| Reviews |
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| Shade Sheist- Informal Introduction: Yo! this sumthin fresh, brand nu funk 4 yo ears. Shade really brings back the good times of ol West Coast.The way he flows is real smooth over some dope beats by kings of production in the West like DJ Quik. The collabos r really full of talents and legends like Warren G, Nate Dogg, DJ Quik, AMG, Hi-C... The combination takes us 2 a esplosive album. A must 4 West-Coasters. 7.75 OUT OF 10 |
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| Gangstarr- The Ownerz: Working as Gang Starr for over 15 years by the time of this release, Guru & DJ Premier more than earned their reputation as one of the most skilled, intelligent hip-hop outfits ever to grab the microphone and work the turntables. With Gang Starr's prior release, the underrated HARD TO EARN, seemingly in the distant past (five years), THE OWNERZ reflects the deliberate nature of the meticulous duo. While Premier earned legendary status as producer on some of rap's most enduring records, he seems to do something extra for his home team, and THE OWNERZ may be his tightest work yet. From the Curtis Mayfield-esque opening of "Sabotage" to the deliriously offbeat feedback and horns of "Who Got Gunz," there's not one false note. Add Guru's patented, steady-but-unassuming swagger, and THE OWNERZ is precisely what the hip-hop world expects from Gang Starr, another classic. 9.5 OUT OF 10 |
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| Murphy Lee- Murphy's Law: Murphy Lee steps forward from the St. Lunatics to show us a little more of his own unique rap style in this album. He gives his fans a full serving of the wild lyrics and midwest style we see in all the other Lunatic albums. But not only that, Murphy's Law is a very versatile album with songs ranging from the jazzy "Cool Wit It" to the laid back "Red Hot Riplets" to the crunk "This Goes Out". Not to mention the chart-topping hit "Shake Ya Tailfeather" and the first single "Wat Da Hook Gon Be". Simply put, this is one hot album! 7 OUT OF 10 |
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| Joe Budden- Self Titled: Joe Budden's self-titled debut features the Jersey City rapper on more than a dozen tunes, backed by his longtime crew. Formerly known on mix tapes as "Regular Joe," Budden keeps it real on lyrically tough tunes such as "Pusha Man," "Survivor," and "Stand Up Nucca." He also offers up some therapeutic personal tracks, including the string-laden "Walk Wit Me" and the melancholy "Calm Down." To make his first album even more explosive, Budden brings in special guests Busta Rhymes (on "Fire"), Lil' Mo (on "She Wanna Know"), and 112 (on "Ma Ma Ma"). A promising first outing, JOE BUDDEN reveals a bright future for the ambitious Jersey native. 8 OUT OF 10 |