Post # 6 Sah Ril Art, Fear, & Loathing: Back Where the Pain Is -Vol. III December 26th 2011

     First things first, I must say that I am LATE when it comes to this brother's extensive body of work. There are six albums prior to this one. However, through some weird twist of fate, I've managed to get my hands on this latest offering and I've decided to jump on board and see what this is all about. Time to crack this LP open.

     Art, Fear, & Loathing opens with a couple of salutations and then we're off to the races. There is something about that opener that really sets off the overall mood of this record. The production is lush and 100% infectious. It's not entirely a new sound here but its done with such precision and love that it feels fresh and new. I literally took me 30 minutes to get past the 1st track...Promising

     Once I managed to get my +FINAL FAREWELL FULFILLED+ I was able to move on to the rest of the album and much to my delight there were more treats in store. While listening to this LP I got the vibe that this was yours,mine,his mind and work. Meaning that the songs were the confessionals and the interludes/song breaks were literally thoughts that glued everything together.

     Every song included here serves its purpose justly and it never feels out of place. It's like all the songs are NEEDED to paint the complete picture and be presented in a way it was intended. Whats ironic about that last sentence is the fact that AS SOON as I finished writing it Sah Ril quipped "I'm Basquiat of this Body-Rock". That may not mean much to you right now but that line alone defines the album in its entirety.

     The lyrics are more or less an added piece of this presentation here, They don't detract from the overall project because they are used solely to catch the listener in a three pronged attack....Lyrics, Music, Concept. Let me be clear though, the lyrics ARE dope and when combined with the sound scape, its down right scary.

     The production my gosh! Its the main reason why it took me so long to get through this album. Each song is like a dang on Easter egg hunt, I know its gonna take me months to unearth the many jewels that are buried within each track.

      Let me be clear once more, This album is not for everybody. If you're looking for the next "RAPPER" out of Jersey to finally put us on the map you might not like where this album will take you. On the other hand if you're the kind of person that loves abstract music and well used samples that give you the chills.....Come take this ride.

    

  

The Top 10 of 2011.....5 Thru 1

5. 9th Wonder "The Wonder Years"- More than your just your usual compilation, This LP pulled out some of my my underground heroes. Murs, Raekwon, and Fashawn just to name a few.... plus 9th's lush production....."This Sh*t Be Kickin!"

4. Game "The R.E.D. Album"- While everyone was Watching the Throne and helping Tha Carter IV go platinum. Game dropped one of his most cohesive albums to date. Hard Beats, Hard Bars...This got much play in my ride this summer...Although I could have done without the constant name dropping and rhyming like the guests that were featured. This album still bumps. Not better than The Documentary but wayyyyy better than The Doctors' Advocate and L.A.X...This was the hardest album this year.

3. Big K.R.I.T "ReturnOf4Eva"- What happens when you mix the backwoods mysticism of say a Outkast or Goodie Mob, The Slick Pimpery of UGK or 8ball and MJG and self produced gems? You get this MASTERPIECE...trust me on this, if you like any of the aforementioned artist you'll understand that this dude is definitely a student. This was the front runner for my album year but something happened lol.

2. Kendrick Lamar "Section.80"- Sheesh! what can I say about this dude. There are way to many superlatives so I'm just going to say this...Dude is dope,sick,nasty,beast...etc...its really true..Easily of the illest guys I've heard in a long time...I really hope he stays the course with Dr.Dre and they put that project out soon..If this album was this dope..WITHOUT Dre..The rap world is in trouble.

1. Phonte "Charity Starts At Home"- Every album in my top 10 was dope and I enjoyed listening to every one of them..BUT..they ALL had one glaring flaw...They all had skipped tracks..well except for this one...Honestly I wasn't initially interested in this album and went around it for a while...Once I pressed play one afternoon...it was curtains...Track after track was listenable...EVEN The boo-loving songs where Phonte decides to croon. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS LP! I even ran it back instantly and let the ENTIRE album rock once more...That to me my friends is the definition of a CLASSIC!

The Top 10 of 2011.....10 thru 6

10. Rapper Big Pooh "Dirty Pretty Things"- Big Pooh SHOWED THE EFF UP! with this release...I was impressed with this album....he definitely stayed true to the mantra "Dope Beats,Dope Rhymes". It really wasn't that hard for Mr. Pooh.

9. Jay Rock "Follow Me Home"- This album gave me chills. I felt like I went back to 98 with this one. This is what DMX should have sounded like had he been relevant in 2011. Grim portrayals of street life mixed with hood party bangers sprinkled with cautionary tales..check this album out when you get the chance.

8. Tech N9ne "All 6's and 7'S"- STRAAAAAAAANGE Music! Another triple time album from Mr. Techa Nina...Nothing has really changed from the last album..But one thing remains apparent, He's consistent. He also released "Welcome To Strangeland" showcasing the other artist on his imprint..You can couple both those albums together for the ultimate STRAAAANGE Experience.

7. Juicy J "Rubba Band Business 2"- "PLAY ME SOME PIMPIN MANE!" whenever you hear that tag before the song starts, you know you're about to here some crack! Combined with the Producer of the Minute Lex Luger, This Mixtape/Album sure was fire.

6. Jay Z/Kanye West "Watch The Throne"- There was much hype surrounding this collaboration. Too much if you ask me BUT! I'm not here to hate. I will say this though, This was Kanye West's album, Jay was merely featured on it...but that was just my opinion.

December 20th 2011...The Honorable Mentions of 2011

Ok folks I know you have waited all day...let me not hold you up any longer...Here are THE HONORABLE MENTIONS OF 2011!!!


In no particular order...here goes!


1. Bad Meets Evil-Hell: The Sequel

2. Drake-Take Care

3. Yelawolf-Radioactive

4. Childish Gambino-CAMP

5. Common- The Dreamer/The Believer

6.J-Live-S.P.T.A

7. MMG-Self Made Vol. 1

8. The Roots- Undun

9. Lil Wayne- Tha Carter IV

10. J.Cole-Cole World: The Sideline Story


There you have it folk...read it...discuss it...hate it...respect it... Peace

Post # 5. The Roots-"Undun"December 4th 2011

Oh man...The Roots have have decided to go "conceptual" on their 10th(finally) effort. Do you know what that means readers? One of the greatest intellectual bands ever is about to laser beam focus on one linear topic from start to finish just for our listening pleasure..I couldn't wait to crack this album open..

1. Dun-This track starts with a baby crying and the flat line sound..Which is supposed to signify the death of the main character Redford Stephens..Basically an intro 0/0

2. Sleep-Now I don't know about you but I've never heard an wack arrangement from these brothers. Don't expect any drop-off here. This is song is best described as paranoia/insomnia...This Redford dude is conflicted...1/1

3. Make My ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Dice Raw-The roots have always had a revolving roster of MC's so it was a pleasant surprise to hear Big K.R.I.T. lend his vocals to further tell this story of Redford which at this point is contemplating death and lamenting about the life he is lving. Then its a crazy instrumental...my favorite song on the album so far..2/2

4. One Time ft. Phonte & Dice Raw- Phonte just came down into the basement to go into the booth..welcome to the party bruh...Aggressive track here..with all three spitting about the proverbial game that he plays and his "gotta get it at any cost" attitude...Crazy good..3/3

5. Kool On- Ft. Greg Porn & Truck North-The Come-Up song..."Stars are made to shine" boasts the hook. Redford is on his ish right now..after that lick he hit in the previous song...Gorgeous Thug status right here..4/4

6. TheOtherSide ft. Bilal and Greg Porn-Time passes for Redford as he begins to get a bit reflective on the life he lived thus far. He also begins to understand the laws of motion..you know...Every Action Has an Equal and Opposite Reaction. 5/5

7. Stomp ft. Greg Porn- Reflection is over as Redford is snapped back into reality and realizes that he has to do what he must to survive or die to simply put it. 6/6

8. Lighthouse ft. Dice Raw-Now this is upbeat but that's the irony of it. The paranoia is back and there a sense of helplessness too...7/7

9. I Remember-Wow dude is really manic..after being paranoid the reflection returns as Black Thought paints a brilliant picture that you can't help but visualize..You can just see this as the part when the Redford is walking down the street, looking dazed with the gun still in his hand...or staring aimlessly out of the train window as it rides, and rides, and rides.....8/8

10.  Tip The Scale ft. Dice Raw-There's alot of foreshadowing in this song...Redford is seriously in peril and his back against the wall...with no other choice to shoot his way out...9/9


11.Redford(For Yia Yia and Pappou)
12.Possibility
13.Will to Power
14.Finality

The last four tracks are instrumentals and they basically sum up the lyrical portion of the album. "Redford" is about the hardships and the rise to power. "Possibility" is the rapid downturn and life threatening wounds. "Will to Power" is the fight to stay alive against those injuries. And Finality is just that, Redford is dead. The fast life fully consumed him and left him like many of the brothers and sisters out here whose lives are taken by "the corner". The album speaks to those young men and women. There are countless numbers of young people out here that are caught up in just trying to live and never realize their true potential. This is their soundtrack. This is their story....Simply put...This album is a piece if art, a mirror so to speak, showing America and the world whats going on out here in these streets. Lupe Fiasco hinted at this with "The Cool" some years ago but The Roots just pulled it off.

Post # 4 Mobb Deep-"Black Cocaine (EP)" December 4th 2011

The Infamous Mobb Deep!!!! Hardcore Rap stalwarts since 1993's "Juvenile Hell". I can safely say that I grew up with Mobb Deep's music considering I was 7 or 8 when that seminal album dropped and I've been hooked ever since. I often wondered how they were going to fare in the 00's since their last "great" album was "Infamy" and started to lose their stronghold with "Amerikas Nightmare" and completely fell off with "Blood Money" and "The Safe is Cracked". So now here we are at the ass end of 2011 and "P" is finally home from his bid...Yeah KICKO its time to reunite the powers Dunn! "Black Cocaine" is a EP and its sole purpose is to whet the palate of the fans until the Self-Titled  album drops somtime in 2012. Let's see if the appetizer is any good.


1. Dead Man Shoes ft. Bounty Killer-What's this?! No singing?! Bounty Killer on the hook?! Sinister Beat and Hav AND P spitting their regular thuggisms...Let me take my slippers off and put my TIMBS and Carhartt hoodie on...This is Hard Hat rap!.. 1/1

2. Black Cocaine-Yeah this is the sound I miss right here. This is the song that officially brings the Mighty Mobb into this decade....Vintage beat thanks to none other than the honorary third member of Mobb Deep, The Alchemist..DOPE! 2/2

3. Conquer- "You Hear That?, That Means We Coming". Words from Havoc, and the way the track sounds and feels, Triumphant horns and hard bass, you kinda feel like your standing dead in the middle of QB...3/3

4. Get It Forever ft. Nas- Sheesh! That sample is GORE-GEOUS, I ran it back 5 times before the song even starts. Nas, Hav and P all sound like they found that Delorean and took it back to 95-96...nothing wrong with that...4/4

5. Last Days-Personally...when compared to the rest of the EP this beat sounds the most out of place. Its kinda glossy, its more suited for that CNN comeback album..Its all good tho, While Hav decides to talk about Bugattis, P decides to talk H.N.I.C. ish and complements the tracks nicley...4.5/5



And just like that, its over. A simple but effective dose of that DOPE that I've been waiting for since 2003.
This should appease a lot of the long time Mobb Deep fans while we collectively await the release the of "Mobb Deep". If that album maintains the same energy and pace of Black Cocaine...we all might O.D.