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| Scarface- Greatest Hits: Here's the daddy of them all at his absolute best, the dirtiest cuts from the Don of the Dirty South. Though Scarface's influence hasn't been matched by commercial sales, he's been enormously influential by simply refusing to budge from what he does best throughout his decade-plus career--sticking (literally) to his guns with gritty, violent, profane vignettes of life as he (and many others) know it and live it. Keeping It Real has been the name of the game for Scarface from Day One, and just the titles of these cuts are testament to his success. "Money & the Power" is thug life 101, an irresistible rap set to an inexorable rhythm, while it's up to the seductive "Mary Jane" (yes, you've guessed it--a drug reference!) to show perhaps the only sensitive side Scarface has. Despite the mad subject matter, the rapper knows how to put a track together like few of his contemporaries--the beats are to the fore, slow, heavy and danceable, and the instrumentation is spare but never rudimentary. GREATEST HITS is a fine introduction to the work of this seminal figure in Southern rap. 10 OUT OF 10 |
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| DJ Babu- Duck Season Vol 1: A smooth and mellow album that brings listeners along without all the usual fits and starts found on many DJ mixes. This album has a who's who in hip hop spitting over Babu's tight beats and flawless samples. We're speaking about one if the most important dj's in the world, one of the most important representation of the art of turntablism with the World Famous Beat Junkies / Bum Rush Brothers. 9.25 OUT OF 10 |
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| Relativez- The Takeover: I have been waiting to hear an album from Tha Relativez ever since "This Is Tha Thanx U Get" on Death Row's Too Gangsta 4 Radio compilation and their first album. they even spit a gem of a verse on the Dogg Pound 2002 album. And aside from the false advertising of a Tupac appearance, the album is DOPE. Some of the best cuts on this album are "Gangsta" featuring Tha Realest, "The Life" featuring W.C. and "F--- Mack 10." They really roasted Mack 10 on this track, as they respond to 10's diss on the "Bang Or Ball" album. "U Can't Afford It" featuring Snoop is also a banger. Tight beats and lyrics fo ya ride make this a must have in the car if you have a system. The best indie album off of the West this year. 8.5 OUT OF 10 |