1. Hip Hop Hooray

What can I say a Hip Hop classic right here and a classic party jam. This is what sky rocketed Naughty By Nature into the mainstream and the best thing is that this song contains some great lyrics from both Vinnie & Treach. DOPE!

2. OPP

Another song that sky rocketed Naughty By Nature, in my opinion this is not as good as Hip hop Hooray but it’s still good. You’ve heard this before so why explain? Good

3. Uptown Anthem

DOPE! Starts off with a nice little piano interlude then just goes right to the song, great stuff. Treach starts it off with a classic verse, man Treach just spits rapid yet coherent lines, just amazing. I love the chorus. Classic track right here. DOPE!

4. Penetration(Feat Next)

I love the softer beat, Next to me are worthless and Treach carries this song on his back. Treach just rips the track with rapid yet clever verses. They rip off Master P’s “Make Em Say Ugh” chorus which makes me laugh. Good

5. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

Now this track is a classic. This is a Treach solo and he doesn’t hold back. He raps about his life and it’s such a beautiful song. Treach’s storytelling is unbelievable. The beat is very dope, nice little piano type beat and I love the sample chorus. DOPE!

6. It’s On

Song is gritty! I love it! Vinnie disses Sir Mix-A-Lot which makes me smile, and he disses him hard as well. Classic Naughty By Nature track here. This is a very hard track with some dope horns and just has that grimey East feel. DOPE!

7. Craziest(Crazy C Remix)

Well I like the Poverty’s Paradise version better but this one is still classic. It has a Westcoast feel to it and I’m talking a 1995-1996 West type feel to it. Same verses but with different music. I love how the beat changes during the chorus. DOPE!

8. Written On Ya Kitten(QD 3 Remix)

Better than the original, the beat sounds like a track that would be put on the Above The Rim soundtrack. Very good song. Good

9. Feel Me Flow

Ok now everyone knows this song and it’s a classic. Treach solo right here over some West sounding beat and man he just rips it. Treach can adapt to any style he wants and that’s what makes him one of the best rappers ever. Just a classic track. DOPE!

10. Clap Yo Hands(Remix)

The beat is better but why do the edit the track? Weird, still a good track. The original was on Poverty’s Paradise. Good

11. Nothing To Lose(Naughty Live)

DOPE!!!!! One of the best Naughty By Nature songs ever! I love the beat, it’s got that dark East type feel and man Treach disses Wendy Williams hard on the first verse, Treach just rips this track. Vinnie with the second verse and man Vinnie does a great job here, maybe his best verse ever. The chorus is good because it has that live feel to it. They trade the last verses together, just dopeness right there. DOPE!

12. Guard Your Grill

Has a dark type feel, don’t like the talking in the beginning. Man old school Treach sounds basically the same but I think he has gotten better over the years, he’s using the rapid rapping here, very dope stuff. Treach solo here and man it is great. DOPE!

13. 1,2,3

Good track, the Flavor Unit! I love the dope flute beat on here. Very dope track and everyone comes tight. Good

14. Poor Man’s Poetry(From Poetic Poetry)

Very good song, nice semi relaxing beat but Treach still rapid raps on here(DOPE!). Very dope song, it has that old school feel to it and I love the chorus, nice samples. Vinnie with a good verse, man Vinnie can rapid rap as well, very dope stuff. Treach again rips it. DOPE!

15. Wickedest Man Alive

Has a Reggae flavor to it, decent track with the horns and stuff but it’s way too soft here. Treach carries it well though. Good

16. Naughty By nature(Megamix)

Just mixes of their stuff all thrown together. Interesting stuff. Good

17. Mourn You Till I Join You

DOPE! This is the 2Pac(RIP) dedication track that Treach put out and it’s a classic. Great Westcoast beat. Treach is so honest on here just telling interesting stories and reminiscing about his friend. Classic track and it was just a classy tribute to Pac(RIP). DOPE!

All in all this gets a DOPE! rating. This IS the Naughty By Nature album to get next to Poverty’s Paradise. No filler on here, no stupid skits, just pure rap with Treach & Vinnie, with great beats by Kay Gee. COP IT!

Grand Opening (Intro) – Intro

At The Speed Of Life – The album starts off with the album-titled track, which in truth is one of the heaviest tracks on the album. The beat is raw and simple and xzibit laces it with great lyrics all throughout: “Trying to find piece of mind is like trying to find a gold mine, it just wont happen, no time for relaxin, Real soldiers of fortune, the front line of the action, So never show a nigga what you packin’”. The chorus is kinda just a filler for a few seconds until xzibit starts spitting again. A great track to start the album off with. Due to the lyrics and amazing beat, it gets a great score. 9.5/10

Just Maintain – Xzibit, J-Ro and Hurricane Gee. The beat to this song is not as great as the one before it, but it definitely continues along the same feel. Xzibit spits heat, so does J-Ro. They should have made one more verse each and left Hurricane Gee out though. Her voice gets extremely annoying and her lyrics are average. She brings down the score of the song drastically. 6/10 

Eyes May Shine – Another raw beat to continue the feeling of the album. Xzibit once again spits some great lyrics, “I’m only comin’ through when it’s time for collection/ Xzibit forever nasty, spread like infection/ Ain’t no protection ever made by man to withstand this punishment/ In other words runnin’ shit”. This time the song actually has a proper chorus and it really adds to the atmosphere of the song with that special horror-style screech in the background.9/10

Positively Negative – The beat to this track sounds a bit different to the others so far, but this does not ruin the flow of the entire album. The song is basically Xzibit and King Tee exchanging lyrics, 2 verses each. Another great song on the album with another simple yet filling beat. 8.5/10

Don’t Hate Me – Skit

Paparazzi – Maybe the best song on the album. The beat is quite melodic and smooth flowing unlike the others but still has that same feeling as the whole album so far. The lyrics to this song are great and show Xzibit’s real ability to drop some deep lyrics. “so my composure is kept while others start to sweat/ A merchant from the fog with my *****ed up dialogue/ try to live high on the hog leaves you bankrupt/ and niggaz you spent it on, would not give a *****/”. In this song Xzibit talks about how rappers are only trying to drop hits to get the money rather than bring a meaning to their songs. 10/10

The Foundation – This song follows off the previous one in a good way, both by the beats and by the lyrics. Xzibit’s lyrics in this song are deep and seem to be inspired by his deep emotions. You can tell that from the very beginning with these lyrics: “When I look you in your eyes I can see my own/ Straight love manifested in flesh and bone/ You’s a breath of fresh air in this world of shit/ You was born to be a soldier don’t ever forget/”. The beat to this track brings out a feeling of some emotional burden and especially the voices in the chorus make it really stand out. A perfect song. 10/10

Mrs Crabtree – Skit

Bird’s Eye View – What a shame that this song doesn’t follow the same method as the previous two. Nevertheless, you are still in for a treat. Xzibit, Tash and J-Ro all spit some good lyrics and do the chorus along with a single line from Hurricane Gee. The beat to this song takes it back to the same feel as in the beginning of the album, the simple raw beats that barely exist these days anymore. 8/10

Hit And Run (Part II) – “I don’t wanna save ’em/ Pay em’ or buy clothes/ All we really wanna do/ Is try to ***** these hoes/”. That is basically what the song is about. Xzibit rappin about hoes on top of a slow paced beat. I felt that this song was not bad and doesn’t bring the album down, but maybe the album would have been better without it.7/10

Carry The Weight – One of my personal favorites. Another more melodic beat with deep lyrics. “You see I don’t like to remenisce about the past/ The lower class, no clout livin’ hand to mouth/ Each and every wrong move the police keep count/ make it real *****in’ easy to get streched out/” to just mention the beginning of the great lyrics. The chorus is basically over the same beat and flow but still sounds great. Definitely a song you should know. If you don’t have the album, I recommend you download this song (or buy the album). 10/10

Plastic Surgery – A song by the Golden State Project: Xzibit, Ras Kass And Saafir. It reminds me of “Just Maintain” a bit, but this is definitely better. The beat is basically the simplest thing you can think of, drums and baseline, but it sounds just perfect for this song. The song talks about how people still sound the same on the mic and now need “Plastic Surgery”. 9/10

Enemies And Friends – Basically a song going over the rules of the game and telling you to watch out for your “friends” that can turn on you any moment. The beat to this song, the last song on the album, still holds that same feeling of rawness and is a great song to finish the album with. 9/10

Last Words (Outro) – Skit

I believe that Xzibit is one of the most underrated rappers ever, no one really seems to care about him. Hhe gave us an album which is so consistent from front to back with that raw feeling and those great lyrics yet he remains a minor name in the rap game. No body should be sleepin on this album, if you are able to, get it. Due to the great lyrics and the beats that give you that same feeling all throughout the album, this gets a 9/10, or 4,5 out of 5.

For those who don’t know who Bushwick Bill is; Bushwick was a member of the infamous group “Geto Boys”. This was his second solo album and was released on Rap-A-Lot.

Phantoms theme (Intro) 

What cha gonna do? 

First track sounds good with the tight dark beat; that fits Bushwick´s laid-back style of rappin. The lyrics are kind of funny but still serious in some way. Don’t forget to check the hook since it’s a classic and one of the best hooks ever made in my opinion. Overall a tight track.

Time is hard 

Bushwick drops some real deep lyrics on this track. It’s about escaping the ghetto life and all the hard times living in the ghetto brings. The beat is laid back and got a little West Coast feeling to it. The hook is simple yet catchy.

Who’s the biggest 

This track is dedicated to everybody that doubts Bushwick because his size. He really shows his anger over the dope fast-paced beat. Pay extra attention to the nice hook. Tight track!

Ex-girlfriend 

Bushwick is dropping some player like lyrics on this track. The beat is very smooth and laid-back. It’s a funny track that reflects reality in some situations. Very tight concept by Bushwick.

Only god knows 

Damn this track is deep! After hearing Bushwick´s previous work, this track was a positive surprise to me. I didn’t know he could make tracks like this. Not only are his lyrics tight the west coast inspired beat is one of the best beats on the album. I hope Bushwick keeps on making tracks like this one.

Already dead 

This is also a kind of deep track, you can clearly feel Bushwick´s pain on this track. The beat is very hard with a dark twist to it. Tight hard track!

The Bushwicken 

Here is another laid-back track. The hook is very catchy, his lyrics and flow is on point too. The beat is however wack and it makes the track boring. It’s too bad it could have been a tight track if the beat was better.

Subliminal criminal

Bushwicks flow surprised me on this track, he is rapping very fast and I didn’t think he could do that. Not only is he rapping fast he is dropping dope lyrics over the tight beat. He is not the only one tho, there is a rapper that is not listed in the credits but I think his name is “Sherm”, who is dropping an impressive verse at the end of the track.

Inhale exhale 

This is the smoke song for all the weed smokers. The beat is kind of hypnotic. Bushwick and I think it’s Menace Clan that are featured are dropping good verses on the song.

Mr. President 

This track is aimed at the President. It’s a good concept by Bushwick but the beat is so wack that it’ boring to listen to it. If you can look past the beat you will find heartfelt lyrics that are being spit with anger. Like I said tight concept by Bush it’s just too bad that the beat is wack.

Phantom’s reprise (Outro)

Well all in all it’s a good album. Bush’s dropping dope lyrics all over the album, the hooks are good and a few beats are tight. Still there are beats that should have been better and it should have been more tracks on the album.

I give it 3.5/5

1. Intro(Rough Sh**) 

Good intro with Pac samples and Fatal spits! Good stuff but some guy raps on here and I’m clueless as to who it is, he’s not listed or anything, oh well he sucks anyway so maybe not mentioning him was a good thing. Good

2. I’m An Outlaw(Feat Outlawz)

Outlawz join him and may I take the time to say that the Outlawz are overlooked. They work their asses off only to be ridiculed and people keep sayin they’re Pac nutriders, they’re just keeping his spirit alive and they all can hold their own lyrical wise. Good song but the chorus Isn’t great, nice lyrical rip song that gets the point accross. Good

3. My Niggaz(Feat Outlawz & Phats Bossi)

Ah yes Phats, you can’t go wrong with him, he needs a solo pronto, he’s just that damn good. Good song but the constant “My Niggaz” sayings get on my nerves, Noble starts it off and rips it. Phats then rips it to shreds and shows everyone up. Noble raps again. Fatal rips it, Fatal is venomous on the mic, it’s just that he never got a fair shake, hopefully now that he’s with Tha Inc he can get his time to shine. Good

4. Y’all Can’t F**k With Us

Standard boring track, Fatal tries but the beat is just boring and basic. Average

5. DOA

Another painfully average track. Average

6. I Wanna Be Free(Feat Outlawz)

Good track, beat is relaxing. Standard track though. Good

7. Blood In Blood Out

Good track, but it’s missing something. Fatal of course rips it. Good

8. We Maintain(Feat Snypaz)

OH YEA MUTHA*****AZ!!!! Chi Town’s finest join Fatal! This is the best track on the album. Just lyrical warfare! DOPE!

9. Blood Money

Eh, boring average track. Fatal again tries but the beat is boring. Average

10. Stop Rattin(Feat Outlawz)

Weird beat but it’s good, pretty easy what this song’s about. Good

11. Daddy(Feat Scarface)

And they waste the Face appearance on this awful garbage. Man this is the drizzling shits. Train Wreck

12. Thug 4 Life

Some of the most boring track names ever and the beats are just as boring. Wack

13. Thug In Thug Out

Wow and my theory still stands on idiotic track names. I don’t care anymore. Fatal comes dope but who cares? The beats are so boring. Average

14. I Can’t Stand

Yup I can’t stand this album’s beats and this is probably a hidden message meaning this album sucks. Wack

All in all an Average album, Fatal tries hard and I think he shines but man the beats are just so horrible boring. One DOPE! track though.

1. First Power (Intro)

2. Ole School Shit 

That is a tight ass song. DJ Yella produced the Beat. The lyrics are dope. This track features BG Knocc Out, Dresta and Sylk a.k.a. Sylk E. Fine. BG Knocc Out and Dresta take a few shots at Dre and Snoop on this one, Dresta raps “I tattoo Dre name on my chest/Cross it out just another nigga that I X-ed/And you won’t see R.I.P./You’ll see P.N.D./A Punk nigga deceased”. Overall this is a nice track, dope gangsta ass beat.

3. Sorry Louie

This one is another dope track. “Bashed his head in with my Louisville slugger” the hook goes. It’s a nice track, something nice to bump. Its gangsta as usual just like most of Eazy E’s shit.

4. Just Tah Let You Know 

Dope ass lyrics, with a decent beat. At first I wasn’t to crazy about “Just Tah Let You Know” but it will grow on you, and you will just have to listen to it. Dope ass shit.

5. Sippin’ On A 40 

This is a gangsta rap classic. Sippin’ on a 40 is straight classic. You probably won’t find someone who doesn’t like this song. Straight gangsta rap classic. Features BG Knocc Out and Dresta, Eazy E kicks a funny line when he says “Nigga u be drinkin’ out my bottle ***** that bullshit/ Still got semen on your lips/ From the homie’s dick/, that’s like the usual funny shit Eazy spits from time to time. Beat by DJ Yella.

6. Nutz On Ya Chin 

This beat makes ya bop your head. It’s a nice old school song. Production by Naughty By Nature. I just wish this track was a little bit longer, still a dope ass track.

7. Tha Muthaphukkin’ Real 

Eazy E and MC Ren rip this track up. This is the best song on this album. It’s a classic no doubt. The beat is real laid back, something nice to bump in your ride, just cruising. The beat is gangsta; DJ Yella produced it.

8. Lickin, Suckin, Phukkin 

I don’t see the point of this song, there is no lyrics to it, just some moaning, bad “song” skip it.

9. Hit The Hooker 

This is a nice old school song. I’m not too crazy about it but some other people might be. It’s a decent track, nothing special though.

10. My Baby’z Mama

This is a “***** my baby’s mama”, it’s decent, it’s another average track on this album. Average track.

11. Creep N Crawl 

Production by DJ Yella, this is a dope ass gangsta song, the beat is just gangsta, its that hard, rugged, street type shit. If you like that hardcore gangsta rap shit, you will definitely like this song. Definitely should peep it.

12. Wut Would You Do 

“Wut Would You Do” is a Death Row diss. It is one of the hardest Death Row disses I heard, its real tight, its on the same lines as “Real Muthaphukkin G’z”, Eazy E goes after Kurupt, Daz, Snoop, Dre and some other people on Death Row. It features Dirty Red. You should check out “Wut Would You Do”, dope song.

13. Gangsta Beat 4 Tha Street feat Menajahtwa, BG Knocc Out & Dresta 

The production is nice; it’s a feel good type track. The beat is definitely tight. Menajahtwa, Dresta, BG Knocc Out and Eazy E spit some verses on there. Check “Gangsta Beat 4 Tha Street” foe sho.

14. Eternal E 

This song doesn’t really have Eazy E verses on there. The beat is dope. Yella is on the intro, talking bout how Eazy wanted this track on this record. The beat is so west coast, it has that nice G Funk feel to it. It has parts from different Eazy E interviews on there, it is a nice track.

Overall, this is a nice album. It’s a classic; it has some highs and lows. But this album is real tight. You should definitely pick this album up. You need this CD in your collection. DJ Yella handled most of the production. The collaborations on there were really nice, from Dresta, to BG Knocc Out, to Sylk, to MC Ren. This is one of the best gangsta rap records I ever heard. I really loved this album.

Album Rating: 4.5/5

1. Exxtra Special Thankz

This intro has a real nice beat to it, Eazy shouts out Dre and Snoop on this intro, nuthin special.

2. Real Muthaphuckkin G’s

This one of the best diss songs I ever heard in my whole life. This track is just crazy, crazy lyrics. This is a diss song to Snoop, Dre and Death Row basically. Real nice track, nice beat.

3. Any Last Werdz

This is another nice track, the beat is real G-Funk. The lyrics of this song is more like the gangsta type shit you usually hear from Eazy E. Real nice song to check out.

4. Still A Nigga

This track is a little laid-back type track, slow beat. Eazy E comes in nice on this track with some dope lyrics.

5. Gimme That Nutt

This track is kinda like those I wanna ***** You tracks, its kinda funny, not something I would bump all day, still a nice track though.

6. It’s On

This track is real dope, it starts off by Eazy E doing a parody of “Nuthin But A G Thang”, from this you can see that this track is going to be a Dr Dre diss. The disses on this track are really hard; Eazy E also takes some shots at Snoop Doggy Dogg and calling out Death Row. Real nice track. Nice G Funk.

7. Boyz N Tha Hood (G-Mix)

This is an upgraded version of the Boyz N Tha Hood track, the beat is more up to its dayz (G Funk). It’s the same lyrics and everything just a new beat, nice G Funk.

8. Down 2 Tha Last Roach

This track is real tight, it starts off with Dre sayin “I still express yo I don’t Smoke weed or ces” from NWA track called “Express Yourself” and scratches to a dude sayin “Biiitch” cause Dre was smoking weed all the time then. This is a get high song, real nice, dope track.

This album overall is dope. I consider it a classic, all tracks are dope. Beats are crazy lyrics are crazy. I definitely recommend this album if you don’t have it already. It’s a west coast classic if you ask me.

I rate it a 4/5.

JUVENILE “400 Degreez” Released June 9th 1998

LABEL: Universal Records & Cash Money Records

BILLBOARD: The Billboard 200 1999 No.9 ‘400 Degreez’ Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums 1999 No.2 ‘400 Degreez’ Rhythmic Top 40 1999 No.4 ‘Back That Thang Up’ Hot Rap Singles 1999 No.11 ‘Ha’

PRODUCTION: Ronald Williams, Bryan (BABY) Williams & Mannie Fresh.

01. Intro (Big Tymers) (2.12) 

The album starts off with the famous Big Tymers Introduction which became a common thing on most Cash Money Albums in the future to come.

02. HA (4.52)

The track that put Cash Money and Juve on the map. Unfortunately this version of this track is very poor compared to the Remix versions with Jay-Z & Hot Boys, lyrically. Juve fails to bring the beat alive with a lack of flow on majority of the beat making the original the weakest of the three versions apart from the tight hook and production.

03. Gone Ride With Me (4.23) 

A great production from Mannie Fresh as he brings the listener a nice smooth Cash Money beat. Juve does a great job at keepin the track smooth and running on track. This track was most recognized for the gangsta style content Juve spits about riding with his gun till death as it is the only thing that will be by his side until he dies as he swiftly laces the hook: “My nine is gonna die with me, do a homicide with me, pick up the supply with me, be up in the ride with me…who me?”.

04. Flossin Season w/Big Tymers & B.G (4.33) 

Another tight track laced with a funky touch that Fresh can only do. The track is bangin literally with the Big Tymers & B.G spittin their game about Flossin and showing that shit off. Juve does a nice job on this track and keeps the beat buzzing.

05. Ghetto Children (4.05)

As the album continues the beats stay really smooth such as this beat which has the slight touch of a Westcoast spice added to it. Juvenile’s flow on this track is on target and the rapping is on point as he also once again hits the hooks. Another mellow beat to lay back to.

06. Follow Me Now (3.55)

With a Latino heat added to the beat mixed with Cash Money clicks this track is a unique beat brought to the listener from the production team of Williams & Fresh. The rapping is quite good but the beat fails to gain any major attention at all making this track nothing really special and quite poor.

07. Cash Money Concert (0.51) 

SKIT, trying to get into the concert.

08. Welcome 2 Tha Nolia w/Turk (5.52) 

A typical Cash Money track which kept the label on top especially when it came to club bangers. The high paced South Style beats that CM was responsible for is a perfect example in this track. Turk does an excellent job on rapping and comes close to out doing Juvenile in the song, although Juve has a special style that only he can deliver. The song contains a sample of trumpets which blow out the track sounding similar to the movie ‘Rocky’ main anthem song.

09. U.P.T w/Hot Boys & Big Tymers (4.17) 

A classic track for the Cash Money group as the whole label connects to bring a gangsta beat to the album with the funky flow of Hot Boy members Lil’ Wayne, Young Turk & B.G. All members do a perfect job on this song and it has to be a highlight for the album as they all represent their sets on the N.O streets.

10. Run For It w/Lil’ Wayne (4.45)

Cash Money beat mixed with the tweaks and clangs of Westcoast/Bay Area sounds you expect to hear in a E-40 track. The song is another highlight as Lil’ Wayne & Juve rip the mic up together with perfection. The production though in this track has to get the credit though Juve does holla the ‘Run For It’ anthem in a few songs on the album.

11. HA (Remix) w/Hot Boys (4.25)

The second edition to the infamous ‘HA’ track is perfectly remixed with a Mannie beat which is definately FRESH! The Hot Boys callaborate with their much older and experienced partner Juve as they follow in his footsteps in this remix that clearly out shines the original lyrically though the beat in the original cant be beaten as Jay-Z later showcases.

12. Rich Niggaz w/Turk, Lil’ Wayne & Paparue (5.03)

This track has to be in the top 3 of the album’s best let alone Juve’s profile of tracks as the beat is slamming high on fire. The raps are all on point by all rappers and the production delivers a deep Cash Money beat funky and gangsta rolled into one hot 5 minutes of flamming heat by part of the Hot Boys. A classic track that could of had great potential as a single and ideal for the gangsta rap listener of today, Cash Money fan or not.

13. Back That Azz Up w/Mannie Fresh & Lil’ Wayne (4.25)

The beat that got CM major props alongside ‘HA’. Released as ‘Back That Thang Up’ this club banger had everyone asking the girls to back it up and drop it like its hot in and out of the clubs. Juvenile spits the best ever in the album right here on this beat which Mannie Fresh hits from the back after a great production job. Lil’ Wayne also has a quick hit of the song but this in undoutable the best song in Juve’s career that got him on top of his game and onto the charts bringing back the South to the world after the collapse of Master P’s No Limit Records empire. A club banger that would surely still get ass’ droppin today without a doubt.

14. Off Top w/Big Tymers (3.50)

Perfect gangsta beat where the Big Tymers, notibly Baby, do an excellent job rapping to this Westcoast influenced beat which has the touch of FRESH-ness added to keep it Cash Money style. This beat is perfectly executed by Juvenile and is a must hear for all rap lovers, perfect!

15. After Cash Money Concert (1.19) 

SKIT something unusual that compares to what the Luniz sometimes do in their skits and thats make no sense and just be plain weird and tripped out.

16. 400 Degreez (4.09)

This song is really ‘400 Degreez’ hot cause its a party banger for the clubs and is head boppin, ass droppin Cash Money shit. Juvenile raps and flow are on target and dont miss a skip of the beat at all which help this song become one for the party people who wanna bounce on the dance floor. Production by Fresh is great and the use of robotic voice hooks make this sound like Above The Law’s “Black Superman” on steroids and pitched up to full speed.

17. Juvenile On Fire (4.57) 

Tight production by Fresh again and its a real bumpin beat filled with CM tweaks and thumps. Juve spits game on ho’s and how he calls shots on ass and doesnt front on the ladies. Beats added with Juve raps makes another great song for this LP.

18. HA (Remix) w/Jay-Z (4.25) 

Juvenile couldnt resist on not doin a third instalment of his classic ‘HA’ track but this time inviting Jigga to the Cash Money Concert. The beat stays original as the first without any changes and would have to be the best version out of the three Juve performs in this album. Jigga does his usual raps that he rolls out smoothly and laces the Fresh beat without a single problem. The track was used in the clubs more than the original and gave Juve play around more radio and clubs due to Jay-Z’s contribution. CLASSIC

This album hits the high points for not only Cash Money Records but for the career of Juvenile who quickly became a household name in the rap game after this long awaited release. This album is full of smooth, club bangin, gangsta Cash Money beats that can be taken in by all rap listeners no matter what style you dig. The beats are perfectly composed and Fresh seems to always amaze the listener with his…well, FRESH beats. Juvenile put Cash Money on the map with this album no doubt.

RATING 4/5

1. Scandalous(Feat Suga T) 

We start with an intro with C&H & Richie Rich discussing women, Richie Rich would’ve been perfect for this track. The beat is a nice funky pimp type beat and Yumouth starts off first with a great verse mixed with humor, man Yukmouth is an incredible rapper and this song proves it. Suga T has a decent verse, but I don’t really like her that much unless she’s singing. Numskull has the last verse and man he outshines everyone, Numskull is such a great rapper, he really needs a solo album out and I’m not counting that album with Clee. Yukmouth does a funny chorus making his voice low and sinister talking about ho’s being scandalous then adds a Wizard Of Oz reference to it. Good

2. Doin Dirt(Feat Dru Down)

DOPE! Now this is a track that should have been on Operation Stackola, they use the same beat Brotha Lynch Hung used for his 24 Deep song but they add that Luniz flavor to it. The chorus is so dope, they use samples from “C.R.E.A.M.”. Numskull starts it off with a great verse that only Numskull can do. Yukmouth then with a great verse, oh man this song is crazy! Then DRU DOWN! Dru has such a great verse, his flow here is crazy. Classic song with that Luniz flavor that only they can do. DOPE!

3. Dirty Raps

Beat is on some funky pimp shit, it’s ok but a little annoying. This song is about….well screwing ho’s, funny stuff though as the Luniz can make a dirty song into a humorous track. C&H & Dru Down do the chorus and they just basically talk over it. Yukmouth with a good verse. Yuk & Nukm carried the beat quite well. Good

4. Scope

DOPE! This beat is really weird, I can’t describe it, it’s just odd but very dope. “I know the whole deal on you tramps” is said like 5 times by Yuk in the beginning in this funny ass voice. Numskull starts it off with a funny and dope verse then Yukmouth takes the mic and rips the shit to pieces, man they’re flowing so smooth here, they’re riding this beat well. Numskull raps again and tells a pretty funny story about spilling his Kool Aid. Then Yuk raps again oh man this song is insane, I don’t know why this was never added onto Operation Stackola. DOPE!

5. Just A Freak

Same track as Operation Stackola, I have no clue why this is on here. I don’t really like this track, the beat is slow, the chorus is funny though as they twist the Barney song into something really dirty. Not into this track. Wack

6. Stupid

The outro to Operation Stackola is used as the intro here. Nice funky type song, great Luniz flavor here as Numskull starts it off with the typical dope Nummy Num verse. Yukmouth starts out calm then just rips it. Classic Luniz here. DOPE!

All in all I’m giving this a Good rating leaning towards DOPE!, a very dope collection of songs that never made Operation Stackola, some tracks deserved to be on Operation Stackola. It’s a pretty rare album but I hear they’re re-releasing it and adding some new tracks(!) so if you can find this then definetly cop it, and if not then wait and cop the rumoured re-release.

Two years after his comeback album (18th Letter), Rakim dropped another album on Universal. After the dopeness of the 18th Letter, and of course Rakim’s history in the rap game many expected this album to be straight fire, and the lead single “When I B On The Mic” seemed to back up this feeling. But could the rest of the album live up to the hype?

Intro 

Flow Forever – (3 of 5) 

The first proper track on the album, produced by long time Rakim collaborator Clark Kent. The beat is alright, nothing special but it does its job, the problem is that it doesn’t really seem to inspire Rakim. He sounded a little bored on this track, and although lyrically it’s pretty good, his flow isn’t as smooth as normal. The hook is also quite bad, the whole track is really just average summed up.

When I B On Tha Mic – (5 of 5) 

Well, what can you say about this track? Straight classic in ever department. Brilliant Premo production based around a chopped up piano loop, Ra spitting fire for three verses, and perhaps one of Premo’s best scratched hooks ever. This track is hiphop in its purest form.

Finest Ones (feat Clark Kent) – (3.5 of 5) 

This is basically a track about women, and it is obvious that Rakim is at ease with this subject matter. His flow and lyrics are definitely on point on this track, the beat is pretty good, but Clark Kent proves to be very annoying on the hook which does spoil the track a little.

All Night Long – (3 of 5) 

Produced by Punch this track never quite feels right. The beat is quite simple, basically some percussion, a bit of bass and a few scratches here and there. Rakim only really drops average verses on this track though, and the hook is once again a very average half sung affair.

State of Hiphop Interlude 

Uplift – (3.5 of 5)

At least this track doesn’t have a wack hook. The beat is once again a pretty simple affair, but I’m liking the build up, and what sounds like a Indian vocal sample. Rakim spits pretty well on this track, not vintage verses but at least he doesn’t sound bored. Rakim handles the hook himself this time, and its certainly a better result than the chanting/singing on previous hooks.

I Know – (3 of 5) 

This track features a pretty nice beat from Tr Love, sounds sort of like a less advanced Premo production. However, it doesn’t seem to inspire Rakim at all, especially on the first verse, and he really does sound bored on this track. The hook is alright I suppose, but the end result is another average track.

It’s the R – (4 of 5) 

This Clark Kent production puts a bit of life back into the album. Although the beat is still quite simple, it’s definitely got some funkiness to it, and this seems to suit Rakim who drops his some real dope verses. The scratching in the hook isn’t top notch but its still pretty good, and is certainly better than the singing/chanting hooks, and actually amounts to a dope track.

I’ll Be There (feat Nneaka Morton) – (3 of 5) 

You have to wait through 38 seconds of the women on this track singing before you get to Rakim, and even then his vocals seem to be mixed very quietly into the mix. His verses are nothing special, and the beat doesn’t really do anything for me (or Rakim by the sound of it). Nneaka Morton sounds like your standard rnb singer, and doesn’t really do anything wrong, its just that there isn’t really much point having her on the track.

It’s A Must (feat Rahzel) – (4 of 5) 

Featuring the beatbox talents of Rahzel was an inspired move on this track, because he provides his version of a scratched hook, and a dope drum pattern throughout the track. Rakim drops some dope verses, and the beat is pretty nice, leading to a dope track.

Real Shit – (4 of 5) 

This track produced by Ron Lawrence and V.I.C, has a relatively dope beat, although it only really comes into its own with the horns that are added for the hook. Rakim actually sounds interested on this track, and therefore drops some quality verses. The hook is rapped by Rakim, and is dope as well.

How I Get Down – (3.5 of 5)

This track has quite an eery feel to it, with some dope strings and sporadic water dropping type sounds. Whether it fits the subject matter of the track or not though is a totally different matter, and I think it would have been more suited to one of Rakim’s deeper tracks. That being said this is still a pretty dope track, with some good verses and a standard rapped hook.

L.I Interlude 

Strong Island – (4.5 of 5) 

This self produced track seems to give Rakim an incentive to spit some hot shit. The crowd noises and scratching on the hook are pretty dope, and the beat itself is better than most of the rest of the material on this album. Rakim is basically giving props to his home Long Island throughout this track, and his flow is top notch on this track.

Waiting For The World To End – (5 of 5) 

The second DJ Premier production on the album, and once again its straight heat. Rakim spits some deep shit on this track, and combined with the brilliant simplicity of the beat, and the scratched hook, you can’t help but get hypnotised by this track. Straight classic.

We’ll Never Stop (feat Connie Mckendrick) – (4 of 5) 

I think one word can describe Connie Mckendrick – annoying. Her voice really annoyed me, and for me spoiled what was otherwise a dope track. The beat is real nice, with a piano loop which sounds straight old school, and some nice strings coming in and out. Rakim also spits dopeness, but it is still spoiled by Connie. This track which a scratched hook, or even Rakim rapping a hook would have probably been a classic, but the singing just makes it sound too soft.

Conclussion: For me this album was a pretty large disappointment. The 18th Letter was dope, but this album just seemed to lack any of what made that album great. The whole album seems very low budget, even down to the cover design. The majority of the beats used are very boring, and only DJ Premier actually hooks Ra up with some straight dopeness. Why Pete Rock didn’t do anything on here after the dopeness of the tracks he produced on the 18th Letter I really don’t know, and even Clark Kent, who is normally quite a dope producer didn’t really bring anything to the table for this album, and therein lies the main problem with this album. When Rakim has a dope beat to spit over he takes full advantage of it and drops pure classic rhymes, but when the beat isn’t high quality it just doesn’t seem to inspire him, and he sounds bored. There are a few dope tracks on here, but most of it is average at best, and I don’t think I could really recommend this album to the average hiphop fan because it just isn’t really worth your money at full price. If you are a big Rakim fan (like me), or it you see it second hand for cheap then maybe pick it up, but just don’t expect anything that great from it. Final Rating: 3.5 of 5