| Reviews Reviews are based on a point system. 1=speed bump material, 10=masterpiece. |
 |
 |
 |
| Ghostface Killah- Bulletproof Wallets: Ghostface is back with another album and he has now become somewhat of a barometer to the quality of music that the Wu puts out. His releases are always very diverse and unique compared to other clan members and this album is no different. Tracks like "Never Be The Same Again" with Raekwon and Carl Thomas, "The Forest" and "Flowers" showcase Ghost's amazing lyricism, but the tiresome skits and his frequent rambles about wallabies and butter rican cream can annoy the listener. You can tell that Rae and Ghost share a special chemistry and that is really a strong point of the album. RZA once again comes correct with the beats, and Ghostface drops another solid album. With the impending release of another Wu-Tang album, this consistent album will tide you over just fine until then. 8 out of 10 |
| Daz Dillinger Presents- Who Ride With Us: Daz has to be one of the most under appreciated artists in hip hop today. He has produced multi-platinum hits for just about every legendary west coast rapper and yet he does not have the respect that he deserves. Well with this double album, he REALLY brings the heat. This is a collection of his latest and greatest collabos and while many of the songs have already been released, there are many gems to be found. Songs like "Foolish", "We Came" and "Why Oh Why", makes you fiend for the DPGC to drop a group album. The"Git Your Walk On" remix with WC and Xzibit appears on this album and it is one of the best collabos this year. Songs done with Scarface, Heltah Skeltah, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Too Short, C-Bo and many more appear and there are plenty of unreleased bangers to satisfy the fans. I almost get the feeling from this album that it is like a solo album, but that is because of Daz's presence on all of the 25 songs. Definitely the best compilation this year. 9 OUT OF 10 |
| Dungeon Family- Even In Darkness: As part of the Outkast posse, this 14-strong southern hip-hop collective is guaranteed a certain amount of attention, but on EVEN IN DARKNESS they show that they've got enough talent and individuality to transcend the attendant hype. Like Outkast, the Dungeon Family makes use of intensely funky production and loopy, good-natured, decidedly non-gangsta humor a la P-Funk. But this isn't just Outkast, Jr. at work; the combined talents of Big Boi, cult hero Cee-Lo, Backbone, and all the rest make this a distinctive effort. With an inventive production sensibility that bears echoes not just of Outkast and P-Funk, but even of Prince, and a truly collective approach wherein the whole is even greater than the already-impressive sum of its parts, EVEN IN DARKNESS is accessible but sophisticated, fun but substantive, and one of the hip-hop highlights of 2001. 9 out of 10 |
|