2pac – Loyal To The Game

Posted on March 31, 2013 by WWC

This is the mainly Eminem produced album.

1. Soldier like me Featuring Eminem (Produced by Eminem)

This track starts with 2pac talking. Then 2pac says guess who’s back. It’s a good start to the album. I’m not a big fan of the beat it’s a classic Eminem beat and not that good. 2pac is good on this track and brings it back a little. Eminems chorus doesn’t really go though. (3-5)

2. The uppercut Featuring EDI and Noble of The Outlawz (Produced by Eminem)

In contrast I love the beat on this one. Eminem has done a really good job. 2pac is dope as usual and spits a catchy chorus. EDI and Noble aint on Pacs level with there performances but there still good (4.5-5)

3. Out on Bail (Produced By Eminem)

At the start of this song 2pacs talking bout how he’s glad to be out of prison. Then he says “drop that shit em”. The beat on this one has an annoying computer generated thing I can’t explain. But 2pac is good on this one it aint his best but its still good. (3-5)

4. Ghetto Gospel Featuring Elton John (Produced by Eminem)

I actually like the beat on this song. I don’t really like Pac on this song I don’t know why but. When I first heard this I fought it was a woman singing the chorus then I read the credits. (2.5-5)

5. Black cotton Featuring Eminem, kastro and Noble (Produced by Eminem)

This song has one of the best Eminem beats I have ever heard. Pac spits some amazing shit on this song. Eminem does the chorus and it’s actually good and suits the song perfectly. Kastro spits some dope shit as well as Noble. I can’t complain bout this track. (5-5)

6. Loyal to the game Featuring G Unit (Produced by Eminem)

All I can say is there’s some irony in the title. Any way the beat on this is another gem Eminem can produce people have to realise. Pacs verse is dope. 50s on the chorus (what a surprise) but he actually does it well! Young bucks verse is a bit meh. But Lloyd Banks is actually good on this song. G Unit didn’t ***** the song that much. (3.5-5)

7. Thugs Get lonely too Featuring Nate Dogg (Produced by Eminem)

The beat sounds like a Dre beat to me. It’s good. 2pac is spitting dope shit as usual bout how he don’t wanna leave his girl at home. Nates aiight on the chorus not the best he’s done but okay. (3.5-5)

8. N.I.G.G.A Featuring Jadakiss (Produced by Eminem) (Never Ignorant about Getting Goals Accomplished)

This beat is kinda dark but suits the song. Pac is on some ***** everyone shit but its good. The chorus is good. Jadakiss Spits some dope shit (“Niggas is like photographers all they take is head shots”). (4.5-5)

9. Who Do You Love? (Produced by Eminem)

The start of the song makes me think of Pac sitting in a chair talking to himself and building up and up till he gets pause then just starts spitting some dope shit. Pacs rapping bout even though I got all these things wrong with me. Are you still down. (4-5)

10. Crooked Nigga Too (Produced by Eminem)

This song Builds up to a dope as ***** beat its kinda fast. But keeps up with it this is the fastest ive heard Pac rap and he is dope. He’s rapping bout how much of a gansta he is. This is my favourite song on the album Pac is the meaning of dope on this song and the beat is dope. Dope! (5-5)

11. Don’t You Trust Me Featuring Dido (Produced by Eminem)

This Beat reminds me of Stan But in a Good way it’s slow but really good. Complete With strings and everything. Didos Chorus is Good It suits the song perfectly. Pac spits some dope shit bout a Girl that don’t trust him (“I wanna Hold you tightly But instead you wanna fight me”) It’s a really good song its like a chill song. (4.5-5)

12. Hennessey Featuring Obie Trice (Produced by Eminem)

This beat is like a drinking/party beat and is dope. 2pac is dope in this. And Obie and Pac you wouldn’t think it but they go on the chorus it sounds like they actually worked together. Obies Verse is good. At the end he says (“Im on a track with Pac Nigga”) it was probably his dream and props to shady for making it happen

13. Thug 4 Life (Produced by Eminem)

I don’t like the beat on this it’s just too much. And Pac Aint that good either it’s just not a good track (2-5)

14. Po Nigga Blues Featuring Ron Isley (produced By Scott Storch)

Scott Storch has produced a good laid back beat and Pac rides it well. His Lyrics are good Song (4-5)

15. Hennessey Featuring Edi and Sleepy Brown (Produced by Red Spyda)

This I prefer this beat it’s got a soul fell to it. But Pac sound as good on it. Sleepy Brown is good on the chorus. Edi sucks on this song. (2-5)

16. Crooked Nigga Too (Produced by Raphael Saadiq)

This Beat is completely different to Eminems but works and the chorus is better. But Pac aint as fast passed so Pac was obviously sped up on Eminems but I prefer that. But it don’t mean this aint good (4-5)

17. Loyal to the game Featuring Big Skye (produced by DJ Quik)

The beat is dope. But Pac Don’t Go with it sounds like they asked DJ Quik to do a beat and he pick one at random off the shelf. Big Skye is dope on this though and he brings the dong back a little. (3.5-5)

This album was better than i thought itd be. I like Most of Eminems production on this album. so it gets a 3.5 rating.

AZ – A.W.O.L.

Posted on March 31, 2013 by WWC

“My first album had no famous guest appearances” may have been a subliminal shot at Jay but Nas actually points out some more subliminal. Although he didn’t have none famous guest appearances, he would make his guest appearance famous. From his highly acclaimed verse from “Life’s a B!tch” his career went up from there to release his even more highly acclaimed 5 mic album “Doe or die”. From then on he hasn’t really made it back up there but he made a good career with his other albums and solid guest appearances.

“So Sincere” starts the album and even though it’s a nice soulful beat equipped with strings and other instruments to give it a happy victorious feel and Az uses a lot of his creative skill in the lyrics to suit the beat, it all seems too played out. It seems like once one does it well a flood of wannabes use it to imitate it and that’s what I feel about the beat. The next one “Never Change” I pretty much feel the same of it as the last one. “New York” featuring Wu members Raekwon and Ghostface is the first real big highlight of the album. Emile who seems to be getting a lot of work for a reason due to the dark, powerful bassline and police sirens giving you that real New York gritty feel which makes you feel your almost there while they paint an even more clearer picture as they pay homage to the streets which raised them. “Can’t stop” is another highlight. The beautiful piano loop used as the backdrop for his deep lyrics about his struggle in the rap game and why he must continue. “Still Alive” is a real low point for the album even AZ normally great lyrics are bad. Over a beat which seems to be a reject from an old computer game AZ does what I can only call a “Game” as he drops names of loads of people in the rap game. “AZ’s chillin” is also another low point. The beat from the usually good producer M.O.P’s “Fizzy Womack” he gives you this powerful and hard drum loop and some awful distorted electric sound while again AZ is below his par level of good lyrics to create a track which would have been done by some one like j-kwon. “City of Gods” brings back the ratings with its relaxing keyboard and funky guitars from Disco D although topic wise it seems all too repetitive from other songs from the album. “Street life” with its weeping strings creates a very sad feel while AZ, Half a mil and Begetz spit pure street poetry. On “Bedtime story”we hear AZ storytelling skills although he seems to imitate Jay-z flow which I can’t see why he would even think to do it as AZ got a cool smooth flow. The first single “The come up” is next and its nothing but beautiful. Its melodic strings and cuts and scratches of the usual masterpieces from NY legend “DJ Premier” and is enjoyable even more with AZ deep street poetry. “Envious” is another really good song with one big flaw. Its dark phantom of the opera type of piano beat and AZ good lyrics are nice my problem is Bounty Killer as on the hook and start he seems to ramble on some weird stuff like his on crack. The last track is actually three tracks rolled into one and all very nice from the funky simplistic guitar outbursts of “live wire” to the soulful “The Truth” ends this album well.

In all, this album gets 3.5 out of 5. Even though the lyrics 90% of the time are there and the beats are beautifully constructed it feels almost like DÃƒÂ©jà vu as the album is very repetitive from other albums on the market and some songs even feel repetitive to each other. One more pro there is no skits. AZ got a cool smooth flow so every track is nice to listen to in that aspect. It’s a cool album to listen to once in a while.

Recommendation: Buy this album if you’re a fan of his or like nice beats and nice lyrics although I wouldn’t really recommend it to people who are bored with the usual stuff in hip-hop at the moment. Also if not sure about this album, download it see if you like it and see if your money will be well invested.

Tony Yayo – Thoughts Of A Predicate Felon

Posted on March 31, 2013 by WWC

1. Intro

Intro.

2. Homicide

I like the beat here, nice piano type track mixed with some opera type sounds. Yayo is pretty terrible but he doesn’t ruin the track here or anything. Not a bad track at all. Good

3. It Is What It Is(Feat Spider Loc)

This is like a mix between heavy Southern bass and G-Funk, needless to say I dig the beat. The beat is about the only thing I like here, poor rapping and a poor chorus, this is just a mess. Average(I dig the beat)

4. Tattle Teller

The beat is good, I can’t really describe it because there are so many sound elements going on at once. This is a track about snitching and we’ve already landed in cliche’ city. Yayo is just not ready to release a solo album, he should strictly be a hype man. Average(Again the beat)

5. So Seductive(Feat 50 Cent)

This track is terrible, just atrocious and of course it’s the single, because the lemmings have to listen to this awful crap. 50 Cent & Yayo stink up the joint, while the headache inducing party beat hits you like indigestion. Train Wreck

6. Eastside Westside

Terrible beat here, just a boring piano beat looping on and on as other annoying elements are added. Yayo sings in the beginning and I don’t really care, he says nothing of value and just spits out cliche’s that would make 50 Cent shake his head. Wack

7. Drama Setter(Feat Eminem & Obie Trice)

Eminem adds nothing to the track, well he hasn’t even done anything good since 2000 and his cronie Obie “I have zero charisma” Trice. Man Trice is boring, he’s just invisible here. This is not a good track, very annoying chorus. So wow you’re a “Drama setter”? Why should I care? Wack

8. We Don’t Give A F***(Feat 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks & Olivia)

Speaking of adding nothing to the track, Olivia is a terrible singer, she’s off beat and is like Ashanti, only a lot uglier. This track is weak, they obviously took the track title very seiously because this is just all of them being unmotivated. Next track. Wack

9. Pimpin

I like the beat, it’s very relaxing. Yayo ruins the track as he tries to sing on the track, but it gets better once he starts rapping and the beat sort of changes up. I dig this track, but the singing is terrible and really I’m tired of rappers making tracks about “Pimpin'”. These guys aren’t real pimps, Ice T should slap these idiots silly. Good

10. Curious(Feat Joe)

Joe hasn’t been of any worth since he released that Stutter garbage. Joe sings, I yawn, wow this track is boring. Wack

11. I’m So High

Yet another tired cliche’ in rap. So, you’re “so” high? Who cares? Weak beat here and weak singing here. This track is awful as Yayo talks about smoking in jail. Wow this is so uninteresting. Wack

12. Love My Style

The beat is just awful and it gives me a headache, it’s a mixture of chanting and other annoying elements. Yayo talks about women “Loving his style”, this is unoriginal garbage. Wack

13. Project Princess(Feat Jagged Edge)

Relaxing beat, this is your typical “lovey dovey” type track complete with your D-list group singing the chorus. I’m already tired of this album. Wack

14. G-S***

Piano beat here, it’s actually boring. Yayo tries to be all “lyrical” here and just doesn’t say anything of worth. This guy should be on stage setting up equipment, not rapping. Wack

15. I Know You Don’t Love Me(Feat G Unit)

The beat is ok, I can’t really describe it, it has a very Westcoast feel to it. 50 sings the chorus and he name drops some rappers. This track is all beat and nothing else. Wack(I did however like the beat)

16. Dear Suzie

This is like the retarded version of “Stan”. Yayo writes to a “fan” named “Suzie” in jail. This is awful, complete with an awful beat and even worse singing. These guys can’t come up with their own ideas so they steal from the next man. Train Wreck

17. Live By The Gun

I like the beat here, dark sounding piano beat. Yayo doesn’t do that bad of a job here and it’s better than an outro. Good

All in all this gets a Wack rating. Just pure wackness from the G-Unit crew. I’m neutral towards their music so I listened to this with an open mind and just did not like it. Unoriginal garbage by a guy who should be a hype man. Avoid this mess.

Lil Rob – Twelve Eighteen Part 1

Posted on March 30, 2013 by WWC

1. My Turn

Decent beat here, it sounds like a mix between Just Blaze & Kanye West. LiL Rob sounds like 50 Cent here as he sings in a monotone voice and brings nothing to the table. Ok so this was better than an intro but really he shouldn’t try and emulate other’s because all it will result in is disaster. Wack

2. Summer Nights

This is the single and I can’t stand it. Horrible beat here, it’s so uppity and sickening, it’s like if DJ Quik did E and decided to make a beat. Terrible sing song chorus and LiL Rob brings the suck. Summer anthem? What a *****ing farce this is. Train Wreck

3. Back In The Streets

The beat here is like Kanye West on meth. Just terrible stuff here, way too fast and disjointed with some un-needed soul samples thrown in there. LiL Rob tries to rap fast and it just sounds awkward. Avoid this. Train Wreck

4. Superbad

The beat sounds like In Da Club but much worse. Why is LiL Rob trying to sound like 50 Cent? This is so obvious that it’s sickening. This is like amatuer night at Abe’s 5 & Diner. Just awful all around here. Train Wreck

5. Playground

The beat sounds like some 80’s techno sound mixed with dance drums. This is supposed to be a dance/club type track but this would make people run away from the club. LiL Rob tries the “Slow/whisper” type flow and it doesn’t work. This is the drizzling shits. Train Wreck

6. What Am I Saying?

Bouncy awful beat here. LiL Rob tries to sound like Fabolous here. This is just painful to listen to. This guy cannot even find his own style. What are you saying? Why are you rapping? Why am I even listening to this? Those are the questions that need to be answered. Train Wreck

7. Ooh Baby Baby

Ok I like this beat here. It has elements of jazz, soul, and some 1950’s type sound to it. This is a love track so really you’re only listening to the beat. Good(I dug the beat)

8. Bring Out The Freak In You

We go from good to trash. Wow the beatm sounds really dated. LiL Rob talks about doing “What nasty people do”……moving on. LiL Rob tries the oh so played out “Let me flow smooth here so it looks like I’m talking low”. This my friends is the anti-dope. Train Wreck

9. Rough Neighborhood

Kanye type beat here, complete with soul samples. The beat is pretty cookie cutter, but it’s Rob’s flow that kills the whole thing. The guy has no clue how to rap over this type of beat. Just a sloppy mess. Train Wreck

10. No Future In It

Decent G-Unit-type beat here. Rob does ok here, ok this track really is ok and is probably the best on the album. Good

11.Representing

Very common(Not the rapper) sounding Westcoast beat. Not that good but tolerable I suppose. LiL Rob does ok here. Average stuff. Average

12. I Who Have Nothing(But I Have Respect)

Very long track title. Wow and the beat sounds just like something the Heatmakers would produce. Not that bad actually, in fact quite good. Good

13. I’m Still Here(Bonus Track)

I think we all know that you’re still here, I mean we are listening to your album. What a pointless track. Terrible beat here, very slow and dull. Terrible way to end the album. Train Wreck

All in all this gets a Wack rating. Wow what a poor attempt at pleasing the mainstream. LiL Rob has no creativity and no style. This was un-original horse feces. Avoid this.

Lil Jon & East Side Boyz – Crunk Juice

Posted on March 30, 2013 by WWC

I’m going to keep this review short but sweet when describing these beats I can’t really go into much detail as the other ones I have done as they all are pretty similar as they follow the Crunk formula which more or likely you have came across to on one song or another as last summer it was practically everywhere due to the soundtrack of Need for speed. Get low was a world known hit and Lil’ jon had created his style of Crunk. Crunk sounds like the mix of hip hop and the noise Animal from the muppets would create. Crunk is the new sound from the south which gets you hyped up for everything with their powerful beats and simple, abusive yet catchy lyrics which are shouted at you.“Get Crunk” really introduces what getting crunk really is. You really feel the chimes of the xylophone and the hard hitting drum loop. Once again “What U Gon’ Do” has the same feel beat wise as it sounds like Jon has changed the xylophone for a whistle kind of one. Again it is filled with abusive lyrics about confronting people in clubs. Even though this is probably not club friendly song I see it being played in clubs. As I saw “Real Nigga Roll Call” featuring legendary Ice cube I was thinking of some high class lyrics about whose real and who’s not but even cube lamely rhymes around the word nigga and maybe a little shot at Cypress Hill. The beat is more different then the ones before so it has you mashing your head and approving the change. “Da Blow” is another little gem which is a little different from most of the album. The beat is quite haunting due to its chimes and high tempo drums. Over this they make a very simple description of Drugs which why they chop and screw it on the sampling which scratches and stutters.“Contracts” is the pimping song which appears on every wannabe gangsta album. Again the beat is very repetitive and Trillville doesn’t really provide dope lyrics but entertaining ones. The average lyricism and repetitive beat isn’t the worse thing about this song as the singing is awfully done at the hook. The next two songs have a nice rockish feel with the rock guitar loops. “White Meat” which you can guess by the name what it is exactly about but Eightball and MJG lays some dope verses for this album. The next song has Rick Ruben producing while Lil’ Jon just shouts and for once he doesn’t seem 100% out of place as his voice seems to match “Stop *****in’ Wit Me”. Lil’ Jon seems to break away from the aggressive crunk sound and produce 2 very slow mellow beat from a piano loop. Usher and Ludacris try to recreate the smash hit of “Yeah” with this love song “Lovers And Friends”. It won’t make such a splash but it a good refreshing change. While that is refreshing “One night stand” is not at all. I hate the topic and I don’t really like the beat either.

After an Hilarious skit from Dave Chappelle “Aww Skeet Skeet” has a sort of sing-a-long feel like when an “When I say Skeet you say Aww” type of feeling. “In Da club” we have Ludacris and R-Kelly paying homage to the nightlife and most probably this will be in the clubs. After “*****es Ain’t S**t” which is another wannabe appeal track we have“Stick That Thang Out (Skeezer)” which is terrible as it sounds like computer game music. Then we have the best song and that is “Grand Finale” for once we have nice lyrics and nice beats put together. Jadakiss, T.I., Nas and Cube spitting some dope battle type of lyrics. You get two free bonus CDs one a DVD and another one jam packed with remixes. Most you most likely to heard but none really worth to comment about except the remix of Lean back. It has better lyrics but a worse beat. I really enjoyed Eminem’s part “Oh baby I don’t dance not that I can’t there’s just a pistol in my pants”

In all this album gets a nice 3 out of 5. There wasn’t much lyrical skill but what do you expect from a Lil Jon album??? The beats are head nodding but can get very repetitive and like No limit unless you a fan then you’ll probably wont be able to tell the difference behind most of them that’s why I had difficulties explaining them while listening which you’ll see the awful style and descriptions I have used unlike my better ones like Busta It’s Aint Safe no more and many more. Crunk is a nice little south movement if you ask me. Also one thing which you’ll find a flaw normally in albums is the skit are enjoyable as most are supplied by Chris Rock which are funny and then we have the little Dave Chappelle skit.

Recommendation: Buy this album if you like crunk but if not don’t buy this easy as that!

Tha Dogg Pound – Cali Iz Active

Posted on March 30, 2013 by WWC

The Dogg Pound has a long history behind them. The group was introduced on Dr Dre’s The Chronic and Snoop Doggy Dogg’s Doggystyle before dropping Dogg Food in 1995. When 2pac was shot and killed, and Suge Knight put in prison, the group broke up. Kurupt left Death Row while Daz stayed. Snoop, who isn’t really a member of the group but a very close affiliate, also left the label. A few years later Daz left Death Row and Kurupt went back to Suge. Disses were exchanged before Kurupt left Death Row and Snoop brought the duo together again for this album, Cali Iz Active. I’m not sure if Snoop is an official member of the group now or not, but he’s not listed as a feature so I guess he is.

Both Kurupt and Daz used to bring energy to a song. Nowdays, Daz provides the energy while Kurupt has settled with a more laid back style than he had in his early years to many fans disappointment.

I’m not expecting Cali iz Active to be the classic Dogg Food was, but I do expect a very tight album.

1. Cali Iz Active (Produced by Battlecat)

Cali Iz Active, produced by Battlecat, is the first single. Kurupt, Daz and Snoop spit one verse each on the track and Snoop do some singing(?) at the end of the song. When Battlecat produces a song you know you’re getting a West Coast banger. This is no exception. Kurupt used to be the lyrical member of the group, but he’s outshined by Snoop AND Daz on this cut to me. Solid single. Check out the video if you’ve got the chance to.

2. Kushn N’ Pushn (Produced by L.T Moe)

Kushn N’ Pushn has a funky 70’s influenced beat. Kurupt is spitting the first verse and if you compare his flow with any song from Dogg Food you can tell his flow changed a lot. His wordplay is pretty cool sometimes but his lazy flow makes it sound more like random rhyming words. Daz comes in for the second verse and makes a solid impression as always. Snoop isn’t featured on the track. Instead, Kurupt does a third verse that leaves me with a better impression than his first. All in all it’s a solid track but nothing special. The funk-factor of the beat saves it.

3. Sittin On 23’z (Produced by Swizz Beatz)

I’m no big fan of Swizz Beatz and this song isn’t even close to making me a supporter. In other words: The beat’s wack. Daz and Kurupt tries to save it but I bet you if an underground producer would’ve produced this track it wouldn’t have made the cut. On the other hand, Kurupt and Daz makes a real good effort and Kurupt sounds like the good ole Young Gotti are got used to hearing. An other thing I like about this track is that it’s not divided into one verse per group member as if one was featured on the others track. The Doggpound is doing it like a group, with overlapping bars. No Snoop on this cut either. This is the first singles b-side. I hope an other song is selected for the second video because this one’s a sure flop.

4. Stop Lyin (Produced by Battlecat)

An other Battlecat production. That means an other tight West Coast beat and as a West Coast fan I appreciate that. I’m not sure all the East and South heads will though… Oh well too bad because this is the type of shit that made the Doggpound. One thing some people has criticised Doggpound of in the past are songs without a meaning and I tend to agree to that criticism. I think it would’ve bothered me more if I had expected it from them to begin with tho. The hook on this song is taken from an expression used by many artists: You ain’t got to lie to kick it. Solid track.

5. It’s Craccin’ All Night feat. P Diddy (Produced by J-Dubs)

P Diddy and The Doggpound? Snoop, who makes an other appearance on the album here, has done songs with P. Diddy before, but The Doggpound? Shit, I guess it’s all about being World Wide Connected, but still… Feels real weird to hear Diddy with Tha Pound. I’m sure a lot of people are going to call them sellouts after this one, but I won’t take it that far. The beat’s kind of dark with a fat bass tone and I don’t know if it’s Diddys addition or Snoop’s unusually tight verse, but this track has that lil’ extra to make it an aspiring banger.

6. Slow Your Roll (Produced by Soopafly)

I guess Soopafly isn’t an official member of The Doggpound anymore because this is his first appearance on this album and it’s on the production. After Cali Iz Active, this is probably the tightest beat this far on the album. While the other tracks have been kind of slow, this is more up-tempo and it’s making Daz and Kurupt spit some tight shit. There’s not much more to say… don’t sleep on this track.

7. Heavyweights (Produced by Ryan Leslie)

Heavyweights is an other one of those funky songs. Honestly, the funky type of beats is more suitable for Snoop than they are for The Doggpound. At first, I thought this cut had a guest on it not mentioned in the credits, but then I realized the dark raspy voice belongs to Daz. I guess he had a little too much to smoke that week… The Doggpound are, just like they are on most of the tracks on this album, repping DPG hard. I’m definately feeling this track. Mainly for the G-Funkiness of it.

8. Keepin’ It Gangsta feat. Lady Of Rage (Produced by Soopafly)

I guess The Doggpound aren’t the only old Death Row inmates reuniting on this album. According to herself, she’s “not a Dogg pound gangsta crip”, but she’s “that chick from the Dogg pound gangsta click”. To me, most female rappers are wack. The Lady Of Rage is one of a few exceptions. Daz, Kurupt and Snoop were all outshined. Kurupt are mixing solid verses with tight flow with wack verses consisting of random rhyming words. Julio G makes an appearance on the outro.

9. Hard On A Hoe feat. Nate Dogg & RBX (Produced by Rick Rock)

A West Coast classic is almost guarantied to have Nate Dogg doing the hook on atleast one song. According to the credits, Nate’s on Hard On A Hoe. Considering he kidnapped his ex girlfriend and tied her up in the basement I guess it’s a fitting song for him to feature on. Unfortunately he just does some background vocals behind Snoops hook. Other than that disappointment, the track’s real tight. RBX makes a tight appearance for the first time on the album. Rick Rock has made a simple beat for Dogg Pound to do their thing on and they do it well. Still, I’m missing a hard hitting banger from the group.

10. It’s All Good feat. Ice Cube (Produced by Battlecat)

You know how I feel about Battlecat by now (NO HOMO). This isn’t one of his best beats but it’s tight and The Dogg Pound bring it up a notch. It’s like you were in a time machine when you hear Snoop. His style on this cut is angry and much rawer than we are used to hearing him nowdays. Daz does a tight verse as he has on every song on the album, and even though Kurupt is nowhere near his Dogg Food days, he does a pretty tight verse. Ice Cube doesn’t do a verse on this track. He’s just doing a part of the hook. I was looking forward to Cube spittin’ some hot shit but oh well. It’s still a tight track.

11. Fakna** Hoes feat David Banner (Produced by David Banner)

The Dogg Pound on a David Banner beat? That’s something you don’t hear every day but it’s actually working out real well. David Banner gets crunk and we know Daz and Snoop can handle that type of shit from previous solo tracks and features, but I never heard Kurupt on a track like this before… even though his song with Bootleg on Against The Grain kind of reminds me of this cut. I’ve been going hard at Kurupt in this review, but I think it’s time to stop comparing him to the old (young?) Kurupt. Young Gotti used to be a lyricist and now he’s a solid rapper. If you compare the two it’s obvious that you’re going to be disappointed. If you take it for what it is you can still find Kurupt tight. His style is just a little more laid back nowadays. With that in mind, all rappers spit some hot shit on this cut making it one of the best tracks on the album. Putting David Banner on the album was an excellent idea. This is single material.

12. Don’t Sweat It feat. Nate Dogg & RBX (Produced by 1500)

One thing I like about this album is that The Dogg Pound rep the West Coast hard. You haven’t really heard a lot of that shit in the mainstream lately. Don’t Sweat It starts off with Snoop saying “Did somebody say the West Coast?”. Other than that, it’s not one of the highlights of the album. The beat’s not bad but my expression of the track is that it just doesn’t do it for me. The highlight is RBX spitting a real raw verse. His voice fits real well to the beat. I don’t know why Nate Dogg is credited here though. Could be him saying “Ohhh” real low in the background of the hook but it might as well be any random person.

13. Make that P**** Pop feat. Paul Wall (Produced by Shondrea)

I think the cover art may be wrong on Don’t Sweat It. Nate Dogg was probably meant to be listed as a feature onMake That ***** Pop… Unless that’s someone else with a similar voice doing the hook. Other than the somewhat catchy hook, the track isn’t that good. Paul Wall makes a solid appearance but it’s not exactly going to show up on his greatest hits album. It’s an average track and to me a filler.

14. Throwin’ Up Da C (Produced by Soopafly)

Finally a faster type of track! A faster beat forces Kurupt to go back to his old style and it fits Daz perfectly. Daz often disappears from the limelight when Snoop, who is not on this track, and Kurupt do tracks with him, but he’s right now the best rapper of the group in my opinion. Soopafly laced a real tight beat making this one of the highlights of the album.

15. Face 2 Face (Produced by Battlecat)

Face 2 Face has a real weird beat and even though I’m a fan of Battlecat I think this track could’ve been left off the album. Kurupt, Snoop and Daz does their best but the beat’s just too weak. Skip this track.

16. She Likes That (Produced by Jazze Pha)

Ladies and gentlemen… This is a Jazze Phizzle Produzzle. If I got a buck every time I heard that… Kurupt, Daz and Snoop has all taken the turn to speak on hoes on every other track. This one’s basically about hoes sucking dick and how Dogg Pound likes *****. Even though it’s not very original, it’s a solid track and nice way to finish off the album.

This album is very hard to grade. Tight tracks are mixed with real weak performances. Kurupt disappoint me every time I hear him nowdays, but like I mentioned before we should probably not compare him too much to his old style. The change of style makes me appreciate Daz more than I did on Dogg Food. Daz is now the best rapper of the group to me even though Snoop sometimes wakes up and spit real hot shit.

With a three man group, there’s no big need of guest appearances. Still, the guests on this album add something you wouldn’t have gotten without them even though Ice Cube and Nate Dogg added nothing due to the fact that they didn’t do anything. The Lady Of Rage, RBX and David Banner made the biggest impression and were excellent picks for the album.

To compare this album to Dogg Food would be like compating Kurupts new style to his old. Dogg Food is a 5 out of 5 classic to me, or possibly a 4,5 out of 5 arguable classic. This album is nowhere near that rating.

I have to admit the album’s pretty tight though and deserves a rating above average. There aren’t alot of West Coast albums making a big impression nowdays so the West has really been awaiting this album. It’s a slight disappointment even though my expectations probably were too high. I rate this album 3.5 out of 5. Worth mentioning is that it’s alot closer to getting a 4 out of 5 rating than it is to getting 3/5. As a West Coast fan, you should definately get it.

Kurupt – Same Day Different Shit

Posted on March 30, 2013 by WWC

Kurupt aka Young Gotti is half of The Dogg Pound. The second half of the group is the man that produced this entire album: Daz Dillinger.

Kurupt and Daz was at the top of their carreer when dropping Dogg Food. Kurupts first solo came after leaving Death Row when he released Kuruption, Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha and Space Bookie: Smoke Oddessey. Tha Streetz Iz A Muthais as close to a classic you can come in my opinion, if not a classic.

Kurupt later returned to Death Row whom dropped Against The Grain after his departure. The album was tight in my opinion and Kurupt whom had been falling off a little bit did his best to keep his flow up. Alot of people think Kurupt fell off, while he is saying he just changed his style a little. Personally, I like the raw and energic Kurupt better than the lazy laid back Kurupt. It’s natural to compare Same Shit Different Day to Against The Grain.

Kurupt has, surprisingly, chosen to drop Same Shit Different Day on the same day as the new Dogg Pound album, Cali iz Active, is being released.

1. Intro

Kurupt is talking about some old classics he’s been on saying he’s still bringing them classics.

2. Scrape Thru Tha Hood

Kurupt’s starting off the album with a dark and pretty slow but still futuristic beat. Young Gotti’s trying to go hard which is good since he’s been going over to a more laid back style lately. While the flow is cool, the rhymes are pretty lazy. It’s still a tight track.

3. Make That Ass Shake

Daz is mixing his own production style with a newer style and I like it. In my opinion, Daz stayed with his old style a little too long while the game went forward and created a new style based on his old work. His old style was dope, but the bangers were absence lately. Kurupt has a rawer flow here than for example the new Dogg Pound album and that’s a good thing. All in all this track just doesn’t do it for me, though.

4. I Get High 2

I Get High 2 is a banger. Daz laced down a fat beat for Kurupt to spit hot shit over it. Maybe tight beats is what Kurupt’s been missing lately? Either way, this is a banger and should definitely be a single!

5. As Time Fly By feat. Daz Dillinger

This beat reminds me of When Thugz Cry by Bizzy Bone but with more bass and more banging. Daz is featured on As Time Fly By and in my opinion he’s lifting the track a notch even though he’s not really doing a verse. He’s mainly on the hook and does some other appearances. The beat’s banging and it’s good to hear these type of bangers from Daz again. It’s been a while. Kurupt seems to step up too as the beats gets tighter. Real tight, and surprising, development of this album…

6. Gangstaz Part 2 feat. Daz Dillinger

Daz does his first verse on the album on Gangstaz Part 2 and he does it well. Daz brings energy to a track. The beat’s tight but not as banging as As Time Fly By and I Get High. It actually gets a little repetitive… An other thing that kind of bothers me about this track is that Daz outshines Kurupt. Kurupt used to outshine Daz! Did Daz become that much better or did Kurupt fell off? You be the judge.

7. Ryde And Roll

Ryde And Roll has an other tight beat from Daz whom has now grown a lot in my eyes even though I was a fan before. Unfortunately, Kurupt is on his “***** a *****” mood and rhymes ***** with ***** a few times etc. You know the deal. It’s cool sometimes but it’s getting a little worn out.

8. What Can I Do feat. Ashton Jones

What Can I Do is for the females. The hook’s real girly and the RnB additions prove this is something to bump when your girl’s at your house. I bet Kurupt had to bite his tongue a few times since he likes to go all out on a *****. It’s funny to me how the male RnB singer is listed as a feature while the female isn’t. Either that’s a mistake, a part of Kurupts *****-a-***** attitude or the guy just sings like a girl from time to time. This is a cool slow jam but it’s not a track I’ll bump more than once.

9. Yes I’m A Quiccer

You rarely hear producers recycle beats. Daz is one of the producers I’ve heard done it before. Here’s an other example. This track is a recycle of the beat from the track Step Up on Tha Streetz Is A Mutha. A few instruments has just been replaced with others and some small changes has been made. The original had Crooked I and Xzibit over it and that combined with a young Kurupt outshines this track by far. It might’ve been tight if there was no other track to compare it with.

10. Shoot Em Up (Skit)

11. Accessories (Nina Breeda)

Accessories is wack. The beat isn’t wack, but it’s weak and Kurupts flow is lazier than ever. His rhymes are pretty lazy too. Filler.

12. I Did It

Who took the Behind The Walls beat and changed a few things to make a new song? This is where Daz comes in saying “I Did It”. Second recycled beat on the album even though it’s pretty different from the original. Daz didn’t produce the original either… Mike Dean did. This beat is pretty cool still, but Kurupt keeps spitting his lazy stuff. It’s a shame…

13. Ain’t That Somethin’ feat. Daz Dillinger

Ain’t That Somethin’ has a banging beat that reminds me of that Daz track It’s Not Over Until I Say So or whatever it’s called. It just reminds me of it though… it’s not a remake as previously said about other songs on this album. The track’s real tight and blast-that-ass-Daz makes a real tight appearance again. Tight way to wrap up the album.

14. Young Gotti Outro

Same Day Different Shit has its up and downs. Kurupts flow seems to be depending on the production. If the production’s banging, Young Gotti spit some hot shit with a raw flow but if the production’s a little weaker Kurupt goes back to his lazy flow with random rhyming words put into sentences. I Get High 2 and As Time Fly By are the best tracks on the album in my opinion and should possibly have been considered being put on the Dogg Pound album Cali Iz Active instead as it’s the groups big comeback album. Daz still has capacity to bring out bangers and he proves it here. His So So Def solo album’s been in the works for a while now and is hopefully filled with bangers. Unfortunately, Kurupt’s not keeping up. I think it’s safe to say Kurupt fell off. At the same time, it might not be fair to compare this Kurupt with the hungry young Death Row rapper he was over 10 years ago. He’s a solid rapper but below the average rapper in flow and rhymes.

About 5 tracks into the album I was thinking that this album is a lot tighter than the Dogg Pound album, but the second part of the album really disappointed me and now I have to say the Dogg Pound album is a better purchase. Compared to Against The Grain, this album has a few bangers that would definitely make the cut for that album, but overall ATG is a better album.

I rate this album 3 out of 5. Average. Bring on Daz solo…

Mic-C – Candyland

Posted on March 30, 2013 by WWC

1. Candyland

Very dark beat by Phonk Beta, it has a Loaded style to it. Mic-C’s style is really slow, it’s like he’s rapping on Unisom. Really good song here, if you like that Sac-Town style. Good

2. Nonbelievers

Nice bouncy beat here, first it starts off slow then it kicks in once Mic-C starts rapping. Mic does a good job on this track rapping about the people who didn’t believe in him. Good

3. One More Day

I don’t like the slow piano sounds on this track, it’s supposed to create an eerie vibe but it just doesn’t work. Mic-C did ok though. Average

4. Too Much Stress(Feat Hollow Tip & Young Ridah)

No this is not the Ridah from the Mob Figaz. I don’t like the beat here, it’s way too generic for my taste. Hollow does a good job and the rest are just “meh”. Wack

5. Nasty Nights

Pretty good beat here, nice and sleazy sounding. Of course this track is about “ho’s” and “Pimping”. Mic does a good job, but really the beat carries this one. Good

6. Money Talks

Nice bouncy track here. Mic raps about money and how he needs it. Well that’s something everyone can relate to. Good

7. Die Hard(Feat J-Mack)

Decent beat here, it’s pretty basic. J-Mack is awful and really ruins the whole track. I can’t listen to this crap anymore. Wack

8. Don’t Take This Lightly

Slower paced beat, I like it, it has a nice No-Cal vibe to it. This style of beat fits Mic’s style really well as opposed to some seizure inducing crunk beat. Good track. Good

9. Can You Handle(Feat Ballin A$$ Dame)

The beat sounds like that one Vegas level on Sonic 2, same sound and everything. The chorus is mindnumbingly stupid and overall just a weak track. Wack

10. Ghetto Police(Feat Hollow Tip)

Decent piano here with some weird synth type bass, that’s a bit of a styles clash of beat styles there. Hollow shines here. Good(For Hollow’s work)

11. Northside Ridahs(Feat J-Mack, Hollow Tip, & *Kappone)

The beat is just boring, I really can’t listen to it without falling asleep. Just skip this, though Hollow’s first verse is pretty good. Wack

12. Game Over

Some weird poorly done Latin type guitar beat is on this track over some boring backdrop. Is this the best you can do? Pathetic. Wack

13. I Don’t Stop(Feat Slim Loc 1 & Lunaticc)

Really dope track, and a nice way to end the album. Mic-C does a good job here with the first verse. Slim Loc 1 is none other than C-Lim and he does a decent job even though he has a voice that shouldn’t belong in rap. Good track. Good

All in all I’m going to give this an Average rating. There were some positives here(No skits, no intro’s, no outro’s, etc etc) and then there were some negatives(Formulaic beats, weak rapping, J-Mack, etc etc). Listen to this first before buying.

Little Brother – The Minstrel Show

Posted on March 30, 2013 by WWC

Little Brother, most likely to blow this year, and there sophomore album titled ‘The Minstrel Show’ is there first on a major label. Rapper Big Pooh and Phonte a rapping duo with one of the hottest underground producer 9th wonder (most notably working with Jay-Z ‘Threats’) in rap today. There debut remains an underground favourite and so does Phonte’s Foreign Exchange album.

The biggest thing you’ll notice is there’s not much in terms of live music on this album in fact the whole album was produced using Fruity Loops by 9th wonder with the exception of ‘Watch Me’ which is produced by Khrysis and has Jazzy Jeff doing scratches in the background.. What to expect from the production? Incredible baselines a lot of samples and drum loops snare & kicks and a few other instruments thrown into the mix.

The album starts off with ‘Welcome To The Minstrel Show’ a intro that sets the mood which follows through the whole album and even is the ending of the album ‘Minstrel Show Clothing Theme’. For those who don’t know In the minstrel shows of the late 1800’s, white and Black performers would blacken their faces with cork and perform as stereotypical, grossly exaggerated racist caricatures of Black culture. The whole album runs almost like a TV series on a network ‘UBN’, there’s a lot of interludes and skits after tracks and one skit even extends to being an RnB parody like song titled ‘Cheatin’.

Apart from that the tracks were Big Pooh and Phonte spit are amazing simply put, you have two rappers who were better than your average rappers on their first album who have now stepped up their games the lyrics are more harder hitting and the flows perfected. The album flows from one track to another track the best example of this is how ‘Beautiful Morning’ leads onto ‘The Becoming’. Also the subject matter is extremely diverse and covers a range of subjects.

Overall this album gets a 4.5/5 only reason it doesn’t deserve a 5/5 is because the interludes and skits ruin repeated plays from the beginning to end of the album. Buy this album if you want a break from the norm.

Common – BE

Posted on March 30, 2013 by WWC

Once before another Chicago hip hop head blew up the scene there was another mc keeping hope in all Chicagoan hip hop heads many years before. His lyrics were unmatchable by miles and had a whole different state of mind then most of his fellow emcees which why maybe he isn’t credited as much due to him being ahead of his times. After 10 years from releasing his debut which is hailed as a classic too most he made an appearance on Kanye West’s College Dropout Get Em’ High. It seems like time had finally caught up with Common with the album which has been labelled as classic “BE”.

As the album begins we are giving the title song and its nothing but mind blowing on both parts and this is from one hip-hop head who doesn’t claim Kanye is the god. Kanye and Jay puts everything in this beat everything from piano,strings, an addictive bassline and this Synthesizer which is cool and I haven’t heard before. While that beat is complicated the next one “Corners” is very simplistic with a drum loop and a lot of mumbling with sudden outburst of high pitched sampling with a quiet piano. I feel this one is overrated and the only two reasons why people hail this track as it’s got a Kanye label and Common lyrical skill. Common spits dope multi in each verse which he spits a different view in each one. “Go” is another thing praised which I can’t see as much. The beat kind of reminds me of lift music which isn’t a bad thing but isn’t really a good thing. Common lyrics are kind of sex rapish although his lyricial skill makes this above average unlike most artists. “Faithful” gets back on the track with its very soulful feel with its famous Kanye use to be RZA Sped-up high pitched sampling. It has Chicagoan horns at the hook while a nice Harmonica which in my opinion underused in hip-hop. Common metaphors God as a woman bring up some interesting things to think about while on the 2nd he paints a little story. His storytelling skills are showcased even more on “Testify” . Over a very simplistic beat which when I say simple I mean simple, Common in a spoken word voice and flow switches between first and third person a case in a courtroom only to be flipped right at the end. Jay Dee’s first solo production slot of the album and it’s a gem. He supplies Common with a very soulful beat while Common looks at what is love to different people in “Love Is” . “Chi City” has a very catchy beat with its funky Guitars being played. Again something new and that is a live version and no studio version. “The Food” has a nice beat with the piano based beat. The lyrical skill is up to scratch although its hard to hear sometimes due to the live sounds and also one verse is missing. “Real people” is a jazz horn laced beat and again I like this side of Kanye production. As you can see by the name Realness has a major part in this one as he had to release some view which he couldn’t be held in hoping to reach the “real” people. “They Say” is another Lift music feel though a good one. John Legend has a good soulful hook while Common tries to break down peoples comments while Kanye rambles on about something. “It’s your World/Pop Reprise”ends this delight but like every album Kanye appears on theirs always a track which goes on double the amount it needed although Jay Dee is behind this one. Either way the beat made from Violins and pianos is dope and Common spitting retrospective rhymes.

In all this gets a 4 out of 5 . It has too many flaws mentioned above to be classic which in my world means near perfect although it has many more pros then cons.

Common comes dope in all songs even Go I’m not a big fan of those type of raps. Common state of mind is refreshing from the same old “bang bang” or battle type of rappers and any other type of rappers. Although it very tight its overrated as hell and the reason you ask? Kanye West! Yes admit it half of you wouldn’t even give Common a second look it if never had Kanye’s name in the credits. They’re not perfect like I have pointed out earlier so I’m not going to make up reasons covering up the mistakes.

Recommendation: Buy this album if you want something refreshing from the same old stuff but also look at his “One day it’ll all make sense”. This is probably my second favourite Common CD.