Amazon.com

M.I.A.'s debut record is both intensely urban and aggressively modern. The group's sole member, Maya Arul, infuses her blend of hip-hop and chunky electro with raw, tribal overtones and a healthy dose of sex appeal. There are elements of world music here, in Arul's multi-lingual vocal as well as the tonal shifts and instrumentation (like the drone that opens up "Hombre"). Her delivery uses a variety of yelps and tics full of street-wise confidence and bratty energy. But there's also an appealing melodic sense, like early Neneh Cherry or Miss Kitten when she's not in diva-mode. M.I.A. doesn't really sound like anybody; the music is just experimental enough to wiggle out of easy comparisons. The IDM-style bleeps and beeps of "Galang," for example, give an already catchy song extra punch. The only problem with the record, a common flaw for debuts, is a sameness from track to track which robs it of the ability to surprise. Still, Arul is hugely talented and her abundant originality packs a wallop. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Best of 2005
For me this is the record of the year. It combines a unique sound with dramatic vocal pyrotechnics. It jams and blows up at every possible point. It is much better than Ms. Dynamite and other British hiphop records. The first songs have already influenced the music of Gwen Stefani. "Pull Up The People" is just an amazing track. It bubbles and squeaks. "Bucky Done Gun" which is even better follows this. The horn sound is just mind-blowing. Her music is a mix of hiphop, reggae, calypso and pop music. It's become some original hybrid. The album ends with two more great songs: "Sunshowers" and "Galang." This record has all the greatness of Bob Dylan and Lauren Hill. This record will be listened to for years.

URAQT
This is an album that will very quickly move into your regular rotation...that is if you like this type of fusion between dancehall, rap, electronica, tribal etc... I've read some pretty bitter reviews and I just don't understand the acrimony. If it's not for you then just get over it, but I personally think that this is an amazing work of creativity and expression. It's lucky for me that I happened to be living in Germany when I bought this record because my favorite song (URAQT) has been omitted from the US version. I don't understand why people like Lil Kim and Marilyn Manson can have their stuff released in the US but a song about kicking some girls butt for messing with your man is apparantly too taboo. The song is really great, and if you've dealt with a home wrecker then it's even greater, lol. Please try to buy the non-US version, if only for that one song. There are a few weak songs on this album (i could do without Sunshowers and Bingo) however the good ones (Bucky Done Gun, Pull Up The People, $10, Hombre, Fire Fire) more than make up for the duds. Her voice is very eclectic, going from sexy and fun on one track to aggressive and bombastic on another. Kind of reminds me of Bjork in a less evolved way but give her time. M.I.A is definately a new breed in her own right however and her unique style and delivery give her a place all her own. This is music to be listened to in your car at full volume or on a set of head phones also at full volume. It's feel good move your body music interwoven with subtle and not so subtle political messages ('Pull up the people, pull up the poor...') that are irrelevant if all you want to do is jam to some good beats. I support her views for the most part but I can see how they could detract from the music. There's a lot of violent imagery...but her father is a rebel fighter so I'm not surprised. Really though, all of the over hype and eye brow raising surrounding her background is just that. The music speaks for itself. Do yourself a favor and buy this as soon as you can.

Amazing album but there's a track missing!
First read about MIA in an issue of The New Yorker magazine in November 2004.Couldnt wait for the album to appear (scheduled for February 2005).Pre-ordered from Amazon USA.Strange delays, then order cancelled. Re-ordered and received a copy in April 2005.Amazing music but there are only 12 tracks.Heard the missing track "URAQT" in Gaslight Records, Melbourne, Australia - it is an amazing track - very strong lyrics and very bad harmonica.Why the censorship?Land-of-the-free-and home-of-the-brave?I think not!XL Recordings USA and Amazon USA, you are pretty lame.Fellow lovers of good music... if you want the un-expurgated edition (13 tracks) of this album, order it from Amazon UK or Shock Records Australia.Can the rest of us get a refund?

At least she's hotter than hell ;)
Galang is the strongest track here and I'd agree with many that it is no musical revolution. I enjoy it due to the fact it's a WORLD disc and I like World music alot. It's definitely different and I had seen the video for GALANG on the IMF Satellite channel. She's hotter than hell in my opinion so I'll give her a break. ;)

And with those criticizing Revolution, America was created on a violent Revolution so I have no idea what they're talking about. When you live under brutal oppression you revolt which none of us in America understand anymore. Thank God we don't have to revolt here like others but people need to study what goes on in certain areas of the globe.

Sometimes simple beats are good and this is better than alot of the major Rap trash here without any meaning at all.

M.I.A. announces her arrival. Moving around is compulsory
A DJ aquaintance of mine told me that 'Arular' always got the crowd up and dancing, and in a way, I can see why. Central to this electronic beatfest is M.I.A's sassy vocals, falling somewhere in between Madonna and Lene Lovich (the Neneh Cherry comparison is pretty good) all within the framework of hip-hop rhyming. There's really no need to over-analyze the music, which is basically infectious stripped-down beats, eg, LCD Soundsystem, pulsating, raw and tribal, almost hailing back to the crushing barebones approach of early hip-hop, eg, Grandmaster Flash. Also thrown into the mix is a subtle yet ecclectic fusion of analog flash, dancehall, and world music. But basically the appeal of 'Arular' stems from the charm and sexuality of M.I.A's vocals, orgasmic shrieks and brassy chants, a female touch when one expects male vocals to compliment the rhythmic thunder. Here she is now, let M.I.A. entertain you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A side project doesn¹t usually hit gold, especially when said project is a quirky virtual collective fronted by cartoon characters. But the first, self-titled album by Gorillaz--the brainchild of illustrator Jamie Hewlett and Blur frontman Damon Albarn--actually hit platinum and turned into a surprise worldwide hit. Naturally expectations were a lot higher for Gorillaz's sophomore effort, but Demon Days actually is even better than its predecessor. With producer Dan "the Automator" Nakamura gone, Albarn, a.k.a. 2D, has paired up with DJ Danger Mouse (responsible for the infamous Grey Album that illegally mixed the Beatles and Jay-Z) to steer the musical ship, while a whole new slew of guests enlivens the proceedings. Albarn has described Demon Days as being darker, but there's a real kooky dance-party vibe coursing through the CD. Despite its somber tone, "Kids with Guns" is lifted by a killer bass line, for instance, while the catchy first single, "Feel Good Inc," is augmented by an appealing contribution from De La Soul. Other noteworthy guests include Roots Manuva and Tricky collaborator Martina Topley-Bird on the dubby "All Alone" and Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder on the bouncy "DARE." And yet it's a 69-year-old actor who gets to deliver the most baffling contribution--just listen to Dennis Hopper's spoken-word narrative on "Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head." Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Best Album So Far This Year
This is definitely the best album I have heard this year, although my exposure to today's music isn't exactly all encompassing.As other people have said, this second album is different than the Gorillaz' first one. The absence of Del really hurts the rap segments in this second album.This is not to say the hip hop is bad, it's just that in the first album, Del WAS Russell and it's now hard to separate the two.As a long time Blur fan though, I like Damon's voice which is (as usual) found throughout the album.The beginning tracks and the end ones are the strongest.The middle ones are not bad, just weaker than the other parts.However, the album is really cohesive and looking at the pictures and the lyrics (found online) you can really see a message.

As for the people trying to rip the tracks off the CD, I had no problem using abcde on my NetBSD box to convert the tracks to .ogg files (in fact there are already two CDDB entries for the CD, meaning people have been ripping the CD).It could just be a Windows thing, which sucks for you guys, because I can listen to the songs on my iRiver.Also there is a pretty cool remix of Feel Good Inc and Cake's Never There online.Just google "gorillaz cake feel good" and you'll find it.

An amazing album, despite its little quirks.
Note, before you read on, just know that I myself do not like the Rap genre. It doesn't appeal to me and I just never really liked it.

Even with that though, I completely LOVE this Album. One of its quirks being that there was an over usage of rap in "Demon Days" as opposed to their first CD, but even with that, this Album executes everything greatly.

Unlike the first CD, alot of the songs go right into the other. It gives the CD a great flow and it's very enjoyable when listening to it on your car or CD player.

The only thing that really stopped me from giving this CD 5 stars is the poorly executed rap, mainly in the song "Dirty Harry". I don't have any problem with the rap in the songs (Feel Good Inc., November has Come, All Alone) but in Dirty Harry, it was just so unnecessary.The song length is 3:43, for the first two minutes, you hear this great beat, a great song. Then the rapping starts and it just sounds so out of place. It kind of ruined the flow since if it's skipped, Feel Good Inc. starts up, and "Dirty Harry" plays into "Feel Good Inc."

That and the loss of Miho Hatori (Vocally, at least), at times you kind of lost the feeling of listening to the Gorillaz and it felt more like a CD with Damon Albarn and special guests.

Overall, it's a great CD, a real accomplishment for the Gorillaz, but just little things that prevent it from being a truly great Album.

Copy protection prevents enjoyment on iPods and Windows XP
If you enjoy listening to music on your iPod or Windows XP based computer then this is not the album for you. Virgin Records America appears to have decided to copy protect the release of Gorillaz 'Demon Days'. The disc will not play when inserted into a Windows XP based computer (i.e. when browsing to the disc from your My Computer icon the disc appears to be blank).

This album is ideal for your car, home audio cd player, or portable cd player if your playback device is compatible with the copy protection contained within this release.

One should also note that there is no notice of copy protection nor compatibility requirements anywhere on the packaging of the Gorillaz 'Demon Days' album.

If you have purchased this CD and wish to contact Virgin Records then do not bother attempting to e-mail their web master from the Virgin Records web site: all e-mails bounce back as being undeliverable. A more appropriate title for this album would have been "Paying Customers are Thieves".

all-in-one-album
First I have to say I was spinning holes in my floor waiting for the new album from Gorillaz.Ever since he left Blur, everything Damon Albarn has touched has turned into gold from my point of view!

When I got the disc I was very excited and awfully afraid that the follow-up was going to be mediocre.But no Sir!From "last Living souls" with it's oldschool and childish discorhythms via Roots Manuvas punching word-spitting performance on "all alone" to the finalizing three-track tale with Dennis Hopper's trustgiving voice and Heavenly London Community Gospel Choir shouting me right into the center of Gorillaz' weird and wonderful world of playful artistic anarchy!

The melodies on this disc are pure popmusic-art.And the wrapping is ever-changing with all kinds of styles thrown together and with twists and brakes and surprising bridges around every corner.

My most pleasent surprise was the amount of oldskool sounds.Some of the tracks give me associations to the swedish underground synthpopband The Knife.

Buy it!

Great Band ..... Poor Label
Everything that needs to be said about the sheer greatness of Gorillaz has been said.Demon Days is surely one of the albums of the year.
However , one little (it's actually huge).... Has anyone been able to rip Demon Days onto their computer? I'm having enormous problems doing so. If anyone has had problems yet was able to rip, can you please advise on this website or....email me at 'cortez-the-raven@hotmail.com'.
Cheers

P.S. The album is bananas!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

50 Cent is now a full two dollars, according to pop culture exchange rates. His sheer influence on music charts, and thugs hearts, changed things. So why then on Massacre is the 'hood drama that one would think he'd want to leave behind even more front-and-center than on Get Rich or Die Tryin'? It's hard to say, but 50's developed a questionable gun fetish here. With firearms plastered all over the liner notes, and throughout most of his lyrics--on "In My Hood" he retorts "…I don't go nowhere without my strap"--apparently his nouveau rich status has only accelerated the number of enemies he's accumulated. On "I'm Supposed to Die Tonight" he even awkwardly forecasts Notorious B.I.G.-like, Tupac-ian rap game death scenarios. "Piggy Bank," a virtual diss fest further cements his "How to Rob" persona as Nas and Fat Joe get the lyrical smack down; so does A-list actor Vivica Fox ("Get In My Car") for even daring to consider their rendezvous to be anything more than a fling. Despite beat contributions from Aftermath hombres (Eminem, Dr. Dre), some of the better beats come courtesy of lesser-known beatsmiths like Disco D ("Ski Mask Way") and the always consistent Hi-Tek, whose "Ryder Music" is a sick concoction of keys and haunting vocals. At 22 tracks (with no inane interludes), it's worth the loot, but it doesn't cover up 50's artistic regression since Get Rich. --Dalton Higgins

Co-Conspirators' Greatest Hits

The Eminem Show, Eminem	The Chronic, Dr. Dre	Olivia, Olivia
The Slim Shady LP, Eminem	Hi-Teknology, Hi-Tek	Straight out tha Trunk, Disco D

... Read more

Reviews (238)

50 Cent - Massacre
50 Cent is probably the most overrated rapper evr. His flow is terrible and he raps about nothing. Dont but this album go and listen to some 2pac.

This CD is wack
All that I have to say is, he could of did better on this cd... i'm not feeling none of the songs on this CD... his 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' was way better

That Leno F**k
50 Cents alright, i think he makes good music for that that retard leno to compare him to 2pac, saying 2pac rapped aboud s**t, saying 50 raps about street life and growing up in the ghetto, what the f**k do u think pac rapped about, its what got him famous, uh have u listened to the thug life or 2pacalypse now albums, 50's rhymes suck, he literally spits cause word don come out his mouth properly, pac is a legend, 50 doesn't come close, BIATCH!

get any led zeppelin album instead
it is surprising that this piece of crap even sold one copy.this album is a non stop joke and this guy is one of the worst rappers i heard after jay z,flusher and game over.dont think of buying even copy regrettably i cant give this trash less than one star.get led zeppelin's fourth album instead.

Atleast this guy doesnt have to fake his death...Unlike 2pac
Rap started off with a slump back in the 80s and early 90s. America was tired of useless rappers like Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Run DMC, 2Pac,etc... so MTV started recruiting Talented rappers such as Ludacris, Usher, Nelly, Chingy.. you know the rest.

50 Cent is lyrically a genius. Never has an artist had so many good songs on a single album.He sings about life in the streets and how growing up was tough; things that matter.
Unlike 2pac, he doesn't have to fake his death to make sales.

5 Stars. NOT ENOUGH! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A side project doesn¹t usually hit gold, especially when said project is a quirky virtual collective fronted by cartoon characters. But the first, self-titled album by Gorillaz--the brainchild of illustrator Jamie Hewlett and Blur frontman Damon Albarn--actually hit platinum and turned into a surprise worldwide hit. Naturally expectations were a lot higher for Gorillaz's sophomore effort, but Demon Days actually is even better than its predecessor. With producer Dan "the Automator" Nakamura gone, Albarn, a.k.a. 2D, has paired up with DJ Danger Mouse (responsible for the infamous Grey Album that illegally mixed the Beatles and Jay-Z) to steer the musical ship, while a whole new slew of guests enlivens the proceedings. Albarn has described Demon Days as being darker, but there's a real kooky dance-party vibe coursing through the CD. Despite its somber tone, "Kids with Guns" is lifted by a killer bass line, for instance, while the catchy first single, "Feel Good Inc," is augmented by an appealing contribution from De La Soul. Other noteworthy guests include Roots Manuva and Tricky collaborator Martina Topley-Bird on the dubby "All Alone" and Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder on the bouncy "DARE." And yet it's a 69-year-old actor who gets to deliver the most baffling contribution--just listen to Dennis Hopper's spoken-word narrative on "Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head." Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Best Album So Far This Year
This is definitely the best album I have heard this year, although my exposure to today's music isn't exactly all encompassing.As other people have said, this second album is different than the Gorillaz' first one. The absence of Del really hurts the rap segments in this second album.This is not to say the hip hop is bad, it's just that in the first album, Del WAS Russell and it's now hard to separate the two.As a long time Blur fan though, I like Damon's voice which is (as usual) found throughout the album.The beginning tracks and the end ones are the strongest.The middle ones are not bad, just weaker than the other parts.However, the album is really cohesive and looking at the pictures and the lyrics (found online) you can really see a message.

As for the people trying to rip the tracks off the CD, I had no problem using abcde on my NetBSD box to convert the tracks to .ogg files (in fact there are already two CDDB entries for the CD, meaning people have been ripping the CD).It could just be a Windows thing, which sucks for you guys, because I can listen to the songs on my iRiver.Also there is a pretty cool remix of Feel Good Inc and Cake's Never There online.Just google "gorillaz cake feel good" and you'll find it.

An amazing album, despite its little quirks.
Note, before you read on, just know that I myself do not like the Rap genre. It doesn't appeal to me and I just never really liked it.

Even with that though, I completely LOVE this Album. One of its quirks being that there was an over usage of rap in "Demon Days" as opposed to their first CD, but even with that, this Album executes everything greatly.

Unlike the first CD, alot of the songs go right into the other. It gives the CD a great flow and it's very enjoyable when listening to it on your car or CD player.

The only thing that really stopped me from giving this CD 5 stars is the poorly executed rap, mainly in the song "Dirty Harry". I don't have any problem with the rap in the songs (Feel Good Inc., November has Come, All Alone) but in Dirty Harry, it was just so unnecessary.The song length is 3:43, for the first two minutes, you hear this great beat, a great song. Then the rapping starts and it just sounds so out of place. It kind of ruined the flow since if it's skipped, Feel Good Inc. starts up, and "Dirty Harry" plays into "Feel Good Inc."

That and the loss of Miho Hatori (Vocally, at least), at times you kind of lost the feeling of listening to the Gorillaz and it felt more like a CD with Damon Albarn and special guests.

Overall, it's a great CD, a real accomplishment for the Gorillaz, but just little things that prevent it from being a truly great Album.

Copy protection prevents enjoyment on iPods and Windows XP
If you enjoy listening to music on your iPod or Windows XP based computer then this is not the album for you. Virgin Records America appears to have decided to copy protect the release of Gorillaz 'Demon Days'. The disc will not play when inserted into a Windows XP based computer (i.e. when browsing to the disc from your My Computer icon the disc appears to be blank).

This album is ideal for your car, home audio cd player, or portable cd player if your playback device is compatible with the copy protection contained within this release.

One should also note that there is no notice of copy protection nor compatibility requirements anywhere on the packaging of the Gorillaz 'Demon Days' album.

If you have purchased this CD and wish to contact Virgin Records then do not bother attempting to e-mail their web master from the Virgin Records web site: all e-mails bounce back as being undeliverable. A more appropriate title for this album would have been "Paying Customers are Thieves".

all-in-one-album
First I have to say I was spinning holes in my floor waiting for the new album from Gorillaz.Ever since he left Blur, everything Damon Albarn has touched has turned into gold from my point of view!

When I got the disc I was very excited and awfully afraid that the follow-up was going to be mediocre.But no Sir!From "last Living souls" with it's oldschool and childish discorhythms via Roots Manuvas punching word-spitting performance on "all alone" to the finalizing three-track tale with Dennis Hopper's trustgiving voice and Heavenly London Community Gospel Choir shouting me right into the center of Gorillaz' weird and wonderful world of playful artistic anarchy!

The melodies on this disc are pure popmusic-art.And the wrapping is ever-changing with all kinds of styles thrown together and with twists and brakes and surprising bridges around every corner.

My most pleasent surprise was the amount of oldskool sounds.Some of the tracks give me associations to the swedish underground synthpopband The Knife.

Buy it!

Great Band ..... Poor Label
Everything that needs to be said about the sheer greatness of Gorillaz has been said.Demon Days is surely one of the albums of the year.
However , one little (it's actually huge).... Has anyone been able to rip Demon Days onto their computer? I'm having enormous problems doing so. If anyone has had problems yet was able to rip, can you please advise on this website or....email me at 'cortez-the-raven@hotmail.com'.
Cheers

P.S. The album is bananas!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (62)

u cant c him
hes a wrestler and can rap.im suprised that it wouldnt be like shaq and be a piece of garbage but i was wrong.the best songs r

1. chain gang is the click
2.if it all ended tomorrow
3.bad,bad man
4.right now
5.the time is now
thats just my opinion.go cop this album

PLEASE!!!
I'M FROM BROOKLYN MAFUKAZ! I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO HIP-HOP SINCE 1983! I COP EVERYTHING. EAST...MIDWEST...WEST...SOUTH! THE HIP-HOP I ENJOY THE MOST ISN'T CONCERNED WITH BEING ALL OVER THE RADIO AND T.V. MY FAVORITE 2 ALBUMS OF LAST YEAR WERE MASTA KILLA'S "NO SAID DATE" AND MASTA ACE'S "A LONG HOT SUMMER." I THOUGHT KANYE'S JOINT WAS WACK AND OVERRATED AND I INSTEAD BUMPED R.A. THE RUGGED MAN OR INSPECTAH DECK OR KRS-ONE OR PARIS OR MF DOOM OR TECH NINE, THE ROOTS, IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE...YOU GET THE PICTURE! I'M ALSO AN MC MYSELF IN A HIP-HOP GROUP WHO JUST OPENED OUR OWN INDEPENDENT LABEL...WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET IT JUST BE KNOWN THAT I KNOW HIP-HOP...

NOW...ON TO THE REVIEW...I'M SICK OF HEARING CATS COUNT THIS ALBUM OUT ON THE BASIS OF JOHN CENA BEING A WRESTLER. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS SKILLS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT JOHN CENA CAN SPIT AND HE HAS MULTIS AND DECENT METAPHORES. IF ANYONE CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT JOHN CENA SAYS ANY LINE ON THIS ALBUM THATS WACKER THEN LET'S SAY ANYTHING 50 SPITS ON THE MASSACRE OR EM SPITS ON ENCORE, I'LL BABY POWDER YOUR FACE UP. HATE TO COMPARE IT WITH 50 CAUSE HE AIN'T LYRICAL, BUT THE FACT STILL REMAINS THAT THIS JOINT IS BETTER THEN 80% OF WHAT IS OUT IN THE INDUSTRY. YOU CAN BANG THIS WHOLE ENTIRE ALBUM. THAT AIN'T A JOKE. THERE IS NOT ONE BAD SONG ON THE ENTIRE ALBUM. SOME TRACKS ARE BETTER THEN OTHERS, BUT THE ALBUM AS A WHOLE IS VERY CONSISTENT. TRADEMARC ALSO CAN SPIT. HE'S GOT SOME HOT LINES ALSO..."PICKIN' OUT A BITCH...LIKE A PASS FROM SHAQ TO KOBE!" CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THAT HAD ME GOIN'..."OHHHH SHIIIII...." THEN, OF COURSE, YOU GET BUMPY KNUCKS ON 3 TRACKS. DON'T REALLY GOTTA EXPAND ON THAT! ESOTERIC DROPS A NICE VERSE. JUST FOR THE RECORD, THIS ALBUM MAKES KANYE WEST'S "THE COLLEGE DROPOUT" SOUND LIKE BARRY MANILOW JUST TOOK UP MC'ING FOR THE ROC! IF YOU FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS JOINT FOR THE GREAT ALBUM THAT IT IS, THEN YOU EITHER FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF PEOPLE WHO BASHED IT WITHOUT EVEN LISTENING, PEOPLE WHO ONLY LISTEN TO HIP-POP, OR JUST A RASCIST TYPE OF DEAD PREZ LISTENING CAT. OTHERWISE, YOU NEED TO OWN AND RESPECT THIS ALBUM. #1... JOHN CENA PAID FOR THIS WHOLE ALBUM OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET...DID Y'ALL KNOW THAT? HE PAID FOR IT AND HAND PICKED HIS PRODUCERS. NOONE BUT THE CATS INVOLVED WITH RECORDING AND PRODUCING THE ALBUM HAD ANY INPUT. JOHN CENA DID THIS BECAUSE HE IS REAL HIP-HOP. AND HE'S PROBABLY REALER THEN YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER. HE COULD HAVE MADE A COMMERICAL ALBUM IN 1 MONTH AND HAVE IT BE CRAP, BUT HE TOOK OVER A YEAR AND PUT CARE INTO IT. I HAVE TO SAY, THAT THE AVERAGE HIP-HOP FAN THESE DAYS IS VERY CLOSED MINDED AND FOLLOWS EXACTLY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE THINKS IS HOT FOR THE MOMENT. (I.E....LOOK AT TECH NINE'S RECORD SALES)...NOW THAT'S A REAL TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE. THIS ALBUM IS ONE OF THE BEST HIP-HOP ALBUMS TO DROP THIS YEAR. I GOTTA BE HONEST, I LIKED THIS JOINT EVEN BETTER THEN TALIB'S OR THE ROOTS!!! IF YOU PASS ON IT, YOU WILL BE MISSING A NICE PIECE OF TRUE HIP-HOP.

Too bad not everyone can be good at what they enjoy.
I'm really dumbfounded by the reviewers that are claiming this to be "a classic" or "the album of the year". These are ultimately subjective claims, but please, let's try to be a little more convincing. Pray tell, what makes any of these songs stand out in comparison to the established godfathers of hiphop (Biggy, Tupac, etc)?

The beats are dry, and the lyrics are absolutely terrible. I actually started laughing at how pathetic they were after hearing some of the following nonsense:

1. "...size of my wallet? That's reflection of passion."
- Wow John, that's deep.

2. "And the only reason I can't rub pennies together
is cause I carry big bills, in genuine leather."
- You can tell he was struggling to find something that rhymed with "together".

Everything just sounds so contrived and forced, which unfortunately serves to accentuate the weak metaphors and rhymes.

All criticisms aside, Mr.Cena should be a poster boy for motivation. He's not a very skilled wrestler, yet he's made it huge in that industry. His music is absolutely God awful as well, and we all know this album is going to sell to at least a few wrestling fans. Good for him for persevering, although sometimes your best just isn't good enough, as this album implies.

Not bad for a pro-wrestler!
This album had the quality of an underground album. Some the beats were better than the actual lyrics Cena and Tradmarc had done. "My Time Is Now," really opens up the cd with a really good track. The track "Keep Frontin," was a solid track with a good bass beat with average lyrics. Cena should have not been repeating every word on his verse but I guess he thought it sounded cool on that song. Also, a track called, "Day in a Life" was another good track to listen too. I am not surprised that it is not a great cd because I heard him rap on WWE Smackdown before and he sounded about average good. He brings something different to the rap game. Kind of a knockoff off LL Cool J if you like him.Give him some time to improve his lyrics and he might have something going for a rap career. Right now he should just stay in the group with him,Trademarc, and Bumpy Knuckles. The group needs a name. I leave that up to them cause I can't think of one now. If you want something different to listen to check it or just download your favorite Cena tracks off of YOU CAN'T SEE ME album. Cena time is now!!!

"Good" CD .......not great but good
Alright First off lets gets get one thing straight....To Everyone in America, John Cena is always going to be a wrestler first and a rapper second.Rapping didnt get him on TV every week or millions of dollars, but it did give him a character.And maybe that is why some of the tracks on his album feel as though a character is rapping not a real person.They are decent tracks, not 106 and park material but you will be entertained.Now one other thing.....This is underground?Well I guess you can call it that but if u want real underground try CHICK MAGNET by Paul Wall or the 1996 independent release INFINITE by Eminem.NO not Eminem the pop star girls worship but more a like a real life B Rabbit."Cena" can rhyme but I dont see any Grammys in his future.

Paid In Full Records.....Kings of Underground ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Surprisingly Stellar Triumph
When I first heard "Where is the Love" last summer, I couldn't stand it. I dismissed the Black Eyed Peas as one hit wonders and waited for their moment to pass. Then I heard "Shut Up" and was surprised I liked it. It wasn't until I heard "Hey Mama" that I fell in love with them. This CD is by far the best hip hop album right now because each song, even "Where is the Love", sounds good when you listen to the entire album. In my opinion, they are just as good, if not better, than that other visionary hip hop group, Outkast. Each song sounds like a radio smash, and it's not surprising this group has moved past the one hit wonder tag.

1)Hands Up- gets the CD off to a good start. One of the best party songs of the past few years. The perfect opener for this CD.
2)Labor Day- probably my favorite song on the CD. The beat is infectious, the vocals are top notch, and I think would be an even bigger hit than "Hey Mama" if they release it as a single.
3)Let's Get Retarded- the title threw me off at first, but they say right off the bat it's not meant to be offensive. It really is a good song and it's no wonder it is their latest single.
4)Hey Mama- yes, it's not the same version we heard on the radio, MTV, and VH1. Does that make this version bad? No, the track still holds up even without the excellent Fergie vocals heard on the single version.
5)Shut Up- I like the way this song sounds. The vocals play off each other very well, and even though it's about a disastrous relationship, you can still dance to it.
6)Smells Like Funk- another really good song. I like the beat.
7)Latin Girls- a little long, but it's still a really good song.
8)Sexy- I like the feel of this song. It's very smooth and it sounds great.
9)Fly Away- a great showcase for Fergie. She probably sounds her best on this song.
10)The Boogie That Be- another really good party song. The beats are really strong.
11)The APL Song- a good song. I like the way this song tackles an overused subject but still makes it sound very good.
12)Anxiety- a surprisingly strong rock song. The appearance of Papa Roach sounds strange in theory, but makes perfect sense when you hear it.
13)Where is the Love- not my favorite, but I really do like this song now. I understand the lyrics more now. They even make Justin Timberlake look good.
14)Let's Get It Started- the radio version of Let's Get Retarded. My only problem with it is that if they could put this single onto the CD, why couldn't they put the version of Hey Mama we all want to hear on it?
HIDDEN TRACK)Third Eye- probably the most political song on the CD. I really enjoyed this song and think it's the perfect way to close a near-perfect album.

I highly recommend this CD. I can't think of one song that I don't like, and that is a rarity nowadays. This album should have gotten so much more praise from critics than it got, but I believe someday this album will get the respect it deserves.

Exceeded my Expectations
I never thought I would enjoy a Black Eyed Peas album, but after hearing "Shut Up", "Hey Mama", and "Let's Get it Started" on the radio and really liking them, I decided to buy the album. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I like most of the tracks on the album. In addition to the singles they've released, other songs that are great include "Anxiety", which is a collaboration with Papa Roach and comes off as a great hip hop/rock song, "Smells Like Funk" and "The Boogie that Be", which are great upbeat party songs, and "Fly Away" which showcases Fergie. My one disappointment is that the album version of "Hey Mama" is not the same as the radio version. While it is still good, it has a lot less Fergie vocals (the "off the richter, off the richter,..." lyrics are not on the album version) and the music is slightly different. Overall though, this is a great upbeat album that will make you want to sing and dance along!

One of the best albums of the 21st century (seriously)
Almost out of nowhere, the Black Eyed Peas have crafted one of the most excellent albums I have ever had the pleasure of buying. Yes, this album is THAT good. Every song works, and each one sounds like it could be a hit single. With this album, they have earned the right to be called one of the best hip hop groups working today. For those who think Outkast is the only group making relevant hip hop today, please give this album a listen. BEP may not have won all the Grammies, but that doesn't mean they aren't in the same league as Outkast.

Elephunk opens with "Hands Up". This is the perfect song to open the album. The song is practically guaranteed to get any party started. After this song, I didn't know if the rest of the album could be as good as this song. After hearing the second song "Labor Day (It's a Holiday)", I knew this was going to become one of my favorite albums. The song opens with a catchy hook and then goes into a chorus that sounds like they sampled Madonna's classic "Holiday". It is in the chorus that this song just explodes into something incredible. This is by far my most favorite song on the album and I really hope it is the next single. The next song is "Let's Get Retarded". With a title like that, I didn't know what to expect. Turns out it is another finely crafted dance tune. Some people may be offended by the title, but will.i.am says in the beginning of the song "In this context, there's no disrespect." It is just a simple and different way of saying "Let's party!". The next song is "Hey Mama". The radio version of this song has become one of the biggest hits of 2004. Although that version doesn't appear on this album, the original version is pretty good. I'm glad they remixed it for a single, but if this version had gone to radio, I think it still would have been a big hit. The next song is "Shut Up", the 2nd single off the album. I love the way the vocals respond to each other in this song. I had this song stuck in my head for days whenever this song came out last year. It wasn't as big a hit as their other singles, but that doesn't make it any less good. "Smells Like Funk" has a laid-back feel to it. This is another one of those songs that will be stuck in your head long after you listen to it. Next is "Latin Girls". This is a pretty long song, but I like the Latin feel to it. This song could set off another Latin music craze if it were released as a single. "Sexy" is the 8th song on the album and it also has a laid-back feel to it. "Fly Away" is an incredible song. This song is a showcase for Fergie, the newest member of the group. I think that the people who think she can't sing should listen to this song. I love the beat and the lyrics and this song is one of my favorites. "The Boogie That Be" is the 10th song and it too has an incredible beat that few people will be able to resist. This is a very cool song and it shows that this isn't one of those albums that starts to wear out as the album winds toward the end. "The APL Song" is one of those inspirational and uplifting songs every artist loves to do. This one is actually pretty good. "Anxiety" is their collaboration with Papa Roach. I had no idea they would work so well together with BEP. This is a very good song about being so angry you just want all your anger to go away before you do something you'll regret. It is a straight up rock song and I just love it. Next is "Where Is the Love". This was a really big hit for the group, and it's no surprise why. Sure, the song may be a little sappy in some places, but I admire the fact that they wanted to write a song that would get people to think about things like the war and what our country is coming to. Not even Justin Timberlake can ruin this song. Next we have "Let's Get It Started". This is the radio version of "Let's Get Retarded". For obvious reasons, the group wanted to avoid controversy by changing a few of the lyrics before they put the song out as a single. This song is just as good as the original and it has already become yet another hit for BEP. There is also a hidden bonus track called "Third Eye". This song features lines like "If Bush is Pinnochio, then who the hell is Geppetto?" and "You were foolin' me once before, but you ain't foolin' me twice no no." Those lyrics may put off some people, but I love the fact that we are in a place where groups can speak their minds about Bush and not receive death threats like the Dixie Chicks did. This song is a bonus for a near-perfect album.

I am very glad I bought this album. Sure, lines like "Let's get retarded" and "Shut up just shut up shut up" may not be high are, but then again neither are "Hey ya" or 'Your roses really smell like boo boo boo." They are just good silly fun. What's not to like about that? This is one of the best albums I have bought all year. Nearly every song explodes into a little block party, and the songs will be stuck in your head for days. I have listened to this album many times since I have bought it and I will continue to listen to it over and over. This music is fun to listen to and I really do think it is one of the best albums to come along in years. It's definitely one of the best albums I have ever bought. Do yourself a favor and buy this album. You will not regret it.

Where exactly is the love?
Speechless, thats the only way to describe it. When i first heard the single "Where is the Love" gag reflexes arose and vomiting ensued. Was that a little to harsh? I think not. Their "funky beats" and "genius rhymes" are nothing more than a groups struggling attempt to become celebrated hip pop "artists". Now, nothing is wrong with wanting making money, but when mainstream heavy hitters are added to to somewhat underground hip hop group's recipe im inclined to ask myself, Where is the love? The love im referring to, is the love of making good music, not vacuous lyrics stratigicly placed beneath poppy, radio friendly beats and Justin Timberlake. Through their first two albums it was the words, innovativly strung together into lines of rhymes, that ran throughout my head daily, not the teribbly misplaced guitar riff from Papa Roach in Anxiety. Im opting not to touch on the other tracks for the simple reason that it might just throw me into a paroxysm of histaria. I own both of their previous albums and belive me, if i could strike this album from their discography i would. This is not quality hip hop, and if you perceive it otherwise i suggest research on your part is necessary, and you might start with "Behind the Front" and "Bridgin the Gap". Listen to the album if you must, but while you do, ask yourself what exactly it is that your hearing, music or corporate balderdash.

hey mama, buy it now
stacy's mom is rite on this 1, buy it now, B.E.P. rox hard. all the songs r awesome.

THE LADY IN SPIDERMAN 2 SINGING THE ANNOYING SPIDERMAN SONG IS MY HERO ALONG W/ THE GUY IN THE 6 FLAGS COMMERCIAL!!!!!!!!
GO DC! ... Read more

Album Description

THE DOCUMENTARY, (Aftermath/G Unit/Interscope), the debut album from The Game (a/k/a Jayceon Taylor), announces the arrival of the most significant West Coast gangsta rapper since Snoop Dogg more than a decade earlier.With guest spots from 50 CENT, NATE DOGG and several others, as well as producers from DR. DRE to KANYE WEST to JUST BLAZE and tracks such as "How We Do" feat. 50 Cent, "Like Father Like Son," "Church For Thugs," "Dreams," "Where I’m From" and "Westside Story," THE DOCUMENTARY resurrects the truth, spirit and hope of hardcore rap. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Faith Evans, wife of the late Biggie Smalls, has probably seen more sympathy in her 10 bumpy years in the recording business than she knows what to do with. But that doesn't curb our compulsion to cheer over her latest triumph, The First Lady, her debut release on Columbia after stepping away from Bad Boy Records, is a hoot-and-holler worthy affair that has nothing to do with misplaced pity. Out she storms on opener "Goin' Out Tonight" with Pharrell and Pusha T, thrusting her graceful but sturdy voice over a propulsive, hand-clappy beat. In the space of a single track, she's navigating the Motown-ish thumps and funky guitar riffs of the first single, "Again," to lay bare the facts behind her 2004 stint in rehab. Throughout, Evans' breathy voice seems incapable of jumping the groove—here's an R&B princess with a jazz diva's sense of timing—and on songs like "Mesmerized" she slinks into a ‘70s soul place that leaves us wishing we could time-travel together more often. Tacked to the end for fans who discovered Evans via theCoach Carter soundtrack is her collaboration with Twista from that film, the hip-hop track "Hope." --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (124)

Evans is The First Lady- 4 1/2 stars
Evans is way underrated as an R&B singer.Everybody needs to face that Evans is one of the best and most refined R&B vocalists out there.We take for granted her pipes and trytoo much to associate her as merely Biggie Small's wife.She is much more. She is what R&B is about.

The production on THE FIRST LADY is flawless.The album opens up with the Neptunes produced track "Going Out" in which Faith Evans talks about going out with her girls and having a good time.Then she follows up with the soul-sampled inspirational "Again" where Evans opens up about her problems.She lets it all out against Hip-Hop drum programming and the refined sound of soul guitars.

"I Don't Need It" is a nice listen as well with an 80s Pop sound or late 70s disco type feel.The winner for best ballad easily goes to Evans heartfelt masterpiece "Stop N Go".It is a brilliant piece of writing and vocals."Mesmerized" takes us back to the sound of soul. Later on, concluding the album is the beautiful "Hope" which is Twista featuring Faith Evans on vocals.This is nearly the perfect album.There is no one track that doesn't work well in particular.It is consistent and definitely deserves more recognition that it has been receiving.Evans is an incredible vocalist and we as listeners and critics definitely shouldn't take her for granted.4 1/2 stars.

First Lady
I bought this album the week it came out and must I say superb work. I love this album it is so soulful. This album is the record she was born to create. This album is about growth. Direct. Dramatic. Playful. Passionate. Rich with wisdom,sexy, and brimming with an undeniable passion. This album should be promoted because it is that good.

"Liked Big Faith Better"
I tried to listen to the whole CD but I kept skipping through tracks. I was totally disappointed with her CD. I mean,Faith's my girl and she can blow. I just don't know what happen with this one. She needs P.Diddy - Help Her Diddy Please! lol

The First Lady Is In Total Control!
Faith Evans is one of my favorite artists.She brings it and never fails to rip it up with her very hot vocals.I love this CD because she never faded out and got weak.Track after track she gave of her soul and you had no choice but to feel it.She adds different flavors with each song for a perfect blend to satisfy your appetite.Faith reminds me of what good music is all about. If I had to select acouple of favorite songs on here it would be Again ,& Stop N Go.On the track Again,I was feeling this because I think we all have done things that taught us a lesson and helped us grow from it. (hopefully)

This is a CD where as if you didn't like everything on it, you liked MOST of it which makes it money well spent.

The First Ladyleft me wanting to play it over and over, and that's what I did!

she is truly the first lady
I love faith evans voice. When she sing you feel the song. The first lady is one of her best albums so far. My favorite song on the album is again and mesmerized. This album is worth the money I would buy it again ... Read more

Amazon.com

Everyone grows up…even rappers. Pioneering female MC Queen Latifah shows a newfound level of maturity on The Dana Owens Album.A set of standards the rapper/actress decided to cover, the album features a host of jazz classics and R&B favorites.

Latifah is at her seductive best when playing the sultry siren on Al Green's "Simply Beautiful." With a little help from Green himself, Latifah's vocals slide over the warm, organ-drenched instrumental. The result is one that works today as well as it would have several years ago. Similarly, the big band-backed "Baby Get Lost" swings with bluesy groove that is pure nostalgia.

However, it's when Latifah mines more standard fare that the album seems to hita snag. Fans of James Moody's "Moody's Mood for Love" may want to skip Latifah's version as it misses the subtle perfection of the original. Her rendition of "I Put a Spell On You" doesn't falter, but it's not impressive either. It ends up being the kind of performance that finds you constantly waiting for more but never getting it. The same can be said for her cover of the Mamas & The Papas' "California Dreamin'."

That said, with Latifah's recent critically acclaimed turn in the film Chicago the timing for this album couldn't have been better. And with help from legendary producer Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin), The Dana Owens Album is an interesting and impressive new chapter in the star's diverse career. --Rashaun Hall

Amazon.com Exclusive
Hear an exclusive audio stream of Queen Latifah’s "What Is This Thing Called Love."

... Read more

Reviews (127)

Does Denzel rap? Does Morgan Freeman rap? Come on!!!!
Let me start by saying that I was a Will Smith fan from WAY back in HS/college days. "Summertime" and "Parents Just Don't Understand" are hip-hop/party legends.

But I tried listening to some of the samples from this new album. Here's my verdict: Will Smith is way too old and way too A-List for this; he clearly needs to give up rapping like Jerry Rice needs to give up football!!!!!

Will Smith is an Academy-caliber actor now and don't need to be foolin' with rhymin! You see, his name is being spoken of more and more in the same breath as the likes of Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, etc., and less and less with the Snoop Doggs of the world (and even Snoop can act a little bit.)

I did listen to part of "Switch" is OK, sorta kinda, but Will's whole shtick in the '80's and '90s was being the goofy geek dude next door (that's why I as a Black nerd liked his stuff as I could relate to it), but this trying to be all hardcore and stuff, sounding angry and defiant like other rappers and mimicing their styles, ain't cuttin' it. Will Smith does not strike me as angry and defiant - except in his "sci-fi hits".

Now, I'm a father myself and I do not like today's gangsta rap, but come on now, Will Smith is not my first choice as the alternative. I would rather direct serious hip-hop fans to people like Common, Kanye West or even KRS-One, who came on the scene about the same time as Will did - and is still defining the genre!!!!

Now I realize Will is a comedian (people were comparing him to Eddie Murphy), and I realize even back in the day, Will was more of a "fun" and "radio friendly" rapper rather than hardcore and underground, and I realize he knows people see him as a movie star but he wants to rhyme anyway because that's his roots. That having been said, I think I like my rappers to be real rappers. I listened to parts of the latest KRS-One and KRS just makes it sound so easy compared to Will.

Will Smith is an actor. He is a damn good comedic AND dramatic actor and there needs to be more Black actors who can be seen in the history of cinema as best of the best. Will Smith seriously needs to focus on getting his Oscar (and join the ranks of Denzel and Sidney Poitier - not bad company if you ask me!!!!) and leave the world of rap and hip-hop to the rappers.

It's like the way it was watching Eddie Murphy try to have a singing career. It makes one shudder.

Better than a cure for AIDS? MTV says it is!

Ugh. Will Smith has lost whatever appeal he had a decade ago.

His peak was in 1996 when he let his Fresh Prince TV series become canceled in favor for starring in Independence Day. By 1997 he'd out with a comeback album (Big Willie Style) and the Men in Black movie. But two good singles and a pretty popcorn flick couldn't save his career after the awfulness that was Wild Wild West.

Seen the 'MTV in Africa' show that the channel did to "commemorate" (ahem *exploit*) the beautiful-but-troubled country of Africa? Instead of trying to raise money to eradicate the AIDS disease (which effects a whopping one out of four people in Africa), MTV sent Will Smith over there to perform such braindead songs as "Switch" and "Party Starter" to promote the new MTV channel that all the rich people in Africa are going to get. Are songs like "Party Starter" better than a cure for the rampant disease? MTV says so.

By the way, the title "Lost and Found" must allude to how Will has lost his creative identity and dignity, and has yet to find it again. In short, this album sucks, and so does the heartless marketing campaign behind it.

lost and found-one of the best albums for 2005
when were bombarded with so much repetitiveness in pop music today, this album is a breath of fresh air. Switch, although hitting top ten in the states, is not even one of the albums best songs-just look at tell me why, party starter and lost and found. Worth purchasing.

best will smith yet!
I am a HUGE Will Smith fan. I think he is talented, charming, funny, self-effacing and confident.I have most of his albums... and although I love them, I can admit that many of the songs sound alike, and many of the lyrics are similar.Not so with "Lost and Found."Will goes beyond his normal beats & phrases (tho he does throw in a number of "Mike Check"s!) and brings in lots of other sounds (like the strings on one track).His lyrics also have a depth to them that was lacking in his other albums, such as those in "Ms Holy Roller" -

"The greatest atrocities ever committed on this planet have been in the
name of God
This country was founded by Puritans, for the expressed purpose of
oppression-free worship"

and in "WHY" -

"souls are captured
Dreams are stolen, hearts are broken
Evil blatantly rewarded
Hate surrenders, Love exalted
Hope elated, negativity is shorted"

All I can say is "True Dat!"and BUY THIS CD!

Rap for the people who don't like Rap.
I'll admit it, I'm not a huge rap fan. I listened to Lifesavas and Blackalicious and that got me into it. Will Smith attracted me more to rap. Every song has excellent, listenable lyrics. This man has been doing it since before I was born, and he knows his stuff.

He's not kidding, and not exaggerating when he says that other rappers wouldn't be where they are without him.

Saying he's too old is a ridiculous and rude comment, and not to mention completely wrong. Will Smith makes every other rapper look bad, especially garbage like 50 cent and other "Semi-Annual-LP" rappers. ... Read more

Album Description

There's one name ringing louder in the rap underground than any other right now-Mike Jones. Who? While an indie Swishahouse, the freestyler garnered sales of more than 250,000 CDs, sold-out shows from Cleveland to Indianapolis to hometown Houston, shouts from Jay-Z and DJ Clue during an "MTV Direct Effect" episode, a deal with Reebok, and a clothing line. Now he lands a major label. Soon everyone will know: Who Is Mike Jones? ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Who? I don't wanna know
Everyone knows hip hop is firstly about the lyrics and on that side Mike Jones is straight rubbish: He constantly repeats the same few lines over and over again, there is nothing lyrically new or innovative on this cd and Mike is constantly outshone by his guests especially Paul Wall and Slim Thug. Some of the beats are real tight especially "Still Tippin". For true hip hop heads this is definitely one to avoid simply because there are so many more talented rappers in the south right now.

mike jones thinks hes WILL SMITH!!!!!
mike jones thinks hes will asmith becuz mike jones talks about the gangsta lifestyle that the infamous big willy created!!!!! if there was no will smith there woulda been no swisha house, no nwa, no c-murder, mobb deep, or the bloods and crips cd!!! mike jones thinks hes hardcore like my main man willy!! man switch is my cut!!!!! mess round wit will smith ull wind up in da LOST AND FOUND!!!!!! holla back will!!!!

Perfect
It is True Stuff said By aGreat Rapper. This songs have tight Beats. Enjoy

Pretty good
I liked it.I have to admit that he does repeat himself a lot and I like it on some songs but as others have said it can also be annoying on some songs (or overall, if you listen to the entire cd from beginning to end).It is funny too if you hit next on the cd player on the latter half of the disc just about every song begins with him yelling "MIKE JONES".The big songs are "Still Tippin" and "Back Then" which most have heard by now.Those are also prob two of the best on the disc.Although, I do prefer "Cuttin" over "Back Then" personally.The original version of "Cuttin" is on a Mike Jones teamup album with Magno called "1st Round Draft Picks" (back in '03, Still Tippin is also a recut).Which by the way, is a 5 star album in my opinion.Mike and Magno play off each other so great and Mike says his name A LOT less.He says it, but not anywhere near as much.Anyway, overall Who is Mike Jones? is a good album with 3 standout songs, "Back Then", "Still Tippin" (the best), and "Cuttin".I give those 3 songs 5 stars, but give the overall album 3 stars.

terrible just terrible
wow.... i like how he says his name a milloin times and his cell phone number like another 1000 times....... no thanks id rather pick up chamillionaire mix tape mesiah. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eminem's fourth album offers few surprises, but still enough pleasures to carry the day. As evinced by Em's pre-election, pro-voting "Mosh," this is not exactly the same Eminem who seemingly crapped on anything and everything. Encore finds a surprisingly mature Eminem waxing reflective about his battle with Benzino ("Like Toy Soldiers") rather than unloading both barrels. However, it's not all elder statesmanship: "Puke" goes after his ex-wife Kim with incredible scorn, and "Big Weenie" brings the familiar juvenile humor that made him famous. If Encore has a clear weakness, it's the bland production--the same plodding sound that he and Dr. Dre cooked up on the previous three albums. The exotic flavor of "Ass Like That" catches the ear, but many others run off the same monotonous minor-key melodies and tempos. Of course, people buy Eminem albums to hear him spit first and foremost, and, in that regard, few fans will be disappointed by Encore; it'd just be nice to see him switch up his sound at some point. --Oliver Wang ... Read more

Amazon.com

While most neo-soulsters crank out albums like their hip-hop counterparts, Jill Scott takes a more traditional approach to her craft. Four years after the release of her debut, Who Is Jill Scott, Words & Sounds Vol. 1, Scott returns with the masterful Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds Vol. 2. The album features a collection of lush and hypnotic songs that will make you want to fall in love, live life, and be a better person all at the same time. Lead single "Golden" is a prime example of this. Set to a midtempo groove made for the dance floor, "Golden" is a shiny, beautifully-written narrative about living life to its fullest. The old-school R&B ballad vibe of "Petition" is reminiscent of Minnie Ripperton or early Chaka Khan. However, "Bedda at Home" is anything but laid back. Combining elements of jazz, soul, and old-school hip-hop breakbeats, Scott extols the greatness of her man with a swagger that can only be described as cool. Other highlights include "Family Reunion" and the socially conscious "Rasool."

The album's only flaw may be that it ends too soon, but then again it's always better to leave a listener wanting more. For Scott, being "Beautifully Human" means just that--finding the allure in all that life has to offer and that's well worth the wait. --Rashaun Hall ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Here Comes Trouble
I first heard this kat when watching "Rap City: The Bassment". The "Locked Up Remix" with Styles P. Im not a huge fan of R&B but this guys voice is incredible. I went later that day to buy the album. It was an awsome cd. He does curse (not to often), but he is no Eamon. I think for recent times this is one of the best R&B singers to have released a cd. Hopefully he's gonna try and keep a hot career instead of thinkin to start slowing down.

But Ya'll Definetly cop this album

Passion
I first got this CD only because I briefly saw a commercial for it, and I heard the song locked up. I thought that would probably be the only song I liked but, the entire CD is strong. Stand out joints are "Journey" and "Ghetto."

This is definately worth your money, his r&b is different from today's bubble-gum hiphop, and takes you back to the days when hiphop was at it's prime. Soul with thug passion makes a great CD.

Represent'n NEWARK New Jersey.

Bangin'
This cd is bangin'. The "Locked Up" trac is off the hook! If you've been there, done that, then you will totally relate! Parolees every where will know exactly what he's talkin about when he says he doesn't want to live there, "the clothes are orange, the walls are grey, the phones are broke and the food is garbage!" Tell it, Akon.

excellent
i suggest if you are into real rap, you get your ass to a record store and cop dis.

excellent
I suggest if you are into hardcore rap you immediately get your ass to a record store and cop dis. ... Read more

Reviews (136)

Ha ha
Limp Bizkit produced a new album. I forgot about them 4 a while then they suddenly came out with this. They got Wes back, which is good, and this album does not dissapoint. Only thing is that there are only 7 songs (??) but i guess the second part (i guess they're comin out with another one)will make up 4 that. I like Limp Bizkit a lot but a lot of people hate them. They're a "Hate 'em or Love 'em" type of band and i happen to be a love em person. Fred Durst does a pretty good job in this album (though he is definitly NOT the best part Wes Borland is). I like this rap-metal type of music though its pretty outdated now. I hope that they make a music video 4 any of their songs on here. No publicity either.
-Remember this is My opinionLil Slim

rubbish
Just more proof that a big chuck of modern rock is just
for nerds and teenage high school outcasts. It doesn't
get anymore patheic than Fred Durst. He is supposed to
be a rock star, but the loser can't even get any chick
he wants.

the unquestionable truth...limp bizcit sucks
Come on people, its time to quit kidding yourselves. The results are in; 37,000 copies sold the first week (ouch!). I respect you guys for being so loyal to these guys for so long, but its time to 'sober up'. Limp Bizkit was never good. In fact, they may be the worst band that ever lived. Their first hit song was a cover tune, that should tell you all you need to know. All of their 'original' songs are just old catch-phrases turned into cheesy, generic sing-along garbage. Seriously, even you die-hard Durst fans have to admit that his "rap" with Method Man was one of the most laughable moments in music history.

So now they have released a new record... and SUPRISE! It's a political statement record. Haven't seen that one before! I can see Fred Durst in a board room right now: "well, it got Green Day back on the map... maybe Limp should try it too".Nice try Fred, but you're the last person anyone's gonna seek for political guidance. You're the guy that is best known for lying about sleeping with famous women and leaking a sex tape & then going to every news outlet that will still listen to you & saying it was stolen. You should have asked around about the idea of releasing a cheesy political album, & maybe someone would have clued you in that the formula fails way more often than not. Madonna failed at it, Ministry failed at it, and now Limp Bizkit has failed miserably at it. I think even Justin Guarini's album sold more than yours.

So please, do the world a favor & take the hint. Please go away. Just enjoy your millions & leave us in peace.



by the way, to see fred's amazing guitarmanship, look for the "fred shred" video floating around the internet.it's an instant classic.

Much harder!
First off, for those people who keep comparing the new Limp Bizkit sound to Rage Against the Machine are off their rockers!Although this is one of Limp's harder albums, I just don't see them as having the same sound as Rage.This album is closer to metal than to anything that they, or Rage have done before.

I like this album for the sole reason that it is very un-Limp Bizkit like - it's much harder, and not as "poppy".For the price, it's a decent buy, and as a person who is not the biggest of Limp Bikit fans, I certainly enjoyed it!

Great but needs more
I think the new album is great but it needs more than just 7 songs.I am glad that Wes Boreland is back and they returned to their old form.Looking Forward for more. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

The Gorillaz claim to have found their motley crew of cartoon characters sleeping in Leicester Square, but Blur's Damon Albarn (a.k.a. 2-D) and cult cartoonist Jamie Hewlett (Murdoc) aren't fooling anyone. As the ultimate experiment in manufactured image, the Gorillaz are a virtual cartoon-character-based hip-hop band who bring together witty, silly lyrics and talented musicians. Infectious old-school hip-hop rhythms, rhymes, and effects courtesy of Deltron 3030's Kid Koala and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien (Russel) are combined with Albarn's passion for chugging lo-fi and edgy melodies to create a seemingly raw but ultimately slick blend of styles. This is nowhere more evident than on the hit single "Clint Eastwood," which is carried along by the sound of 2-D's slurred voice and a bluesy harmonica melody interrupted by Russel's punching rhymes. But the surprises don't stop there: Ibrahim Ferrer's appearance on "Latin Simone" could have come straight from Buena Vista Social Club but for the obvious Blur-influenced piano style, while the spooky intro to "M1 A1" wouldn't sound out of place on Michael Jackson's Thriller. Backed by Jamie Hewlett's death-wish character on bass, Cibo Matto's Miho Hatori (Noodle) on guitar and occasional hyperactive vocals, and produced by Dan "the Automator" Nakamura, it's hardly surprising that Gorillaz is marked both by a sense of playfulness and a passion for experimentation. --Caroline Butler ... Read more

Reviews (289)

It's About Time for the Pendulum to Swing Back
Hip-hop's getting boring. Rock's getting boring. Everything's getting boring a la 1989 with Milli Vanilli and C+C Dance Factory being replayed by Nsync and all that other crap out there. THIS ALBUM IS NOT BORING. It's the first new band I've tried that I sat and listened to the entire CD the night I put it in. I saw the video (Clint Eastwood) and being a Flash designer, graphic artist and Clint Eastwood fan, I dug the it! (Although, there is no cartoon Clint in the video). The animation rocks. But, being a musician, I also heard the groovy beat and reverbed harmonica and thought, wow, this is great. I picked up on the Blur connection when I heard the first song - good acoustic guitar. The second half of the album gets a little weak, but it ends strong. Think "It's a Wonderful Life" (Buffalo girl won't you come out tonight) for the tune of track 17 - Left Hand Suzuki Method. I hope this doesn't get overplayed 'cause my friends think I've found the score of the summer. Shh - don't tell anyone! :)

Gorillaz rule! (PLEASE READ MY REVIEW)
If anyone thought Gorillaz, the first animated band, would be bad, YOU THOUGHT WRONG! Let me show you why:

Re-hash(10/10)A great easy-listening song. Should be a single.

5/4(10/10)A great song and one of my favorites!

Tomorrow Comes Today(9/10)This is an OK song. Not good enough for a single, though.

New Genious(Brother)(8/10)I don't see the purpose for this song.

Clint Eastwood(10/10)Not quite the best on the allbum, but good enough for a 12" single.

Man Research(Clapper)(10/10)A perfect song!

Punk(10/10)The best song off of the album!(well, 1 of 'em, at least).

Sound Check(Gravity)(8/10)OK.

Double Bass(10/10)Read what I said for "Punk."

Rock The House(10/10)Read what I said for "Punk."

19-2000(10/10)Great beat and great lyrics. Better than "Clint Eastwood."

Latin Simone(4/10)BAD!

Starshine(6/10)BAD!(well, the lyrics and voice are both bad, but, hey, nice beat!)

Slow Country(100/10)Better than "Punk," "Double Bass," and "Rock The House!" VERY best off of the album!

M1 A1(10/10)Great song and fit for a single. I even like the "HELLO?!" part.

Dracula(9/10)OK.

Left Hand Suzuki Method(7/10)Most of the lyrics(XCGRHGGGBNBGBHFGHGGHGGGFF...)I don't understand, but awesome beat(...)

Unidentified, excellent, music.
Before Gorillaz I had never heard of Damon Albarn, or Blur, or anything like that. But I had heard of Del Tha Funky Homosapien who raps on Clint Eastwood and Rock The House. I also knew Dan the Automator who produced the Gorillaz Self-titled debut. I'm a pretty big rap fan but I like rock as well. So being a big Del fan I heard he was going to be involved in a brand-new, experimental rock band. It sounded cool so I awaited the album. Then I started hearing Clint Eastwood on the radio. What an excellent song. A dark sounding hip-hop beat with an incredible piano loop. I loved the sleepy vocals on the chorus and Del's rhymes were tighter than ever.

After that I had to pick up the album. I went out that day and got it. And to tell you the truth I didn't like it that much. I was expecting an album of "clint eastwood" thinking Gorillaz was a hip-hop band. But after getting over that and listening to the album more it grew on me and I fell in love with it. This is truly one of the most creative and abstract albums i've heard. I like all kinds of music and that's one of the reasons why I love this album. So many sounds come together in this album. Hip-hop, blues, jazz, rock, reggae it's all there. Even the idea behind the band and image is great. The idea of a cartoon band with each member being represented by a crazy cartoon is excellent. This also makes their videos pretty awesome.

So if you're looking for something new, and are open minded I would suggest this album. Over anything else. It's got the best from so many different kinds of music it's hard not to love it. One problem though, I need the second album!!

the best hip hop rock dub cartoon band ever!
I have never heard Damon Albarn before, i found about this album from a combination of play on mtv and knowledge of past projects including Dan the Automator and Del, a unique halfway underground rapper who pops up in the strangest places. Anyone coming from my perspective will be surprised by this album - hell, anyone will be surprised by this album. It is an utterly effortless fusion of delicious lo fi hip hop, relaxed dub, and energetic punk rock. The combination of such bold and surefooted experimentation and the catchy hooks that got it on mtv in the first place is unprecedented.
The album is varied and it has a few slow points (Man Research, Sound Check), but they don't really get in the way, they just give breathing room between the joyful and dark whirlwind of culture. As for good tracks, there is the rhythmic gimmick of rock joint 5/4, the impenetrable lyrics and the pure punk power of Punk. Clint Eastwood (why is it called clint eastwood?) is a perfect single, with its catchy hook and Del's paced lyricism, and Rock the House and Double Bass are excellent bits of rhythmically infections production. Latin Simone is a great song, and the whole Cuban thing comes out of nowhere, and M1 A1 - well, I don't get it, but I can't help singing along with what I think Albarn is saying.
All in all, this Gorillaz project is a total success of an experiment. The persona of the band is fascinating and adds to the fun and humorous but kind of dark atmosphere of the most delightfully weird pop cd ever made.

gorillaz are simply the best ever ever ever ever ever!
Okey, let me start off by saying this, if you love great music then you will positivly LOVE gorillaz.
Gorillaz have made some of the best music in the world.It is unique, catchy, amazing, and fresh.All the songs on the album are great!Dan the Automater is possibly a better producer than the Neptunes AND Kanye West put together( because he is better than each one of them alone ).The band is also interesting because they aren't actually really alive.What I mean is this, the people behind the scenes are real but the characters they play are not.Another thing about this is that there are more than just four members of the band( as the fake cartoon versions would have you know ).There are acually many more including the likes of:Kid Koala, Dan the Automater, Damon Albarn, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Miho Hatori, Jamie Hewlett, Phi Life Cypher, and Ibrahim Ferrer.There are more like Tina Weymouth and U Brown but the list would go on forever.Lots of DJs have worked with gorillaz including:Kid Koala, The Spacemonkeys, Soulchild, and The Wiseguys House Of Wisdom.The really cool thing about gorillaz is that no one else sounds exactly like them, there are a few that are close( Deltron 3030, and Dr. Octogon )but no one ever actually can ever copy exactly the kind of magical feeling you get from listoning the gorillaz.

Here is a list of the songs and my ratings on them:

1.Re-Hash-***** Great, but repetitive intro to a great album.

2.5/4-***** Old school ska mixed with new age DJing. Unusual mix but still flies very high, in fact, this song was the fifth hit off the album.

3.Tomorrow Comes Today-***** It's a hit and you can tell! It's got kind of a trip-hop feel but Damon Albarn's lo-fi singing makes it something else.

4.New Genious(brother)-***** Sounds like Bruce Lee movie opening mixed with Dr. Frankenstein's lab. One of my favorites.

5.Clint Eastwood-***** Del's rap is great, Damon's chorus is great. Overall a great song( a bit over played on MTV and the radio though ).

6.Man Research(clapper)-***** It's dub reggae at its best!

7.Punk-***** It's old school punk at its best!

8.Sound Check(gravity)-***** Kid Koala really shines on this song, it has amazing DJ work on it as well as kick-@$$ voice samples. One of my favorites.

9.Double Bass-*** A miner flaw on the album but not TOO bad.

10.Rock the House-***** Del raps again with flying colours. Superb.

11.19-2000-**** Great song with awesome vocals but it kinda gets annoying after a few listons.

12.Latin Simone-*** Great music but I don't like Ibrahim Ferrer's vocals. The English version on the gorillaz album "G-Sides"is much better.

13.Starshine-***** Great, but repetetive.

14.Slow Country-***** I just love the piano part on this song and the lyrics are funny. Damon"s vocals again make this song perfect even apointless chorus is brought to life by him.

15.M1-A1-**** This song could possibly have the worst intro ever made. but once you get by it( if you can bear it )the song is good. ... Read more

Album Description

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS : The Modern Rock #1s are "Give It Away," "Soul To Squeeze," "My Friends," "Californication," "Otherside" and "By The Way" (also Top 40 Pop). The Top 20s are "Higher Ground" and "Suck My Kiss." ... Read more

Reviews (106)

Good...but they should have done something different
Most of the songs on this CD are excellent and the Peppers put their huge hits on this CD. There are clearly some great songs missing on this CD. However I believe that the Chili Peppers should have instead of this CD made a CD entitled:
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Greatest Hits 1991-2003, since they already have What Hits out that covers their 80s stuff (and Under The Bridge).
I would include 18 songs on this CD, including the 2 new ones.
It would go something like this:
1. Under The Bridge
2. Give It Away
3. Scar Tissue
4. By The Way
5. Aeroplane
6. Soul To Squeeze
7. Otherside
8. Can't Stop
9. Suck My Kiss
10. Love Rollercoaster
11. Californication
12. My Friends
13. Around The World
14. The Zephyr Song
15. Breaking The Girl
16. Parallel Universe
17. Fortune Faded
18. Save The Population

I believe these are the Greatest Hits from 1991-2003 for RHCP. Of course, they have so many amazing songs it's hard to create the perfect greatest hits album.
As for the one they have out, it's missing some but it does cover their best.

great compilation but missing a few songs
this set is awesome but its missing a few songs and it also has a few songs that shouldn't be on here like road trippin and universally speaking. this is what the track listing should have been.
1. give it away
2. under the bridge
3. suck my kiss
4. breaking the girl
5. soul to squeeze
6. warped
7. my friends
8. aeroplane
9. love rollercoaster
10. scar tissue
11. around the world
12. otherside
13. californication
14. parallel universe
15. by the way
16. zepher song (sorry if i spelled it wrong)
17. can't stop
18. dosed
19. fortune faded
20. save the population
if this is too many for one disc kick out parallel universe since it was only barely made the modern rock chart. anyway if this would have been the track listing this would have been the only chili peppers disc most casual fans would need. nevertheless this is a great greatest hits album and is a perfect introduction to the band. (actually anything from blood sugar sex magik on is a great introduction to the band with the exception of one hot minute, depending on your view of the album)

Addictive
This CD is one of the best compilations ive ever heard. EVERY track on the cd is awesome. I never get tired of listening to this masterpeace. The two new songs are also very worth being put on the greatest hits cd, my favorite being Save the Population. The ending of the song is very well done. If you are a fan of the Peppers or simply a fan of good music, you owe it to yourself to buy this cd.

Beware - This is the Best of the Warner Bros. Years
I don't know why everyone's complaining about this Greatest Hits compilation not having any material, other than Higher Ground, from the pre-BloodSugarSexMagik Chilis. Has anyone taken into account the fact that all of that material is still owned by EMI, the Chilis label from 1984 (Red Hot Chili Peppers) to 1989 (Mother's Milk)? I think that this is a pretty good history of the Chilis from BloodSugarSexMagik to the present, with the exception of a Rick Rubin-remixed "Higher Ground". (Really, listen to it - it's not the same version that appeared on "Mother's Milk" or "What Hits?!".) Granted, there is some stuff missing - for instance, I own the Greatest Hit and Videos version of this album, and I can't help but wondering why "Aeroplane" is on the Greatest Videos DVD, but not on the Greatest Hits album itself. All in all, this is a pretty solid Greatest Hits album. If you want any Chilis material from pre-1991, then check out thier "What Hits ?!" album, released under EMI records - THAT'S the album with classic songs such as "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes", "Backwoods", "Johnny Kick a Hole in the Sky", and "Behind the Sun".

Curious, but solid
I do not own this cd and don't plan on it since I already own the majority of these songs on Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Californication. However, for a beginner to the band, this would be all you need. Sure, with any greatest hits collection, there's going to be a couple of songs missing (Can't Stop, Aeroplane, Around the World) but those weren't my very favorites so it isn't a big deal to me personally. What I can't understand though is why their 80's catalog is almost completely ignored (only Higher Ground is listed). Granted, this was their only big hit at that time.. but there are several "non-hits" on this cd from the 90s and current. Sure, their previous compilation "What Hits?" contained mostly 80's material, but why did that include Under the Bridge? So, RHCP now has 3 cds with Under the Bridge on it... not that that's a bad thing!

Anyway, enough of the petty stuff. All in all, a good overview of one of the better bands of the past 15 years. If you already have all their albums though, it is a bit of a waste being that the 2 new songs aren't anything special. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Think what you want about Ludacris, but no one can deny that he is hip-hop's king of choruses. Luda's hooks are big, brassy, and loud; they're tailor-made for club crowds and radio programmers. Some songs, like "Get Back," practically sound like one long hook, every line a potential anthem. At times, it's easy to forget that Ludacris knows how to rhyme too. His taffy-pull verbal style isn't as lyrically intricate as Nas's (who appears on "Virgo") and can't match Trick Daddy's thuggish bravado ("Hopeless"), but few other rappers exude his level of charisma. On "Number One Spot," Luda acts like he's strong-arming his way to the top, but it's really charm that propels the charge. Even on a song like "Two Miles an Hour," dedicated to "those who spend more on their car than their relationship," he's more clever than clownish in selling the concept. Red Light District has its share of filler, but, track for track, Ludacris still delivers satisfaction. --Oliver Wang ... Read more