| REVIEWS |
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| ODB- The Trials And Tribulations Of Russell Jones: The unpredictable, irrepressible rapper who once desired to be known as Big Baby Jesus spends most of THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF RUSSELL JONES doing what he does best. The album is full of hardcore hip-hop that's as informed by ODB's left-field quirkiness as it is by street-life scenarios and graphic lyrics. The R&B-tinged "Caught Up" may be teeming with thug boasts, but most of these come from guest Mack 10; the loopy mack daddy parody that opens the track is more indicative of ODB's wacky sensibility. As always, nobody since Blowfly has taken so much pleasure in getting downright nasty, as on the self-explanatory "Dirty & Stinkin" where rap-rock representatives Insane Clown Posse aid in getting nice 'n' sleazy. Throughout the album, ODB sounds just unhinged enough to mean exactly what he says, even though a degree of ironic distance is implied. It's that gray area that provides the essential tension making him a vital artist. 7 OUT OF 10 |
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| Brotha Lynch Hung- The Virus: Flat out one of the siccest CD's to ever come out for Lynch . One of the siccest CD's to ever hit the record shelvez, and he's still got more flowz than a runny a** nose. Notable tracks include: "Mark", "Modern Crimes", and "Lay Low". Lynch,Sicx, and Phonk Beta are gonna gonna put out some of thee siccest albums you're ever gonna hear under Siccmade Muzicc-not Black market, so be careful what you buy! I would suggest that you burn this cd, because Lynch is not going to get paid for it. 8 OUT OF 10 |
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| Killa Beez- The Sting: This is a double CD, the 2nd one has only 6 "bonus tracks" and the first has 17 tracks. "The Sting" is a fantastic album, it's not like original Wu-Tang with raw underground beats, rather RZA delivers more of a refined Bobby Digital feel to this album. The artists on "The Sting" are mostly West Cost Killa Bees which not many people are familiar with. RZA experiments a fair amount, but his beats are, as usual, creative and awsome. The only bad song is "La Rhumba" (remix) which is wack. If you like Bobby Digital, or cool rap beats get this album. If you're more of a "36 Chambers"/pre "Wu-Tang forever" person this might not satisfy you. 8 OUT OF 10 |