MED – Push Comes To Shove

MED - Push Comes To Shove1. Intro

Intro.

2. Serious(Feat Oh No)

Madlib produces a really eerie sounding beat, it sounds like “Meow’s” but more melodic. Good track here as MED(Medaphor) & Oh No drop dope verses. Medaphor is a rapper who can make you listen to what he has to say, he’s got a really powerful voice(Flow) and raps about stuff that matters as opposed to “Yo I be sippin’ lean kinfolk”. Good track. Good

3. Whut U In It 4

Oh No produces the track and really it’s not that good, in fact it’s really sloppy. MED raps about why he’s in the rap game. MED tries to carry the track but the beat is just awful. Average(For MED’s work)

4. Can’t Hold On

DOPE! Madlib produces the beat and it has an 80’s feel to it with a really funky bass added to it. MED does a great job here rapping about the past. The chorus is really Kanye-ish. Great track here, you have to hear it. DOPE!

5. Push(Feat J. Dilla)

Dilla produces the track and really it’s not good, in fact it’s terrible. I don’t know why he was going for a club vibe here but it just doesn’t work. Dilla’s up first with a terrible verse. The chorus is even worse. MED with a good verse but really it doesn’t matter as this track is just a carbon copy club track. Nothing to hear here folks. Wack

6. Special(Feat Noelle Of The Rebirth)

DOPE!!!! I really like the singing by Noelle, it just sounds really melodic. The beat(By Madlib) is piano heavy and really relaxing. MED rips it as usual. I dig the chorus with the singing. Another great track. DOPE!

7. The Offering Interlude

Interlude.

8. Hold Your Breath

Madlib produces a really sloppy verse, it’s like he can’t decide whether to do a “Reflective” type beat or a “Club” beat. MED rules it as usual here. This track is just “meh”. Average

9. Now U Know(Feat Dudley Perkins)

Madlib produces a really good beat, I can’t really describe it as there are about 6 different things happening at once. MED shines here and Dudley plays a small part in the chorus. Overall a good track. Good

10. Pressure(Feat Diamond & Poke)

Fast paced type beat by Madlib, sounds like a mixture of Eastcoast & Midwestern rap. MED flows really well over this type of beat, he even rapid spits. Good track. Good

11. Never Saw It Coming

Great beat by Madlib, just soul samples and bouncy bass type beat. MED raps about hustling, drug dealing, getting busted, and in the end getting shot by the cops. Great storytelling here and man that beat is just genius. You need to hear this. DOPE!

12. So Real

Dilla produces a much better beat this time around. A very bouncy beat here. MED does a great job here, just rapping about different subjects and maintaining a dope flow. Good track. Good

13. Never Give U Up

Oh No produces the beat and it’s very Kanye-ish, it’s really good. This track is about smoking weed and even MED can make this tired topic seem interesting. Good track. Good

14. Mary J Interlude

Interlude.

15. Get Back

Just Blaze produces the beat and it’s really uninspired, it’s like he didn’t even try here and the end result is a sub par beat. MED tries his best to carry the track but the beat is just so basic. The chorus is terrible with the beat changing up for the worst. This track is awful. Wack

16. Listen 2 This

DOPE!!!! Best track on the album. One of my favorite Madlib beats here. This beat is very jazz-like. MED just rips this track, rapping about various subjects. The only problem is that this track is way too short, but man this was great. DOPE!

17. Yeah

Nice Eastcoast sounding beat by Madlib, I can’t really describe it. MED does a good job on this track, nothing really special about it or anything, it’s just a good track, except the chorus is really annoying with the voice synth. Good

18. Nightlife(Feat Noelle Of The Rebirth)

Nice funky-ish beat by Madlib. Noelle does a great job with the singing in the background during the beginning. MED raps about the various subjects of the nightlife. I dig the chorus even though it’s so simple. MED & Noelle do a great job. Great way to end the album. DOPE!

 

All in all this gets a Good rating. Stones Throw once again deliver with a great album. MED could be the next big star, his flow & lyrics are top notch and he does a great job on this album. Cop it!

DJ Quik – Trauma

DJ Quik - TraumaDJ Quik! Maintaining a strong presence in rap since the 80’s, Quik has been one of the forerunning voices of the West Coast, working with such acts as Dre, 2Pac, and Snoop Dogg during the height of their popularity as artists. Several of his albums have been critically acclaimed, and now on his latest effort he expands his boundaries to the south as well as the west.

The first thing one will probably notice is the presence of live instruments that induces an organic sort of sound. The first actual song, Intro For Roger, is funky but also mesmerizing, with a different feel than plain G-Funk; Fandango, with B-Real, makes heavy use of horns to back good performances by both Quik and Real (the latter’s flow is bonkers!). Til Jesus Comes brings back the flavor of a Death Row-era West Coast, with the same type of stoic bass/drums, edited background singing, and synths, but brings something new to the formula with an electric guitar on the chorus.

Black Mercedes with Nate Dogg is possibly one of the smoothest and G-Funkiest tracks I’ve heard in a very long time, with excellent performances by both Quik and Nate, period. The album continues on with a track featuring Game and Quik’s longtime partner in rhyme AMG, then one featuring–yes–Chingy. You may groan, but Chingy’s performance on this song utterly stunned me; it was actually GOOD. Either Quik is god, or he has a ghostwriter and let Chingy get two verses from dude.

The rest of the album, through the smooth funk of Indiscretions in the Back of the Limo with TI and the silky Quikstrumental with Jodeci, brings more innovations and changes in sound, showing Quik has definitely kept up his abilities through the years, if not improved them.

Le Rating: 4.5/5 (Really *****ing Good)

C-Dubb – Ground Zero Vol 1

C-Dubb - Ground Zero Vol 11. Rider Muzik

Nice Westcoast feel, I dig C-Dubb’s style, it’s unique and he’s fluid with his flow so he’s not tripping over his words and he uses some dope wordplay. Great way to start off the album. Good

2. ***** em All

Nice bouncy-ish beat, it even has a hint of South to it. C-Dubb gives some “***** you’s” to the fake artists out there and all the shady people. C-Dubb doesn’t hold back either, I like this track. Good

3. Futuristik

Pretty good track, not one of my favorites but it gets the job done. Nice futuristic sounding beat and C-Dubb does a good job. Good

4. Ground Zero

Slower paced beat but with a bouncy piano beat thrown in, it’s pretty good. What I like about C-Dubb is that he’s brutally honest, the guy is straight forward and just speaks his mind. The chorus is simple but it’s really good. Great track. Good

5. Worldwide

Again what I like about this album is there are no guests, so you get a real solo album from a real solo artist. To me that’s what it should be about, I’m sick of buying a “solo” album and seeing 20 guests stacked to the top. Again this track is good, and C-Dubb flows well over it. Good

6. Sellin Game

Starts off slow and releaxed then it kicks it, really dope sounding beat here with a mixture of different styles. C-Dubb has a lot of charisma, he’s not just sleep walking through tracks, he’s actually taking the time to deliver dope lyrics. This sort of has an Asian feel to it, but mixed with that Westcoast sound. Really good track here. DOPE!

7. Let You Go

This beat has a party vibe to it, sounds really good. This is a drinking song, so when you go out and get sloshed, make sure you bump this track loud. In a way this also has a meaning, see C-Dubb wants to stop drinking but he just can’t let it go. Good track. Good

8. Finally

Pretty good track, I look at the title and hear the track and I also think “Finally someone knows how to make a good record”. Good

9. Keep It Mobb

Mobbish style beat here, with a slower paced dark feel to it. C-Dubb rips this track to pieces. Great stuff here. Good

10. Here We go Again

Pretty good faster paced track here. Once again C-Dubb shines. Good

11. Strugglin

We’ve all struggled, so we all can relate to this type of track. Good stuff. Good

12. The Formula

Really good beat, nice and bouncy yet with a hint of smoothness. C-Dubb once again shows why he’s a solo artist. A feature? I think not, he doesn’t need a guest rapper. Good

13. Lost Soul

Bouncy Westcoast beat here, sounds sort of like an old school E-40 beat. C-Dubb raps about what makes him smile and that’s performing and booze, well atleast he’s honest, he could be saying flowers blooming make him happy but ***** that, this is C-DUBB! He gives you the honest truth. Good

14. Flamez

Good lyrical track here, C-Dubb has already proven himself to be a great lyricist and this just seals the deal. Good

15. Outro

Outro.

 

All in all this gets a Good rating. Now this is what an album should be like, a real solo with ZERO guests. C-Dubb understood this concept and he made it work. Make sure you go to Cdbaby.com & Paystylemusic.com and support D-Dubb, C-Dubb, & E-Moe. BUY IT!

Necro – The Sexorcist

Necro - The SexorcistSince 1999 Necro has been creating an Underground Cult of Hip-hop fans since his first release “I Need Drugs”. Since then his group ‘Psycho+logical- records‘ signing many good rappers creating different vibes for each record. He now has decided to release something I’ve always liked about him and that is an album filled with Sex tracks.

“Who Ya Daddy” kicks starts the album and its dope from the word Yo. Using a very light bass and a drum loop with light moaning and groaning Necro creates a very simplistic, erotic and mellow beat. Here is where you really see Necro’s versatility when he is creating his masterpieces as this is not really what you expect from someone who creates the most darks beats ever to grace Hip hop. He has really tried to give it that music you find on porno or you find yourself making “love” too although if you played Necro lyrics while doing it she’ll probably put her clothes back on unless she one of many Necro’s crazed female fans you can find on his site. Necro really introduces himself and why he’ll be your daddy with the kinky/dirty things he’ll do. Just before the next song drops you hear one of the creepiest skits to ever be on a song which in all things Necro it is very perverted. The piano the way it’s been record or some atmosphere put on it is quite creepy itself I can’t really explain it. Anyway the beat is very sex track with the piano and light guitars which means Necro has done his research and he even chucked in the awful male singing you seem to get at the hook of these Sex tracks. Necro again saying what he’ll do in the sack although he aims it mainly at the vagina area why the song is called “Pu**y is my weakness” although he kinds of goes of topic. It’s a nice song lyrically and production but the hook lets it down but Necro has done this to create the awful sex track sound.“Wh*re” however has a very simple but effective catchy hook With woman groaning from excitement and it has something familiar to it. The beat is more Necro on this very dark with the up-tempo light piano and all of the arrangement of the beat. I don’t really need to tell you it’s about those women. “Edge play” has a very heavy metalish feel like his other hit “The Pre-fix for Death”. The heavy metalish bass is actually practically the same as the one mention but Necro as the genius he is makes It into something different. This has Ill Bill and Mr Hyde on this and they all come very dope although Ill Bill the most with the little story he spits. The songs about S + m you know the people who like to feel pain during sex and I don’t know if the hook is suppose to be ironic of symbolizing the pain but it’s so bad its like S + M itself. “Suckadelic” is a very up-tempo and has a nice 70’ vibe hinted by the name. With the rapid guitars and xylophone chimes create that vibe and it also reminds me of the music you would find in what you yanks called a mall or in a lift. It just reminds me of lift music! I feel Necro has created this beat due to their being a lot of free loving in the 70’s.

After that flash from the past without the awful haircuts we hear the first skit of many! Each skit has a famous pornstar bigging up Necro in some ways. Lets take Ron Jeremy he decides to write a little poem about Necro while the woman pornstars like Katsumi decide to scream out his name with Excitement while their “thinking” of all the stuff Necro could do to them. He has many appearances from Pornstars: Ron Jeremy, Katsumi, Brittany Andrews, Van Styles are just to name a few give a helping hand.

After a poem from Ron we jump back straight into the action with “B*tches Love To Get F*ucked In The A**”where like Pu**y Is My Weakness he concentrates on one point and that is the booty although again like the other one he kind of goes off topic. The beat again really shows Necro’s artistic side by understanding everything Sex wise. It sounds like something 50 cent would be spilling his corny sex raps to. It actually reminds me of Ski mask way the way it is beautifully composed and the grunting. And for once the hook steals the show on this one. The hook first has Necro singing in a very high pitched queer voice and then with a much more manly mucho voices. This is a obvious p!ss take of people like 50 cent where they’ll be bopping around singing like that on their sex tracks which shows even more of necro’s understanding. Talking about “P!ss” that is the next song title on this album. The song like you can guess is about water sports but yet it is very entertaining! The beat has a very nice mellow feel with a continuous sample of who I think is Marvin Gaye (due to Necro mentioning it at least once) saying P!ss. This is one of my favourites on this album especially due the quite racial slurs he as about the Chinese and so on I find them funny as they’re not to hard.“Out of Pocket” while it has a nice little simplistic piano looped beat the hook again kills the whole song. It has a pornstar with an electro/techno/robot voice singing a terrible hook. Like Senseless Violence this kills the whole song. And unlike most songs there is no logic or irony behind this terrible hook. “She’s got a great A–” again has what I believe is a nice electronic piano loop the hook (if you can call it that) kills this. Someone shouting abuse it seems like its Kid Joe’s replacement. Not even Bill can save this. “I Wanna F**k” is a remake of “I Wanna Rock” so it has a nice rock vibe. Jenny Krenwinkle..ughh is back once again I’m sorry to say although it isn’t that bad as she only seems to be saying one abusive word and hitting more correct notes. “We F**K Virgins” is next up and it is a nice song. Again he has a corny hook but with reasons this time as Antwon comes back for that corny awful male singer. The simplistic beat has outburst of instruments which gives it its entertaining side. Sabac also appears and has a nice little appearance and you can guess what they rap about. “Horny Honeys” has nothing new as it has a nice beat something Goretex would use which is handy as he appears and does well while the hook is awful. “I Remain Stiff”has a nice rugged beat while having groaning as a back drop. The hook rapped by “Manson Wh*re”?? is suppose to be one of those awful Female vs. Male songs which makes it good as it’s bad by purpose which means it ironic. No brownie points for guessing why its called that. “The Sexpert” is a refreshing as it has a nice little simplistic piano beat (again) while having outburst of some sort of horn. The hook supplied by Necro is nice as well is familiar from somewhere. “I Degrade you” again a very straight to the point song you know whats it about by the title. It has a nice organ loop on this and its good to hear it once in a while being used. “Vaginal Secretions” has a nice beat while Necro raps about eating pu**y and a nice way to end the album (excluding the outro).

In all this album gets a 4/5. Necro really understands what makes a sex track and really has done his research to create the sound so that why I would like to entitle him as something I don’t normally title many rappers/producers and that is a Artist! WHY? As well as the experimenting and creating the right sound for them well although most hooks where corny as f**k they suppose to be but not many will get this and put half of the good (ironic good) hooks in the wack pile. Now you are thinking what makes Necro different from other people who spit cringe worthy sex raps and that is Attitude. Unlike most Necro doesn’t grovel for his Pu**y like some. Necro isn’t interested in the women’s pleasure he rather get his and leave. Another Flaw a lot of idiots will complain he is too vulgar. WTF you idiots??? To quote another member on www.worldwideconnected.com/board Acknee “What do you expect from Necro’s sex album?? Tiddywinks??”

Recommendation: Buy this album! Necro really has experimented with his beats creating that sex sound and unlike most he still the pants wearer or the rap game.

Proof – Searching For Jerry Garcia

Proof - Searching For Jerry GarciaEver since I heard Proof on “Under the Influence” on Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP I have known Proof was a good MC. Finally after two high selling records selling over 10 million copies world wide with his group D12, Proof just one of Detroit’s underrated rappers to come out of their has finally been released and for me it’s mixed reactions. Most haters will say he has been tailcoating Eminem’s success but it wasn’t that at all as Proof was recognized by the Source’s “Unsigned Hype” first!

Searching for Jerry Garcia starts of pretty well with “Clap wit me”.Emile supplies Proof with a quite a Kanye feel beat especially with the high pitch sampling at the hook. The song is a very nice happy feel with Proof just practically shouting out everyone who helped him to make this album. The lyrics aren’t really that great the highlight probably being “We blow you’re mind like Kurt Kobain!” but I feel it’s a nice way to begin the album with a nice beat and thanking people. “Biboa’s Theme” has it all though. With a nice electronic beat which I’m not normally a fan of but its nice with the electric piano loop and all. Proof here shows a lot of lyrics skill with many quoatables like “Having free phone sex with operators”, “Speaking at AA meetings while intoxicated” and many more. After another skit Sicknotes try to recreate the old magic with proof from hits such as how come (D12) and his underground hit Ja in a Bra. “Forgive me” has a sad depressing feel made by the piano loop. We hear Proof releasing his inner demons by repenting his sins to god. His lyrics are suppose to be addressing to God looking back how bad his life and how he is sorry for it and they are dope. It’s a nice track all together and why an early favourite but the only sin he should be repenting for is the use of an old 50 cent hook. 50 delivers the same hook from his old underground hit but is was a good hook then is a good hook now!

After this climax of dopeness the levels seems to recline sharply with “Purple Gang”. Although the purple gang provide us with some alright verses the beat lets this down majorly. I don’t know what it is made from or what to compare it to it’s like no other beat but it’s annoying at best. “Gurls wit Da boom” although the beat is made from commercial dribble the beat isn’t that bad as people make out it as to be although the lyrics are that bad. The lyrics are about the girls with the big bums which isn’t new by far as we have had Sir-mix-a-lot raving about them quite a long time ago and back then it was pretty cringe-worthy and still is but at least Sir mix-a-lot had entertainment values.“High Rollers” has B-Real (yes B-Real!) behind the beat which I’m surprised as Muggs is the usual producer for Cypress hill. The beat has a nice feel with it’s light synthesizers and outburst of horns although like Dreams by Kanye West the man grunting (who I believe is B-Real) gets on my tits though. That isn’t the biggest surprise as Wu legend Method man appears. So there’s Proof, Method man and B-real what else are they going to talk about except for getting high. It’s what most of them have made a career out of! After other skit which thankfully is the last one we have “Pimplikeness” which is the D-12 style posse cut. Here they spit about how they have attributes of pimpness. The whole lyrics side is weird as the two most likely shine come off the worse and two which normally don’t get my praise do! Swifty and Kuniva(although its pretty hard to tell as they all pretty generic) come of hilarious with that old “What do you call a chick with two black eyes/ You aint gotta tell her anything you just told her twice” while Proof comes off average and Eminem well puts on a southern style and accent. I don’t know if it was suppose to be ironic like Canibus but either way it sucks! The beat by Fredwreck has a nice funky feel with the funky bass and a nice arrangement of instruments. Saying that the whole song is average at best. “Ali” the beat is absolute boring and very simplistic at the most and brings down the nice lyrics which well be sh!tted on now. “No.T.Lose” is alright but isn’t worth even commenting about.

“Jump Biatch” is hilarious and I like the beat! I know a lot of people won’t agree and say “it’s so Slim shady style” and the beat is annoying with the Kazoo instruments but I like it all.Over a very simplistic beat made from drums and Kazoo’s proof supplies us with a dark humour story with about some mess up wants to commit suicide and proof encouraging her by funny lines and proof ends up dying. “M.A.D” is another humorous track recalling D12 days. The track is about all the stuff you would want to keep secret as a teenager and proofs trying to upset the parents like the old D12 ways would be. The production is nice and I can’t describe it else as nice but my con on this track Rude Jude seems to be a wannabe Kid Joe (you know from Necro) or The Madd rapper shouting out random abuse. From then on it climaxes to pure dopeness with the last 4 songs being better then the next one. After the skit of John Lennons murder “72nd & Central” we have him, Obie Trice and J-hill I believe explaining the 101 on the streets which they all come off pretty nice. They are back by a nice beat made by Essman which the style of beat he would definitely use in the D12 days. Then we have “Sammy Da Bull” named after a famous snitch which “ironically” is the topic name. We have him and Swifty also from D12 rap over a very up-tempo beat made from sharp strings which also gives it a dramatic feel we have them nicely delivering verses about snitches. The hook is also dope and who else but Nate? It’s not an album if you don’t have snoop or nate making an appearance! The biggest shock is the skit at the end which to me and a lot of other heads a shot at 50 although he appears on this album and they cool. “Black wrist bros” we see the missing Purple Gang member appear with proof talking about loyality although I would have felt he should had have Eminem on this as they close buddies. The beat is nice although I can’t really describe it. Then we have “Slum Elementz”. This is the you hate me cause im famous song teamed up with another famous D rapper T-3 from the Slum village group and Mudd. The beat is supplied by his group Buddy Denaun Porter and has that Denaun feel especially with the horns and the structure of the beat. Although one con is the package deal it seems for Denaun customers “get a beat get a hook” and I’ve never ben a fan of his hooks. The album ends with “Kurt Kobain” and the album really does end with it if you get my drift. Kurt was lead singer of Nirvana and is most famous for committing suicide so here Proof metaphors himself him and he spits like he is writing his suicide note. Proof has some great emotional and spritial lyrics on this and is over a very sad beat made by Emile. People may say this is too Biggie “Suicidal thoughts” but I say this is a brilliant way to end this rollercoaster of an album.

This album gets a 3.5 in all and was a rollercoaster of a one as one minute it is very high in rating it and then its complete and utter shit. It started of nice but got very lame in the middle and was too late of regaining brownie points. A lot of production let this down although if you see pass that then the lyrics are dope! Another flaw is too many skits!

Proof has choose a lot of different production styles and has spitted in different styles due to it reflecting Jerry Garcia style was his was very varied and experimental. It’s a nice concept although the original one was much better with each song with a title and topic reflecting someone important in life songs like “Sammy Da Bull”, ”Ali” “72nd and central” and “Kurt Kobain” have still been kept which as they are pretty tight except Ali of course. There has been a lot of surprises on this album the biggest that there was no hit single from Eminem! I mean if it had one beat by him instead of something like say Ali or Girls wit da boom then that might have had enough cred to up this one point maybe one of the beats from his mixtape as all of them beats by Eminem on that are dope and I’m not a big Eminem fan especially when it comes to his production. Something like Wot up, Oil Can Harry or Brick by Brick.

Recommendation: Buy this album if you a big Proof/D12 fan or if you’re willing to experiment. Although for the rest I recommend downloading sorting ot the ones you like and don’t and get rid. One thing for sure much doper than Bizarre weird album!

Kanye West – Late Registration

Kanye West - Late RegistrationEver since the success of sped-soul single which sampled Chaka Khan’s Through the Fire–Through the Wire–I’ve known who Kanye West is. For a while before that, Kanye’s name had been floating around as a producer for Jay-Z’s Roc-a-Fella Records, ever since The Dynasty: Roc La Familia and Jay-Z’s hit Heart of the City.

After blindsiding the rap game by selling platinum the first time around, thanks mostly to Ye’s smash single Slow Jamz with Twista and Jamie Foxx and in part his religiously oriented club banger Jesus Walks, Ye returns for a second strike at the iron with Late Registration.

LR starts off in the K West tradition of a comedian, this time Bernie Mac, telling Ye he’s going to be late for registration and he has to wake up. The track leads immediately into Heard Em Say with Adam Levine of Maroon 5; an odd combination, of course, but it does work. Its ambient piano keys, basslike horns and modest but compelling drums provide a good backing for Ye to tell us that we should enjoy our lives while we can, with Levine’s soulful crooning coming in to finish off the track.

Extravagant horns on Touch the Sky with Lupe Fiasco bring a happier mood, with talk of flyness and living it up; the second single Gold Digger brings a slight lull in the album, though even this isn’t all that bad. A hilarious skit about Ye’s fictional college fraternity “Broke Phi Broke” ensues, followed by Drive Slow with Paul Wall and GLC.

I didn’t expect much from this track, but I’m surprised at how good it is. The beat starts slow and brings in a very Chicagoan 30’s style saxophone; Kanye doesn’t disappoint, and more importantly–more surprisingly–neither does Paul Wall.

The next track, My Way Home with Common (no appearance by Ye) has a compelling deep string beat/soul sample combination, over which Common spits a verse of fire about a man who gets incarcerated and wishes to be with his family again.

Crack Music doesn’t really feature Game–no verse, he just shares a hook with Ye–but it’s a good song nonetheless. A chorus provides backing for a militant drum and horn pattern, with Kanye spitting about American drug policy and dealing narcotics on the streets (putting himself in the place of those who do it, not claiming he was ever a dealer himself). Roses, which follows, brings an emotional and saddening account of his grandmother’s hospitalization, which Ye spits over simply a string–the drums, bass and extra sounds all come in only for the chorus, with great effect.

Bring Me Down with Brandy is triumphant, Addiction is successfully experimental, and the album goes on to show us a Kanye that’s growing out of the niche in hip hop he’d created over the years. Highlights include We Major with Nas and the Diamonds remix with Jay-Z; expanding his boundaries with LR sounds great, and moving away from the sped-soul was definitely a good move.

El Rating – 4.5/5 (Really *****in Good)

Recommendation – Download this to preview (Kanye doesn’t mind), then go buy it.

Ghostface Killah – Bulletproof Wallets

Ghostface Killah - Bulletproof Wallets1993 a group entered hip-hop and little did they know they would change Hip-hop forever their name was Wu-tang. With their unique sound and lyrics they couldn’t be matched. Each member even more amazing had their own reason to be liked. ODB the hilarious and weird one, Raekwon one of the greatest lyricist ever and so on bla bla fast forward and Ghostface had a near perfect flow and so much personality in one man it was mad him containing one man. It was like they where built to satisfy everyone. Few years later and looks like the Wu followers were looking for an album to top the last one. Then in 2000 Ghost dropped Supreme Clientele, the mainstream went mad most claimed it was better than Ironman, I personally don’t think it is better but roll with me. Everyone was waiting for Ghost to drop a 3rd solo.

As the intro hits we hear Raekwon and Ghost complaining about how their overlooked in hip-hop. You start to think yeah classic Wu sound. “Maxine” hits and you hear yes it has a Wu feel with the very uptempo beat made from the usual RZA horns. You then examines the lyrics and it is classic Ghost with a story with Ghost personality thrown in to paint a even clearer picture of a crackhead apartment being busted in by dealers and well its hard to understand what happens due to Ghost’s slang. “Flowers” and well this is totally unheard from a Wu member. The beat must be made out of them bells and sounds so light compared to anything Ghost has ever done. I can imagine Puffy to rhyme over this with him dancing in one of those shiny suits. Looks like Ghost has been working with other artists *checks booklet* Ahh RZA ofcourse he would make a song like this………………..What the ***** *looks again* must be a misprint but if it isn’t than this is totally isn’t RZA style I can normally tell which is and which isn’t a RZA beat. Method and Raekwon come off nice even tho I believe they’re talking about women and sex raps Urggh! It’s average at best. “Never be the same again” equipped with a Cringe-worthy bass ready for an Dirty R Kelly produced R’N’B songs well atleast this isn’t a RZA surprise beat actually *checks booklet again to make sure* yes as I was saying, this song is disgusting. The level goes up with the crew anthem “Theodore” featuring his old Theodore crew over an beat which sounds like it is one of those music boxes where you open it and something is dancing made by the underrated Allah Mathematics. Then the level goes right down with the Bragging filled “Ghost Showers” . Bad in all aspects. Again I find myself speaking too soon when we are hit with two great songs “Strawberry” and “The Forest” . Although Strawberry is a cringe-worthy sex song I just love the beat which by the way is made again by Allah mathematics. Ghost and him are brilliant together as we can see from the last album. “The Forest” where the beat has a kiddy feel and Ghost spits about Cartoon characters and them being painted as crooks. Some may say this is kind of Cubes “A Gangsta Fairytale” but it’s so much more than that with the way Ghost’s personality paints it. It doesn’t really get anywhere near with the rest from “The Juks” with a beat which sounds like it’s perfectly made for Jay-z/Roc-a-fella to “The Hilton” where the beat sounds like it has Paris banging along to it although saying that the lyrics make it up. Not even the RZA produced “Walking through the darkness” can take it up that far only to be crushed from songs like the terrible love song “Love session”. Everything of the song is terrible of this from the soppy bollocks lyrics to the badly sung hook by Ruff Endz.

This entire album gets 2.5 out of 5. This album is a rollercoaster of an album one minute you’re saying how great it is to only be crushed by a bad song right after it. Ghostface really has tried experimenting with this album and try to evolve it away from the typical Wu sound giving it a more R’N’B sound/feel. One minute you’re praising it for its beats the next you’re not same goes with lyrics. Most songs your saying how great the beat is and how bad the lyrics/subject matter is. This album is all over the place. I feel it’s quite shameful calling it a solo when most of the Ghost’s solos are filled with Features. Another flaw is the amount of skits and interludes there is. Interlude is a nice name for skit. And what the freaking hell is up with the wrong tracklisting on the back?????? It looks like its missing one of the most possible best songs on the album featuring Slick Rick.

Recommendation: I Don’t recommend if you want the typical Wu sound buy “Ironman” and “Supreme Clientele”. If you somehow don’t like that sound then buy his latest release The Pretty Toney Album which you can also find the main site or forum. If you like an R’n’bish album then approach with caution.

Mike Jones – Who Is Mike Jones?

Mike Jones - Who Is Mike Jones?1. Intro

2. Back Then

I’m sure you all have heard this track. This is the second single and the beat is actually pretty good, it has some eerie sounding organs. The chorus is simple yet effective and Mike Jones isn’t too bad on the track. Good enough. Good

3. Flossin'(Feat Big Mac)

Slower paced beat. Wow the singing here is awful, I mean really bad, remember Mo B Dick from those Master P tracks? This is a lot worse than that. Mike Jones is worthless here. Train Wreck

4. Still Tippin'(Feat Slim Thug And Paul Wall)

The first single and I still like this track. The beat is different sounding, I can’t really describe it, but it’s pretty good. Slim Thug starts things off with a decent verse. Mike Jones with an okay-ish verse. Paul Wall ends things with an average verse. Why are people praising Paul Wall? The guy is painfully average and he carries around a wrestling belt. Good track. Good

5. Got It Sewed Up (Remix)

This is the best track on the whole album. DJ Paul & Juicy J produce the beat and it’s really good, it’s nothing special but it fits the track. Mike Jones is not a great rapper or anything but he’s decent enough to not stink up a track. Good stuff. Good

6. Scandalous Hoes(Feat Lil’ Bran)

Soft beat here and it’s not that good. This track is about….well the title says it all and it gets even more cliche’ as the track progesses. Terrible track. Wack

7. Screw Dat

Semi slowed down beat here, I don’t get this kind of rap, it’s just awful and Mike Jones once again proves he cannot carry a track. Skip this. Wack

8. Turning Lane

Faster paced beat here, it’s pretty basic but it’s not that bad. I’ve heard this piano sample before. Mike Jones does a decent job here, not really lyrics wise but flow wise. The “WHO?” catchphrase is played out and them adding it to the track annoys me. Average

9. Laws Patrolling(Feat C.J. Mellow And Lil’ Bran)

I like the beat, it has an old school Texas feel to it and has some dope organs added in. Everyone does a good job on this track. Good

10. 5 Years From Now(Feat Lil’ Bran)

I see Mike Jones as a flash in the pan in 5 years, but really that’s just my opinion. Decent slower paced beat and semi tolerable singing. I don’t know why they let tone deaf people sing but, is it some kind of sick joke? Anyway this track is really sappy, but hey it’s nothing awful. Average

11. Cuttin’ (Remix)

I like the organ sounding beat, it’s got a hint of bounce to it as well. Annoying beginning but it gets better. Good track. Good

12. What Ya Know About…(Feat Paul Wall & Killa Kyle)

Terrible track here, with an awful beat that sounds like it was done by a toddler on a Casio. You know I just don’t care about either of the features. Wack

13. Know What I’m Sayin'(Feat Bun B & Lil Keke)

Really good track here, it sounds like a carnival. Bun-B does a pretty good job here, he seems to be the only one who can rap on this track. Good enough. Good

14. Type Of N**Ga U Need(Feat Brighteyes)

Mike Jones says “This is for the ladies” then he yells “WHO? MIKE JONES! WHO? MIKE JONES!”, classy. This is a sappy lovefest track that lacks anything good or original. Wack

15. Grandma

A track dedicated to his grandma. I applaud him for making a track like this but the beat is terrible and what is with the “MIKE JONES…WHO?” stuff? This is a track about your grandma, not some gimmicked club track, there was no need for that. This was pretty terrible actually. Wack

 

All in all this gets an Average rating. There were some good tracks that were catchy, nothing mindblowing here. This was your by the numbers mainstream Texas album. The south just keeps getting worse and worse. Avoid this.

DMX – Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood

DMX - Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My BloodThis was DMX’s second release following his great debut It’s dark and hell is hot. Again he paints dark pictures due to his rough upbringing from Yonkers, New York.

 

1. My Niggas Skit 

DMX begins the album with shouting out about his “Niggas”. A beat starts which is very electronic and X does this little rhyme about his Niggas and what he and they would do for each other and what they wouldn’t do. The beat isn’t my type of beat. JUST AN INTRO/SKIT!

2. Bring your whole crew

The beat is good on this one, it a nice one it has that typical Ruff ryders sound which is nice you know the rapid uptempo beat normally used by X and some of the other Ruff Ryders, I especially like the bass. DMX starts of on fire here with dark lyrics such as “I got blood on my hands and there’s no remorse/I got blood on my dick coz I *****ed a corpse” one of my favourite lines from X. In all its threats and what x could have done to you. The hook is nice and quite additive but Very very simple. In all don’t ***** with X!!! The beat lets it down from being the gem I could be.

3. Pac Man Skit

JUST A SKIT! Some “fake ass nigga” I suppose trying to hang with some “real niggas” and gets shot. Very lame skit.

4. Ain’t No Way

The beat is nice but isn’t better than the one before (number 2). It has that Ruff ryders feel which gets you hyped for shit with guitar loops. The lyrics are his typical stuff. The hook is nice.

5. We Don’t Give A *****

This is better than the last two songs in my opinion. The beat is a nice one with synthesizers which gives this is dark feel in my opinion. The hook I nice and is a typical “thought you was my dog but you a *****” which is over played in hip hop but is nicely delivered by Lox member Jadakiss. X spits about some backstabber while spitting his dark lyrics to sort if out. Styles P delivers a nice verse maybe a better one than X.

6. Keep your shit the hardest

The beat is pretty bad on this one I don’t really like it that much but the lyrics make it up. The beat is a very uptempo one which is the typical Swizz beat beat so I wernt expecting much because he doesn’t make Great beats more than half the time. It’s bearable. The lyrics are about keeping it real and DMX spits nice and I really like his first one. The hook is pretty simple and isn’t the best one from X.

7. Coming from Feat Mary J Blige

This really starts to pick up a very dope beat! The beat is made up of a really odd sounding piano, it sounds too sharp and sounds freaky and Mary gives it a more eerie feel. DMX spits about his life and what his gone through, you know the typical rapper bragging. A very dope beat in all.

8. It’s all good

Arhh A *****es song which I don’t like in hip-hop its so played out now days. The beat is alright which has a nice baseline and the beat is quite catchy and nicely organized. The hook is alright. Unlike on It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot the beat is really quite dope and holds it above average this isn’t catchy enough. Weakest song on the album in my opinion.

9. The Omen

To begin with you hear a women crying over her about to lose someone and she can hear death coming and then you hear a flatline and a scream. The beat starts to slowly starts to rise and its pretty eerie and dark which I love! Then they start rapping. Who? DMX and Damien, That’s who! The thing is a success on his last album and it’s bigger this time. They talk about their *****ed up relationship and in most places you really hear the devil coming out in Damien’s voice with Random outburst. Also DMX supplies us with of Irony saying “With you I know the devil can’t win”. The Hook is supplied by Marilyn Manson Which is dope but the same as the last one. This is dope in all

10. Slippin’

Alright this is one of X’s biggest and most loved songs and you can see why. A nice calm slow beat which is really relaxing from his adrenaline pumped aggressive songs .Lyrics are dope but one flaw. Why the hell is it Edited????? On my cover it says Parental Advisory Explicit Content yet no swear words?? That’s the only thing wrong with this track as the “Woo” and “Arhh” things that DMX does on his unexplicit songs. The lyrics are deep and meaningful abouthis upbringing which sounds rough yet his optimistic.

11. No love 4 Me Feat Swizz Beats + Drag-On

To begin with DMX spits that little thing he always does over a rapid guitar which sounds incredibly hard to keep up with but all 2 does it nicely. It obvious it is a swizz beat creation. The hook is alright sounds like another and any other DMX hook which is delivered by DMX. Lyrics are about how much love they don’t have and all that stuff if you couldn’t tell. Average song in my opinion

12. Dogs for Life

To begin with there is a skit which I don’t like it always should be at the end, a number of there own or not on at all. The beat is pretty good I like the bass def and the pianos. The lyrics are about the love he has for his dawgs and compares them to the animal. The hook is nice.

13. Blackout Feat. Jay-z The LOX

Alright this has the LOX on and like the last album song Niggaz gone startin something they come up real nice they really come up average. This si a battle/gun rap type of sound where they brag about stuff they can do to you. Jay-z comes off even worse when he starts bragging about possessions. DMX is easily the bet on this. The lyric bring down the good beat. No hook just verses.

14. Flesh Of My Flesh Blood Of My Blood

The beat has the typical Swizz beat but its real dope especially at the hook which is nice and the outro which is nicer. DMX spits dark matter also some bragging about his selling record. Nice song no big cons

15. Heat

The hook is pretty weird but I like it. The beat is rapid as you could tell it is a Swizz Beat beat. It a dark storytelling track were he does some robbery or something like that which is dope. You can really tell DMX is ruthless with the lyrics he is using and you can see his style.

16. Ready to meet him

A very long Prayer skit to begin but the wait is worth with a dope beat with the guitar loops and the singing echoing in the background. Like the convo in his last one where he spits to god and he answers his questions but god this time asks DMX what he learnt like a switch in roles. The hook is dope. What a way to end this pretty dope CD!

 

In all this gets a 4/5 out of 5 and is his 2nd best Cd after It’s dark and Hell is Hot.
This album was a great thing to listen to from back to end. In both lyrical and Beat wise there are some dope songs and some really average songs, not due to overall but either the beat was dope and the lyrics were wack or average or vice versa. DMX is one of the 1st artist’s ever checked out and he still remains one of them after about 1- 2 years of experimenting with all type of different styles. He may not be the greatest lyricists with punchlines, wordplay ETC but his entertaining, he can spit good rhymes, has a style of his own, bring up new topics and normally good beats behind him which he helps bring them alive with his raps.
Recommendation: I would def buy this album if you like DMX or if its cheap or many other reasons you may buy it. If you want his best or a first time buyer then buy his debut. If you got both I def recommend And then there was X which is also a 4/5. Grand champ I would recommend if you like DMX 3.5/5 and The great Depression if you own all of them and you like X which I would rate his lowest but yet its god but average at a 3/5 rating.

Sabac Red – Sabacolypse: A Change Gon’ Come

Sabac Red - Sabacolypse: A Change Gon' ComeSabac is highly underrated. Most people beleive he is going to be a horrorcore rapper due to the fact he is signed underneath the Psycho+Logical Records. The Production is done by Necro one of the greatest producers i heard in a long long while. Necro himself is a horrorcore rapper and to fit that he makes the most dark and eeries beats ever.

 

1. Intro

Some sampled stuff from a movie I think. Just an intro

2. Organize (4/5)

This is good. A dark looped beat to begin this album. I like this. Sabac flows well to the beat.Nice quite addictive hook. Sabac spits his revolutionary/political stuff.

3. Sabacolypse (4/5)

This is good. The Bass is the main attraction which has a nice flow to it and is fitted nicely with the drums. As the hook is hit, a good piano loop is played. The song is a pretty mellow yet gritty feel. Sabac flows nicely to the track. The lyrics are harder hitting IMO on this then the last one.

4. Positive & Negative Ft. Necro (5/5)

This is dope. The concept is the main attraction ver really dark and eerie beat maybe both show views of the earth. Sabac is the more optimistic and positive side and Necro is the negative. Necro drops a really good verse then sabac delivers a good verse. Then Necro drops a really dope verse with lines such as “your not blowing up rap none of us are/ Unless you mean with a bomb under your car” and “***** God he better respect me!” then sabac drops and alright verse.Necro really outshines him on this. They flow well but Necro flows better. No hook just scrating in the middle.

5. Revelation 1. N/A

A skit! It’s been spoken by one of the black panther party members.

6. Protest Music (3.5/5)

This is really energetic beat created by the uptempo and fast piano loop, I’m even more impressed with Sabac being able to flow really well with the beat. he spits his standard level of dopeness. The hook takes the score down it’s really quite annoying and boring even with gunshots.

7. Bac’s Anthem (3.5/5)

This is one of those songs where you question if this a song or a interlude. A energetic track created with the brass instruments. The lyrics are simple and more of a hook tpye of thing. If this was played in a live show i cna see people really getting into this track. “***** the police” is really the song

8. Fight Until The End (5/5)

The piano part is dope as *****. Its fitted nicely over drum and bass amd ocasionaly a violin type of thing which has a weeping sound. Sabac serves up a really good verse but then Immortal Techinique outshines him with his verse easily. Then Sabac finhes the rapping with a good verse. The hook is delivered by a rasta type of guy or Roosevelt Phillip. Many have said this doesnt really fit the type of song but i like it. The lyrics are about how the colour community get unfairly treated by the police. Alright it may not be the most original concept but they do really good.

9. Revelation 2 N/A

Skit Part two really.

10. The Scientist (AIDS) (4/5)

I know I can quote people to be one of the best song on the album. It’s good but not the best. Sabac takes the position of the scientist creating and planning of spreading the disease. The beat has some keys of some sort of keys trinkling around and then in the hook/chorus a guitar type of thing gives it a more eerie beat. it’s really educational.

11. P.O.W. (5/5)

The beat reminds me of some wrestling theme tune when I use to watch it. I can’t really describe it but its good. All of them lay really good lines. Mr Hyde is especially eye opening one good verse from him.They all flow really well.

12. Vinyl 

Just a good acapella shit from Sabac can’t rate this coz its got no beat and too short.

13. Unsolved mysteries (3/5)

I dont really like this beat. Not the best beat. It’s about unsolved mysteries .Typical Sabac stuff. Flows nicely. The hook is alright.

14. Revelations 3

Skit part 3

15. A Change is Gon Come (3.5/5)

The beat is alright. it’s not my fave type of stuff. Made from a vibrating bass and some type of electric organ (I think due to the fact one thing as thrown me off able to detect what is what.) The man singing pisses me off the most. Lyricially this is good and flow real nice.

16. Urban Gorillas (5/5) < br>
Holy shit this is dope!. The song is about war but these guys do it good. Vinnie Paz delivers a really good verse. Really good steals the show easily, Showing how ruthless yet he has morals. One of his best. He flows nice. Sabac delivers a really good verse and again flows nice. Q-Unique drops a verse which i can seen why people can argue Q who steals this one. The hook is real nice.

17. Speak Miltant (4/5)

This has a good Necro Feel. Quite Black Helicopters Feel. It’s got a weird yet nice beat. Sabac still continues with his revoultionary stuff flows nice. not much to say but real nice.

18. Freedom Freestyle (N/a)

Some skit type of thing with a jazz feel.

19. I Have A Dream (5/5) 

This is dope. Sabac shows us a positive and optimistic feel with describing it as a dream. He talks about freedom,equality,chatting to dead famous revoloutionists etc etc. Gives it real positive feel. The beat is dope. The piano is what really does it for me. Beautifully played. The women doing the chorus fits perfectly. Sabac flows well and so does the other rapper.

20. A Change Is Gon’ Come (Militant Metal remix) (4/5)

A remix of the title song. I like this better but that blokes still on it.

 

In all this album gets a 4/5
This is a great album. Even tho he doesnt really spread topic matter out It’s new from that mainstream shit. He just trys to be revolutionary and brings something new. Sabac does get outshine by his guest more than he outshines them. Sabac can be boring but listen to him in moderation
Recommendation
Buy this album and buy whatever comes out of Pyschological records / Uncle Howies Records. They are the best company out for a LONG time. But if you want a more out spreadout political/revolutionary album i suggest revolutionary 2 from the ill and dope Immortal Technique with one of the most sickiest songs i’ve ever heard (trust This is me)