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-- Monica
DR. DRE, 2001, Aftermath -- Mason Storm
WILL SMITH, Willennium, Columbia -- Mason Storm
WARREN G, I Want It All, Restless -- Marky
SOLÉ, Skin Deep, Dreamworks -- Mason Storm
METHOD MAN & REDMAN, Blackout, Def Jam -- Kawon
LOST BOYZ, LB IV Life, Universal -- Mason Storm
KANE & ABEL, Rise To Power, Most Wanted -- Cvere
EVE, Ruff Ryders' First Lady, Ruff Ryders -- Monica
OL' DIRTY BASTARD, N**** Please, Elektra -- The W, a.k.a. Regis Philbin
MOBB DEEP, Murda Muzik, Loud -- Cvere
More reviews on Noreaga, Hot Boys and Puff Daddy... All contents ©1994-2002 The 411 Online
NAS, Nastradamus, Columbia
Nastradamus, his fourth album comes to us forcefully!
Nas is a poet who portrays a message perhaps worth listening to since he's
got more to say than just the ice and rides. There were many expectations
of this album because he proved he had tight lyrics on his first two
albums, Illmatic and It Was Written. His third album, I Am,
grabbed us in a new way. He moved toward new fast beats, reminiscing on some
of his old tracks. This new album was foreshadowed by singling the title track
"Nastradamus." One may hear it at a club thinking the album must continue the fast-paced
dancing music. So now we're ready, waiting for more, can it get any better?
That answer depends on what you want to hear. If you're looking for some
more beats then maybe not. Nas, knowing that he now has our attention,
advises us and sometimes yells at us. That's right, just when we expected
him to continue the beats and rhymes, he takes storytelling to another level.
Such tracks as "Some Of Us Have Angels," "Project Windows" and "God Love Us" touch
the heart by depicting a reality message. He speaks truth that one may or
may not want to admit. It is these tracks that give a sense of Nas as a
poet, balancing his skills while he talks about the guns, the betrayal, the
salvation. He doesn’t hide from the real issues and raps about it with
his style. Nas claims to be the prophet as he adds his forecasting
masterpiece, "New World," sampling a beat from the past and talking about the
future.
However, it's that truth that drives the "hardness" in the other tracks.
Such tracks as "Come Get Me," "Last Words" and "Quiet N-----" have a very
dominating note, perhaps even a little angry. "Shoot 'em Up" is the the most
alarming track as the listener hears "kill, kill, kill... murder, murder,
murder." There is a fine line between being sarcastic, sending a message and talking crazy sh--.
And Nas chooses to cross it. He continuously sends out the message that he's the baddest, hardest,
and it's a mistake to mess with him. And let's not forget the ladies.
Nas has two angles when he speaks of his women. In the song "Big Girl," he takes care of his
"ghetto queen" by being the sex god, but that's not always the case. The other track talking about
females is "You Owe Me" and he means exactly that. Ladies owe him.
The album is overall different than expected. After albums 1, 2, and 3 we crave for more and expect Nas to continue his vibe.
He changes it on us. It's still Nas, there's no mistake of that. He still has the philosophical
tales but it's darker this time. And maybe that's how he grabs us, or maybe that's how he loses us.
Overall it is well put together with guest appearances from Mobb Deep, Bravehearts, Nashawn, Millennium Thug, Ginuwine and Ron Isley.
Is this one worth getting? Nastradamus will definitely be an album with a different vibe, adding a new flavor to your collection. But when you want to listen to Nas, you may just like the old Illmatic a little better. Click here to find out how to buy this album.
Dr. Dre wants you to know that he hasn't fallen off. And in between guest spots he
spends a lot of his airtime reminding us all that he's redefined the rap game once or twice in his career.
But we already knew that. And we were ready for him to do it again. When "Still D.R.E." dropped, it
singlehandedly brought West Coast hip-hop back to the forefront, just like old times. Dre, Snoop Dogg and
The D.O.C. bouncin' down the boulevard in a '64 Impala. Lyrics labeled with an 'X' and not a 'G.' A verbal
assist by Jay-Z. A hook shot by Snoop. It put the early days of Aftermath in the past. But Dre
can't maintain the intensity of his first single throughout the album. In fact, most of the album is
fairly low-key. First of all, he
hasn't totally abandoned the "Been There, Done That" philosophy. On the first cut, "The Watcher," he describes
himself as "not a thug," but a "family man," asking "how much 2Pac in you you got?" You can't knock the point he's making,
but it sets him up for numerous contradictions on the rest of the album.
For example, a track called "F--- You" follows, a catchy, entertaining tale about infidelity featuring
Devin "The Dude" and Snoop that falls in line with "It Ain't No Fun." Family man? It's kind of like
saying you don't smoke weed and then naming your next album The Chronic.
But more important
than Dre's inconsistencies is the lack of surefire, g-funk era beats (or at least a logical evoultion of them).
Dre's classics were fueled by choice samples. This time around, Dre relies too heavily on keyboards.
What's missing most from the album are tracks that hit you like "Nuthin' But a G Thang," "Natural Born Killaz,"
"Keep Their Heads Ringin'" or "California Love" did the first time you heard them.
There's plenty of good ones, like "Xxplosive," "Murder Ink," "Bang Bang" and Dre's dedication to his late brother, "The Message,"
featuring Mary J. Blige and Rell, but only a few stand out right away, the rest are
left to grow on you. And they do... gradually.
The same goes for the guest appearances. The veterans who established themselves on The Chronic
outshine the newcomers on cuts like "The Next Episode" (six years late) and "Housewife." Hittman
and Six Two are decent enough MCs, but they don't come across as the game's
next stars like Snoop, Kurupt and Daz did. MC Ren, King Tee and Xzibit make notable cameos, but
Eminem goes 1-for-2, hitting a home run on "Forgot About Dre," but striking out looking on
"What's the Difference" with a sappy ode to Dre followed by a rehash of the grisly fantasies from his own album.
Anyone disappointed by this album fell victim to the hype. Expectations were too high. Anyone
thinking this is the second coming of The Chronic is still disillusioned. With time we'll all meet somewhere in the middle.
2001 is not a classic. It's not even all that groundbreaking. But Dre didn't fall off either.
It's solid, but not stellar. It's hard for a loyal fan to drop a $10 on this, but Dre upped the ante when
he upped the price, making it that much harder to be worth more than what you pay for. Click here to find out how to buy this album.
Perhaps the most telling item about this album is Amazon.com's list of "people who bought this album also bought titles from these artists." Usually it's a who's who of hip-hop. In Will Smith's case, it's frightening: N'Sync, Britney Spears, Lou Bega, Backstreet Boys and Brandy. Yes, this is hip-pop to the fullest. And no one does it better than Will Smith. He doesn't
hesitate to brag about it, either. But his ego trips seem to be directed at his poor-by-comparison peers, not his fans. Using assorted pop samples, including The Clash's "Rock The Casbah" on the first single -- the millennium anthem "Will 2K" -- Big Willie aims to please everyone and offend no one. There's old school (Biz Markie,
Slick Rick, Kool Moe Dee and longtime partner DJ Jazzy Jeff make appearances), female MCs (Lil Kim, Eve and MC Lyte), R&B singers (TV sister Tatyana Ali, Dru Hill and K-Ci), a touch of the Latin vibe ("La Fiesta") and even a visit from his wife (Jada Pinkett Smith). With Willennium, you get what you pay for. Just make sure you recognize what you're buying beforehand.
Click here to find out how to buy this album.
The latest from the g-funk era, I Want It All is the best CD Warren G has ever
released. The g-funk era started out strong with Regulate, but then took a turn for the worse with
Take a Look Over Your Shoulder, WG's second release. It was almost as if he was trying too hard
to make you listen to g-funk and the album just didn't get off the ground. It never did find its way
into my trunk, and the free two-track CD I got for buying it was almost better.
Warren G's laid-back style of rhymes makes you want to listen all day and night. The
lyrics are good, the rhymes are on time, and the music is tight. There's flowing rhymes, highs,
tight bass, low bass, vocals and melodies, which really make this album complete. The chorus
vocals are sweet, but seem to take over a little too much in some tracks, especially the later ones.
The samples are all well-used also -- they add to the songs instead of being the songs with cheesy
new rap vocals, you know what I mean!
Warren G sounds as smooth as ever, but that's not the only reason why this CD should
hold a spot in the changer. The guests on here are many, and some of my favorites. Starting off
strong with WG are Kurupt, Nate Dogg and RBX on "Gangsta Love." "Why Oh Why"
brings us Daz Dillinger, whose CD can still be found in my trunk from time to time. The title
track features a good performance by Mack 10, which makes it one of the best. Jermaine
Dupri is here, as well as Slick Rick, Memphis Bleek and many others. El Debarge even
found his way on "G-Spot," one of the smoothest tracks on here. Appearing on several tracks and
rounding out the 213 reunion is none other than Snoop Dogg. WG brings back 213 with
Snoop and Nate Dogg on "Game Don't Wait." It's nice to hear them together again, but this
track isn't gonna have you hitting on the repeat much.
The Snoop here sounds good, more like the old Snoop of Death Row and less like a
No Limit soldier. I Want It All is g-funk for the new millennium. Buy this CD and turn it up and you'll be
glad you did!
Click here to find out how to buy this album.
Solé left a lot of people asking "Who Dat?" after her
appearance on JT Money's hit single. And not just because she dropped a tight verse.
But Solé proves on her debut album, Skin
Deep, that she's more than just eye candy. This Kansas City girl
has got a solid, slightly raspy delivery that makes a smooth transition from laying down laid-back
calculations on "Accurate Math" to spitting rapid-fire rage on "Never Thought I."
And unlike Shaq, she's got plenty of hooks -- a couple derived from the chants of "Who Dat"
("Iy Yi Yi" and "Get Up In It") and some
just straight R&B, courtesy of sultry guest appearances by Tamar Braxton on "4 The Love of You" and
Kandi from Xscape on the first single, "4,5,6." Goodie Mob's Big Gipp also lends a hand from
down south and, as with most of the cameos on this disc, complements Solé nicely on "We've Been
Trying Too Long." The production falls in line as well, going beyond bounce beats
while still keepin' your head ringin' throughout the CD.
With Skin Deep, Solé steps in near the top of the class of
female MCs.
Click here to find out how to buy this album.
There are some things in life that just seem right together. Peanut
butter and jelly. Siskel and Ebert. Zapp and Roger. Cheech and Chong. Add to
that list Meth and Red. Like that friend or family member you only see on
occasion, but always seem to get into some sh-- with, Mr. Meth and Funk
Doc bring out the best of the worst in each other every time they share a
mic. "How High" off The Show soundtrack was the beginning of a
partnership which led to appearances on each other's solo albums and has
inevitably led to the Blackout! disc. I had been anticipating this for months
since seeing them steal the show as part of the lineup on the Hard Knock
Life tour this past summer. Unfortunately the unbridled energy and genuine
love for performing side by side that spontaneously combusted during the
live performance is not always evident on the studio collaboration that
produced Blackout! However, this doesn't prevent the duo from taking
advantage of solid production and each other's unique and well-developed
skills to put out a disc that has been getting much well-deserved play in my
ride. Much of the production on Blackout! comes from either Erick Sermon
or Redman himself and consequently the disc has a consistently gritty funk
feel that suits Meth and Doc's flows like a blunt of homegrown. Guest
appearances by the timeless LL Cool J and pint-sized mic terrorist Ja Rule
on "4 Seasons," as well as cameos by Street and Ghostface on the RZA-produced
"Run 4 Cover," provide near-perfect additional seasoning without
pushing the guest appearance too far. Other personal faves include "Tear it
Off," "1,2,1,2," the laid-back "Maaad Crew" (reminiscent of 'Green Island'
off of Redman's Dare Iz...), "The ?" and "Dat's Dat Sh--," featuring Mally
Green and produced by Wu affiliate Mathematics. Also included on the disc
are previously released tracks "Well All Rite Cha," "Big Dogs" and the
"How High" remix, as well as others totaling 19 in all.
Overall the Blackout! album breaks little new ground, retreading
territory that both MCs as well as others have covered. However, the
production is sure to snap necks and Meth and Doc's signature flows and
distinguished voices are in top form and complement each other like few can.
I'd much rather spend a twenty twen twen on their LIVE, live show, but in
the meantime I'll drop it on this joint of audio skunk. Click here to find out how to buy this album.
With two gold albums and a string of successful singles, the Lost Boyz seemed poised to take it to the next
level on their third album, LB IV Life. But tragedy struck the foursome from South Jamaica, Queens,
as Freaky Tah was killed during the recording of the album.
Tah's presence still is felt throughout, but Mr. Cheeks takes the lead role once again,
with Pretty Lou and Spigg Nice providing the supporting cast.
The Boyz are at their best on cuts like "Risin' to the Top," Plug Me In," "Ghetto Lifestyle,"
and "Ghetto Jiggy," an homage to their hometown that serves as the first single. On the negative side,
some tracks fall short as they tend to follow a formula that you've heard before, from the LB fam and others.
But with LB IV Life, it seems that the Lost Boyz will survive and ultimately turn tragedy into triumph.
Click here to find out how to buy this album.
After an honorable discharge from Master P's No Limit Soldiers, the Bronx-born, New Orleans-bred
boricua twins are back at it again. Kane & Abel follow up their 1998 750K-seller Am I My Brother's
Keeper with Rise to Power. Rise to Power is the duo's debut album on their own imprint,
Most Wanted Records, through Elektra. Because the twins have broken with Master P, don't expect to hear
Snoop, Silkk, C Murder, or Mystikal. Instead expect to hear some of the artists they've signed to their
label, like Ghinn, Scandalust and Boss Player. Kane & Abel did retain the services of Beats by the Pound,
who also produced tracks on Am I My Brother's Keeper. Riding the latin wave which is currently
invading the U.S., Kane & Abel have a few interludes where only Spanish is spoken. While I'm happy the
boys are embracing their roots, many of their fans including myself do not speak Spanish, and so the
interludes are wasted. The rest of the album is somewhat predictable -- drugs, alcohol, women, sex, guns
and fighting are all topics Kane & Abel are more than eager to discuss. Don't get me wrong, it's totally
what I expect from a Kane & Abel album, but I also expect a certain level of maturity in a group from one
album to the next. We saw it from the twins' first effort The 7 Sins to Am I My Brother's
Keeper, and I was hoping for a bit more here. However, this album is still a keeper. Chances are, if
you liked Kane & Abel's other stuff, you will enjoy this album, too. The album starts off strong with two
well-produced tracks: "Rise to Power (Illegal Business)," and "The Possibility." Chi-town's Twista flexes on
"Straight Thuggin'," and bad boy Aaron Hall (of Guy) blows on "I Don't Care," but the best tracks on the
disc are probably "Hit the Block" and "This Life." On "This Life," Kane & Abel discuss the trials and
tribulations they faced throughout their lives, the dirt they did, the regret they had and the God they pray
to. It really is a great song that shows that Kane & Abel are capable of bigger and better things. Click here to find out how to buy this album.
The Ruff Ryders' first lady, Eve -- a female rap artist that does not need to
portray herself as a "female" but rather portrays herself to be just one
of the guys, one of the dogs, one of the Ruff Ryders. She is a talented
young artist who "needs a thug wild enough to tame her." But what one may
fail to realize is that she doesn't need to be that "female" with tight
clothes, big hair and Gucci shoes. Her flow and lyrics have gained the
respect of the fellow Ruff Ryders and fans all around, enough to allow her to be just
Eve. Eve's first album is a well-done representation of who she is. Her first
single, "What Y'all Want," which appears as a remix on this album, introduces her the
way she wants to be heard, adding a little unique beat that one can't help but to move to.
If you know her name, "...it's probably the dangerous side." Her second single,
"Gotta Man," immediately follows with another enjoyable tune. But it's the
third and most recent single titled "Love Is Blind" where she
talks about the other side of love. This track opens a door to what the album is all about.
She talks about Eve with humorous skits about where she's from -- "Philly" -- to very
personal songs like "Heaven Only Knows," which talks about growing up with
hard times. Eve isn't afraid and she's not hiding behind her songs. Her
Ruff Ryder boys such as DMX and Drag-On are featured in
tracks such as "Scenario 2000" and "Dog Match," but they never steal the show.
Eve focuses many tracks on relationships, such as her second and third singles
which display the two spectrum ends of love -- the good side and the bad side.
However, other tracks about relationships talk about the game-playing from a
ladies' perspective. Both "Stuck-Up" featuring C.J. and "Ain't Got No Dough"
featuring Missy Elliott do exactly that.
Yet one of the best tracks on the album, titled "Maniac," might never be released
as a single. Finally, a song talking about nothing but ladies looking real
good and guys having a lot of fun while everyone is partying like "maniacs."
A song perfect for the clubs, perhaps only when one is in the mood to have a
good time. The beat in the background only hypes it up more.
The album has a variety of themes, some are personal, some are related to the
Ruff Ryders and others are just to have fun. Additional artists featured on
Eve's album not mentioned above include Beanie Sigel, The Lox, and P. Killer
Tracks. Eve definitely held her ground with her title as the First Lady and
there are no complaints so far. This is an album worth buying!
Click here to find out how to buy this album.
As expected, ODB delivers from the creatively twisted depths of his gray
matter. While other Wu-Tang members have hit-and-miss solo efforts, Ol' Dirty
has crafted 13 tracks that come together on one disc that hits with more
firepower than Omega Supreme. To kick things off, ODB dismisses his "Ghetto
Supastar" success on "Recognize" and reminds the world that he's all about
bein' dirty. The once-tired practice of jackin' '80s TV themes is reborn and
works in "I Can't Wait" with ODB's schizo-frantic fury layered over T.J.
Hooker's theme. (Note to the world: Stay away from that ChiPS theme cuz The W
is workin' on his Y2K debut of PiMPS.) Paying homage to Rick James, Ol' Dirty
belts out his take on "Cold Blooded." Quite possibly the year's best
hip-hop/R&B collabo comes in the form of "Got Your Money," teaming ODB and
Kelis, who has that mysteriously addictive "Caught Out There" joint. While
Kelis practices some restraint on this cut, Dirty drops some of his most
cohesive lyrics to date.
"Rollin' Wit You" and "You Don't Want To F--- With Me" are standard ODB fare:
Incoherent ramblings that take shape in the form of tight cuts. With so much
emphasis on what MCs are saying, it's refreshing to hear an artist let loose
and just flow... no message, no story... just the art of rhyming. The title
joint employs a throwback sound courtesy of the RZA, who claims production
credits on only two tracks, and gives Dirty a chance to explain his survival
skills, boasting "I can talk my way up out of anything." On "I Want P----,"
what at first sounds like classic Wu-Tang quickly changes gears when ODB
kicks the dialogue. Think of this as the "Got Your Money" sequel you'll never
see on MTV. The bluesy "Good Morning Heartache" pits Ol' Dirty's vocal skills
against the more-than-adequate pipes of Lil' Mo... and ODB surprisingly holds
his own. "All In Together Now" is ODB's way of buying the world a Coke and
teaching the world to sing in perfect harmony. During the intro of the bonus
track, Dirty pays tribute to Luke, which pretty much sets the tone for the
final cut. Not even close to becoming a victim of the deadly sophomore slump,
Ol' Dirty is on some next level sh--... always has been, and as long as he
keeps dodgin' bullets, he always will be.
Click here to find out how to buy this album.
Hard beats, eerie piano riffs, and dark lyrics. That is
what Prodigy and Havoc are known for, and that is what
they come with on Murda Muzik. Sure the album's delay
pissed off a ton of heads, but the Mobb made certain
that their sh-- was tight and we all are appreciative.
"Spread Love," "Let A Ho Be A Ho," "Where Ya Heart At,"
and "U.S.A. (Aiight Then)" are perfect examples of the
perfect combo. Havoc's production is straight murderous,
and Prodigy's words are just as deadly. Mobb Deep shows
their diversity by throwing R&B hooker (I mean she blows
the hook, not the d---, fool) Chinky into "Streets Raised
Me" and "Thug Muzik." They also jump on a mello Suave
House track with 8-Ball for their people down south. Of
course both versions of "Quiet Storm" are on the album
so you don't have to listen to Lil' Kim if you don't
want to -- but I like both versions anyway. A couple of
notable artists make appearances on the album, including
Raekwon on "Can't F--- With It," and hip-hop vet Kool G
Rap on "The Realest." My man Lil' Cease gets nice with
the Mobb on "I'm Going Out," arguably the best song of
the album. However, "It's Mine," the next single to be
released, featuring Nas, probably takes the cake. Someone
finally sampled "Scarface Cues" from the movie
"Scarface" and I'm glad Mobb Deep did it before Puffy.
Nas acts like a catalyst and really heats "It's Mine"
up. Prodigy and Havoc stay true to form throughout the
album by keeping skits to a minimum. And the interludes
they do have are short but sweet -- especially the intro
with former President Reagan. With Murda Muzik, Mobb
Deep rebounds from Hell on Earth with a vengeance and
moves back to the forefront of hip-hop. There isn't one
bad song on this album. Too bad it just needs one more
hit to make it a classic. Mobb Deep gets a fat dub sack. Click here to find out how to buy this album.