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the sure shot singles

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March 6, 1997 - you'll just love our flashy ways
Born Jamericans: Yardcore (two mixes) (Delicious Vinyl S 34981R)

When Ice Cube first came out with "Jackin For Beats", I thought it was a pretty clever way of making a song through the blatant snatching of other people's hit tracks. Things, along those lines, were pretty silent for a while, until the last two years where MANY a dancehall artist has suddenly found it quite fashionable to do the same thing with "hip hop mixes"...most notably Bounty Killer, but certainly not limited to him. Born Jamericans are the latest to jump onto the train, with a pair of decent, but not wholly invigorating remixes that follow the "use whatever hip hop heads are diggin' right now" principle. On either mix, you'll find the sounds of Westside Connection, Redman, and various other familiar beats, which makes for a decent club cut (which is exactly what they're aiming for), but I still felt it was a bit flat. Moreover, the whole "yardcore" play on "hardcore" is kind of corny to me. Really brah, just keep it real, you know? :-)


Darcsyde: Everyday b/w Queens Stands Strong (Kick Ass KA 791)

If indie singles have reached a level where there's some kind of range to measure quality, this 12" from Darcsyde would be hitting right about center. A-side is on some Bad Boy tip...kind of weird since the B-side is Queens-style gun clap sound? And no, it's not like a Nas cut. It's made me realize that part of creating a name for yourself in the underground is just being first to dominate a particular style of hip hop, and in this case, Darcsyde is a bit late in the game, though not necessarily worse than anyone else out there. It just doesn't distinguish itself enough for me to really take notice...know what I mean?


G..P. Wu: Black on Black Crime (MCA 12791)

What's up with this? Pop the Brown Hornet already put out this track on this last single, but the MCA label might have something to do with why it's rereleased since Pop's indie label was having a hard time with distribution. It's a good song, if not a little old (I mean...I heard this cut almost a year ago), mostly powered by the RZA-esque track and the vocals of Pop, Rubberbands and Down Low Recka and June Luva. It also looks like this crew has combined to make up the group G.P. Wu. I wish I had some more info on the background of all this, but looks like "Black on Black Crime" gets a second shot at making it, even if it's a year late.


Mr. Complex: Visualize b/w Why Don't Cha (Raw Shack RSP 003)

Mr. Complex has now joined the small, but evidently growing Raw Shack label, best known as the home of Harlem hot shot J Live. Complex's zany, off beat flow had already captured some notice on his last single and he's staying the course on this new Raw Shack single. I know I may catch some flak for suggesting this, but on the A-side, he reminds me a lot of Kwest...both have like-sounding voices, plus that off beat rhyme pattern isn't THAT unique. With DJ Spinna (a producer with a bright future IMO) on the cut, it's ok...but really, the sh*t is on the B-side. Mr. Complex's lyrics seem to mesh better with the track, which definitely has it going on, more so than its A-side cousin. Again, Spinna serves it up with some tasty snares and vibes. I'm not positive everyone out there is gonna feel Mr. Complex, but he's got a good label that's known for their quality MCs. Let's hope Raw Shack strikes again.


Notorious BIG: Hypnotize (Bad Boy BBDP 9089)

We're all sick of Biggie right? We're tired of his Versace, Armani, Cristal lyricism and lifestyle...right? We're gonna put an end to all this materialism in hip hop and send Biggie and his Bad Boy henchmen a loud and clear message. But first, we're gonna bump "Hypnotize" for a while. Hey, I'm kind of tired of the same ol' sh*t too, but unlike numerous, annoying clones, Biggie is still D. Original Big Poppa, and as far as that's concerned, he knows how to rock a track. My man complained, "Hey, I already had to live through Herb Alpert once, why go through it again on a sample?" but for me, Herb or no Herb (for those just joining in, this ain't a chat about weed) the track bounces with that type of flow that seems sorely missing from say...oh...almost all of Foxy's album, with the exception of her title track. Lyrically, it's deifinitely much closer to "Player's Anthem" than "Machine Gun Funk", but that's how it goes. Maybe if you're lucky, you'll be too busy scoping on the next cutie at the club and grooving to hypontized to give a f---.


Ol Dirty Bastard: Dirty and Stinkin (white label)

A new track from Osiris? Nope...a left over track from ODB's last album that has just recently surfaced on white labels. I'm surprised it got left off, b/c the sh*t is tight...it might have been a sample thing, but the song is so minimalistic, it's hard to figure out why they would have run into problems. In any case, ODB sounded more sober than usual and the cut comes off. He's dropping his dirty and stinkin' style all over this one, with RZA looping up a fat, bouncy track for ODB to get likwit over. I wouldn't cry over not having it...it's the type of track that never-was-to-have-been, unlike a rare 12" that got released on a limited basis, or a tease that everyone knows about but no one has (like Souls of Mischief's "Cabfare" which has yet to see the face of vinyl four years later).


Pressure: Calm Cannons b/w Time To Shine (Official Jointz OJ 100)

Some might take this as a dis, but this 12" (both sides) sounds like it could have been on Funkmaster Flex's latest mix tape album. It uses familiar beats to lace the flavor, and lyrically, it's got that NY state of mind feel to it. Basically, it's not a bad 12", but it's not outstanding either. I know some folks would definitely give up some love for it, but beyond those 15 seconds of fame, I'm not sure there's too much to talk about, know what I mean? As with the Darcsyde single, once you hear it a couple of times, you feel so familiar with it, it loses its appeal. A more slamming and original pair of beats could have helped, but Pressure also suffers from having a fairly common MC personality, the same thing you'd find on any of a dozen others 12"s I could pull out. I'm not saying they sound alike in voice or delivery, but in terms of what you, as a listener, get out of it...I don't think it's above the mean.


Reservoir Doggs: The Difference b/w Back to Berth/Murder We Wrote (Still Diggin SDM PRO 001)

With some criticism being leveled at Dolo Records for what some heads thought was a weak 12" (Dutchmin's "Get Your Swirve On"), this unnoticed single from last year doesn't help any. The Reservoir Doggs are the first group to get released on producer-extraordinaire Buckwild's new Still Diggin label, but after working with cats like OC, Lord Finesse, the Alkaholiks, Artifacts. etc, I'm wondering why he signed yet another NYC gun-clap troupe to a contract. They're not MOP or anything, but the Doggs drop the exact same type of lyrics as dozens of artists on that "street smarts" tip. It's all making dolo and popping hollow-heads at fools who step in their way. Even worse, the production, while decent, is no where near the quality that you'd expect from Buckwild


Shamus Feat. Flu: Tight Team (Raw Track RT 1297)

Shamus is one of those NY best kept secrets...their last single was butter to me, but probably due to poor distribution and promotion didn't get the kind of love it deserved. Hopefully, this new 12" from these Bronx rhymers will get more love...hell, I first heard the cut on a mixtape from Finland, of all places. Buckwild starts off with a song that made me think it was going to be another cowboy type beat, but it didn't go there and ended up being a smooth, moody but subtle track. Shamus and Flu are coming with pretty familiar sounding content, but their delivery is strong, plus the hook - despite sounding like something that Mobb Deep would write up - works pretty well. It's prominent without being obnoxious, which is how I'd choose to describe this whole single. A sneak attack.


KRS One: Step Into a World (Rapture's Delight) (Jive)

At the risk of sounding just a little too enthusiastic...this 12" is f*ckin HYPE... I know some think KRS is overrated...but I can't feel that when this man's been able to drop kick ass cuts for over the last 10 years. Really, this new promo is killer, even better than the cuts on the 3-song 12" that just came out. The main problem, as many will quickly point out, is the recycled Blondie chorus that annoying screeches its way in on the intro. Ok, I'm not feeling it that much either, but f--- it. Once the beat kicks in (who is Jesse West?), it's all over...the track just smashes. Hypest single I've heard in a DAMN long time...which isn't to say it's the best thing...but on the level of getting that energy pumping and feet jumping, this cut will crush fools if done live, no question.


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