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Album reviews.

VA – Rhyme & Reason Soundtrack

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Va - Rhyme & Reason SoundtrackThis Rhyme & Reason soundtrack was released back in -97 and I was bumping it heavily for a while there. It’s not 2003 and I’m gonna try to do a fair review of it.

 

1. Mack 10 & Doggpound – Nothin’ but the cavi hit

The soundtrack starts of with a track done by a legendary west coast group mixed with one third of another legendary west coast group. Daz Dillinger’s producing and mixing the track, and if you’re a Daz fan, you’ll hear this. Mack 10’s coming out hard and even tho the Kurupt parts sounds lazy everyone’s doing their fair square on this track. A very good way to start off the album.

2. Busta Rhymes & A Tribe Called Quest – Wild hot

A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes is the first East Coast contribution to this soundtrack. The first thing on my mind when hearing this is how Busta changed his style. This is the style that got him famous and this is the style he should stick with. The beat is kind of dark, and it’s a tight track overall.

3. Eight Ball & MJG – Reason for rhyme

œReason for rhyme  is a Dirty South contribution for the album. Eight Ball and MJG. The beat is kind of slow but both rappers are giving it lil hype, making your pulse go up. If you ask me, it’s a very western influenced production.

4. Ras Kass, Helta Skeltah & Canibus – Uni-4-Orm

Ras Kass, Helta Skeltah and Canibus on a track will mean a lyrical orgy with blazing metaphors and tight flow. This is no exception. Unfortunately they’re doing it over a beat not fitted for doing so.

5. Crucial Conflict – Bogus Mayn

œBogus Mayn  from Crucial Conflict is a nice track with a tight rapper over an arcade kind of beat. The hook’s very catchy, and the baseline is really cool. Overall an above average track.

6. E-40 – Every year

We all know E-40 is a West Coast legend. On this track right here he’s showing his original flow and style over a really nice, slow beat. I like it! The track is enjoyable and the hook’s perfect for it too.

7. The RZA – Tragedy

Okay. First thing I have to say here is… this track is a classic! I don’t know how many times I’ve been bumping this at home, at parties, when playing basketball or whatever. RZA is coming out super-tight over a very tight beat with an extremely tight hook. There’s no need to write more about this. It’s very extremely super-tight!

8. MC Eiht – Represent

Many consider West Coast artist MC Eiht a legend, and he’s done a lot of tight tracks in my opinion. However, this is not one of them. The production’s wack, make’s me feel bad for MC Eiht who had to rap over this.

9. Lost Boyz – N*ggaz don’t want it

If you ask me, Lost Boyz is a legendary group. I’m a huge fan of them and Freakie Tah is in my opinion one of the worst losses in the rap game. He was giving the tracks that little extra to make them tight. This track is not one of the best Lost Boyz tracks I’ve heard… It’s actually one of the worst I’ve heard. It can’t be easy being a rapper when you get beats like these to rap over.

10. KRS-ONE – Bring is back

Krs, you’re tight and all, but how about making a track about something new? ANYTHING but how raps from New York or how it’s so unfair how you don’t go multi platinum. I still like KRS-One, tho, and this track is a good one.

11. Master P – Is there a heaven 4 a gangsta?

This track made a lot of people notice Master P. It’s a nice track and if you’re a No Limit fan but didn’t hear this track, you should. UUUGHH

12. Volume 10 – Liquor store run

I’m sure there was something different to put on the album than this. It’s a quite wack track with a below-average rapper. I guess the executive producers found the hook catchy, cuz that’s all there is.

13. Guru, Kai:Bee & Lil’ Dap – The way it iz

This is another of those classic tracks! Guru on the production really did it this time! The beat is tight and the fluit is completing this masterpiece! That’s not all there is. The flow’s amazing from all rappers and the lyrics are tight down to the last word. This is an absolute classic!

14. Nyoo & DeCoca – Buisness first

Classic track œThe way it iz  is followed by a funky cut by Nyoo and DeCoca called œBuisness first . I really like the beat and as for the rapping part, it’s good too. Very nice, funky, track.

15. Delinquent Habits – No identity

This cut is a bump friendly, head moving’ song with club-friendly gangsta style and a nice hook. It’d be a nice way to finish of the album, if there weren’t any bonus tracks.

BONUS TRACK: Mack 10 & Doggpound – Nothin’ but the cavi hit (remix)

This bonus track is a remix of the first cut of the album “ œNothin’ but a cavi hit . It’s basically the same track with some mixing changes. I used to like the original better, but now I’m having a hard time changing my mind about it, so I bump both.

 

Rhyme & Reason is a soundtrack, and soundtracks usually have a few tight tracks, a few wack tracks and a few average tracks. This one had a few classic tracks, a few not so good tracks and then some above average tracks.
The album is also a personal classic, so for me personally it’s a 5 out of 5 grade. However, if I was forced to pretend I didn’t hear it before I’d grade it: 4 out of 5.

Canibus – Rip the Jacker

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Canibus - Rip the jackerAfter Canibus burst onto the scene, he dropped albums many people thought were disappointing. Finally giving up on making the mainstream feel Bis, he took things into his own hands with mixtapes and lyrically laced albums.

This time around, Rip the Jacker is a conceptual album. As the alter-ego of Canibus, Rip the Jacker is the side of Bis that battled LL Cool J and made Canibus his name back in 1998.

Hooking up with eccentric producer Steve Stoupe, the combination is his best work yet.

1. Intro

2. Genabis

The track is to show the birth of Canibus and how he mastered the art of lyricism. The production reflects a coming and suits the feel of the song perfectly. Finally, Bis has a chorus that mixes into the song. A great start to the album.

3. Levitibus 

The first thing you notice on this track is the production with an eerie biblical style feel to it. Of course, there is a reason for that. Leviticus is the Biblical set of ritual rules, Levitibus reflects Canibus’ rituals to making his style. The lyrics are fire, and the production again suits Bis perfectly.

4. M-Sea-Cresy 

A more laid back production to this track that enables you to listen to the lyrics Canibus lays down. It has a very oldschool New York feel to it. If it was made in 93 it would’ve been a hit. The lyrics and production again combine nice.

5. No Return 

Concept of the song is that Canibus is who he is and there is no returning to that Wyclef mainstream style he was forced to have on Universal. The chorus and production is kind of annoying and is the worst track on the album, the lyrics are great again, but like past Bis failures is the mixture into the song..

6. Spartibus

The first single of the album. This track created a lot of buzz for the album and with good reason. The production is dark and the lyrics are straight heat. The chorus is perfectly mixed into the style of the track. One of the album’s best moments.

7. Indibisible 

The production to the track is unbelievably off the hook with it’s Mexican style feel. The concept for this track is “Unspeakable”. Basically, if it can’t be said, Bis can’t rap it. The lyrics are off the hook, the chorus fits in perfectly and the production is off the hook. The song is ill beginning to end.

8. Showtime At the Gallow 

The production on this track is genious. It gives the feeling of being executed with it’s drops which is the concept of the track. “Gallows”. Canibus feels like he was the next thing, how could he be executed for what made him great by the fans? The lyrics and production are tight. Another classic track to this album.

9. Psych Evaluation 

An inner look at the mind of Canibus and the production again is well done again, with Canibus getting more angry in the depths of his mind as the song goes on and the music makes you feel like you are inside the insanity. Song could never be a club banger, but the concept of the song and it’s delivery by Bis and Stoupe is mindblowing.

10. Cemantics 

Semantics is the study of meaning in language. This is the concept of this track, the depths of Canibus’ lyrics. The production again suits the track nice and Canibus’ lyrics are ill. The flow he has is again unbelievable. Nice track.

11. Poet Laureate II 

Back on “2000BC”, Canibus delivered a track called “100 Bars” where he spit 100 and it was recieved by critics as amazing. On his last album “Mic Club”, Bis said he thought 100 was nothing, so here it is. An unbelievable 200 bars on this track. I’ve never heard this done so well by any lyricist and this track alone proves that Canibus is the greatest lyricist of our time. The production suits the 200 bars, never leaving you feeling bored. Amazing.

 

People looking for another Aftermath style hit, turn away. But for anyone that wants to hear rap and a lyricist perform the art the way it was intended, this is one of the greatest albums ever made. Stoupe and Canibus are a combination that if they continue dropping albums like this could be the next Dre/Snoop, Eric B and Rakim, etc. They have a style together that fits perfectly. Bis’ problem up til now was his production, now that he has it, he dropped the album everyone waited on. The concepts of this album were finally delivered by both Canibus and his producer, which is what every Bis fan has been waiting for. If this album was the one that came out in 98 instead of “Can-I-Bus”, I feel he would be a star today. Now it’ll be slept on which is the ultimate irony of the album. Makes you wonder what will happen with Crooked I as it’s hard pressed to imagine he could ever drop an album like this one.

Again if you want MTV worthy rap, turn away. If you want pure rap and lyricism, this album is great and damn near a classic.

Rating – 4.5/5

Roscoe – Philaphornia

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Roscoe - PhilaphorniaYoung Roscoe “Philaphornia” was planned to be released a year ago. It was pushed back and finally released in 2003 by Priority Records. To read more about Roscoe, go to our “Upcoming Stars” section.

 

1. 5 Seconds

“5 Seconds” is a really nice way to start off the album since Roscoe’s showing some really nice lyrics about his journey to get this album finished over a tight beat. On top of that, he’s also letting everybody know what he’s repping. First thing you’ll hear on the album is someone saying “Y.A, Doggpound, Kurupt Young Gotti”.

2. Head to toe feat. Sleepy Brown

The video for “Head to toe” is featured on my album as a bonus thing. To be honest, they could have picked a better single. The track is nice, but this Organized Noise produced beat is way too slow to get heavy airplay on radio and at clubs, even tho it’s tight and the hook is catchy.

3. It’s that time again feat. La Toya Williams

An other kind of slow track from Roscoe. This time he’s got LaToya Williams on the hook. The track reminds me of the Kurupt track “It’s over” even tho I wouldn’t say it’s as pop-ish as that one. If you like a smooth song to bring out your stash to, this is it.

4. Get ready feat. Mr Kane

On track number 4, Roscoe’s bringing in Mr Kane on the hook, and that’s a good move. Mr Kane is really spicing this track up and even tho the production’s slow on this track too, I could see this as a single. Roscoe is, of course, doing the verses and if I may say so, he’s doing what everyone was hoping he would – living up to everyone’s expectations to be like big bro Kurupt.

5. Smooth Sailin’

“Smooth Sailin’” is a 70’s influenced track with a really smooth sound. There’s been a lot of buzz around this track and critics were right when they said it was blazin’. Just tune in to this shit, lean back, and relax as Roscoe’s showing off amazing lyrical skillz to one of the best smooth beats in a while!

6. Trouble

When listening to “Trouble” you might think Pharell produces the song, but producer J Wells, who is also working on Kurupt’s upcoming album, brings this beat right here to you. As Roscoe’s spittin’ some tight shit over it, I’m thinking about the airplay this joint could get at clubs. Don’t sleep on this one!

7. Shakedown

It’s no secret LT Hutton is a good producer, but when he’s teaming up with Roscoe things will get out of hand! Roscoe’s spittin’ like a mad man, making this joint the best track on this album this far even tho competition is hard.

8. Get flipped

How tight do you think it’d be if one of the leading rappers of the new generation rappers, and one of the leading producers of the old generation producers hooked up? Well here’s the answer. Dj Quik on the beat and Roscoe on the mic. I have to say tho… Roscoe’s not really the right rapper to spit over a DJ Quik beat. As usual Quik’s bringing the funky shit and that’s not fitting Roscoe. It’s still an okay track tho.

9. Last night

On track number nine, Roscoe’s going back on a slow production to spit some playa stuff. He’s rapping about women and how he’s a playa. The hook’s going “Scodie, why you act like you don’t know me. After all the things you told me, last night…” and is self explained. I have to say that this is a really enjoyable and laid back track.

10. Young Roscoe

“Young Roscoe” is a weird track… The production’s tight, and Roscoe’s tight, but the track isn’t all that. Not to mention the hook – it’s wack. It’s ok tho, since it’s the only track this far not to be above average.

11. What I look like

At this point, Roscoe’s just showing off with his lyrical skillz. The music is unnecessary on this track as the only thing you’ll be noticing is Roscoe spittin’ hard. He’s definitely living up to his brother’s name.

12. Get low feat. YA

“Get low” is another J Wells produced track. If J Wells came out super tight on his latest production on this album, he’s just coming out tight on “Get low”. It’s still a nice group track by Young Assassins and show of somewhat what we can expect from their upcoming group album. One thing confuses me tho… I’ve always known YA as Young Assassins, but in the credits for this album Roscoe’s thanking “YA (Young Authority)”…

Bonus track: Call shotz pt. 2

As a bonus track for this cd, they added a remix of the Kurupt hit single “Call Shotz”. Even tho this version might not be as good as the original, it’s still a nice track. Mainly Roscoe is spitting over the original beat but you can also hear Kurupt doing some rapping.

 

Roscoe’s debut album was long awaited, but still no big hit yet. That might be because of the choose of singles… If they’d choose one of the tracks I pointed out, I’m sure this album would sell more ;).

Roscoe’s tries to live up to his older brother Kurupt’s name. Even tho he’s sounding a lot like Kurupt, I’d say he has his own style, which is good… Kurupt needs to prove himself on his upcoming album if he wants to stay the number one star in the family.

I rate this album 4 out of 5.

Da Brat – Limelite, Luv and Nightclubz

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Da Brat - Limelite, Luv and NightclubzDa Brat was found as a young girl by Jermaine Dupri and signed to his So So Def label. When releasing “Funkadelic”, she became the first female MC to go platinum.

Da Brat hasn’t been boosted in my speakers a lot, but I’ll give this album a fair chance.

 

1. World Premiere feat. JD, Q Da Kid & MOP

“World Premiere” is a nice way to start the album, even tho when hearing it I’m thinking I got the clean version of this album. The damn track is censored! The beat sounds like a JD remake of the MOP track “Warriors”… Speaking of them, they’re on this song too, and I guess they’re still trying to live off of that old track in the eyes of the mainstream since they’re screaming “Warriors” on this one too. Q Da Kid is the tightest rapper on this track.

2. In love wit chu feat. Cherish

The first thing that hit me when I heard this track was that the beat sounds similar. I don’t know if ya’ll noticed it too, but this LT Hutton production sounds very similar to a certain Shade Sheist and Nate Dogg track produced by Damizza. Da Brat has got a nice flow over the beat and I can’t help but thinking about how raw she is compared to other female MC’s.

3. Ain’t got no time to waste

“Ain’t got no time to waste” is an attempt to make Da Brat make a slow jam. It’s not really working… the beat is slow and the mixed in guitar is nice, but Da Brat’s as raw as ever. I don’t mind tho, it’s still a decent track. They got a catchy hook to go with it too.

4. Got a thing for you feat. Mariah Carey

I guess it’s popular for rappers to put Mariah Carey on tracks nowadays. This time Mariah’s singing isn’t making the main act go for a duo tho, it’s more like the other way around! Da Brat’s too raw for this LT Hutton produced track.

5. Who am I

It’s obvious I got the clean version of this album… that sucks but it’s not Da Brat’s fault. On this track, Jermaine Dupri is handling the production while Da Brat once again come out raw. While this track, just like “Got a thing for you” is kind of slow, Da Brat’s coming out tighter on this one… She’s actually got an amazing flow on this one.

6. Boom

Wow! I did NOT expect this on this album! “Boom” has an up speed production and it’s perfect for Da Brat! If you still think this production is too soft for Da Brat, listen to it again. I did!

7. Got it poppin

This far, Da Brat has been having a raw and tight flow. On this track, I’d say that all changes. She’s still kind of raw, but her flow is gone. Too bad on a nice beat like this.

8. Chuch feat. Cee Lo

This track starts off with Cee Lo doing some singing in a way only Cee Lo can do it. It’s very tight and we’re all pumped up when Da Brat start spittin’. Just like I expected, she’s not disappointing anyone and as Cee Loo’s kickin’ in on the hook again, you’ll know that this track is a banger!

9. Get somebody feat. Keisha Jackson

Why are they insisting on making Da Brat doing slow jams? LT Hutton made this one too and even tho he’s a good producer they need to realize that it’s not her thing. I’ve got to say that this slow jam is better than the previous ones, tho. Da Brat’s spitting pretty deep shit and even tho Keisha Jackson is unknown to me she’s doing a very good job on the hook – it’s actually tight as *****! Don’t give up on this track after hearing the first 30 seconds – it’s one of those songs that has to grow on you.

10. I was the one feat. Anthony Hamilton

I don’t really wanna comment this, but I guess I have to… Once again Da Brat’s making a slow jam and it’s wack.

11. Gushy wushy

Finally another production with some speed and bass in it! If they had made more songs like this one this album would’ve been a lot better. Da Brat sounds “right” over fast beats like this one. She’s like a female Crooked I.

Da Brat is a good MC, but Jermaine Dupri isn’t a good Executive Producer for her.

When Da Brat gets to flow over an up tempo production she’s showing off with an amazing flow and really good lyrics, but when they’re putting her on a slow jam it just sounds wrong.

I rate this album 3 out of 5. An average album.

B.G – Chopper City In The Ghetto

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B.G - Chopper City In The GhettoThis is B.G`s sixth solo album, but his first album released on a mainstream level. The album contains the hit single “Bling Bling”.

 

1. Intro (Big Tymers)

Big Tymers are talking over a tight beat.

2. Trigga play

First track got a banging beat but the problem is that it doesn’t fit B.G his voice is to laid-back. However he still manage to make this a tight opening track.

3. Cash Money is an army

Tight beat and a good catchy hook with tight gangster lyrics is the best way to describe this track. It was also the first single off the album; don’t know why they chose this track though – the beat doesn’t have that typical club-sound. But I don’t care if it’s a single or not. The song is tight and one of the best on this album.

4. Play’n it raw feat Hot Boys

Everybody from Hot Boys (Lil Wayne. Turk, Juvenile and B.G) is dropping tight verses over the banging beat. The Hot Boys was a tight group and they’re proving it on this track.

5. With tha B.G feat Big Tymers

The beat isn’t all that, but if you can look past that, you will notice that B.G is flowing tight over it. Even the Big Tymers are dropping some good lyrics on this track. You can play this track when you drive, our while you are chilling at home.

6. Made Man feat Big Tymers

On this track B.G really showed of his skills and his tight flow. The beat fits him perfect too. Perfect track, where everything is tight.

7. Bling Bling feat Big Tymers and Hot Boys

The big hit from the album! This track got it all catchy hook with a tight beat, good performance from the features. The song is all about the “Bling Bling” And was a mayor hit for B.G. Although the song is very good, it doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the album.

8. Knock out Feat Turk

This beat is tight laid back with a gangster feel to it. The way it’s changing during the hook makes it even better. B.G and Turk are dropping some tight lyrics on this track. Good track overall.

9. Real Niggaz

The beat is very good on this song, and it’s about how B.G is down for his friends and that nothing should come between them. He is really showing of his tight skills, his flow is on point and the song is good. Everybody should listen to the lyrics because it got an important message in it.

10. Dog ass feat Juvenile

Funny song. Could been a good club song and it’s got a very original beat. Don’t really fit in with the album though.

11. Cash Money roll

The beat is laid back and B.G is dropping tight lyrics. The song is about how they do it when you are rolling with Cash Money Records. You almost wish you were down with Cash Money Records after hearing this track.

12. Niggaz in trouble feat Lil Wayne & Juvenile

This is one crazy beat, it starts with some type of orchestra music and then the bass kicks in and the beat make a switch to crunk music. Anyway it works very good and they all flow tight over the beat. They manage to make it a tight track with one of the most original beats ever.

13. Thug’n

On this track, B.G is dropping one of his best lyrics ever. Mannie Fresh´s making one of his finest beats too. This song is perfect and easily the best track on the album… I recommend every one to check out this track if you never heard of B.G.

14. Hard Times

Deep track with a good message, that’s the best way do describe this track. B.G is taking us trough his childhood in this song; the track is well written and really impressed me. I hope he will do more tracks like this.

15. Uptown my home

On this track B.G is representing for his hood. He does it well over the tight, dark beat. The track is basically about how it goes down in the Uptown. Tight track.

16. Bout my paper

The piano sample that is used in this track is flawless and fits the beat perfectly. The song is about how B.G is serious about his paper and won’t let any body stop him. Good way to end the album.

 

Overall this is a tight album from one of my favorite rapper. This isn’t the normal Cash Money Record either. B.G is on a straight gangsta feel on this album; the beats are very tight and show a lot of variety. There is really not much that I can complain about. The only thing I can say is that they should put some tracks in better order.

I give this album 4 of 5 stars.

 

R. Kelly & Jay-Z – Best of both worlds

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R. Kelly & Jay-Z - Best of both worldsAfter making the song “Fiesta” a big hit. They decided to make the first Rap/Rnb duo-album. Well are they the “Best of both worlds”, lets find out.

 

1. The best of both worlds

The first track is kind of an intro for the album. Jay’s dropping heat while R Kelly’s doing some tight singing in the background. The beat is tight and it’s a good way to start the album. They should have made it longer, tho.

2. Take you home with me A.k.A body

This track is on some tight club shit. I like the beat, and the bass is hitting really hard and will make you nod your head. R. Kelly is tight on the hook and Jay is dropping a few nice verses. This track’s very similar to “Fiesta”.

3. Break up to make up

R. Kelly starts this song off with some tight singing and Jay’s spitting tight shit here too, but the track gets boring after a while. It’s an average track.

4. It ain’t personal

Jay and R Kelly go deep over a tight laid-back beat. The track is about how they came up and all the hate they get. This song is tight and in my opinion one of the best of this album.

5. The streets

Man! This is the shit. The whole album should be like this song right here. Tight banging beat and tight drops from both of them. This song is classic. Easily there best song they’ve ever done together.

6. Green light feat Beanie Sigel

The beat on “Green light” is wack. Jay and Beanie’s coming out wack too. The only good part was R Kelly’s verse. R. Kelly’s also throwing a few disses at Sisqo.

7. Naked (R Kelly solo)

R Kelly goes solo here. The track is tight, but it doesn’t fit with the rest of the album. It sounds like a leftover track from “Tp2.com”.

8. Shake ya body feat Lil Kim

Another track with R.Kelly doing the main part. Kim and Jay suck on this one, and the beat is average at best. Overall it’s a wack song.

9. Somebody’s girl

“Somebody’s girl” is some playa shit. The song is good but Jay-Z and R. Kelly don’t exactly impress me here. The beat’s tight tho and it’s carrying the entire song.

10. Get this money

Finally we get a tight, banging beat. The track is on some ballin shit and I play it in my car a lot. R Kelly and Jay’s verses are ok but the hook is tight and catchy. Nice track.

11. Shorty

“Shorty” is another track on this album with a tight production. R. Kelly starts it of with a tight verse while throwing some disses at Sisqo. Jay’s doing his job. The hook is simple yet catchy. Overall a tight song.

12. Honey

This track has got an up tempo beat. I believe the track is sampled from an old school song. I can’t remember which one tho Jay-Z’s doing all the verses, and he’s doing it well. R. Kelly’s doing his thing on the hook. I’m not sure, but I think this was the first and only single from this album.

13. ***** feat Devin The Dude

Last song on the album features the underrated rapper Devin The Dude. The lyrics are funny but very true. The beat and hook is cool and it’s a good way to finish the album.

 

Overall, I got to say that I’m very disappointed with this album. I don’t understand how these two tight artists could make an album as weak as this one. Maybe I was expecting too much, I don’t know, but this album could and should have been much better. There are way to many club tracks and a lot of the tracks are just fillers. The rest of them just don’t fit in. R Kelly Cleary outshined Jay Z on every song, and he should have been laying more verses. The features on this album didn’t impress me either.

I would only recommend this album if you are a big fan of one or both of these artists.

I rate this album 3 of 5 stars

2pac – 2pacalypse Now

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2pac - 2pacalypse NowAfter a short stint with the Digital Underground, 2pac dropped his first solo album in 1991. After hearing the album, it may be hard to believe this rapper was a member of the light-hearted group, becoming hip-hop enemy #1. Equiped with angry and hostile raps and lyrics about the streets, politics, and cops, it made Pac a target of Vice-President Dan Quayle’s re-election campaign, causing much contraversy.

 

1. Young Black Male 

The album’s opener. Ok beat, 2pac spitting a nice little rap. Pretty short. Nothing more than average. – 3/5

2. Trapped

2pac’s first single. Funky beat with a subdued bass line. 2pac rapping about the Police, trying to avoid confrontation, but eventually leading to shots being fired in an altercation, leaving 2pac “trapped”. – 4/5

3. Soulja’s Story 

This song is the reaon why this album became a target, after a man shot a Texas trooper claiming this song inspired him (“They finally pull me over and I laugh/”Remember Rodney King?” and I blast on his punk ass”). The first verse describes a young man in the hood killing a cop and eventually getting caught. With the 2nd verse describing the man’s brother attempting to break him out of jail and both of them eventually getting shot down in the process. – 3.5/5

4. I Don’t Give A ***** (featuring Money B.) 

This song has 2pac tackling cops, the record industry, and markets. Nice funky beat and also features Digital Underground’s Money B. – 3.5/5

5. Violent 

Another song about the police, describing two cops trying to frame Pac and an other man, the two getting into an altercation with the officers. His friend shooting the cop, then the two trying to get away, and the song ending with Pac and his companion ready to shoot the cops chasing them. Has a reggae feel to it. – 3.5/5

6. Words Of Wisdom

This cut has Shakur pleading for the black man to rise up against the oppresive goverment and charging the goverment for all their wrong doing they did to blacks, and even has 2pac criticising Martin Luther King Jr. (“No Malcolm X in my history text, Why is that?/Cause he tried to educate and liberate all blacks/Why is Martin Luther King in my book each week?/He told blacks, if they get smacked, turn the other cheek”) The beat has a laid-back jazzy feel to it. 2pac touches on a lot of issues on this song. – 4/5

7. Something Wicked

A short song with 2pac dropping a nice little rap. After all the raps aout politics, this song is quite refreshing. – 3/5

8. Crooked Ass Nigga (featuring Stretch) 

This song has 2pac describing getting robbed then chasing him and once again meeting up with the cops. Stretch and 2pac drop more raps about crime. This song feastures hella NWA voice samples. Nice lil song. – 3.5/5

9. If My Homie Calls 

This is one of those songs that show 2pac as a kind and emotional man, describing how friends go down different paths, and even though one of them is selling drugs, but 2pac still being there for him regardless. Nice beat also, one of the stand out tracks of the album. The beat with it’s subtle synth signatures, elastic bass line, Herbia Hanckock sample, and 2pac’s double-tracked vocals, make this song sound like nothing before or after it’s release – 5/5

10. Brenda’s Got A Baby 

Pac shows his storytelling skills once again in this song, describing the life of a pregnant teenage girl, with Brenda eventually turning to prostitution to support the child and being found slain at the end. This single was the song that first showed 2pac succes, breaking the top 30 on the R&B chart. – 4.5/5

11. Tha Lunatic 

2pac is out in his own word “that I’m a dope MC” with this song. More up-beat than most of the album and seems more like the other hip-hop sngles out at the time. – 3.5/5

12. Rebel of The Underground 

Like the previous song, this is less political and more of just a nice rap. The song named after Pac’s nickname given to him by Digital Underground. Nice funky beat. – 3.5/5

13. Part Time Mutha (featuring Poppi)

2pac describes growing up in a home with a dope-fiend mother. Poppi then desceribes being molested, telling her mother, only to be called a mother. in the 3rd verse, 2pac describes getting a woman pregnant, and becoming a “part-time mutha” (actually father). The song has a nice laid back soulful feel to it. – 4/5

Overview:

This album showed that 2pac was a rising star, although not a hit, it made Pac a promising act. The contraversy Quayle cause helped fuel Pac’s next album, which would introduce him to the pop success. Although it comes off weak at some spots, the album’s political message, and 2pac’s lyrics and storytelling make this album a great album, with me giving it a high 3.5/5

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

DJ Green Lantern – Invasion Part 2: Conspiracy Theory

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DJ Green Lantern - Invasion Part 2: Conspiracy TheoryIn the long running beef between the Shady and Murder Inc. camps, the Shady records artists responded on this mixtape released shortly after Ja Rule released the track “Loose Change”.

 

1. Intro 

Just an introduction of Green Lantern to the Shady Records staff. Many samples, Shady and old school shit mixed together nicely.

2. The Conspiracy Freestyle – Eminem

A freestyle by Em responding to Benzino. An unbelievable flow over the beat. Nice little JMJ tribute in there too. Straight heat with many devastating blows. He mocks the Source with sarcasm of how he is ruining rap. “We ain’t trying to ruin rap, we’re just trying to weed it out”

3. Ja Rule Freestyle

A skit radio interlude mocking Ja Rule and the Source. Gives a clip of Ja Rule’s diss to Eminem where he calls himself the “Rap Jimmy Hoffa” but if he calls 50 a snitch, why compare himself to one of the most famous snitches ever?

4. Bump Heads – Eminem, 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks 

the beat to this track is just *****ing amazing. 50 Cent lays down a tight chorus right off the start. Em spits first and delivers blows that should have destroyed Ja’s confidence. “That X got him thinking he was DMX, then he switched to Pac, now he’s trying to be him next”, “you don’t really want to step inside no mic booth, you know the whiteboy will bite you”. Banks comes in with the hook to the track which is off the chains. Yayo’s verse is lyrically ill as hell with more blows to Ja and Irv. Lloyd Banks delivers with unmatched skill. One of the tightest tracks to drop in a long time.

5. Ja Rule Freestyle 

Why they would put this on the release? Possibly to rob the money Ja could get by releasing it, or more to show how pathetic Loose Change was? Yelling out California, calling Em a nigga, spelling Murder wrong, recycling Tha Realest raps are why this is just bunk, he does flow nice but as a battle track it doesn’t cut it. It ends off with the infamous quote of Ja Rule saying he is 2Pac returned.

6. Hail Mary -Eminem, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes 

First off, why people can’t understand the concept of this track is beyond me but here it is: Ja Rule thinks he is 2Pac and idolizes him as shown by the quote leading into the track. By redoing Hail Mary, it hits Ja where it hurts. Once the concept is understood, it is a nice track, of course it’s nothing like the original. Em flips the lines nicely to hurt Ja, 50 uses “Against All Odds” which is a mistake, he should have flipped it more, but it’s eerie how closely he mimicks Pac’s flow. Busta delivers a pretty sad verse but you can forgive the guy, he’s never been a battle rapper.

7. Doe Ray Me – Eminem, D12, Obie Trice

Em gets Hailie in this as a response to Ja Rule cutting her. Em just gives the chorus to the track but it’s catchy as hell. The beats are off the chains. D12 shows how lyrically skilled they actually are and they gives verses that just rip on Murder Inc. Obie Trice gives a killer appearance about Ja acting like he’s 2Pac. This track is another bonified hit.

8. Tony Yayo Freestyle C73

Yayo gives a freestyle over the phone from Riker’s Island acapella style. He gives some good disses to the Murder Inc roster and shouts out Eminem and the staff from jail. A nice freestyle. Free Yayo.

9. We All Die One Day – Eminem, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Obie Trice 

The beat to this track is *****ing unbelievably hard. How they can let production like this slide onto mixtapes is unbelievable to think what they are keeping behind. This track is off the hook, the chorus is catchy as *****. Obie starts is off with a tight rap with a killer flow. Banks and Yayo deliver unbelievably, then Eminem steps in with some of his lyrically illest shit in a long time. Killer track.

10. 2 Gunz Up – Jadakiss, Sheek, Styles P, J Hood 

The Lox reunite on this to give. The chorus is pretty annoying but the verses and production is tight as *****. The track is hard but the army theme needs to go. Besides that the track is crazy tight.

11. Keep Talkin – Eminem, D12 

Em and D12 get back on a track together and deliver a tight track. The chorus by Em is nice, the production doesn’t fail one bit. D12 drop lyrically ill verses. Excellent track.

12. Synopsis – Obie Trice 

The feel of the tape slows down with this track but the production is ill and Obie flows over the beat flawlessly. Hopefully they touch the track up and put it on Cheers. The track is tight.

13. 8 Miles – Obie Trice

Again Obie flows with dominance over the production of this beat. His lyrics are pretty tight. Like the last track you hope that he delivers shit like this on his debut album this summer.

14. Conspiracy Theory – P Diddy, Fat Joe 

The production on this is undeniably tight. The verses are nice on this shit. A good track for sure, the flows go nicely over the beats. Lantern flips and scratches nicely on this shit. Pretty good.

15. Guntalk – Notorious BIG, Cam’ron

Big’s famous verse from the freestyle he and 2Pac did years back in New York. After some initial mixing by Lantern the track starts and doesn’t disappoint one bit. The verse by BIG is already a classic so you know it’s tight. The beat doesn’t mix too well with the verse but it isn’t horrible.

16. Party Over Here – Rah Digga, Lloyd Banks

Banks shows on this he isn’t confined to a gangster style of track, he can deliver party tracks too. His verse is tight and Digga comes tight over the beat as well, showing why she’s one of the illest female rappers in the game right now.

17. Magic Stick – Lil Kim ft. 50 Cent 

This track is already a hit but they flip it and put it over Dre’s “***** You” beat and it’s almost way better than the original. 50 shows why he’s perfect with Aftermath, because he flows crazy tight over Dre production. Good track, Kim’s part is over a 50 Cent beat and it works nicely too.

18. What Goes Around – 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks 

A funky start to the track with some old 70’s sampling before the beat flips up and Banks steps in and flows nice over the production of this. This track should also one day be released on a full length solo album because it’s off the chains.

19. P.I.M.P Remix – 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg 

This track is already well known too, it’s a tight remix of 50’s P.I.M.P featuring who else but Snoop on the pimp shit. This shit is tight and makes you wonder why they ever had to make a remix, they should have just got Snoop on it to start with.

20. Jay Z Freestyle 

Hova freestyles over 50’s “If I Can’t”, and once again it’s flawless. If they ever make a remix of the track they need to put this verse on it because Jigga has the perfect style of the track.

21. Wrong – Kon Artist, Kuniva

The freestyle is over Freeway’s “Free” and to be honest, I think the D12 artists kill the beat better than Freeway did himself. The verses are mad tight and they have the perfect flow over the production.

22. Suck My Dick – Kon Artist 

The beat is a little slower for the album and it’s almost too loud over the vocals. The freestyle itself isn’t bad and the track is still average or more. It has some good lines too. “I wish Benzino got AIDS instead of Eazy E”

23. HOM Freestyle

Now this shit is ill. The production is tight, I can’t pinpoint where it’s from but the vocals go nice over the beat without a doubt. Nice freestyle.

24. F.T. Freestyle 

Another good track. The lyrics are actually pretty deep for a freestyle. The production is nice. It’s a good track to sit back and chill to when you want to think, shit that usually doesn’t happen with a freestyle. Nice.

25. Patiently Waiting Live – 50 Cent, Eminem 

Just a live performance of 50’s “Patiently Waiting” performed at State Theatre in Detroit. The track is and always has been ill. They sound dope live, so if you ever want to see them live, you can tell they won’t disappoint. Also includes one of my favourite lines off 50’s album. “You shouldn’t throw stones if you live in a glass house/ and if you got a glass jaw you should watch your mouth/ cause I’ll break your face/” – hahaha.

Although this is a mixtape, I’m not sure if it’s just a slow year in rap but it’s already the best album released this year. The freestyles are flawless. The beats are off the hook. The purpose of lyrically tearing apart Murder Inc was accomplished. They showcased Shady Records and why they are running the rap game right now. They did everything a perfect mixtape would.

Album Rating: 4/5

Mixtape Rating: 5/5

Notorious B.I.G – Ready To Die

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Notorious B.I.G - Ready to dieMister Cee introduced a young Christopher Wallace to the world through the Source’s Unsigned Hype column. Soon after, producer Puff Daddy signed him to his start up label, Bad Boy Records. This was Biggie’s debut album.

1. Intro – Production: Puff Daddy
Intro track starts with a childbirth that rolls into Curtis Mayfield’s Supafly beat and other samples throughout the eras of Biggie’s existance. They are there to demonstrate times in his life from birth to childhood, hustling and jail.

2. Things Done Changed – Production: Darnell Scott
The song is about how the streets have changed. The beat is laid back and BIG flows nicely with it. The chorus is sampled from Dre’s “Lil Ghetto Boy”. A good track about the everyday struggle and one of the albums shining moments.

3. Gimme the Loot – Production: Easy Mo Bee
A good hard and funked out beat, Biggie flows split-personality talking back and forth about pulling off a heist. Hard lyrics and a tight flow. Simple chorus works for the concept of the track.

4. Machine Gun Funk – Production: Easy Mo Bee
Song has a good beat sampled from the Lords of the Underground. Biggie comes out spitting right from the start. Crazy flow and lyrics that make your head nod. One of the top tracks of Big’s career.

5. Warning – Production: Easy Mo Bee
An Issac Hayes sample so you know it’s straight funk. One of BIG’s first storytelling tracks. Highlight is the phone call where he spits back and forth with himself. Nice lyrics and flow that make you totally ignore any production.

6. Ready to Die – Production: Easy Mo Bee
The album’s title track, BIG comes spitting right off the get-go. Production is average for Easy Mo Bee but still hard, the scratches take you back. The flow is unbelievable.

7. One More Chance – Production: Bluez Brothers/ Chucky Thompson
A very simple beat but it plays well with Biggie’s flow on the track. A relationship song that takes a while to get started but once it does BIG makes you forget about the beat with his style on the track.

8. #!*@ Me (Interlude) – Production: Puff Daddy
An interlude to the sounds of sex that follows the previous track.

9. The What ft. Method Man – Production: Easy Mo Bee
A slow funky beat along with slow verses laid down by Meth and BIG. Neither are too exceptional considering the combo, but it’s still better than most today. The two work well together and the chorus is mad catchy.

10. Juicy ft. Total – Production: Puff Daddy/Poke
Best track on the album. The production is off the chains. BIG’s flow and lyrics are hard to match in any track. All around an incredible song. He shows his versitile flow. “blow up like the World Traaade Center”. A song anyone can dig.

11. Everyday Struggle – Production: Norman & Digga/Bluez Brothers
A nicely produced track. BIG kicks in with one of the best choruses on the album, they almost remind you of something 2Pac would do. Lyrics and flow are incredible. Delievery on this track is unmatched.

12. Me and My ***** – Production: Norman & Digga/Chucky Thompson/ Puff Daddy
A good relationship track with a nice flow by BIG. The chorus is a little too simple, it isn’t very catchy and makes you want Biggie to keep rhyming. Production is tight but it should be with 4 producers working on it.

13. Big Poppa – Production: Chucky Thompson/ Puff Daddy
Production for this track is just insane and the flow Big delievers shows his ability to do it better than anyone else. Lyrics are on point. Chorus is tight. It’s one of the albums singles.

14. Respect – Production: Poke/Puff Daddy
A funky beat that’s off the hook. BIG lays down some nice lyrics and flows over the beat incredibly. Just check out when he says his birthdate. Who do you know can do it like that? Decent track.

15. Friend of Mine – Production: Easy Mo Bee
A faster track for the album but that doesn’t keep Biggie from faltering. He lays it down perfectly, lyrics and production are on point. Chorus sould be better but it’s outshined by the verses and beat so you forget about it.

16. Unbelievable – Production: DJ Premier
A storytelling song about what makes BIG so good. But he proves it not with the words but his delivery of them. Good production.

17. Suicidal Thoughts – Production: Lord Finesse 
A song about killing yourself. It finishes off the concept of the album. The lyrics and sound Big has in his voice give the feeling of depression and the concept is delivered perfectly. The production is average. A deep track that ends the album leaving you hanging.

Biggie’s debut album will go down in history. The concept of the album about being in the everyday struggle to the point of not caring whether you live or die is delievered nicely. the Notorious BIG stepped into the game and set new standards lyrically while debuting his flow that can’t be matched. His ability to storytell is showcased nicely. I can’t think of many rappers that make you forget about the production because they almost make their own with their style of flowing over a beat.

The album is definetely a strong album. While it’s highly considered a classic, there are areas that could be improved. Choruses sometimes took down a strong track. The production failed at moments. BIG came through strong and it’s an album everyone should own, but as a classic, it could be better.

Rating 4/5

Spice 1 – Spiceberg Slim

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Spice 1 - Spiceberg SlimOakland rapper Spice 1 has been in this game for a long time, working with a lot of people. Among those: 2pac, Celly Cell, UGK, C-Bo and Jayo Felony. I’m expecting this album to be a solid release.

 

1. Spiceberg Slim

The album starts off with the title track. It’s a funky but still hard hitting track with Spice 1 spitting some hard shit, and the chorus is catchy as *****. “Spiceberg Slim” is a perfect way to start off this album. If I was at the store listening to the cd, I’d buy it right after hearing the first track.

2. Welcome back to the ghetto

“Welcome back to the ghetto” sounded like a Bone Thugz song when I first put it on. But don’t worry, Spice 1 ain’t on the biting trip, it’s just the chorus kicking in at the beginning of the track… And it’s actually tight. Spice 1 is spitting some hard shit as usual and ya’ll know he can do that in a really tight way. Production’s some tight west coast shit.

3. If it ain’t rough, it ain’t me

If you ever doubted Spice 1’s lyrical skills, listen to this track. Spice 1 is flowing wild as ***** over this west coast beat. I was listening to this when I was kind of drunk once, and I’d repeat it like 10 times cuz the bassline amazed me so…

4. It’s nothing

Everything about this track is catchy, from chorus and lyrics to the beat. Spice 1 is doing some Ja Rule or Nelly shit when he’s combining his rapping with singing. It’s all good tho, I know Spice 1 wouldn’t go pop on me.

5. Thuggin (Feat. Tray Dee & Kokane)

The production on “Thuggin” sounds like something you’d be able to hear on an 80’s party. It sounds kind of funny but maybe that’s what they meant for it to do… Tray Dee’s dropping some tight shit and Kokane’s doing a catchy hook.

6. You got me *****ed up

The Black Bossaline has done it again! The beat on this cut is BLAZING!!! And Spice 1 sounds perfect to it too! Don’t sleep on this one!

7. Turn da heat down (Feat. Outlawz)

Spice 1 worked with Pac in the past, Outlawz was Pac’s group… So for this album they teamed up to turn that heat up with “Turn da heat down”. Spice 1 and the Outlawz are saying how hell’s coming to earth, or atleast that that’s how they feel when all these bad things happened to them. You know… the usual…. Pac and Yak…

8. Haters come out and play (Feat. Spade)

The first time I heard this track, I thought it was wack. I’ve heard it 3-4 times now, and I think it’s really tight. The chorus is still kind of wack and Spade isn’t the world’s greatest rapper, but it’s a tight track with some very nice production.

9. Niggaz I roll with

Nice production. Nice rhymes. Put together, and you get a weak song. Skipper.

10. Lucky I’m rappin (Feat. Jayo Felony)

Jayo Felony is one of the rappers I think should get more props. On “Lucky I’m rappin” is no exception. If ya’ll go out to buy this album, you should get a Jayo Felony album to go with it… Production on here is tight, but it don’t have the same edge as a few of the previous tracks had.

11. Azz hole naked

There is no doubt that this album had its highlights in the beginning of it, but you’re still able to find a few really tight tracks back here, too. Production is weird but tight on “Azz hole naked”, and Spiceberg’s flowing as if he was borned with a mic in front of him.

12. Das O.K (Feat. Rappin 4-tay)

Right when I thought I’d find a few fillers, I found this track! “Das O.K” has got a funky beat that could be taken off of a N.E.R.D album. The difference is that this track’s got better rappers on it. Rappin 4-Tay, the underrated Bay Area rapper, is rhyming with a raw calm, and Spice 1’s flowing wildly as usual.

13. Pistols, Power, Paper

I guess I won’t find any fillers on this album. I’m at the last track and it’s as tight as most other tracks on this album. “Pistols, Power, Paper” has got a heavy beat with some trumpet shit to it to complete the production, and Spice 1’s flowing about how he’s a gangsta. Tight.

 

It’s hard to grade this album.

Highlights were: “Spiceberg Slim”, “Welcome back to the ghetto”, “If it ain’t rough, it ain’t me”, “It’s nothin”, “Turn da heat down”, “Lucky I’m rappin”…. Hell just listen to the entire album!

While most tracks were really tight, the album only had 13 tracks. I guess Spiceberg could’ve filled it with 4-5 fillers, but that woulda made me like this album less.

On the other hand; If this album had 4-5 more tight tracks, I would have graded it atleast 4 out of 5. Instead, I’ll grade it 3.5 out of 5.