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This is where i'm posting all the old reviews that were on the main review page for the site. This is so that any reviews are still available cuz i know we don't buy albums as soon as they come out. N wit buyin albums regularly, even new albums are being pushed off the review page quick.
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Tha Eastsidaz - Duces 'n Trayz The Old Fashioned Way
From Snoopy Doggy Dogg to Tha Doggfather to No Limit Top Dogg to Bigg Snoop Dogg to CEO Doggystyle Records. It's been a long ride, almost a decade, 5 solo albums, now his second Eastsidaz album and a hell of a lot of guest appearances for Snoop Dogg, yet his title as king of the west is still debatable. Many say it belongs to Dre and its because Snoop can't survive without Dre, and during his spell on No Limit i probably would have agreed. Dre has reinvented Snoop, but Snoop can more than hold his own without Dre as Tha Last Meal showed with Dre being only used for 4 tracks, and now, the sophomore Eastsidaz album, Ducez n Trayz The OLd Fashioned Way, Dre doesn't get so much as an adlib. Instead the production is provided by Jelly Roll, Meech Wells,and of course, Battle Cat and Fred Wreck. Aswell as tracks provided by Hi-Tek, Alchemist, Swizz Beats and Havoc do give it a varying sound. The lead off single, I Luv It is a bass driven westcoast banger from Battle Cat. Exactly what you'd expect from Tha Eastsidaz and the Bigg man himself, i'm not quite so sure about the use of Sir Dogg though. Another stand out cut is Eastside Ridaz in which Nate Dogg provides those deep vocals and we are crooned by Soopafly and Lotoiya Williams to give on old fashioned G-Funk smash, only the beat is provided surprisingly by Hi-Tek. The track is similar to the funked out, layed back Cool for which again, Hi-Tek is used to add points to the fastly-growing producers resume. Lil Mo repays the favour to Snoop for her latest smash, Gangstam by providin vocals on So Low as she and Snoop once again "keep it gangsta" over the Meech Wells track. The album isn't all westcoast funked out tracks though. Theresthe bouncin Crip Hop and the Explosive Swizz Beats produced, Everywhere I Go. The collabo with Mobb Deep on Connected is another of the albums highlights as the 3 of the West Coasts finest exchange verses with two of the East Coasts finest. The only trouble with the album is Snoop again excessvily using Kokane for the vocals. Tracks such as So Low and I Luv It he's just not needed and for me almost ruins Connected by trying to do what sounds like a Nate Dogg impersonation. So why didn't they just put Nate Dogg on it in the first place? His wails of course can complete a track and make it the classic it is as he proved on Tha Last Meal tracks such as Go Away and Hennessey n Buddah. He just doesn't seem to have the same sound on this album. Anywayz, despite that minor set back and the odd filler, Bigg Snoop Dogg and Tha Eastsidaz have once again put it down for the west, and in true gangsta fashion, (and i'm not just talkin bout the CD Cover)
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Jadakiss - Kiss Tha Game Goodbye
With the Lox, Jadakiss established himself as one of the hottest acts in hip hop. After receiving mainstream recogntion on Puffy's Bad Boy, Jada, Sheek and Styles decided to leave for new outfit the Ruff Ryders. With which they showed despite getting mainstream recogntion, they could still get love from the streets. a Jada solo album has been long awaited, and finally we are blessed with Kiss Tha Game Goodbye.
The sound throughout the changes constantly from the street anthem We Gonna Make It to the club banger, Put Your Hands Up, to Ruff Ryder cut,. Put Your Hands Up, the first single off the album shows that even when making tracks for the club, Jada can still come tight rather than the nonsense but on most club records. The other club joint, Knock Yourself Out, see's Jada rapping over one of the Neptunes' beats. Maybe because we are so used to hearing him over a Swizz beat, he sounds so comfortable over this beat.
But he also fits perfectly over an Alchemist or Premo beat. We Gonna Make It uses the same beat used by Ras Kass on Home Sweet Home, but Jada works the joint perfectly it sounds like Alchemist had been in the lab creating a whole new beat for him. Fellow LOX members, Sheek and Styles appear on the grimey Premo produced track. The album also see's apperances from Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg so that the album has joints which will appeal to both coasts. And Nas lends his vocals to the cut,. There is of course the usual Ruff Ryder appearances, DMX, Drag-On, Eve, Cross, Infra-Red and new signing, ex-No Limit soldier, Fiend. But most impresssive is the up and coming star first heard on WWIII, Yung Wun. Since Ryde or Die Vol 2 this artists seems to have been very quiet, but it appears he has been in the lab tightening up his flow. He now wouldn't sound out of place rapping alongside Crucial Conflict now displaying a similar sound. But Yung Wun keeps his rowdiness to make sure he has his individual sound.
A very solid album with enough varying cuts to make sure each hip hop fan has at least one cut. But we were always expecting something special from Jadakiss, and most impressive is how he can sound comfortable over any beat and along side anyone. Whether its a Timbaland, Alchemist or Neptune beat. Or alongside Nas, Nate Dogg or DMX. Jada seems perfect for it every time. |
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Various - Violator V2.0
The second installment from the Violator camp and a lot of new faces this time around. Such as rookie JoJo Pellegrino who blew up with his underground smash, Fughidabowdit. His most notable appearance is on Fiend, a cover of the Eric B & Rakim classic 'Microphone Fiend'. On the track Pellegrino showcases his raw and exciting talent, and certainly is a name to remember. One of the albums hottest tracks is what must have been a dream for hip hop fans everywhere before this album, the pairing of two of hip hop's finest emcee's, Jadakiss and Prodigy, joined together by the west coast vibe of Butch Cassidy's hook and Scott Storch beat. The track is pulled of brilliantly, maybe not as grimey as it could have been, but i don't think grimey appears in Butch Cassidy's vocabulary so lives upto expectation. Others are the two Neptunes produced singles, What It Is by Busta Rhymes and Grimey by Noreaga. What It Is is a bouncy-a-record as your likely to hear all year, with his toned down vocals softly noddin next to Kelis' chorus. The track is likely to blow up your local hot spot without failure. The Noreaga/Neptunes collabo never ever fails. After colassal hits such as Oh No and the phenomenal Superthug, they once again pair up for another banger. Noreaga brings the heat and Pharrell provides the hook to keep our hunger satisfied until we want more of the same. Next Generation is a track which speaks for itself. Letting what is set to be the Next Generation of rappers showcase their skills to the world. Cadillac Tah, Fabolous, Remy Martin and the afore mentioned JoJo Pellegrino have already made names for themselves so leaves all the pressure of Fortune and RC of Da Franchise to impress. RC appears with the rest of his clique, Da Franchise on their track, Livin in Da City, but are out done by other newcomes, The Outfit on the track, Die 3, who certainly look set to blow up. The album is consistent throughout and the likes of LL Cool J, Ja Rule, Kurupt and Rah Digga see to that. |
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