THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO THOSE STATES NOT KNOWN FOR THEIR UNDERGROUND RAP....ALSO INCLUDES SOME TEXAS UNDERGROUND RAP ARTISTS
REVIEW: DJ DMD: TWENTY-TWO: P.A. WORLDWIDE: This is not what I had expected. DJ DMD is from Port Arthur, TX a town about 100 miles east of Houston on I-10. As you may or may not konw, UGK is from there. I was kinda expecting the same kind of sound that most other Texas rappers used, but NO NO NO not here. It just doesnt have a single moving beat, except for the one on 25 Lighters. That song is bumpin. Otherwise the CD is definately listenable, but not top notch. I would get the CD for that one song... or if you happen to see it on single, which I doubt you will, unless you look hard, or know a DJ somewhere, get it. Not bad, just not what I had expected. RATING: 6 out of 10
REVIEW: BUSHWICK BILL: NO SURRENDER, NO RETREAT: This album is very wierd. For one the cover is very wierd. I know Bushwick is from Jamaica, but damn those dreds kinda make him look spooky. As far as his style, he pretty much sounds the same as he always has, with the only exception being his beats. Since he is now on Ichiban Records, no longer do we have the hard hitting tracks that were on his old label Rap A Lot. The beats are more MC Breedish.
REVIEW: CRUCIAL CONFLICT: GOOD SIDE, BAD SIDE: This album is simply the best album of 1998. This is absolutely brilliant. Compared to the 18 tracks on the album, only 3 out of that 18 are terrible. That is an excellent good to bad ratio. These cats hailing from Chicago are totally outdoing themselves with this second album. I mean, it totally blows The Final Tic away. I am extremely impressed. The album continues the RODEO style type of beats that member and producer WildStyle invented, but he takes it to a more experienced level on this project. You can tell these guys were in the studio for A LONG TIME. This is just simply quality work. There really isnt much else to say other than the fact that "Scummy", "Pump It Up" and "Raw Dope Anthem" are the three terrible songs. The rest are bangin' especially my favorite, "I'm Going to Explode'..." or track #16. GO BUY THIS AS FAST AS YOU CAN! RATING: 9.4 out of 10 This is the highest rating any CD has gotten on my page so far.
REVIEW: BLAC MONKS: NO MERCY: This CD kinda repelled me when I first saw it. I mean, would your first move be to grab a CD that has a half-naked fat guy on the front of it? Nah... I didnt think so. But the CD actually is not bad. These guys are on Rap A Lot, and released this album months ago. A nice sounding album, it contains the beats that we are used to hearing from Rap-A-Lot artists. Just about every song is tight. I must say, I was very impressed with the structure of the album, but there really weren't any songs that really MOVED me. It's just an album you can throw in, and mob to. Also if you are into collecting underground rap, then this is a nice addition as well. RATING: 7 out of 10
REVIEW: PHAROAH: SIX FOOT GIANT: This is one of the few Texas CD's I will review, because of the amount of Texas rap I would have to get in order to keep up with the Trinity 4 Infinity page, man those niggas are holdin' it down for Texas. Thats why I stick to the rest of the southeast, which has been largely ignored. Anyway, I saw this CD and decided to get it, and me being a fan of Street Military's SECOND album, not the first, because it sucked dick, I decided to get it and review it. The CD is basically tight as hell, as I would expect from most Houston rap. The song that really stood out was "Struggling For Sanity" with Klondike Kat. MAN THIS IS TIGHT. I like that bass line. The rest of the album is OK, it is listenable, just not what I would call top notch. I am definately not unsatisfied, but just not convinced that this is the best that he can do. I still like that second track though. RATING: 6.9 out of 10
REVIEW: TWISTA & THE SPEEDKNOT MOBSTAZ: This album is average, although the one good song is "Front Porch". Other than that the album really doesnt appeal to me. Maybe that is because Twista is hardly on the album. I was expecting more, but I am not complaining. It will tie me over until Twista's "KamiKaze" comes out. If you are buying this thinking it is a Twista album, then stop, this isn't it. RATING: 6 out of 10
REVIEW: CRIME BOSS: STILL AT LARGE: I don't know what has happened to Crime Boss, but apparently he is not with Suave anymore. I think the success of his last album was the cause of that. It did terribly. I am sorry, nothing this man ever does with touch his original album All In The Game
REVIEW: BIG BEAR: HAVIN THANGS: This guy is from Omaha, Nebraska
REVIEW: OAK CLIFF ASSASSIN: HATER FREE:
REVIEW: PHARAOH: 6 FOOR GIANT:
REVIEW: FAT PAT: GHETTO DREAMS: This guy is from Houston, Texas
REVIEW: SCARFACE: MY HOMIES: I was dissapointed with this 5th album. There are some really tight cuts, but I was quite dissapointed with the overall production of the album. It just dodn't move me like
"The Untouchable" or "The World Is Yours". The first disc is surely better than the second, with "My Homiez" and "Fuck Faces" very nice cuts. The other songs are tolerable, but I still think that
this was a bad effort. The second disc only shines in one area. There is a song on there with Yukmouth of the Luniz... man this is tight. I think it is track number 8. Anyway, something happened to Scarface on this
CD. But it is still worth checking out. I am kinda picky, so you might really like it. I give the first disc RATING: 6 out of 10 I give the second disc RATING: 5 oout of 10. OVERALL RATING: 5.5 out of 10.
FOLLOW-UP REVIEW: After further review, I have to agree that this CD is not as bad as I had previously thought. Maybe CD's like this I should just wait and review after it has grown on me. The first CD is certainly better than the second disc,
and I still don't think it is as good as THE UNTOUCHABLE, but It'll do. NEW RATING. 7.0 out of 10
REVIEW: NO LIMIT SOLDIERS COMPILATION: "WE CAN'T BE STOPPED": This is another mediocre release from No Limit. The only songs that I like on this album are Mystikal's "I Ain't Playin'", Gambino Family's "New Orleans Threats", and "Heaven 4 A Thug" by Mac and Magic. All the rest are either recycled songs from old albums, namely "No Limit Soldiers" from TRU's TRU 2 Da Game. This is just a waste. Buy it if you like No Limit so much that
you have to have every one of their releases. Otherwise, be smart and dub it from a friend. RATING: 5 out of 10
REVIEW: SKA-FACE AL KAPONE: MEMPHIS 2 DA BOMBED OUT BAY: This CD contains a HELLA tight remix to Ska Face Al's "Whatcha Got?". Absolutely amazing. I was bumpin this in the club last Thursday night for a Thanksgiving party, but I'll tell ya even though the song was crunk, these country ass Oklahoma niggaz werent ready for a new song in the rotation, so I had to cut it short and play Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life". Damn that made me mad. The song is bumpin! I guess some folks aren't ready to support the south. I don't even consider Oklahoma the south anyway. Ok enough of that. This CD is a must buy, because it contains some very nice songs by the Taylor Boyz, Criminal E, Land of the Lost and a host of others. Some of the songs can be heard on other releases, like Criminal E's "Avoidin' Jail Time", which is already on his solo album with Underground Sam.
REVIEW: GETO BOYS: DA GOOD, DA BAD, DA UGLY: The Geto Boys without Bushwick just isnt the same. DMG is a nice replacement, but it just isnt the same. The 'Boyz just dont sound the same either. i dont like this album, even though it has been selling like mad. There are two key songs on this album that I do like. "Free" and "Gangsta (Put Me Down)". These are seriously tight tracks, especially that "Free", which is my favorite. This album is very Un-Geto Boys like. And like I said, DMG seems out of place on this album. I can't rate this album up there with "Till Death Do US Part" or the phenomenal "We Can't Be Stopped". I know you have to change with the times, but the Geto Boys only sound good one way, and that is HARD. RATING: 6 out of 10
REVIEW: GOTTA BOYZ: MO MONEY presents: REAL HUSTLERS: This is a CD that i just happened to stumble upon at Disc Jockey one day. It is no longer a new release, so I will be taking it off this page soon, but I will review it while it is here. This album features artists from all over Memphis, from T. Mack to Lil Stein, and also features Ghetto Mafia. Most of the album is OK, there is one good song called "$ For The Table Top" featuring Skinnp Pimp, which will definately get the females dancing at the club. My other favorite is "Remember This" featuring Al Kapone. It is not necessary that you buy this album NOW, but it would be a nice addition to you CD stack when you get ready for it.
RATINGS:
BEATS: **
CONTENT: * 1/2
ORIGINALITY: * 1/2
OVERALL: **
EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: GANGSTA BLAC: I'M DA GANGSTA: This album is what I have been waiting for from Gangsta Blac. I knew he was capable of better material than his last one "Can It Be?". He really came through this time releasing a very powerful CD on a new label, Super Sigg, the same label that supports Playa Fly. Virtually every song on this album is blazin'. I mean this is really good to hear, because I was beginning to wonder about him. The only track I don't like is his version of Gangsta Pat's "I'm Da Gangsta". Man it is awful. Other than that I am thoroughly pleased with this CD. DEFINATELY BUY THIS!!! RATING: 8.5 out of 10
REVIEW: CADILLAC WILLY: LET ME RIDE: The only reason why I bought this, is because I saw that Indo G and 38 Slug were going to be on this one. Boy, was that a reason to buy this. This is strictly a booty shaking CD, straight up Florida shit from Tennessee. The only songs I like are "Project Hoes" and "Booty Shakin'". The rest of the CD is stricly for the club, and not what I would call talent. I can do this shit. Another reason why I bought this is because I heard the previous song on the Down South Ballin' 2 Compilation, adn I figured... hmmm.... this might be a kick ass CD. Well, I should have known that it would all sound the same. He kinda sounds like the 69 Boyz.....DUH! NO SHIT! Anyway, get it if you want to play it in your G ride and blast the females out of your ride. Otherwise, there is no lyrical talent here. RATING: 3 out of 10 for content, 7 out of 10 for the beats.
REVIEW: NITRO: HUSTLIN' PAYS: This is an album featuring artists from the Oklahoma City area. A recent release, it showcases artists such as Daddy D, who you definately need to look out for in the coming months. His video for his hit song "Hennessey" will be appearing on BET very SOON! Also artists 2 REAL, YOUNG FOOL, NFAMOUS (an R&B group), BIG BUCCET bka BUCCET LOC, BOY DOGG, DEON BRAXTON, MOB PLAYAS, and CAM. It is a pretty solid album. i am still trippin' over the fact that there is rap coming out of Oklahoma... I mean, the people out here love country music so much you have to search hard for good artists such as these. The beats are one thing that really makes this album tight as hell. "Hennessey" has one of the tightest beats I have ever heard.. and the REMIX is even better, but it is not on this album. The first song is "Hennessey", then you have 2 REAL, who has a song called "GANGSTAS".. .very tight. The beat is on another level. YOUNG FOOL has a nice song in "DODGE THE SPRINKLES". "BY MYSELF" featuring CAM is a slow R&B song, somthing to get your groove on! NICE! "HUSTLIN' PAYS" featuring BOY DOGG is HELLA TIGHT. The beat kinda reminds me of that beat of a song on KANE AND ABEL'S ALBUM "7 Sins" called "BLACK JESUS". Other good songs are "Dippin'" by the MOB PLAYAS, NFAMOUS's "LOVE ME ALWAYS", "MOB ON" by DADDY D....BLAZIN'!!!, "FUCK WHAT THEY TALKIN' BOUT" by N.K. THIS IS AN ALBUM WORTH BUYING..... if you can find it in your area. If you are in OKC, GET THIS ALBUM. Otherwise, send me a tape and I will dub a copy for you.
RATINGS:
BEATS: ****
CONTENT: ** 1/2
ORIGINALITY: ***
OVERALL: *** 3/4
REVIEW: BUCCET LOC: LOVE FOR A "G": This is an album by a guy from Oklahoma City, by the name of Buccet Loc. He has been rapping for quite some time now, and has appeared on many indie label artist's albums. He is just now getting recognized outside Oklahoma. And check out the name of his label. Damn Fool Productions! I like that. The CD very nice, and I think that his rapping blends oin well with his beats. "Love For A "G"" is a very solid piece, it happens to be the first track on the album. "Southside Rollin': is also pretty tight. This is basically an albun you just pop in and let play all the way through. The album is very nice and definately has nationwide potential. I hope you can find this one outside of Oklahoma, and if you can't then I can hook you up with a copy. It is worth having, and besides, who would have ever thought that rap would be coming out of Oklahoma? I didn't!
RATINGS:
BEATS: *** 1/2
CONTENT: ** 1/2
ORIGINALITY: *** (the record label's name contibuted 75% to this score)
OVERALL: ***
REVIEW: K-ROC: THE ROCKLA: This is the SHIT. This guy is from Dallas, TX, and a lot of people out there don't realize that there are two different K-Roc's. Actually the one in Memphis spells his name K-Rock, and is affiliated with the Hypnotize Minds camp. This guy has released a sensational album here. I mean, this is something you just pop in and smoke a Black to. It has kind of a pimp style to it, all of the beats are either laid back, or they will get you bouncin. Sounds alot like Louisiana Bounce in some cases, but never the same. The best songs are "Hittin' Hard" and "Boss Ballah". The other songs are good too. I just picked these out as my favorites. If you don't buy any other North Texas CD, get this one.
RATINGS:
BEATS: ****
CONTENT: **
ORIGINALITY: ** 1/2
OVERALL: *** 1/2
