quick audio picks: 123
Common's first album (Can I Borrow A Dollar?) had some promise, but he really solidified himself with Resurrection, one of the best full lengths of the era. A rare sophomore effort that overshadows the debut. It's another of the golden era hip...
expand review hop albums that was really made as a whole (vs. the hit single focus today). No obvious weaknesses here as the lyricism and beats win games. NO ID plays Phil Jackson behind the boards as he puts some magic into the beats. Amazing shit: "Resurrection, I Used to Lover Her, Communism, Chapter 13, Watermelon, Nothin to Do and Maintaining". Guaranteed this will be glued to your turntable. -the mgmnt
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The creation of these beats is what really hits me when I listen to this album now. Thick man... these guys have got some of the best loops anywhere here. Production values high with the vocals are strictly on some drinkin, smokin...
expand review blunts, shootin people and fuckin bitches type stuff. The difference between them and most though is that they make you laugh at the same time. Not only that, this is actually perfect for layin in the cut, beats so smooth it don't matter what they say. This thing got heavy heavy rotation from me in the summer of 93, and there's lots of favorites on here. Props Over Here, Hit Me With That, Lick The Pussy, Let Off a Couple, Superbad, Get Funky, Ya Don't Stop, etc. -the mgmnt
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A loaded single from the suddenly crossed-over UK pop star. When this girl's first album came out, the only time I read about it was scanning through The Guardian to find the soccer scores. Now she's fucking with Ghost and writing songs...
expand review about rehab that even my mom likes? "Rehab(1)" is awesome, by the way, but the real surprise here is a remix from the equally ubiquitous Hot Chip(2). The boys turn in a nice electro boogie concoction, making good use of the original's horns along with chopped up vocals and some hard-hitting drums toward the end. A nice, extended (7 minutes!) take on a track that we were hoping someone would edit. "You Know I'm No Good(3)" has been around for a second, but it's still hot and you get both the OG and remix(4) with Ghostface – a good look if you didn't pick up More Fish. (And why didn't you? Get the deluxe edition Hidden Darts CD while you're at it... never can have too much PrettyTone.) -Chris Lemon-Red
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Deadstock original copies from 1990. Play catch-up to PB Wolf's hip-hop 45 collection with this awesome piece. Not only does it have the original version on the flip(1), this has the instrumental version(2)... one of the baddest beats in the business. -the mgmnt
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Slum return with their fourth full-length, a new line-up and that same gritty neo-whatever sound that will have your girl bumping this all summer. That weird guy in the turban (Bataan) is out of the picture, leaving T-3 and Elzhi to hold...
expand review down the ship. Fortunately for those of us who check for lyrics this new line-up is an improvement lyrically over the last couple LPs. Two up and coming Motown beatmakers, BR Gunna (Black Milk and Young RJ), supply the bulk of the thirteen tracks, with a couple prime guest production shots. Kanye West produced and featured on the first single "Selfish(1)," a radiostation lock matching Kanye's comedic force and knack for catchy loops with the Villa's knack for making ladies weak at the knees. Jay-Dee returns to the picture on another of the album's standouts "Reunion(2)." He also chops up "More Bounce To The Ounce" on "Do You(3)," featuring Michigan OG, MC Breed. The ultimate cameo comes from Dirt McGirt on "Dirty(4)," which should be up for a single release. They keep it in the family the rest of the way with Phat Kat on "Zoom" and Dwele supplying falsetto on the triple-x "Count The Ways(5)" and the 2-stepping "Closer(6)." 16 tracks total. -JMS
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My first reaction to "Selfish(1)" was, "it's cool, but can't they rap about anything other than women?" Then my girl reminded me that's what they do best, and proceeded to start the record from the top again while humming the chorus to...
expand review herself. I realized at that moment that "Selfish" will be a clear-cut ladies choice at the party. Jay Dee doesn't surface on this track (I was hearing rumors that he was back in the group) but Kanye does produce and rap on it, which is just as good if not better for most folks. The best news however is that Bataan, that annoying dude who was giving SV a bad name in the lyrics department since the beginning, is officially out of the group. Without the deadweight (and the addition of Kanye), they sound vastly improved. Check for T3's description of girls in different area codes and Kanye's bragging about buying his girl a silicon expander set, for examples. Luckily for me they included an acapella with the instrumental, clean and dirty versions on here, so I can blend it with a Jay Dee beat and act like the world is still perfect. -JMS
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More bongomania with Nas, leaving cloppity hoofprints on your face. He should get a free pass at the All U Can Eat spaghetti western buffet. As with "Made You Look," it's Salaam Remi on the beat. Viner's bongos sound like they were...
expand review recorded in a Hindenburg hangar, like that Paul's Boutique joint about looking down the barrel of a gun, sonofagun, sonofabitch etc. But I think somebody robs an oil rig. Both Nas and AZ try a different flow, and at times they both stumble over it and lose a shoe to the alligators. Sockless slip-on. For the most part they're in the pocket though and it really comes off. The hyena horns are pretty crazy and Remi knows a good buckskin stab when he hears one. The flip-side is just AZ over gun shots(2). Look, nobody's going to ever outgunshot Money Boss Players "Gunplay." Maybe someone should program a silencer's puft (pooft! pooft!) into pulse dial 16th notes. For some thickening. Just an idea. -Dave Tompkins
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First off, this is not the "Special Delivery Remix" with Ghostface, Keith Murray, & Craig Mack, but this 12" is not without purpose- especially for those dj' s that go the extra mile. Where the hotter remix has an unreliable intro, this...
expand review one(1) is locked & extended with P. Diddy turning into the Hulk with a mohawk, pre-marathon. It still has those cool acid hi-hats, and you should have this in the same sleeve as the Ghost remix at all times. Strangely "Special Delivery" didn't hit as hard in NYC as it did elsewhere, but it'll still have the wall street thugs tearin it up. A similar situation comes on the b-side, with P Diddy's "Bad Boy For Life Remix(2)" ft. Busta Rhymes & MOP. Enlisting the genre's biggest fire-starters, coupled with a reworking of that gritty guitar loop, cements the hands-in-air appeal. Instrumental version included for b-side. -K Lim
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Nate Dog must be used sparingly, but in proper combination and at lunar eclipse timing, his shit is just right. It's best to do like the video and imagine thick girls sliding down silver poles (Bob Bar Tuesdays) when listening to this...
expand review song. Between this and the earlier Missin Linx song, ebay bidders set off large coin battles for mediocre David McCallum records. Big party tune. Next Episode Clean, Dirty, Instrumental and Accapella. -the mgmnt
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Continuing on our Neptunes summer theme, we re-introduce last summer's biggest track. Ever time I see that damn video, I get a chubby looking at that girl Jay is trying to get with. The natturality! Damn, I think even Nas dances to...
expand review this one. "Parkin Lot Pimpin" on the B-side, and instrumentals for both. -the mgmnt
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Not sure what happened to the Sa-Ra album that was slated to be released on Kanye's GOOD imprint, but it looks like Babygrande has picked up the pieces. This is the first single from the new album, and it smartly features Talib...
expand review Kweli fronting "Feel The Bass(1)." It's impressive how Talib has progressed from conscious-rapper to jack of all trades. For Sa-Ra's futuristic beats, Talib flips a controlled fast-rap flow with hard syncopation while dropping Hollywood references. The flip features the very unlikely collaboration with Capone and Noreaga on "Not On Our Level(2)." Instrumentals for both. -the mgmnt
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