Just in case you didnÕt know, Solo is an R&B singer...which should cause for some skepticism already. But you know, Solo made a fairly unique hip hop remix in that...IÕm not sure I ever hear him, unlike JodeciÕs Freak NÕ You or Boyz II MenÕs Vibin. That alone makes this better...and actually, the cutÕs not that bad. For one thing, Young Zee and Arrogant are two of PerspectiveÕs hottest new rhymers out there. Plus, the mellow track works decently well...not really syrupy, just kind of on the soft angle. ItÕs not the best posse cut youÕre gonna hear this year, but itÕs good enough to deserve some play. (PERSPECTIVE)
DonÕt call it a comeback? Now that female emcees are becoming more than just male-created gimmicks, itÕs time for one of the original femme fatales to return to the m.i.c. One thing I wanna know...how the hell does she manage to sound like sheÕs still 16? On the real though... Ok, seriously though, itÕs not bad...but sh*t...you figure someoneÕs whoÕs been in the bizness as long as Shante has been could learn NOT to follow up everyone else like Lil Kim and Foxy Brown rhyming about some materialistic bullsh*t. Moreover...her flow and lyrical choices are decent, but with that bubble gum voice, it falls short. Beat-wise though, itÕs not that bad...though the Lo Key remix doensÕt sound greatly different...it adds a sample, but doesnÕt take away otherwise. All in all...IÕd rather go pull some of her classics and rock that instead. (COLD CHILLIN)
How do you follow up one of the best single and remix combo of the year? Just give people what they want: a listenable track and that voice and flow that made your first cut so popular. Blahzay doesnÕt necessarily duplicate the hypeness of ÒDangerÓ, but realistically, itÕd be hard. Pain I Feel is FINE...I dig the track and his flow is definitely becoming one that I could get used to. The scratching on the choruses gets my nod too...plus the breakdown after the second chorus is funky/dope. Yo, BlahzayÕs in there for the Nine Six...so whenÕs the LP? (FADER/MERCURY)
Yo...De La Soul started and ended any Halls and Oates samples. Trigga is not the brotha to bring that sh*t back. Even so, I canÕt say I donÕt like the pop-influenced track. It ainÕt Broken Language but then again, maybe thatÕs a good thing. I donÕt expect this single to ÒmakeÓ Trigga, but at least heÕs not saying sh*t like ÒIÕm the big baller, stand a little taller, like yo fatherÓ. (DEF JAM)
Yet another underwhelming soundtrack despite the presence of big names. Breaker 1,2 is perhaps the biggest surprise...I mean, how likely is a cut by Redman, Erick Sermon and Keith Murray gonna be mediocore? Well, they found a way. ItÕs not wack, but itÕs definitely not very exciting...flip the Funk-o-rama remix instead.
I spoke about the Trigger single elsewhere, and IÕm NOT going to talk about Jay ZÕs played out and wack AinÕt No N***a or LLÕs Doin It remix entitled Summer Love (bleah). Clearly, I think a lot of heads are going to check out Nasty Immigrants featuring Ol DirtyÕs little brother, 12 OÕ Clock along with Raekwon. End result? No big deal either. (DEF JAM)
This track is f---in TIGHT. The best thing I can recommend on this list and probably over the last two lists or so. Mostly, itÕs the track, put together by White Owl...you gotta hear it to appreciate it, but itÕs carnival-y sound, underlaid by a fat drum loop is infectious for me...I was open the first time I heard it and I havenÕt found a good reason to change my mind yet. Lyrically, the Trowwa comes with a good song, talking about how emcees are trying too f---in hard to BE hard and yet arenÕt really talking about sh*t. He shares his own life as an argument about what tough times be like. The disappiontment is the B-side which sounds like something Onyx could do on a bad day...all yelling and screaming. Hey, thatÕs ok...I just leave the needle on the A side and IÕm good to go. (SCIENTISTS OF SOUND)
Where is this 12Ó you may ask? Well, the rumor I hear is that some legal sh*t went down wrong (sample clearance?) and all copies of this single were destroyed. Kind of amazing if you ask me b/c the A-side was a prelude to the Killing Me Softly strategy...put an obvious crossover track on a hip hop album but donÕt release the single in hope of getting fools to pick up the whole product. Instead, something went wrong and a sure seller (IMO) went down in vinyl chips and bits.
The greatest loss though was the B-side, produced by Saukrates. This sh*t restores my faith a bit in Ase...I understand why he made Sittin On Chrome, but that sure as hell doesnÕt mean I have to like it. But Top Ten List is the f---ing bomb...from the Òat...at...at...at eight your sucker, at seven a MFÓ KRS quote that Saukrates repeats for good measure...to AseÕs lyrics...disrespect served up by the Music Man. A classic destined to go down as being a ÒlostÓ single to grace bootlegs and dub tapes. (DELICIOUS VINYL)
The original mix made some noise to put the Hobo JunctionÕs Whoridas on the map, but his remix bumps better. The track is stripped down funk...sure to make the rump of the your truck jump. SaafirÕs presence on the track is what makes this into a totally new single vs. a decent remix...itÕs good to see the brother kicking some lyrics again where heÕs in his on-beat, off-beat element. Town Sh*t is another decent showing by the Whoridas that I liked off the tape... This 12Ó is still on South Paw, but itÕs being distributed by Delicious Vinyl...looks like the Hobo Junction might have found a vehicle for their continued success. (SOUTH PAW)
Ok, this singleÕs been talked to death already, so IÕm going to keep my comments short. I donÕt like the female chorus and I think Tribe is one of hip hopÕs groups that really doesnÕt NEED to do this to sell singles. They have a charmed success that hasnÕt required them to sell out very much at all...1nce AgainÕs chorus though...itÕs just disappointing, especially b/c it really ainÕt that big of a deal. The track itself isnÕt as hype as Award Tour was, but like PharycdeÕs Runnin, its subtlely grows on you. Lyrically, I wasnÕt that impressed...neither Tip nor Phife have switched up styles or anything, but I never got sucked in by the dopeness of it all, know what I mean? Word on the street is that the album is a better barometer to TribeÕs dopeness the fourth time around...I hope theyÕre right. (JIVE)
Oooh...I slept on this puppy the first time around...sorry I did. I think Lux is outta the Iladelph (at least his label is)...sh*tÕs got good beats and good lyrics. The EP is four cuts deep and the A-side has the strongest cuts on it...Just Enuff and Why. The B-side is a little more typically mediocore, but just listen to the A and youÕll get a feel for what a Man Called Lux can do. (NO FRONT INC.)
F--- the A-side. Seriously. Yo, I got no problems with oral sex...I have no problem with songs that are clearly meant to humor...but this sh*t is just offensive to me. If you like it, hey, you go, whatever floats your boat, but IÕm gonna pass on what I consider a song thatÕs just plain rude.
Luckily, Akafella (whatÕs wrong with Akineyle?) comes strong on the B-side...I dig ÒIn the WorldÓ a lot, from the production, to the off key chorus, to AkÕs rhyme flow that drops the ÒuddaÓ but still comes butta. (WHITE LABEL)
The remix is worth having for party appeal...Foxy Brown drops a fairly typical cameo rhyme...IÕm sure Versace was mentioned there somewhere. But overall, the trackÕs funky guitar loop should keep this puppy in radio rotation. But yo...whatÕs up with ToniÕs weave? Seriously.... (LA FACE)
Anything Goes is definitely weaker than most of what was on the original Soul on Ice LP...but I canÕt really say I donÕt like it. ItÕs Ras Lite, sure, but the track, smooth as it is, appeals...same as remix of Key KoolÕs Mind Trips. ItÕs really the B-side that makes this 12Ó a must have. I heard about ÒOn EarthÓ almost a year ago...people were calling this the best song...ever. IÕm not sure about that, but no question, Ras showcases the skills that back up all the game that West Coasters have been spittinÕ about him. The sh*t is just ill...how he works in his metaphors, the flow, all of the above. ThereÕs even better stuff than this in my opinion, but thank god Ras has totally neglected his Òcore audienceÓ despite his fallout with Western Hemisfear. (PRIORITY)
Simple formula: One part dancehall crooners, one part Psycho Les jacking ATCQÕs Bonita ApplebaumÕs beat=a surefire hit at parties and sh*t. Not very original, but hard not to like on the surface of it either. (CORRECT)
After listening to it a couple more times...I still donÕt like the track. I feel bad that Illmatic didnÕt sell as well as most of us would have wanted it to have for this talent Queens rhymer, but f---, on principle, I canÕt really dig this unoriginal, c.r.e.a.m. mentality, R&B chorus sung track. IÕll play it at the parties b/c the Friends sample is sure to put rears in gear, but youÕll have a hard time convincing me to give that much more dap than that. Seriously, this single is worse than practically EVERYTHING on Illmatic...even the intro. What IÕve heard about the LP is that there may be little salvation to be found...leaving heads worldwide to ask, ÒWhat happened?Ó (COLUMBIA)
By the title of both sides, you can kind of guess what this sh*t is on already, but I liked Messenger RecordÕs last joint so I was willing to give this sucker some play. The A-side is tight...good blend of posse lyrics and a beat by E. Knight that gets the head nod. Unfortunately, the B-side is fairly mediocore and uninteresting IMO...neither beat nor lyrics were really that much to hold my attention. (MESSENGER)
Hilarious...as far as dis records go...itÕs not very good. I mean, itÕs funny enough b/c 2Pac tries to cap by coming like heÕs above all this sh*t, but cÕmon now 2Pac...you canÕt say that when your first line is ÒI f---ed yo bi*chÓ referring to BiggieÕs wife, Faith. 2Pac desrves the illest dis of the week by capping on Mobb Deep by saying, ÒDonÕt one of you MFs have sickle cell or something? F---around with me and you might have a heart attack or a stroke or something.Ó Man...thatÕs LOW. But funniest is how 2Pac just starts going bonkers at the end with his ÒF--- you too!Ó to practically everyone...IÕm surprised his momÕs didnÕt get mention there. From his ranting, I think Prozac might want to contact him to do a drop for Ôem. (DEATH ROW)
Ever wonder what the f--- happened to Chuck D? Well, Mr. P.E. went got himself a label, brough over Gary G-Wiz from Bomb Squad fame and set out to turn out his first group, the Hyenas. The first thing that hits you is the production which sounds like what you might expect from a 1996 version of P.E. ThatÕs not a dis...I think G-Wiz updates the Bomb Squad style pretty good instead of relying on dated formulas. If peeps like Dr. Octogon, I canÕt see them not liking the track on this sucker. Lyrically, itÕs decent sh*t...I canÕt front...kind of ruff nÕ rugged New York style which IÕm kind of tiring of, but even then, it still gets a head nod IMO. (SLAM JANZ/SONY)
Coming Soon...
Out of the South Bay of the SF Bay Area...Phanatik Beats mixes both the down tempo, trip hoppy sh*t with some straight butta slams. Those fans of Peanut Butter Wolf probably will dig on this sh*t too...I canÕt say I liked everything, especially the moodier sh*t, but there were definitely some cuts that had me flipping for another listen. Production quality is high...not mere loops, but actual constructions. Check it out... (STONESTHROW)
Quite possibly one of the most controversial cuts to be released in a long time, if for nothing else that everyone things Brian Green is some rich Beverly Hills boy who bought himself into hip hop vis a vis Pharcyde. LetÕs get away from the controversial to say this much: the production is good...after all, Pharcyde cooked it up so you figure it canÕt be all wack. Lyrically, I canÕt say that GreenÕs any worse than a lot of others MF-ers out there, but his bite on the Pharycde is enough to make a deaf man hear it. Sure, biters are a dime a dozen, but whenÕs the last time a biter got signed to Sony for an LP deal? Yeah, thatÕs what I thought. Bottomline, be your own judge, but I hope Green doesnÕt take sales away from many more deserving artists. (YAB YUM)
Hot damn! Though some will disagree, I think Solesides is one of those rare labels where the name alone guarantees quality. Provided, it may not appeal to some heads whoÕd rather bump something familiar and predictable, but for the rest of us, this latest 12Ó has plenty for the hungriest to gnaw on.
The a-side features the Soleside All Star revue of Lyrx Born, Lateef and Gift of Gab over a Chief Xcel track. This particular cut is a bit more cerebral than say, Deep In the Jungle, which was the Solesides crew's last posse cut. Nonetheless, like the much praised Latyrx, you have to LISTEN to the song to appreciate it...sure it'll bump well enough in the jeep, but throw on some headphones to really get down.
The b-side is Shadow at his hypest best. Hardcore sounds like it should have been on the Return of the DJ LP...full of dope ass scratches and a track that pumps. The Bonus Sracthcapella is just an added treat where Shadow shows that his hands are good for more than just working Akais and SP1200s. Lastly, Last Stop is another chunky beat to head nod too...count Ôem 1, 2, 3 hits. Shadow does it again. (SOLESIDES)