The Game – The Documentary 2

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Malke

When The Game’s Aftermath debut The Documentary came out it was one of the most anticipated albums to come out at the time. A lot of things happened since then. The Game is still an anticipated artists but he’s had falling outs with 50 Cent/G-Unit and fights with various rappers. What I remember most from The Documentary was that the beats was dope (Dre did a few) and The Game namedropped more than any rapper has ever done before. That album, just like the sequel, had a lot of big name features. For The Documentary 2, Game is reunited with Dre, Scott Storch and Just Blaze which is a very good sign.

Intro
On Me feat. Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar has stepped into the rap game with a new style of hiphop. This style has influenced a lot of artists and songs. Even Dr Dre has adopted it on the Straight Outta Compton soundtrack. Here, Game takes a shot at it and he almost sounds like Kendrick when he spit. As an old school cat I was skeptical at first but I have to say that the style itself grew on me. This track has a tight beat without alot of instruments added to it, but it works and I can definitely feel it.
Step Up feat. Dej Loaf & Sha Sha
The Game’s trying to go all Nas on this track. With a New York inspired beat he talks about honor among thieves and the rap game. It’s been done before, but I’ll stop the hating there.
Don’t Trip feat. Ice Cube, Dr Dre & Will.I.Am
An other hot producer at the moment (or more like the past couple of years) is Will.I.Am. The beat’s once again a little naked, which I guess is hot right now, but it’s got more of a Will.I.Am touch. Cube and Dre are reunited once again but this time it’s no monster hit. Nice filler, but I would have loved to hear Game, Cube and Dre on a classic Dr Dre(TM) beat…
Standing On Ferrais feat. Diddy
The Game and Diddy… I guess Game do want him singing, dancing in his videos and so on… Anyway. A jazz inspired beat with Game spitting some real nice verses and Diddy making sounds in the background and talking in the outro. This is a filler with a guest star.
Dollar And A Dream feat. AB Soul
Dollar And A Dream is an other soulistic track. The Game sounds more and more like Nas voice wise, but lyrically he’s still the same Game with one exeption; he’s not dropping names every other bar. AB Soul and Game reflects over what has happened since The Documentary. It’s a pretty nice track.
Made In America feat. Mvrcus Blvck
Made In America is like a continuation of Dollar And A Dream. The track even starts off with the line “Dollar and a dream”. The Game again refers to Nas whom seems to be his new favorite rapper nowdays. The track is soulistic and nice to listen to, but I’m missing a club banger this far on the album.
Hashtag feat. Jelly Roll
As a reviewer on 30rap.com I admittedly like the 90’s style of hiphop and Jelly Roll is the 90’s west coast version of Lil’ Jon. Beat wise this track starts off kind of naked and builds, just like a Lil Jon production…
Circles feat. Q-Tip, Eric Bellinger & Sha Sha
On Circles, The Game is really displaying that he has evolved as a rapper. From namedropping one-liners and battle rap he can now do stories and conversations on tracks. The slow jam stylish beat changes after half of the track when the guest rappers go on and the track is all in all a really tight track.
Uncle Skit
Dedicated feat. Future & Sonyae
An other slow jam shows that this album is really different from the first Documentary album. Dedicated is mellow and I can see this being played in the background at restaurants or at coffee shops in Amsterdam. I need to try that next time I’m in Amsterdam…
Bitch You Ain’t Shit
Game really sounds like Nas on this track. His voice changed up a little bit from the first Documentary. In fact, The Game’s early JT stuff sounds more like this. I guess he evolved as a rapper which is not wrong. And besides, I love Nas as a rapper. You could think that Bitch You Ain’t Shit would be a raw diss track a la N.W.A, but it’s actually a mellow diss to bitches in general. Not too bad, but not what I expected.
Summertime feat. Jelly Roll
Game is making elevator music now. Is this really Jelly Roll on the track? Dude sounds nothing like on Hashtag.
Mula feat. Kanya West
The Game and Kanye West seems to be on eachothers albums all the time. I bet Kanya would take credit for Game’s success if asked about it too. I was never a big Kanya fan but I admit he’s a dope producer. In the words of Ice Cube, he should “stock to producing” in my opinion. Either way, this is an other mellow track that is not really standing out. It’s kind of short too, since the last minutes is an outro.
The Documentary 2
The title track is the only up-tempo track on the album, with production that sounds like a mix between Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre. The output is really tight and I would say this is the best track of the album. This should be a single.
New York, New York
New York, New York is not a sequel to Doggpound’s track with the same name. It’s more of a reflection on police brutality and racism in society. At the end of the track, Game dedicates the song to Stephanie Moseley who was murdered in a murder-suicide case where Earl Hayes was the shooter. Game was signed to Aftermath at the same time as Earl Hayes and offer his condolences to her family and expresses that he never saw it coming.
100 feat. Drake
100 is the first single off the album and while it is no club banger it’s a good representative track over hiphop today. The “New West” sound and Drake. It can’t be more 2015 than that. I guess Drake and Game will attract attention, but I’m not really feeling that this is a single that will take the album to the next level.
Just Another Day
On Just Another Day, The Game reflects on how he was signed to Aftermath and what’s been happening since then. He remembers specific days in his life and reminisce over Eazy E, Nate Dogg and other fallen soldiers from the history of the rap game.
LA feat. Snoop Dogg, Will.I.Am & Fergie
Just like the title implies, the track is a tribute to Los Angeles. The production is similar to the soft soulistic stuff that we’ve previously heard on the album but here there is a more pop-oriented hook and the drums is a little harder than before. It’s a nice little track, but I’m not impressed. As on any other platinum artists album, Snoop makes a guest appearance. The Game enters the track late and makes it a little rawer with a few bars about Compton and gangs of L.A.

When reviewing a sequel album like The Documentary 2, it’s impossible not to compare it to the original. All in all, this album is much more mellow and soulistic than the first album. While The Documentary had Dr. Dre trademarked bangers, The Documentary 2 has adopted the new style of west coast hiphop that we can hear on Kendrick Lamars albums, Dre’s Straight Outta Compton and so on. As a reviewer on 30rap.com I am more into the 90’s sound so it’s a little disappointment for me personally, but I get it. I get the greatness of the new sound and I get that hiphop is evolving, or recycling an old sound with new influences. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you should check this album out. If you do know what I’m talking about and you like it, you should check this album out. If you are looking for a Documentary, Chronic 2001 or Get Rich or Die Trying type of album, this is not the album for you.

I rate this album 3 out of 5. It’s a nice album but I doubt I’ll remember it in 10 years. Best track is the title track and other than that I can imagine playing this album in the background of a house party or something like that.

Mistah Fab – I Found My Backpack 3

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Qlof

West Coast rapper Mistah FAB used to be signed to Mac Dre’s label Thizz Entertainment and Atlantic Records.. Apparently he is also known as a good freestyle rapper.

I discovered Mistah FAB in 2007 when he released “The Baydestrian” which to me was a very good album. That album showed a Mistah FAB that mixed meaningful deep tracks with crunk party songs. After that I kind of slept on Mistah FAB and didn’t check any new releases, but when I saw that “I found my backpack 3″ had been released I thought I’d check it out.

There are a lot of rappers with meaningful rhymes, and there are a lot of rappers that can make good music and make it sound good. But there aren’t a lot of rappers that can spit meaningful rhymes and making sound good while doing so. Mistah FAB is one of a few that can do this and is also able to mix depressing messages with party tracks and get away with it.

“I Found My Backpack 3″ starts up with a track produced by Warren G, titled “Dreams”. I’m really feeling the beat and Mistah FAB has really taken advantage of it, making a really tight track and a strong starting point for the album.

When writing this review, I was going to write more about the tracks that sticks out in a positive way, but listening to this album it’s becoming really hard… It would be easier to point out tracks that stick out in a negative aspect. I really think that “I Found My Backpack 3″ has a lot of bangers and I really think Mistah FAB has a lot of relevant topics covered here.

Even though Mistah FABs lyrics may not focus on the gangsta part of gangsta rap as much as many other West Coast rappers, he is (to me) representative for the new bay area scene and one of the top West Coast rappers as of now. FAB is bringing a new dimension to the West Coast scene and even single song on the album has got a meaning and a message, which is a pretty rare concept these days. I advise anyone to check this album out. You’ll not regret it!

Recommended tracks: Generation Lost, Back To Tha Front, We All Know Her, This Ain’t Listenin, Who U Gon Turn To? and This is what’s cool?

Necro – The Murder Murder Kill Kill Double EP – 7.6/10

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Richard Priors

Hard to admit sometimes but rap fans often are a conservative bunch. For all the ranting and raving against commercialized hip-hop, they don’t want an artist to rock the boat too hard and there are limits to how hardcore things should get. That pretty much sums up why Necro is condemned to cult status, which in the natural order of things goes with the territory when your whole steez is built around exploitation. But to pigeonhole Ron Braunstein as a one trick pony doesn’t do the man and his undeniable talent, both in the booth and behind the boards, justice. The initiated already know that the self-proclaimed Sexorcist is part of a lineage of rugged East Coast emcees like Kool G Rap, Tragedy Khadafi, Akinyele and Mobb Deep.

Enter the Murder Murder Kill Kill Double EP, somewhat of a stop-gap release and at the same time a defiant fuck you to all the critics that have labeled him one-dimensional his entire career. First thing you notice is the amazing album artwork, a nod to seventies horror flicks with a zombie like creature rocking a necklace made out of human heads, holding a bloody butcher knife in one hand and another decapitated head in the other.

The actual album is made up out of five sides: Thug Shit, Death Rap, Jewish Gangsters, Tabloid/Comedy/Random and The Sexorcist. Necro murder murder kill kills the 15 songs contained within, no matter what the subject matter is. The double EP offers a couple of sneak previews of upcoming collaborations. First with the legendary Kool G Rap, ‘The System’, and then Mr. Hyde, the track ‘GORE!’ which builds anticipation for their Gruesome Twosome project as they trade sadistic verses on the cut.

The production is vintage Necro, gritty basslines and eerie piano loops pop up throughout the proceedings. On the Jewish Gangsters side, perhaps the best part of the album, he revisits the Black Helicopters sound with great success. The only downside is that these songs, like most of the tracks on the album are too damn short considering how dope they are. ‘Tough Jew’ and ‘Rabbi Holding Guns’ are both one verse and that’s it. Even the aforementioned ‘The System’ doesn’t go beyond two verses. It makes you hope these songs won’t be abandoned and will appear in a more fully developed form on future Psycho+logical Records releases.

At the end of the day this double EP fulfills it’s purpose as it keeps the momentum from the outstanding DIE! album going while it serves as an appetizer for great things to come. In that regard in seems kind of unfair to fault the album for being a bit slight on songs, verses and polish. It also illustrates that after all these years Necro hasn’t run out of steam and has enough ideas in his warped mind for more than a few new full length LP’s down the line. This record could already have been that next great album. The concept was in place along with the beats and rhymes but because of it’s short length it ends up being one hell of a preview. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait too long for that G Rap & Necro Godfathers collabo.

Recommended: The System, GORE!, Tough Jew, For The Streets, Sharon’s Fetus

Insane Clown Posse – The Tempest – 7.1/10

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Richard Priors

Yes, this is Insane Clown Posse, the counterargument to every point you ever tried making to someone about the artistic merits of rap music and it being based around intricate wordplay and rhyme schemes. They’re most likely rap music’s biggest guilty pleasure this side of Vanilla Ice. While we’re at it, let’s admit we all dig ‘Ice Ice Baby’ and that you simply can’t front on that song, okay? Good.

Now as far as guilty pleasures go ICP are a riot. If you’re not into frat boy, or better yet juvenile humor you’ll never be able to stomach their brand of music and you probably haven’t noticed that they’ve become better at rapping over the years. At least Violent J has but Shaggy 2 Dope knows his role and plays it to perfection.

The Tempest, released in 2007, is in my opinion the most fun album they’ve made in their entire career and the best pure pop-rap album in a minute. Make no mistake about it, The Tempest is ICP turning into a Kid ’n Play for the new millennium, with serial killer aspirations, and it’s a blast kickstepping your way through this one.

Producer Mike E. Clark is largely responsible for the record turning out as good as it did. It’s his work behind the boards that truly makes the record the rollercoaster ride to which the album title refers. Clark knows that you can never overdue old school scratching on the turntables and that dropping some meaty guitar bits in the mix just adds to the overall flavor. Leave some rooms for catchy hooks and sing-along choruses

With the beats behind them the clowns can do what they do best: entertain. Their approach on the mic might be basic but they never set out to be Aesop Rock or Royce da 5’9”, they just want to talk about parties, girls and killing sprees. It’s when they venture into more serious territory that their limitations become obvious. Luckily that doesn’t happen too often on The Tempest. At times they tend to overplay the poppy hooks card but there’s a always a dirty joke lurking just around the corner when that happens.

If you’re looking for a fun record that’s good for some laughs and takes you back to the glory days of the Fat Boys and Young MC, in spirit at least, The Tempest is well worth spending an hour with.

Recommended: The Party, Bitch I lied, Mexico City, If I was a serial killer

Vinnie Paz – God of the serengeti

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Qlof

Vinnie Paz from Jedi Mind Tricks has been in my playlists for several years now. Most recent “End of Days” has been one of the tracks I’ve been bumping alot. I like the fact that Vinnie Paz talks alot about conspiracy theories, government influence and “the man”. He’s also got an ability to find real tight beats to spit over. Personally I think his delivery is not the best, at least not when trying to do slow love-songs and such, but it goes well with certain types of songs. “God of the serengeti” was released in october of 2012 and for me, it was one of the albums I was anticipating the most in 2012.

1. Shadow of the Guillotine (featuring Q-Unique) Produced by: DJ Lethal
Half of the first track is a quote from some movie, with some guy saying he is your king… Once the track gets going Vinnie Paz and Q-Unique are spitting what basically is battle lyrics, talking about how great they are and how people want to stop them etc. I basically view this as an intro…

2. Slum Chemist Prod: C-Lance
“Who knows what the f*ck God wants?” and “You ask for forgiveness but you should ask why” are two representative quotes from this song. Vinnie P’s talking about a variaty of things but I think the essance of the song is that everybodys reality is different and what is right and wrong is defined by the individuals own conception of the same, because who really knows what the f*ck God wants? The beat’s pretty repetative but as a whole it’s a pretty good track.

3. The Oracle Prod: DJ Premier
We all know what DJ Premier can do so I had high expectations on this track. Unfortunately, production could be better… Vinnie P’s rapping about himself, innanet thugz, b*tches and other stuff that irritates him. Basically an other battle rap track. I can dig it, but it’s average…

4. And Your Blood Will Blot Out the Sun (featuring Immortal Technique & Poison Pen) Prod: Tony Kenyatta
Vinnie Paz and Immortal Technique has a similar style and go real well together. They are joined by Poison Pen on this track even though I’m not sure which part he does since I only hear two verses. I guess he could be doing the hook. Vinnie and Immortal Technique is talking about the world, injustices of the world and how the world is ruled by crazy dictators. I like it. The beat is really tight with some sample playing over a tight drumbeat.

5. Last Breath (featuring Baby Pun & Whispers) Prod: C-Lance
Vinnie’s going for the radio with this one. “Last Breath” has a real catchy hook and beat. Just like “And Your Blood…” it has a really good sample and drumbeat as base for the track. This time some other instruments has been added as well making it even more radio friendly. I wouldn’t say Vinnie Paz sold out though. It’s not like he’s singing a hook with Brittany Spears or something… Anyway, as the title implies this song is about death and what these rappers would give their last breath for. It’s a really deep track, and I really believe that listeners of Vinnie Paz should take the time to hear what he’s got to say.

6. Crime Library (featuring Blaq Poet) Prod: Marco Polo
“Crime Library” is basically a story about different types of crimes. What impresses me most about this track is the mixing. I rarely even think about how a track is mixed but this has a really good sound image and I can’t wait to bump this in my car. That kind of saves the track which would have been pretty boring if it wasn’t for that.

7. Feign Submission (Interlude) Prod: JBL the Titan
I’m not sure why this is called an interlude when the first track of the album is not. Some kid is talking for 30 secs and then Vinnie starts rapping over a sample. It’s a pretty good sample and Vinnie catches on to it.

8. Duel to the Death (featuring Mobb Deep) Prod: Stu Bangas
Mobb Deep seems to be connected to a certain melodramatic type of music. This adds on to that stereotype. I’m not sure how well Vinnie’s fitting in on this type of track but it’s a typical Mobb Deep track and they are usually pretty good…

9. Problem Solver (featuring Scarface) Prod: The Arcitype
“Problem Solver” has a tight beat and legendary featuring as Scarface is making a guest appearance. I can bump this track alot, but it’s not memorable in any way. Vinnie P and Scarface is talking about how good they are, what they’ve seen etc. I can dig it…

10. Battle Hymn (featuring Apathy, King Syze, Crypt the Warchild, Jus Allah, Esoteric, Blacastan, Celph Titled & Planetary) Prod: Mr. Green
Another battle rap track by Vinnie Paz. Another tight sample. Another tight beat. I’m going to bump this in the future.

11. Geometry of Business (featuring La Coka Nostra) Prod: Havoc
Vinnie Paz knows how to find good beats, that’s for sure. Here he’s teaming up with La Coka Nostra on a Havoc beat to deliver a really nice track. The beat gets a little bit repetitive but that’s ok.

12. Jake LaMotta Prod: Illinformed
After alot of guests it’s time for a solo track from Vinnie. I really like the funk inspired beat. For those who doesn’t know, Jake LaMotta was a boxer nicknamed “The Raging Bull” or “The Bronx Bull” portrayed by Robert de Niro in 1980 movie “Raging Bull”. In this track, Vinnie P’s saying that he’s like the bull from Bronx.

13. 7 Fires of Prophecy (featuring Tragedy Khadafi) Prod: Beatnick Dee
Tragedy Khadafi is, just like Vinnie Paz and Immortal Technique, known for texts about society, society structure and power structure in the world and in the United States. However, this song doesn’t have a clear message. They’ve felt pain in their lives and you shouldn’t mess with them. You’re not ready…

14. Cheesesteaks Prod: Psycho Les
“Cheesesteaks” is another solo track with a really nice beat. This far, the beats are really holding this album. Vinnie’s got some nice lines as he’s mixing battle-like rhymes with points and lessions from his life.

15. Cold, Dark, and Empty (featuring FT & Smoke) Prod: Jack of All Trades
Vinnie, FT and Smoke are spitting fire over this powerful beat from Jack of All Trades. I really like the intensity that these rappers are delivering on this track. This is a tight track!

16. Razor Gloves (featuring R.A. the Rugged Man) Prod: MTK
Here Vinnie’s rapping about how he’s the God of the serengeti. Both beat and delivery is kind of repetative at a first listen of the track, but once I’ve bumped this a few times I’m getting into it. R.A. the Rugged Man is providing a really good addition to this track and album.

17. Wolves Amongst the Sheep (featuring Kool G Rap & Block McCloud) Prod: C-Lance
Block McCloud is a hook machine. I can’t believe more rappers hasn’t discovered him to use him in hooks. Instead of a boy-like singing he’s got a raw touch to his voice which makes the hooks less teeny and more…. raw. Any rapper reading this should get him on a few hooks. The track itself isn’t a highlight of this album but it’s okay. Vinnie and Kool G Rap are doing their thing and as the title indicates they’re talking about wolves among the sheep. The sheep is the peoble, but who are the wolves?

18. You Can’t Be Neutral On a Moving Train Prod: C-Lance, JBL the Titan
Finally, Vinnie’s doing one of the thing he does best – political rap. “You can’t be neutral on a moving train” means you can’t be neutral while alot of sh*t happens in our society. The track’s based on a really tight sample and delivery as well as the stories are top notch. One of the highlights of this album.

Overall, I was a little disappointed with this album. I expected Vinnie Paz to step up another notch from “Season of the Assassin” and if he would’ve done that this album could’ve been a classic. But even though I’m a little disappointed I have to admit it is a really solid album. Tracks like “Last Breath”, “Battle Hymn” and “You can’t be neutral on a moving train” are really good tracks that anyone should check out. I’ll still bump this album and anticipate Vinnie P’s next release, but I’ll be hoping for more politically inspired lyrics as I think Vinnie does that really well.

If you like Lil Wayne or if you’re excited when your favourite rapper has Brittany Spears featuring on a song, this album is not for you. If you like Jedi Mind Tricks and Vinnie Paz, or similar music, you should definitely check this out. I rate this album 3,5 out of 5.