Three 6 Mafia – When The Smoke Clears (Loud Records)

The 3-6 consisting of members DJ Paul, Juicy J, Lord Infamous, Gangsta Boo and Crunchy Black bring an album with so much testosterone and energy you might never want to go to a ghetto in the States. The lyrics are nothing to write home about, coz they deal about the same things in every song, gangbanging, drugs, the ghetto, sex, murder etc. You get the picture. Nevertheless this is still a banging album that I’d recommend any South Hip Hop fan to buy immediatley.

On Sippin On Some Syrup UGK and Project Pat join the 3-6 to let us know how much they like that syrup. DJ Paul elaborates in the song:

She popped her a pill of X, and drank on some orange juice
And just when you thought she was freakin’ she done got super loose
Niggas come in by threes and deuces all in circles like duck-duck-goose
All that want it can bone it, she on that X and that tootie fruit
40 dollars for just one ounce ounce plus
Tuss and X is how its pronounced
Niggas sipping and dipping and tripping, man I’m bout all out

But the best song on this album is Touched Wit It featuring Mr Serv-On, Fiend and La Chat. This track will make you break out into a cold sweat. This is really when the 3-6 shines and La Chat, a female rapper, really made a nice impression on me.

The 3-6 Mafia have more substance than a Cash Money record and banging beats. The only problem I have with this album is the lyrics – you don’t really get that there was a sense of purpose in this album. But go out and buy it coz the beats are worth it.

• Intro
• 44 Killers (Interlude)
• Sippin On Some Syrup featuring UGK and Project Pat
• Weak Azz B***h featuring La Chat
• Jus Like Us
• I’m So Hi
• Mafia N****z
• Hook Up W/ H**s
• From Da Back
• F**k Y’all H**s
• Where Da Cheese At
• Tongue Ring
• Barrin You B***hes
• Watcha Know featuring Big Gipp
• Act Like You Know (Point Em Out)
• Take A Bump
• Touched Wit It featuring Mr Serv-On, Fiend and La Chat
• M.E.M.P.H.I.S.
• Just Anotha Crazy Click featuring Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid
• Who Run It
• Put Ya Signs
• What’s Next (Outro)

Azarel – Azarel (Ocean Records)

Last year we interviewed Azarel after the release of his single U&I Unity and have been waiting since then for his album to drop. Well it is finally here and his offering was worth the wait.

Azarel is a positive emcee and comes with a different flava than what you are used to hearing these days. With this over saturated Hip Hop market Azarel brings a refreshing 14 track album. Upon inserting the disk into my player I was instantly hooked. Azarel is the kind of artist that will leave a very good impression on true Hip Hop cats.

I was extremely impressed with this album. The extra tight production on Struggling by DJ JB of AudioSquad Productions coupled with Azarel rhyming about being tired of struggling but never falling into the trap of hustling and crime. He starts off the track with a tight verse:

Yo, Now when you think about AZ picture me rolling/with the cars to get paper legitly/ that crooked shit don’t fit me/my mama raised me better than that/that’s probably why I’m pro-Black ahead of these cats/

and later on in the track:
It’s not about the bling-bling, it’s survival/My family is who I ride for

On the Func produced Smile A Little, you are treated to a crazy ass beat that is gonna do well in the clubs. The lyrics are gonna make you think too. Azarel got the ability to make you think and re-evaluate your stance on life. If that  is his objective he is gonna change a lot of people with the message that is coming from this album.  On This Year Azarel tells the truth about the industry. You need to listen to this song to understand what I’m talking about.

This is one of those albums that we will be looking at when we searching for a contender for AfricasGateway’s Album Of The Year. But in the meantime we will make this the Album of the Month. We urge all true Hip Hop cats to pick up a copy of this.

Just one last note, we hope that Ocean Records don’t sleep on this album. We would really like to see this album promoted to death because Hip Hop needs this right now.

Big Baller OST – Various Artists (Big Baller Records)

Another movie soundtrack? Well it’s seems as if everybody’s going out and making movies and there is nothing wrong with that. Big Baller Records & Films brought together this dope project and I was really impressed with some of the tracks on this CD.

This Is How It’s Going Down by The M.IN.T. Squad is so freaking hard that you will want to start breaking things. Nice beats with nice flows make this a good track to play in the clubs. They Don’t Live Long by Trick Daddy Dollars is also a good track with a nice atmosphere. Dreams Of The Ghetto by M.IN.T. Squad is a track I almost play daily and it has this bloody good sample in the chorus. They also sampled the intro keyboard strokes of “I Need Love” by LL Cool J and it worked lovely on this song. One of the dopest tracks on this CD is by PO’Boy called Paper Chase. Now here is a guy I’d like to hear more of. There is something about this cat that is unique. He has a really good flow and some good story concepts. I won’t even mention the dope beat. Another nice one is Bound To Happen by South Coast Ballers which I saw the video on Channel O once. Definately a party track.  Strap Up Your Boots by the M.IN.T. Squad has a really good beat. Poison Clan even make an appearance on this soundtrack with Fire Up This Funk.

Track Listing

• Cash Speaks
• This Is How It’s Going Down – The M.IN.T. Squad
• They Don’t Live Long – Trick Daddy Dollars
• Bitch Made Niggas – Family Ties Feat. Kedash
• Dreams Of The Ghetto – M.IN.T. Squad
• Holiday – Kedash
• Paper Chase – Po Boy
• Verbal Hytosis – Family Ties
• Ballin – M.IN.T. Squad
• Riding High – Family Ties
• Bound To Happen – South Coast Ballers
• Strap Up Your Boots – M.IN.T. Squad
• How You Gonna Fuck Wit A Baller – South Coast Ballers
• Platinum Placks – Family Ties Feat. Star Tyme and Cash
• Fire Up This Funk – Poison Clan
• Ain’t No Stopping The South – Kedash Feat. Lady Dice

Black Noise – Circles Of Fire (Independent)

People have been looking forward to this for quite a while now.  In fact I always look forward to anything local.  All the tracks on this album was produced by Caramel.  On the first track Circles Of Fire it features Sky 189 and Caramel.  This is a nice track and starts off the cd off lovely.   The best track on here is Africa Could You Be Loved which features the sample from Could You Be Loved by Bob Marley.  This is the illest track I’ve heard coming from South Africa in quite a while.  There should be a compilation of the dopest hip hop tracks on one cd and Cape Crusader by POC as well as this one should be on there. There is a heavy bboy element on this album.  This is evident when you listen to Bring Forth The Battle and Systems Got You.   I like what they did with these tracks coz it just wants to make you get down and do some bboying.  Oh and listen to the lyrics on Systems Got You coz that shit will make you think.  I related so much to what they saying, I’ve observed those things.  You need to listen to that song to understand.  So if you like your Hip Hop old skool and local then this cd is definately for you.  Go out and support local and buy this now.

Brain Food – Various Artists (Won Entertainment)

Won Entertainment really got fat production. I say this too many times in their previous 2 reviews. But I must make it known. The First Knight is gonna be Big one day. You heard it first on Africa’s Gateway. On "Oh Des" Odessey kicked lovely verses over a bouncy track that had me turning up the volume on my amplifier. Overall there are some other good tracks on here that makes for good listening. I’m expecting to hear more of Won Entertainment in the future. Keep your ears to the ground for First Knight. The future looks bright. However I hope the quality of their recordings will improve.

Various – Fit For Survival (Brougham Records)

This compilation represents the Brougham Camp, formed in 1999 all the way from Canada. The camp consists of 8 emcees and 4 producers namely Ashes, Mobius, Dakuwan, Malo Seed, Bladesmith, Jahi, Lex Shooter, Zellust. They all come from Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton respectively. Many years of live performances, battle competitions, releases of albums, singles and videos have provided the camp with a substantial amount of experience in the Hip Hop music industry.

The first impression I got from this compilation was that this is a lyrical heavy album. The first track Watch Out by the Brougham Camp shows a nice display of the skills of each emcee. What I really liked was Revenge by Dan-e-o. A nice phat beat coupled with spit fire lyrics will make me play this in the club. Another dope track is It’s Pretty Obvious by Classified f/ Connx & Nathan C. This track had me nodding my head in appreciation. Ooh and as I skip to Wild Out by Charisma f/ Korry Deez, man this is a phat track. I love the beat. Shit I didn’t really know how I was going to write this review but everytime I listen to this compilation I find new shit I like. On Murmures by Kodiak & Comar they drop rhymes in French. Now I like this, coz I have been listening to Hip Hop from France for years, but it’s good to  hear this coming from Canada. I think French is Canada’s second language? Other tracks I should mention are Lost Souls, Breaking Grounds and Independent Slaves with it’s funky chorus.

Overall this compilation is a good representation of Canadian Hip Hop. One thing I must say, if you are into happy chappy Hip Hop you won’t like this. This is strictly for the underground street emcee. Very rough and raw. You need to check them out.

• Intro
• Watch Out – Brougham Camp
• Revenge – Dan-e-o
• Civil War – Ashes f/ Rick Thret
• It’s Pretty Obvious – Classified f/ Connx & Nathan C
• Price To Pay – Kesole & Maka Natural
• Wild Out – Charisma f/ Korry Deez
• Black Ordeals – Lex Shooter, Jahi and Zellust
• Murmures – Kodiak & Comar
• Lost Souls – Brougham Camp
• Night Crusade – Mek C
• Breaking Grounds – Shamon Harage f/ Charisma
• Independent Slaves – Ink Operated f/ Governor Bolts
• Trust Me – Daijin
• Broke Street – Birdapres f/ Jeff Spec
• Civil Wars – Mood Ruff f/ Citizen Kane
• Play To Position – Bladesmith
• Bonus (Playing Me) – Xavia Zen

Cash Brown – Clubber Lang/Last Man Standing (Major League)

This 12" released by Major League Entertainment featuring 2 tracks by Cash Brown has to be one of the nicest stuff I’ve heard in a while.
On "Clubber Lang" Cash Brown feat. 8off Agallah, Ruck, Labba & Matt Fingaz bring the raw New York sound flipping lyrics right left and center. Produced by 8off Agallah. On the second track "Last Man Standing" Cash Brown brings it lovely. Boasting some of the nicest production by Ayatollah this most definately sounds like a winner. This track is currently on heavy rotation here at Africa’s Gateway. Highly Recommended!
Track Listing

• Clubber Lang (Dirty)
• Clubber Lang (Clean)
• Clubber Lang (Instrumental)
• Clubber Lang (Acapella)
• Last Man Standing (Dirty)
• Last Man Standing (Clean)
• Last Man Standing (Instrumental)

Chemiztry – Chemiztry (Cash Flow Records)

Chemiztry is one of those producers that is just bursting at the seams to blow up.  This is a producer that emcees should be checking for beats.  Marlon Malbrough (Chemiztry) aka OMP was born and raised in Orange Mound, Memphis Tennessee.   He began his musical career at the age of 13 playing drums and later on was a member of the dance group The Golden Boys.  During those years he deejayed at various club and house parties.  Since 1994, OMP has completed over eight albums and produced for several other artists including Playa Fly, MVP, Skinny Pimp and DJ Zirk.  On the first track The Dope Beat Maker, you will find yourself playing this song over and over again.  It’s just infectious man!   There’s a fucking dope beat on Shake Em Off, this is the shit I’m playing in my ride right now.  Sorta reminds of what the 3-6 Mafia are doing.  I like the production on In The Darkness and he really shines in his production skills on Fuck A Rec Deal.   And speaking about that song, it’s quite ironic because I cannot understand why any record company has not scooped him up yet, especially for his production skills.  People need to check the independent shit coming from the internet especially if you looking for innovation.  I would urge people to support this brother by going to the various sites and download his mp3’s.  

Redgal/Kamal Supreme/Smooth Lord – Demo (Chocolate Dog Entertainment)

This EP sent to us by Chocolate Dog Entertainment showcases their current releases. Consisting of artists Red Gal, Total Kaos, Sutra, Smooth Lord and Kamal Supreme they bring us that underground raw sound. On this EP we only found 4 tracks that stood out. This does not mean it’s a bad thing, in fact we receive many EP’s that are so wack that we don’t even review them. No question, these cats are on the right track and showcase some fat beats coupled with nice rhyming. On “Thug Symphony” we are treated to a fat bass accompanied with a good hook in the chorus. Very bouncy and nice to play in your 4 X 4. On “Blazin It Up” they really showcase that they can carry their own. The production is on point. On “Block Control” a long jerky bassline travels out our speakers forcing us to bob our heads. But the dopest track on here is “This Beat”. Nice production coupled with nice rhymes make this a track that is in heavy rotation here at Africa’s Gateway. We hope to hear more from these guys in the future and look forward to them sending us more of their dope shit.

Coleon – Tha Seed (Syntax Records)

This must be one of the dopest Christian Hip Hop albums I’ve heard in a while.  In fact regardless of peoples religions this album is straight up Hip Hop.  Coleon has got skills and the beats are are on par with some of the top rap acts out today – take my word for it.  Coleon is from New Jersey, and his producer Brother J has produced for multi platinum artist Nas, gold recording artist Common and many others.  On the first track Squanderin he comes full steam ahead with a bangin song that will leave you no choice but to get up and throw your hands in the air.  He comes off harder than a brick on this joint.  Think of this as street music with a Christian twist.  There is no doubt that this brother has good skills.  On Stuff Be On you’d think you were listening to some Capone n Noriega, my head could not stop bobbing on this one.  This track is a real head nodder.  Other notable tracks are Ra Ra, Wondering Why and CREAM.  Highly Recommended by Africas Gateway.

Crooksters – Crooks N Our Own Way (Style Cut Records)

All the way from Memphis Tennessee comes an underground Hip Hop group called Crooksters.  First of all when they sent me this cd they did not attach a bio so I basically don’t know much about them.  This is not a bad cd.  In fact this is some nice shit.  On Big Shit Popping they let rip in that Memphis style that only that city can produce.  The Crooksters show a lot of potential to blow up and this is evident when you listen to Ghetto.  On this track they got the formula right.  This has got to be the tightest track on here.   This is straight up gangsta shit.  If you like No Limit shit then this will suit you just fine. 

Dj Cue – Cues Hip Hop Shop Vol.2 (Stray Records)

DJ Cue (Frank Cuevas) born 15th May 1973 in San Francisco has been DJing since 1987. He was also the co-creator of "Hamster Breaks Volume 1" which was the first ever dj battle break record. I’m sure you’ve heard of his compilation "Cue’s Hip Hop Shop Vol 1" which by the way is named after his own shop situated in Daly City, California. A DJ and a producer DJ Cue is also a member of the Drum Machine Technicians and the Bullet Proof Scratch Hamsters. I’m sure if you a DJ you would have heard of the Drum Machine Technicians releases "C4" and "Little Dog Music Por La Chupacabra", then I’m sure you will know that the beats are on point. On this album you get a host of underground artists and deejays who display some abstract Hip Hop using the Turntable and technology. I don’t necessarily like to mention individual tracks if I think a whole album is dope like this one.

• Intro – Joe Quixx
• Backbone – Liberation Army feat. DJ Raw B, Zeph and Matt Montgomery
• Mentally Insane – Eddie Def
• Dope Music – Oakland Faders
• Time – Richness
• Dr Thumbs Theme – Swot Team feat. DJ Knowledge, DJ Sniper, Mista Sweet and DJ Vandal
• La Fatal – Alfonso Murillo
• Interlude – Joe Quixx
• Starpack – DJ Cue feat DJ Quest
• Eklektic Groove – Dick Gail
• Get Bentley – Westside Chemical feat vocals by Storm
• Left Versus Right – DJ Tyrant & Selekt
• Warriors – DMT
• Dungeon Trap – DJ Cue Feat DJ Quest
• Say Who’s In Your Crew – Top Rawmen feat. Mike C., Yeroc, Nomad and Nando Coy
• A Miami Quickie – The S.A.S. feat. DJ Triste of Steel Mentality
• Soul Of Man – DJ Tomkat
• Outro – Joe Quixx

CunninLynguists – Will Rap For Food (Urban Acres/Boiling Point Distribution)

Original is the only word I can come up when trying to explain what CunninLynguist sound like. The first track is an eye opener to a group that I had not heard of just a few weeks ago. On Lynguistics you are treated to an extremely dope production by KNO. They hold it down in the lyrics department too. I’m playing this track on my show right now. It’s that dope.
Man, the production on this album is out of this world. Case in point is Missing Children featuring Syntax recording artist Braille. Another one that made me have a fit was Thugged Out Since Cub Scouts featuring Jugga The Bully and Mr Raw. The other one I couldn’t stop playing was Mindstate and my favourite at this moment Taking The Loss featuring Jugga The Bully.

The dopest track on here is 616 Rewind featuring Tonedeff, Sankofa, Kashal-Tee and Celph Titled. This must be one of the dopest tracks that I’ve heard in the last few months. How’s this for a one-liner:
"Kill an unborn baby and you still could’nt de-foetus (defeat) us"
I can’t wait to see what will top this.

This album comes highly recommend by AfricasGateway and I’d urge real hip hop heads to get this by any means possible. This is our album of the month.

Das Efx – Dead Serious (East West)

A classic Hip Hop album. Released in 1992 Das Efx was discovered by EPMD at a talent contest. They came with a different flow that was soon to be copied by many in the year that followed. Classic tracks like "Mic Checka" and "They Want Efx" rocked crowds at clubs and personal stereos. But, the most slept on song on this album has to be "If Only". You must have this record in your collection.
Track Listing

• Mic Checka
• Jussummen
• They Want Efx
• Looseys
• Dum Dums
• East Coast
• If Only
• Brooklyn To T-Neck
• Klap Ya Handz
• Straight Out The Sewer

Dice – 7 Figures (Full House Records)

I don’t know much about this guy, since this cd just landed in my house the other day.  First of all, this release comes from Full House Records, an independent record label and the style of the production/rapping is in the same vein as a No Limit Record and/or Bay Area style.  You get the picture. This is not really that bad.  I can live with this.  Dice comes off strong on most the songs and the production is nice too.  On 7 Figures featuring Mr Stinky, you get a nice beat with a catchy chorus.  I don’t see this as something you’d play at a club.  This is sort of chill out stuff, hanging around the braai (barbeque) type shit.  What I liked on here was Going Bazerk featuring Bigboy LeVar where they rhyme about the frustrations of being in this rap game.   You know all the frustrations that come with this.  I was really impressed with Fetish 4 Fetty featuring Hik Town Heavyweights.  The production on here is fucking dope.  The beat is slow but there is something extremely catchy about this.  Right now it’s raining outside my window while I’m writing this review and for some strange reason this track is fitting my atmosphere perfectly.  I hope that Dice will come up with shit like this in the future.  In doing that he will continue to get my support.  Overall this is a decent effort and these independents are continuing to suprise me with dope shit like Fetish 4 Fetty.  Check out Full House Records for more and an interview with Dice coming up shortly.

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