1. I’m Your Idol(Necro) 

Really dark beat here by Necro, it’s really good as well. This is one of my favorite Necro songs, it’s not that fruity type of rap, this is really angry rap and I love every minute of it. DOPE!

2. Dopesick(Goretex Feat Necro) 

Necro produces a good beat, it’s hard to describe, it has a slow kick to it. Necro helps on the chorus with Goretex. Goretex just shines on this track, I think he’s one of the most underrated rappers out. Great track! Good

3. Reign In Blood(Ill Bill & Necro) 

DOPE!!!!! This track is really amazing. Hard beat by Necro, it’s just heavy and hits harder than an old school Tyson fight. Ill Bill starts it off with an amazing verse, then Necro gives his best verse EVER!!!! Necro raps about being a killer cyborg that will not die, just an amazing verse. The chorus is great, Ill Bill is severly overlooked. Ill Bill has the third verse then Necro has the 4th verse. Simply amazing, you have to hear this track. DOPE!

4. Street Veteran(Mr. Hyde & Necro) 

Not the best track, good beat by Necro, nice piano beat mixed with horns. Hyde sounds a lot different on this track, he has improved greatly. Decent track. Good(Hyde tried and Necro did a good job)

5. Swordfish(Ill Bill) 

Nice beat by Necro, it has a nice Italian feel to it. Ill Bill rips the track. Great track as Ill Bill raps about conspiracies. Good

6. Anguish & Agression(Necro) 

Nice bouncy sinister piano beat by Necro. Nice Necro voice samples for the chorus. Necro raps about the usual here but does it in a way that it sounds dope. Good

7. The Big Sleep(Goretex) 

Pretty good beat by Necro, I can’t really describe it, you’re going to have to hear the track to get a sense of it. Goretex rips it as usual, some great lines here. Great track. Good

8. White Slavery(Ill Bill & Necro) 

This track is straight evil! Great dark piano beat by Necro. Necro does a great chorus. This track is about kidnapping women and no one finding them. Ill Bill starts it off with a very morbid and disturbing verse, if you listen to weak music then you’ll probably get offended by this verse and track in general. Necro with the second verse with a really good verse. Great track! Good

9. S*****bags(Goretex & Necro) 

DOPE! Great beat by Necro, it’s got an eerie feel to it. Necro does the chorus here and it’s one of the best choruses I have ever heard. Goretex & Necro rap about….well S*****bags and even include Uncle Howie, his girlfriend, fat people, and themselves. You need to hear this track! DOPE!

10. Frank Zito(Necro & Ill Bill) 

Dark beat by Necro, it hits hard. Necro starts it off with a pretty good verse, then Ill Bill has the second verse, Bill rips it and even mentions GG Allin(For you Punk fans out there). Good track! Good

11. Our Life(Necro & Ill Bill) 

A softer track here, great piano beat by Necro. Necro starts it off with a really good verse, then Ill Bill has the next verse and it’s easily the best on the track. Chorus is done by Ill Bill and it’s really good. You need to his this track! DOPE!

12. Morbid S**t(Necro) 

A funky pimp type beat by Necro, good little track as Necro raps about the usual. Good

13. Every Second Someone Dies(Necro) 

Great dark violin type beat by Necro, there’s even a saxophone thrown in there. This is Death Rap at its finest. Necro raps about…well death. Good track. Good

14. Fire(Necro) 

A sex track by Necro, nice bouncy beat. Necro raps about….well sex of course. Nice chorus as some girl sings it. Good stuff. Good

15. Talking S**t(Necro) 

Decent track, not my favorite or anything but it gets the job done. Pretty funny ending as Necro starts laughing really high, hilarious! Good

16. Watch Ya Toes(Necro) 

Really sleazy sounding beat here, this is Roseanne theme song sleazy, like walking downtown Las Vegas at 3 in the morning sleazy. Pretty good track though, I dig the chorus. Good

17. The Big Sleep(Remix)(Goretex) 

Just a remix to the original track, not as good as the original but good enough. Good

All in all this gets a Good rating. The best compilation I have ever heard, there were no bad songs and no average tracks, everything was on point. Psycho Logical remain the best group in Hip Hop. BUY IT!

Thug Law: Thug Life Outlawz: Chapter 1 (VA)
Label: D-3 Entertainment
(October 23, 2001)

1. What
2. Shit Iz Real
3. Satellite Niggaz
4. ***** That
5. Don’t Make Me
6. Pay Day/Pay Day (Interlude)
7. No Time
8. South Bound
9. Who You Trust
10. I Am the Street
11. Do That
12. I Need A/I’m A (Interlude)
13. Hood Nigga
14. Casualtiez of War
15. Angelz Cried
16. Thug Cycosis/Real Table (Interlude)

Firstly don’t be fooled by the THUG LAW logo stuck on the front of the case- this is mostly Big Syke material! Being released under his label and as the head of productions you’d expect Syke to have the ODD appearance on the tracks (almost on every one!) So that makes it a Thug Life/Outlaw on the grounds that Syke is on 95% of the CD!

So, Syke decides to call up a couple of THUG LIFE members, a few Outlawz and a couple of new, young emcees to put together a collabo CD to make “THUG LAWZ.” Sounds good right? It’s debatable. Syke is a tight rapper. Pac’s roaddogg. Seasoned G. Respected man. He also got real banging productions, taking production credentials on several tracks, “What,” “Shit Iz Real,” and “No Time” are prime examples of what Syke is capable of. His appearances are mostly tight. Use of voice filters to make his voice even more ominous than it already is.

The CD begins good.

Stick it in and you’re blasted with “What,” a banger with Tha Outlawz featuring to a snared up beat. Get drunk and crunk to it… “Shit Iz Real” is the following Westcoast hard-hitter. Its real un*****wittable. The bass reverberations from this rattle windows at high volume. “Satellite Niggaz,” a cracking collaboration with Above The Law, some classic stuff you needed to hear and you did. However, past this point on the disc, things change as the rap group Swerv take verses on umpteen other tracks. The atmosphere of alot of the tracks also change to suit Swerv too, the productions end up sounding further South than the before songs. I also felt let down by “Pay Day.” Seeing Mack 10, Syke and Krayzie Bone (Noble Outlaw also joins them) on the same track seemed exciting until I heard it as I’m a fan of Krayzie but he’s relegated to taking the hook! The beat is also quite dull and I personally feel its one of Krayzie’s worst hooks/appearances. “South Bound” is another lame track from Swerv. “Do That” was suffered from too much of Swerv’s input and a horrible hook, although the appearance from Mopreme is a quality verse.

Mentionable tracks are “No Time” for a rapping back and forth between Syke and Tyme and a deep piano track and a nice flow from Sundae. “I Need A” is a tight collabo with Mac Mall, Mopreme and Sundae over a decent beat. “Hood Nigga” is also another good track over another good production. “Casualtiez of War” has the Outlawz over a stomping army-influenced, dramatic beat. I also feel Swerv’s “Angelz Cried” deserves a mention- only on the basis that its a deep remembrance track. “Thug Cycosis” is a complete ride on ’em type track and 100% tight with the original THUG LIFE lineup all on point over a riding beat. Syke closes the CD with an ad-libbed interlude about being a real thug and so forth… its all cool though.

Overall its tracks like “What,” “Satellite Niggaz,” “Casualtiez of War” and “Thug Cycosis” that form the best tracks, as they hold the OG rappers who got down with THUG LIFE connections in some way or another, and because their rappers are also just plain better!

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

Syke flows over this perfectly, in fact, his part is almost flawless- he was the executive producer after all. However, too many of Syke’s homies ruin the actual THUG LIFE-Outlaw concept. Perhaps bar a few guest appearances to do hooks (its guest appearances almost every track), this would have been much better suited if it stuck with the two original groups. The two interludes between the songs also confused me a little and threw me off the content of the CD as I had no clue about who the woman is! Its no classic by any means, I rate THUG-LAWS an underachieving

2/5

Further recommendations:
Big Syke : “Big Syke Daddy”
Thug Law: “Thug Life Outlawz: Chapter 2”

Oakland rapper Habitt is the first rapper to release an album on new label Fat Daddy Records. I’ve never heard anything from Habitt nor his label in the past so I had no idea what to expect when I started writing this review.

1. Marc’s Skit 

2. N From Tha O feat. The Luniz 

The album’s starting with a real nice cut from Habitt and the Luniz. The trio’s basically saying that they’re from “Tha O” as in Oakland. I’m definitely feeling the beat and all three MC’s are showing off with a tight flow and sharp lyrics. N from tha O is definitely a banger and a great way to start off the album even though it’s making me higher my expectation level for the rest of the album. Habitt’s proving that he’s a tight MC right away. Single material.

3. Cross Me Border feat. Ellie 

Cross Me Border is a reggae influenced cut with reggae singer Ellie on it. When I went on to fatdaddyrecords.com, this song started playing with a video to it so I think that it’s the first single but I’m not sure. If it indeed is the first single, it’s an excellent pick. The bouncy beat’s making it bound to be a song played at clubs.

4. We Got (Mooch’s skit) 

5. We Got 

The Mooch shit was a skit with Mooch telling Habitt that we, the listeners, need something more gangsta for the streets, and that’s just what’s given to us here. We Got has a harder hitting and darker beat. Habitt’s talking about the people on the street. It’s a real tight track.

6. Strictly Game feat. Blk Diamond & Queen 

Habitts label mate Blk Diamond’s making his entrance on the album on this track and I have to say I’m impressed. Habitt’s lucky he’s a tight rapper, or he would have been outshined by his label mates tight flow. Once again Habitt has gotten a top notch beat to work with.

7. Lessions feat. Ellie 

Lessions is a track for the chicks. Habitt’s talking about how he learned his lesion with a girl and that you shouldn’t hurt the ones that you love. I know, I know, it applies to everyone but since most guys won’t admit that, these kind of tracks are often said to be for the chicks. All the beats seem to be top notch on this album, so I stopped noticing the tight beats.

8. Shakin’ It Up feat Ken & Lamont Bentley 

Just like the title implies, Shakin’ It Up is a party track about being all up in the club. The beat’s more funky than clubish tho and I’d rather bump Cross Me Border or N From Tha O at the club. This is still a tight track that makes you nod your head to it. Ken & Lamont Bentley’s doing nice guest appearances and it’s all in all a track that I know I’ll be bumping several times.

9. Yvette’s skit 

Yvette Wilson’s skit is basically her telling Habitt that his strong pimp hand made her the hoe that she is. It’s obviously a joke and it’s a funny skit.

10. Have U ever feat. Knoc-Turn’al 

“Have you ever said something in your life that you never thought that you would ever say? Or better yet, have you ever done something in your life that you never thought that you’d ever do?” Habitt asks us. The content of this track made me forget about the review for a minute. It makes you think… I guess I was, like Knocturnal put it, “in the zone”. The beat’s average but the content of the lyrics still makes this a track rated above the average track out there.

11. Hypnotize feat. Ahu G Fort 

Hypnotize is on some Timbaland tip. Timbaland didn’t produce the track, but it’s got his style. The tight hook by Ahu G Fort and the laid back flow from Habitt makes this a smokers track. It’s got a musical depth.

12. Watchin’ Out feat Blk Diamond 

Blk Diamond is doing an other guest appearance on Watchin’ Out, and just like last time he’s doing it real good. I heard Blk Diamond was taught how to rap and flow by Tupac and if that’s true, Makaveli has once again set his mark in the history books. I’m already looking forward to Blk Diamonds solo album. Habitt’s showing off a real tight flow over the tight drum and bass based beat and it’s an other tight track from this album.

13. Come Get It feat Slim 

On this cut, I’d say the chorus is at the centre of attention. Don’t get me wrong; Habitt and fast female rapper Slim are doing tight verses, but when the hook kicks in you’ll have a hard time not singing along. The strong hook is what makes this track to be single material in my opinion.

14. Riders 

Riders is a rock influenced track with electric guitars and live drums on it with a metallic sound mixed in. I can imagine it being hard to find a flow for this type of production, but Habitt succeeds on this track making it a solid cut.

15. What U Need 

Habitt’s once again showing an excellent skill in writing and doing hooks. Others have proven hooks to be real important for a mainstream appeal so it can only be a good thing. I’m really feeling the verses on What U Need too, so the hook’s not as much the main thing here like on Come Get It. The thing I noticed when listening to the track was that I thought it was too short… but it’s 3:30 so I guess I just felt like I wanted to hear more of it!

16. Street Life feat Blk Diamond 

The last track of the album is just like an outro track. It’s like it was meant to be put as the last song on the album. He’s also shouting some people out at the end so I guess it was planned all along. I’m not trying to set a bad example for the kids or anything… but this is a track to smoke to!

17. Curry’s skit

Just a skit.

This debut album from Habitt and his label, Fat Daddy Records, surprised me. The album’s surprisingly well produced and Habitt seems to be experienced with the way he kept delivering tight cuts track after track. His flow and the way he built the hooks makes me think this album’s going to be a hit. Habitt’s also got a mainstream appeal with some radio friendly songs.

I’ve been bumping the album for a while and my favourite songs from day to day. It has songs for many different moods, and a rare solidity without a bunch of album fillers.

I rate this album 4 out of 5.

1. Don’t Look Now

Nice fast paced track, the beat(Produced by Ski) sounds like something you’d hear on “Matlock”, nice detective type sound. Pacewon & Young Zee shine on this track as they trade witty lines back and forth. Great track to start off the album. Good

2. The Rah Rah

DOPE!!! This is a Pacewon solo track and features some really different production by Ski, it has an Arabian type feel to it and has a hard bounce bass line mixed in. Pace flows perfectly over this track, his rugged flow matches the beat and the end result is some great music. This was their single to the album, and it was a perfect single in my opinion. DOPE!

3. F**k Y’all Niggaz(Feat Rah Digga)

Rah Digga is basically a part of the Outsidaz so I don’t know why she was billed as a feature but then again I can sort of understand why she was(If that makes sense). Nice bouncy beat here, it’s hard hitting has a hint of catchiness to it. Young Zee & Rah Digga are on this track, it’s like a man vs woman type thing. Great track. Good

4. Rush Ya Clique(Feat Eminem)

DOPE!!!! Yes Eminem was at one time a part of the Outsidaz clique. Nice beat here, it has an old school type feel but yet is mixed with a newer sound, it’s hard to describe. Everyone comes tight on this track, Eminem has a semi weird verse but it’s pretty good. Great track. DOPE!

5. Money, Money, Money

Has a powwow type sound to it, with electric guitars mixed in, really good beat here. Track is about keeping….money(Of course), all the Outsidaz members shine here. Great track. Good

6. It’s Goin Down

Sort of bouncy type beat here, it’s a little sloppy. Zee shines here though, man Young Zee is overlooked, the guy could’ve been huge but was mis-used. Pacewon(Another overlooked rapper) does a good job on this track as well. Good track. Good

7. Night Life

Has an epic type feel to it, nice Eminem voice samples mixed in(“Spaced out like Dr. Octagon”). Everyone comes tight on this track, man Outsidaz were a great group with Newark with a ton of chemistry, I can’t believe how mis-used they were. Anyway great track. DOPE!

All in all this gets a Good rating. From Newark New Jersey, the Outz were a group who should be heard, they have so many good tracks. Cop this EP and support real Hip Hop!

Hi-Tek. One half of the Hip-Hop duo Reflection Eternal (as seen on the LP Train of Thought), in-house producer for the conscious rap scene’s favorite team Black Star, staff producer for Dr Dre’s Aftermath label and possibly the most talented beat maker in the whole camp; I first stumbled upon DJ Hi-Tek listening to Talib Kweli, as most can relate, and instantly recognized his prowess and soul. This, his first and only solo release, allows him to finally do a CD the way he wants it done.

1) Scratch Rappin

This is, obviously, produced by Hi-Tek himself. It’s a scratchy-sounding instrumental, aptly enough; a chopped, vintage-sounding piano starts off over a kick-clap combination that serve as the drums. Instead of rapping over the beat, Tek uses samples to get across what he wants said, then lets the instrumental play out. (Good)

2) Sun God ft. Common

A light, bouncy (sunny, if you will) string over an eclectic drum sets the mood here. Common obviously feels at home on the beat, using his full arsenal of wordplay. He speaks in an abstract, roundabout way about finding happiness. He gives us heavy visuals of the block; broken glass, weed fiends, prostitutes; one can envision a sunny day in the ghetto, and finding joy despite one’s surroundings. (Excellent)

3) Get Back pt 2 ft. Talib Kweli, DCQ

Kweli begins the track acapella, warning the listener to respect his personal space; immediately, the dangerous Spanish-flavored guitar and shuffling rattlesnake effect jump in to back him as he starts one of the righteous tirades he’s known for, about love of true music. DCQ merely jumps in to spit the chorus and do some hype man work. (Great)

4) Breakin Bread ft. Donte, Main Flow, Brian Digby Jr, Crunch

This beat has a more nostalgic, Primo-quality feel to it, a repeated but never repetitive string-and-kick combination with a horn thrown in; samples kick off the track. Donte comes in first with a rapid flow, spitting a nice verse full of internal rhyme; dispensing with the hook, Main Flow jumps on with a slower and huskier delivery, using vocabulary to his advantage at points. The sampled hook returns, then it’s right into Brian Digby Jr, yet another internal-rhyming, wordplay-kicker, verse nice but strongest at the end. Crunch is the strongest on the track, cutting loose from the rest with a multi-styled 16 to keep it fresh. (Good)

5) All I Need ft. Cormega, Jonell

Somehow sounds influenced by Dre’s original The Chronic, the style of production from that era; a deep-bassed, multilayered construct of piano chords, 3 or 4 in all, of a variety of notes. Cormega spits heat to his woman about loving her but needing to make money on the block. Jonell is smooth on the hook, playing the part of his girl. Right at the end of the track the beat changes, a more jumpy offering, then quickly fades out. (Great)

6) Where I’m From ft. Jinx da Juvy

Utilizing (unfortunately) the same sample he put on Talib Kweli’s “The Blast,” Hi-Tek provides Jinx with an organic, bassheavy backdrop over which to boast to his heart’s content. Jinx spits his aggressive thug-themed lines with heart, if only a decent amount of skill. (Decent)

7) Tony Guitar Watson

The next joint kicks off on a more thoughtful note; uptempo drums beat away at some kind of warped (also uptempo) string, while a cinematic violin-type instrument plays in the background. Like Scratch Rappin, this is an instrumental track, and a good one. (Good)

8) Round and Round ft. Jonell

A regretful, R&B-styled string drops in over a thumping bass/shuffle drum production, while Jonell flexes her singing skills. She croons longingly but firmly about her on-again-off-again relationship, high-toned on the chorus and smooth in the verses. Around the second verse, a bass solo takes over for the breakdown. (Great)

9) Get ta Steppin ft. Mos Def, Vinia Mojica

A sluggish, jazzy track that sounds like something off of Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides; Mos intros crooning to an unidentified woman, with Mojica playing background vocals. Though not excersizing his lyrical talents, Mos clearly enjoyed making the cut, and it shows in his performance. (Good)

10) Theme From Hi-Tek ft. Talib Kweli

Over an oldschool, 70’s-flavored track, Kweli rhymes a quick, frenetic verse about his own skills and repping his music. A change from the slow mood of the previous track, but nothing out of place and certainly a great effort. (Great)

11) LTAH ft. Slum Village

This track is a bit bubbly, a disjointed kind of woman track. It’s not my favorite beat; the Detroit duo rhyme pretty well about meeting a woman at a bar one night, but nothing special. (Poor)

12) Suddenly ft. Donte, Main Flow

An Italian-styled, haunting guitar (accordion?) that sounds like something out of one of the Godfather’s Italy scenes drops in over a marching drum. Donte and Main Flow come in to drop nice verses about clubbing and flossing. However, the substance is out of place over the otherwise interesting and good beat. (Decent)

13) Illest it Gets ft. Buckshot

The bass heavy drums come pounding in first, followed quickly by the triumphant sound of a distant electric guitar. Boot Camp Click’s Buckshot comes in with the exact tone of confidence the track warrants; his verses, as usual, are the sickness. (Excellent)

14) Hi-Teknology ft. Jonell

Surprisingly, Hi-Tek actually raps over the title track/final track. The beat is a jumpy, club-type track with an animated bassline and some jumpy synth keys thrown in. Jonell is on the chorus, repeating “Hi-Tek” and humming to the beat; Tek spit’s a pretty nice verse, about himself. (Great)

My Rating: 4.5/5

Tek is at his most musically versatile on this LP, obviously enjoying being able to do what he wants without having to answer to the managerially inept (i.e. A&Rs at Rawkus Records who made him give his beats and songs to other label mates). He has a great guest list, bringing together talents one would think were a slight mismatch (Cormega and Common, for example) yet he changes to suit them all.

My Recommendation: Buy it..order it if you have to, listen to it at least!

Say what you want about No Limit now, but nobody can deny that they’re music was top of tha game in 98. This is my favorite album(s) of all time, which doesn’t make my review biased, but is underated and often called the peak of P’s 2Pac biting rhymes. When in fact, this was the peak of No Limit, going 4x platinum in 1998, and for a good reason.

Disc 1:

1) Da Last Don: 

Perfect way to open up the CD. It was No Limit’s most anticipated release, and Master P’s marketing ploy of his ‘retirement’ to sell more records paid off. Playing a don ( in a cheesy Italian accent ), P states why he’s the last Don, and pays his respects to 2Pac, Biggie, and of course his brother, Kevin Miller; over a hard ass beat.

2) Til we Dead and Gone feat. Bone Thugs and Harmony: 

Not the best song; didn’t really live up to what I thought it would be. Average verse from P, and Bone rips it as usual. Just an average song.

3) Thinkin Bout U feat. Mia X, Mo B. Dick: 

Released as a single, this song talks about alot of different gangsta subjects. The beat is sick, with a bumpin piano beat, but the singing and chorus is what drags it down.

4) Soldiers, Riders, and G’s feat. Snoop Dogg, Silkk the Shocker, Mystikal:

This is possibly the best song on the first disc, everybody comes hard on it. The beat, the verses, everything’s on point and the whole song delivers. A No Limit classic.

5) The Ghetto’s got me Trapped feat. Silkk the Shocker: 

Not a bad song, talking about how P and Silkk will always be trapped in the ghetto, but they’re not ready to die. The beat is another mafiaso type beat, with a heavy bass guitar. Average song.

6) Get Your Paper feat. E-40: 

A lot of people don’t like this song, but it’s got a Bay Area beat, and it’s how a featured song should be. Two seperate verses from P and 40, and then them going back and forth on the third verse. Definatley a good song worth listening to.

7) Ride: 

One of the only P solo efforts on the album(s), but this a good song. It’s a more laid back track, with piano rifts in the background. As always, P let’s off his signature Uggghhh!!!, but it fits in perfect for this joint talking about the struggles in the ghetto.

8) Thug Girl feat. Snoop Dogg, Silkk the Shocker:

I don’t like this song, to me it’s a mess. Snoop’s verse isn’t good and P’s verse isn’t good. Silkk ruins it. The only thing good about this track is that it’s short.

9) These Streets Keep Me Rollin feat. Fiend:

In this track, P obviously tries to emulate a lil of Pac’s style, but it flows smooth over this laid back beat. Fiend has a tight verse with his raw voice, which seems a lil out of place, but it’s still a good song over a BBTP produced beat.

10) Black and White: 

Song about P being a black man in a white world, and how things will never change. Romeo has a cameo in the beginning, but this track is just average.

11) War Wounds feat. Fiend, Mystikal, Snoop Dogg, Silkk the Shocker:

Somewhat of a Soulja song, this song goes hard. The beat, the chorus, everybody’s verse, and the ending. Nothing short of a classic from BBTP. Definatley recommended for listening and constant playback.

12) Dear Mr. President feat. Mac: 

P got a lot of critics and haters with this song. Obviously, 2Pac had a song about his letter to the president, which it would seem P ripped off. And to some extent he did, but it’s not a bad song, and has a good feature from Mac.

13) Mama Raised Me feat. Soulja Slim, Snoop Dogg:

Tight song, and the title lives up to it’s name. It’s not the content or the meaning of the song that make’s you want to listen, but the way it flows. The smoothest of No Limit ( Soulja Slim and Snoop Dogg ) spit game about how they mama raised them. One of my favorite tracks on the double album.

14) Let My 9 Get Em: 

Another rare P solo song, in which he raps Ghetto D style about layin it down for any ***** that don’t like him and what he stands for.

Disc 2:

1) More 2 Life feat. C-Murder:

C-Murder makes a track good. Bottom line. And that’s not saying that his albums are perfect, but his features never dissapoint. More 2 Life is talking about how everything shouldn’t revolve around *****es, weed, and a mercedes. Tight song, kind of slow, but it’s catchy and makes you want to listen; and that’s all that should matter to a person buying the CD.

2) Ghetto Life feat. UGK: 

Tight track with another UGK appearance ( they appeared on a number of No Limit albums prior to this ), and this song actually has some meaning. That’s saying a lot about a Master P song, but it’s definatley one of the best songs from both discs.

3) Gangsta ***** feat. Steady Mobb’n, Mo B. Dick: 

Westcoast feeling song ( to a certain extent ) about how no ***** compares to a gangsta *****. Average song, but not really that great. Definatley a filler track.

4) So Many Souls Deceased feat. Ghetto Commission:

Ghetto Commission comes hard on this track, and P’s verse is too short. The beat is just average, with P talking Italian at the beginning again. Recommended if you like the Commission.

5) Rock-A-Bye-Haters: 

A skit of P changing a popular nursery rhyme, like he did on his later albums, and switching it up. Really drags the disc down, and is a complete waste of time. Skip it.

6) Snitches feat. Snoop Dogg:

A sample of G’z and Hustlaz from Doggystyle, which isn’t a bad concept, but fails to deliver. Snoop’s verse is too long, and he can’t live up to the original ( which shouldn’t be expected ), but is still an average track.

7) Family Business: 

Another mafia type skit, with P talking in his accent and ‘taking care of a snitch’. Waste of space, and obvious filler for the 2nd disc. Skip it.

8) Let’s Get Em feat. Magic, C-Murder: 

Magic, who also tried to sound like 2Pac through much of 98, comes hard. C-Murder comes hard. P comes hard. Bottom line, this is one of the best tracks on the album.

9) Goodbye To My Homies feat. Sons of Funk, Silkk the Shocker: 

Trying to capitilize on the success of ‘I miss my Homies’ P offers a sequel to the 97 joint, with the exact same theme of the first. He’s still talking about Kevin, nothing’s really changed. However if you like the Sons of Funk, peep this track.

10) Welcome To My City feat. Mac, O’Dell:

A lot of people find this their favorite track of the album, and it’s not completely surprising to see why. The beat is smooth, and all the flows are with P continuing to yell Ugghhh!!! on about every song.

11) Ghetto Love feat. Mia X, Mo B. Dick: 

Not a bad song if you want ya girl in the mood, but when I buy a Master P album, that’s not what I’m looking for. I don’t blame him for making this type of track, at this point he didn’t really have one, but it’s not really my style. I skipped it.

12) Make Em Say Ugghhh!!! Part II feat. Fiend, Mia X, Silkk the Shocker, Snoop Dogg:

It’s been said before, I’ll say it again. This song was really anticipated, and for the first 3 minutes, it was as good if not better than the original; until…..Snoop Dogg comes on. This song is DRAGGED DOWN by his slow style. He is capable of rhyming fast and hard ( listen to any track on Doggstyle ), but the Doggfather got lazy, and this song needs Mystikal bad.

13) Hot Boys and Girls feat. Kane & Abel, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, Mystikal: 

Above average song about the wierdest shit you will ever hear. The song’s title has nothing to do with the theme ( which isn’t bad ), but you won’t get what you expect. Everybody on this joint describes themselves as something that you’d do everyday. Ex: Master P ” I’m the fire down in Hell, I’m the gas you pump at shell “. Out of the ordinary, but it definatley puts a twist on the song, and makes you want to listen to it even more.

14) Reverse the Game: 

Pointless skit leading up to the end of the album. Skip it.

15) Eternity feat. C-Murder, Mr. Serv-On:

Easily my favorite No Limit track ever, everything about the song is great. There is no flaws to this song, and the beat, the verses, and the chorus especially you can play just about anytime. The perfect way to end ANY album, as Master P closes off saying this is the last time you will hear a bad guy like him; and at that point in 1998, actually made you believe him. One of the best songs ever.

In conclusion, I give this album nothing less than a 5. 5/5. It’s full of tracks that you can play just about any time, and was probably Master P’s last GREAT album. It lives up to the hype in my opinion, and if you don’t own it already, I suggest you go out and buy it if your a No Limit/Master P/Gangsta Musik fan.

Back in 1996, Nas was shaping up a pet project he called “The Firm”–a four-MC, one-producer project which involved Cormega. However, shortly after announcing the album, Cormega was replaced with another Queensbridge native, Nature. After being released, Mega went through more label trouble; Def Jam Records shelved his recorded debut, The Testament, made in 1997. Now, eight years after leaving the label, Mega can finally release the never-publicly-heard album which should have announced his presence in the rap game.

1) Intro

A lethargic piano accompanies Cormega as he recites a verse in the form of spoken-word poetry.

2) 62 Pickup

Mega is in a courtroom, about to hear his sentence; the judge asks him if he’d like to say any words, and he launches into the track. This beat was produced by Cormega himself; mostly a slow, sympathy-inducting piano. Mega’s lyrics are nice, maybe the flow not as developed but overall a good track. (Good)

3) One Love

A reply to the famous One Love track by Nas; Mega ‘writes’ back, ironically showing Nas love. The beat is nice, an aural flute over a thumping drum. Mega’s lyrics are nice; if they’re to be compared to Nas’ on the original One Love, I’d say the track is about as good. (Great)

4) Interlude

Mega lists the ‘greatest’ aspects of life–the greatest victory, defeat, etc.

5) Angel Dust ft. Havoc

Over a slightly gothic, haunting compilation of strings, Mega spits scorching verses about himself and his street tendencies. His lyrics are sick to say the least; Hav comes on for the chorus, lending it that bleak, Mobb Deep-type feel. (Excellent)

6) Dead Man Walking

Over a bleak piano chord, Mega spits a vivid story about going against a street rival. Proof his storytelling skills can rival the best–Nas, for instance. (Great)

7) Montana Diary

Another haunting string track, done masterfully; this sounds like it was orchestrated. Mega’s lyrics over the shuffling drums are some full-out fire; clearly meant to signal the start of a rap titan. (Excellent)

8) Testament

A dark and disjointed piano/accordion(?) track, Cormega once again spits some great, complex lyrics. (Great)

9) Testament

The beat here doesn’t flow as well as the newer version; otherwise, the track is about the same.

10) Every Hood ft. Fatal Hussein

A lighter, more hopeful beat sees Cormega and then-Outlaw Fatal Hussein rhyme about connecting through hoods. Fatal’s kickoff verse is nice; so are Mega’s follow-up lyrics. The hook is okay, but mostly serves to be over quickly so Fatal and Mega can return to trading verses. (Excellent)

11) Coco Butter

Using a muted version of the same sample that AZ would later use for his song “Seems That Way” off of Final Call, Mega rhymes to a woman; he’s not at his best here, but he still manages to hold the track up; the song itself, however, sounds out-of-place on this particular album. (Decent)

12) Killaz Theme ft. Mobb Deep

This sinister, Havoc-produced soft-violin cut sees Prodigy, Cormega and Havoc rhyme some of their best verses respectively, giving it that real dark Queensbridge sound that Mobb Deep manifested at the time. A nostalgic look at what Mobb Deep once was as well as a great song in itself. (Excellent)

13) Love is Love

Using what seems to be same sample used in GZA’s Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (however used in a very different way), Mega kicks advice to a younger thug and other hoodlums about watching one’s back in the streets. (Good)

14) Dead Man Walking (Remix)

Using a revamped version of the original beat, Mega forsakes the narrative format and kicks it straight to his enemies, Friend or Foe style. (Excellent)

My Rating: 4/5

This album has already come under light fire in regards to Mega’s then-undeveloped flow. However his lyrics are still top-notch, and this solid debut album should serve as a Testament to his improvement since then and his determination to make it in the rap scene. If he’d only been able to release it when it was ready (on a major label such as Def Jam), followed by his next two acclaimed albums, maybe his career would have been a bit different.

My Recommendation: B…U…Y.

1. Intro 

Intro

2. On The Prowl 

Nice Necro beat here, it’s abrasive and has a nice distorted sound to it, I can’t really describe it. Mr. Hyde rips it, he really worked hard to improve his flow, he sounds much more crisp and very vicious. The lyrics? Well it’s gore but Hyde does it in such a manner that it doesn’t become redundant. Dope track. Good

3. Say My Name(Little Brittany) 

Nice dark beat by Necro, it’s really eerie and sets the tone for the track. Brittany “sings” a decent chorus, it’s a little corny but hey who cares? Hyde raps are vicious and piercing here. Great track. Good

4. The Crazies(Feat Necro, Ill Bill, & Goretex) 

CIRCLE OF TYRANTS!!!! Great dark piano beat here, has a grimey Queensbridge type sound to it with a nice flute like sound thrown in there. Hyde starts it off with a good verse, then GORETEX rips it, then Ill Bill throws in a vicious verse where he uses his psycho deep voiced out of control flow, then Necro finishes it off with a dope verse, I think Necro is overlooked on the mic, he’s perfectly acceptable on the mic and he does a good job painting mental pictures. Crazy track with no chorus just verses. DOPE!

5. Barn Of The Naked Dead 

Crazy Necro beat here, sounds like a psycho is on the loose and well Hyde is rapping so it’s true. Hyde gives some bugged out goon lyrics here as he kidnaps women and takes them to his barn, this was inspired by a B-Gore Movie so keep that in mind when you listen to the track. Good track. Good

6. Spill Your Blood 

Necro produces a dark Chinese type beat here. Hyde flows vicious here giving some gore type lyrics, good track. Good

7. Knife In Your Spine(Feat Necro) 

Eerie beat by Necro. Necro starts off with a good verse using a ton of multi’s and using some dope wordplay. Hyde next and he outshines Necro, man he’s working hard on this album, that’s good to hear because I’m sick of rappers half assing their flow and lyrics on tracks. Good track. Good

8. Malignant Messiah 

Eerie sample in the beginning and then a hard organ type beat kicks in. Hyde flows vicious on here, really good track. Good

9. Street Veterans Part 2(Feat Ill Bill & Necro) 

Nice funky type beat by Necro here. Part 1 was on Brutality and was just a Hyde solo. Hyde starts it off and flows perfectly on this track. Necro does a good chorus here. Ill Bill up next and he rips it. This track is dope! DOPE!

10. Weapons Of Mass Destruction 

Nice hard hitting beat by Necro and some nice Necro voice samples. Hyde raps about hitting you with different weapons. Good track. Good

11. Bums Intro(Kid Joe) 

Kid Joe explains that he’s a bum, Kid Joe is great.

12. Bums(Feat Necro & Uncle Howie) 

DOPE! Necro produces a more light hearted beat with several “Bum” voice samples throughout, really clever track as Hyde raps about being a bum with some hilarious yet true lyrics. Necro then raps about how bums live, smell, etc etc. Uncle Howie even gives a semi verse, really funny stuff. Great track. DOPE!

13. Death Sentence(Feat Sabac) 

Pretty clever track as Sabac plays a guard and Hyde plays the part of a prisoner on death row who gets executed. Good track. Good

14. Married To Pain 

Interesting beginning as Necro wed’s pain. Hyde raps about…well dishing out pain. Good track. Good

15. Beesh(Malaki Skit) 

Skit.

16. Buggin Out(Feat Kid Joe) 

Kid Joe just gives psycho lines. Hyde tries a new rhyme style here, not bad. I like the crazed piano beat by Necro. Good

17. Them(Feat Goretex, Ill Bill, & Necro) 

Nice dark piano beat here by Necro. Necro starts the track off with a good verse. Ill Bill with the next verse and he has a good verse. Goretex gives a vicious verse. Hyde finishes it off with a pretty good verse. Another great track by the Circle Of Tyrants. No chorus just all lyrics. DOPE!

18. Outro

Outro.

19. The Crazies(86 Metal Mix)(Feat Necro, Ill Bill, & Goretex) 

Same track but with a pretty good heavy metal sound to it, nice guitar playing but it sounds weird. Good

All in all this gets a Good rating. This was an album that got overlooked, Mr. Hyde worked his ass off here rhyming and Necro provided the great beats, worth a listen.

Only God Can Judge Me was made post Beats by the Pound era, and after No Limit’s success really wore off. After going 4x platinum with the Da Last Don, Master P came out of ‘retirement’ to release Only God Can Judge Me. The twist on this cd is that by this time ( late 99 ) most of the soldiers had left the tank, including BBTP, which gave it a new style. Along with the new production, came a new style from P. It’s an experiment, and not everybody liked it. With that being said, here’s the review for OGCJM.

1) Only God Can Judge Me

P talking over a Daniel Kartell laced guitar solo, about why he’s a soulja and how he’ll always be TRU 2 Da Game. Not really recomended.

2) Ghetto Prayer feat. Magic

This is a song that was really critiqued when it first came out as a shallow, meaningless wannabe 2Pac song. I wouldn’t say it’s that bad, but it does get a lil repetitive. Not the worst, not the best.

3) Step To Dis feat. D.I.G.

One of the best songs on the album, also released as a single. D.I.G. has a flawless flow, and Master P comes correct. What more to say?

4) Return of Da Don feat. Silkk the Shocker

Unfortunatley, this song doesn’t live up to it’s name. Silkk’s accent is complete garbage, and the beat is mafiaso, but without BBTP, it sounds terrible. Nothing stands out.

5) Say Brah feat. Mac

This is a club bangin track with Mac. It’s almost like whenever Mac is on a song, it can’t be bad. This is a good song, with an uptempo beat also featured on 504 Boyz’s ‘Goodfellas’.

6) Boonapalist feat. D.I.G., Ms. Peaches

This is a slow song that has no relation to anything good at all. D.I.G. has a tight verse, and that’s about it. Nothing special about this track at all.

7) Where Do We Go feat. Mac, Nas

This is probably one of the best songs on the entire album. Master P definatley has his best verse I’ve heard in a long time. It’s about staying positive even when life getz tough. Tight verses from all three artists.

8) Ice on My Wrist

Cash Money’s success obviously influenced this song, because P never used to rap about cars, jewels, etc. Not really worth listening to unless you like songs about diamonds, and Cash Money does it better anyway.

9) Stop Playing Wit Me

One of the highlights of the album. It’s a rowdy joint that stays on point through the whole song detailing P’s come up in the game. Worth a listen.

10) Ghetto in the Sky

Much like Ghetto Prayer, this song is criticized for being a cheap version of songs from the likes of 2Pac, Biggie, etc. I don’t really look that deep into it, but it’s worth a listen if you like slowed down jamz.

11) Ain’t Nothing Changed feat. D.I.G.

Another one of the best songs on the album, as whenever D.I.G. touches the mic, the song is gold. Everything about the song is good; the production, the chorus, and the verses from P and D.I.G.

12) Commercial feat. Young Guns

A ‘commercial’ which is on here for whatever reason, is not that bad. The Guns lace the track with a smooth flow over a tough beat.

13) Oh Na Nae

I’m not sure why this song is on here. It’s another watered down Cash Money type song. P’s change from ‘Da Last Don’ is most obvious here, as he continues to rap about Benz’s, 20’s, and basically Big Tymer type raps.

14) Ghetto Honeys feat. Mac

The beat is hard, couldn’t be any better. The title of the song could’ve been better though, because just looking at it, made me want to skip it. Overall, a good song with Mac and P layin it down.

15) Y’all Don’t Want None feat. Mystikal

Despite saying that he’d never beef on wax, Master P takes shots at UNLV and Pastor Troy on this song. Over basically the same beat that UNLV used to diss Mystikal, P and Mystikal use it to diss them subliminally. A good song though, one of the best.

16) Life Ain’t Easy feat. C-Murder: 

Finally a track featuring C-Murder, and although it’s less than two minutes, it probably couldn’t be any better. Definatley one of the best songs on the album, and bout it bout it.

17) Who Down To Ride feat. D.I.G.

As you can see, D.I.G. is obviously all over this album. Promotion paid off, because he once again steals the song from P, and lays down the chorus on point. Too bad ‘AfterLife’ never dropped.

18) Y’all Don’t Know feat. Ghetto Commission

P goes back to his ‘Last Don’ style to talk about his 2Pac-influenced-penetentiary-chances theme. It’s good to hear Ghetto Commission again ( because they were always good ). Overall, not a bad song, not the best, but not bad.

19) Nobody Move feat. Magic, Silkk the Shocker

Bottom line, this track is a hard track that gets you hyped. Silkk does not do good on these type of tracks, and basically ruins the end of the song. However, if you want a tight two minute track, peep the first two verses from Magic and P, and you won’t be dissapointed.

20) Da Ballers feat. Jermaine Dupri

P and JD go back and forth talking about their lifestyles and where they’re from. Not a bad track, but don’t expect much. JD produced it.

21) Crazy Bout Ya feat. Mercedes, Ms. Peaches

Slow song ( which P doesn’t do good with ) about being crazy bout ya girl. It’s not recomended. Skip It.

22) Intro to Get Yo Mind Right

P talking in the background, and introducing the following song.

23) Get Yo Mind Right feat. C-Murder

Tight song w/ a catchy hook. Not a bad way to close out the album, but definatley could’ve been better.

Overall, after hearing this experiment I wouldn’t say this a bad Master P album. Due to his limited rapping skills, it’s probably one of his better solo efforts. There are worse ( Ghetto Postage, Gameface ) and there are better ( Da Last Don, Ghetto D, Ice Cream Man ), but if you are a No Limit fan or just a P fan in general, it wouldn’t hurt picking this up, because it’s not as bad as everyone says.

1. The Zone-ettes

Intro to the album, it’s pretty funny as J-Zone introduces his own female back up group, then he fires them afterwards. I can’t rate this but for comedy it was great.

2. $poiled Rotten(Feat Celph Titled)

DOPE! The beat by J-Zone is really heavy, it hits pretty hard and has a hint of electric guitar thrown in. J-Zone & Celph show some great chemistry together. Great track, we’re off to a great start. DOPE!

3. A Friendly Game Of Basketball

What a clever track, this track is about how J-Zone would crush any music artist in a game of basketball. He goes after Bow Wow, Ice Cube, & Master P, of course this is not meant to be mean spirited so J-Zone is not trying to beef with any of them. I like the beat here, it’s heavy hitting but has pretty good singing samples. This is one of Zone’s greatest tracks. DOPE!

4. Edit These

Clever track, see J-Zone can’t get a track played by the radio because his music is too “dirty”, so he edits it with the cursing edited(In fact it’s edited to go backwards) so you get a hilarious second verse. Really clever track. Good

5. Greater Later(Feat Devin The Dude)

Oh yea DEVIN!!!!! This is not the type of beat you’d expect Devin to rap over but that’s not a bad thing, in fact Devin does a great job and the J-Zone beat is really good as well. This is a surreal track. Devin does the first verse and it’s really good. J-Zone with the second verse and it’s also pretty good. You have to hear this track. Good

6. Xactly

Beat is ok, it’s got a funky feel to it. J-Zone sounds like he’s using echoes for a voice effect. The lyrics and concept are pretty funny(It’s about bad breath and poor hygiene). Good enough. Good

7. Kill Pretty

The beat here is great, it may sound a little odd during the first listen but once you hear the track more you get used to it. J-Zone raps about how ugly he is and how he needs alcohol to get girls. Pretty funny track. Good

8. Baldylocks

This track reminds me of Willie D’s “Bald Headed Hoe’s” and really anything that reminds you of WILLIE D! is dope. Track is about how women are bald one day and then the next day they have a full head of hair. Hilarious track, really good as well. Good

9. Crutches

Skit.

10. Disco Ho(Feat Dick $tallion)

Nice semi disco-ish beat by J-Zone, it’s got some funk in it as well. J-Zone raps about not dancing, pretty funny stuff. Chorus has some bad singing which J-Zone says “Sound better than Pharrell…for half the price!”. Great track. Good

11. Flight 212

Skit.

12. Bulls**t City

Nice funky type beat, it’s almost Premo-ish. Track is about New York, I like the scratching on this track. Great track. Good

13. Heavy Metal(Starring Al Shid)

This is an Al Shid solo track, J-Zone does the beat here and it’s nice and dark. Shid does pretty good on this track. Good

14. Oops!(I’m Sorry B*tch)

Nice bouncy type beat. J-Zone tries a different style of rapping on here, really dope stuff. Track is pretty funny as well. Good

15. Sleazy Listening

J-Zone makes some porn background music here with numerous sex samples. I can’t rate this.

16. Lightweight(Remix)

Nice beat here, there are some different styles going on here, some guitar’s and bouncy type bass here. J-Zone raps about not being able to hold his liquor, pretty funny stuff, good track as well. Good

17. The Zone Report

DOPE!!!!! This may be my favorite J-Zone track ever and he even mentions ICE T!!!! J-Zone raps about his entire album catalogue. It’s pretty interesting to hear him give his honest opinion on his own albums. You have to hear this track, the beat here is really funky and has a really good electric guitar type riff mixed in. DOPE!

18. Old Maid Theme/Biscuits II

Nice shout out type track, J-Zone gives a great shout out to Devin. Nice way to end this though I really can’t rate this.

All in all I give this a Good rating. This may be J-Zone’s greatest album, this smokes his old stuff easily. The skits were kept to a minimum and J-Zone was more focused here. Most def cop this album.