Signature Ratings
0- What the hell
1- Borrow don't buy
2- Well...a couple of joints
3- Worth a listen
4- Off the hook
5- Buy it or die
Hop In -Reality Serum
By: Corbyn Bricie
Am I high? Naw I don’t smoke...anymore but this group made me think I was. Reality Serum’s album Hop In is a unique blend of hip-hop and ambient mood music. The product wasn’t mixed too well from what I could tell, but that’s okay when you take a listen to the project. The guitar and mood enhancing skills of Twizle dangerously outshine emcee Comanche on this album. To his credit he’s trying to make his lyrics shine in an arena that hasn’t really been rocked before. The music however never really syncs up to the vision as the sound isn’t very balanced. The emcee and the music warred for my attention the entire time. Especially on tracks like ‘Inside Out’, ‘Don’t Stress Me’, and ‘Rain’...not in a good way either. Comanche’s lyrical skills could also use some tweaking.
But let me not be too negative, I don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression. The concept is definitely there...it’s just such a new and untested thing, I believe that after some time and better mixing these two will forge a new path in music.
1 Signature
Slings & Arrows -Sub Rosa
By: Carolina Jones
For an album recorded in someone’s bedroom, this damn thing is beautiful. “Slings & Arrows” is moody rock played expertly. Vocalist Jennifer Boeder must have angels sleeping in her throat. Her vocals dip and glide over ‘White Flag’ and other tunes that merge and flow into each other. This is the album you put on while you’re trying to get over that bastard that has ripped out your heart and left it bleeding on the floor. The guitar in “Blue Pill’ and ‘Gary’ is haunting and driving, pulled cohesively together with passionate drums and the rich melancholy voice of Boeder.
3 Signatures
TOP
The Scenic Route – Panacea
By: Carolina Jones
Damn! Great Hip-Hop is a grand thing! It’s not dead folks it’s right here on Panacea’s album The Scenic Route. It’s traditional in that the emcee Raw Poetic has exceptional lyrical skills and beat control, but producer K-Murdock put his foot in the production of this joint. Not lying. It’s hard to sit and pick apart an album of tracks that are awesome from start to finish. My only criticism is...naaaw who am I kiddin? I have none. But my job is to give some insight so let me shed some light. For the Raheem Devaughn lovers out there (and in this office) he makes an appearance on ‘Flashback to Stardom’. ‘Pops Said’ is audio cool aid. What flava cool aid? RED. This is a classic.
[editor’s note] – Carolina reviewed the radio edited album. So hopefully the group didn’t mess it up with whole bunch of curse words because the radio edited album is what we’re rating here.
3 Signatures
TOP
Eric Roberson - Left
By: T. Mathenia
Eric Roberson’s Left is a dreamy dream of soulful concoctions that dig into you. ‘Left’ brings us 14 tracks of introspective musings from the ever-so-clever-with-his-pen Roberson. I have to be honest. I came into this expecting another "Appetizer". Because of my bias for the last album, I didn’t give this one a fair shake at first, so I dug in and clamped my headphones tighter to my head and truly listened.
‘Pretty Girl’ is by far my favorite track on the album. With it’s minimalist production, Eric’s vocals are given a chance to shine. ‘Evening’, a pure danceable track, is another favorite. Erro does his thing as a story-teller. He pulls in Phonte from Little Brother to explain to us the perils and joys of romance in ‘Been In Love’.
A sucker for a sad love song, ‘Pen Just Cries Away’ gives my pessimistic heart something to bathe and roll around in. So I’m 7 tracks deep into this album and realize that Eric is not the same man as he was on “The Vault”. He’s heading in a more optimistic direction. He’s grown and found some happiness which is successfully transferred from his soul to this album. Listening to this album makes me feel more optimistic about love and reaffirms my faith in him as an artist that has the ability to put life to music.
By track 14, I understand that being ‘Left’ is right in oh-so-many ways.
3 Signatures
TOP
American Gangster - Jay Z
By: Breeze Jackson
Don't waste your time reading this review just go buy American Gangster . Why are you still here? I'm telling you to get your keys and get to the nearest cd store and add this album to your collection. What do you want to know, who does the production on the album? You have Puff Daddy, LV & Sean C who are part of The Hitmen production crew they are responsible for such classics as "What's the 411" from Mary J. Blige, "Reasonable Doubt" Jay's first studio album "Ready to Die", "Life after Death", and "Born Again" all from the dearly departed Notorious B.I.G. just to name a few. Jay also used a couple of his regulars The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Jermaine Dupri with help from No I.D who just happens to be The Mentor of Kanye West. He also has an offering from DJ Toomp the Atlanta legend known for his work with T.I. and to start off the epic the intro was co-produced by Stringer Bell AKA Idris 'Driis' Elba and Chris Flame. The guest appearances are only Lil Wayne, Beanie Sigel, Pharrell, and Nas.
The tenth
studio album from Jay-Z is in my opinion it is exactly what his fans were looking for when he released Kingdom Come. It's a concept album based off the film with the same name. Although the album is inspired by the movie starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe it is not to be confused with the actual American Gangster soundtrack. The soundtrack is more of an R&B effort this is President Carter at his absolute best. Standout tracks are... well to be honest I love all of them. I got this cd as a bootleg but when it is released Tuesday November 6th I will gladly go out and purchase the original. This is the true Jay-Z innovative and soulful production to accompany one of the if not the greatest rapper in our lifetime. Is he ever going to fall off? NO
4 Signatures
TOP
Nucular - Ursus Minor
By: The MF'n Rapture
If you’re into jazz , funk, alterative rock, some blues, of neo-soul, a tinge of hip-hop, and a live ass band, well, look no further than Ursus Minor, a group of musicians banded together to blend all the aforementioned genres, and bring you the incredibly funky and versatile “Nuclear”. As a kid, I was always soothed when my mom used to play her jazz and soul records, but it was always better when the songs had words to them, so I must admit, I’m working against a bias here. But, for those like me who crave some lyricism or some soulful crooning, there’s sprinkles of both here, and with the super slick sounds of Ursus as a backdrop, these cuts never fail.
The first cut after the operatic intro, Doin’ The Do, features an amazing guest verse from indie legend Brother Ali, who tears through the uptempo groove with a swagger filled, but DOPE verse. The follow up is a infectious rock jam call “Inside Man” featuring Stokley Williams, lead singer of another innovative fusion band Mint Condition, and auxiliary member of Ursus as well. The sounds here are funky, yet refined, futuristic, but classic and altogether a truly fulfilling musical experience. The sequencing of it all makes it seem like one long jam session, and when they flip from an upbeat hip-hop groove, to a slow, winding, guitar driven track sounding like folk music, you’ll be more than satisfied with your choice. This eclectic, damn interesting LP is a Nuclear blast you won’t want shelter from.
4 Signatures
TOP
No More Smoking - Shasta
By: Corbyn Bricie
This one is for the Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan fans. By that I mean...if you like your Country/Americana with directly clever lyrics with a socially conscious flare then this one is definitely for you. Shasta’s “No More Smoking” album is very different. It has plenty of acoustic guitar, some very creative electronic guitar riffs and yes the harmonica is in full effect on track ‘Outside My Window’. I laughed during ‘It Won’t Reach (My Hose Won’t Reach)’ and also exercised my thinking muscle on tracks like ‘Modern Fixation’ and ‘Chasin’ My Ghost’. The title track ‘No More Smoking’ covers the smoking ban and is right on with lyrics like, “...no more smoking while you’re drinking, no more smoking while you pee, Well I sure do feel so lucky to be so friggin free.” On second thought, I think this guy is a rocker at heart...whatever he is he sure knows how to write a song.
3½ Signatures
TOP
Truth Be Told - K Banger
By: The MF’n Rapture
On this Jersey representive’s first project, Truth Be Told, the MC known as K-Banger embarks on the arduous journey to re-connect with hip-hop’s golden age with purely soulful instrumental instrumentals and verses crying for the music’s spirit to be cleansed. If the state of the industry is any indication, a voice like his is definitely needed. An excellent example of the mood K-Banger is trying to set is the funky, but somber “Without Soul” where K-Banger and guest John Robinson break down what Hip-Hop art has been missing and dedicate it to a fallen legend some have deemed as the “first” rapper, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown over an angelic track by producer Decompose.
K-Banger as an MC reminds us of a younger GZA, over beats reminiscent of the era when J-Dilla and Premier were the pre-emininent producers, with melodic samples in the forefront, and carried by mid-tempo beat patterns creating a post Native-Tongue vibe overall. The only real drawback is Banger’s tendency to sound a little uninspired at times, despite his elastic, perfectly paced flow. Overall, the mood here is upliftment, whether thru creative outlets, or horticultural, evidenced on “It’s Natural”, K’s ode to his favorite vice, where he and guests Triplebeam and KR Morales give us insight on why they indulge. Banger’s collection is definitely a welcome entry into the massive gamut that is independent hip-hop today and as a fellow Jersey native, I’m proud to invite you to witness an artist who truly shows some of the best of what the garden state has to offer.
3 Signatures
TOP
The Big Doe Rehab - Ghostface Killah
By: The MF'n Rapture
Pardon if I I gush just a little bit on this one. Ghostface Killah is one of my favorites, so maybe it's not fair that I try to be objective about anything he drops since it is so difficult. But I got a job to do, so here goes. Right out of the gate, the only thing that is keeping this from being the best album of the year in my opinion is Ghost's tendency to re-use samples used by other artists recently. He uses a sample used by Monch on "Desire" on the cheating-chick saga "Yolanda's House", however, this is small drawback, considering the song is one of the strongest Wu efforts in years. Ghost, a revitalized Method Man, and Toney's constant co-defendant Raekwon go bananas in a tale of a trifling hoodrat they've all gotten to know well in the biblical sense. He also re-visits his signature feat of spitting over an entire song, instead ofsampled, seen here on Supa GFK, where he spits over "Superman Lover". Despite these small setbacks, the album solidifies Ghost as one the game's most consistent artists in history. The soundscape is Ghost's typical soul sampled, passionate palette, but there's something to said for an artist able to be this good using the same blueprint for so long. The album's originalcuts are indeed the highlight, and a tesament to GFK's originality, as shown on "Walk Around" where our hero gives us a graphic account of the troubles of washing the remnants of one of his victims out of his clothes after a confrontation. Big Doe Rehab is quite simply another stellar entry in this year's "Best Of" list, and just another reason Pretty Tone will find his way into more and more top 10 lists from here on.
4 Signatures
TOP
The Truth Today - The Project
By: The MF'n Rapture
Rare is the CD that I can pop in the deck and be instantly captured by what I hear. (I’m jaded as HELL, what can I say?) Having said that, I can only “WOW” about the LP I’m listening to right now. The Project is a crew out of NYC making major noise on nationwide underground scene, and from listening to their debut album The Truth Today, it’s not at all hard to see why. This is not some unsigned, amateurish sounding, sloppily produced offering. This is the real deal, people. King Gutta, SupaNova, and Jah C form the Project, have constructed a successfully cohesive project that has the advantage of not sounding like anything else on the market today.
With organic, live beats that range from sounding rock-inspired to boom-bap without a misstep, the three MCs more than adequately adapt to each soundscape, creating their own “sound”, something that has become increasingly difficult for indie artists these days. There are lags when the fellas sstart to sound a bit uninspired, despite the complex content they gravitate towards, displaying their views on the state of politics in our country, their neighborhood and of course hip- hop, but never is it any less than entertaining. The first single, “Light Feet” has a guitar driven riff, and an infectious hook bound to draw in even the most casual of listeners, and the rest of the tracks are equally as rich sonically. On the cut “Home Sweet Home”, the three play to their strengths, spitting passionately about the pride they have for their ‘hood and the attempts of the gov’t to uproot it’s native over a lush piano, a soothing bass, and drums that would compliment any live venue. Overall, the promising material here should be more than enough to keep folks interested in The Project for a long time to come.
4 Signatures
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