Category Archives: Review

Album reviews.

Tha Alkaholiks – X.O. Experience

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Tha Alkaholiks - X.O. Experience1. Intro

2. Bar Code(Feat Xzibit)
E-Swift lays down a pretty good beat but it’s nothin special. The chorus re-uses Freaknasty’s “Da Dip” but replacing “dip” with “sip”. Xzibit rips it.

3. Run Wild(Feat Shae Fiol)
Rockwilder lays down a bangin beat. Tash rips the track(As usual), but the lady singin is annoying.

4. L-I-K-S-E
Swift lays down a dope horn type beat. Good song.

5. Bully Foot Skit

6. Bully Foot(Feat Busta Rhymes)
Wow they really blew what coulda been a classic collab track. Awful beat, awful song.

7. My Dear(Feat Defari)
The most slept on rapper ever Defari guests on this track. They re-use the “My dear my dear my dear” from the Pharcydes “Passin Me By”.

8. Interlude

9. DA DA DA DA
Very dope track, though the numerous “da da da da da” sayings get annoying in the beginning. Tash and J-Ro rip it.

10. 40 Oz Quartet Part 1
I guess this is a skit, it’s like a minute long but does feature J-Ro rappin a lil.

11. Sickness(Feat Butch Cassidy)
Ok track nothin to write home about, average Rockwilder beat.

12. Goin Crazy
E-Swift produces a banger. Dope track. J-Ro rips it.

13. Best U Can
Never thought the Liks would work with the Neptunes but they did and this is the track. This is your average Neptunes beat, but Tash and J-Ro try their best to make it sound dope. Decent track not my fav. Pharrell sings an awful chorus.

14. 40 Oz Quartet Part 2
Same as part 1, but Tash is rappin.

15. Anotha Round
Ok track nothin special.

16. Yo Mouth(Skit)

17. The Bubble(Feat King T)
E-Swift produces a weird soundin beat, it’s ok though. Legendary King T joins the Liks on this track. Average song.

18. 151(Feat Xzibit)
My fav song on the album, man this song is a Lik’s classic. J-Ro and Tash rip it, with Xzibit doin the chorus. This one is a banger.

19. Promote Violins(Feat Kurupt)
E-Swift produces a crazy orchestra type beat and Kurupt starts it off and rips the track, J-Ro does the second verse and probably has the best verse on the song, and Tash rips it. Banger.

All in all I’ll give this one a 4/5, I’m a huge Likwit Crew fan and this one quenched my thirst. Cop this album!

Snoop Dogg – Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Bo$$

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Snoop Dogg - Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Bo$$1. Don Doggy-Intro

2. Da Bo$$ Would Like To See You
Ok what was the point of this? It’s just Snoop sayin he’s the boss over an annoying beat produced by E-Swift.

3. Stoplight
Jelly Roll produces a wack beat, this track sucks. Skip it.

4. From Tha Chuuuuch To The Palace(Feat Pharrell)
Dope track produced by the Neptunes. Dope chorus(Though simple) and Snoop comes tight.

5. I Believe In You(Feat Latoiya Williams)
Hi-Tek produces a beautiful beat. Great track. Latoiya sings great. Her and Snoop have good chemistry.

6. Lollipop(Feat Jay-Z, Soopafly, and Nate Dogg)
Just Blaze produced the track and it has a funky whistle type beat. Average song though.

7. Ballin(Feat Dramatics and LiL Half Dead)
Battlecat produced the beat. This song sucks. Skip it.

8. Beautiful(Feat Pharrell and Charlie Wilson)
Neptunes produced the track and it’s the average soundin Neptunes beat. This song is boring.

9. Paper’d Up(Feat Mr. Kane and Traci Nelson)
Fredwreck produced the track and this song is about of course “money”. Kokane is awful. Other than that it’s a dope track.

10. Wasn’t Your Fault
LT Hutton produced the track and it’s an average beat, just basically talkin about ho’s. Nothin special and played out.

11. Bo$$ Playa
Fredwreck produced a banger, dope track.

12. Hour Glass(Feat Goldie Loc and Mr. Kane)
Wack skip it.

13. The One And Only
This is what I’m talkin about. The Legendary DJ Premier finally produces a Snoop solo track. Best song on the album, man with all that wack garbage in the beginning it’s nice to hear some real hip hop.

14. I Miss That *****(Feat E-White)
Hi-Tek produced the track and it’s ok. The numerous “I miss that *****” singin in the background will make you skip this track.

15. From Long Beach 2 Brick City(Feat Redman, Nate Dogg, and Warren G)
Very very dope track. Fredwreck produced a banger. Redman straight rips it. Nate sings a dope chorus and Snoop comes tight.

16. Suited And Booted
Meech Wells produced the track and it’s decent.

17. You Got What I Wanted(Feat Ludacris, Goldie Loc, and Charlie Wilson)
Awful awful track. Skip it.

18. Batman & Robin(Feat Lady of Rage & RBX)
DJ Premier produced another banger, really clever track as RBX plays the commissioner, Lady of rage plays Robin, and Snoop plays Batman. Tight track.

19. A Message 2 Fat Cuzz-Interlude

20. Pimp Slapp’d

Josef Leimberg produced the track, and this is Snoop’s diss to Suge Knight, it’s okay.

All in all I give this a 2.5/5, really just a bad album. Too many cliche’d tracks and piss poor production. Some bright spots but those are buried under the garbage.

Do not cop this album.

Jadakiss – Kiss The Game Goodbye

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Jadakiss - Kiss The Game Goodbye1. Intro

2. Jada’s Got A Gun
Dope beat by Swizz, nice singin at the begining of the song. Jada comes tight as usual.

3. Show Discipline(Feat Nas)
QB Lyricist Nas joins Jada on this Mahog beat. The chorus shows nothing new. Ok song not feelin the beat.

4. Knock Yourself Out
Neptunes produced this and the beat is average Neptunes. Nothin special, average at best.

5. We Gonne Make It(Feat Styles)
Alchemist produces this one and it uses the same beat as Ras Kass’ “Home Sweet Home”. Great beat, and Styles and Jada trade off tight verses.

6. None Of Yall Betta(Feat Styles and Sheek)
DJ Premier produces a brilliant beat as the Lox flow well over it. Premo and Lox work well together, first “Recognize” now this. Tight track.

7. Stick Yourself(Skit)

8. I’m A Gangsta(Feat Parle)
PK produces this one and it’s ok at best.

9. Nasty Girl(Feat Carl Thomas)
Timbaland lays down an average beat, sounds robotic. Pretty wack song. Skip it.

10. Put Ya Hands Up
Wayne O produced a banger on this one. Dope track, Jada rips this track to pieces. Chorus is catchy and tight.

11. Jay Jerkin(Skit)

12. On My Way
Jada hooks back up with Swizz on this one and the chorus may be the worst chorus ever. Wack song. Skip it.

13. Cruisin(Feat Snoop Dogg)
Oh man this song is straight garbage. Awful track. Skip it.

14. Kiss Is Spittin(Feat Nate Dogg)
Beat is similar to “Regulators”, Jada just can’t remake the classic even with one of the original regulators. Ok at best.

15. *****in Or What?
What a waste of a perfectly good Swizz Beats beat. Man the piano’s are very dope, but man what a waste. It’s your usual “Sex” song. They coulda used that Neptunes beat for this, but nooooo they gotta use the dope Swizz beat. Beat is good, chorus is trash and lyrics are trash.

16. It’s Time I See You(Feat Sheek, Styles, Drag On, Eve, Infa Red, and Cross)
Just Blaze lays down a very dope beat and the Rough Ryders rip it to pieces. All you Drag On doubters should peep this, he rips it.

17. What You Ride For?(Feat Fiend, Yung Wun, and Eightball)
Yea Yung Wun’s on the track! Ok anyway Fiend(Yes former NL soulja) produces a banger. Every1 comes dope, I even think Fiend has grown as a lyricist. Dope track.

18. Uh-Hunh(Feat DMX)
DMX sounds unmotivated, but still he comes tight. Jadakiss rips it! Good track.

19. Feel Me(Skit)

20. Keep Ya Head Up(Feat Ann Nesby)
Dope track, Ann Nesby sings a pretty good chorus. Good beat by Mahog. Jadakiss comes with some nice reflective lyrics.

All in all I’ll give this a 3.5/5 A solid album no doubt, but there was some wack fillers all throughout this. Buy it if you’re a Ruff Ryders fan.

Swizz Beats – G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories

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Swizz Beats - G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories1. The Start(Interlude)
Just the intro

2. Ghetto Stories(Swizz Beats)
Well Swizz takes the mic, and the first thing he says is “I am not a rapper” which is ironic, because he’s rappin on this song. Dope beat by Swizz. Good track.

3. Big Business(Jadakiss Feat Ron Isley)
Swizz produced a fairly odd sounding beat, but it works. Ron isley is great on the chorus. Jadakiss of course is spittin flames on this track. Great track.

4. Turn It Up(Interlude)
Just an interlude

5. Endalay(Swizz Beats Feat Busta Rhymes)
Starts off terribly, but it kicks in and it’s a great song. Dope beat by Swizz. Busta is well Busta on this track and that’s not a bad thing.

6. Shyne(Shyne Feat Mashonda)
This will please the Shyne fans, but I don’t see what’s so special about him. Decent track.

7. Ghetto Love(LL Cool J Feat Mashonda)
ZZZZZZZ… oh I’m sorry, this track is boring. Skip it.

8. Alien(Interlude)
Just another interlude.

9. Good Times(Styles)
I’m sure you have heard this track before, as it was on Styles solo. Great beat by Saint Denson and Swizz.

10. Gone Delirious(LiL Kim & Swizz Beats)
The beat is pretty good by Swizz. LiL Kim actually comes pretty tight. Good song.

11. N.O.R.E.(N.O.R.E.)
Noreaga comes with some funny lines(Of course), and Swizz lays down an ok beat. Decent song, not my favorite.

12. Let Me See Ya Do Your Thing(Baby & Yung Wun)
They waste Yung Wun on this track? And with Baby? I woulda liked to see a Yung Wun solo track but oh well you take what you can get. Kid Klever and Swizz drop a terrible beat. Yung Wun shines though.

13. Island Spice(Eve)
Blah this track sucks. Skip it.

14. Guilty(Swizz Beats Feat Bount Killer)
Bangin beat by J Brown and Swizz, sounds kinda like “Get At Me Dogg”. This is the lead single and it’s very catchy. Swizz comes pretty dope, and Bounty Killer comes tight.

15. Salute Me Remix(Nas, Fat joe, and Cassidy)
Swizz Beats produced a bangin track. Nas has a short but ok verse, Fat Joe has a pretty tight verse, and Cassidy kills it, man this guy is ill as hell. Dope track.

16. We Did It Again(Metallica, Ja Rule, and Swizz Beats)
Make it stop please make it stop. Metallica hasn’t been good since “And Justice For All” and Ja hasn’t been good since “VVV”. TERRIBLE!

17. Bigger Business(Swizz Beats Feat Ron Isley, P Diddy, Baby, Jadakiss, Snoop Dogg, Cassidy, and TQ)
Same beat, basically same chorus, and different verses and guests. Good track but P Diddy’s appearance is pointless and why have Baby on this track? Pointless. Cassidy kills this track(Of Course), Snoop comes with the usual stuff. Good track, nice way to end the album.

All in all I give this album a 3.5/5, good album, but some guests were pointless. I really don’t see why Yung Wun was only used on 1 track and he was a feature for Baby. Cop it if you’re a Ruff Ryders fan or a fan of Swizz’ production.

Benzino – Redemption

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Benzino - Redemption1. Stayin 4 Eva
This is your “I’m not goin anywhere” type track. That Nigga Moel produced the track and it’s a sick beat. Benzino actually comes pretty dope.

2. Call my Name(Feat Jadakiss)
L.E.S. produced the track. Jadakiss makes a nasty appearance. The chorus is pretty wack as Benzino tries to sing it. Good track(For jada’s appearance)

3. Rock The party(Feat Mario Winans)
I’m sure you’ve heard this before, this is the lead single and Mario produced this. Nice bouncy club beat, catchy chorus. Sure to be a club banger.

4. Would You(Feat mario Winans and Lisa Raye)
Well I can see Mario Winans in this song but Lisa Raye? I know she hosted the awful Source All Access show but man what in the hell is this? And she raps also. Mario Winans produced this but who cares this track sucks.

5. Make You Wanna Holla
Bangin track produced by Hangmen 3. Benzino talkin about the hard times he’s goin through (Um ok lol). The chorus is pretty good. Dope track.

6. Neva Shuvin(Feat Wyclef and M3)
Hangmen 3 produced a banger. Clef does guitar, sings background, and raps. Good track.

7. Gangstas Touch(Feat Cadillac Tah & Black Child)
Hangmen 3 produced this one and it’s not that great, the beginning singin type chorus will make you wanna skip this one.

8. Redemption(Rosary)(Feat Fatal and Kid Javi)
Former Outlaw Fatal joins Benzino on this track and it’s pretty dope. Tone Capone produced a great beat.

9. X-Tra Hot(Feat Daz & Jewel)
LT Hutton produced the track and the beat is annoying. Skip this one.

10. I Remember(Feat Mario Winans)
Hangmen 3 produced the beat and it’s a slow type beat which isn’t that great. Mario sings a pretty wack chorus. Skip it.

11. Get It On
Mario Winans produced this and all the beats he produced on this album sound the same. Wack.

12. 44 Cal Killa(Feat Scarface & M3)
Houston legend Scarface joins Benzino on this track while Trackmasters lay the beat. Benzino starts it off and comes average, Scarface outshines him(of course). This is your typical “Killa” track which gets very annoying fast.

13. Hoola Hoop
Gary Gizzo Smith produced this and the starting is enough to skip it. Wack.

14. Different Kind Of Lady
Hangmen 3 laid down a very dope beat. This is your “Hey baby I saw you and I have to have you” type track. Atleast the beat is dope.

15. Pull Your Skirt Up
This is the infamous Eminem diss song, it’s pretty good actually, Tone Capone produced a dope beat. Benzino talks about the state of hip hop, callin Eminem a wanksta and such.

16. Rock The Party Remix (Feat LiL Kim, Mario Winans, and Petey Pablo)
Ah man they got all annoying rappers to guest. Everyone comes wack.

17. Some hidden track
Um I don’t know who produced this. Dope beat and track though.

All in all a 3/5, it’s average. The guests really helped this album out. I really don’t suggest copping it. The production was solid though.

DJ Quik – Rhythm-al-ism

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DJ Quik - Rhythm-al-ismThis was the first Quik album I bought after it got a good review in the source back in 1998. This as I understand was Quik’s first album where he let go of his ‘gangsta rap’ roots and went for the funk.

1. Rhythm-al-ism intro
I can count on less than one hand (if thats possible) the amount of intro’s that can beat this. Straight heat from the start, a great tune and Quik flowing very well.

2. We Still Party
One of few songs on the album where Quik doesn’t share the mic. Great banging drumline and numerous other instruments make this a brilliant track.

3. So Many Wayz (feat. 2nd II none, Peter Gunz)
Another good feeling summer kind of track. Funky production, a talkbox on the hook and the unexpected guest of Peter Gunz works well to create a classic.

4. Hand in Hand (feat 2nd II none)
Great bassline on this. Quik sounds at ease as he spits his usual witty, cheeky and often arrogant rhymes. Still no sign of a bad track on this album.

5. Down Down Down (feat Suga Free, Mausberg, AMG)
The simplist sounding production yet, with the tune made up mostly of the drum loop and bassline. Fast paced track, everyone spitting a nice rhyme. Suga Free drops his usual sexual orientated rap.

6. You’z a Ganxta
I love this track. Great production which even makes a flute sound good. Here Quik asks why he always gets blamed for shit he doesn’t do, and even offers to do a track with his foe MC Eiht ‘when he gets his head together’.

7. I Useta Know Her (feat AMG)
Yet another track which seems somewhat faster paced than most rappers could handle. AMG and Quik spit about a bird they find out they both been banging. Also contains Quik on the talkbox throughout.

8. No Doubt (feat Playa Hamm, Suga Free)
Never used to like this track. It’s certainly not the strongest on the album but no means is it bad. Not really feeling the production.

9. Speed (feat AMG)
A 124 bpm banger. Quik keeps up well on a track which would not be out of place on a Twista album. The name of the track says it all. This highlights Quik’s rapping skills.

10. Whateva U Do
Not really feeling this one, kind of a cheesy track about Quik chatting to a girl.

11. Thinkin’ Bout U
The slowest track on the album, and while the subject is pretty much the same as the previous song, this is a lot better. A great slow track from a males point of view of sex. “Doing what you do to make me do what I did, to almost ***** so hard we almost had a kid”.

12. El’s Interlude (feat El Debarge)
I don’t mind interludes when there’s some kind of point to them. This is a good one. An RnB cut laced by Quik which has Debarge crooning over it. Quik kills the guitar on this one.

13. The ***** Medley (feat Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, AMG, 2nd II None, Hi-C, El Debarge)
A rapping extravaganza about *****! Snoop kicks this one of with a good rap, Nate does what he does best, and everyone else plays their part. Only thing is Quik’s verse is reversed for some reason.

14. Bombudd 2
Quik turns reggae artist on this one. Production, lyrics and rapping style are all reggae style. It’s different, but very nice.

15. Get 2getha Again (feat. 2nd II None, AMG, Hi-C)
A bit cheesy this one but still ok to listen to. Quik and homies rap bout being ‘2gether again’.

16. Reprise
Bit pointless this – same tune as ***** medley but with an awful electric guitar over it.

Quik changed his style for a funky one on this album. It works suprisingly well. With the exception of Dre, you’d find it hard to find a better rappin and producin artist than what Quik showcases here. His beats are a lot deeper than those nowadays from the likes of Neptunes and stand the test of time well. This in my opinion is Quik’s finest hour, and one of westcoasts best releases outside of Death Row.

No hesitation of giving this 4.5/5

Nearly a classic, not quite.

Eminem – The Slim Shady LP

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Eminem - The Slim Shady LPDr. Dre, the legendary producer behind the likes of Snoop Doggy Dogg, NWA, Tha Dogg Pound, among many others stepped up in 1999 with his new prodigy. Eminem. This was his mainstream debut album.

1. Public Service Announcement 
The album’s intro, just a warning to not listen to Eminem.

2. My Name Is – Production: Dr. Dre
The first single that brought Eminem into the national spotlight. Although the song sets the stage for Eminem’s haters, the lyrics are funny at moments. While the song is gimmicky, Eminem flows nicely and Dre puts down a decent beat.

3. Guilty Conscience ft. Dr. Dre – Production: Dr. Dre
The 3rd single off the album. Each verse tells a new story of someone at a crossroads. Eminem plays the bad conscience, Dr. Dre the good. Both come through with excellent parts. Production is off the chains too.

4. Brain Damage – Production: Jeff Bass
A decent beat but the shine on this track is Eminem’s crazy flow. While the chorus is well known, when you really listen to it, it’s pretty weak. Something about it is catchy all the same. The song is more or less about highschool, and you can’t help but laugh at some lines.

5. Paul
The first of a now recurring skit on Em’s albums. His attorney Paul Rosenberg leaves a phone message to tone down the lyrics.

6. If I Had – Production: Eminem/Jeff Bass
While the song would never work as a single it’s easily one of the album’s best tracks. It’s not a hip-pop sound and the lyrics are fire. He talks about the struggle of everyday life and rhymes perfectly on it. Even the biggest Eminem hater could relate to this track.

7. 97 Bonnie and Clyde – Production: Eminem/Jeff Bass
The now infamous track brought Em’s daughter Hailie into the picture. In the track he is talking to her after killing Kim. The lyrics are just evil. Not a bad track but hard to distinguish if it’s a gimmick or if he was going through some real shit at that moment.

8. ***** – Skit
About people hating Em’s lyrics.

9. Role Model – Production: Dr. Dre/Mel Man
A good sounding beat from Dre and Mel Man, a song about the Slim Shady charecter. Em delivers a good flow, often times funny but something lacks in the song. The sort of tracks Eminem haters will love to point out.

10. Lounge – Skit
A karoake at some lounge. Useless to the album.

11. My Fault – Production: Jeff Bass
A story about a party where nothing goes right for him. The chorus is crazy weak, lyrics score nicely but the production fails.

12. Ken Kaniff
The first appearance of Ken Kaniff. Funny like usual.

13. ***** on Everybody – Production: Eminem/Jeff Bass
Another shock value song but you can’t deny Eminem’s flow over this track. The beat has a funk feel to it but the chorus ruins the track.

14. Rock Bottom – Production: Jeff Bass
A song about being broke an hopeless. A nice beat once again that totally suits the concept of the song. Em gives a nice flow and the chorus fits (For one of the first times in the album). Another track anyone can dig.

15. Just Don’t Give A ***** – Production: Jeff Bass/Eminem
The albums’ 2nd single. The track is decent, lyrics are allright, the production is a little overwhelming with the high pitched whistle. The chorus is too catchy. Not a bad track.

16. Soap – Skit performed by Royce Da 5’9” and Jeff Bass.
It’s a soap opera satire that leads into the next track.

17. As the World Turns – Production: Jeff Bass/Eminem
One of the albums worst tracks. Nice flow but the shock value lyrics are getting very old at this point in the album. The chorus is garbage and production average. An interesting sidenote look for his shot at the Source magazine .

18. I’m Shady – Production: Eminem/Jeff Bass
Production is decent but not great. It’s basically a drug song with lyrics that go nowhere. The chorus is mad annoying. Another low point in the album.

19. Bad Meets Evil ft. Royce Da 5’9” – Production: Jeff Bass/Eminem
An old west style track about Em and Royce being outlaws. The two spit back and forth all over the track with two incredible flows that make you ignore the beat all together (and it’s pretty good itself). The chorus is nicely done by Eminem. A good track and Royce is a welcome addition to the CD.

20. Still Don’t Give A ***** – Production: Jeff Bass
An unapoligetic track from Em for being the way he is. He puts a little heat behind his flow to match the beat. The chorus is catchy and the track will make you nod your head. The second verse shines.

Eminem’s debut album best displays his ability to flow nicely. While much of the album is gimmicky and relied highly on shock value lyrics, there are some shining tracks that demonstrate his versitility to make meaningful tracks as well. Ex. If I Had and Rock Bottom.

The album served as a nice foreshadow to the Eminem we know today. Dr. Dre came through with some nice production as usual and Eminem honed his skills behind the board a bit. Eminem himself later stated with this album he didn’t know how to put together his flow with the beats and at times it shows. He will flex his lyrical skills on a track that sounds laid back and vice versa.

Although the album is by no means a failure, it’s not a great showcase of what Eminem is capable to do.

Overall rating 3/5

Roots Manuva – Brand New Second Hand

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Roots Manuva - Brand New Second HandI thought I’d ‘keep it real’ here and showcase this English rapper. Roots Manuva is from South London, and released this, his debut album in 1999. His website (rootsmanuva.co.uk) says of the album, “He could, after all, have taken the obvious big-money route and hired in a heap of famous guests to make safe, production-line hip hop. Instead he chose to spread the love a little”, by this meaning Manuva has no well known guests or production teams, just his own close people.

1. Movements
This is a great track to start with. Nice slow production, allowing Manuva to just flow over it with ease. Straight away with this first track Roots Manuva will strike you as a unique rapper, in terms of bothhis voice and flow.

2. Dem Phonies
I don’t like this track. Fairly garbage production andlikewise lyrics. Definately a track to skip in future.

3. Juggle Tings Proper
This is more like it. Hardcore beats which heavily rely on bass and drums. English or not, he can prove difficult to understand at times. Good track to bob your head to.

4. Inna
Make sure you got some good speakers for this one, the bass is a killer. One of the albums better tracks, this is a story about Roots’ escapades at a bar he visits on his own.

5. Soul Decay
Good production using a mix of drums and piano’s. This is a decent track in all respects.

6. Baptism
Garbage production spoils what is a decent few verses.

7. Strange Behaviour
My favourite track on the album. Heavy bass, good melody and a nice rap about Manuva bumping into a girl he used to know.

8. skit

9. Big Tings Gwidarn
Again, poor minimalistic production spoil a potential good song.

10. Sinking Sands
A good track. Whenever he is provided with a better beat, the song benefits as a whole as this proves. Great dark production and a good chorus.

11. Wisdom Fall
Another track which relies on drum beat and bass-line to carry it through. More of the same – good rapping, poor production.

12. Skit

13. Clockwork
A good track which flows along at a nice tempo, and the use of other instruments other than a drum are a welcome sound to the ear!

14. Cornmeal Dumpling
Another decent track but nothing special.

15. Fever
A very good track at last! A speedy piano loop and a keyboard are a good backdrop for this. There is no doubting Roots Manuva’s ability as a rapper.

16. Oh Yeah…
This track wouldn’t sound out of place on an old Wu-Tang album. Dark and hardcore production match the style of rapping nicely. A good track.

17. Motion 5000
Well Manuva goes instrument crazy on this one and gets in an orchestra. A great track not far from the style of Xzibit’s ‘Paparazzi’ track. Nice finish to the album.

Overall, Roots Manuva certainly comes onto the scene in a good fashion. While he impresses with his rapping, style, voice etc, it is the lacklustre production which lets the majority of this debut down. This is not to say the album is bad, just not as good as it could have been. This would have a hard time in America as it stands, but Manuva certainly has potential as a great.

New fans would be better off checking his follow-up album ‘Run Come Save Me’ before getting this.

Score = 3/5

Snoop Doggy Dogg – Dead Man Walking

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Snoop Doggy Dogg - Dead man walkingAround the same time Snoop was ready to drop “Tha Last Meal”, Suge and the staff of Death Row went into the vaults and released this album of previously unreleased tracks by tha Doggfather.

1. May I ft. Lil Malik – Production: Soopafly

Snoop has a nice flow on this track over a Soopafly beat. Reminiscent of tha Doggfather album. Snoop gives a few good shout outs in the lyrics to the other inmates on Death Row. The production could be a little better but it’s a nice speed to match Snoop on this track. The downfall is the chorus.

2. C Walkin – Production: Big Hutch/ Myrion

Hutch lays out a hard beat and Snoop gives a good laid back flow. While the track is nothing to party to it’s good to sit back and chill with. At times it reminds you of a young Snoop, but leaves you hanging as you almost expect him to let loose like he used to. Still not a bad track by any means.

3. Head Doctor ft. Swoop G – Production: Kurt Kobane

The single off the album on probably the best track. A nice beat, good verses by both Snoop and Swoop G, tight production throughout.

4. Hit Rocks – Production: Snoop/ DJ Pooh

Another track that reminds you of tha Doggfather with it’s bouncing beat. The production is definetely on point. A few recycled lyrics but it works well with Snoop’s flow. Takes a bit to get used to the chorus, but doesn’t let you down.

5. Tommy Boy ft. Daz – Production: Daz

As much as you may expect a Snoop/Dillinger collaboration to be off the hook, the beat is a little too slow. Not horrible flows but nothing about the track grabs your attention.

6. Change Gone Come – Production: Snoop/Soopafly/LT Hutton

Slow beginning with a weak jingle but Snoop starts to rip this song up. The beat makes you nod your head but when the chorus starts it takes the song down with it, you wish Snoop would just keep going. Would be a really good track if remixed with new chorus.

7. Too Black – Production: Snoop/LT Hutton

Slow flow to this track, it sounds like Snoop is storytelling but the lyrics go nowhere. Beat is repetitive and slow. It’s a great track if you feel like hearing Snoop mumble for 5 minutes straight like he just smoked 6 pounds of weed.. How many times does he have to remind us that he’s Snoop Dogg?

8. Gangsta Walk ft. Tha Dogg Pound – Production: Daz

A pretty good beat laid down by Dilli. Kurupt spits first and puts down an average verse for him. Snoop drops a decent spot. Daz uses much the same lyrics he did in “Gangsta Rap” on Dogg Pound 2002. Overall a decent track.

9. County Blues ft. KV – Production: Daz/Big Hutch

The beat gives the feeling of being in an old county jail in the south, with the harmonica going. Snoop gives a good spot about life in the pen and the gang life on the inside. An excellent chorus, but the skit in the middle of the song takes away from the tracks massive potential.

10. I Will Survive ft. Technique, Kurupt, KV – Production: Soopafly

Technique comes out of the gate spitting over a smooth Soopafly beat. Snoop slows it down, Technique then speeds it up, Snoop slows it down again. Kurupt gives a good chorus to match Snoop but there is no set tempo to the song. Snoop and Technique didn’t match well on this one.

11. My Favorite Color ft. Big Hutch – Production: Big Hutch

Hutch lays down a G-Funk beat but it still lacks something. Hutch’s verse matches his beat. Snoop does allright over the beat but you get the feeling the other members of Above the Law should step in and save the track. Tight chorus.

12. Me and My Doggs ft. Technique – Production: LT Hutton/Snoop

This beat is crazy, but oh wait, that’s because we already know it from tha Doggfather album when it was already a tight track. Recycled track gives us nothing we already haven’t heard. Unfortunetly, it’s also one of the best songs on this album.

Overall this album makes you wonder about the value of the infamous Death Row vaults. Did someone accidentely grab the discard bin? The best track “Head Doctor” would also be the worst track on “Doggystyle” or average on “Tha Doggfather”. The beats are average, the lyrics decent at best. Album is short, 12 tracks, be thankful for that.

Rating 2/5

 

Sticky Fingaz – [Blacktrash] The Autobiography of Kirk Jones

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Sticky Fingaz - [Blacktrash] The Autobiography of Kirk JonesOnyx member Sticky Fingaz (real name Kirk Jones) released his first solo album in 2001 on Universal Records. The concept of the album was to showcase the life of fictional charecter Kirk Jones:

1. Intro 

Sets the stage to the album concept with the Universal Pictures “Feature Presentation” sound. Skit explains Kirk Jones being released from prison. He shows up at an old homies house and they decide to head out to celebrate.

2. Come On – Production: Self 

One of the best tracks on the album, it’s a grimy hardcore pump you up style track. The sound brings you into the club with Kirk Jones. “Oh you ain’t know/ Sticky Fingaz went solo” are the first words on the album and sets the stage for the griminess of the album. Lyrics are straight fire, production is bangin. In the track Kirk runs into an old beef, he tries to get his boy to back him but the friend won’t. He instead gives Kirk Jones a gun.

3. My Dogz Iz My Gunz – Production: Joe Naughty

A track about guns being a man’s best friend, after his boy won’t back him outside the club. Black Child lays down a nice verse to complement the dark track.

4. Not Die’n – Production: Self 

After the beef outside the club, Kirk Jones is shot. He refuses to go out like that and feels invincible in the track. Nice track with hard lyrics, the song also brings you into the mindstate of Kirk Jones. Bangin hard track.

5. Kirk Jones Conscience

Omar Epps narrates the flow of thought through the mind of Kirk Jones while he smokes some weed 2 weeks after the shooting. It blends into a skit of Kirk finding his place robbed on Christmas Eve.

6. Money Talks ft. Raekwon – Production: Rockwilder 

This track is being told in the first person from the view of money itself. Raekwon drops a perfect guest appearance. The song really makes you think, great beat, nice lyrics. One of the album’s shining moments.

7. Why? ft. X1 and Still Livin – Production: DJ Scratch 

Kirk Jones purchases a gun and catches up with an old friend. Song itself is their conversation about the old days. Kirk convinces him to give him a ride but gets him to be a getaway driver in a jewelry store robbery. During getaway, they crash and his boy dies. Not the greatest sounding track, but the most important one to the concept of the album. The meaning makes up for any missteps in the track.

8. Oh My God – Production: Sticky Fingaz/Self 

Kirk’s conscience catches up with him and he questions life in the track. God answers all his questions. A tight track with deep meaning, lyrics and production. Has a weak chorus, but intentional as it reflects the mindframe of Kirk Jones at the moment. Kirk gets arrested.

9. State vs. Kirk Jones ft. Canibus, Rah Digga and Redman – Production: Nottz 

Rah Digga plays the judge, Canibus the prosecutor and Redman the defense. One of, if not the best track on the album. All verses run perfectly together and gives you the entire court proceedings. Canibus shines on this. Kirk Jones found guilty.

10. Kirk Jones Conscience 2 

Omar Epps again plays Kirk’s mind. This time Kirk contemplates his choices that brought him to jail, and the people he left behind.

11. Baby Brother ft. Dave Hollister – Production: DJ Scratch

Kirk places a call to his younger brother trying to talk him out of the route he himself chose. Nice production, soulful chorus to reflect his heartfelt plea to his brother who is in the everyday struggle. Call turns ugly.

12. Cheatin – Production: Rockwilder

Kirks girl visits him in prison. While he thought she was holding it down for him, she has other news. The spiral continues for Kirk Jones. An angry track about cheating. Tight production and lyrics.

13. What Chu Want ft. X1 – Production: Buddah 

Track about everything Kirk Jones wanted in life that took him to prison. Nice flows by Sticky and X1 as they mention everything you could ever want. “Want to beg Makaveli to come back from the dead” for example. Tight track.

14. Ghetto ft. Petey Pablo – Production: Spyda Man 

After 10 years locked up Kirk is released from prison only to find he isn’t welcome back in the streets after everything he did. This track is mad hilarious, the comic relief to a dark album. It plays off Jeff Foxworthy’s redneck bit, except about being ghetto. Funny track with tight lyrics and production.

15. What If I Was White ft. Eminem – Production: Damon Elliot 

Kirk Jones robs someone looking for a drug deal. This track is another bit of comic relief to a album filled with a dark struggle. Hilarious lyrics and Eminem adlibs the chorus and background. One of the top tracks easily.

16. Sister I’m Sorry ft. Choclatt – Production: Big D Evans

Kirk gets into big argument with his girl. After she makes a crack about his now dead brother he hits her. The track is very reminiscent of 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up”. He talks about women being strong and apoligizes for all the evils men do. Good chorus. Excellent track.

17. Get It Up ft. Fredro Starr – Production: DJ Scratch 

Kirk robs and kills another store owner. 1st single off the album. Hard lyrics, banging beats, the video for the track is off the chain and it explains at that point Kirk is running from the cops. Another killer track.

18. Kirk Jones Conscience 3 

Third installment of self reflection narrated by Omar Epps. This time around, Kirk relfects going back to jail, but this time he’d rather die.

19. Licken Off In HipHop ft. Columbo 

Production: Punch – A dual meaning in this song. Sticky Fingaz making his hustle off the rap game, Kirk Jones off the streets. A personal reflection on the two roads he could have chosen in his life. He chose being Sticky Fingaz in real life. Kirk Jones is what he would have been without rap. Nice flow, but production could be better. Makes you think.

20. Wonderful World

Police find Kirk. Instead of firing at the cops, he turns it on himself. Game over. Sticky butchers Louis Armstong’s “Wonderful World”, but that’s the point. Life is hard.

From concept to delivery this album scores big. It tells the tragic story of Kirk Jones and the harshness of life. The album follows the story perfectly and the concept not altered. The guest rappers all play their parts in the story perfectly. The production never skips a beat. It’s basically a rap musical and it’s pulled off nicely. In just over an hour Sticky Fingaz delivers an epic Hollywood dreams of. In a time where albums follow no idea and are filled with fillers you wish more would follow Sticky’s lead. Even the booklet itself lends a hand to the album. The story is illustrated in pictures in the credits. While it says “movie coming soon” we can safely assume it isn’t happening due to lackluster sales. A damn shame it would make the album rap’s greatest movie soundtrack. Be sure to check out Sticky’s thank you’s, where he philsophizes for a minute. Either the man is crazy or a mad genius.

In the end the album was highly slept on but cannot be considered any less than it is. Classic.

4.5 out of 5.