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Review Archive 4

9 August 2010 No Comment

Major League Entertainment – Double Homicide (Major League)

This Vinyl 12  sent to me by the hella dope Major League Entertainment has been on my decks for the last 2 weeks non-stop.  The first single Double Homicide by Royce the 5’9 and Cash Brown (Produced by Nick Wiz) is a tight track showcasing some nice one liners like "…to stop you right dead in your tracks like Parkinsons".  

Flip over to the B side and you get Leave It Alone by Cash Brown, P-Dap and Das Efx which is funky track produced by JEF of Network Reps. Reminds me a lot of what Beatnuts might do.  I must also mention the album cover which shows OJ Simpson.  I must stop myself from hanging this cover on the wall. Go get it now.

Cash Brown – Pay Me/True Lies (Major League)

This is another release that Major League Entertainment sent me.  Cash Brown is really making moves with these dope singles.  On Pay Me you got a beat produced by Nick Wiz that will have you using the instrumental for your freestyle sessions.  I just cannot wait for Cash Brown to come out with a full length album and if he has I just have not heard about it yet.  On the B Side you got True Lies featuring Mike Zoot and Precious Paris.  This the sh*t I like.  I can see this doing well in the clubs and on radio. 

Produced by Domingo and DJ Buda they sample Eminems line "99% of my life I was lied to..". I like this track.

Elements Of Nature – Crazy b/w We Ride (Countdown 3-2-1 Records)

This promising single landed in my lap just the other day and I had to ask myself where have I heard that sample from before?  Was it on some TV show?  Well anyway, there is something about this song that makes it addictive.  At first you won’t notice anything unique about it but once you listen to it over and over again you find yourself reciting the chorus in your head all the time.  I like it though it might sound stale in about 6 months or so. 

The objective for Elements of Nature should be to keep coming up with catchy singles like this.  Furthermore, without being unfair, this single has no doubt given me the curiosity to check out their album.

Ghetto E – Ghetto Theater (TVT Records)

You remember the Dayton Family?  Well this is from one of it’s members and being a fan of the Dayton Family I requested it for a review.

On Still Going Through A Thang, featuring Bootleg and Esham, you are treated to a remake of the classic Going Through A Thang from the Dayton Family.  But you know what, I wasn’t even expecting to hear anything like the track Lollipops.  This has to be the nicest track I’ve heard in about or a week or so.  I’m definately putting this on my shows.  Another track that tickled my fancy was Street Life which, you guessed it, uses the street life chorus from Randy Crawford.

This is an yster album, nice production all round but there are only about 2 or 3 tracks on here that you will be listening to rather than from start from finish.  But just for the track Lollipops you need to peep it.

Various Artists – Hip Hop Decade: The Hot South (Priority Records)

Since about 4 years ago the Southern part of America has been producing hundreds, if not thousands of rap artists and groups from the successes of No Limit, Rap A Lot and Cash Money Records.  Of course many of them will be total crap, but you do get hundreds of really good Hip Hop coming from the south.
For example one of my favourites have always been UGK (Underground Kingz).  

Nevertheless, this is a compilation which tries to showcase the Southern American Hip Hop scene.  In many cases it fails because it does not put the tightest tracks by the artists featured on here.  However it still captures how the scene is and how different it sounds from the stuff coming from New York.

There are some tight tracks on here like the Reason For Rhyme by Eightball and MJG.  In addition to that there is the extra tight song Texas 2000 by ex-Geto Boy Mr Mike.  I also enjoyed I’m Bout it, Bout it by Master P’s group TRU.

Take my advice, rather get the actual albums by these artists because this compilation hasn’t really done the South justice.

Fifth Wheel – R Wordz Against Yourz (R. Records)

So I got this just the other day and you know me, I like the independent stuff much better than the stuff being released by the majors.  The Fifth Wheel show a lot of promise however I’m not sure they really held it together on this album.  I mean they have the right formula and the production is not too bad.

There are some really tight tracks on here for example Off Top featuring Xtocy.   This is the perfect way to start off the album.  Another one that had me bobbing my head was Most Likely.  However the last one that that caught my attention was XTocy w/ Kiss Me.

I guess that this album could’ve been better if it was a bit longer coz I can hear that they have the potential to really make a mark.  It’s as if they only gave me a crumb from the chocolate cake to work with.  I would have preferred if they gave me the whole chocolate cake.

Underground Mafia – Ghetto Thang (Unda Mafia Records)

Okay, I’m still trying to understand why I was sent this album since it was released in 1994.  But it’s all good coz at Africa’s Gateway we review Hip Hop from any year.

The first thing I noticed about this album is that, for it’s time it would’ve/should’ve done well.  Remember Ice Cube’s Amerikkka’s Most Wanted and Scarface’s Mr Scarface Is Back?  Well this album is
similar to how those albums were sounding in those days.  The production on this album brings back a lot of memories mostly because of the samples and loops they use.

I really liked Sucka’s Can’t Fade.  Eventhough it’s 6 years old it’s still strong and has substance.
Another one I enjoyed was Godfather which made me take out all my old tapes and listen to them again.

I think this would’ve been a good album for it’s time.  However it’s difficult to review this because it’s like reviewing something like an old Geto Boy’s album when only listening to it now for the first time.

Two Way Freak 12″ – Three Six Mafia (Hypnotize Posse/Loud Records)

This 12" single taken from the album Choices stands to declare that the 3 Six are not gonna give up anytime soon.  The beat is extra tight with a unique use of cell phone ringers and as always the hi hats and kicks are harder than ever.  This is a very catchy song and no doubt I will be playing this to death until the vinyl wears out.   This track also features a verse from La Chat.

Don’t Save Her 12″ – Project Pat (Hypnotize Posse/Loud Records)

DJ Paul and Juicy J, who produce all of the 3 6 Mafia’s tracks have a winning formula.   The tracks are always catchy.  Don’t Save Her is no exception, with it’s heavy bass and old school kicks, this is
definitely for the cars. Turn up the volume and ignore the lyrics.

Stand Clear featuring M.O.P. 12″ – Adam F presents KAOS (In This Sound/EMI)

Wow, what a tight beat, and who better to get than M.O.P. to rock this joint?  This is
definitely gonna go down well in the clubs.  Another neck breaking head nodder.   A must for hip hop deejays.

H.N.I.C. – Prodigy of Mobb Deep

Most fans of Mobb Deep will love this album.  Prodigy is an okay rapper, and guess what, I loved this album.  You wanna know why?  Coz on the first track Genesis, it takes the entire hook of a song from the band Genesis.   I remember that album coz my father used to play that record. 

Another track that stood out was the H.N.I.C. song.  I loved the use of samples.  It just makes me like this album even more.  This album comes recommended and will stay on my decks for quite a while.

Jaheim – Ghetto Love (Gallo Records)

The Debut album from Jaheim is sexy, soulful R&B mixed with hardcore Hip-Hop – produced by Kaygee, who’s propelled Zhane’, Next and his own Naughty By Nature to platinum success.  Now personally I’m not a fan of R&B music but I gotta admit I liked this.  Could it be that it was produced by Naughty by Nature’s Kaygee?  Could it be that this is Hip Hop beats without the rapping replaced by singing?  Regardless of that this is a good album.  I liked Let It Go (featuring Castro) which is a funky track that should do well on the charts.   Ooh and don’t let me forget, on Could It Be which is the first single on this album is crazy ill.  I can get into this.  Hip Hop fans might like Lil Nigga Aint Mine feat Castro, Duganz and Precise.

A nicely produced album coupled with good writing makes this a winner.  Check it out.

Juvenile – 400 Degreez (Cash Money Records)

Cash Money Records have come out with some pretty good stuff lately. Although there is nothing spectacular about their lyrical skills you cannot front on the beats. Juvenile comes with a dope track HA which is sort of like an anthem in some parts of the States.  Juveniles talking like flow will make you hate it or love it.   Another good track is Welcome 2 The Nolia featuring Turk and the remix of HA featuring Jay Z.  I wonder how much they paid Jay Z to appear on that track?

Track Listing

  • Intro
  • HA
  • Gone Ride With Me
  • Flossin Season Feat. Big Tymers and B.G.
  • Ghetto Children
  • Follow Me Now
  • Cash Money Concert
  • Welcome 2 The Nolia Feat. Turk
  • U.P.T. Feat. Hot Boys and Big Tymers
  • Run For It Feat. Lil Wayne
  • HA Remix Feat. Hot Boys
  • Rich Niggaz Feat. Turk, Lil Wayne and Paparue
  • Back That Azz Up Feat. Manny Fresh and Lil Wayne
  • Off Top Feat. Big Tymers
  • After Cash Money Concert
  • 400 Degreez
  • Juvenile On Fire
  • HA Remix Feat. Jay Z

Various Artists – On Top Of The World (Day By Day Entertainment)

Day By Day Entertainment is an independent label founded by both DJ Fisher and MF Grimm. They’ve managed to jump start the careers of many and have brought out some pretty dope albums. For instance this year saw the release of MF Grimm’s highly anticipated album. Now it’s time for everybody either affiliated or on their label to contribute a track.

Now a lot of this stuff is extremely underground. It’s only those who got their ears to the pavements who will pick this up and appreciate it. Now the first track that will get a lot playback is “Morning Would” from R-Son featuring Adlib. Now the second track on here by Breez Evahflowin entitled “Realize” is dope. On the first listen you might even get caught out by thinking it’s Pete Nice and Serch. Hey man who can ever front on Mars ILL? They contribute an extremely dope track “Abolition of ManCHILD” which if you remember was on their album. Another tight one is “Strange Brew” by Take Heed featuring Juice (Damn Juice does a lot of guest appearances).

This is an 18 track compilation of raw true underground Hip Hop. The majority of the tracks on here carry enough heat to justify a purchase.

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