Monday 11 March 2024
Black Rob "Life Story" (2000)
Thursday 19 October 2023
City Morgue "My Bloody America" (2023)
Still one to check in with, City Morgue return recycling a familiar flavor of feisty aggression. Fusing Trap with Horrorcore and touches of Metal, the duo deploy harsh percussion aesthetics again. Rattling hi-hats and distorted base kicks thump no longer a novelty. Meeting spooky samples and lean distortion guitars, beat production paints ghoulish, nightmare scenarios for their unapologetic lyrics to reign a boisterous noise. Priding its content on death, hate, gunplay and machismo, a lack of depth is hardly a surprise. Most verses simply load in vile obscenities on aggravated flows spat hard.
Among its various leanings, a sense of something curious lingers but never arrives. Despite being a rather dull thirty minutes, the record has a certain foul charisma fit for horror but lacks substance. Its instrumentals fail to lean into its intriguing elements. Only Wicked elevated this unsettled energy to a catchy level. A banger among mediocrity. Its short looping melody illuminates when all instruments fire together. I still think this duo have something great to offer but currently I'm just not feeling it.
Rating: 4/10
Thursday 28 September 2023
Paris "Guerilla Funk" (1994)
Discovering the likes of Paris years back, left me wondering why this talented rappers career never took off. Guerilla Funk highlights what I didn't hear back then. The similarities to Rakim and Public Enemy where of the time, as is this records parallels to the currently emerging G-Funk sound. Gurerilla Funk can be distilled to aesthetic and musical blueprint of Doggystyle, paired with the lyrical aggression of Ice Cube. Bordering plagiarism, Paris picks up all defining characteristics of the style. Cadence and flow runs in step with topicality and phrases, emulating the sound so well it emphasis its tropes and cliches. He is clearly all to keen to step into others sound.
I don't take issue with that but it highlights an issue. Whenever Paris tries to step off this trendy sound's topics, his politically charged rhymes stand in disparity. In retrospection, I see how he didn't exactly define himself among the crowd first time of asking. Two records later, this dramatic shift in tone leaves his own expressions weak, without a definitive style to embrace. Almost every track and flow emulates others.
Critiques aside, Paris is a competent performer, a pleasure to listen too and a talent. Perhaps one lacking his own flavor. Despite its lack of originality, if your into this era the production team put together cuts to compete with the classics. Outta My Life catches an ear for its instrumental, akin to Life's A Bitch on Illmatic but given that dropped months earlier, can't help but feel its a lift. Anyways, point made, a good spin if your into 90s Hip Hop and the G-Funk sound Dr. Dre and Snoop pioneered.
Rating: 5/10
Friday 28 October 2022
Gravediggaz "6 Feet Deep" (1994)
Unwittingly, I've uncovered Hip Hop's Horrorcore origins, a treasure trove of terror led by none other than RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. United with The Undertaker, Grym Reaper, Gatekeeper and producer Prince Paul, this Rap quintet delve deep into life's dark sides. Graphic themes of death, suicide, murder, poverty and black suffering permeate. Both serious and comical, the latter gets punctuated by gruesome exacerbation of comic book horror tropes through verbal creativity. Its former sincerity makes use of thematic extremities to highlight the serious issues of street life.
I'd been aware of 6 Feet Deep's existence for decades. Despite an encouraging reputation, my playlist choices always gravitated to something else. Finally cracking the cookie, I'm overwhelmed by its fortunes. Slipping snugly into an early 90s Jazzy ruggedness, to many samples, flows and drum beats echo many favorite sounds, posing the tricky question of how it fits the tapestry. Warmer Southern tones turn up on Mommy What's A Gravedigga, 1-800 Suicide and Blood Brothers, the latter cruises on a chilling nightly tone with its shimmering pianos and danger lurking baseline.
Diary Of A Madman plays like a blueprint for what I know of Rap duo Jedi Mind Tricks, both beat and flows are uncanny. Many other songs conjure similar familiarity. A handful of verses spat akin to Ol' Dirty Bastard, and the occasional beat like Graveyard Chamber reek of Wu-Tang outtakes, perhaps leftovers from the era of RZA's Demo Tape. Recorded over the prior three years, overlaps with the nine are no surprise, yet Gravediggaz stand boldly apart with their own devilish identity.
The distinction is wild, leaning into theatrical cheesy horror tropes, grim lyrics get cut keenly into its topicality. A depth of cultural references finds its linage in the unsavory side of American cultural history. Experimenting with unhinged wordings and maniacal cadences on occasion, the music ebbs and flows between tongue in cheek humor and deadly frankness with more conventional cuts. Prince Paul's contributions certainly serve that convention, with RZA and other producers offering up the looser screws. All in all, 6 Feet Deep is an essential experience if a fan of Hip Hop's darker leanings.
Rating: 8/10
Thursday 16 June 2022
Snoop Dogg "Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told" (1998)
In my youth, this one caught my attention with its overt, unabashed use of 90s Photoshop aesthetics. The then trendy Pen & Pixel Graphics covers are certainly eye catching. At the time, I cared little for the music but since learning of Master P and No Limit Record, my interest is renewed. Snoop was keen to exit Death Row Records, as many of its artists were. He found home and friendship down south, No Limit records taking him in with a warm embrace. The result? Essentially a creative low point for the legend as he is rotated into the album production line at the peak of cultural relevance before a sharp decline in the years to come. Despite going double platinum, this ain't one to be remembered but within a couple notes of interest make themselves known.
No surprises, features from the No Limit crew are in abundance churning out the raps. Produced by Beats by the Pound, the aesthetic, tone and No Limit cliches dominate the narrative. I'm fond of the occasional beat but for the most part, this is ruggedly rushed, now dated and simplistic music, lacking sparks beyond a routine music creation system. A couple tracks try to recreate classic G-Funk grooves. Gin And Juice II & Still A G Thing whimper from the shadows of game changing anthems yet do have a compelling knack to them, mostly driven by Snoop's persona.
Snoop is a raw adaptation with this crew, his often near spoken word, snide flows and crude lyrics rarely bloom beyond shallow showboating. His identity as slick and cool as ever yet the gangster oriented stance affirming and general vulgarities become a tire quickly. The hooks and chorus are all too casual to get in deep across a massive twenty one songs on a typically bloated, 80 minute CD filling project, the No Limit way!
There is one blemished jewel to be found however. DP Gangster has Snoop and C-Murder resurrecting an N.W.A classic, reinterpretating the beats and flows of Gangster Gangster. Its essentially a cover, a re-imagination, something that seems to be a no-no in Hip Hop, yet I thought it was a delight. I'd love to hear more artists taking on old tracks, giving them a different spin! Anyways, I knew this was going to be disappointing but with curiosity leading the way, I had a bit of fun!
Rating: 4/10
Tuesday 3 May 2022
Vince Staples "Ramona Park Broke My Heart" (2022)
With a talkative tone and casual cadence, Vince returns on this forth outing spinning his introspective thoughts on a breezy laid back vibe. To say business as usual would understate the emotional weight and expressions from this insightful artists. Again, stories and perspectives are told through the personas he inhabits. Lacking the spark a new dimension can bring, the familiarity of his attitude and lyrics lets one swiftly fall into the easy groove the record presents. Its a slow riding, G-Funk inspired chill out where 808s and percussive beats pop low key and the instrumentals croon gently on the subdued, sleepy leaning vibes that drift by with an eerie lack of tension.
I'm not sure if its in contrast to the gravity of topics discussed in his lyrics as there is a lot of pride and warmth expressed where Vince often uses his words to peers into social ills and societal issues. His words make this record feel more personal than the tales of prior projects. His cadence, which at its sturdiest still seems casual, can slip into a breathy effortless slew of words that almost seems intentionally lazy. The vibe is spot on however! These dreamy toned down beats play right into his hand.
The result is a soothing lofty warmth that drifts by yet any attention given to his words reveals a deeper meaning. I love how he can wrap the most potent words into simple lines and expressions to emphasis a narrative. Its almost in rebellion to overworked rhymes and clever wordplay. Vince uses just a drop of poetry and the apt moments so effortlessly. Seemingly much of it plays of as train of thought, ringing of the thoughts directly but a little study often reveals something a little deeper. I do think some of the Ramona Park Broke My Heart's depth does hinge on its authenticity. Are these more personal tales? Either way, its a very easy to enjoy record.
Rating: 7/10
Saturday 26 March 2022
Cypress Hill "Back In Black" (2022)
Has it really been four years since Elephants On Acid? Having been underwhelmed by Cypress Hill's long awaited return, I found myself rightly cautious about its follow up. Back In Black lacks the input of DJ Muggs and it hurts the group. With Black Milk handling the production, a rather subdued atmosphere arises from steady and cautious percussive arrangements. Its accompanied by darkly urban sampling that rarely leaps of the page, always residing with a soft temperament where the danger is far away. The lean baselines bring some redemption with classy aesthetics, its far from a saving grace. The drum grooves sound weak and thinned out lacking, urgency or a sense of imposition. I think subtlety and craft were the aim here yet its slow tempos and lack of bombast leave the general tone a dull and lackluster one.
Sadly, both B-Real and Sen Dog seem to be on autopilot. All their verses flow with the same cautious pace. Its rock steady yet rigid. The immediacy and enthusiasm of words are lost in the monotony. Even the better word plays and rhyme schemes lull into this complacency. The records lyrical themes signify a return to roots. Gritty and mean, the pair delve back into gangster oriented tales of urban life in the city. Perspectives are offered, stories and braggadocio as to be expected. B-Real and Sen Dog also reflect on their roll in legalization and a change in cannabis cultures reception in the social fabric. These could be landmark chapters given Cypress Hill's history but this points too falls blunted like much of the record impact.
Every song has the same structure with instrumentals on loop, just going through the motions. Where are the hooks and choruses? Not even a break or beat switch. Sure, each song a hook line in its chorus but it all flows with the same cadence and the verses before it. No song has a memorable spice and a couple attempt to recycle their own or other classic hooks. Black In Back's merits are lonely, just the experience of its two voices to carry a bulk of mediocrity to its conclusion without being offensive, off color or cringey. I have no reasons to return to these songs again. Cypress have announced the next record will be their last and that it will be with DJ Muggs. I hope they find a way to go out with a bang cause this was a soft whimper.
Rating: 3/10
Wednesday 4 August 2021
Vince Staples "Vince Staples" (2021)
These ten numbers run fast, no song surpassing the three minute mark. This flow gives power to its subdued instrumentals, led by sparse percussive beats. They rattle pacy, tight hi-hats and groove of the deep 808 kicks with sharp swift snare strikes between. Its all packaged with fast attack and minimal decay for quite the flat tonality, a bland aesthetic that masterfully resonates of its backing instruments and samples that bring in the flavor. It is as mentioned a subdued experience, a tricky chemistry to get right. Its cousin would be those classic G-Funk vibes yet a sleepy alternative, arriving with the bombast stripped out. The loops can linger on a couple of ambiguous elements, shy of potent melody and forging atmosphere through the obscurity of its dreamy arrangements. A lot of the record feels like a hazy memory, much to its charm.
Initially I found the record a little dull but that is the misleading nature of the beast. Its livelier beats get going from Taking Trips onwards, which would peak my attention. As Vince's lyrics set in, I found the keenest of his musings in the opening with some his critiques and perspectives coming back around again later on, always sharp though. On another level these songs play like flipped bangers with the essence of that ripped out. His steady and soft spoken word delivery a breeze to follow on these sleepy tracks. Giving attention to the craftiness of his lyrics, these lines could play like killer hooks yet its all played down into this style that suits him to well. Being a sucker for a little bombast and bravado its what this album does right that perhaps makes it a little harder to get stuck in my mind, however it does play like the kind of record to experience as one thing, because it lacks any weak points, a very clear vision well executed.
Rating: 7/10
Tuesday 11 May 2021
Clipping "Visions Of Bodies Being Burned" (2020)
Its album number four by Clipping, an experimental Hip Hop trio doing remarkable things with their mashing up of Industrial and Noise with Horrorcore Rap and spoken rhymed monologues. So far I've developed a great appreciation for the artistry and craft but lacked an emotional connection. The same is true again with another fifty two minutes that seem to emphasize the same response from me. There is a difference this outing though, more of what I connect with. That's mostly a banging beat to elevate the obscurity of these minimalist noisescapes that house the rhymes.
Clipping's unsettling and grim take on urban life and crime has its apt tone again. Either expressed through rhyme or Industrial dissonance, Say The Name brings it to current events with a gripping power to address the death of George Floyd. The most notable track however is found in the lurching paranoia of Check The Lock. The John Carpenter-esque melodies and haunting bells are an illuminating compliment to the click, clack and rattling of sparse and distant industrious world building noises.
Alongside the lyrical talent of Daveed Diggs, who's sharp as a blade with his despairing narratives, a host of features fall short of adding something memorable to the mix. I was delighted to see the inclusion of Ho99o9 but even their shout raps felt at odds with the abrasive instrumental below the pair. Beyond these points of remark, much of what I've written about Clipping before remains true, its mostly a jarring experience of conflicting instrumentation that paints physical discomfort.
Its best exemplified by slabs of white noise between tracks and the maddening Eaten Alive, its loose percussive performance seems perfectly dialed up to maximum confusion as its dislocated pace grows with the clattering of kitchen utensils. When Diggs drops out we are treated to a couple minutes of completely unhinged sound. Its a novelty, one this band are capable of channeling into convention with thumping base and a sensible kick snare groove but it too is sparing on this outing, with much of the record being chalked into that particular confrontational space again.
Rating: 6/10
Saturday 17 October 2020
Cypress Hill "Cypress Hill" (1991)
As a precursor to another record I'll talk on tomorrow, it felt essential to lay a little groundwork with Cypress Hill's dynamite debut from 1991. Nothing quite like this sound had existed beforehand. The Hill blew minds with funky Latino vibrations and a bold advocation for the use of marijuana at the forefront of their music. Unlike a lot of other acts in Hip Hop, the trio would go on to have a decorated career beyond the debut with a string of creative and commercially successful albums, birthing songs known the world over like Rap or Rock Superstar and Insane In The Brain.
Firstly a disclaimer, this group were one of my first "favorites", who as a young teen I bonded with immensely... these beats and rhymes are practically baked into my brain. I can't tell you how many times I've spun this one. Giving it another go as I right, I am reminded of how well crafted these instrumentals are. Yet to lean on slamming percussion, DJ Muggs flavors his grooves with bold, funky samples. It has a little Bomb Squad flair for obnoxious noises and stabs among the guitars, horns and trumpets. It mostly has a keen psychedelic edge, resisting conventional melodies and arranging his loops to flow in succinct persuading repetitions.
I
often forget how uplifting and warm the Hill once where. By album
three, Temples Of Doom, they were deep in the darkness. Despite having
devious classics like "How I Could Just Kill A Man" and "Hole In The
Head", Muggs keeps spirits up with a spicy measure of groove and funk
weighed up in a string of classic beats. However the lyrics are mixed in with rugged street talk and violence, swaying between more fun topicality. Variety comes with laid back
grooves, busying instrumentals pushing the noise and a playful helping of
Latino flair. In the records end stretch, the guitar sample on Tres
Equis illuminates brightly, doing all the work for Muggs as Sen Dog raps
in Spanish. A niche touch to give the record more uniqueness.
B-Real is a phenomenal talent, all too overlooked as one of the greatests in my opinion. He establishes himself with a youthful flair but his rhymes are so concise, the flows mesmerizing and with that strong navel inflection, inspired by the Beastie Boys, he proves himself on round one. So many of his distinguished particular cadences and catered rhythms are established on this one. Flows and rhyme groupings that get recycled and referenced in later records are in abundance here at the inception. Lets not forget the hooks, this record is loaded with them. Hand On The Pump has one of the best with its lala lala conclusion and Sen delivering the hype between.
Every track as something to offer and a write up can't go by with out mentioning Stoned Is The Way Of The Walk. An absolute banging sleazy spaced out beat with B-Real rhyming through the percussive breakdowns without pause. Its timeless, despite having a distinctly "of the time" feel, everything stands up. With knowledge of whats to come, Real Estate seems a step ahead. It has the harder drum loop and focused attention on its main sample and pumped up baselines. That's another point, the music is laced with bold lines in the low end that glues much of it all together.
This record never lost its charms on me over the decades and right now it's pleasures are so vivid. That is when I enjoy writing the most. What's the point other than to feel the music as much as you can? I can barely think of a bad word to say on this record, its a brilliant debut statement. Stylistically stunning and sharp, flavored with a spice not heard before in Hip Hop. Barely a weak spot, although everyone will find their favorites among these sixteen cuts. A classic!
Rating: 10/10
Sunday 27 September 2020
House Of Pain "Same As It Ever Was" (1994)
Following up on the debut Fine Malt Lyrics, my memory of Same As It Ever Was has held true. Its a tighter, leaner, hard hitting record with a boisterous gangster edge. Both the beats and rhymes are upgraded to a meaner form of the Irish funk as House Of Pain channel their fun and quirky charisma into a darker temperament. Front man Everlast trades in his card swapping punch lines for substance driven verses. His rhymes are keen and again well pronouncement, even with a touch more grit in his voice as he emphasizes on gun play and violence. It feels less fun and playful, a fraction threatening but mostly a more entertaining flow of rhymes to jive with.
Monday 31 August 2020
City Morgue "Toxic Boogaloo" (2020)
The City Morgue duo are back with another barrage of obnoxious violent raps, spitting hate and threats in all directions. Following up on the first two style defining volumes, this twenty minute EP brings a firm, metallic tinted production to their typical arrangement of hook oriented outbursts of intense energy. Better enjoyed in brief stints, Toxic Boogaloo benefits from a swift lineup touting quality over quantity. As to be expected, vile raps, boastful aggression and abhorrent attitudes guide the lyrical assault on the listener as we are plunged into the fury of violent youthful rebellion.
Further developing their fusion of Trap Metal, the instrumentals toy with big dirty bass lines pushing deep into peak distortions. This noise foray paired with gritty FL Slayer distortion sounds pushes the chemistry further into dark urban avenues. Although a little groove a rhythm arrives through the guitars, its mainly an aesthetic compliment to tracks driven by pounding Trap percussion with darkly sounding samples and synths brooding moods. Its a clear step up from what they achieved beforehand.
Lyrically, its the same game again. For me that is mostly a novel gawking session at the level of ridiculousness on display. The two have an undeniable talent for style, delivery and catchy hooks but the slew of spiteful anger has little in the way of depth. Hurtworld '99 gets a shout for its running letters of hurt, which yield a personal angle with its timing of the world you. It feels like they reach in and grab way more from a single word with how its worked into the hook. Its a keen moment among a few others. If the duo keep moving in this direction it sounds like their is room for growth.
Rating: 5/10
Sunday 28 June 2020
Xzibit "Man VS Machine" (2002)
Favorite Tracks: Release Date, Symphony In X Major, Heart Of Man, My Name, Missin U
Rating: 6/10
Wednesday 20 May 2020
Xzibit "At The Speed Of Life" (1996)
Thursday 9 January 2020
City Morgue "City Morgue Vol 2 As Good As Dead" (2019)
Thursday 4 July 2019
Schoolboy Q "CrasH Talk" (2019)
Schoolboy Q is back with his fifth full length record, another cut of rugged street flavored rhymes and slick urban instrumentals. At forty minutes it represents his leanest project to date, which I can't label as quality over quantity. Many of these songs fail to show themselves without dedicated listening. Nothing to be found like a Hover Street, the sort of song that grabs you by the neck and commands your attention. This records best song by a good stretch is Chopstix, coming from the mind of Travis Scott. His synthetic production style and chorus hook nails a intoxicating vibe that would fit sweetly into one of his own projects.
Q comes to the mic as a mean front man, bringing a range of vocal styles to his new project. Often he sounds slightly agitated with a confident demeanor. Keenly pronounced, he affirms himself with steady flows and lyrics that most wavier above mediocrity. With little making a mark the record hits some stiff jarring creative choices. The dreary interlude track Drunk hits a wall with Q rapping with the signature Drake "Ahye" crutch, its one of many aproaches and he changes up his style so often its hard to know who's who. The track Floating has one of the weakest spoken word slurred flows going, I think from 21 Savage. Floating takes an award for the weakest hook, "I got that water, Yea, I got that water". Its dull and a one to endure.
The instrumentals are hit and miss, a good mix of modern kits and sampling oriented vibes. Luckily it sounds like the best hooks land on the strongest instrumentals, yielding a handful of songs to go back on between many unfavorable ones. Handled mostly by three or so producers they conjure up a variety that doesn't have any particular flow across the forty minutes. The experience tends to drag despite short songs, most of which don't pass three minutes. This was all to run of the mill, no focus or arching theme, Q's words don't leave the page to often and its not to the last song that we get a wiff of his flair. Its not awful but Ive found myself expecting so much more from this talented artist.
Favorite Tracks: Chopstix, Lies, 5200, Die Wit Em, Attention
Rating: 4/10