Before hearing this album I have only heard track 3, “Things I’ve seen” before, and it was really tight so I’m hoping this album will be something special. The group has a great female singer named Ming Xia and 4 male MC’s.

1. Other script

The album’s starting off with a song with weird production. It’s ok but I’m sure a lot of people doesn’t agree with me on that. The Spook’s doing a good job flowing over it tho and the chorus is kinda catchy. The outro’s wack.

2. The mission

Nice and different production on this one. Xia’s doing a great job with the hook… However, the others are wack and I could probably go to the mall right now and find someone who’d do it better.

3. Things I’ve seen

“Things I’ve seen” was the first single and a major reason this album sold units. The production is tight and Xia’s making it a great commercial success. The other MC’s doing decent verses and I really like this song. However, I think the single version is different production wise. This one’s way to low and I was disappointed with it.

4. They don’t know

What the hell is this?! I’m sure someone’s worked very hard to produce this song, but it’s wack! The lyrics are decent but that won’t help this track. Skip this!

5. I got U

Again, very different production than what we as rap fans are used to. This one’s pretty decent tho. To bad the track as a whole is wack.

6. Flesh not bone

This is more like it! I’m actually enjoying the production on this song from time to time. To be more exact, I like it when the guitar’s in the picture. The beats are also kinda cool tho. Again, Xia’s doing her part very well.

7. Sweet revenge

Wow! I had lost faith in finding really tight tracks on this album, but this one made me change my mind! It’s a very tight production and the lyrics are really cool too! I’m impressed!

8. Deep cutz

Damn. I was hoping for a tight followup to “Sweet revenge” but instead I get this… a pathetic attempt to try to make it look like an old Ice Cube song. This aint even close. Wack.

9. Karma hotel

Xia’s starting off this track, and there’s no denial in that she has a beautiful voice. Unfortunately she’s not doing the entire song, instead the other’s coming in. They’re doing a decent job on this cut, but I’d rather hear Xia throughout the entire song. She IS doing a good job on the chorus tho. It’s worth listening to.

10. Safe house

Cool beat on this track but that’s all. Even Xia’s wack on this one.

11. Something fresh

This track’s based on some 80’s rock thing. It’s quite neat… Especially when the chorus’s cutting in. You might not like this one, but I do.

12. Swindley’s Maracas

One of the better tracks on this cd… Not that that would tell you something. It’s average. Xia’s once again doing a great job and she should go for a solo career. I especially enjoy the guitar.

13. ***** blood

This has got to be one of the worst tracks ever made. Skip it!

14. Murder

They probably couldn’t come up with a worse way to finish off the album. Wack!

Throughout this album it had different production. It sounded kind of like a mixture of Rap, Jazz, Reggae and Soul.
I’m gonna be honest with you and go right to the point: This album sucks! The average track on this album is some wack shit who should never have been released. However, some tracks like “Things I’ve seen”, “Flesh not bone” and “Sweet revenge” was actually quite tight. If you would remove those 3 tracks, this album would get 1. Now I’m forced to atleast up it to 1.5.

When I picked this album up I didn’t know much about Royce da 5’9”. I knew he was affiliated with Eminem, and that could possibly mean he’s only selling records because of that. Other artists has sold a lot more with Eminem than they would without him. We’ll see…

1. It’s Tuesday (Intro)

Royce da 5’9” starts off this album with a slow, cool song. Neat beat and cool lyrics. This is something between a normal track and an intro.

2. Rock city feat. Eminem

Eminem’s co-producing this track and since the production is good I’m guessing he did a good job. This has to be one of the first commercial tracks he produced. He’s also featured on the song… He’s really just doing the chorus and it sounds kinda gay. Eminem shouldn’t sing like this.

3. Get’cha paper feat. Tre’ Little

This is more like it! A slow but still raw track. Royce’s coming out hard and so is Tre Little even tho he’s not as raw as Royce da 5’9”. Tight track and a catchy hook!

4. We live (danger)

This song is also kinda slow… The production is cool and so is the lyrics. Nothing special really. The hook is kinda catchy.

5. You can’t touch me

This, just like the other tracks, is a kind of slow beat with rawer lyrics on it. I like the beats, but the rest of it isn’t all that. All the tracks has sounded too much the same this far.

6. Let’s go feat. Twista

Twista’s one of my favourite Midwest rapper. Nobody can spice up a track like he does when he’s spitting a verse in his typical way. Same thing with this track. If it wasn’t for Twista I probably wouldn’t have like this one too much, but now I think it’s really cool. The production is above average, too.

7. D-Elite Pt 1

A 1.38 long track. It’s cool but the length of it make it seem more like a skit.

8. D-Elite Pt 2 feat. Tre´, Cha Cha, Jah 5’9”, Cut Throat and Billy Nix)

Tight beat and production for this one and I enjoy all the verses. They’re all good rappers. I’m not really into the slow kind of production Royce da 5’9”, or maybe the executive produced; Eminem, seem to like.

9. She’s the one feat. Tre’ Little

Boaring music… the rap don’t save it. Skip this track.

10. Boom

Damn! Just as I had lost faith in this album this track comes up! DJ Premier is a tight producer and he’s proving it right here! Tight production no doubt, and Royce da 5’9” come out tight too. This is my absolute favourite track on this album this far. No contest!

11. What would you do

Royce da 5’9”’s rapping about how bad he is, and what he’d do to you if you messed with him… The production is nice, but the talking at the end kinda ruins it.

12. Who am I

Uh oh! 2pac die-hard-fans will not like this. Royce’s rapping over the Pain production. When Ja Rule did that, 2pac fans started hating on him. Ja Rule took an entire 2pac verse and just changed a few words tho, Royce’s doing new lyrics to it. It’s cool but I usually don’t like when a rapper’s taking someone elses track to remake it.

13. Life

Nice slow jam. I’m not normally into slow jams but I like this one. I believe the hook is taken from some other song… Either way it’s catchy and I like it. One of the better tracks on this cd.

14. My friend

Cool way to finish of the album. The production is kinda old school like, and Royce da 5’9”’s showing skills on the microphone.

The question I asked myself when I got my hands on this album was if Royce da 5’9”’s only selling records because of his affiliation with Eminem. The answer is both yes and no. Personally I like it, but I’m also sure the mainstream audience isn’t. It’s an average rap album and sounds more like an underground album than a commercial release. It’s a good thing he’s not changing his style to sell records, tho. This is an average album and therefore I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

The Outkast is a group containing Andre Benjamin and Big Boi. Their debut album “Southernplayalistikmuzik” was slept on and their follow up album “ATLiens” had a few VERY tight cuts, but also a few below average. Therefor I’m hoping for this album to last all the way.

1. Intro

2. Return of the ”G”

Mellow beat and tight verses. A song to smoke to… just enjoy! Except the damn outro. Annoying.

3. Rosa Parks

Damn! Tight beat with a nice guitar string, tight lyrics and a catchy hook. Can it be any better than this?!? “Aahaa, what’s that buzz, everybody move to the back of the buss..” etc. Again, there’s an outro.

4. Skew it on the bar-b (feat. Raekwon)

Tight production, and a catchy hook. Raekwon’s tight on this one, and so is Dre and Big Boi.

5. Aquemini

An other mellow beat. Light it up and enjoy.

6. Synthesizer (feat. George Clinton)

I didn’t like this track at all first time I heard it, but it’s growing on me. The hook is cool, but this is not one of the best performances from George Clinton. Make sure you’re listening to the entire track, because it’s wack to start with but gets better all along.

7. Slump

Boring beat but the Outkast are still holding the track up, and came up with a catchy hook as usual.

8. West Savannah

Not one of the best tracks of the cd. The beat is not wack, but definitely not tight. It’s kinda mellow, and so is the verses. They’ve done their best to make a catchy hook tho. Didn’t work on me.

9. Da art of storytellin’ (Part 1)

Cool production and tight lyrics. On top of that they came up with a catchy hook. This is definitely a tight song.

10. Da art of storytellin’ (Part 2)

I thought this would be like Part 1, but it’s totally different. Tight beat with a mellow mixing on top of it and a tight flow. Don’t sleep on this track!

11. Mamacita

What the hell is this track doing on this cd? Wack.

12. Spottieottiedogsallscious

Cool, slow production. They must have been high while doing this. And that’s also what you should be when listening to it. ( to bad that would be illegal 😉 )

13. Y’all scared (feat. T-Mo, Big Gipp & Khuju)

Cool production, but wack track. Skip it unless you feel like listening to something to just enjoy the production.

14. Nathaniel (Skit)

15. Liberation (feat Cee-Lo)

This is a cool slow jam, and I enjoyed it. I’m not to sure ya’ll will tho.

16. Chonkyfire

Damn!!! I was expecting an outro or something, but instead the Outkast gave me a blazing song! Tight beats with an electric guitar over them. Definitely one of my favourite tracks on this album, maybe even my favourite one!

This album was definitely not a disappointment. I’d say this is the best Outkast album. Since I’m doing this review in 2003 I’m also counting Stankonia. If you compare this album to “ATLiens”, “ATLiens” had a few VERY tight tracks, while this had, with some exceptions, tight tracks all the way. This album had tight production on most of the cuts, and every track had a catchy hook. As always the Outkast are showing off their good flow and lyrical skills. If you’re an Outkast fan, you NEED to have this album. If you’re the average rap fan, my advice is to get this album, too.

I give this album 4 out of 5 stars.

I’m not a big fan of Master P, however I spent some time down in Florida and down there, Master P is a living legend. That was the only thing that made me buy this album. My expectation was low. Master P is the kind of rapper that most people either love or hate. I’m neutral in this tho.

1. Take it outside feat Krazy

Nice way to start of the album. I like the beat and if the album continues like this it’ll be a cool album. It IS kinda long tho… they shoulda cut it off earlier.

2. Ghetto ballin feat Lil Romeo & Silkk The Shocker

This song will make you bump your head. It’s tight and cool lyrics. However, the music string and beat are the same over and over and over again here. They just repeated it. I remember playing this at the basketball court when this album came out and I always liked it back then.

3. Ooohhhwee feat. Weebie

The first single of the album, and definitely a hit. A typical party song with a catchy hook. Master P successfully picked this track to promote the album. I’m pretty sure this song and this song alone has made this album sell better.

4. Real Love feat Sera-Lynn

Nice lil beat and a cool hook. However I gotta say Master P is ruening this one. His verses is quite wack… There’s nothing wrong with the lyrics but I don’t think this production is meant to scream on.

5. We want dough

This is a cool song. I especially like the hook. It’s quite catchy and match the production well. Some may not like the way Master P’s rapping to this, but I think it’s cool. This song’s average.

6. The block

This song’s proof that Master P shouldn’t do slow jams. It’s too bad, because the production is tight. Skip it.

7. A woman

Another slow song. I don’t like Master P on slow stuff. Next!

8. Back on top feat. C-Murder, Silkk The Shocker & Lil Romeo

Cool sample of the old Ice Cube track “One nation” with George Clinton. I like this! Tight remixing and tight verses. Master P and his fam is representing the New No Limit, and they should since it’s their company.

9. The farm

Wow! I wouldn’t expect Master P to come out good on a slow jam! But here he proves me wrong. Good lookin out Master P!

10. What i’m bout

An other kinda slow song. The beat’s cool but the combination of beats and rapping just aint right. Master P’s talking about his career and what he’s about.

11. Whoadie gone

Whoadie gone is done in memory of all the fallen soldiers. Master P’s coming out with his classic “UUUUGGGGGHHHHH” and the production is tight. However, this is an other slow jam and like I said before – Master P shouldn’t do them, atleast not when screaming to a slow music. The song’s got a good message tho.

12. I don’t feat Krazy

This is more like it! Master P fits in perfectly on this kind of production. One of my favourites on this album and I think all ya’ll will like it too!

13. Rock it feat. Weebie & Krazy

The second single and a hit! I can’t stress enough what a great party track this has been for the clubs in the dirty south! Weebie got a style similar to Nelly but it’s more in the rapping direction than what I’d say Nelly’s doing. Production is straight fire!

14. Loose it and get it back

An other kinda slow song. Thisone’s better than the other ones tho. The production is cool and the chorus is kinda cool. A good way to finish off this album.

This album has it ups and downs. Tracks like “Ooohhhwee” and “Rock it” are tight party tracks while tracks like “The block” and “A woman” aren’t too good. If you like Master P, you’ll probably still like the slow jams on this album, but personally I don’t think Master P fits in on them. I’d rather se someone else doing their thing on those.

This album is hard to grade, but since the best tracks are really tight they bring up this album to an average level.

I give it 3 out of 5.

LL Cool J is a legend in rap. He’s released 10 albums counting this one, and if you listen to rap, you definitely know who LL Cool J is. Recently people’s been saying he fell off, so it’ll be interesting to listen to this album.

1. Intro

2. Born to love you

LL Cool J’s starting off this album with a neat beat and cool lyrics. The guitar string in this makes the track go from average to above average.

3. Luv you better

At first when I heard this song I thought the production was tight, but now I realize it’s realy a 5 second string over and over again. I know a lot of people like this track, but I don’t.

4. Paradise feat. Amerie

This song sounds more like an 80’s funk track than a 21st century rap song. Definitely not one of my favourite tracks on this album!

5. Fa Ha

Who produced this track? He shouldn’t produce rap any more! Wack ass production. Good thing LL’s holding it up.

6. Niggy nuts

Wack ass production on this one too. But just like on “Fa Ha”, LL’s holding it up. LL Cool J didn’t fall off – he just can’t find the right producers!

7. Amazin feat. Kandicce Love

A slow kinda jazz like track. I don’t like it at all, but I can imagine it’s nice to listen to sometimes when you just feel like relaxing.

8. Clockin G’z

The production’s getting better with this one, but I still don’t like it. Good thing LL Cool J’s doing a good job with holding up the tracks. If they had a wack rapper on them this album would suck.

9. Lollipop

This song actually’s got cool production. But if you compare this to the others, LL’s not doing his best performance. It’s an average track tho.

10. After school feat. P Diddy

Finally! Tight production! I’m not exactly in P Diddy’s fan club, but his verse here is ok. The chorus is really catchy and I really like this one!

11. Throw your L’s up

Tight ass beat and very cool chorus. LL’s as usual tight and this track is one of my favourites on this album no doubt. “L! Who bring you the hotness? L! Yo, you don’t wanna stop me! L! Forever keeping it lock’d, it’s now time to rock with: L!!”

12. You should

Realy nice slow jam. I’m feeling the production on this one, and LL’s always been good at doing these slow jams. This album has taken a U-turn and now every track seem to be tight!

13. 10 million stars

Wow! Tight as *****! LL’s dropping TIGHT lyrics and the production is straight fire! The chorus is really tight too. At the end LL’s going: “L’s worth paper. Ask Def Jam who put em up in that skyscraper. Ask my dogs up in old five, who made a major/ LL playa, now who’s next to need a paper, drop a bomb on em”. In the skit after this track LL’s bragging some about his body, and that’s also the intro for the next track.

14. Mirror mirror

Nice slow jam according to some, but I don’t like it. LL’s not coming out tight on this one, and it’s just overall not all that.

15. Big mama (Unconditional love) feat. Dru Hill

This is a realy neat slow jam with Dru Hill on it. Usually when Dru Hill’s been on rap albums it’s been coming out tight.

The question when I started listening to this album was: Is it true? Did LL Cool J fall off? The answer is no. This album had some wack production, but LL came out tight on most tracks. On the second part of the album, the production shaped up and the album is above average. If there was a 3.25 grade, I’d give it that. Instead, I’ll give it 3 out of 5.

Fredro Starr began his rapping career in 1991 with the group Onyx. After the breakup of the Onyx in 1998, Fredro Starr began his solo career with this album. Fredro’s also done a few movies and is pretty well known in the entertainment industry. I expect this album to be average.

1. Comin’ at the game

Nice lil intro here. Some talking over a nice beat.

2. Dyin’ 4 rap

“Dyin’ 4 rap” is a really nice track to start off the album with. It’s got a really tight production and Fredro’s going at it!

3. What if

This track makes you think… What if? Fredro’s asking himself interesting questions and I find this slow jam super tight. Just enjoy it!

4. Thug warz feat. Outlawz

I love the production of this song… Actually, this far I’ve liked all the songs production wise. The Outlawz are featured on this one and they’re spitting fire! Definitely a tight cut.

5. Perfect *****

How would you make your perfect b*tch? Fredro’s telling us how his would be… This track has some cool lyrics from time to time but the production sucks and it’s not realy a good track overall.

6. Electric ice feat. X1 & Mieva

Nice production on this track but other than that it’s not all that. It’s kinda short too. Mieva’s wack.

7. Who ***** betta

The beat on “Who ***** betta” is tight but it’s still not a really good song. It’s average.

8. Big shots feat. Sin

Fredro Starr and Sin’s saying how they’re taking other peoples money and buying all the cars. I haven’t heard from Sin before but I doubt he’s rich, considering he’s kind of wack. Some of you might like him tho. The nice production’s saving this cut.

9. Soldierz feat. Sticky Fingaz & x1

Just like the other cuts on this album this track has a nice production. A lot of them sound the same tho and I’m getting a little bit tired of it right about now, even tho they would be tight if I wasn’t listening to them right after eachother. Sticky Fingaz’s tight.

10. One night feat. Begetz, Versalite & Ice T

It seemed like Fredro knew what I was thinking on the last track, because on this one the production style changed a little bit. I like it! Tight track and nice guests.

11. Dat be dem

The single of this album and naturally a tight song. One of my favourite cuts no doubt. I’m sure most of ya’ll have heard this one.

12. Dyin 4 rap (Remix) feat C-N-N, Young Noble & Cuban Link

This is the remix for “Dyin 4 rap”, and they’ve put some tight MC’s on it. I still like the original better tho. Young Noble’s mentioning Makaveli as usual… 3 times.

13. I don’t wanna… feat. Aaron Hall

Fredro Starr’s talking about how he don’t want to die, he don’t want to have nightmares etc. Wack track. Skip it.

14. America’s most

“America’s most” is just 1:20. It’s not that good and I view this more like a skit.

15. Shining through (Bonus track)

Nice piano string on this slow jam. I like it! I also like the chorus and overall a nice track.

With this debut album, Fredro Starr proved he can make it on his own. The album started off very tight, but couldn’t hold the same standard throughout the entire album. If all tracks on this album was like the first ones, I’d grade it 4. Now, I’ll give it 3.5.

Daz, a member of the platinum plus group the Doggpound, has released a couple of albums revently. My favourite Daz albums are Revenge, Retaliation & Getback (Death Row) and R.A.W (DPG Recordz). On this album he’s brought in the producer Mike Dean to produce with him. All south fans know who Mike Dean is. He’s on Rap-A-Lot and has produced a lot through the years.

1. Intro – DPGC 4 life

2. Drama

Wow! Great way to start off the album with! Tight production and Daz come out hard as *****. When I hear this I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album!

3. Ain’t that somethin feat. Crystal & P.F.N

Tigh ass beat and nice raps over it. Overall a tight track but not as good as the pervious one. Still a good track and definitely not a “skipper”. I’ve never heard P.F.N before and I wasn’t realy feelin em. Crystal came out tight tho, and Daz was raw as usual.

4. ***** make me rich feat. Too Short

Don’t play this track to your girlfriend! The title is self explonary. Too Short’s coming out tight on this track and the chorus is tight. Daz’s tight as usual even tho I happen to know he took off Kurupt’s verse on this track and recorded pretty much the same lyrics himself. Still, I find this version of it better.

5. Keep it gangsta

One of my absolute favourite tracks on this album, and also the first single. The chorus is cool, and actually quite catchy. Daz does his part realy well. Party track!

6. I live every day like I could die that day

“I live every day like I could die that day” is a slow jam. Daz’s saying he don’t give a ***** about them major ass labels in the beginning, and going independent ignoring major deals proves that. This is not one of my favourite tracks but the bassline is tight and some of you might like it.

7. Load up feat. Tanya Herron

Wow! Bomb ass beats and tight ass lyrics, can we ask for more?? I don’t think so! Daz’s realy proving himself with this one and if you don’t like this, there’s something wrong with you. Probably my absolute favourite track on this album! Tanya Herrons chorus and lil verse there is also tight. I don’t normally like when there’s someone singing more than the chorus, but this is an exception.

8. Run tha street

Cool beat on this one, but not one of my favourite songs of this album. The chorus is tight as ***** and that’s making this track above average.

9. We do this with passion

Daz follow up “Run tha street” with “We do this with passion”, a track with a very tight production and lyrics. It’s a kind of slow song but not too slow. Very tight track and kinda hard to describe. I guess you gotta hear it yourself! Daz’s throwing in a few disses to Death Row too.

10. Redrum galour feat. Mean Piece

This production doesn’t sound like Daz at all. It’s a rock kind of production but I like it. It’s not one of my favourite tracks on this album but still good. The chorus is kinda wack tho.

11. This is the life I lead

Daz’s going off on this song and it’s lifting it up, since I didn’t like the production at all. Too bad because with better production this could have been a dope song!

12. Outro

(Bonus track) Gangsta prerogative feat. Kurupt

Don’t forget about the bonus tracks! This track is actually one of the best tracks on this cd! Both Daz and Kurupt’s coming out tight and the production is just tha bomb! They’re rapping about how it’s DPG for life… I guess that’s a lil diss to Kurupt since he left for Death Row. DON’T SLEEP ON THIS!

(Bonus track) From the moment feat. Kurupt

A slow jam with a deep content. Not at all one of my favourites on this album. It’s nice with a few bonus tracks tho.

(Bonus track) Keep it gangsta (remix)

Tight remix of this track but I liked the original better. Considering the original is tight as *****, this is still a tight too!

Overall this album is tha bomb! I didn’t expect an album this good from Daz right now since he’s releasing a lot of albums and he’s doing them pretty much by himself. On this album Mike Dean stepped in and dropped some tight ass beats and that made the album a little different from the average Daz album. If this album was released on a major label, there is no doubt in my mind it would be a platinum plus album. Don’t sleep on this album! I give it 4 outta 5 stars.

This is the debut album of the group from Flint, MI. After this release they also released “F.B.I” in 1996 and “Welcome to dopehouse” in 2002. This album was released in 1995. At the time for this album, the groups members were Baccstabber, Shoestring and Bootleg. Future member Ghetto E had still not joined the group.

1. Sound Effectz (Intro)

2. Smoke for free

The Dayton Family start off by hating on people that think they can smoke for free… Tight production with a cool bassline’s backing them up, so I gotta agree with them; don’t come here and think you’re gonna smoke for free!

3. I’m a gee

In this song the Dayton family’s explaining that they’re G’z. Slow, tight, west coast OG production’s making this to a good track. The Dayton family come out tight too.

4. Potato chip

If you like the Dayton family’s style, you’ll also like this one. The production is kinda weird with piano and a nice bassline, but this time it’s Baccstabber, Shoestring and Bootleg holding it up.

5. Oxydol

Damn. Realy cool piano roll on this track. I’m really feelin this! Normally when a rapper’s screaming when rapping on a slow jam it’s wack, but this track is really tight!

6. Watch yo ass

“Watch yo ass” is a little more up tempo track than the past ones, and it’s a good track. The production is realy different, but you’ll like it if you’re openminded. The Dayton family’s coming out tight as usual.

7. Nutty Niggaz

This track is even more up tempo than “Watch yo ass” and this one’s got a catchy hook. If you ask me, the Dayton family are at their best on up tempo beats, even if I also like them on slower productions.

8. Dope Dayton Ave

An other up tempo beat for the Dayton family to spit about the Dayton Avenue in their hometown Flint on. You just gotta love it! This is an other of their weird sounding productions. I think you have to be openminded to like them. I can imagine some people hating on this kind of production. This one is realy tight tho!

9. Sound effects (skit)

10. Flint niggaz don’t play

If you got beef with the Dayton family, you better be ready! That’s pretty much the message with this track. It’s a cool production with the Dayton family coming out hard. Check out the chorus. It’s really tight!

11. Thru a thang

Everybody’s usually having some kind of problems in their lives. This song’s dedicated to what the members of the Dayton family’s struggling with. It’s not one of my favourite tracks but the raps are lifting it to an average level.

12. Billy blunt

Haha, this song samples the inspector gadget melody, and that’s actually pretty tight! However, the flow ain’t all that on this one.

13. What’s on my mind?

What’s on the Dayton familys mind? Well, if you were wondering you’ll have the answer after listening to this track. Other than that, I don’t really like this one. The chorus is wack! The production’s average, that’s all.

14. Flint town

Awesome way to finish off the album! This is probably the best track of this album and I love it! Tight ass production with tight ass rhymes and flow! The Dayton family’s representing Flint town once again… Even if you didn’t like the other tracks of this album, you’ll like this! This last impression of this album will probably also be what I’ll remember it for.

This debut album from the Dayton family is a good album. It’s clearly above average and therefore over 3. However, there’s only really 12 full songs. The album has 14 tracks and 2 of them are skits… If they’d put some more on it I’d probably give it 4 out of 5. Now there’s not enough tracks for that, so I’ll give it 3.5 out of 5.

This Death Row compilation was arranged by Keita Rock when Suge Knight was still in prison. Since Snoop made the radio stations ignore Death Row it’s called “Too gangsta for radio”. The album didn’t sell to well but it was highly anticipated by the die hard Death Row fans.

1. Intro
A funny intro about Snoop waking up in the middle of the night, making his girl call the pen to see if Suge is still there.

2. 2pac – Friends
This song was supposed to be on the Makaveli album by Tupac, but they couldn’t make the sound clean. Or atleast that’s what the rumour says. Fact is that this is a very tight track. I’ve heard the original and it’s a lot like that, so Big Hutch didn’t change much when he reproduced this. Big ups to him since this is a dope production. QDIII produced the original.

3. Crooked I feat. Treach & Scarface – Gangsta Rap
Tight track. Crooked I’s first released track on Death Row/Tha Row and he’s doing a good job. Treach is good but Scarface is not exactly doing his best verse ever on this track. It’s ok tho, he’s talking about fakes. They failed to mention in the credits that that’s Kurupt on the hook.

4. C.J. Mac – I ain’t f*****’ wit cha
Tight beat on this one. C.J Mac is dissing the shit outta everyone on Aftermath. Actually this is one of my favourite tracks on the cd. It’s funny. I know that a lot of people don’t like it tho…

5. Above The Law – Everywhere we go
Very tight production. Above The Law is definitely dropping one of the better tracks on this album. The beat is tight and their verses are ok too. Don’t skip this one.

6. Tha Realest – F*** Hollywood
The intro is funny as hell. A mother’s telling her son: “What’s wrong baby?” And the son replies whispering: “I se gay people”. Just like in the 6th sense. The song as a nice, southern inspired production. Tha Realest is calling out pretty much everyone in the Hollywood, name by name, and saying they’re gay or something like that. Funny track to listen to. It’s not a big banger tho.

7. Ja Rule feat. Cadillac Tah, Black Child & Vita – Murda for life
Murder INC diss to the Doggpound. They’ve taken the “Doggpound for life” beat and made it “Murda for life”. Anyway this is an average track. The beat is good, but it’s recycled.

8. Ruff Ryders – In too deep
Worst track of the album. The beat seems to be a 4 seconds loop of some wack shit. The raps are ok, but can’t hold this track. Skip it.

9. Tha Realest, Swoop G, Twist & Lil C Style – F*** Dre
The intro to this is funny as hell. It’s showing how Dre takes care of someone who wants a deal. Tha Realest, Swoop G and Twist are doing one good verse each, and Twist is good at the chorus. But Lil C Style is just wack on this track. I know some who think he’s doing the best verse on this track but definitely not in my opinion. It’s a tight track tho. It’s dissing Snoop, Dre, NWA, Eminem, Hittman etc.

10. 2pac – Thug nature
Very tight 2pac track. One of the best reproduced 2pac tracks. J. Valentine on ths hook is doing a good job too. Death Row did a very good job picking 2pac tracks to put on this album. They were both bangers!

11. Crooked I – Death Rizzo
Crooked I’s first solo track on Death Row. This track has a super-tight beat and Crooked’s doing his thing proving why some now call him the best in the west.

12. Swoop G feat. Keita Rock & Juice – Projects
Swoop G is a good rapper no doubt. When he was doing this his mind block’d so Keita Rock wrote him a verse. Swoop G didn’t think it would be right for him to rap Keita Rock’s verse so he asked him to do it himself, and he did. The result’s ok, and that was enough for Keita Rock to start working on his own album. Juice’s doing a good job on this one too.

13. K-9 – Gangsta’d out
This track starts out with an Eminem diss. It’s a KKK leader saying their newest member is Marshal Matters… The song itself is NOT a diss record tho, except maybe a lil bit. At one point he’s saying “Makaveli your ridaz are scared to ride”. Rumor is that this is the track K-9 got signed for and after dropping it, Death Row dropped him. It’s a tight party song and nice production.

14. Dre’sta – Give it up for Compton
Eazy E’s old homeboy is givin it up for Compton. Tight production and Dre’sta’s definately got authority to speak on rap today.

15. Mac-Shawn – Real type gangsta
Mac-Shawn’s rapping about how Snoop stole his style. “Always spittin my game, but never mention my name”. An interesting fact is also that Mac-Shawn got a big Death Row tattoo covering his back. That must feel weird now that he’s not on Death Row anymore…

16. G.P. – The coff
G.P sounds kinda like DMX or Ja Rule, but he’s 10 times harder! The beat on this track is kinda weird but if you give it a chance, you’ll probably like it. This track made me go to G.P.’s site and hear snippits from his album. They sounded tight so I ordered his album and I’ll post up a review of that later on.

17. The Relativez feat Nuttz – This is the thanks you get
This is a direct reply to Dre saying “We started this gangsta shit, is this the mother*****in thanks we get?” and go on dissing some other west coast artists. The production of this song is cool and the verses are ok.

18. Dre’sta feat. Young Hoggs – Too gangsta
Dre’sta is givin it up for Death Row – there’s something you wont hear every day. This track has realy tight production and a catchy hook. One of the better tracks of the cd!

19. Outro
You are now allowed to go back to your mainstream pop shit.

This album was very very slept on. The album got tight production except for a few exceptions, and most artists are skilled rappers, too. Both 2pac tracks are above the standard of the reproduced 2pac songs from Amaru/DeathRow/Interscope and upcoming star Crooked I made his name know a little bit more than it was before. A funny note is also that he’s the only rapper from this compilation still on Death Row/Tha Row. This is a typical example of that pop rappers are taking over and real gangsta rap like this don’t sell anymore unless it’s got a lot of promotion. This album had none. I give this album 4 out of 5 stars.

Fabolous was found by Dj Clue and now he’s on Desert Storm. I didn’t expect much of this album.

1. Click & Spark
Dj Clue’s annoying screaming voice starts off the cd. That’s a big minus. The track itself has a nice production tho and Fabolous is coming out tight with his laid back flow.

2. Keepin it gangsta
This song has a nice production, and a catchy hook. Fab’s verses are tight too.

3. Young’n
You can hear this is a Neptunes production. To be sure I checked the booklet and just as I thought, The Neptunes produced this track. Very good production. Fabolous is dropping his laid back rhymes as usual. If you like that, this is the track for you!

4. Get Right
I don’t realy like the production on this one, but I can imagine that others do. The hook is very catchy tho and that makes it an average track.

5. Ride for this feat. Ja Rule
Nice production again. Fabolous is not dropping his best verses, but they’re ok. Ja Rule is pretty much just singing the hook.

6. One day
Nice slow jam. This is a very relaxing song. I like it.

7. Trade it all feat. Jagged Edge
This is for the ladies. I know the ladies like this. Not one of my favourites tho.

8. Right now & later on
Timbaland production. I didn’t like the production on this one at first but it’s getting better after a while. Fabolous come out tight on this one.

9. Take you home feat. Lil Mo
F.A, B.O and Lil Mo. Nice Fabolous verses and nice hook by Lil Mo. Not one of my favourite tracks tho.

10. Get smart
Nice production again and Fab’s also doing his job.

11. Can’t deny it feat. Nate Dogg
Bringing in Nate Dogg on a track usually means it’s gonna be a big hit, and just like Fabolous probably planned, this was. And I can’t deny it, it’s a tight song.

12. Ma’ be easy
Weird production but it’s ok. I don’t like this track tho. Next.

13. We don’t give a
Skip this track. It’s wack.

14. The bad guy feat. Pain in da ass
Fabolous rap about how everybody see him as a bad guy when he’s realy not. The production is ok.

15. Gotta be thug (Hidden)
This track samples the Terminator melody, and it’s really neat. Fabolous come out tight, too.

16. F.A.B.O.L.O.U.S (Hidden)
Nice track to finish off the album. F.A, B.O, L.O, U.S. is getting money.

This album has a very good production. With hit producers like Neptunes and Timbaland, and in-house producers Clue and Duro the production of this album is definitely the strong side of it. Fabolous sounds like Mase, if you ask some, but I wouldn’t realy agree on that. Yes, they both got a laid back style, but that’s also the only thing they got in common. Fabolous lyrical skills are underrated. This is a tight debut album and everyone who enjoys tight production should definitely get this. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.