LISTED REVIEWS
Listening to 'In Deux Time' is an escape from the hush reality, entering a paraphernalia of smooth funk and soul-infused rhythms, altered with some heavy party hitters. It’s a flashback to the days when A Tribe Called Quest took Jay Dee under their wings.
POSTED 03|28|2006
J-Zone and Celph Titled were a team written in the stars, bound to work together on something longer than a single. Now it finally happened, 'Every Hog Has Its Day' is everything the fan had been waiting for. J-Zone is still innovatin himself, and Celph Titled’s punch-lines get crazier with every line he spits (also check 'Celph Destruction' for breath control), only hopin that this effort gets a follow-up someday because the chemistry is blazin. Hog Rap, we lovin it, hood rat!
POSTED 03|25|2006
'Magnificent City' sounds so fresh and so clean like both protagonists be dressed on the cover art. A collaboration that was due to happen after Aceyalone’s 'Love & Hate' record. Maybe not as obvious like an RJ collabo with Blueprint or Copywrite but the utterly creative chemistry between both artists’ different personalities and sounds totals an interesting, very electrifying album.
POSTED 03|22|2006
Although there’s not a magical chemistry like with the Madlib and MF Doom or the Aceyalone and RJD2 collaborations, Okai and Ayatollah have a good thing going on here. Put a hungry MC and an experienced producer together and you’ll always have sparks, and with the help of Planet Asia (on 'Face/Off') and Vinija Mojica ('No Question') you’ll have one album that does good to the ear.
POSTED 03|21|2006
'Legacy' is not a classic, but it reaches a high level on a lyrical side, provin the critics right when they compare him with Nas, although Akir leaves a more profound criticism and a very thorough insight in social and political issues.
POSTED 03|20|2006
Of course, this is not hip-hop to easily consume, it’s music for the engaged listener. The strange thing is: while T-KASH succeeds in making you really listen to the words and messages, you only feel the urge to push the repeat button on some of the tracks. Exactly those tracks are enough to tell you that T-KASH is your perfect guide for revolution: a strong focus and the power to lyrically damage the mic.
POSTED 03|20|2006
In a not that distant past, Dave Ghetto was better known as a member of the Nutthouze Crew, who released their debut 12” on Bobbito’s Fondle Em Records, followed by an EP in 2000 on Goodvibe Recordings. Five years later, Big Dave Geez is back in the game with his debut album 'Love Life?', a cohesive gathering of soulful, ease back-relax-songs.
POSTED 03|16|2006
El Da Sensei’s new album is simple but quite clever, containing real lyrics and trademark productions. It's nothing unusual, but it's got straight-up headnodders, some dirty breaks, an occasional trip to the club and a balanced mix of braggadociousness and knowledge.
POSTED 03|14|2006
'Afronauts' is a collection of feel-good, 'bon vivant' tracks celebrating the love for music (with several old school quotes), family and money. The production is 'soul-id' like a rock, the lyrics hold the middle between underground struggle and mainstream shine and make this a complete yet various music bundle of soul-soothing hip-hop.
POSTED 03|12|2006
Overall, 'Project Polaroid' is a decent album. The beats are fresh, proving Tom C3 really deserves his place on Kutmasta’s Threshold label, and whether you can argue the rhymes should’ve be more up-tempo and straight up (like we do), Kool Keith most def puts his good trademark stamp and never fails to go you make 'what-did-he-just-say?'.
POSTED 03|09|2006from the vaults
