benzino starts it off and comes average, Scarface outshines him(of course). This is your typical “Killa” track which gets very annoying fast.

13. Hoola Hoop
Gary Gizzo Smith produced this and the starting is enough to skip it. Wack.

14. Different Kind Of Lady
Hangmen 3 laid down a very dope beat. This is your “Hey baby I saw you and I have to have you” type track. Atleast the beat is dope.

15. Pull Your Skirt Up
This is the infamous Eminem diss song, it’s pretty good actually, Tone Capone produced a dope beat. Benzino talks about the state of hip hop, callin Eminem a wanksta and such.

16. Rock The Party Remix (Feat LiL Kim, Mario Winans, and Petey Pablo)
Ah man they got all annoying rappers to guest. Everyone comes wack.

17. Some hidden track
Um I don’t know who produced this. Dope beat and track though.

All in all a 3/5, it’s average. The guests really helped this album out. I really don’t suggest copping it. The production was solid though.

Around the same time Snoop was ready to drop “Tha Last Meal”, Suge and the staff of Death Row went into the vaults and released this album of previously unreleased tracks by tha Doggfather.

1. May I ft. Lil Malik – Production: Soopafly

Snoop has a nice flow on this track over a Soopafly beat. Reminiscent of tha Doggfather album. Snoop gives a few good shout outs in the lyrics to the other inmates on Death Row. The production could be a little better but it’s a nice speed to match Snoop on this track. The downfall is the chorus.

2. C Walkin – Production: Big Hutch/ Myrion

Hutch lays out a hard beat and Snoop gives a good laid back flow. While the track is nothing to party to it’s good to sit back and chill with. At times it reminds you of a young Snoop, but leaves you hanging as you almost expect him to let loose like he used to. Still not a bad track by any means.

3. Head Doctor ft. Swoop G – Production: Kurt Kobane

The single off the album on probably the best track. A nice beat, good verses by both Snoop and Swoop G, tight production throughout.

4. Hit Rocks – Production: Snoop/ DJ Pooh

Another track that reminds you of tha Doggfather with it’s bouncing beat. The production is definetely on point. A few recycled lyrics but it works well with Snoop’s flow. Takes a bit to get used to the chorus, but doesn’t let you down.

5. Tommy Boy ft. Daz – Production: Daz

As much as you may expect a Snoop/Dillinger collaboration to be off the hook, the beat is a little too slow. Not horrible flows but nothing about the track grabs your attention.

6. Change Gone Come – Production: Snoop/Soopafly/LT Hutton

Slow beginning with a weak jingle but Snoop starts to rip this song up. The beat makes you nod your head but when the chorus starts it takes the song down with it, you wish Snoop would just keep going. Would be a really good track if remixed with new chorus.

7. Too Black – Production: Snoop/LT Hutton

Slow flow to this track, it sounds like Snoop is storytelling but the lyrics go nowhere. Beat is repetitive and slow. It’s a great track if you feel like hearing Snoop mumble for 5 minutes straight like he just smoked 6 pounds of weed.. How many times does he have to remind us that he’s Snoop Dogg?

8. Gangsta Walk ft. Tha Dogg Pound – Production: Daz

A pretty good beat laid down by Dilli. Kurupt spits first and puts down an average verse for him. Snoop drops a decent spot. Daz uses much the same lyrics he did in “Gangsta Rap” on Dogg Pound 2002. Overall a decent track.

9. County Blues ft. KV – Production: Daz/Big Hutch

The beat gives the feeling of being in an old county jail in the south, with the harmonica going. Snoop gives a good spot about life in the pen and the gang life on the inside. An excellent chorus, but the skit in the middle of the song takes away from the tracks massive potential.

10. I Will Survive ft. Technique, Kurupt, KV – Production: Soopafly

Technique comes out of the gate spitting over a smooth Soopafly beat. Snoop slows it down, Technique then speeds it up, Snoop slows it down again. Kurupt gives a good chorus to match Snoop but there is no set tempo to the song. Snoop and Technique didn’t match well on this one.

11. My Favorite Color ft. Big Hutch – Production: Big Hutch

Hutch lays down a G-Funk beat but it still lacks something. Hutch’s verse matches his beat. Snoop does allright over the beat but you get the feeling the other members of Above the Law should step in and save the track. Tight chorus.

12. Me and My Doggs ft. Technique – Production: LT Hutton/Snoop

This beat is crazy, but oh wait, that’s because we already know it from tha Doggfather album when it was already a tight track. Recycled track gives us nothing we already haven’t heard. Unfortunetly, it’s also one of the best songs on this album.

Overall this album makes you wonder about the value of the infamous Death Row vaults. Did someone accidentely grab the discard bin? The best track “Head Doctor” would also be the worst track on “Doggystyle” or average on “Tha Doggfather”. The beats are average, the lyrics decent at best. Album is short, 12 tracks, be thankful for that.

Rating 2/5

Onyx member Sticky Fingaz (real name Kirk Jones) released his first solo album in 2001 on Universal Records. The concept of the album was to showcase the life of fictional charecter Kirk Jones:

1. Intro 

Sets the stage to the album concept with the Universal Pictures “Feature Presentation” sound. Skit explains Kirk Jones being released from prison. He shows up at an old homies house and they decide to head out to celebrate.

2. Come On – Production: Self 

One of the best tracks on the album, it’s a grimy hardcore pump you up style track. The sound brings you into the club with Kirk Jones. “Oh you ain’t know/ Sticky Fingaz went solo” are the first words on the album and sets the stage for the griminess of the album. Lyrics are straight fire, production is bangin. In the track Kirk runs into an old beef, he tries to get his boy to back him but the friend won’t. He instead gives Kirk Jones a gun.

3. My Dogz Iz My Gunz – Production: Joe Naughty

A track about guns being a man’s best friend, after his boy won’t back him outside the club. Black Child lays down a nice verse to complement the dark track.

4. Not Die’n – Production: Self 

After the beef outside the club, Kirk Jones is shot. He refuses to go out like that and feels invincible in the track. Nice track with hard lyrics, the song also brings you into the mindstate of Kirk Jones. Bangin hard track.

5. Kirk Jones Conscience

Omar Epps narrates the flow of thought through the mind of Kirk Jones while he smokes some weed 2 weeks after the shooting. It blends into a skit of Kirk finding his place robbed on Christmas Eve.

6. Money Talks ft. Raekwon – Production: Rockwilder 

This track is being told in the first person from the view of money itself. Raekwon drops a perfect guest appearance. The song really makes you think, great beat, nice lyrics. One of the album’s shining moments.

7. Why? ft. X1 and Still Livin – Production: DJ Scratch 

Kirk Jones purchases a gun and catches up with an old friend. Song itself is their conversation about the old days. Kirk convinces him to give him a ride but gets him to be a getaway driver in a jewelry store robbery. During getaway, they crash and his boy dies. Not the greatest sounding track, but the most important one to the concept of the album. The meaning makes up for any missteps in the track.

8. Oh My God – Production: Sticky Fingaz/Self 

Kirk’s conscience catches up with him and he questions life in the track. God answers all his questions. A tight track with deep meaning, lyrics and production. Has a weak chorus, but intentional as it reflects the mindframe of Kirk Jones at the moment. Kirk gets arrested.

9. State vs. Kirk Jones ft. Canibus, Rah Digga and Redman – Production: Nottz 

Rah Digga plays the judge, Canibus the prosecutor and Redman the defense. One of, if not the best track on the album. All verses run perfectly together and gives you the entire court proceedings. Canibus shines on this. Kirk Jones found guilty.

10. Kirk Jones Conscience 2 

Omar Epps again plays Kirk’s mind. This time Kirk contemplates his choices that brought him to jail, and the people he left behind.

11. Baby Brother ft. Dave Hollister – Production: DJ Scratch

Kirk places a call to his younger brother trying to talk him out of the route he himself chose. Nice production, soulful chorus to reflect his heartfelt plea to his brother who is in the everyday struggle. Call turns ugly.

12. Cheatin – Production: Rockwilder

Kirks girl visits him in prison. While he thought she was holding it down for him, she has other news. The spiral continues for Kirk Jones. An angry track about cheating. Tight production and lyrics.

13. What Chu Want ft. X1 – Production: Buddah 

Track about everything Kirk Jones wanted in life that took him to prison. Nice flows by Sticky and X1 as they mention everything you could ever want. “Want to beg Makaveli to come back from the dead” for example. Tight track.

14. Ghetto ft. Petey Pablo – Production: Spyda Man 

After 10 years locked up Kirk is released from prison only to find he isn’t welcome back in the streets after everything he did. This track is mad hilarious, the comic relief to a dark album. It plays off Jeff Foxworthy’s redneck bit, except about being ghetto. Funny track with tight lyrics and production.

15. What If I Was White ft. Eminem – Production: Damon Elliot 

Kirk Jones robs someone looking for a drug deal. This track is another bit of comic relief to a album filled with a dark struggle. Hilarious lyrics and Eminem adlibs the chorus and background. One of the top tracks easily.

16. Sister I’m Sorry ft. Choclatt – Production: Big D Evans

Kirk gets into big argument with his girl. After she makes a crack about his now dead brother he hits her. The track is very reminiscent of 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up”. He talks about women being strong and apoligizes for all the evils men do. Good chorus. Excellent track.

17. Get It Up ft. Fredro Starr – Production: DJ Scratch 

Kirk robs and kills another store owner. 1st single off the album. Hard lyrics, banging beats, the video for the track is off the chain and it explains at that point Kirk is running from the cops. Another killer track.

18. Kirk Jones Conscience 3 

Third installment of self reflection narrated by Omar Epps. This time around, Kirk relfects going back to jail, but this time he’d rather die.

19. Licken Off In HipHop ft. Columbo 

Production: Punch – A dual meaning in this song. Sticky Fingaz making his hustle off the rap game, Kirk Jones off the streets. A personal reflection on the two roads he could have chosen in his life. He chose being Sticky Fingaz in real life. Kirk Jones is what he would have been without rap. Nice flow, but production could be better. Makes you think.

20. Wonderful World

Police find Kirk. Instead of firing at the cops, he turns it on himself. Game over. Sticky butchers Louis Armstong’s “Wonderful World”, but that’s the point. Life is hard.

From concept to delivery this album scores big. It tells the tragic story of Kirk Jones and the harshness of life. The album follows the story perfectly and the concept not altered. The guest rappers all play their parts in the story perfectly. The production never skips a beat. It’s basically a rap musical and it’s pulled off nicely. In just over an hour Sticky Fingaz delivers an epic Hollywood dreams of. In a time where albums follow no idea and are filled with fillers you wish more would follow Sticky’s lead. Even the booklet itself lends a hand to the album. The story is illustrated in pictures in the credits. While it says “movie coming soon” we can safely assume it isn’t happening due to lackluster sales. A damn shame it would make the album rap’s greatest movie soundtrack. Be sure to check out Sticky’s thank you’s, where he philsophizes for a minute. Either the man is crazy or a mad genius.

In the end the album was highly slept on but cannot be considered any less than it is. Classic.

4.5 out of 5.

Before I start, it must be pointed out that there are two versions of this album. Although both have the same songs, they are very different albums. The one I am reviewing is the re-released version, which came out in 2002 on Virgin Records. The picture above is for illustration only and is not the cover for this album, but the older version.

N*E*R*D consists of three members – Shay, Chad Hugo and Pharell Williams, the latter two making up the hit production team ‘The Neptunes’. The name Neptunes may automatically put many listeners off – they are not liked by all, but stick with this album, it doesn’t disappoint.

The original version of the album was released in 2001, and had the signature ‘Neptunes’ sound throughout. In my opinion, the album had highlights, but was no more than average. Album sales reflected this poor quality, and so the artists went back into the studio. The result is this new re-released version. With the same album title, tracks, guest appearances and lyrics – what has changed?

The only thing that is different is the production. On this version, all music and sounds are played by live instruments. This helps take away the familiar Neptunes sounds and turn this album into a very solid release. You would be amazed at the difference in quality between the two releases, and although this version has a more of a ‘rock’ feel to it (due to real drums and guitars being used), it never loses its hip hop and rap roots.

Lyrics are sung and rapped mostly by Pharell who does a good job throughout. Guest appearances include Vita, Kelis, Clipse and Lee Harvey. It is hard on this version to pull out any highlights as the whole album is banging from start to finish, but some people will have heard of ‘Lapdance’, ‘Provider’ and ‘Rock Star’. These in my opinion are not the hottest tracks on the album.

I was suprised how much I liked this version, as the production is closer to rock/Indie than the original release, but it compliments the songs well.

Don’t ignore this album just because you are not Neptunes fans. This is completely out of character than the usual stuff they do, and will be listened to for years to come – unlike some of their production.

Not everyone will like this album though. Steer clear if you are after top class lyrics (there’s nothin special lyrical-wise), steer clear if you detest live instrumentation, and steer clear if the thought of Pharell singing makes you cringe.

However what you do have here is an easy-listening album which you can just slap on and leave playing as there are no filler tracks here. I wouldn’t buy the version you see illustrated at the top of the page, but this 2002 re-release comes highly recommended – certainly one of the highlights of 2002.

Score = 4/5

This album was released by Quik in 2002, a little before dropping his Greatest Hits. I think DJ Quik is massively underrated both as a rapper and producer, despite consistantly dropping quality albums throughout his career.

1. Tha Proem (feat. Hi-c, Talib Kweli, Shyheim)

This first track doesn’t feature Quik at all, although like the whole album, it is produced by him. Good intoduction to the album with some nice guest appearances.

2. Trouble (feat. Amg)

A superb track, and one which still grows on me the more I hear it. The pairing of quik and amg is as good as ever. This song flows well, with simple yet effective production.

3. Come 2nyte (feat. Truth hurts)

Another decent track, although I think the production on this one is too similar to a lot of Quik’s other stuff. Truth Hurts sings the hook, and makes a good job of it.

4. Put it on me (feat Dr. Dre)

This is what happens when the west coasts premier producers hook up. Excellent production (produced/mixed by dre), and some good verses and a catchy chorus. It has to be said that DJ Quik somewhat outshines Dre on the mic on this one.

5. Murda 1 case (feat. KK, Chukey, Pharoahe Monch)

Not a bad track at all, but you may skip over this one a little. A nice piano on the production, with Quik’s new reggae artist Chukey on the hook. Pharoahe Monch comes as tight as ever.

6. Ev’ryday (feat. Hi-c, James Debarge) 

Some pretty innovative production which bounces along and becomes catchy. This track was skipped over a fair bit when I first copped the album, but is now certainly one of my favourites. Check out the chorus. Quik’s choruses are usually excellent, this is no exception.

7. Get Loaded (feat Amg)

An ok track (another good chorus carries the song somewhat), but again I think this sounds too much like an old reworked track in terms and does nothing special for me.

8. Gina Statuatorre (feat. Chuckey)

A fairly decent track which see’s Quik and Chuckey rapping and singing about a girl who is underage, but continues to flirt and tease older men – who if give in have to face the consequences. The typical funny and ‘cheeky’ lyrics of Quik are complimented by Chuckey’s regga influence.

9. 50 Ways (feat Wanya Morris)

A suprisingly serious track for Quik, who tackles issues of life, death, his career etc, with Morris from Boyz II Men handlin the chorus. Despite being an unusual kind of song for him to do, it works well and doesn’t seem out of place. The use of the military style drum loop is effective. And is that a subliminal diss to Suge Knight on there, or simply satan himself? The jury is out.

10. Quik’s Groove 6

The mandatory quik groove, like the title suggests, the sixth one. These tracks are instumental only, and serve to show DJ Quiks all-round musical ability. Although not the best one he’s ever done, there’s certainly nothing wrong with having a break from hip-hop to listen to a bit of jazz – this fits the bill.

11. Get tha money (feat. Suga Free)

The famous pimp rapper suga free has this track to himself, and sticks to his usual flow and style. Not a bad track, but nothing special.

12. One on 1

It’s debateable, but this is the best track on the album. If there was one track to stir up the emotions with a lady friend, its this. Very sexy track, El Debarge does some excellent background vocals, and Quik keeps Roger Troutmans legacy alive with the talkbox on the chorus. The only problem I have with this song is its only 3 minutes long.

13. Sex Crymee 

Quik lives up to his name on this one, spitting some pretty fast verses. Good production and a solid track.

14. Birdz and da beez (feat. Hi-c, Amg)

It’s all down to personal taste but I’ve never been a fan of this track. No real flow to the production, and a horrible chorus doesn’t help matters. Possibly the weakest song on the album.

15. Oh well 

Another solid decent track, although the high-pitched tune can get annoying. The talk-box helps this song out, and is not a bad finish to the album

Hidden tracks:

Leave the last track running and the outro will appear – an instrumental, featuring some nice production. Bit pointless but nonetheless better than nothing. After this has finished, leave the cd running again to hear a brief message from Quik, giving shoutouts and thanking you for the purchase. How nice of him!

Another solid release from Mr Quik, one which any west coast fan should not be without. Again this album highlights DJ Quiks abilities both as a rapper and a producer. This is not as good as his Rhythm-al-ism album in my opinion, but will certainly not disappoint. There is talk that this may be his last album. Lets hope not.

Total mark for album 4/5