1. Under Pressure

DOPE DOPE DOPE!!!! Great way to start off the album. Sure beats some unfunny skit. Droop just tears the track to pieces. Funny thing is this isn’t even the tightest song on the album. DOPE!

2. My Own Thang(Feat P-Dise & Dubble J)

Droop flows like Eminem did on “Way I Am” he even flows over the same beat basically. Average track. Average

3. Moment Of Impakt(Feat Black C)

Good track, nothing really stands out though. Good

4. Final Konflikt

Great track. The beat is relaxing but has a gangsta touch to it. Droop of course rips it. Good

5. F*ck Dem(Feat Hollow Tip)

Hollow on chorus=OWNAGE! Great track as Droop & Hollow have great chemistry together. Good

6. Real Sh*t(Feat Spice 1, Kaoz The Assassin, Dubble J, Woodie, Bukshot, Ballin A$$ Dame, Hurrikaine J, Never, P-Dise, & Stone Cold)

Yikes talk about a cluster*****. Spice 1 has an embarassingly bad verse, oh man this track is awful. They rap over the most unoriginal beat ever(Halloween beat). Wack

7. Damn

Good track, the beat has a nice dark feel to it. Good

8. Had 2 Gat Ya 2001(Feat Brotha Lynch Hung)

Lynch sounds weird on this track and his verse is really disturbing especially when he talks about his mom coming back from the dead. Droop rips it though. Good

9. Wut They Talk(Feat Inferno & P-Dise)

Great track but plagued by guests. Man what’s with all these guests? Did someone not understand the concept of a solo album? Yeesh. Good

10. Present Darkness

Good track but I don’t like the beat. Droop does carry the song though. Good

11. Under Pressure Remix(Feat Tech N9ne)

DOPE DOPE DOPE!!!! My fav track on the album. Same beat and same Droop verses but Tech N9ne does a great chorus and even adds a great verse as he outshines Droop. DOPE!

12. Quik Lik

I like Droop’s yelling like rapid flow, it makes him stand out more than the average rapid flow. Good track. Good

13. Haunted By A Dream(Feat First Degree The DE)

This is “Mo Shit” from Now Eat. Great track, very dark beat and Droop just rules it. First Degree does a great job singing the chorus. Good

14. Overshadowed By Darkness(Feat Inferno)

This is a sequel to Present Darkness with a better beat. Good

All in all this gets a Good rating. Droop is such a great overlooked rapper from Merced California, with his rapid flows to his witty rhymes to his low growl rapid flows. It doesn’t get any better.

‘The Body Hat Syndrome’ – 1993 Tommy Boy/ TNT Recordings under Warner Strategic Marketing

Its 1993 and Digital Underground have had a slight change in style…

1.Return Of The Crazy One 4:38 

Once again, Humpty Hump kicks into the CD with another crazy song. After playing for a few bars you will see the change in DU’s production styles. Not only this but Hump’s nasal voice has changed slightly, perhaps matured? Pity is isn’t reflected in the lyrics! Still a funny song but Hump is a lot more mack than usual… beat could have been better.

2.Doo Woo You 7:36 

Aah yeah! Sit back and jam to this! Over 7 minutes long! Another DU jam. Real catchy hook and nice vibes. Can’t say much more about this, its just a nice jam!

3.Holly Wanstaho 3:35 

Holly’s just a lazy, crazy girl who wants to sell herself instead of trying to make it. “What a wonderful” I quote, track. Bass is reminiscent of That Dogg Pound’s “Ridin’, Slippin’ & Slidin’”

4.Bran Nu Sweater 4:58 

That’s a metaphor for a groupie woman! The clingy type too, therefore you are “stuck wearing a sweater” DU got the track laced once again. Beat is jumping and bass kicks with energy. Another great track

5.The Humpty Dance Awards 4:51 

For all the Tupac fans out there, this is the first you’ll get of him on the CD. It’s a skit about a spoof dance ceremony. Personally I think its filler.

6.Body Hats (Part One) 1:35 

“Protection from FADES- Falsely Acquired Diluted Educational Syndrome” – that is, the hype the media brings – we shouldn’t believe all of it This CD doesn’t just have one title track it has three! The first of 3 parts with a very catchy hook.

7.Dope-A-Delic (Do-U-B-Leeve-In-D-Flo?) 4:07

Has a go at those using the DU sound coz its so funky and fresh. A beat not too hot. I feel more could have been done to it.

8.Intermission :54 

Short interlude of clips of DU on the radio from around the world

9.Wussup Wit The Luv 6:35 

Perhaps it would be typical of me to say that coz this song has Tupac on it makes it special? I’m afraid I think this one is. It is deep and touching. The second dose of Tupac on this CD. A very deep song about racial tension and black-on-black killings, problems with the police and the fact that even though a black man can be from America and the other from Africa, they still cant get along. We really see Pac’s early potentials in his short verse. Great beat. Touching chorus. Lots of meaning to this song, one of my favourites. DU at their best, giving serious messages out. One of DU’s best songs ever.

10.Digital Lover 4:38 

Mainly a lot of sampling and repeated chants. Nothing too special, just a jam.

11.Carry The Way (Along Time) 4:15 

A real bass-digger. Even gave me a slight headache. Play in your trunk

12.Body Hats (Part Two) 1:31 

More of the same. Hook has an additional chant to it. As dope as the last part.

13.Circus Entrance 1:54

A confused skit and intro to the next song. Full of cheesy masturbation jokes!

14.Jerkit Circus 4:50 

FINALLY- a song that reflects men’s habits! Hella funny OTT lyrics about doing it with yourself instead of a woman! Too many funny lines to mention. Great playback value for a laugh. DO NOT BLAST OUT THE BACK OF YOUR RIDE!

15.Circus Exit (The After-Nut) :43 

Outro. Feels to me like filler as well

16.Shake & Bake 4:34 

A “More Bounce To The Ounce” sampler. Humpty Hump on the mic and his sexual habits are rapped about. This track jumps more than the last Hump solo (Return Of The Crazy One). Bumping.

17.Body Hats Part Three 3:07 

The third and final instalment of the Body Hats tracks and the longest of them too. A bit more soul to this one and a bit more of Hump

18.Do Ya Like It Dirty? 4:45 

A switching duet between Shock-G and Humpty Hump and doing it dirty. They take it in turns to tell it. Speaks on some freaky sex with food and sexual preferences!

19.Bran Nu Sweat This Beat :33

Instrumental

20.Whee! 5:08 

Clearly the MCs took to the mic high on this one! What a laugh though. Great sounds though and lyrics are hilarious

Conclusion: DU have changed their sound for 93. They still sound far out for a rap group and they still keep it jumping but this CD I don’t think was as good as the rest. Still, its DU and they never fail to impress. There are lots of good tracks on here, even though a slight bit of filler. Overall I give this a Humpty Dance Award (buy the CD and you’ll know what I mean) 4/5

1. Wake Up

Good song, it has a nice dark psychadelic type beat with nice funk bass. I’m glad Richie Rich didn’t do an intro, it has some nice voice samples including E-40’s. The chorus is just Richie Rich blurting “Wake Up” over and over. Good

2. How I Ride(Feat Justice)

We go from good to horrible. The beat is really sloppy and could cause seizures when listened to. Richie Rich can’t rap over fast beats, his voice just can’t match with the beat, he’s way too laid back and some rapper named Justice joins him who’s really annoying as he does the chorus. Really terrible. Wack

3. Say B*%*!(Feat Too Short)

Wow it’s my favorite guest Too Short, you know if someone could bring this album even more down it’s Too Short. I cannot stand the chorus as Too Short says “Say BEEEYIITCH” with Richie Rich’s monotone voice after it. Too Short with the usual. Wack

4. What It Do(Feat Replacement Killerz)

Bland track as the beat sounds like it was done on a Casio, Seasoned Veteran this is not. Replacement Killerz are annoying and really bland. Richie Rich raps unmotivated. Wack

5. Smoke N F**!

These track names are really horrible. All Richie Rich wants to do is “smoke n *****”….yea it’s that bad. With a beat so boring that it could put an insomniac asleep. You know if I was Richie Rich I’d be more worried about putting out a good album and making money instead of “smoking and *****ing”. Train Wreck

6. NPR(Feat DeeDee)

Richie Rich says he’s three faced(Huh?) in the beginning. The chorus amuses me for some reason but the beat is pretty basic. Richie Rich isn’t even trying on this song. Oh man this album is so bad and it’s only the 6th track. Wack track. Wack

7. Scrapers(Feat Stalin)

Decent track, the beat is all over the place but it isn’t bad. Richie Rich raps about riding in his car and all that bland and boring stuff I could care less about. Stalin is basic and sloppy, he tries though so I’ll give him points for effort unlike Richie Rich who could care less. Average

8. Betta Luv Ya B*%*!(Feat The Replacement Killerz)

Horrible track with an even worse track title. These edited curse words in the beginning annoy me. I can’t believe Richie Rich even made a track like this and the Killerz are horrible. Train Wreck

9. No Degreez(Feat PSD)

Beat is really goofy sounding and basic. Richie Rich starts it off dissing someone who he doesn’t say, funny thing is that the one who he is dissing has made a better album than this tripe. Wack

10. Thru With It

A track title that states my mindset about this album, but I have about 3 more after this. It’s the same topic that Richie Rich has been talking about and that’s “sex” is he trying to be Too Short junior? Wack track that has no redeeming qualities. Wack

11. Pretty B*%*!*s(My Anthem)

If this is his anthem then we are in big trouble, horrible track with a bastardized Carribean type track that sounds like it was rejected by the creators of the “Little Mermaid”. Wack

12. Still My N*%!@(Feat Harm)

Annoying chorus, man this is such a horrible track, I don’t even have words for this…well I do and they are none too good. Take a basic beat with a basic topic and mix it with an unmotivated Richie Rich and you have this track. Wack

13. NY 2 Da O(Feat Wayno)

This is suppose to test Richie Rich’s versatility I think but it doesn’t really work. Average track with Wayno giving an ok verse, actually Richie Rich doesn’t do too bad, if he rapped with this fire then he’d have a decent album, he picks the last track to get motivated, sounds like the same old Richie Rich, nothing ground breaking with an average beat but I’ll boost it since Richie Rich actually tries. Good

All in all a Wack rating. This is the worst album I have ever heard with tracks so bad that I cannot believe Richie Rich even put this out, the tracks didn’t even have humor quality, they were just boring and so horrendously cliche’d that you had to skip the tracks. Avoid this album like the plague.

1. Intro

Dope beat but it’s just an intro so no rating.

2. If It’s Hot

Nice smooth production by Big Hollis(Who produced every track on this album). Bad Azz flows well over this beat and has some dope lyrics on here. This is actually a different vibe you are used to hearing Bad Azz on. Song is about Bad Azz only rapping over hot beats and talking about dope topics. Good

3. Checking All The Spots(Feat Big Hollis & Kenya Baker)

Well so much for that, the chorus is really bad and this is such a Neptunes rip off track, with a fake Pharrell wannabe on the chorus. Bad Azz is totally unmotivated here going through the motions and not really caring, can’t say I blame him. Wack

4. Do The Damn Thing(Feat Bonnie)

Nice bouncy West beat. Hollis to me is either hit or miss and this is most def hit right here. Bad Azz sounds comfortable on this track and Bonnie sings a really good chorus. Good

5. N 2Gether Now(Feat 40 Glock)

Nice smooth type beat, 40 Glock starts it off with a nice verse I like the soul voice samples. Bad Azz does a good chorus as well. They both feel comfortable on this track. Back to the beat, it has a nice symphony type flow with some reflective sounds. Very dope stuff. Good

6. Ghetto(Feat Marcel)

Again a Neptunes type track but it’s still good with Marcel doing a decent chorus but I don’t like the numerous “ghetto” chants going on throughout the song, it tends to annoy me. Good

7. My Street(Feat LiL Tip Toe, Conflict, & Terror)

This sounds alot like “This Can’t Be Life” from Jay-Z’s “Dynasty” album, and I loved that song. This song is really good but one complaint is the damn booklet which mixes up the track names and switches them all over the place. Track is about chilling out with your family and friends. Good track and my favorite on this one. Good

8. Money Run(Feat LiL Tip Toe & Conflict)

Decent West fast beat, nothing great, it’s pretty average with your usual rappers half assing it. Average

9. Come & Get It(Feat Bonnie)

Man does there have to be a feature on every song? Cheesy singing by Bonnie, this is a really corny song that I just don’t care for. It’s just a bunch of lovey dovey fluff. Wack

10. It’s A Party(feat Soopafly & Latoiya Williams)

Latoiya is a really talented singer, she’s probably my favorite female singer out now. Soopafly with a boring verse that I can care less about, man he’s worthless on here. Latoiya is carrying this thing on her back. Bad Azz with your average boring stuff, man I remember when he actually used to rap about meaningful topics but on this one he’s just unmotivated it. Average

11. Groupie(Feat Conflict, LiL Tip Toe, & Terrell Carter)

Song is about a groupie, this is a cluster***** and I don’t really care for this song. Wack

12. California Sunshine(Feat Skee 64, Big Hollis, LiL Tip Toe, & Sene)

Cluster***** in the making! The beat is a nice bouncy West type beat, decent chorus, this is a track to play in your ride and nothing else. Good

All in all I’m gonna give this an Average rating, just nothing notable here. This album has some really boring tracks. Some good ones but the boring outweigh the good here. Get his Word On The Streetz album and avoid this.

Artist: Nas
Title: Illmatic 10th Anniversary Platinum Edition
Label: Columbia/Sony
Year: 1994, 2004

1. The Genisis 

The intro to the album. Nas and AZ are just talking about all these weak rappers and Nas proclaims he’s about to rap about that real shit. Cool intro.

2. N.Y State Of Mind 

Immediatly from the start the beat kicks in a with a nice bassline and a piano melody in the backround. One of Dj Premiers finest beat. Nas kicks into his storytelling mode rapping about how it is in New York. Classic.

3. Life’s A ***** feat. AZ 

Probably my favorite song on the album. AZ is the only guest on the album. The production is really good here. I love the jazzy sound. AZ and Nas spit amazing verses especially AZ. Another classic.

4. The World Is Yours 

I love the beat. Real old school. Pete Rock did a great job with it. He’s also on the chorus but he is not credited. Nas raps about his own feelings and stuff he’s experianced in his life.

5. Halftime 

Another tight joint. Nas’ raps are amazing and well crafted as they match the beat very well. Dope track.

6. Memory Lane 

Another classic beat by Premier. It has a nice gospel feel to it. Nas is once again spitting pure fire. His rhymes are very intelligent and very poetic.

7. One Love 

Q Tip produced this one. The production is pretty tight. Nas is rapping to his friend who is in prison telling him about everything that has happened to him. Great track.

8. One Time For Your Mind 

Good track. The production is nice here. Nas raps about the usual stuff. His experiances in Queensbridge and stuff thats happened to him. One minor problem is that the chorus is a bit dull.

9. Represent 

After the more slow tracks we get “Represent”. The beat kicks off nicely with a tight keyboard melody. Nas raps about violence in the streets and a bit off some street braggadiocio. Classic.

10. It Ain’t Hard To Tell 

A great way to end the best album of all time. The production is nice. Nas’ raps are intellignet and his flow and worldplay are awesome. It remiends you of the days when hip hop wasn’t about bling bling or fast cars.

Illmatic The Album: 5/5. The greatest album of all time. Period.

Disc 2 

1. Life’s A ***** Remix 

I like this remix. It really surprised me. Unlike the jazzy laid back original. This one has a more bouncy club feel to it. But surprisingly it’s still dope. Nice remix. It’s a lot easier for the new fans of hip hop to digest.

2. The World Is Yours Remix 

Another great remix. It can’t touch the orignal but it’s still tight. The piano melody is touching and the soft little sounds in the backround keeo the song moving. One bad thing is that the old scrathes by The large professor are taken out, and thats one of the things that I thought made the original such a classic.

3. One Love Remix 

I like the production here. The flutes in here sound really cool. Nick Fury also has a sped up sample in here which gets a little annoying. He should leave that stuff to the Diplomatic. Anyways, good track

4. It Ain’t Hard To Tell Remix 

Why oh why did we have to have this crap on the album? Nick Fury really messed up the song. It sounds like some Neptunes or Timbaland stuff. Just doesn’t work well with Nas.

5. On The Real 

KRS 1 and Marly Marl drop the beat here. Nice stuff. This song was recorded almost 10 years ago. Nas’ is terrific as usual. Nas raps about the stuff he does best: ghetto life. Great wordplay and flow.

6. Star Wars 

My favorite track on disc 2. I love the beat. The Large Professor drops some more classic shit. It has these really cool video game sounds in it. Nas raps about beef and how we need to keep it on wax and avoid the violence. Dope shit

Disc 2: 4.5 stars

Overall: 5 Stars. If you already own Illmatic I still say get it because of the remix’s and new songs on Disc 2. If you don’t have it, it makes it even better. The greatest hip hop album off all time. Illmatic.

1. Hi Life (Intro) 

2. Say Woop

Good way to open up the album. This is a party song and gets you hyped. The lyrics are cool on this song. The chorus is not that good though, it doesn’t make the song wack or anything but it could’ve been better. Song is still got. 8/10

3. I Don’t Wanna Know 

“I Don’t Wanna Know” features Nate Dogg. The lyrics to the song are really good and he talks about something a little different. The beat is heat, and with Nate Dogg on the chorus, you have to know this song is hot! 8/10

4. Talk 

“Talk” features a crazy ass hard hitting beat. Guest appearances on this song include Sly Boogy and E-40. Sly Boogy is one of the best lyrical MC’s out in the west right now, so his verse on this song is fire. Hi C comes in the second verse with a nice verse. Some of the lines were real tight, such as “Niggaz be killing me with these gang bang raps/I got homies so bang’d out they need a gang bang patch/”, that is a fire line. E 40 comes in the thirds verse, his verse is not as hot as Hi C’s or Sly Boogy’s but that doesn’t take away the fact his verse is tight. 8/10

5. Coochie Coochie (Intro)

6. Coochie Coochie 

This song sounds like something you would probably hear at a strip club. Hi C raps a little faster then he usually does on this one. He has some funny rhymes on this too, “What? Wait a minute hold up/Told you before I pays for no butt/I don’t give a ***** if the ***** have platinum and gold in it/Don’t pay to stick my pole in it/”. DJ Quik is on the chorus of this song. This song is cool and gets a little addicting after you listen to it for a while. 8/10

7. Let Me Know

Here comes the highlight of this album. DJ Quik produced song, with DJ Quik on the beat, you know this is a guaranteed hit. This is one of the songs you will be playing the most from this album. DJ Quik is also featured on the track. He takes up the third verse and even after Quik retired, he still got heat. 9/10

8. Pop It 

This is another one of those hard hitting tracks. Hi C’s flow is a little different on this, not very different but you can see a little difference here and there. Big Steele is pretty dope on this track. He has a deep voice, which makes his verse hot, his verse is kind of short though. 8/10

9. Hey Hey

This song for some reason reminds me of “Pop It” beat is similar and the guest appearance is the same. This a party song and I think would be good for a radio single. Overall this song is nice. 7.5/10

10. Big Girls Need Love Too 

This one is one of the nicer tracks on this album. The title basically says what this song is about, some of the shit he talks about on there is pretty funny. Definitely a track you need to check out. 8/10

11. Stalker (Skit) 

12. Fo A Buck 

This beat is nice. The lyrics to the song are real nice. It is basically bout girls so broke they would do anything for a buck. I like this track a lot, a slower track, still dope. 8/10

13. So Good 

This song features James DeBarge. This is kind of like a love song, it is dope, a slower track, and this is one of the better love rap tracks I heard recently. James DeBarge is a good singer, and Hi-C’s rhymes are hot as usual. 8/10

14. Hit Me Where It Hurts 

I do not really like this song, it is produced by Quik, but the beat sounds goofy a little bit, it’s not my style really. This song could’ve been way better. 6/10

15. Run Up, Done Up 

Song produced by Quik, the hook on this song sounds nice, Hi-C’s flow on this one is really nice. Definitely something worth checking out. 8/10

16. X Pills

This beat bangs, the hits and claps go real well on this one. This track is basically about ecstasy and shit like that. Overall this track is dope. 8/10

17. Do It 

Quik is on the beat for this one too, it sounds like some old school shit that would be from Quik’s “Safe + Sound” album. The bass line on this is hot as *****. The hook has that Roger Troutman Talk box shit, real nice song. The song is long too, 8:15!!! Still a dope track. 8.5/10

Overall this album is nice, we’ve been waiting for this album for a long time and it is finally here. Most the production is by Crawf Dog (Hi-C) and DJ Quik did a couple of beats. If you are a fan of DJ Quik and his family, you should pick this up, if you are not familiar with them, you should check out this album, it is definitely a hot album!!

Final Rating: 3.5/5

1. For You 

Odd starting and really an odd beat, atleast for Sheek to be spitting on, not saying it’s wack in fact it’s good, problem is it’s way too short. Good

2. Ok

D-Block cannot and I repeat CANNOT make a party track to save their lives. Case in point: Jadakiss’ whole first album, boy what a flop piece of garbage that was but that’s another story. This track sucks OK! Oh yea this track is wack OK! Train Wreck rating? OK! Train Wreck

3. Turn It Up

Man 3 songs in and Sheek’s already exposed as a rapper that needs to be carried(Have a good guest guide him through a track). I like Sheek but he’s just really REALLY boring. He tries but he’s just getting exposed as not being ready for solo status. Good track for the Alchemist beat and atleast Sheek tried. Good

4. How Many Guns

Yup he’s exposed, he’s a 1 trick pony. All he can rap about is guns, oh man who cares how many guns you have? He needs Styles P or Jadakiss to guide him through, hell even J-Hood. Ugh! Wack

5. In/Out(S.P.)(Feat Styles P)

The best member of the Lox joins Sheek. This track is about murder(GASP SURPRISING ISN’T IT?!!??!) but the beat is dope and they try atleast, well Sheek does, Styles P just kind of sleep walks through it. Good

6. I Ain’t Forget

Total filler. Wack

7. Walk Witt Me

Good track as Sheek finally tries something different. Song has a good message. Good

8. Crazzy

Man the skit at the beginning is soooooo long, good track otherwise. Good

9. Ten Hut(Feat Jadakiss)

D-BLOCK!!!!! This is really vintage Lox Ruff Ryders era as they rap about going to war over horns. Good

10. How I Love You(Feat Styles P)

This track is so bizarre as Sheek basically disses the girl he “loves” I’m thinking this track is sarcasm at its finest which is pretty clever having Styles give a totally heart felt chorus. Average

11. 3-5-4(Tarrentino)

Nice storytelling track, it’s about nothing new or anything but it’s good. Good

12. Don’t Mean Nuthin(Feat D-Block)

D-Block are on the song, they forgot to put them in there. Nice east beat mixed with West flavor. J-Hood and Jadakiss own this track. Good

13. D-Block(Feat J-Hood)

FINALLY! I’ve been waiting for J-Hood to rap on here. All J-Hood needs to do is change his subject matter, he’s already better than Sheek. Beat is like a newer West sound, decent beat but they do carry it well. Good

14. Mighty D-Block(2 Guns Up)(Feat D-Block)

DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE!!!!!! Such a great track, great way to end the album and worth the price alone. Jadakiss starts it off with a good verse then Sheek rips it, I love the scratching in between raps, it just adds to the flavor. J-Hood up next with a hood tale and Styles ends it. DOPE!!!!

All in all I’m gonna give this a Good rating. Good first try and unlike DMX’s album, Sheek actually tries to establish himself as a solo and is not unmotivated. There’s really not that many guests. Last track is so dope!

1. Another Body Drops

Nice hard rock styled beat by Muggs but still maintains its gangsta appeal. B-Real starts it off with a really dope verse and in fact B-Real carries this song really well. The chorus is really bland though, but it’s not a bad way to start an album. Good

2. Till Death Comes

Softer piano type beat by Muggs, nothing really interesting about the beat, pretty bland. The chorus is cliche’d and just doesn’t fit that well. B-Real tries but this track is really boring. Wack

3. Latin Thugs(Feat Tego Calderon)

Nice Latin style beat with the horns. The raps are in Spanish and well I can’t understand so it’s pointless for me to try and interpet what they’re saying. Decent track. Average

4. Gangja Bus(Feat Damian Marley)

We’rd Nu-Jamaican type track, it’s pretty wack as well. Damian Marley is really annoying and the beat sucks. This track gets worse and worse by the second. Wack

5. Busted In the Hood

Finally, some dope music by B-Real. B-Real starts telling some stories and the production by Muggs is dope, has a hard yet smooth type feeling to it. B-Real is honestly one of the best rappers out and it’s great to hear him rap. Good

6. Money

What’s with the really bouncy West beat? it sounds like a Kurupt track on speed. B-Real tries but this beat is really annoying, come on Muggs atleast make some good dark west production like you have in the past. Average

7. Never Know

Now this is what I’m talking about, very dark beat but the chorus is really annoying with them rapping really slowly in unison. B-Real carries it well. Good

8. Last Laugh(Feat Prodigy & Twin)

NOOOO!!! Not nu-metal Cypress Hill! The beat sounds like DJ Clues Fantastic 4 part 2(Final 5 off Vol 2) but with guitars strapped to it. B-Real really does a great first verse, then the beat changes. Prodigy does the chorus and I think that’s a good idea since Prodigy hasn’t been good since The Infamous. Good

9. Bong Hit

Interlude

10. What’s Your Number(Feat Tim Armstrong)

Well this is the single anjd it’s decent but nothing really good, they use The Clash’s “The Guns Of Brixton” and they use it well. Has a ska’ish feel to it with B-Real’s raps over it. Average

11. Once Again

Has a detectivish type beat to it, like a spy co-vert op beat I can’t explain it but it’s decent but really fast and B-Real raps well over it. Nice track but they can do so much better. Good

12. Number Seven

Interlude

13. One Last Cigarette

This is like Illusions 2004. Nice dark beat with B-Real rapping well over it, they even have the guy who’s tied up make sounds over B-Real’s vocals! Good

14. Street Wars

Nice track, the beat is pretty basic but with chants added and B-Real once again shows that he’s one of the best rappers out. Not a track you’d expect the old Cypress on but whatever doesn’t matter it’s still a good song. Good

15. Till Death Do us Part

I love the organ beat mixed with that West flavor, very tight track and the beat on the album. B-Real raps well over this. This is like a mixture of dark and light type beats and it mixes well. Good

16. Eulogy

Outro

All in all this gets a Good rating. Is it good? Yes but is it their best one? No way. I’d suggest getting everyone of their other albums including Psycho Realm’s self titled album before you get this.

Artist(s): Ruff Ryders
Title: Ryde or Die Volume 1
Label: Ruff Ryders/Interscope
Year: 1999

1. Ryde or Die (Lox, DMX, Drag-On, Eve) 

Really tight song. True banger. Everyone is great. Drag-On’s verse is especially good. LOX, DMX and Eve come off nicely. The production by Swizz is awesome. Im not sure but I think this was the first single from the album.

2. Down Bottom (Drag-On, Juvenile) 

Swizz comes with another banger. The beat just makes you nod your head. The opening verse by Drag is fire. Juvenile’s verse is pretty good too. The chorus is ridiculously catchy.

” Do ya’ll niggas bust ya guns? (Hell ya we bust our guns), Do you ***** em til they *****? (Hell yeah we make them *****)…..”

3. What You Want (Eve) 

Eve’s turn to shine. Eve definently came correct lyrically but that production isn’t that great. Swizz kind of switched up his style and he made the beat sound spanish a little bit.

4. Jigga My Nigga (Jay Z) 

Another great song. All of Jay’s verses are fire. The production is on point. The hook gets a little annoying after a while though.

” From the crack tables back in AC, back on the block, Jay Z mother*****er from the the the Roc, went solo on that ass, but it’s still the same, Brooklyn be the spot where i serve them thangs”

5. Takin $ (skit) 

6. Dope Money (LOX) 

The beat here from the start hits you hard. It sets the stage perfectly for the LOX. The LOX are basically spitting about the streets are everything that happens in them.

7. Im A Ruff Ryder (Parle) 

Parle is an R&B group. I don’t like R&B too much but this song is nice. The beat is a little slow so it can take a while to get used to it because of the previous songs. Parle are great here. It’s a shame that they never got a chance to put an album out.

8. Bug Out (DMX) 

Easily one of the weakest tracks on the album. And yes it is the DMX solo. The beat is horrible. Damn, what was Swizz thinking? X is decent but the beat makes it difficult to listen to the song.

9. Kiss Of Death (Jadakiss) 

Nice beat here. Jadakiss spits mostly thug stuff and he throws in some nice punchilnes. His flow is good too. Tight song.

10. The Hood (Drag-On, Beanie Siegal, Mysonne, Infa-Red, Jadakiss, NuChild) 

Nice lineup here. Beanie starts off the song with a really good verse. Drag and jadakiss came with dope verses too. Mysonne and NuChild are nothing special.

11. Platinum Plus (Jermaine Dupri, Mase, Cross) 

Judging from the title you would think the song would be all bling bling. And you’re right. Production is nice but overall lyrically the song is bad. Cross is seriously a joke.

12. Buff Ryder (skit) 

13. Do That Shit (Eve) 

Another solo track from Eve. The production is good but after a while it gets a little repetitive. Damn, Eve has definently surprised me on the album. All of her verses have been really good. This song is no exception.

14. Pina Colada (Sheek, Big Pun) 

I hate the chrous it’s pretty stupid. Sheek and Pun spits hot verses though. Especially Sheek. Most of the album he’s been outshined by the LOX. Production is good but nothing too great.

15. Some X Shit (DMX) 

This is a huge improvement from Bug Out. The beat is just hot! X is really tight too. Not much more to say. Just a dope track.

Overall: 3.5/5. The best out of the 3 volume Ruff Ryder compilation series. If you like DMX or most of the Ruff Ryders i suggest picking up the album. It’s a solid compilation.