| Reviews Reviews are based on a point system. 1=bootee, 10=masterpiece |
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| Nappy Roots- Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz: This six-strong hip-hop crew may hail from the country, but don't expect to hear Nelly Revisited or Bubba Sparxxx Reduxxx from Nappy Roots. They manage to combine their organic, Kentucky vibe with sophisticated, urban-oriented narratives and beats convincingly enough to make you think you might have stumbled upon a fresh hip-hop paradigm with WATERMELON, CHICKEN & GRITZ. From the combination of angular, street-smart production and country-boy portraiture on "Ballin' on a Budget" to the driving, R&B-flavored social consciousness of "Slums," Nappy Roots consistently prove themselves fully capable of digging into their middle-American milieu without abandoning high-quality production or cutting edge beats. Don't let the hick album title fool you, these guys know which end is up. 8 OUT OF 10 |
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| Big Tymers- Hood Rich: I was really lookin' foward to this album. I just knew that Manny was gon' do his thing on the boards after his showing on the Mack 10 album. But the album was a pleasant surprise. No Hot Boy$, no Mack 10, nobody but the new comers Boo & Gotti and TQ. Lac & Stone were the only true CMB's on the whole damn cd. But the album is still hot. Tracks like "Still Fly", "Sunny Day", and "Put That Shit Up", showcase the new direction and sound that Jazze Pha and Mannie Fresh bring to the table. Big Tymers have also improved vastly on the rhyming tip, which also makes this album an improvement from the last one. 7.75 OUT OF 10 |
| Cee-Lo- Cee-Lo Green And His Perfect Imperfections: Cee-Lo is Southern soul personified. The rhymes, the gospel, the music, the melodies - they run in his blood. He was born to do it. And he does it well. The varied music finds its center in a guitar funk heavier thanany member of the Dungeon Family has bumped out before. As a whole, I try not to put too much expectations on a artist. Especially one who is well established and probably just wants to bask in his/her own shine. But upon first listening to this outstanding solo debut, I could only ask why wait so long?Cee-lo mans his own project by prodicing and writing the bulk of the project himself. and with nuances from rock to gospel, and country-soul this album eagerly and swiftly delves in and out of genres with ease. 8.75 OUT OF 10 |
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