Word on the street is that Grand Royale is "feeling" out how this white label promo makes an impact before making a decision to actually release or not. Perhaps Capitol's reaming of Acey influenced the decision at G.R., it's hard to say. Overall, I like this single...it has the lead cut, and a remix. Lyrically, Abstract comes pretty damn good on this puppy, targeting all the suckas, especially the industry ones. It's not quite mind blowing, it still holds its on. Production-wise, I prefered the remix which was a bit jazzy...I dunno, I just found the original a tad boring, which was a pretty consistent dislike people had with Acey's album. (GRAND ROYALE)
Speaking of Acey...this will be his last single off of the album, and most likely, off of Capitol. Contrary to rumor, he wasn't dropped, but Capitol's not doing any more sh*t with the album anyway. I dunno, I wonder how much of it had to do with track selection...I still argue that "Mic Checka" was just NOT a good first single. This is a bit better...the production is booming and bass-y, but not very exciting. However, Acey's the big show and I have to admit, he rips sh*t on this track. Hopefully, he'll be able to find a new label that's more supportive. (CAPITOL)
The remix is produced by the RZA and in short...it's what you'd expect. Not bad...not as good as some of other efforts that are listed here. But not bad, not bad. Overall, this would have been a good track (better than the mediocore original) but Raekwon and AZ talk on too much of it. Their actual rhyming time is shorter than the long winded intro and outro. 'Sup with that?
Anyways, they didn't change much with Mo Money... which is too bad since it was begging, in my opinion, for a remix to something a little more exciting than that "ghetto gold" loop they hooked up. I hope to god this isn't what we can expect from Nas' next album. (EMI/CHRYSALIS)
Pretty decent cut...comparisons to Mobb Deep will be hard to avoid, but all that aside, the track's got merit...lyrically, it's kinda what you'd expect from Big Noyd (if you listened to the "Infamous" LP) and Prodigy, but it's good, it's good. The track, produced by Mobb Deep, like "Still Shinin" is an impressive display of self-production...I'm kinda sick of the trend that Mobb Deep started/rode, but I have to give credit where credit is due...they're a talented duo, both lyrically and musically. (TOMMY BOY)
Eh...who needed 'em? I like the original better and LL is just worthless on this cut (not that he's really worth much elsewhere anyway...but). It might be ok as a club cut, but even then, they didn't vastly remix it anyway. (ARISTA)
This single just goes to show that you can pay to get two of hip hop's biggest names to work on your 12" and result can still be mediocore. Not to say that this 12" is downright lousy, but I didn't really feel either production effort (KRS and Diamond D respectively). Plus, Broadway's no big deal either as a lyricist. Again, it's not a bad cut, but I expected more. (NERVOUS)
The ODB duet is highly overrated unless you enjoy hearing two of hip hop's most overrated "innovative" lyricists get busy. Don't get me wrong...I sort of like both of them when they start going off...but then again, I like salt and vinegar chips too. The remix was definitely not on my high list of recent likes.
But yo, get past the Ol Dirty and let Jay Dee take you on a way on a simply butter remix that slips and slides in a smooth jazziness. Unfortunately, the DJ Scratch Albany remix wasn't very exciting...plus, he engineered the vocals way low. And Jay Dee's other remix wasn't that good either. What the hell? Four separate remixes? Two by the same producer? Seems a bit odd and definitely unnecessary.
Listening to Everything Remains Raw again makes me like it better...yes, it's very signature Easy Mo...but it reminds me more of the stuff he did for Big (which I liked) than what he did for Craig Mack. All in all, this 12" is cool, but I won't die for not having it. (ELEKTRA)
Neither cut is that big of a deal. Kinda cross-over-y actualy. (LOUD)
Sorry...but once again, Chino rips up the lyrics over a less than exciting track...it's just a bad pairing of great punchrhymes with weak production. But hey, the purple vinyl was kinda tight. (AMERICAN)
This underground joint is making some noise...is it the eerie, dusty beats? Or the original, creative lyricism? Maybe both...but which ever it is, check it out for yourself. (OFFICIAL)
What? Another single? 1,2,3,4 is strictly for the dance floor and while, it's decent in that regard, I can't say I like it for much else. I liked the B-side much better which has a funky guitar loop going for it...lyrically, the Alkies would've done it better, but hey, Coolio can get his high on if he wants to. (TOMMY BOY)
I think Q Tip's remix will have a lot of heads wondering, "What the f-?" By far, it's probably the weakest production effort Mr. J. Davis has put into a single in recent memory. I mean, it is kind of funny and light (don't know if it was mean to be like that though...) but it's far from fat. Muggs remix didn't do much either...sounding like some elementary haunted house type of sh*t. This album went platinum? (RUFFHOUSE)
If you haven't peeped this yet, it's the remix that puts different "appropiate" beats behind each artist. For instance, Jeru rhymes over "Come Clean", Smif N Wessun flip over "Sound Boy Burriel", and so forth. It's a cool little cut though a little late in comng if you ask me. The B-side has a remix of "How High" that was no big deal. (WHITE LABEL)
Striaght up...just skip to the "just tha beat mix" for Lady. Premier does an ok job with the full installation, but really, ya gotta boil the beat down to his basics. I kinda like it...but I wasn't horribly worked over any of the songs or AZ's general performance and what not. (EMI)
A new group on the Latin Lingo tip...I actually like this 12"...the production is easy to get into and lyrically, it's ok stuff. (LOUD)
Not a big deal musically, but damn, sounds like people need to listen to "Squash All Beef" again. Word is that Kapone and someone else is working on a retaliation cut called "LA, LA". I can't wait... (DEATH ROW)
Hmm...Kool Keith is a one man underground posse it seems, with his various alter egos in the form of Dr. Octogon, Big Willie Smith, and Poppa Large himself. Too bad that not all his sh*t is hitting. Take this 12"...No Awareness is ok. Really not that big of a deal. Even worse is the B-side which suffers from both boring beats and just a wack-ass chorus. The only nice thing on this puppy if Bear Witness which features Q Bert ripping sh*t on the 1s and 2s. (BULK)
I admit, this 12" is pretty Erick Sermon-ish...a "formula" track by all standards...but you know...I like it anyway. It's got a nice bounce to it...a party jam no doubt, but with decent lyrics and what not. It could be better, but it could also be a lot worse. (DEF JAM)
Eh...standard fare...I miss the days of La Raza. Frost is the Brown G, and in general, not saying much. The track is cool...has some Latin flavor to it and what not, but gee, "Family Affair" again? Survey says...
Worlds better than Cold World, this 12" packs a hefty one, two punch. Shadowboxers gets my nod for pairing the deadlyduo of the Method Man with the Gza. (GEFFEN)
I know some heads disagree, but I thought this remix was a bit of a waste of vinyl. Apart from D'Angelo's presence, the track is virtually unchanged...what was the point then? I dunno...I just see this 12" as rather unnecessary. Not recommended at all. (GEFFEN)
Damn, for all that people might complain about being Wu Tang-ed out, you can't front on quality tracks. Rza comes up with a gem of a production effort and Ghostface represents him and the Wu well on this 12" from an upcoming soundtrack. I wouldn't say it's a MUST have, but it holds its own, no diggety.
A decent 12"...the live remix is ok, and clean (which is nice) but overall, they really didn't do too much aside from offering an instrumental and acapella. (LA FACE)
Decent 12" produced by Kenny Parker. I still think Heather B gets further b/c she's female than b/c she's good...i.e., unlike like, say, Lauryn, I wouldn't necessary count on Heather to rip sh*t up from the roots onward. This is a good 12", but not a stellar one...I liked "All Glocks Down" better. (EMI)
I really like this A-side beat...the E Double hooks up a nice piano loop which Jamal flows over. The title is a bit played out, but I think Jamal manages to flip some flavor nonetheless. The B-side was just ok...maybe I didn't listen to it enough times, but I wasn't really feeling it. (ROWDY)
Fresh off being dropped from Payday, after only one single, Jay Z is back on Rock a Fella. Dead Presidents is his first 12" back and it's a nice one at that. The Nas sample is tight, and in general, the track is good, musically and lyrically. The B-side is a collage of snippets from his upcoming album and beware. There's a lot of ghetto gold sounding tracks on the album is the sampler is any indication. Not the best times (ROCK A FELLA)
Sorry, but this is just not that good of a 12". Lame choruses, wasted beats by Kut Master Kurt and Peanut Butter Wolf, and most of all, lyrics that don't really inspire or impress. (FUNKY ASS)
I didn't believe people when they told me this sh*t was wack, but I should've trusted them. Sorry ya'll, but KRS came out with a REALLY weak 12" IMO. Beats clocking in at a sloth-like 66bpm...plus a song with no real point (Pick It Up) makes for a fairly underwhelming effort.
The B-side, which features live recordings sounds like a Fisher Price tape recorder was used to tape it. KRS fans are probably the only people who can REALLY appreciate this 12". Everyone else will wonder the question, "Um...why?" (FRONT PAGE)
After a long wait since "Melodica" dropped, Solesides is back with the debut release of Lateef, the Truthseeker. The Wreckoning is just that...his first set of verses explodes across the vinyl...Lateef's got a strong verbal flow, forceful but articulate. The beat, done by DJ Shadow...has got lots o' boom and low end sonics to it...definitely something to pound the f--- out of your subwoofers.
However, the B-side is what'll have a lot of heads babbling...Lateef and Lyrx Born combine on this track to astound some (annoy others). The first set of verses features the two of them rhyming at once. We're not talking tag team...I mean, they're rhyming at the same time. It's hella interesting and not something I've heard in a hip hop song before. Some kids will get ALL open on it...others might be too distracted to be able to follow either set of lyrics. No worries b/c verses 2 and 3 are split between Lyrx and Lateef on their own. Lateef's set are particularly ill...definitely some "rewind that" type o' sh*t. This is the evolution of hip hop ya'll...peep it out. (SOLESIDES)
An interesting follow-up to their mega-underground smash "Expect That." Jive U the Man has a very slow, laid back, smoky feel to it. It's cool listening to, but not that impressive in other areas. The B-side's got the bump sh*t though. The beat just pounds and both lyricists start off with 'nuff verve. A good balance of mellow and mad on this 12". Check it out. (CORRECT)
This isn't a remix, but it is one of the better cuts off his album with instrumental and acapella flavor for ya'll. Can't complain...it's a cool cut.. (BLUNT)
Nah...Clark Kent doesn't come with much flavor on either remix, especially compared ot the original. Don't trip off this puppy. (BLUNT)
This is the same Philly kid who produced Monk Wit Da Funk... I like the A-side on this 12" a lot...the MMS loops a cool, jazy piano sample and overall, there's a nice, cool feel to it. Lyrically, it's decent stuff though not as good as the beats at some times. Cute Loot is ok...I didn't like the subject matter very much...to be honest, I'm tired of people going off on gold diggers. Been there, done that. The last track is ok as well...the production didn't move me as much, the lyrically, the track has some merit. All in all, I'd recommend people take a peep for this 12"... (ILADELPH)
Ok fine, so another R&B artist loops a hip hop beat, in this case, the beat from, "MCs Act Like They Don't Know." So? No big deal. (ISLAND)
Interesting production...loud is the first word that comes to mind for the A- side which is a clash of guitar riffs...not quite Rick Rubin-esque, but it leaves you wondering for at least a second. The B-side has the better beat...a driving, pouding track. Lyrically, it's ok stuff...but with a name like Money Boss Playas...you know how it goes.
Another strong 12" from this North Kakalak kid who just got dropped by East/West. Yup...dissed by the industry. And it's too bad...this whole 12" is cool, all three mixes have their merits...especially Remix #2, featuring Sadat X. Alas, the man has joined Jemini in the land of the industry orphaned. (EAST/WEST...sort of)
Eh...no big deal, unfortunately. The A-side has an ok track, mostly bassline and some piano tinkling...but nothing that special overall. The B goes for some eerie type sh*t, but nothing outstanding. The verbal flow wasn't really there either...I wasn't that impressed. The Rob Swift didn't really do much cutting-wise...a little here and there, but not as much as I would have thought...or liked. (FAT BEATS)
Cool track by the Beatminerz #1. And why do all these Queens rappers sorta sound the same #2? I like this 12", don't get me wrong, but discerning b/t AZ, Nas, Royal Flush and Mic Geronimo is getting to be quite an effort, know what I'm saying? But in any case, it's a worthwhile debut single, look for it. (BLUNT)
Some more NY underground sh*t for ya earhole...I liked this cut, which drops some futuristic bugged beats...but mostly there's this ILL female who drops a verse towards the end of the track. Cracklin' like pop rocks.
Hmm...I think some comparisons to Mobb Deep will be inevitable, but keep in mind that Shyheim had a decent debut album (in my opinion) that seemed all his own. Shyheim was probably going to mature into the rapper he is on this 12" regardless of how the Infamous came out, but still... Overall, I was disappointed...This iz Real has a crossover beat (sort of)...not quite as bad as other sh*t I've heard, but still, I was surprised RNS would hook up this kind of beat. The B-side is a bit better. I like the track itself, but lyrically Shyheim's just not dropping megabombs. He does have an older voice and what not...and a fierecness all his own, but this isn't that strong of a 12". (NOO TRYBE)
This is some sh*t outta Canada...it's ok. The only cut I really liked was the title track which has a nice sinister beat but overall, this didn't sound all the impressive to me. (THE FREK SHO)
The R&B remix is ok...at least it isn't as blatantly ripped off as the original that "borrowed" from BDP's "South Bronx". But the Puff Daddy remixes ain't really much IMO. (BAD BOY)
I was really looking forward to this cut and the Rob Swift 12", but in the end, I wasn't quite as impressed as I hoped I would've been. For one thing, the beats the 'Nuts throw down just aren't that banging. I still listen to their last album, enjoying the tracks and this 12" just seems more bland. I do like the B-side better...nice, smooth and jazzy, but not necessarily that outstanding. Lyrically too...I dunno, maybe I just haven't spun it enough times, but I wasn't really struck by the Triflicts. (SNEAK TIP)
Argue as you may, but I think this is a strong cut from the Wu...Cappachino comes off in my opinion...fly. (ISLAND)0
Yo, I dig this 12" a lot. The A-side sample isn't that harc to figure out, but it's a cool song. I like Young Zee's flow..very distinctive. The B-side w/ KRS is cool, but I'm not really tripping. Juice featres Ra Digga, who was Lauryn's tag team partner on the Fugees, "Cowboys". Solid 12". (PERSPECTIVE)
No big deal...I like the other remix (not the Funkmaster Mix Tape mix). better, but neither is that great. (LOUD)