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| Neptunes- Clones: As if making their mark as one of the greatest pop and hip-hop production teams to come out of the late '90s wasn't enough, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo took their Neptunes persona to the other side of the recording glass for CLONES. Having worked as producers for a broad array of artists including Britney Spears, Mystikal, Ice Cube, and Perry Farrell, the Neptunes were able to cash in quite a number of chips for this wide-ranging 2003 project. Fueled by the duo's trademark mix of beats and loops, numerous major names make this eclectic scene. Standouts include Busta Rhymes praising booties ("Light You're A** On Fire"), O.D.B. returning from jail as Dirt McGirt, spitting out rhymes over a sparse cut ("Pop Sh*t"), and Nelly slipping into a slick St. Lunatic-like groove ("If"). Williams and Hugo move easily from an infectious Kelis/Nas duet ("Popular Thug") and an ultra-funky Jay-Z jam ("Frontin'") to whip-smart dancehall reggae with Supercat ("The Don of Dons [Put De Ting Pon Dem]") and straightforward alt-pop by the High Speed Scene ("F**k n' Spend"). Eclectic with a capitol E, CLONES keeps with the Neptunes penchant for casting a wide creative net. 9 OUT OF 10 |
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| Calhouns- Made In The Dirdy South: In the world of southern hip-hop, there are few production crews more respected than Organized Noize, who have provided cutting-edge tracks for such rap superstars as Goodie Mob, Outkast, and numerous others. So it should come as no surprise that this offering from the East Point, GA hip-hop outfit known as the Calhouns, overseen by the ON team, is bursting at the seams with crisp, flowing beats and imaginative, infectious arrangements. Keeping things squarely in focus is the rapping talent of the Calhouns themselves, of course. With ties to everyone from the Dungeon Family to Goodie Mob, the Calhouns have pedigree to spare, and their mixture of street-real topics and jubilant, humor-tinged rhymes is ultimately the most striking, memorable aspect of MADE IN THE DIRDY SOUTH. 8 OUT OF 10 |
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| C-Bo- Mobfather: IF YOU LOVE REAL WEST COAST GANGSTA HITS AND YOU AINT GOT THIS ALBUM THAN YOU AINT NO TRUE WEST RIDA C-BO AT HIS BEST FROM INTRO TO OUTRO ALBUM. BEST GANGSTA RAP ALBUM OF 2003. Bo Loc putting it down agian 4 all u west coast ridaz this is hot the bald head nut is back with Yuk, 40 Glocc, 151, and even lil bo his son is on this one the beats are on top and all the cuts are off the chain go get it killafornia till I die. this cd right is how the west was won, C-BO is one of the best on the west and the planet the boy is off the hook. and I love how he mashed on that wennie Ja Rule. 9 OUT OF 10 |