Music Reviews of Hip-Hop, Rap, Urban, Turntablism, R&B
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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Current Top Ten Chart
Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
Converge - No Heroes
The Graduate - Anhedonia
Death By Stereo - Death Alive
Comeback Kid - Broadcasting
The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth
Dear and the Headlights - Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
The Geeks - Every Time We Fall
Limbeck - Limbeck
WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Hip-Hop, Urban, Turntablism, R&B
The Civil Mics Movement — We Shall Overcome Mixtape Buy it at Amazon
Mixed by DJ Q Sak, “We Shall Overcome” is socially conscious hip-hop that has good lyrics and laid-back rhythms. But that’s not what sells in the hip-hop world of course. You have to bring the bling and shout about shooting, drugs, and ‘bitches’. Fortunately this mixtape has nothing to do with that depravity and misogyny. Decent beats, prophetic MC’ing, and thrilling samples make this a damn fine mixtape to own and share with others.
- J-Sin
John Robinson — The Leak Edition Vol. 2 Buy it at Amazon
Queens native John Robinson has pulled together a gritty and dirty hip-hop joint with plenty of guests to impress you with. Edgar Allen Floe, Invizible Handz, Wale Oyejide, and Tiffany Paige are but some of the major players on “The Leak Edition Vol. 2”. Bouncing rhythms, tight MCing, and samples that KRS-One would be proud to sport, this is a fine entry in the hip-hop arena.
- J-Sin
2pac — Pac's Life Buy it at Amazon
Apparently 2Pac heard that Kurt Cobain past Elvis as the artist who made the most money posthumously and said, “I raise you one”. It’s absolutely ridiculous how many albums Tupac Shakur has released after he was shot and killed. This is slewed with guest appearances and is yet another reason why hip-hop boggles the mind. The sad thing is that Tupac is better dead than the majority of still breathing rappers in the hip-hop circuit today.
- J-Sin
Wylde Bunch — Wylde Bunch Buy it at Amazon
Actually Wylde Bunch is surprisingly solid hip-hop that breaks down all barriers that the rap world has bestowed upon itself. The group is a ten-piece filled with a wide variety of influences and a resulting sound that’s just as myriad and divergent. You’ve probably heard them already on videogame soundtracks with their infectious “Yeah Yeah (Stomp the Bleachers)” and if not you’re certainly missing out.
- J-Sin
Termanology — Hood Politics IV: Show and Prove Buy it at Amazon
“Hosted by Clinton Sparks”, Termanology’s new album unfortunately drops the ball more times than it passes it. Gripped with a feverish attitude to ‘prove itself’, “Hood Politics IV” is disjointed, lame, and rarely treats one to anything other than self-accolades and funky turntablism. This ‘shows’ little and ‘proves’ nothing.
- J-Sin
AZ — The Format Buy it at Amazon
AZ is slipping in his old age. After bringing us “A.W.O.L.”, he pushes out “The Format”, which seems hurried, tired, and uninspired. We know he has the chops as he’s been nominated for a Grammy and has recorded with some of hip-hop’s best and brightest in Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, and Trackmasters. Guests like Lil Fame, Face Defeat, DJ Premier, Emile, and Phonte Coleman don’t make this any less sub-par.
- J-Sin
School of Beats — Lesson II - Validation Buy it at Amazon
Howard University graduates Andre Taylor and Lee DeShazor are the beatmakers and the MC in School of Beats. Having a bit of the element of DC hip-hop, that gritty downtrodden flow, and heavy bass, “Lesson II – Validation” is a great entry into the world of underground hip-hop as a stirring urban mixtape.
- J-Sin
Tripp Marxx — Talk of the City Vol. 2 Buy it at Amazon
While he certainly will always have to overcome the whole ‘white rapper’ thing, Tripp Marxx is poised to do just that. His lyrics are well-penned and perfectly spit. Bump that up with terrific production and gritty beats and you’ve got yourself a true grinder on your hands.
- J-Sin
The Game — Doctor's Advocate Buy it at Amazon
You know how there’s all this hubris in hip-hop? You know how the media tries to convince us of the ‘thug life’ in hip-hop and how there’s all these beefs in the rap world that end up getting rappers shot. Well sometimes there are rappers that deserve to be shot.
- J-Sin
Lil' Eazy E — Rebirth of Gangsta Rap Buy it at Amazon
The son of the late great Eazy E (he died from AIDS when Lil’ Eazy was 10), he teams up with mixtape masters DJ Warrior and DJ Strong from the West Coast. “Rebirth of Gangsta Rap” doesn’t follow in his father’s footsteps so much as borrow heavily from them. “Compton City G’s” goes back in the catalog and manages to find a Eazy E cut but even that doesn’t keep you from moving on.
- J-Sin
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