Controversy just about defines this release. With the recent release of Deathrow’s unreleased songs and their vault slowly being emptied, Forthepeople Entertainment has brought forth yet another controversial album – Kurupt’s original “Against Tha Grain”, recorded in 03-04. This album is an EP, and consists mostly of disses to Snoop, and former Dogg Pound affiliates – Soopafly and Daz Dillinger; making for a very interesting project. Kurupt, himself, has also sounded off on the release of this album, trying to hault it’s production, having reconciled with Tha Dogg Pound. On to the review:

So, was this album worth the hype? I think it’s apparent the answer is yes. This was obviously a time in Kurupt’s career (during his return to Death Row), where he had a lot he felt he had to air out. Whether he was Suge’s mouthpiece or not is still in question, but the entertainment of these tracks alone make for a good purchase. Album highlights include “No Vaseline Part 2”, “One Thangs Fo Sho”, and “Holocause 3000.” Support future Forthepeople Entertainment projects to hear more of that classic Deathrow material still left in the vaults.

Overall Rating: 4/5

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.

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.

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.

Kurupt – Kuruption – 1998 Antra Records

After the rise and fall of Death Row Records, Dogg Pound and platinum selling artist Kurupt split from the label and dropped his first solo album after working with the likes of Daz, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and being a part of one of the greatest dynasties in rap history. How his solo album would fare was up in the air.

West Coast Disc

1. This One’s For U – Production: Studio Tone 

A laid back track with a good bounce to it, the production is dope for what it tries to achieve. Kurupt lays back with some pimp shit, dropping some tight lyrical flow with good word play. Good start to the West coast disc.

2. Make Some Noize – Production: Soopafly

Teaming up with Dogg Pound affiliate producer Soopafly, they work together to drop a sick collab. Beats that bang in your speakers and Kurupt comes hard over the beat, with a good chorus by Daz to yell to while having this bang in your car speakers. Good background adlibs by Daz. A slight remake of Public Enemy’s “Bring the Noise” for the new era. Dope track

3. Put That On Something – Production: Devante 

Another track that bangs in the speakers, takes a while to get going. Sounds more like a studio freestyle than a track itself, the vocals have the sound of a freestyle and the mixing isn’t that great. The track is allright to start but its easy to skip past and not miss it. Especially with the chorus which is kind of embarrassing

4. Play My Cards – Production: Battlecat

This track sounds more west coast G Funk than the earlier “west coast album” tracks. With the trumpets and bounce to the background, Kurupt lays down some dope Dogg Food style verses. Tight track, very reminiscent of his Death Row days.

5. We Can Freak It – Production: Battlecat 

Instant classic and one of Kurupt’s best tracks he ever dropped. West coast hit inside out, Kurupt drops one of his best storytelling tracks ever, over the production that just bangs. Any fan of the west could love this track for all its worth. It speaks for itself better than I can say.

6. Fresh – Production: Daz 

The first Daz and Kurupt collabo on this album, and instantly takes you back to the Dogg Pound era. No verses dropped by Daz, but the production he lays out for Kurupt are nothing less than the hits they dropped a few years earlier. Tight track.

7. C Walk ft. Trey Deee – Production: Daz 

Another instant Kurupt classic, and one of his highlights of his career. Daz gives a perfect beat for the verbal assault Kurupt is about to spit on the track. Laid back track but its just fire beginning to end, was later remixed with Tupac (never released) but the original with Trey is much better.

8. Ho’s A Housewife – Production: Kurupt 

The original version of the Kurupt hit that would later appear on his “Streetz” album and Dr. Dre’s 5 mic album “2001”. Its hard to say which version is the best, lyrics are all the same, so it’s a matter of production which are all good in their own right. Another Kurupt highlight of his career.

9. Cant Let That Slide – Production: Twin 

A tight beat, west coast feel to it all the way. Unfortunetely the squirrel voice for a chorus might ruin the track. Kurupt’s storytelling abilities hit a high point this far into the album. Minus the chorus, tight track all the way.

10. That’s Gangsta – Production: Warren G

Teaming up with legendary producer Warren G who helped innovate the west coast sound, it’s a perfect end to the west coast disc. Not so much of a club banger like you’d expect from them, but its an eerie feel to it, and Kurupt lays it down for the strange beat from Warren.

11. Survive Another Day

A slower and deep, dark beat, that Kurupt flows over perfectly. He hits another storytelling high of his career, one of the tracks you just kick back and listen to him tell the story. The chorus fits the track perfectly, dope track.

12. Ask Yourself A Question- Production: Dr. Dre 

Not your typical Dre beat, so don’t get the hopes up for a instant banger. The production might even be the fall off of this track. Kurupt lays down an average set of verses. Not the greatest track on the album.

East Coast Disc

1. It’s a Set Up – Production: D Moet

First listen to the album way back, this was my favorite track on the album. The record static fits the track perfectly, the beat is just bass through the speakers and Kurupt tears the mutha*****a up. It’s a give or take song to most people, but I love this song.

2. Light Shit Up ft. Buckshot – Production: Easy Mo Bee

Kurupt teams up with legendary East coast producer, the way he teamed up with the likes of Daz or Warren G on the west coast disc. Buckshot kicks it off with a dope ass verse, and proves a good duo with Kurupt. Another ill track to start off the East Coast album.

3. Game – Production: D Moet 

D Moet returns with another banging beat for Kurupt to tear up. Track is off the hook, the two of them were a good pair for each other because this far into the album, they’ve dropped two of the dopest tracks on the entire album. Great track.

4. Gimmewhatchagot – Production: MED 

Repetitive and jumpy beat, and Kurupt doesn’t do much to flow over it. The lyrics he drop would be better suited over another type of beat. Bad choice to combine them together, Kurupt does some tight verses, but the song as a whole doesn’t work very well.

5. If You See Me ft. Trigga – Production: Storm 

Very Wutang feel to the track, given, since Storm is famous for doing production for the Clan. First definite East coast track and its odd at first to hear Kurupt on a style of track like this but he doesn’t disappoint. West coast heads will probably be annoyed with it, but it’s a dope track. Loving it.

6. The Life ft. El Drex – Production: D Moet 

A third banging laid back, make you think style track by D Moet. Kurupt and El Drex trade lines back and forth very well with each other. Dope laid back shit, you can picture this track in a movie where someone is in the low point of their life. Tight shit.

7. No Feelings ft. Slop, Patacico – Production: D Moet 

This track is a straight up hit. Kurupt tears up the beat, again D Moet and Kurupt hook up on this east coast disc and again, hit it on the head again. This shit is just fire, Kurupt teaming up with two unknown rappers but you’d never think about it twice, its just a straight hit. One of the best tracks on both discs.

8. Its Time ft. Deadly Venom 

Kurupt hooks up with Deadly Venom, a female rapper who did work with Cappadonna and Wutang. She comes hard over the beat, which is really basic, but the track is just grimey. Gets a little tired before Kurupt finally steps in, if you don’t skip the track before he does. Probably the lowlight of the entire album.

9. I Wanna ft. Ralik Royale, Snake, Floyd, Drea – Production: Devante 

Again, another track to slow down the album. Stupid, unoriginal start to the track mixed with a wack mix of rappers who you hope you never hear from again. Bad song.

10. Who Do U Be – Production: RJ Rice

A more uptempo track that really does nothing to save the album by this point. Kurupt will start to rip but out of nowhere the chorus will kick in, gets annoying when you think hes about to keep tearing the track up. Kurupt does well but as a song together, its wack.

11. Freak It ft. Noreaga

Noreaga’s style of just being repetitive on choruses comes in, if you’re a fan of that, you’ll like it. Noreaga kicks off some dope rhymes over a deep beat. The track is actually pretty good, back in Noreaga’s prime teaming up with a kingpin from the west. Kurupt tears it up. Makes you forget about the last few horrible tracks, if you waited the album out this far.

At the time the album dropped, the rap game was just winding up years of nothing but classic albums on the east and west coast. Kurupt tried to capitalize with both coasts fans, and at the time, let down his fan base in the west while not impressing the people in the east. The album was criticized early, and people quickly put the album away. Looking back at the album today, its hard to believe this could ever be considered a failure. The album has a few weak points on each disc but are very overshadowed by the true hits of the album that people slept on.

Kurupt laid down some highlights of his career with “C Walk”, “We Can Freak It”, “Hos A Housewife”, and that’s just on one disc. On the other, hooking up with D Moet, they worked to drop some straight grimey bangers that should still be in peoples speakers 6 years later. In hindsight this album lyrically is Kurupt’s best output. He kills every track, regardless of the production, which at times is lacking but for the most part is killer. Give the album another listen because its nothing but heat that got lost in an era of classic albums.

Rating – 4/5

(The final word after each song (Poor/Average/Hot/Excellent) simply reflects how i feel about a song. So one song with the same word at the end can still be better than the other)

Kurupt goes for a mainstream approach to the hiphop market. The Smoke Oddessy CD sees more radio friendly and slightly less gangsta tunes to entice a different audience to his music.

1. Blast Off (Intro) 

Time to hit that Space Boogie….

2. Space Boogie ft Nate Dogg 

Good, hard introduction track from the production house of Fredwreck, nice bassline, im feeling that bassline. Nate’s entrance adds to the charm of the track. Kurupt mainly raps about Westcoasting and himself with the DPG. For all those who never heard a DPG rap song before its the track to introduce them to Kurupt. Good.

3. Hate on Me ft Soopafly & Damani 

Personally i dont like this song. I feel the beat is messed up, repetetive and annoying. ‘Fly delivers the usual witty lines and his style eg, the way he takes the hook. Still, i personally dont like it for the beat. Song is generally about the hate they all recieve. Average/poor

4. On da Grind ft Daz 

Real catchy Westcoast cavi hit. A good old duet with Daz and Kurupt. Good feelings to this u can really feel the chemistry between the two. Reminds of the old ‘Dogg Food’ days when they talked about slangin their dope on the block. All about good times, piano driven, this song is hot.

5. It’s Over ft Natina Reed 

Undeniably a pop song recognisable by its cheeky beat and an appearance from a female rapper! This track was released as a single so Kurupt take the liberty of giving props to fellow homeboys like Dre, Snoop, Tone and Poke. Kurupt comes of fine but Natina is the usual chart-rapper. Does nothing to help the reputation of a legendary Westcoast emcee though. Average borderline poor.

6. Can’t Go Wrong ft DJ Quik and Butch Cassidy 

DJ Quik hardly ever fails to impress. The mastering of the song sounds a bit grimey when played loud. One of the hottest joints on the CD. Butch owns the hook with the saxaphone accompanying his smooth voice, Kurupt takes two verses and Quik takes the third with some downright dirty lyrics about “mooshing the goosh!”. A fantastic Westcoast collabo. Hot, excellent.

Xzibit interlude:

The X has a hard dig at those coming to test him all the time. Leads onto the next track…

7. On, Onsite ft Lil HD 

A display of Fredwreck’s hottest production, madd tight beat! Kurupt raps about letting off on those coming at him to challenge him and *****-mades with the Dogg Pound. Snoop’s homie Lil 1/2 Dead sings the hook to it which doesnt add too much to a hot track but works fine. Kurupt spits pure venom. It combines to make a hella tight track. Hot

8. Sunshine ft John B 

I don’t know too much about John B apart from he’s a white RnB singer with a great pull on emcees! This is clearly another radio-friendly track about the love for a girl and trying to pull her. Although generally i dont like it too much and it is pretty weak, this is a good summer chill-out track and John B’s production is actually quite hot if u give the track a chance. Good

9. The Hardest Mutha *****a’s ft Xzibit, Nate Dogg and MC Ren 

Kurupt is joined by two Westcoast legends…. and Xzibit! All jokes aside, excellent track. Hook is bomb. MC Ren begins the track spitting… like the track title says: something hard. The return of Ren is still as powerful and shocking as he ever was. Xzibit is very good too. Kurupt though doesnt come off as hard as the other two which is a shame. More of an “On, Onsite” verse would have been better, but that doesnt knock the track. Excellent

10. Gangsta’s 

Oddly the credits dont mention Daz’s appearance coz he takes the hook. Production is pretty weak and hook isnt that good. One of the weaker tracks. Average

G Funk Interlude:

Short break between tracks. Short beat with Kurupt talking about the old G-Funk sound

11. Bring Back That G Shit ft Snoop Doggy Dogg and Goldie Loc 

This tune doesnt feel as relevant to Kurupt as it does to Snoop and Goldie. Lyrically, Snoop raps reminiscent of his Doggfather style (i think that’s the point though!) but he’s generally weak and steals the show taking up two verses. Rhyming ‘geology’ with ‘G-ology’ i dont really find funny, sorry. Goldie Loc’s verse is macking for something so short. Damned Snoop, he was too greedy with this appearance. Average.

12. Lay It on Back ft Fred Durst, DJ Lethal and Nate Dogg 

Its the collaboration you dont really expect to happen with Kurupt. Yet he prettymuch pulls it off. Kurupt and DJ Lethal rap about the days of way back and hiphop’s old trends and when Kurupt first stepped to the streets. Biker shorts breakdancing and thick laces The verse from Nate sounds great too, but Fred Durst doesnt sound like he cares too much. Actin’ smoothe. Good/hot

13. Just Don’t Give A ***** ft DJ Lethal 

Another Limp Bizkit connected song. Better than the last, this one has alot more energy and attitude to it. Generally about not really giving a ***** and not caring for others. Im feeling the bit near the end with the ‘Cyco Lic No’ talking. Song is hot, beat jumps.

14. At It Again 

The first of two cuts by Damizza. At It Again is a great party about partying the whole weekend. Real radio friendly (i cant count one cuss word) but at the same time, very catchy, you can really sing along to the hook. Hot

15. Kuruption ft Everlast 

Another collabo you really wouldnt expect to go down. Its amazing how a country singer ends up and works well with a gangsta rapper! Atmosphere is built up in the intro to the song and hard hitting as the childrens choir sing. The beat comes in and its better than expected. The hook and general gist of the song is about things in the world being corrupt. Kurupt is about street crime Everlast’s verse is about some sort of country-style ballad and a troubled lover. Hot

***** Da World Interlude:

Brings in the apocalyptic intro to the next track

16. ***** Da World ft Daz 

Quite simply, Kurupt’s had enough. Average

17. *****es ft Roscoe and Butch Cassidy 

The second and best production from Damizza. “Something to bang.” Please beleive that, this song is simply amazing when used in conjunction with the finest subs. Bass cuts so low the windows rattle. The lyrics are cheeky (sexist in other words) and funny. Roscoe’s verse equals that of Kurupt. Butch steals that hook. Song is excellent

Conclusion

Kurupt took a risk by going more commercial this time. The CD is probably something comparable to the likes of Dr Dre’s 2001- quite a few guest appearances along with the commercial sound. Nevertheless, alot of the songs work and are above average in both production and cameos. Fredwreck’s talent is truly displayed in the likes of the hard hitting ‘On, Onsite,’ ‘The Hardest Mutha *****as’ and ‘Space Boogie’ while Damizza helps with his two cuts (Damizza met Butch Cassidy through the connections made in ‘*****es’ Overall i cant really complain about this CD. i like it, you should like it too but its on a different level from the likes of alot of other DPG releases. I award it a 4/5. It innovative and something new and one of the decent Westcoast releases since after 2000. My advice, if you’re not really into Westcoast sounds and you seem interested, this is a good album to check out.

01. I Call Shots w/Roscoe (4.23)
02. Loose Cannons w/Daz & Xzibit (2.23)
03. Who Ride Wit Us w/Daz & Bad Azz (4.21)
04. Represent Dat G.C w/Daz, Snoop, Soopafly, Tray Dee, Jayo Felony & Butch Cassidy (5.06)
05. Welcome Home w/Latoya (4.13)
06. Tequilla w/Niva, Daz & T-Moe of Goodie Mob (3.45)
07. Trylogy (2.15)
08. Neva Gonna Give It Up w/Warren G, Snoop, Nate Dogg, Tray Dee & Soopafly (4.45)
09. Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha w/Daz & Big Pimpin (4.08)
10. Ya Cant Trust Nobody w/Daz (2.52)
11. It Ain’t About You w/Soopafly, Tray Dee & Latoya (4.47)
12. Girls All Pause w/Nate Dogg & Roscoe (3.28)
13. Your Gyrl Friend w/Daz (4.07)
14. Ho’s A Housewife w/Dr Dre & Hitman (4.44)
15. I Ain’t Shit Without My Homeboyz w/Daz, Soopafly, Crooked I & Baby S (4.37)
16. Step Up w/Crooked I & Xzibit (4.53)
17. Live On The Mic w/Krs-One [Bonus Track] (5.28)
18. Callin Out Names [Hidden Track] (3.55)

PRODUCTION: Organized Noize, Daz, Blaqthoven, Fredwreck, Soopafly, Bink Dogg, Meech Wells, Dr Dre, Battlecat & Joe Marrone.

BILLBOARD 1999 No.31
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums 1999 No.5
Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles 2000 No.62 “Girls All Pause”
Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles 2000 No.62 “Who Ride Wit Us”
Rhythmic Top 40 2000 No.21 “Who Ride Wit Us”

Born Ricardo Brown in Philadelphia in 1972, Kurupt (aka Young Gotti) one half of the infamous but now split Dogg Pound Gangstas returned in 1999 with his second solo album after leaving the highly successful Deathrow Records, which he has recently rejoined. After Kurupt’s first success solo album on Antra Records entitled “Kuruption” 1999 was clearly the year of the Dogg as all members of Tha DPG reunited as one along with former Deathrow artists such as Tray Dee & Dr Dre to bring us “Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha”. With features on this album from not only the DPG members and production from the best in the game this was bound to catch the attention of all rap fans world wide.

After a hard couple of years off Deathrow Kurupt had finally launched himself as an official solo artist as many often, and still to date, associated him with his former partner in crime Daz Dillinger (aka Dat Nigga Daz).

In “Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha” Kurupt delievers his best performance to date and the featured artists and production team perfectly produce a ground breaking album. Artists such as Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Soopafly, Daz & Dr Dre, already well known for their contribution to the game, all manage to perform to the best of their ability as you can see the full potential shine off all artists as they truely resurrected the DPG and Westcoast Gangsta rap which dominated the rap community for years. We are also introduced to Roscoe’s lyrical flow as he steps up to the stage with his big brother Kurupt and even find the odd callabo with Hip Hop’s Ol’ School Krs-One and Goodie Mob’s T- Mo.

The album is pure Westcoast bangin’ as tracks like Fred Wreck’s produced “Represent Dat G.C” features the enitire click from Snoop Dogg to Jayo felony. As each artist rips the mic apart Battlecat sings the hooks with the talk box, defining the typical G- Funk, DPG classics we all look forward to hearing, we are even hit with the famous and unforgetable “W Balls Radio” skit at the beginining.
Similar G- Funk songs such as Meech Wells’ “Neva Gonna Give It Up” with DPG and a side serving of Warren G is notibly a highlight in the album as Kurupt’s flow and performance with his fellow homies show his full potential along with the featured artists as they fit perfectly together on the beat. Nate Dogg continues the blows on the hook as he proudly sings “Im still a Dogg Pound nigga im Neva Gonna Give It Up…Never Gonna Give It Up”. The Soopafly production on beats such as “It Ain’t About You” & “Welcome Home” with Latoya, are also highlighted as the songs are laced with pure Soopa-doopa-fly flow and filled with Westcoast tweaks and synthesizers as only Priest knows best. Daz has also contributed to the production with hard classic DPG hits such as “Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha” which offers Big Pimpin’ as he schools the listener about the streets with his smooth voice and pimped out slang, mostly remembered for his Pimp Preaching on Above The Rim’s “Big Pimpin”. Daz also uses a different style on “Loose Cannons” with Xzibit along with Kurupt as the rapping is done over a sample of NWA’s “Quiet On Tha Set” performed by MC Ren off the “Straight Outta Compton” album. Kurupt’s ability to lyrically perform and flow are excellent on these tracks and the production make Kurupt’s talent explode all over the album even more than usual.

Other bangin’ tracks included are Organized Noize’s “I Call Shots” with Roscoe & “Tequilla” with T-Mo from Goodie Mob, where Kurupt literally tears the beats to shreds. The blessing of the Dr Dre “Ho’s A Housewife” track also is spectacular as Kurupt again lyrically performs smoothly with non stop rhythm along with Hitman on his side. The club joint “Girls All Pause” produced by Bink Dogg with Nate Dogg has a catchy hook and Roscoe smooth sails out the beat with his brothers witty syle of rapping and flow. “Trylogy” also by Bink Dogg uses a classical sample of violins as Kurupt unites the East/West hardcore flow to the track to match the composer, which he performs with ease. The overlooked co-production and background vocals by Blaqthoven on a few songs is perfect as he has earned today the prevlidge to produce for artists such as Tha Realest, C-Bo & Eastwood.

For the Deathrow fans there are lyrical contests in tracks such as “I Ain’t Shit Without My Homeboyz” & “Step Up” as Kurupt goes one on one with the most talented lyricists on the album, besides himself and lil’ brother Roscoe, and that is Crooked I. Together with Daz, Kurupt’s ability to rap together with Crooked I is deadly and both artists spit venom as Kurupt blasts 100mph on “Step Up” “Terror starts, in the midst of your heart, starts/the storm, my vocals float like arts. In the mystic state of mind, when i create a rhyme/my microphone massacres every year the same time”. The lyrical content by Kurupt is extradionary and he has always shown lyrical talent along with the ambition to flow to any beat dropped on his ears from his debut on The Chronic. The album also has a special guest appearance by none other than Hip Hop’s Ol’ School flava of KRS-One on “Live On The Mic”, its good to see KRS with Kurupt putting the Ol’ & New school together in production aspect and in lyrical flow as well. The album also features a hidden track “Callin’ Out Names” produced by Fredwreck, which is directed at Kurupt’s beef at the time with DMX, Ruff Ryders and Murder Inc. The beat is funky and the words are hard to swallow as a lyrical master puts himself at the front line.

Kurupt has gone to extra lengths on this album to ignite DPG and his old homies from Deathrow Records and make this an album to remember. The production on this album was spectacular G- Funked with a tablespoon of DPG & the spices of Westcoast genius. Flow was on point as for the lyrics… well it should be used as a lyrical dictionary for upcoming rappers. To hear the DPG united on tracks laced with Fredwreck beats and other westcoast artists is rare today. To have four to five rappers all on the same dope beat is phenominal. The year of 1999 was obviously the highlight for the DPG as all artists returned on this album with a message… and that was to say WE BACK!. Kurupt had lead the way for the album and did an excellent job on it without a doubt. The album was more or less a highlight in DPG history as the coming together of all former associated artists after years was history itself. Kurupt had set high expectations with this album and they could of got away with calling it The Reunion, because thats what it was a reunion. The DPG has had its greatest moments in its past but “Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha” would have to be on the top of the list. Kurupt has shown a stunning talent more than usual on this album and the production, features and lifetime of the tracks are fantastic. This was an album for all lovers of real rap and if you were a DPG, Westcoast or G- Funk fan this was a bonus by far. Kurupt aka Young Gotti had so much with DPG and it is a shame today the group is no longer together due to their differences. The hope for Kurupt on Tha Row is that the most interesting lyrics were between himself and Crooked I who is also on the same label…together they are a deadly combination of Westcoast thugs with the talent to tongue twist their way to the top.

RATING: 4/5