LUDACRIS - INCOGNEGRO
Ludacris "Incognegro" Album Review
this is the Original release before Back for the First time
This was the self-released first release for Ludacris. As the previous reviewer said, this includes most of the tracks off of Back for the First Time (just like how there's another version of the Slim Shady LP that came out before Dre signed him)... If you have Back For the First time, this is not really worth owning (unless you've got a collector's mentality, but from what I've heard, there's a large number of these discs in circulation at this point and it's not really worth anything...)
Video Ludacris - Rock And A Hard Place (Incognero)
This is the (hard to find) last song from Ludacris' debut album Incognegro. Back For The First Time was actually his second album, with minor changes. The songs It Wasn' Us, Midnight Train and Rock And A Hard Place replaced with Southern Hospitality, Phat Rabbit and a remix of What's Your Fantasy. The 15 second intro from Incognegro was also removed, leaving U Got A Problem as the new intro.
PHAME - CHAPTER FOUR VERSE 15
Phame "Chapter Four Verse 15" Album Review
this is some classic hip-hop!
finally some refreshin' hip-hop!...not your everyday funnystyle rap..this is real..he should be signed..don't sleep on this homie!
CRUCIAL CONFLICT - GOOD SIDE BAD SIDE
Crucial Conflict "Good Side Bad Side" Album Review
There's more "Bad Side" than "Good Side"
In 1996, Crucial Conflict first made headlines with their catchy single "Hay," and the following album, The Final Tic, somehow successfully managed to merge an Old West/hillbilly style with their Midwest gangsta rap. Although often labeled Bone Thugs-N-Harmony imitators for their rapid-fire deliveries, the quartet of Wildstyle, Never, Coldhard, and Kilo fared well critically and commercially, and returned in 1998 with the forgettable "Good Side, Bad Side." Crucial Conflict has flow for days, and they're talented rappers with great deliveries. Although they're all quite similar, they are fun to listen to. However, this sophomore effort has many problems. The lack of subject matter becomes immediately apparent, as they don't seem to have anything to rap about. The verses are generic, and most could be cut-and-pasted into any of the songs because they're just full of gangsta rap cliches. The songs are formulaic and most sound nearly identical, with similar hooks and production. The beats sound like throwaways from Three 6 Mafia or Do or Die albums, with a stale, electronic g-funk sound that lacks any hint of soulfulness. The whiny synths are neither catchy nor funky. At nearly eighty minutes, the album is about twice as long as it needs to be, and the majority of the tracks could be classified as filler. This immense length makes it such a trying listen that, with the lack of good material, it's very hard to withstand in a single listen. "Good Side, Bad Side" has a few redeeming tracks, but overall it's a boring and uninspired effort that should be skipped by all but the CruCon diehards.
After the intro, the album opens with "The Bidness," an okay but forgettable opener. "Scummy" is the best song on the LP, a spirited and energetic rendition with excellent production, recalling the Old West style they executed so well on their debut. "Roll Somethin" is an average gangsta cut, and the Three 6 Mafia collabo "2 Bogus" sounds too familiar. Although a little lethargic, "Let It Go" is one of the better songs, dealing with rough situations in life. Skip right through "Like This" and "Young Guns," as well as "Universal Love," which is very weak despite a little spiritual influence. "Faceless Ones" is a higlight, an eerie song accurately capturing a scared, paranoid vibe. "Swing It Over Here" and the Do or Die-aided "Airplane" are both okay but nothing to write home about, and the same could be said of the bass-heavy "Pump It Up." "Back Against the Wall" is noteworthy as a Bone diss, but is too long and repetitive. "Come On" and "I'm Bout to Explode," two R&B-influenced tracks, are enough to put me to sleep. R. Kelly carries the very average "Ghetto Queen," which also appeared on his R. double album. Finally, the album closes with "Raw Dope Anthem," which is weak but thankfully the last song.
Crucial Conflict is a solid rap group, but this album is very weak from start to finish. Rather than purchasing this album, I recommend their debut or anything by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Do or Die, or Twista, all fairly similar sounding Midwest acts. Crucial Conflict released one more obscure album and faded away, but I just learned that they have an album called Planet Crucon scheduled for release in early 2008. Here's hoping that they can bounce back and make up for this misstep.
Video Crucial Conflict - I'm Bout To Explode
Classic Flic track from their 1998 album "Good Side,Bad Side"
CELLY CEL - HEAT 4 YO AZZ
Celly Cel "Heat 4 Yo Azz" Album Review
Classic 9-Fo (94) Mobbin
Celly Cel's debut album, Heat 4 Yo Azz is yet another reason why 1994 is one of my favorite years in rap history. Mike Mosely, Sam Bostic, and Studio Ton set Celly up with some sick G-Funk beats that u can only find around this time, many are influenced by the P-Funk music of the 70's like "Funk 4 Life" and "What Am I Supposed To Do." Celly Cel has a sick flow and gives you pure gangsta rhymes throughout. The title track is sick, with the beat sampling the beginning of the One Way classic "Cutie Pie," but instead of becoming fun and relaxing like the original, Mosely and Bostic take it in a sav direction, one of the hardest Sick Wid' It beats with Celly Cel givin you front row seats to gun smoke and robberies. "Hot Sunny Day" is a more laid-back, summer bar-b-q, ridin thru the hood, fun time track with Levitti and Marjuna Mitchell, and "Bailin' Thru My Hood" with B-Legit is a sick rider anthem. Gangsta rap may not have been anything new in 1994, but Celly Cel has an intriguing and entertaining way of givin you the 411 on life in the hood.
Video Hot Sunny Day
Celly Cel. Made His Debit Wit (Heat 4 Yo Azz) [1994] Dis Is Jus A Song 2 Chill 2. Bay Area.. West Coast. ..NzMadeSicc..
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