Amazon.com

On The Life and Times of S. Carter, Jay-Z's century-closing guaranteed-platinum album, he compares his hit-making prowess to that of Michael Jackson--the unspoken difference being that Jigga appears to be far from wearing out his commercial welcome. For good reason, too; not only is the Roc-A-Fella king maker one prolific rapper and writer, his output is of high enough quality to keep heads ringin'. While there's no single classic on the order of "Hard Knock Life" here, collaborations with Dr. Dre (the truly defiant "Watch Me"), Juvenile ("Snoopy Track"), and UGK ("Big Pimpin'") argue well for Jay-Z's continued vitality. Further proof may lie in the fact that, faced with mass bootlegging weeks before the CD's release, the Z-man added several tracks, effectively revising it at the last minute. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (261)

JIGGA HAS DONE IT AGAIN
O.K. I'LL RELOAD IT. AND THE MAN THAT GOES BY J-HOVA HAS RELOADED WITH ANOTHER CLASSIC ALBUM TO ADD TO HIS ALREADY BUILDING CREDIDENTIALS. HONESTLY, THE ALBUM IS NOT IS STRONG FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AS VOL.2 HARD KNOCK LIFE,BUT ITS NOT FAR BEHIND THE INTRO REALLY GETS YOU INTO THE ALBUM AND THE FIRST JOINT GO GHETTO, BANGS TO THE FULLEST YA KNOW. DO IT AGAIN(THROW YA HANDS UP), RIPS, AS WELL AS, THERES BEEN A MURDER, COME AND GET ME, AND NYMPH IS JAY-Z AT HIS LYRICAL BEST. SWIZZ BEATS, DJ PREMIER, TIMBALAND, AND DJ CLUE DID SOME OF THE PRODUCTION ON ALBUM. THE ALBUM FEATURES BEANIE SIEGAL, AMIL, MEMPHIS BLEEK, DR. DRE, JUVENILE, AND UGK. JAY-Z PROVES THAT HE IS CURRENTLY THE KING OF NEW YORK. YO, BROOKLYN DEFINITELY IN THE HOUSE ROC-A-FELLA YALL. SO IF YOU ARE A JAY-Z FAN, OR JUST LIKE PURE LYRICS VOL.3 LIFE AND TIMES OF S.CARTER IS THE ALBUM TO PICK UP. PEACE AND ONE

JIGGA JAHOVA IS BACK! COMPETITION IS NADA!
I really wish that people would stop trying to compare jay-Z to DMX. They are totally nothing alike. Although they both lived the same crime lifestyles, they are like oil and water. So let's stop all the instigating and get that clear. They're style of rapping are completely the opposite. Anywayz, I think that Jay-Z's new album Volume 3- The Life And Times Of S.Carter, was OFF DA RACKET hot And way better than DMX's CD! Every song on that CD was a club joint that's sure to be a fortified hit! Main reason: His cd is his best work.Ten times or even MORE better than Volume 2- Hard Knock Life.The most radio worthy tracks are:1.)So Ghetto. Reason:Dope beat,originality, and the party starter for the earliest heads to arrive at the party. 2.)Do It Again(Put Your Hands Up)-Got heads already crunk on the dancefloor.3.)Dope Man-Got all the pimps playas,gangstas & hustlers nodding their heads4.)Things That You Do(Mariah carey)- To All the lovers in da house! Bounce baby bounce!5.)It's Hot(Some Like It Hot)-Love the way he disses rapper 50 Cent in that one! And other tracks like Snoopy Track w/Juvenile, the catchy hook: S.Carter w/Amil, Watch Me w/Dr.Dre, Big Pimpin w/UGk and NYMP. Although the very conclusion of the album tends to get boring when there aren't anymore guest appearances, and the club getsa little sleepy, don't let those last three songs before the outro discourage you from coppin' this CD. Just keep your skip button in handy whenever there's a flop and go onto the hidden bonus tracks! So what are you waitin' for? Stop reading these reviews and get your butts out to the mall and get it, cause it's HOT!

underated
Why do people hate this album? I didn't get it at first because my cousin said it sucked. I got it for my birthday a few months after it was released but I didnt get no receipt so I just listned to it and it was really good.The beats is hotter than ever and Jiggas lyrics is good but a little down from vol. 2. Cop this album.

Good material, but nothing to gloat about
Coming off of a somewhat weak album in the form of Vol.2...Hard Knock Life, Jay-Z had to get on the ball and drop something hot. With this album, he did it to a certain extent, but not all the way. He represents at times, but he still could have put forth a much more decent effort with this album, as it was RUMORED to be his last. I got some perspective on this album, and at the time I thought it was his best. Time certainly has been kind to me and my opinions. Here's the review:

Album Highlights: So Ghetto, Do It Again, Dopeman, Watch Me, So Hot(Some Like It Hot), Big Pimpin, There's Been A Murder, and NYMP. The other songs, especially the song with WACK Juvenile, Pop 4 Roc, Girl's Best Friend, Things That U Do, and S.Carter should have been thrown in the recycle bin.

Production: Thumbs SLIGHTLY up. D.J. Premier and Timbaland come through, Swizz tracks was NOT the best beat in the world, possibly his worst, and Irv Gotti and Lil Rob's track on "Watch Me" sounds like a Dr.Dre track. Nothing to write home about here.

Lyrics and Subject Matter: Thumbs in the middle, although lyrically, he shines on So Ghetto, Do It Again, Dopeman, and So Hot.

Originality: Thumbs in the middle, leaning towards down. Nothing groundbreaking or fresh from Jigga here. Just the standard formula of going with what works.

The Last Word: Not a classic by any means, but it was a good step for Jay-Z after dropping the unbalanced Hard Knock Life. It could've been better, but you take what you can get. Overall, a good album, but I wouldn't recommend you going out of your way to get this release.

Jay-Z's worst, I know he can do better
Don't think I'm hating on Jay-Z by giving this album only 3 stars. I've been a fan of his before "Reasonable Doubt" even dropped. I liked "Can I Get Open" with Original Flavor and Jay's first 12" single "In My Lifetime". Now for the review.

The album starts off with a solid intro called "Hova Song". Jay's flow is just perfect on this track and he also gets more arrogant than he's ever been. It's good to see he has lots of confidence in his skills. The next track is "So Ghetto" produced by the legendary DJ Premier. This track is just raw and amazing. It is the 2nd best on the entire album. Then it proceeds into the track "Do it Again" which is a club banger. I have nothing against club songs as long as the lyrics and flow are on point and Jay's flow is on point for this song. On the next track "Dope Man", Jay creates a scenario where he is going to trial for all the things he's doing in the industry. This entire song is a metaphor (if you listen closely) and is one of the best concepts Jay has ever come up with. This is the best song on this album too.

Four great tracks in a row. You'd think this was going to be one of Jay's best albums right? WRONG. This is where the album takes a nosedive in quality. The next song with Mariah Carey called "Things You Do" is just weak. The beat is weak, and even the diva Mariah Carey herself can't save this track. Thankfully the next song "It's Hot" is great. This is one of the most rugged beats Timbaland has ever produced. This is the song where Jay-Z takes 50 Cent out with one line. The rest of the track is just Jay talking about random things and it sounds like he's just displaying his lyrical abilities. The beat will keep you interested. "Snoopy Track" with Juvenile is another weak song with weak production and an annoying hook. What was Jay thinking? Now this next track "S. Carter" is quite possibly one of the worst songs Jay-Z has ever made (only "I Know What Girls Like" on Vol. 1 was worse). You don't even want to hear that song. "Pop 4 Roc" with Bleek and Beans is better than the previous few songs but it's still not up to Jay's quality level. "Watch Me" is decent, not great. I know you've all heard "Big Pimpin'". It was a good party song. Things pick up again with "There's Been a Murder" where Jay raps that "back to Shawn Carter the hustler, Jay-Z is dead". It's pure fire. "Come and Get Me" is another good song. "NYMP" is great and shows Jay rapping about more mature topics. His "pop rap" fans may not be keen on this one. The "Hova Song" outro contains the 2000 club banger "Jigga My N***a" and "Girls Best Friend".

Overall this album was decent. The album is kind of uneven. It starts off great and then suffers a huge dip in quality, then picks back up near the end. If you've heard Reasonable Doubt and Vol. 1 BEFORE you heard this album then you'd know why I don't say this album is great. Jay raised the bar with those albums but this one isn't nearly as good. I'm not hating on Jay either, in fact he is my favorite mc ever. Jay-Z's younger fans and female fans would probably say this is one of his best but to the more mature fans he has and those who have been a fan since his early days, this one just doesn't do it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Is Kid Rock about to drop the first half of his stage moniker? Some alarmingly mature cuts on his sixth album, addressing the woes of single parenthood ("Single Dad") and painful separations ("Cold and Empty," a cover of Bob Seger's "Hard Night For Sarah"), might suggest so. But that's only part of the story. As Rock reiterates on "Son of Detroit," a butt-kicking revamp of David Allan Coe's "Son of the South," "I like country, soul, rock and roll, and I love me some hip-hop." Yet compared to his previous work, that last flavor takes a back seat to the other three: Hank Williams, Jr. drops by for the swaggering "Cadillac Pussy," Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love" gets a gritty nu-metal update, and ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd receive shout outs. Have no fear, fans--even as he reconciles having a child with acting like one, the Kid still lives to rock. --Kurt B. Reighley ... Read more

Reviews (207)

A new Kid Rock fan
I never liked Kid Rock's earlier Rap/Rock stuff... but it wasn't until I heard Carson Daly speaking on how talented this guy is that I started to pay attention. And now I can fully appreciate his sound. This artist is the most versatile artist I know encompassing exactly what he says on "Son of Detroit", country, soul, rock and roll, and hip hop. Although he is definitely taking a risk losing his earlier fans, I think he'll be able to pick new ones up (like me). This is the first Kid Rock album I have purchased (and mind you, I didn't hear one song prior to purchase)... This CD seems 60% rock and roll ballads, one or two hip hop/rock songs, and the rest a fuse of rock and country. Artists mature... styles change.. otherwise people would complain about it sounding the same as the first album... Rock on.

Change is the law of life.
To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. Love it!!! Kid Rock says it best in this very album when he says "You'll never put your finger on me". He has had straight up rap albums, rock/rap albums, and now a mostly (southern) rock album. Kid Rock is the real deal, this man has serious talent. God, how I've missed the guitar solo in todays so-called rock n roll songs. It's got meaningful lyrics, kickin... guitar licks, some harmonica, piano, etc... Simply stated, it's music. But if you're stuck on hip hop, stay far away. If you you miss classic rock, this is as close as you're gonna get in 2003. Just so you know where I'm coming from, I have everything from Willie Nelson, to Dr. Dre, to Metallica in my cd collection.

Like Old Sounds and New? This One's for You!
Let me first say that I am a new Kid Rock fan. I was very skeptical about a metal-rap artist at first. But I really enjoyed his beer commercials and his performance at super bowl 38 was the only one I enjoyed at halftime.

Several months afterwards, while bumming out that Creed had broken up, I purchased "Devil W/O a Cause" and this CD, also. I must say I wasn't disappointed.

This self-titled CD is full of Stones "Exile on Main Street" type rockers, such as "Rock and Roll Pain Train," "Rock and Roll," and a 70's-ish Rod Stewart sound-alike ("Cadillac P***y").

Kid pulls out the stops on the grunge, hung-over, drug abusing ear-splitter "Jackson, Mississippi" and produces another bragadoccio rap song on "Intro." These are the most in-your-face, modern style of rap and rock songs on the CD.

But it's his softer songs that are the most enjoyable. He bares his soul on "Cold and Empty" and "I Am." And the bonus song, co-written by country music outlaw and living legend, David Allan Coe, "Single Father" is a classic. It is minimalist in style with only drums and organ.

Kid also covers Bad Company's "Feel Like Making Love" with a cool arrangement but his cover of Coe's "Son of the South" could've done with a new arrangement somehow. He should have made the guitars heavier or perhaps included some kind of rap in the middle (He changed the title to "Son of Detroit.")

I must say that is you are pushing 40 and want to hear something modern that hearkens back to the 70's classic rock sounds, such as old Stones, Allman Brothers, Rod Stewart, and even my favorite country singer, David Allan Coe, this is definitely the CD to buy.

If you are a Kid Rock/Limp Bizkit fan, you probably won't like this one....unless you like the aforementioned bands.

Hardcore Redneck Rock N'Roll
This is by far the best Kid Rock Cd out there, he proves again just how versitile of an artist he is, combing Country, Rock, Hip hop, and Soul in one great browling pot of a cd. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes Southern Rock and Roll with a little country and alot of heart.

one hard core red neck
This album is a true American Bad Ass. KID ROCK IS SICK! I like the way Kid Rock brought out the old skool sounds on this album...IT F&*KING ROCKS! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The underground buzz created by the likes of the Streets and Dizzee Rascal in America points to another seismic shift in popular music headed this way from the U.K.Like drum 'n' bass and trip-hop, grime is a sound that originated in London's urban housing project bedrooms and caught fire on the its influential pirate radio stations. Not quite hip-hop, not quite techno, and definitely not dancehall, but an aggressive hybrid of all the above, its leading lights get an introduction on this lovingly curated compilation by the folks at Vice. The lyrics are so deep in slang they might as well be in Cantonese and the beats are so pixilated they could have been made on a calculator watch, but tracks like Wonder & Plan B's "Cap Back" and Roll Deep's "Let It Out" display such raw, vital energy they feel the first steps of domestic wonders N.W.A. and Public Enemy. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Welcome to the streets of the UK.
Compilations with no weak link are hard to come by. New genres of music are even harder to come by. Both are reasons Run The Road is so remarkable. It could be considered the first salvo from the UK from the newly-minted Grime genre. Dizzee could be considered the first, but when he hit, Grime wasn't fully defined. Now it is, with the help of artists like Kano, Shystie, and every other talent present on this fantastic disc.
"Raw" seems like an apt word to describe grime. Something fresh. Untainted. Studio productions are still hard to come by for grime artists, most must rely on UK pirate radio to get their rhymes heard. Yet another reason this disc shines. Each song so expertly defines each artist, that once your preferred artist finally gets an album out, you'll know what to expect, but thanks to how new and raw grime is, you'll still be blown away.
Picking this disc up is getting on the ground floor of a new, hopefully long-sustained wave of a powerful art from the same street circumstances that born hip-hop. Think of Grime as hip-hop for the 21st century. Think of Run The Road as the welcome sign.

life of grime
Just thought I would throw in a non Hipster opinion, as you guys seem to be the only ones writing reviews of the records.
This LP is a representative slice of the crossover, MC based side of what is being market under the umbrella term 'Grime'.
If any of you have heard the other mass-market compilation series entitled "Grime", you would have a look in to the other side. That said, the MC stuff, a.k.a G-Hop, has really taken off in the last 2 years, stateside DJ Funkmaster Flex even dropped a certain tune on hot97.
The British MC culture has finally found a voice loud and clear enough 2 reach across the pond. The G-Hop MCs are much better than Drum and Bass MCs and far more original than anything British hip-hop has ever produced.Normally I can't be bothered to listen to MCs moaning over tunes, but these cats are kinda hot.
for the record...The Streets are NOT really 'Grime', just connected by being British and garage related, albeit by diffrent angles. (I decided to add a bit about that because I think that is sort of flattening it out and misleadingyou the reader, in a way, so basically I just meant that Skinner is a different sort of MC/Producer, referencing slightly different things. Much in the way Kool G Rap differs from De la Soul.Street drama related bragadoccio v Introspection and self deprication. By the same token, the longplayer-on-a-major thing is not really built 4 the dancefloor, but provides an example of the artist's reach.)
The MC culture is but one aspect of a UK bass culture (post Garage or whatever), that is, for the first time, at the forefront of not only the British culture (or at least equal to the producer/DJ driven stuff), but the world's urban music culture. Hey, Grime is better than Crunk at least.

Blimey! Wait, I mean Grimey!
Highly recommended, whether you already love grime, are new to the genre, or have never heard it altogether. I really hope this stuff blows up on this side of the 'lantic. Pick this one up right now.

Various grimers
Good survey of this exciting new genre.The songs from the two best known grimers (Rascal & Streets) aren't their best, but most people interested in this comp already have Boy in Da Corner, Original Pirate Material, and A Grand Don't Come For Free.(I was unimpressed by Rascal's Showtime record altogether).I was very impressed with Rico and Target, Roll Deep, Kano, and many others.My favorite is probably "Unorthadox Caughter" by No Lay, one of a couple women up on here. ... Read more

Album Description

Zion-I's new album, True & Livin’, is the Oakland based duo’s third full-length release. Organic soulful compositions, conscious and insightful vocal wordplay and lush strings, horns and bass lines comprise the fabric of their best album to date. In the vein of OutKast and The Roots, Zion-I have successfully cultivated legions of fans equally impressed by their amazing live stage show as their superb recorded material. Composed of producer Amp Live and emcee Zion and featuring Talib Kweli, Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), Del (The Funky Homosapien) and Aesop Rock, True & Livin’ will continue to prove that quality, musical Hip-Hop will prevail! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Amazing.
This album is simply amazing.The organic beats from Amplive, enlightening lyrics from Zion, and kickass guest appearances make True and Livin' bump from "True" to "Livin'".Just makes me feel happy to be alive.All the tracks are awesome, and the album flows well, so I'd just recommend buying it and supporting this fresh group out of Oakland.

Cop this, and anything else from Zion I.They're a hidden treasure.True and Livin' is a lot more musical than the others, but all their albums, especially Mind Over Matter, are easily worth the money and time.

WOW
This is already one of my favorite all-time hip hop albums and i just got it yesterday. Zion has reached an amazing lyrical level that most dream of and Amp Live, well, listen to Bird's Eye View and you'll know. Zion i has truly stepped up their level and raised the bar for underground cats to keep up with. I haven't found a weak part on this album, i truly have been searching for a bad thing about this and i can't do it. The song where Aesop Rock spits on is the best I've ever heard him, they got Kweli on an EPIC song, and if they ever come to a town near you CHECK THEM OUT, amazing energy. Zion i is what hip hop should be, done with the love for the art without forgetting where it and they came from, and building a positive future for it with CRACKIN BEATS and AMAZING LYRICS. PEACE

The true and livin' G-O-D...it ain't no mystery
A great album here that transcends the current minglings of Rap music. Zion I brings it back to the basics and shows everyone how to do this right. This album is even better than their last one ("Deep Water Slang," which I loved)! The only thing I wasn't liking at first was the brevity of the songs. A couple extra listens and it was no problem at all; the album moves along swiftly and never gets tripped up. Amp Live lays claim once again as a top-tier producer with his work on "True & Livin'." Zion is a talented rhymer (and performer!), but Amp is undoubtedly the motor that makes this group excel past many current artists (mainstream and underground).
Once again, they employ a variety of live instruments to accompany their sounds. Amp sets off many melodic tracks, as well as some hard-hitting ones for Zion to complete. They include a lot of jazzy stuff too, which is nice to see back in Hip Hop again. Not a single song is disappointing on the album! Not a single one...
Zion's not as overtly spiritual this time around, but he does make a suprising number of political statements. The four guests are some of the best names in the game (Talib, Gab, Aesop Rock, and Del), and only add to the experience of the album. "Doin' My Thing" kicks it off in a jazzy and upbeat way, leading into the single, "Bird's Eye View," which is my favorite and one of the best songs I've heard in a while. It's completely beautiful! Big up Amp! The Hiphop as a woman metaphor has been overdone since Common's "I Used to Love H.E.R.," but Zion and Amp breathe a whole new life into it. "What U Hear" is my second favorite track, as Amp shines once again and Del comes wise and correct (and even deviates from his usual flow). My other favorite, perhaps, is "Once Chance" which has heartfelt lyrics and a nice jazzy sound with melodic keys at the end.
Elsewhere, "The Bay" should get you singing, and "Soo Tall" is uplifting all the blue-collar workers out there while Zion is crafty with the wordplay. "Luv" is very nice too in the middle of the two tracks I just mentioned. "Temperature" w/Talib Kweli is short, but almost perfect lyrically even though the chorus is a tad annoying (at first at least). Zion rips it over the hard drums on "Heads Up," and he and Aesop Rock speak directly to the middle and lower classes on "Poems For Post Modern Decay." The only one I'm not feelin' is "I Need Mo," even though it's still solid, and one of the best moments of jazz on the cd. They even take a couple chances with "Oh Lawd" and the short, political "Amerika," but they pull it off while giving the album some nice variety. "Oh Lawd" could cross over into the Blues charts if it got the proper promotion, and it sounds ooh so good! The hidden track, "Livin'," is the most spiritual one. Oh crap, I forgot to mention "Stranger In My Home" w/Gift of Gab. That's definitely one of the top 5 tracks off the cd, and they both play on an abstract concept over a beautiful symphony courtesy of Amp.
One guy below mentioned that he's mad because they kept this album underground and aren't trying to branch out to the masses. Well...boo hoo! The mainstream still isn't ready and appreciative enough of true authenticity to accept these guys. I saw Zion I's show recently and met them both briefly; they're not selling out any time soon. They truly appreciate the fans they've got. By the way, this just might be their definitive work so far. I don't have "Mind Over Matter," but this album is even more complete and cohesive than "Deep Water Slang." Although "Deep Water" may have had a couple more memorable songs, this album stands above! Best album of the year so far?...quite possibly yes. I was thoroughly pleased and suprised at the excellence of "True and Livin'," and now I offer you to share in this experience, whether you've heard them yet or not. Look up their tour schedule, they've still many dates left, and support them if they come to a town near you!

Zion I has raised the bar again!
This album is the most cohesive and impressive of the Zion I oeuvre. The attention to detail is amazing. The beats aren't your typical repetitive underground hip hop beats with low production value. The beats all sound incredible, and build up to powerful, spiritual choruses complete with jazz solos, violins, and singers. It's one of the few hip hop CD's I have heard which builds so powerfully on each track.
There is no filler to be found on the album. Every track is well crafted, with guest appearances by legends like Talib Kweli, Aesop Rock, Gift of Gab, and Del. For those who have a problem with Zion's voice: I found it much less piercing on this album. He seems to have taken that into account, and he sounds better than ever.
If you want an underground album with the production value of mainstream music, the originality of underground, and the musicality of jazz, this is your album.
Check out: One Chance, Soo Tall, Birds Eye View, Doin' My Thing, and Stranger in My Home

There is one thing I miss on the album, and that's the breakbeat electronica that was so amazing on Mind Over Matter (such as "Inner Light"). I think that was a good direction for Zion I, and I hope they return to it in the future.

a step back
DWS was a move more towards going mainstream its a shame this new album was a step back to the underground. but this album is great. just wishing zion i would be more than the undergrounds best kept secret. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ludacris--2, Bill O'Reilly--1. The dis is mightier than the sword, and Ludacris wastes no time berating Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly (O’Reilly enticed Pepsi to cut Ludacris off their payroll citing his lyrical irresponsibility). On "Blow It Out," he taunts his conservative right-winged adversary with lines like, "…I’ma start my own beverage/it will calm your nerves/Pepsi, The New Generation/Blow it out ya ass." Likewise, on "Hoes In My Room," a slick souled-out collabo with Snoop, he wonders aloud who could have possibly let all of these revolting groupies into his room, post-concert. O’Reilly, who else? To Ludacris’ credit, his third album is more sonically fluid and versatile than Word of Mouf. From the hypnotic first single "Stand Up" to the classy "Diamond in the Back" (yeah, we’ll forgive him this time for utilizing that vastly overused William Devaughn sample) large chunks of the album are highly listenable…subject matter notwithstanding. By the second half of the album he goes full-on debauchery, flipping bushels of potty-mouthed rhymes in poor taste; "Teamwork" is his audio rendition of what a ménage a trois might feel and sound like, while on "Hip Hop Quotables" he spits about 64 bars with no hooks, once explaining why he can’t find the right lady ("…a lot of y’all are more stuck up than tampons"). Yep, as with any Ludacris record, this one comes with a big phat caveat. If you're not down with the hoes and Heineken (please refer to one-half of album title), you might wanna cop this album and the new Jeru the Damaja for some balance. --Dalton Higgins ... Read more

Reviews (245)

Luda is great, dispite what haters say
Ludacris is, judging by the reviews on the page, not very well liked. If you look through these reviews you will see a ton saying things like "mainstream rap is horrible",or "Ludacris dosnt deserve to stand behind a mic". Ingnore these statments, along with those of people like Bill O'Reilly who labeled Luda's lyrics as "irresponsible", and talked Pepsi out of signing an endorsment deal with him. Ludacris is an excellent musical talent dispite what these Hip-hop hating reviewers say. That being said, onto the album.
This album is fire. Hot tracks begining to end. It is full of catchy beats and great MC-ing. If you dont like some of the songs the first time around, give them another few listens as they are sure to grow on you. (I only liked "Stand Up" & "We Got" my first time through) This album is a difinite BUY in my opinion, especially for a Ludacris fan. It is not as good as "Word of Mouf", but it is still a great album.

Tracks:
1. Southern Fried 4.5/5 (Single) Very fast rap. Great Intro
2. Blow It Out 4/5 (Single) Very Catchy Beat & Diss to Bill O'Rielly
3. Stand Up 4.5/5 (Lead Single) Great Beat by Kanye West
5.Splash Waterfalls 5/5 (Single) One of my favorites another extremely catchy beat
6. Hard Times [ft 8Ball,MJG,& Carl Thomas] 4/5 Love 8Balls verse
7. Diamond in the Back 2/5 Dont care for this one (Be Thankful sample)
8. Screwed Up [ft Lil Flip] 2/5 Worst Song.Thought it would be better cuz it has Flip
10. P-Poppin [ft Shwanna & Lil Fate] 3.5/5 Another catchy one
11. Hip Hop Quotables 3.5/5 Very Colorful Rhymes make this song the best lyrically
13. Hoes In My Room [ft Snoop Dogg]3/5 Halarios diss to Bill O'Rielly & Ugly hoes
14. Teamwork 3/5 OK, not great
16. We Got [ft I20,TitiBoi&Chingy]5/5 WOW! This trak shows why Chingy was signed to DTP as he tears up the mic. Love Titi & Ludas verses too. BEST SONG ON CD.
17. Eyebrows Down 3/5 [ft TitiBoi & Dolla Boy] Looking forward to Titis solo album. (USA Titday)

Ludacris is the tightest out ATL....
OK...at first I was dissapointed the first 5 songs are just OK. But then I got into that Ludacris vibe and they were great:

1) Southern Fried Intro (8/10) Fast spittin' and good lyrics
2) Blow It Out (7/10) The worst Ludacris song I've ever heard (Still gets a 7 tho)
3) Stand Up (8/10) It was a 10 when I first heard it but now it's kinda old
4) Splash Waterfalls (9/10) Luda talks about the diff. between loving and f****n'
5) Hard Times (7/10) Full of feeling....a differant, more mature Ludacris
6) Diamond In The Back (8/10) An old skool beat and a real "Groove" feeling
7) Screwed Up (9/10) Tight beat and Lil' Flip rips it southside style...
8) P-Poppin' (7/10) Didn't like this song since I heard it...maybe it's just me
9) Hip-Hop Quotables (10/10) No Hook. Metaphors. I laughed the whole time
10) Hoes In My Room (9/10) Cool song....funny and nice get back at O'Riley!!
11) Teamwork (10/10) Like What's Ur Fantasy cept better
12) We Got (10/10) Everybody on this kills it!! Chingy and Luda rip the track!!
13) Eyebrows Down (8/10) The story of Luda's life..wit luda's humor added...

TOTAL (110/130) = Buy it!!!

its a good cd, not his best
Um, for everyone that says ludacris isn't a good artist doesnt listen to everything of hip-hop. Its not only subject matter, but how the artist delivers and that is what makes luda in my opinion one of the best emcees out right now. He has a unique voice, is amazing at making puns, and has great punches (if you don't believe me listen to hip-hop quoteables). To the guy that said "lets bring it back to respectable hip-hop" You must not know alot about Nas and Pac and BIG. But not all of their songs were "respectable". Don't get me wrong, those 3 are my top 3 rappers of all time, but don't be hypocritical like that. Look at everything he does as a rapper, and not just subject matter. His flow is amazing, he has hot production, and he raps with passion, what others are lacking. Oh and he has a charity foundation that gives back to his community, so don't say that he is a hypocritical rapper that doesn't give back. I'm not trying to ride, but i'm defended an artist that is underrated by many. He also can cover a wide range of subjects, and this CD wasn't made to cover serious issues, but was just meant to be fun and he did a good job at it. So, please don't bash the artist for his work he is a great rapper in my opinion, and deserves much more respect.

I dont understand
At what point in time was it ok to enjoy listening to such worthless, and unoriginal music. Oh wait, thats all anyone wants to here. There is seriously not point in having lyrics to the tracks in this album, they're all the same, just placed together differently. I hate the direction "hip hop" is moving towards. Bad music by an even worse arstist, if you can call him that.

Not as good as Word of Mouf!
This cd is jusy lackin something. For one thing, the beginning tracks are hot as hell, especially the intro, blow it out, stand up, and splash waterfalls. Then it goes down with hard times, to ballady. Diamond in the back brings things back up, after that, the music and his rappin seem to get lost or just straight up lazy. Luda could do better next time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Between 50 Cent's fearless bravado, Lloyd Banks's lispy lyrical proclamations, and the Southern drawl of Young Buck, the G-Unit's buzz factor alone have placed them atop the rap game. Their debut, Beg for Mercy, demonstrates how they plan on staying there. Their secret? No throwaway beats, keep the thugs happy. The sheer range and diversity of head-nodding beats--supplied by everyone from Hi-Tek and Dr. Dre to 7th EMP (who shrewdly samples Bach)--makes you forget their rather linear range of subject matter. Yep, the G-Unit is obsessed with violence and guns, but death threats never sounded so good. On "My Buddy," for instance, they cleverly describe in no uncertain terms how they feed this buddy--with bullets--and why they take him on family outings. Gunshot sound effects included. For some balance, the crew tries to disprove any theories that they're all about shootouts: Banks serenades a hottie on "Smile" while R&B crooner Joe drops by on the souled-out "Wanna Get to Know You" to prove that thugs need love too. It all makes for one of 2003's best releases. --Dalton Higgins ... Read more

Reviews (526)

Gets better with every listen
I have to admit that the first time I played the CD I turned it off, but now I've got it on repeat daily. I think some people may dislike it because every song has a catchy beat and hook that appeals to the mainstream and not just Hardcore rap fans. I wish Tony Yayo would get out of jail because he's only on 2 tracks, but Lloyd Banks is NOT to be ignored and Young Buck will have you laughing in the middle of a song (is that a good thing?). 50 sounds like 50, if you hate him this won't change that, but I love him (not cuz he's a lyrical master). My fave tracks just happen to be Lloyd Banks heavy - Smile(#11) because if you listen to all Banks' raps you get the feeling he could care less who's smiling and Salute You (#13). The song Wanna Get to Know You (#6) with Joe is HOT and Groupie Love (#7) is addictive with tight tight lyrics by Yayo (and no Buck) it's ORIGINAL G-Unit as is track 18 which is an older Ja Rule dis that's been recirculating. Finally Lay You Down(#16) has a chorus which is my new mantra. REALLY, give it at least 2 listens before giving up on G-Unit. Now if I could just get the Enhanced part of the CD working . . .

BEG FOR MERCY
At the beginning of 2003, 50 Cent got a huge smash hit with his super-hit single "In Da Club" and his gigantic (5x platinum) debut album Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. Now, at the end of '03, he is tryin to do what countless other rappers have tried to do, bring in his old crew and get them into the mainstream. This didn't go so well with rappers like Eminem or Ludacris, whose groups were hot for a minute but failed to repeat their success. G-Unit is the group made up of 50 Cent, Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and incarcerated Tony Yayo. For the most part, their debut, Beg For Mercy, is just a gun-slingin' street album that gets very boring after awhile. Songs like "My Buddy" that are all about guns are boring because we've heard so much of them by now. The album is a waste except for the exception of "Stunt 101" and "Smile", the only two tracks worth the purchase. G-Unit's problem is they are tryin to do something that never worked for anyone else around them. This album is littered with the ruins of remembering how hot D-12 used to be. In a year or two, 50 will be back solo (and even then he can't still be guarenteed success) and Young Buck, Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks will all drop out of the limelight. Yayo will end up back in jail, Banks and/or Buck will release a solo album that flops horribly (reminiscent of Obie Trice) and the group will never see the light of day again.

AWESOME
This is a great cd...everyone should have it!

Reviewer name nice. Hahahahaha
U know why im laughin??? its because the star rating is still three stars. Amazon already know it you, you retard!!! No matter how many times you write reviews, its not going to go up. Aww well. LOL. this lowlife retard cant get a girlfriend and keep on starin at 50 cents ugly azz. LOL @ f@gg0t. Im only writing this one time and thats it cause whuts the point??? the star rating are going to be the same. Idiot!!! LOL. Go get a life, a girl....oppz i forgot you only accept men like 50 cent...LOL...*coughfagcough* and get a job. Fatazz sittin on the computer.

Who care If that guy gave 5 stars it's people like u who....
Give 1 star and hate on G-Unit just because they sell a lot."Always about it" Don't worry about this no life a$$!U have no life I'm only doing this because my bore.Ja lover!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Detroit-bred rocker/rapper Kid Rock has reason to be "cocky," as 1998's multiplatinum Devil Without a Cause established the multifaceted artist with the Southern rock influences as a generally likable braggart able to back up his boasts musically. Rock's Twisted Brown Trucker backup band also spawned a successful solo career for DJ Uncle Kracker, who wrote songs for--but whose turntables aren't on--Cocky. With a little help from fab friends, including actor David Spade, and musicians Sheryl Crow and Snoop Dogg, Cocky covers a mélange of styles, from rap to country, utilizing organ, pedal steel, and harp as well as metallic guitar solos. Ultimately, though, the 14 songs are schizophrenic and not always successful: on "Lonely Road of Faith," Kid Rock turns in a anthemic ballad nearly worthy of Lynyrd Skynrd, whose "Freebird" he samples in the laid-back R&B-flavored "You Never Met a Motherf**ker Quite Like Me," while Crow's vocals on the gentle, country tune "Picture" and the plodding "Midnight Train to Memphis" contrast with the metallic riffs of "I'm a Dog," the nasty "sex rhymes" of"WCSR," and the rapped boasts of the narcissistic title track. Cocky? Indeed. Commendable? Dubious. --Katherine Turman ... Read more

Reviews (179)

Kid Rock Is Back
AS usual dating back to "Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast" after 3 years have passed Kid Rock graces the world with his musical talents via compact disc. And with every album he has evolved and mastered a musical form. Rap, rock, metal, country, love songs, and sex beats. He plays multiple instruments, writes all of his songs, and is the best producer in the music industry today. With this album he has poured out his soul like never before through mostly country ballads. This album isn't as much about anger as his other ones have been and for good reason. He's got a lot less to complain about. Diamond-platinum record sales, a son, and Pamela Anderson don't leave a lot of room for anger-driven music. So, once more, he just keeps it real. Unlike most other musicians. It doesn't matter what color you are or what kind of music you say you like: Buy this album and enjoy.

The Kid Proves How Talented He Is
Finally Kid Rock is back and showing how talented he is. This cd "Cocky" has old kinds of music like rock, heavy metal, rap, country, slow stuff,blues, and many more. "Cocky" features a song with Sheryl Crow,a song with Uncle Kracker, and a song with Snoop Dogg. Here are the songs on the cd and what I think about them:
1.)Trucker Anthem-a rap/rock song featuring Uncle Kracker, GREAT INTRO TO THE CD!
2.)Forever-rap/rock song which is good, but I think he should have chose a different song for his first single.
3.)Lay It On Me-rap/rock/bluesy song, pretty good song.
4.)Cocky-rap/rock song that kinda reminds me of Devil With Out A Cause
5.)What I Learned Out On The Road-a good rock song that shows Kid Rocks great singing talent and kinda sounds like a Lynard Skynard song.
6.)I'm Wrong But U Ain't Right-one of the heavier songs I have ever heard from Kid, starts out slow then bangs your (...)head off(my favorite song on the cd)
7.)Lonely Road of Faith-a slow rock song that shows you again Kid's singing talent
8.)You Never Met A Mother F*cker Quite Like Me-rock song that tells u how good Kid Rock is, has some guitar from Freebird.
9.)Picture f/Sheryl Crow-kind of a country song, great singing from Kid Rock and Sheryl.
10.)I'm A Dog-kind of a southern rock song that I like a lot.
11.)Midnight Train To Memphis-slow/rock song, GREAT SONG, starts slow then comes some rap/rock, then comes some great rock.
12.)Baby Come Home-kind of a blues song, which is one of the only blues song i like
13.)Drunk In The Morning-starts out slow then turns into a GREAT rock song that kinda sounds like 80's rock (my other favorite song on the cd)
14.) WCSR f/Snoop Dogg-rap song with funny sex lyrics

Kid Rock At His Best.
This has to be Rock's Best Cd. I Love it but its missing something! A Track With his good buddy Uncle Kracker. besides that this is fine work its all Rock/Hip Hop Like The Classic Kid Rock. Best Song is LAY IT ON ME.

kid rock is back!
Kid rock is back again and i think he did a good job following up to his 98 lp devil without a cause, which if you listen to track 4 youl see the resemblence. This cd is cool i like the way he sounds on some of the songs on here, i few tracks i could do without though were #7, #9, #12, and #5.

I Love Kid Rock sooo much!!!!
Cocky is an awesome cd , but what Kid Rock cd isn't??? I love Kid rock! he is talented in so many ways, he is so hot,and hes just perfect all around!!! Nikki, Kid Rock's BIGGEST fan!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

During one of the "interludes" on My Life, Keith Murray is rapping about "Grab your cranium for my ultimatum," when someone in the studio control booth asks producer Chucky Thompson, "Hey, Chuck, put on some of that smooth [stuff]." Murray disappears; the dreamy synth chords of Blige's title track emerge, and her sultry voice moans with a combination of weary loneliness and unslaked desire. The ballad which follows is "smooth" but never slick, for the singer's sinuous, extended notes confess the blues even as they yearn for something better. It's tempting to see this little scenario--the rapper being turned off in favor of the soul diva--as a repudiation of hip-hop in favor of old-fashioned R&B. An honest listen to this album, however, makes such an interpretation impossible. Blige does no actual rapping herself on her long-awaited second outing, but the sound of "My Life" would have been impossible without hip-hop. The results confirm the promise of Blige's '92 debut; she is the premier soul diva of the hip-hop generation. --Geoffrey Himes ... Read more

Reviews (57)

A masterpiece of hip hop and soul - still unmatched
Before I begin, y'all need to know that I absolutely adore Mary J. Blige. She is unquestionably my favorite female R&B singer and I love her to death. Her voice just aches with desperation and has such a yearning beauty and soulfulness that I just melt everytime I listen to her. Coming up from Yonkers, New York, she has kept it real through and through in her whole career. It all comes straight from her heart. If I could only pick one of her albums to take to my grave, MY LIFE would still probably be my choice, even though it was released way back in '94. It is probably the finest moment in music mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs' career, which, sadly, is all-but washed up these days. While he still tends to borrow from other artists' songs as he is notorious for doing, the melodic samples here, actually are inspiring, especially when coupled with Mary's incredibly beautiful voice, and make this an original album of soulful renderings derived from the old school and backgrounded by true hip hop and Mary's urban streetwise outlook.

A giant leap forward in artistry, almost all of the 17 tracks on MY LIFE were penned by Mary herself with the help of co-producer Combs and the multi-instrumentalist Chucky Thompson. This is modern R&B with substance and real emotion. Her soul yearns both sadly on songs like "I Never Wanna Live Without You", "Be With You", "Don't Go", and "No One Else" and happily on "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" and "You Bring Me Joy." It's all an emotional outpouring that your eyes see through smoke and tears as you cry into your drink, whether it is out of happiness or joy. "I Love You" is one of the most heartfelt and moody songs I've ever heard and I remember listening to it over and over again at a time not long ago when I thought I had lost the love of my life (All those pretty memories/I know you can hear me now/For the record I love you... When I found out that you were leaving me/I coudn't sleep thinking about/All the things that we've been through/Now all I want to do is tell you/That I miss you so much...). As a lifelong die hard fan of hip hop and R&B I would easily name this as one of my favorite albums of all time, so it naturally holds something special for me. Mary J. Blige is one of the only singers in this at-times-all-too-fabricated game who can bring her soul to the listener and truly make her emotions felt. One Love.

Spiritual Mary
A very emotional and spiritual outpouring, Mary lets fans and listeners into her world, and shares her feelings through this wonderful album with some tight music. The album takes listeners through the ups and downs of life. The melodies are original and unlike any other. "I Love You" has a catchy hook and mesmerizing melody with Mary's beautiful voice sailing through it. "Mary Jane" and "I'm Going Down" are reminiscent of 70's R&B, very Stevie Wonder sounding, maybe indication of things to come on her 1999 album MARY. "You Bring Me Joy" is a tight R&B jam that will keep you hitting the repeat button on your cd player. The album gives listers faith in songs like "Be Happy" and "You Gotta Believe". The album is a listening experience in itself, she tells it straight up and doesn't leave anything out. If you haven't heard this album yet you've missed out, so its time to hear this excellent, essential album from Ms. Mary J Blige.

A Classic!
Mary's soulful voice shines. This album just flows and flows. Nobody can match MJB soulful vibe and voice. She is just unbeatable. This is a great desert island cd, car cd, anytime cd.

Mary is the Best
I didn't think that Mary. J could follow up her debut, but she did. Long time fans are going to love this CD. So many memories, so many classic hits. This CD is only for hardcore Mary fans. If you're not a big Mary J fan this CD is not recommended, but if you are, pick it up.

This Is My Girl
Memories,oh my gosh i was like 9 when this album came out,loved it then and still do, but now that i'm older i understand and appreciate it more.Get this album I promise you you will not regret it,if you do i'll pay ya back...lol. No but really the entire album is banging and it's a must.Feel the soul from the soulflower, peace. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Great tracks all in one cd
This is a great grouping. If you love the most popular tracks last year that attracted the most attention and you are not up for buying every nominated cd get this. I love the mix of artists and love almost every song on this compilation. Not much to do but pick the best and put them all in one cd but this one is awesome because there were so many interesting musically aesthetic releases last year.
My favorites:
Crazy in Love - Beyoncé
Clocks - Coldplay
Going Under - Evanescence
Cry Me a River - Justin Timberlake
Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
I'm With You - Avril Lavigne
Dance With My Father - Luther Vandross
Keep Me in Your Heart - Warren Zevon
Stacy's Mom - Fountains of Wayne
Any Road - George Harrison
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Michael McDonald
Send Your Love - Sting
Hole in the World - The Eagles
Unwell - matchbox twenty

Great Grammy's
Beyonce Featuring Jay-Z:Crazy in love. I don't like Beyonce, but this was a pretty good. 5/10

The Black Eyed Peas & Justin Timberlake:Where is the love?
Second best song. That's it. 9/10

Coldplay:Clocks. This is an ok, but it might get boring after a while. 7/10

Eminem:Lose Yourself. This is the best mother
f[family website]en song on the CD. 10/10

Missy Eliot:Work it. This song is gross. I hate it. 1/10

Evanescence:Going Under. I realy think that this song is good. 8/10

Outkast:The way You move. Bottom line, good song. 7/10

Justin Timberlake:Cry me a River. Justin was better when he was with *Nsync.

Christina Aguilera:Beautiful. I don't like it. 1/10

Avril Lavinge:I'm with you. Its a d[family website]n good song.
8/10

Luther Vandross:Dance with my father. This song is weird. 2/10

Warren Zevon:Keep me in your heart. No comment. 3/10

50 cent:in da club. Go, Go, Go Charolette its ya birthday. 8/10

Fountains of Wayne:Stacy's Mom. Funny song, good song. 8/10

Heather Hadley:I wish i wasn't. I don't like it. 1/10

Sean Paul:Gimme the light. I know i keep saying this but, it's a good song. 7/10

George Harrison:Any Road. I didn't listen to this one, but there are plenty of other good songs. ?/10

Michael Mcdonald:Ain't no mountain high enough. I'll let you decide. ?/10

Sing:Send your love. Its ok. 5/10

Eagles:Hole in the world. Its ok. 4/10

Matchbox 20:Unwell. Its an original song. 7/10

anything from 7/10 or higher is a good song.

5/10 or higher is ok.

4/10 or below is bad.

Remember, that this is my opinion.

Good Overview of 2003's Biggest Songs
1. Crazy In Love - Who could forget Beyonce's first hit by herself. Actually Beyonce's first #1 by herself. Yay Beyonce!

2. Where Is The Love? - Well, not only is it Black Eyed Peas's first #1, but Justin's first #1 by himself. Yay them! THE #1 SONG OF 2003!!!

3. Clocks - Coldplay was nominated for best record. This is a good song, but I don't think this should be here. It's too old.

4. Lose Yourself - From Eminem's #1 movie 8 Mile comes Lose Yourself. This song is good, but again, it's too old. I think the Grammy's are more focused on a good songs and not hits of 2003. I don't care, but please don't make the whole CD like this.

5. Work It - From Missy's #1 album Under Construction, comes Work It. I think it's too old, but this is nominated for album, not the song.

6. Going Under - From Evanescence's Fallen, comes Going Under. I think they should of used Bring Me to Life. It was a bigger hit.

7. The Way You Move - OutKast's first #1 hit from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. I think this was an excellent choice.

8. Cry Me A River - Ok, this is kind of a problem. Cry Me A River is a horrible song. Not a good choice, but a good album.

9. Beautiful - Another great song, but it's too old. They should have used Can't Hold Us Down. That was the 2nd biggest hit.

10. I'm With You - Avril's 2nd #1 hit. It's an awesome song!

11. Dance With My Father - Not a big hit, but who can forget Luther's incredible lyrics.

12. Keep Me In Your Heart - I've never heard this before Grammy Nominees 2004. It's ok. A little to slow and boring. I don't think this was a hit anyway.

13. In Da Club - 50 Cent's first appearance on pop radio stations. IN DA CLUB WAS THE #2 SONG OF 2003! IN DA CLUB IS AWESOME!

14. Stacy's Mom - Fountains of Wayne's first top 10 hit. This song is excellent. It's a little gross though. " Stacy's mom has got it going on. She's all I want, and I've waited so long. Stacy can't you see? You're just not the girl for me. I know it might be wrong but, I'm in love with Stacy's Mom. "

15. I Wish I Wasn't - Wasn't a big hit. It's a good RnB song though.

16. Gimme the Light - Good dance song. Sean Paul's first appearance in the top 100.

17. Any Road - Never heard this before this CD. This is the other problem. Why was this nominatted for best POP performance?

18. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - (see Any Road)

19. Send Your Love - A good dance song. Wasn't a big hit.

20. Hole in the World - A big hit on Adult Contemparary radio stations.

21. Unwell - A big hit. #1 played on Adult Contemparary radio stations in 2003. A good choice.

Overall, a good mix of 2003's biggest songs. (Amazon, I wasn't using a word count so it could be over 1,000 words. Sorry!)

GRAMMYS 2004
BEYONCE’ FEATURING JAY-Z "Crazy In Love" Record Of The Year

THE BLACK EYED PEAS & JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE "Where Is The Love?" Record Of The Year

COLDPLAY "Clocks" Record Of The Year

EMINEM "Lose Yourself" Record Of The Year Song Of The Year

MISSY "MISDEMEANOR" ELLIOTT "Work It" Album Of The Year

EVANESCENCE "Going Under" Album Of The Year Best New Artist

OUTKAST "The Way You Move" Featuring Sleepy Brown Album Of The Year

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE "Cry Me A River" Album Of The Year Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

CHRISTINA AGUILERA "Beautiful" Song Of The Year

AVRIL LAVIGNE "I'm With You" Song Of The Year

LUTHER VANDROSS "Dance With My Father" Song Of The Year

WARREN ZEVON "Keep Me In Your Heart" Song Of The Year Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

50 CENT "In Da Club" Best New Artist

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE "Stacy's Mom" Best New Artist Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

HEATHER HEADLEY "I Wish I Wasn't" Best New Artist

SEAN PAUL "Gimme The Light" Best New Artist

GEORGE HARRISON "Any Road" Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

MICHAEL MCDONALD "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

STING "Send Your Love" Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

EAGLES "Hole In The World" Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

MATCHBOX TWENTY "Unwell" Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal

Grammy nominees 2004
1.Crazy in Love (Jay-Z /Beyonce)
A good song by beyonce and Jay-Z. A song that i will not get sick of. 5/5

2.Where Is the Love? - 4:05 (Black Eyed Peas / Timberlake, Justin)
This is an ok song gets annoying after a while. 3/5

3.Clocks - (Coldplay)
Excellent song by coldplay one of the best on the albumn. Has a great beat and great lyrics. 5/5

4.Lose Yourself - (Eminem)
Eminiem proves on this song why hes the best rapper around. 5/5

5.Work It - (Elliott, Missy 'Misdemeanor')

One of Missy Elliots best songs to date. 5/5

6.Going Under - (Evanescence)
One of the best new artists of 2003. Their debut albumn is also one of the best selling albumns of the year. 5/5

7.The Way You Move - (OutKast / Brown, Sleepy)
This song has a catchy tune and good rapping in it. 4/5

8.Cry Me a River - (Timberlake, Justin)
One of the worst songs on this albumn. Cry me a river for having to actually listen to it. 1/5

9.Beautiful - (Aguilera, Christina)
This song lives up to its name it is absolutely beautiful and has a good message in it. 5/5

10.I'm With You - (Lavigne, Avril)
This song is good but not great. 4/5

11.Dance With My Father - (Vandross, Luther)
Excellent and heart touching song. if this song doesn't touch your heart, there is something wrong with you. 5/5

12.Keep Me in Your Heart - (Zevon, Warren)
I didn't particularly care for this song. 3/5

13.In da Club - (50 Cent)
One of the best rap songs of 2003. 5/5

14.Stacy's Mom-(Fountains of Wayne)
At first i didn't like this song, but after a while this song quickly became one of my favorites of 2003. 5/5

15.I Wish I Wasn't - (Headley, Heather)
This song is ok, not the greatest though. 3/5

16.Gimme the Light -(Paul, Sean)
One of Sean Paul's most annoying songs ever. 2/5

17.Any Road - (Harrison, George [1])
Abouslete Excellent song from former Beatle George Harrison. 5/5

18.Ain't No Mountain High Enough - (McDonald, Michael [Vocals/Keys])
I absouletely can't stand this song for some reason. 1/5

19.Send Your Love - (Sting [1])
Great song from Sting. 5/5

20.Hole in the World -(Eagles [1])
The Eagles prove that they still got it with this song. 5/5

21.Unwell -(Matchbox Twenty)
Excellent song from my favorite band. Glad to see that they were nominated at the Grammys. 5/5 ... Read more

Amazon.com

Florida-bred metal-rappers Limp Bizkit sold a million-plus records of their debut largely on the strength of a George Michael cover song. But the band indeed had "Faith" and the group's second outing proves that the Bizkit have the goods. Still, it seems as if boastful frontman Fred Durst is loading the band's deck again, this time by including scads of guest vocalists, such as Stone Temple Pilots' singer Scott Weiland, Method Man from Wu-Tang Clan, and Korn's Jonathan Davis. (In fact, Korn gave Limp Bizkit a leg up in the industry.) But the 16 diverse yet cohesive tracks on Significant Other don't need any help. Not as heavy as their mentors Korn--or as they are on their debut--Bizkit give Everlast a run for his money on the tuneful and appealing "Rearranged." "Just Like This" is another winning hip-hop and rock entry, while the amusing and memorable "Nookie" (as in "I did it all for the nookie") has self-deprecating lyrics not unlike the Offspring's "Self-Esteem." Bizkit segues with ease from pleasing rock and hip-hop amalgam to spooky Tool territory on "Don't Go Off Wandering" to moshable moments in the entreaty "Show Me What You Got." Significant Other may be hard to categorize, but it's easy to like. --Katherine Turman ... Read more

Reviews (1316)

I actually bought this one after Chocolate Starfish...
This CD is really good, and in my opinion it started the really good Limp Bizkit, Three Dollar Bill Y'all was to much heavy metal. Let's get started with the review:

Intro:5/5 It's hard to rate an intro, but it's important to the outro.
Just Like This:5/5 Great song to kick the CD off with, upbeat and addictive.
Nookie:5/5 This is a good song, thats all I can really say, so just listen to it.
Break Stuff:5/5 This song has lyrics that don't make sense. BUT THIS IS THE BEST SONG ON THE CD! Fred must have been extreamly (...) when he wrote it. It has great music to it and swears like crazy.
Re-arranged:5/5 A mellow song with lyrics that don't quit, great voice, nice edge to it and very important parts for DJ Lethal.
I'm Broke:5/5 This is a cool song. I hadn't heard it before I got the CD, and now I love it.
Nobody Like You:2/5 This song is nothing special.
Don't Go Off Wandering:3/5 This song's Okay, basically it's Fred singing about misery.
9 Teen 90 Nine:2/5 Igggh, no real reason to like it.
N 2 Gether Now: When Fred Raps, this song is good. When Method Man Raps, things go down the Toilet. This song is also funny. The chorus consists of "Shut the F*** up" over and over.
Trust?:2/5 This is one of the more heavy songs, and isn't to great.
No Sex:5/5 This song is actually really good. It is slightly perverted, but not as bad as Korn or anything. It is mellow with grat guitar and singing. It also features Staind in the Chorus and a few verses.
Show me What You Got:4/5 Kind of a weird song. Fred lists differnt famous Cities in the USA and sings about what he did in them. Then he thanks people who made appearances or helped in the album.
A Lesson Learned:1/5 ???This is Fred singing by himself. In a weird voice. Not really a point to it.
Outro:5/5 DJ Lethal says entertaining things in a electronically altered voice.(Slowing it down) After that, on the intro to track 16(which isn't anything) one of Fred's friends goes crazy. About 30 seconds later, (I think it is) his brother says some weird things.

This CD is a must if you don't already have it, so go out and buy it!

Rocks hard and mellow
This sophomore effort from Limp Bizkit shows their growth as a band more than anything. Their debut, Three Dollar Bill Ya'll$ showed their potential as a hard rocking group, but Signifigant Other exhibits their potential as a varying group, with hard tracks like "Nookie" and "Break Stuff," and mellow tracks like "Re-arranged" and "No Sex."

Cameos from Korn's Jonathan Davis and Wu Tang's Method Man change things up a little bit, showing other groups' styles mixed in with Limps unique blend of rap and rock. Personally, I don't like the track that Method Man raps on, "N 2gether Now" simply because it sound more like rap than real Limp Bizkit. But Jonathan Davis's track "Nobody Like You" is really good, and there's nothing wrong with hearing a little Korn in there.

Overall, this CD is great; it's something you could listen to over and over again, and it makes you want to get up and mosh. Plus, when Fred Dusrt mentions every city that's he's been to on tour in "Show Me What You Got," it's evident that the group is definitely down to earth and in touch with their fans.

The best LB ever had to offer!
Okay, you read my review on "Chocolate Starfish", now its one step back to Limp Bizkit's prior effort "Significant Other". This, according to me was the best album Limp Bizkit had to offer till date. Fred, Wes, Joh, Sam and Lethal were inseperably directed their collective talent towards the establsihment of Limp Bizkit as a Nu-Metal Heavy Weight and also find a deeper philosophy in their music, unlike their rather random debut. This was the first time they had an all-star lineup which includes Jonathan Davis of koRn, Scott Weiland of STP, Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan. Here is how the album goes:
01 Intro -- Damn weird and totally Limp Bizkit.
02 Just Like This -- Swingin Hip-Hop beats courtesy of John Otto.
03 Nookie -- He did it all for the Nookie. The flow continues.
04 Break Stuff -- The heaviest song on the album!Anger unleashed!
05 Re-Arranged -- Some people may buy the whole godamn record just for this song. Its the deepest and the most beautiful song that Limp ever made. Fred shows he can sing too, not only that, he can sing beautifully as well.
06 I'm Broke -- Continues where Nookie left last.
07 Nobody Like You -- Featuring Jonathan Davis and Scott Weiland.
08 Don't Go Off Wandering -- Uncanily weird.
09 9 Teen 90 Nine -- Don't Stop! It's 1999 baby! Swing!
10 N 2 Gether Now -- Awesome rhymes dropped by Method Man.
11 Trust? -- Probably doesnt belong on this album, but its there.
12 No Sex -- A rather philosophical song, "Dirty Sex!".
13 Show Me What You Got -- Another Thank-you song.
14 A Lesson Learned -- Isn't is supposed to be "Learnt"??
15 Outro -- Sick, and annoying as usual.

That's it hope it was useful. Reviews on the rest of the Limp albums coming soon!

DIE FRED DURST DIE!!!!
The title of this album outta be called "Untalented self." That's what these guys are, no-talent white boys with backwards hats and Fubu clothes who try to fuse rap and metal. Kill this band and all of its fans!!!!

Music for retards from retards.
I defend what is good in this galaxy. I degrade all that is bad. I degrade this band because they're the epitomy of music. They're System Of A Down with a DJ!! That's how bad they are!! Trash any Limp Bizkit album you can find!! ... Read more

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Some Wu members, like Cappadonna, are overly concerned with the way they dress, while others are a plain ol' inebriated mess (read: Ol' Dirty Bastard). For the GZA, it's all about the lyrics. With his nasal delivery and rapid-fire flow, he is the most experienced and oldest member of the Wu Tang Clan (he released a pre-Wu LP on Cold Chillin' Records entitled Words from the Genius in 1991). GZA's forte is battle rhymes (on his self-titled cut he declares that wack MCs' "lyrics are weak, like clock radio speakers"). On "Labels" he eloquently pens a complete song using only rap record label names. Loaded wordplay aside, beat-wise Liquid Swords is fully and exceptionally RZA-produced (peep the electric guitars and spacey synths on "Investigative Reports"). Liquid Swords is a perfect purchase for rap fiends who crave ill experimental beats and even iller punchlines. --Dalton Higgins ... Read more

Reviews (114)

GZA...
While every Wu-Tang solo release is noteworthy for one reason or another, this flawless solo LP from GZA is of special note because, to my ears, it captures The RZA at a creative peak, soundwise. These tracks are truly atmospheric and deep, and there are, thankfully, no outside contributions, every track here is pure RZA. While Inspectah Deck has a great guest shot on my favorite track, "Cold World" (can't you just listen to this song 1,000 times?) this is entirely GZA's showcase and his intricate, brilliant wordplay, while somewhat measured in places, is stunning from start to finish. There is no filler here and the album doesn't overstay it's welcome, it's simply perfect. A hip-hop classic.

GZA, the unparalleled Wu-Genius
What can you really say about this album? It is probably the best of Wu solo projects to date (maybe that ever will be), focusing heavily on the essential elements that have brought the Wu-Tang to the forefront of underground hip-hop. While most critics favored Raekwon's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" for its raw and edgy style, GZA brings quick, intelligent lyrics on nearly every track. Just about all the other members collaborate on one or more songs, and each song tells a small part of the larger story that is "Liquid Swords". You can almost see the GZA mentally cutting apart all the flash and fakery that has come to dominate today's rap world - leaving a cold and honest view of his reality. Various sound clips that have become a Wu trademark enhance the album, the fitting quotes from Shogun Assassin illustrate the GZA's lyrical stance. RZA's production has never been so tight and mysterious. Highly recommended.

MAN....
THE DARKESS JOINT EVER RELEASED IN HIP-HOP!!!ALL TIME CLASSIC JOINT!!!

Legendary Liquid Swords
Although this album was released all the way back in 1995, I just got my first taste of it. I have always known about Wu Tang Clan but I never got a chance to hear much from them because they are not as mainstream and commercial. After listening to GZA's Liquid Sword I was quite amazed. Why does someone who has such story telling and comparison lyrical skills is not on the radio and flowing in the mainstream and appearing on TRL and BET. I have not heard such great skills since back in the Biggie and 2Pac days. GZA has solid skills with great back up guest appearances from other Wu Tang members. (method man, RZA) The production of RZA was solid, and it somewhat tries to tell the story of Liquid Swords before songs. Some of the beats reminds me of the themes from the old martial art movies. Eventhough this album might not sound really appealing the first time, but every time you listen to it, you will hear something you missed the last time and be impressed by the kinda skill he displayed. Such artists like this are rarely found in the mainstream today. GZA is truly a genious with rhymes and brought the best out of the other guest appearances. This CD is definitely worth your money, it has depth although it talks streets and guns. The creativity in this album is far above many rappers even in the game today.

Lyrics: A+
Production: A
Delivery: A+
Overall: A+

A must own for anyone into real hip hop
Best Wu solo joint of all time, period. Only Wu related album that tops this is 36 Chambers - enough said. ... Read more

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As cliché as it sounds, music does have the ability to bring people of various background and ethnicities together. Think not? Witness Connected, the debut album from the Foreign Exchange. North Carolina-raised MC Phonte, one-third of Little Brother, and Dutch producer Nicolay formed the duo and crafted the ethereally lush hip-hop album without ever meeting face-to-face. Using the marvels of modern technology, the group traded verses and tracks over the Internet. The result is anything but mechanical. Nicolay crafts soulful, intricate backdrops that draw comparisons to producers Pete Rock and Kanye West. On the appropriately titled "Nic's Groove," the producer crafts a pitch-perfect midtempo track over which Phonte and Little Brother cohort Big Pooh trade verses. Phonte also enlists a host of upcoming artists to guest on the set. The group's MC teams with newcomer Median on the emotional "Be Alright." While Median holds his own, Phonte is in full command with a personal lyric about dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life. Meanwhile, "Sincere," which features R&B songstress YahZarah, will have listeners falling in love with hip-hop and each other all over again. Connected is a prime example of the power of good music uniting different worlds. Maybe our elected officials could take a page out of the book of the Foreign Exchange. --Lincoln Smith ... Read more

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Nasir Jones made this debut album at the age of 20, already armed with the calm perceptiveness and been-there-done-that attitude of a much older ghetto vet, though sometimes his inner callow youth shows itself. Illmatic is a look back at a life spent in the culture of the projects, acknowledging joy as much as pain and taking note of violence as a fact of his environment rather than a focus of his life. It's enlivened by Nas's kicky, deep-threaded multiple rhymes--you can tell he grew up listening to Mr. Magic's rap show and internalizing the secrets of everybody's flow--and by tracks from a bunch of all-stars, including the Large Professor, DJ Premier, and, most memorably, Q-Tip ("One Love"). --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (340)

the greatest 40 min in hip-hop history
When Nasir jones released "Illmatic" in 1994, he released the best hip-hop performance in history and yes it deserves to be the best rap album of all time, because this 9 track album plus intro has the most provoking lyrics you will ever hear, from his first verse of the incredible "N.Y state of mind" he say.." rappers i monkey flip'em with the funky rythem I be kicking/musician/inflicting compostion"...... and later on he adds to the greatness of the song by saying "Inhale deep like the words of my breathe/ I never sleep because sleep is the cousin of death" in every song Nas spits his usual fire, the classic "it ain't hard to tell" has to be one of the best hip-hop tracks ever, the presence of AZ in "life's a bi***" makes that song even better by saying " even though we know we all gotta go, but as long as we leaving thieving we'll be leaving with some kind of dough" after comes "the world is yours" which is personaly is my fav song on the album, It also has a great beat with usual good lyrics by Nas, "halfime" which is a song having Nas spitting his hot ryhmes, simply put, this will go down as the best hip-hop record of all time, it's well worth the money.

Best Rap Album Ever. Period.
Okay...I am the type of person who believes that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I never question people's preferences when it comes to music or ANYTHING, but in this case I have to say that if you think this album is over-rated or wack...I'm sorry but you have NO idea what you are talking about. This album is 100 percent pure hip-hop bliss...from start to finish. The best lyrics I've ever heard combined with the best UNDERGROUND production ever. If you ain't feeling this CD, you probably think Nelly is the best emcee ever. This album is not about bling-blinging, or drinking moet, or flossing in your Benz...this about life in the projects...plain and simple...and absolutely poetic. I bought this CD on the day it came out, and everytime I listen to it I am still amazed at how good it is. Too bad this was Nas' only good album...after this he drifted in to crossover rap and never gained this greatness again. I urge you...if you don't have this CD and you like REAL rap (not Nelly, or Jay-Z, or Cash-Money Wackanaires) please do yourself a favor and get this. Nas is absolutely relentless on this CD. And if you already have Illmatic, and you appreciate its rawness, you should really check out "The Realness" by Cormega. I would put that album second behind Illmatic as the greatest of all time.

"Somehow the rap game reminds me of the crack game, used to sport ballys and gazelles with black frames, now I'm into fat chains sex and tecs, fly new chicks and new kicks, Hienie's and Beck's"----NAS, from Illmatic

Illmatic is straight ILL...
This album has got to be the best I have ever heard. There are no tracks on this album that should be skipped. I have listened to a lot of albums over the last couple years and nothing comes close to this. I would have to say that Big L - Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous, Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt, Tupac - All Eyez On Me, and Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die come close to this album but none of them are better. Nas' story telling ability alone sets him apart from other rappers. When he raps you almost feel that you are a part of what he is spitting. Also, he almost always has a positive message in his songs and to me that counts for a lot. Now-a-days almost every rapper out there is rapping about cars, money and girls just to sell records but it seems that Nas doesn't care about how much he sells he just wants to put out music that almost all people can relate to. Make sure you pick up Street Disciple when it hits the stores September 24/04.....ONE LOVE

One of The Greatest
"Illmatic" is basically one of the top five rap albums ever created. There's so much good in this album that I can't even write how much. I'd have to write a paragraph for every song.

My favorites:(NY State of Mind, Life's A Bitch, The World Is Yours, Sittin In Da Park, One Love, It Ain't Hard To Tell, and Represent). The other songs are also good. There's only 10 songs, but they're all listenable and so it provides no filler. Nas is prolly one of the greatest rappers of all time and Illmatic is his most memorable classic(other classics are Stillmatic and God's Son in my opinion).

NO WAY
No way in hell is the CD the best ever made. I am so upset I finally bought this album and it disappointed me so bad. I love premo but this whole cd sounds like it is biting off 36 chambers sound and they didn't even do that well. Everyone was talking about the lyrics. They weren't that great. If you want a classic cd get GZA's liquid swords. GZA smokes NAZ on lyrical ability. I don't even want to mention my man Pharaohe Monch. Don't by the CD it is way to hyped up. Save your Money. ... Read more

Album Description

Amazing new 7-track EP with production by BLOCKHEAD, AESOP, and ROB SONIC plus vocals by EL-P and CAMU. Includes an 80 page, perfect bound book with all of Aesop's lyrics from all of his records. Deluxe! Limited Edition!! ... Read more

Reviews (19)

AESOP HAS GONE MAD!
I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF AESOP EVER SINCE I FIRST HEARD HIS MUSIC A COUPLE YEARS AGO. THE THING THAT GOT ME WAS HIS BEATS, WHICH I LOVE, ESPECIALLY THE ONES ON FLOAT. I ALSO LIKE HIS LYRICS, BECAUSE I HAVE TO LISTEN TO A SONG OVER 20 TIMES TO EVEN GET THE SLIGHTEST CLUE ABOUT WHAT HES TALKING ABOUT. SOME PEOPLE DONT LIKE THIS, AND JUST SAY AESOP ROCK'S LYRICS DONT MAKE ANY SENSE, BUT I LIKE THEM.

I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN I BOUGHT THIS ALBUM. THE PRODUCTION IS HORRIBLE. PERIOD. ITS MIGHT DIFFERENT, A NEW STYLE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT ITS STILL BAD. AND THE LYRICS ARE NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS THEY USED TO BE. I HOPE HE MAKES UP FOR THIS POOR RELEASE ON HIS NEXT CD.

Good, yet unsatisfying and disappointing...
These aren't the days of "Float" and "Appleseed," where you can sit through an entire Aesop Rock album without much disappointment.Worse, these aren't even the days of "Daylight EP," where Aesop was experiencing a style transition.The period of transition was not only tolerable, but also quite rewarding.Songs like "Daylight," "One to Four," "Nickel Plated Pockets," and "No Regrets" were a little different, but among the best music of his career.

After "Daylight EP," however, came a sudden, dramatic change noticable only to fans.The beats were now much more refined and "electric."Not bad, but "different."His delivery changed and, unfortunately, the words became a little empty.For every progressive "Babies with Guns," we received something like "Super Fluke."Maybe it's just me, but I can't grasp anything meaningful out of the latter.

2005."Fast Cars, Danger, Fire and Knives" is released.I was attracted to the new music, yes, but I was more interested in the 80+ page booklet that it came with.A collection of Aesop's lyrics in one place is good, especially when you're trying to incorporate something abstract into your own writing style (and Aesop is, without a doubt, a writer).

At first, I loved it.But then I realized that much of it was about nothing, hence the "above average" score I am giving it.

It opens up with "Fast Cars," an uninteresting, hungry statement.The beat is recognizable as something that could have been included in "Bazooka Tooth" (which is not necessarily good, depending on your style).It then moves into "Number Nine," one of the worst tracks here."Worst" not because it sounds bad, or anything like that, but because it seems that Aesop, instead of making obscure references to something clever and profound, is making obscure references to absolutely nothing (meaning, there is no real substance).

The next track is "Zodiacccupuncture," and although it is the best-sounding of these three, it also seems to be about nothing worth noting (although it ends on the unfortunate note, "zodiac won't save ya from the hand-cannons, boy!").

When it seems that this EP will be a mediocre collection of songs, it moves into track four: "Holy Smokes."This is, actually, one of my very favorite songs of all time, period.It took a short time to grow on me."Holy Smokes" is an extremely witty, humorous and poignant attack on religion cloaked in a bit of obscurity (although it is very much understandable).It seems as if I understood every single line here; it hit me, hard.The beat is excellent, probably because it is so appropriate.Perfect.

At this point, I should say that I am happy with Aesop's small change of flow.He is more understandable now.I am absolutely indifferent to his choice of beats; they can be quite powerful and appropriate.I am looking for exactly that."Electric" or nto, I am looking for something appropriate and listenable.Most of all, I'm looking for lyrics.The first three tracks are lyrically bland."Holy Smokes," however, is not.And maybe it's appropriate that the best two tracks here on side-by-side, which leads me to the fifth song: "Winners Take All."

I don't know how many of Aesop's listeners are socially-progressive and politically-involved.I know for a fact, however, that I am.I place the Coup's "Kill My Landlord" as one of my favorite albums of all time.So, when Aesop Rock begins to comment on the imperial American army -- really, a collection of subservient, dependent thugs -- I get extremely excited.The wit of "Holy Smokes" is extended, oh so very generously, to "Winners Take All."The ironic and beautifully-sarcastic lyrics are good beyond good.Aesop declares, as if he is in a desert wasteland, calling his military superiors, "I haven't found a flag worthy of my saluting..."True, indeed; if Aesop Rock continues with witty songs like these, he will easily become my favorite contemporary rapper.

The next track is another hazardous offering of mediocrity."Rickety Rackety" has Aesop Rock exchanging verses with a couple of Def Jux mates, sounding much like a battle rap, ending up a little unenjoyable.Skip.

The next track -- "Food, Clothes, Medicine" -- is another minor piece of perfection."Minor" because, while it's pretty much perfect, it stands out a little less than the towering "Holy Smokes" and lyrically-monumental "Winners Take All."Nonetheless, this is understandable-Aesop once again, with a clear flow and poignant words.A description of wants and needs, no doubt, and an attack on the cut-throat and competitive international social system."Food, clothes, medicine, 'cuz hungry, naked, sick sucks..." indeed!

Bottom line?I think Aesop Rock should have released this as a 7-track EP (including the three giants, and four more of the best cuts from the out-of-print "Appleseed" and "Music for Earthworms"), included the booklet, and lowered the price by a couple of dollars.Close to $14 was something I was willing to pay, but many others should be rightfully skeptical.

Three absolutely perfect tracks, four pieces of mediocrity.Except, of course, perfection outweighs the disappointments here...and the booklet certainly adds much value.

Review from the Synthesis
A fraction of hip-hop heads actually listen to Aesop Rock and recognize his genius, while the majority ignore him completely and pass him off as another white backpack rapper. His voice has the nicotine induced grittiness, and his flow spastically bounces and crawls through drums, but it's his lyrics that make Aesop Rock one of the most original and unique figures in music. For this reason alone Ase Rock has packed a book of his lyrics alongside his seventh release, Fast Cars, Danger, Fire, and Knives.
Titled The Living Human Curiosity Sideshow, the 87-page booklet features every lyric from Float on, with classic Medieval graphics and fonts. It's hard to not hear his voice when reading his prose, but his sentence structure is far different from his delivery and reads more fluently than it might sound. Straight up, dude is a poet.
Reading his lyrics is one thing, but over a beat it's obvious the poet is a well-schooled MC. His turn towards a more electric and chaotic sound has given his already progressive style a futuristic feel. The seven-song album spans 30 minutes, but doesn't leave the listener feeling empty. With production from Blockhead and Ase himself and cameos by El-P and CamuTao, the album is focused but not repetitive. "Holy Smokes," his autobiographical account of losing religion, contrasts naturally along paranoid songs like "Winner Takes All." Like every other album bearing his name, this is another classic Bazooka Tooth project.

- Corey Bloom
Synthesis.net

AESOP
Aesop Rock this cd does not have a lot of track ,but it is worth the money 1,4,7 this cd also comes with a book with all of the lyrics from other Aesop albums.

Brilliant EP!!
Another amazing release. Besides perhaps Sage Francis and Slug, no other underground hip hop artist of the past 10 years has been as brilliantly consistent as Aesop. The man has NEVER made a bad album or (to my ears) released a below-par song. Even the weakest songs on his respective releases are still more intelligent and interesting than the best song on most other hip hop releases. Personally, I prefer this EP over his last album, the too El-P-influenced "Bazooka Tooth", which was very good but nowhere near as masterful as his previous one-two punch (Float-Labor Days). This release shows that Aesop is only getting better (the lyrics are amazing as always, esp. Holy Smokes, a song that details Aesop's religious upbringing and beliefs throughout his life). The non-Blockhead songs are also good, and I was surprised at the strength of the 2 self-produced tracks here, mainly just because I wasn't blown away with his production on BT. Luckily even when the production leaves something to be desired, Aesop's flow is unsurpassable amongst anyone in the game and his lyrics are practically literature in hip hop. Definitely my fav hip hop release so far of 2005. ... Read more

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As if A Prince Among Thieves wasn't conceptual enough, Prince Paul has now joined forces with Dan the Automator to create Handsome Boy Modeling School, an outlet through which the duo (and a dozen or so of their closest big-name friends) can mix and mingle with rap, turntablism, trip-hop, and--of course--tongue-in-cheek humor. And while this idea may sound original, its name came straight from an episode of Chris Elliott's short-lived sitcom Get a Life. Elliott--the goofball writer and cameo guest for David Letterman--springs up a few times on the disc in the form of a few vocal samples, but mostly this show is centered around the guests: Encore provides the disc's best rap on "Waterworld," Grand Puba and Sadat X (from Brand Nubian) perform "Once Again" on top of a sample of Three Dog Night's "Old Fashioned Love Song," and DJ Shadow does his usual magic with the 1200s on "Holy Calamity." Miho Hatori (Cibo Matto), Mike D., Sean Lennon, Alec Empire, and even Father Guido Sarducci are also along for the crowded ride. Does this runway of cameos ever sound thematically cohesive? Hell, no. With this many friends helping out, do we really need to hear Prince Paul on the phone with Biz Markie ("Calling the Biz")? Of course not. But this name-dropping vanity fair is nothing if not ambitious, and chances are there's something here that you'll dig. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Reviews (46)

how hip hop should be...
this cd is excellent. it is quite novel and experimental without being too ambient for the average 'jiggy' type listener. the beats are nothing less than the usual high standard from prince paul and the automator. these guys have quietly been producing the best hip hop music during these past three or four years (dr.octagon; a prince among thieves; guns, cars and sitars to name a few). the players on the album are incredible with appearances ranging from Del to Sean Lennon to Sensational. truely underground, truly innovative. 'sunshine' and 'the truth' are excellent for you and your woman to get rigid and moist to. and finally, that guy Encore from the cut 'waterworld' spits the best lyrics i have heard in years. that cut is a classic-Encore sounds reminiscent of a west coast Rakim (without emulating his style mind you) with the precise flow and intense, rewind-worthy lyrics. invest your sixty dollars to the handsome boy modelling school and learn something about true hip hop. peace-onasuss cashes in on the wins...primate foundation

A little too late....
"SO HOW'S YOUR GIRL" has a fantastic variation of collaborators, and two very talented individuals behind the concept. Prince Paul and Dan the Automator have really pulled in on this one, recruiting and eclectic mix of musicians from the world of Hip Hop and fusion.

From the outstanding tones of Moloko's Roisin Murphy with J Live on "THE TRUTH", to the uncontested strength of Grand Puba & Sadat X on "ONCE AGAIN (HERE TO KICK ONE FOR YOU)", this album has such a great big boiling pot of talent that you can be guaranteed a quality album.

Hmmm. Well not really...

I'd love to say that this album was everything that I expected, because there's this unspoken agreement in Hip Hop fusion that you don't - YOU REALLY DON'T - knock the products. If you like one, you should like them all. We have to stick together to preserve the cool. But it's just not.

You see the thing with kooky hip hop/trip hop/snippets of comedy programme compilations is that they had a time. And it's passed.

In fact we're looking at nearly 4 years since it hit it's peak. Unfortunately "SO HOW'S YOUR GIRL" arrived at a time where it's format had gone from deserving a prime write up in THE FACE, to now no more than what's deemed to be coffee table conversation.

I don't hate this album, and I still listen to the aforementioned tracks. In fact I'm just disappointed. It could have been so much more....

Prince and the Automator Deliver Best Kept Secret of 1999
There once was a time in the early to mid 1990's when rap actually meant something. Groups and artists like Souls of Mischief, De La Soul, Tribe, Jeru and Nas had perfected rap to a pure art form devoid of all of the corny cliches far too evedent in todays hip hop/R&B fusion numbers that grace the Billboard charts. Back then, rap music was mostly an underground phenomenon featuring artists who used their poetic skills to tell a story of the streets and social issues that were for the most part ignored by the public at large. Not all of it was serious to be sure. Groups such as the Pharcide and Digital Underground were great for those hot summer night parties.

Once the major record companies got hold of the idea that rap could be a major cash cow, they started to sign artists whose philosophy was more style than substance and groups who prospered during the heyday of rap either had to gloss their style in order to become more mainstream or disapear back into the underground. It was sad to see the artists who chose the former route sell themselves to make a quick buck. It was at this time that I deceided to get out of the genre that I loved so much.

When I heard about this album, I was overjoyed. With HBMS, you have two of the greatest hip hop producers to ever grace the sound boards coming together and producing a masterpiece, the lights of which have not been seen for quite a while. What makes this album so great is that they have invited some of the artists that shaped the glory days of rap (DJ Shadow, Del, Grand Puba, Sadat X) plus artists from totoally different genres such as Moloko and Alec Empire to create a work so varied in style, but at the same time focused into a cohesive unit. Del and Sadat are as good as they have ever been, but it is DJ Shadow and his "Holy Calamity (Bear Witnesss II)" turntablist masterpiece that steals the show. The Chris Elliot sit-com peices are also a riot.

Pick this up and you will be pleasantly surprised.

great compilation
This cd plays more like the kind of cd producers make when they want as many guest artists as possible. Dan's old friends Del and kid koala make appearances, as well as the underrated Encore, one third of de la soul, and even biz markie. The cd is often funny, although the format provides a shortage of excellent rap tracks.
Dan and Paul are two of the most funamentally solid hip hop producers out there, and they consistently deliver strong beats and a plethora of expertly used samples. The key to them making this cd so good was having the guest artists deliver.
Magnetizing, Waterworld, Once Again, and the Projects are the strongest rap tracks. The guests are all good, especially del and encore. Torch Song has an erratic freestyle thing in it and i don't know whether the rapper is taking himself seriously or not. Megaton B Boy is actually very good if you can hear the lyrics under the loud grating over distorted beat.
The songs with singing on them are a little thin, especially Sunshine, which is disappointing for all the guest artists listed. The Truth is better but moloko's lyrics aren't that interesting.
The dj songs are mostly cool. Holy calamity has a lot of energy, and even though the runway song can get kind of annoying, kid koala saves it by showing off.
The interludes are funny and the outro is even funnier. Prince paul and dan the automator are the coolest. They have delivered a consistently strong album which does about as good as any record could with so many guests.

Modeling just sucks!
This album not only has great music, but it's hilarious! The Guido Sarducci thing is beyond funny. The Chris Elliot things are great. The music can get really eccentrically trippy and good. I reccommend this to a wide variety of music listeners. ... Read more

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Digable Planets deliberately disavowed the toughness of hip-hop culture: the trio's leader called himself Butterfly, his foil Ladybug purred like Eartha Kitt, and they produced hooks out of lines like "We're just babies, man." Despite occasional flashes of sorrow (like the pro-choice recitation "La Femme Fétal"), the group's happy and laidback on this debut, with tracks made out of old jazz records and finger-snaps, and words that draw on 50s hipster slang. Reachin' spawned the Grammy-winning single "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," and after this album, their joyous Blue Note-and-black-lights bounce lost some of its novelty.--Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (34)

It's "Cool Like Dat".
"Digable Planets" just about started their own sub-genre of rap when they meshed the beats of hip-hop and the coolness of jazz together. They aren't the only ones to have ever done it, but they did it incredibly well. Some people may think of them as a one hit wonder, but if you liked "Rebirth Of Slick (cool like dat)", you'll love the whole album. Even a decade later, this is still one of the most unique albums I own, rap or not. The only current group I know similar to them might be "Jurassic 5". Other phat tracks on this disc are "It's Good To Be Here", "Pacifics", and my favorite "Where I'm From". Such good lyrics. Anyway, if you need a change from the rap norm, check out "Reachin' (a new refutation of time and space)".

I miss the early 90's
I've recently started listening to this (tape) about a week ago after a long time and then wonder what took me so long to dig the bad boy back up. Like A Tribe Called Quest's "Low End Theory", Reachin' is another album that you can play all the way through. This album is just as smooth and jazzy as the Best of Sade with a hip hop feel to it. Man, I long for jazzy hip hop to be the mainstream in pop music as long as no one loses their touch. Maybe it will happen we everyone tires of the hip hop that's out now. My favorite track are 'Jimmi Diggin' Cats', 'Femme Fatale', 'Nickel Bags' and the popular 'Rebirth of Slick'. Where are bands like Digable Planets, Arrested Development and Public Enemy when you need them.

DJ Moe Choi & Ladybug Mecca
This is one of the all time best hip-hop record ever!!! The era, the music, the vibe, the delivery, everything about this record is classic!!!!! Everybody knows Mecca is the one of the illest emcees that came in the game. Mecca is coming back!!!! Mec and her DJ - Moe Choi has a dope mixtape out called "Unfolding the Serious Mystery". This thing is fire. I mean really really crazy. I never heard a mixtape like this before. Mecca is rockin' over Mantronix to DJ Shadow to Kenny Dope, etc etc. She sounds so good. I specially love where she does spoken word over the Rehash track - beautiful & timeless. Where have you been Mec??? I really look forward to hearing her new album.

Childhood Memories
Whenever I hear "Rebirth of Slick" it brings me back and I feel like I'm 6 years old again and it's 1993. The song is just so smooth and completely unique for its time.

One of the best parts of being a teen in the 90s
I loved this cd to death. I even had the pleasure of meeting Cee-Knowledge from the group and it was a beautiful time. Real down to earth people and real music. Perhaps not always the best lyrically, but overall this was great listening. I would recommend this to anyone just for the experience. Rebirth of Slick, Where I'm from...Anyone who doesn't have it should. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's not quite the first rap record, or the best, but Rapper's Delight--15 glorious minutes of the bass line from Chic's "Good Times," with a New Jersey crew spieling goofy routines about Superman and bad food on top--is one king hell of a party-starter. After that, they could have filled the rest of the disc with crowd noise and gotten away with it, but the Sugarhill Gang had a bunch of other party-jam hits, notably the almost-as-indelible "Apache" and "8th Wonder." Those songs show up here too, along with some entertaining non-hits and "Showdown," their rap-off with the Furious Five. What they're saying isn't really the point; the point is to move the crowd, and they're still hip-hop's greatest entertainers. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Own a piece of music history with this album
Rapper's Delight is the best rap song I've ever heard, bar none. You simply don't hear rhymes like these anymore. It was a simpler and more innocent world back then, when compared to the issues they put on record these days. I only wish that more songs like this existed today. The remaining tracks are OK. An important album to own, because it's the first commercial rap song ever to made the charts. What amazes me more is the fact that how much ground this group broke and how little credit they received. They deserved a lot more. A recommended album for casual listeners and fans alike.

pretty good greatest hits collection
the reason this cd gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because I bought this cd thinking i was gonna get the full 15 minute version of rappers delight, which i didnt, so i was greatly disappointed in that. Other then that, this cd if filled with a bumch of feel good rap songs from back in the day. tracks 1 and 2 are the best in my opinion, but there arent really any BAD songs on the whole cd, seeing how it is a greatest hits cd. If your not a huge fan of sugarhill gang, just soneone looking for some good ald school rap, then go get sugarhill gangs first greatest hits cd, but if your a big sugarhill gnag fan, like me, then go pick up there first greatest hits cd and this one.

Best of the Rap Pioneers
The Sugarhill Gang were the first true Rap Artists. "Rapper's Delight", the first charted Hit emerging from the reshaped music scene, replacing the dying Disco Era, and sticking around for much longer than the predicted "6 month fad". Several MAJOR hits are in this package, all full length (7 minutes or more) versions. My personal favorite is the twangy remake of the 60's Surf Instrumental "Apache", flavored with excellent rap vocals. Fans of the Rap Music Genre will be "delighted". The price is definitely an easy sell. Good luck finding the original 12 inch Maxi Singles this cheap (if at all). The Originals are almost always the BEST. Sugarhill Gang proves the theory. Highly recommended!*****

BADBOYKILLA IS RIGHT
We gotta have respect for the Old School. Groups like The Sugar Hill Gang and A Tribe Called Quest and Run DMC basically created rap. Nelly... Nelly is Pretty good, so is Jay Z, but Project Pat? This Generation of kids and pplz are only listenin to commercial rap. For example, P. Diddy was better when he was Puff Daddy. Now Hes all bout the bling bling. Tupac... TUPAC IS THE BEST. An awesome rapper and a lyrical mastermind... you cant top that. and you cant top OLD SCHOOL... So next time you read a review, dont read a review dissin the Original Hip-Hoppers... oh yea, one more group... THE FUGEES... THE SCORE IS A LYRICAL MASTERPEICE... BUY IT!

Super Pimp is an idiot
It's idiots like Super Pimp you shouldn't listen to. It's idiots like Super Pimp who just don't appreciate where rap started. It's idiots like Super Pimp who don't even deserve to listen to rap music, real rap or crap music. Super Pimp is the prime example of what I ALWAYS talk about when I review a REAL RAP album- an idiot who listens to CRAP music. The Sugarhill Gang started this whole hip-hop thing, which means no matter what, you HAVE to have respect for these guys.

I just couldn't believe this idiot's review on these guys when I read the reviews. It really amazes me that this person, claiming he started listening to rap when gangsta rap started, actually has the guts to go out and give lip to the ones who truly started it all. And the CDs he listed that are "better" than this is just APPAULING! WHO IN THE RIGHT MIND WOULD SAY THAT GAY-Z and NELLY ARE BETTER THAN THE ONES WHO STARTED IT ALL?? Super Pimp, unless you weren't dropped on your head when you were a baby, you're the world's most stupidest idiot. By the sounds of things, you have absolutely NO IDEA what rap REALLY is. You claim that you started listening to rap when gangsta rap came out, yet I didn't see a single gangsta rap album on that list. You call Nelly and Gay-Z "gangsta rap"? Please, that's an insult! Project Pat, who the f*ck is Project Pat? Must be another stupid idiot who just doesn't understand rap music.

"This is the kind of rap that you should avoid"... Tell me fool, why is it that Sugarhill Gang gets HIGHER points for their CDs than Nelly and Gay-Z compared? BECAUSE THEY ARE BETTER THAN THEM! You are just the prime example why you shouldn't even be listening to rap music. Well of course the beats are dull, it was made back in to 70's, you stupid idiot! You seem to think you know everything about rap music when you don't know a single god-damn thing! It's boring and stupid because you cannot appreciate where rap started, which is sad really. You're a total idiot, don't even bother reviewing REAL RAP albums when you don't know what you're talking about. And believe me, you DO NOT know what you're talking about.

People, don't listen to idiots like Super Pimp. It's people like him who don't deserve to listen to rap music. The Sugarhill Gang are truly legends- they started it all. This CD is a classic, gathering their many hits. And believe me, you'll enjoy this timeless classic rather than those stupid things that belong in the trash by Gay-Z, Nelly or any worthless rapper for that matter. Stick with listening REAL RAP music, the rap coming out today is total trash and is the reason why people are calling rap "crap". Super Pimp, think before you speak ... Read more

Album Description

The soundtrack to this motion picture features new music from The RZA (Wu Tang Clan) with Lil' Flip, Ol' Dirty Bastard, WC and E-40, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, The Crystal Method, and much more. There are three editions: regular, clean, and deluxe. The deluxe edition includes a 12-page comic by Takashi Okazaki and a bonus DVD with an animated short, a story board animatic and making-of footage, character designs, Blade Manga art, a weapons gallery, behind the scenes footage of The RZA scoring the film, and more. Exclusive liner notes from director David Goyer. PARENTAL ADVISORY. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

help
what is the song that is played when blade jumps out of the building after being rescued and the three of them jump into the vehicle and drive away with the fourth guy? Sounds kinda like a reggae/hip hop mix.

Blade Trinity
The song that plays during Abby's target practice is The Crystal Method's "Starting Over."

What song is this?
What is the song that they play in Blade Trinity when Abby takes out her bow for the first time at the police station when they rescue Blade? They also play it when Blade, Abby, and King pass through the security inspection right before they get to Drake thinking that it was Dr. Vance? Also what song is it when Abby is taking target practice with her bow? If you know, please please e-mail me at Ruffnole55@aol.com

RZA - Fatal sample
the song sampled in RZA - Fatal track is by Velvet Underground and is called 'Venus In Furs' from their debut album 'Velvet Underground & Nico' released in 1969. In case anyone wants to know.

help me?
does anybody know the song which is played in the background of the blade 3 movie trailer because its not on the soundtrack album and i like the song ... Read more

Amazon.com

When you think about it, House of Pain really were ahead of their time. Tracks like "Jump Around" may have been light on the content side, but they delivered in the production department--they played with sounds in the same way that Missy Elliott and Timbaland have popularized, and they crossed over to a rock audience long before Puffy ever tried it. On Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, Everlast's second solo album, the opening is an appropriation of "The Fat Boys are Back"; a couple of songs favor a sensitive folk-rock touch, with Everlast on guitar; and others reach back for House of Pain's best rock-influenced sounds. Though plenty of others have rhymed over rock and folk tracks, Everlast has a good feel for it and his songs are solid. If this isn't a career album, it's damn close. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (291)

AMAZING TO SAY THE LEAST
For those of you who aren't familiar with Everlast,he got his start in the late '80's hiphop scene,and later went on to form House of Pain (you might know them for their 1992 hit single "Jump Around").His early material was vey good,and House of Pain,although extremely overlooked and underrated,were a GREAT group.But "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues" is the album that set a new standard in the career of the mighty one they call Whitey.There is a great variety of sounds on this album-everything from grity hardcore rap that picks up where "Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again" (H.O.P.'s final album;released in 1996) left off,to a very unique folk/blues/hiphop combo is on full display here.The album gets better and better with every song.There's even three cameo appearances in the form of answering machine messages from some of hiphop's finest (Sendog of Cypress Hill,Guru of Gangstar,and producer Prince Paul).I've listened to this album in it's entirerty so many times i lost count.Everything from the bluesy folk-rap tracks like "Ends","What It's Like",and "Today (Watch Me Shine)",to the distorted hard rock style of "Hot To Death",to the straight-up rap song's like "Tired" and "Praise the Lord", this album just downright delivers and never lets up for a second.It's imposible to pick a favorite song,but "Painkillers","Death Comes Calling", and "Get Down" definately stand out,as well as the previously mentioned "Today...". Do not,i repeat DO NOT pass this record up,it's worth every penny and then some.And if you dig this record (and trust me,you will) you should also check out "Eat at Whitey's",the most recent album from Everlast, and House of Pain's "Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again",for those are another couple of masterpieces brought to you by Sir Erik Schrody.

Everlast: Whitey Ford Sings the Blues
Ryan here, with another review. This time, it's Everlast's second solo shot in ten years, "Whitey Ford Sings the Blues". As an "at-home" music critic, I'm going to have to go with what I say whenever I'm reviewing a new album - it depends what degree of hip-hop/rock you like. If you like the aggressive, hardcore party stuff, this album's not for you. Still, Everlast, AKA Long Island's Erick Schrody dishes out some pretty bad-boy rap/rock. He takes a unique mix of hip-hop and rock music and twists and turns it into an 18-track, with 4-interludes, solid album that will bump out of an all-around hip hop fan's stereo. Here's a quick review of my personal favorite tracks.
#2 Money, Dollar Bill Y'All - This track, featuring Sadat X is a real winner among hip hop fans. Even though Whitey is white (hence the name), this track is gangsta. With thumping bass and aggressive lyrics, this is sure to satisfy any hip hop fan. Not for rockers, though.
#4 What It's Like - A major hit on alternative stations nationwide, this song focuses more on the guitar-influenced parts of Everlast's style. A slow, solemn song telling a couple stories about people that may be encountered in any community along with a great acoustic guitar performance by Everlast make this track a sure winner - among hip hop and rock fans.
#5 Get Down - This one is truly a very interesting blend of hip hop and rock. Vigorous acoustic guitar chords bang in the backround while Whitey spits his bad-boy style lyrics. This is one to love.
#7 Tired - If you need something to listen to when about to go wild, Tired is the song just for that. With bumping and consistent bass, Tired is probably one of the most hip-hop orientated songs on the album. Lyrics are quite aggressive - which sums up Everlast's style.
#9 Painkillers - This one tells about the story of a man getting shot while on a return to his hometown, New York. This is not true for Everlast - I believe he's telling another man's story. With a slow beat meant for a rap song, along with lyrics that tell quite a story, this track will appeal to all rap fans.
#11 Praise the Lord - Another hip hop orientated song, Praise the Lord helps everyone remember that the Creator himself must be remembered. E spits a few nice lyrics in the short song, with a consistent chorus. Could be longer, though.
#15 Funky Beat - A sure party anthem. Featuring Sadat X and Casual, this song has some of the most clever rhymes I've heard since Gin and Juice - dropped by these three underated hip-hoppers.

Overall, my opinion of "Whitey Ford Sings the Blues" is overall good, but a few things could have been a bit better. He turns his bad-boy style into kind of a tender style with slow beats and mellow acoustic solos on tracks 12 and 17. Otherwise, I think this album is a sure winner. But as I said earlier - it depends on what kind of hip-hop or rock you like - but for an all around hip hop fan like me, it's sure to be in my CD tray often.
Thanks for reading.

Sing whitey sing!!!!
If you're looking for an album that'll lift you, amp you, make you think, make you "get down" and entertain you, then look NO further...."whitey ford sings the blues" is for you. Its perfectly balanced with anthems like "get down", "praise the lord", funky beat", "money" and "next man" to get you amped. There's jams on there like "what its like", "ends", "today" "the letter" and "7years" to give you an accurate look at everyday life and makes you think. Songs like "death comes callin'", "painkillers" and "tired" just entertain you with tights rhymes and heavy basslines+beats. The ONLY track i dont like is "hot to death". Apart from that,its brilliant. The production is airtight, as you would expext from the SD50's. His husky voice is excellent when he's singing and its phenomenal when spitting a verse. TOP NOTCH.

Whitey Ford
"Whitey Ford Sings The Blues" is one of my favorite albums ever and Everlast is just wonderful. I first got into Everlast back in dec 2002 but I knew about him way before that. I remember when I was 9 seeing his video for "What It's Like" I always loved the video and the song. Everlast was a good songwriter in House Of Pain but the songs he wrote than were more like party songs. But,since "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues" he's really shown how great of a songwriter he is and what he writes rally has meanings. Everlast truly is a wonderful rapper/singer/songwriter and a good person too. His music has really touched me and I hope maybe one I'll get to meet him. "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues" is a wonderful album. Every Everlast fan should buy this!

The White Boy Is Back!!!!
This album is one word incredible. Everlast has grown up a lot (he had a heart attack during recording which changed his outlook on life) and diversified his music a lot. Instead of being a hard rappin bad boy, Ev is now a soulful troubador who does a little bit of everything. The sound of this album continued blazing a trail that House of Pain started, meaning the sounds that come out are unique in how they mix hip-hop beats and rock melodies, along with some pure songs of each. Ev's voice is gruff as ever, but he uses it to sing some hearty blues as well as spit out a flow or diss people (he beat Eminem down in their battle, despite what the MTV loving teenybopper below says). The key to this album is the great songwriting: tunes like What It's Like, Today, Tired, Get Down and the rest are just blazing, and sound like no other album you've heard. There are awesome guest spots too. There are great rap jams (Tired, Funky Beat, Money) more rock-based tracks (Ends, Today, What It's Like, Hot to Death) and some that combine everything into classic tracks like Death Come Callin, but everything here is top-notch and unique. Even straight up piano blues like 7 Years (the last thing you'd expect from Ev) is a nice twist. Don't mind, as E says, "the haters mad cause I got floor seats at the Lakers" check this album and you'll put this Whitey Ford in his own Hall of Fame. ... Read more