Album Reviews

The Scale

Nas: A classic, unforgettable...A+++! 2pac: Awesome, every rap fan needs this one. DMX: A must get, worth every penny. Dr.Dre: Satisfaction garunteed. Method Man: Okay, a few smudges. Timbaland: Average, 50/50, Commsee, Commsaw. Ma$e: Don't raise your expectations. Puff Daddy: A complete and total disapointment. Master P: G-A-R-B-A-G-E!!!

Redman & Method Man "Blackout"

For years hip-hop fans have awaited a complete album by the blunt brothers' Method Man and Redman.  Finally the time has come.  The album starts off with an unnecessary Intro.  But it's followed by for sure Blackout's best song, Blackout this song is just what you expect.  Get's you on the dance floor ASAP.  But if you can't feel this one enough, maybe a song like 4 Seasons is what you want.  With LL Cool J and Ja Rule assisting on the vocals.  The song is filled with lyrics that stay in your head, and a beat that you'll find yourself humming 24-7.  It also has a track with Ghostface and Street called Run 4 Cover.  You might not feel this shit at first, but you'll grow into it.  The album is packed with 7 out of 10 songs.  Like Tear Da Roof Off, which would be better if BET decided to not over play it!  And Mi Casa which doesn't really have much meaning to it, but it's still aiight. But every LP has it's weaknesses like Y.O.U. and Fire In A Hole, I've programmed my CD player to skip these songs they suck so much.  Blackouyt is okay, has it's share of weaknesses and strengths.  They throw in 3 bonus tracks, including Big Dogs and a "remix" of How High which is no different from the original.  Blackout ends with asking you the ultimate question..."Do you want to get high???"

"Bluestreak" Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

With the extreme dissapointment of the "In Too Deep" soundtrack, the rap soundtrack that was Blue Streak's competition, things looked good for this soundtrack.  Or is it the other way around?  The soundtrack starts with the overhyped, irritating 'Girl's Best Friend' by Jay-Z, now I'm not gonna try to say this song is horrible, it matters what type of rap fan you are.  I guess you got to be a commercial rapper to like this.  After is 'Criminal Mind' a duet with Tyrese and Heavy D.  This is not bad, comparred to the rest of the album, it's a hit. Okay, it will take long for me to tell you whats wrong with all the songs.  So I think I'll tell you the pros other than cons.  Track five, 'I Put You On' is my second favorite song on here.  It's a calloboration of Keith Sweat, and mah girl, Da Brat.  The song is awesome, produced by Rodney Jerkins /aka Darkchild, it brings a rhythmical hook to every man, woman, and child.  Then when Da Brat steps up to bat, each word kisses your ear drum like no other. And that's the second best song!  The best track on here is suprisingly by a diva named So Plush, wich I've have no idea who she is.  She is accomanied by Ja Rule. The songs called 'Damn' and is suited for a R&B fanatic and hip-hop head.  Ja Rule hits you with shit like "Your cat top dolla, purr when wetWorth puttin' diamonds on your collar" and "Can't do that, love's like a tug-a-war match You can't win, you fall in, get too attached."  While Plush's talent somes a dime a dozen.  You'll fall in love with 'Damn" right away!  Did I mention this was also produced by Darkchild?  What would the soundtrack do without him?  Don't bother with this mama jama...just get mp3's of the two Darkchild tracks from someone (*hint hint*) save your money.

Warren G "I Want It All"

He's one of Long Beach's greatest talent.  And is no rookie to the rap game.  With his G-Funk debut album and second Take A Look Over Your Shoulder LP he claims to have changed. Yeah right!  Hey, don't get me wrong.  This album is all that and a platinum record, bu the ain't change.  The first track "Gangsta Love" with Kurupt, RBX, and Nate brings you a Cali-ish beat that has your head bobbin the whole ride.  The next one is "Why Oh Why" with Daz and once again Kurupt is a good song but with a corny hook and a beat that wants to make you dance (but it's about poverty) it just doesn't mix. In less you've been locked in your attic with no radio lately you have heard the hit single "I Want It All."  I won't get too much into it besides it seperates to the good from the funkolisious!  Warren smooths things down with "My Mamma (Ola Mae)" that is the new Mothers Day anhem. I usually leave the best song for last but this is an acception.  "We Got That" /f Eve, Drag-on, and Shadow is one of the best songs I have heard this year and clearly brings up the average of this album!  But Warren is so outshined you don't even notice him!  Drag-on bring you with shit like "You like loose leaf paper, easy it tear...Y'all think you goin to heaven or hell, y'all ain't goin no were." but listen to this track, see if you can fing Warren, it's like a fuckin Wheres Waldo game! Other sweet as suger tracks are "Dope Beat", "Havin' Things", "If We Give You A Chance" and "Game Don't Wait." If their are any weaknesses to "I Want It All" it's their are to many interludes after songs.  This is definetly a keeper!

Rascalz "Global Warning"

The best Canadian rap band ever, no contest.  These 5 Rascalz make me a proud Canadian.  Although their first album "Cash Crop" in my eyes was a joke!  I still kept faith in them, looks like they've turned out very nice.  Global Warning is an excellent album and features The Beatnuts and KRS-One which is a huge suprise considering they get no music promo out of their home country.  The album starts with a really neat intro, followed by a not bad song, "High Noon."  One of the best songs on this is "Priceless", which is a very inner spiritual song about how we take shit for granted.  Exceelent peice of art. The Beatnuts help out with an already good song "Can't Relate."  They beat makes you bob your head back and forth for hours.  It's a very catchy song.  Some more good shit is "Top Of The World" with Levy and K-Os and "As It Is" with Canadian allstar Choclair.  Another very personal song that makes youn think is Fallen.  All though the chorus is a little off, especially with the "...waiting for that vital organ" part, the lyrics are from the heart.  The song "Where You At" with KRS-One is a bit dissapointing.  It wasn't so good, but that's my opinion, you may find it aiight.  I just hate that old school KRS-One shit he got. No.15, "On The Run" is totally funkalisious.  It's about 12 teaspoons of funk.  It's pretty wicked.  After this is another good piece of work called "Bordaline" basically they just want ya to know they're from Van-city.  No.19 "Sharpshooter" with Bret Hart on the hook, is one of the best songs in the last while.  It's exactly what I want, wrestling and rap.  Awesome song, the beat is kinda rock-and-rollish, but it goes good with the song. Global Warning is an awesome CD to have.  It's suprising that these rascalz have never gotten time on MTV or BET or shit.  They've always had to settle with Much Music.  I'm not sure how hard it is to get this album if your in the US, but if you find it, get it.

Nas "Nastradamus"

In my eyes, Nas is the greatest man to hold a mic.  He is the best lyricist known to mankind.  And after "I Am..." he planned on taking a break untill his next LP, the already recorded, "Nastradamus."  But it was bootlegged.  and instead of taking that shit, he re-recorded the album. The album starts with "The prediction" a woman raps an acappella oflife and her predictions in this Intro/song.  After this is the "Life We Chose" an excellent example of what Nas can do with a pen and paper.  Then is the almost pop-ish.  Good song, though I wish it were a serious song about our future, that would fit the title more. "Project Windows" seems to be the best piece of music on this album.  It features Ron isley and for sure is better than most of Nas's past masterpieces.  Almost better than "Money Is My Bitch," but not quite. Another great track on Nastradmus is "God Love Us" a very religious song for anyone, whether your Muslim, Hindu, Catholic, or a Jahova. No songs on Nastradamus are bellow average, there are alot of 50-50's like, "Some Of Us Have Angels" and "Big Girl" which reminds me of "Lost Girl" alot. Probably the second best song on this is, "New World" which is cabable of The Melenium's anthem.  It is almost a timeline through every era of mankind.  And then he explains to us how the future looks in his eyes.  Very well done.  It deals alot with Y2K and computers. Before the album ends is "You Owe Me' feturing Genuwine.  I think this song drops in the 50-50 category.  Not too bad, but a weakness for the album.  He should have through this song before New World and made New World the ending song on this album before the outro. Nastradamous ends as quickly as it came, when you listen to this album it will take you through highs and lows, and it after I heard this album straight, I don't know if it's subliminal messages or not, but I now feel very skeptical about the year 2000.  Will it be the end?  and if so, are you prepared?  We all know Nas is.