Reviews (11)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

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

Reviews (289)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Latin Simone(4/10)BAD!

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

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

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

Dracula(9/10)OK.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

At a time when experimentation is taboo in most overground rap, that’s all Outkast seem intent on executing. Firstly, this double CD has no cohesive link, other than the fact that it sounds like a pair of solo albums stitched together to demo exactly how Andre’s yin works to augment Big Boi’s yang. Andre 3000’s Love Below disc rates as the more eclectic of the two, given that he’s turned in his emcee credentials to become a full-on funk-soul-jazz vocalist who mostly sings about items of love ("Happy Valentine's Day"), carnal lust ("Spread"), and female adoration ("Prototype"). Minus the big band schmaltz of "Love Hater" and cheesy cover jobs ("My Favorite Things"), Andre’s disc is sick (meaning great). As is to be expected, the Big Boi disc is less arty, more gangsta and worldly, and features the less-progressive guest raps of ATL crunk purveyors Lil’ Jon and The Eastside Boyz ("Last Call") and Jay-Z who rhymes the hook on "Flip Flop Rock". Unlike Big Boi, Andre keeps his collabos to a minimum, once crooning alongside Norah Jones on the cool yet sappy "Take Off Your Cool", and once with Kelis. Boi fulfills his Dungeon Family duty with flying colors by flipping some dirty southern up-tempo raps over electro beats on "GhettoMusick". By the time Cee-Lo sermonizes on "Reset", Speakerboxx and Love Below rate mostly as majestic and inspiring, with the remaining 23 per cent being just plain incredible --Dalton Higgins ... Read more

Reviews (722)

Thank You Andre!
This is by far the most refreshing cd, hip hop or whatever genre, I've heard since I can remember. I cannot stop playing "the love below" because it is simply a stroke of genius. Mainstream heads will sleep on it because like most people who bought the cd just for "way you move", they're looking for something mindless and dull. If that's the case, go cop DMX, Nelly or some other repetitive, boring, follow the leader type music.
Yeah we know what you want..."true"outkast fans want an album just like "ATLiens". But you know what? As much as I would like to see that too...it's not reality. Think about it. The reason outkast is so dope is because they're constantly pushing the hip hop boundaries. They're pushing the boundaries on speakerboxx/love below just like they did in 95. And some of you might not think so now, but this is a true classic, ahead of its time and one day you'll see.
Speakerboxx to me, is sort of half genius, half average. The more I listen to it though the more I like it, because it kind of combines all 4 albums together into one. My favorite on skrbxx is probably "reset" which has so much ATLiens feel I swear it was a last second cut from the actual album.
The Love Below is just genius. Only way to describe. I truly do feel for the people who don't feel this album, because what the h*** are they listening to??? You all are missing out on so much! And I really don't mind if people don't feel this album because everyone is entitled to their opinion, but don't say andre 3000 is being different just for the sake of being different. Because that is such BS. If you can't hear good music when you hear it, than sucks to be you.
It's hard to say which is my favorite song because I truly, DO like them all, but I really like "she lives in my lap", "love hater", "Roses", "dracula's wedding" and "take off your cool"(altough that was too short!).
Overall, 5 stars to love below, 4 stars to speakerboxx
and outkast: Keep doin your thang...

The odd couple
Not sure exactly how to react to this double-set quite yet. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below are two very diverse records from one another, simply put. First off, Big Boi presents Speakerboxxx, a collection of songs any fan of Outkast will recognize. The beats are reminiscent of old 'Kast material without the strange element Andre brings to the table. Big Boi also has his share of guest artists that help showcase the more gangsta half of the group. "Unhappy" is a smooth track that is sure to please any and all ear drums with an appearance by Sleepy Brown. "Tomb of the Boom" is a tight track with spots from Ludacris, Big Gipp, and KONKRETE. "Flip Flop Rock", another highlight which sounding reminiscent to Aquemini's "Chonkyfire", features Jay-Z and Big Boi's protege, Killer Mike. Also check out "War", "Ghettomusick", and "Church".
Ah, then there's Dre. The quirky, silly-dressed half of the legend of Outkast. Don't expect another Speakerboxxx. The Love Below is not necessarily what you want playin' in ur ride. Other than the lead-off single, "Hey Ya", this record is different from anything ever recorded. With jazzy-laced tracks in full control of this disc, Andre proves to be the more creative half of the duo, not just different. Not a sound for everyone, this disc should be left up to the listener to determine how it sounds, that's it. All in all, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is another appreciatable effort from Outkast in their attempt to be different from anything on the market. How they could possibly get any more diverse is unclear and mind-blowing in itself.

HOTT
ok. these CDs are both awesome and entertaining. and although i do love Andre (fav songs on his CD are Happy Valentines Day, Behold A Lady, and Pink&Blue) i wanna give more credit to Big Boi. Ok speakerboxxx most def has not gotten his fair cut out of the Outkast fame, i absolutely LOVE his CD, more than the Love Below. He's got some really great beats, and Number 4, Bowtie, should have definitly been a single. anyway yeah hope this helps!

The lyrics
Ok, the lyrics are pointless i must admit but its the music that counts to me! The way they play music is unbelievable!!!! They used to be this wierd band that just came out of nowhere and sang "Sorry Miss Jackson" and that was it!

A few years later, look how much they are proressing! It's like from Model T Ford to Porsche Carrera GT! The first thing was good, at the time!

Roses is a great track and i just love the style of music, piano towards trumpets! Classic!

playaz fall
stick together. afromanmusic.com. sign up for the street team. get your money's worth and buy the new disc ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rapper and producer Lyrics Born was part of the fertile Bay Area underground rap scene for a decade before he finally dropped his debut Later That Day in 2003. That highly-anticipated album was really good, if not a little samey. See, LB. had made his rep largely by collaborating with others, spicing up tracks by the likes of Blackalicious, Tommy Guerero, and Poets of Rhythm. When it came to crafting his own album on his own time, he didn’t fall flat by any means, but something of that sense of crazy urgency was lacking. And here we have a remix album that trumps the original, showing that Lyrics Born was truly meant to work with others. He’s got quite a crew helping him too, DJ Spinna, , KRS-One, and Dan the Automator among them. It’s fun, weird, and flows really well despite the crazy eclectic style. Hooray.--Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Vibrant
This would be my first Lyrics Born purchase, with limited instances of hearing him before. LB is an MC hard to pinpoint. You can easily say that he is an all-around MC. This is the most eclectic Hip Hop album to come out this year, no doubt.
Most of my favorites came near the beginning. "Hello" gets me really amped, and is a very fun song that doesn't resort to destructive lyrics. "Pack Up(remix)" w/Evidence and KRS-One is a full-blown banger, and is really enhanced with the last verse done by the legendary Teacha. "I'm Just Raw" is an awkward, but infectious, battle track, while "Do That There" is just nuts. Very unique! That moves into "I Changed My Mind" where he begins crooning, and is the best instance of that off the whole album. I liked this song too. LB is too versatile for his own good! I mean that in a good way. It's very natural when he switches up from flowing one track to crooning the next. You may barely even notice if you're not paying close enough attention.
"The Last Trumpet" w/Latryx mate Lateef is a pulsating rallying call, and has some really nice political and social lyrics with great chemistry between the two. I actually enjoyed the slower "Over You"(w/ his wife Joyo Velarde) and enjoyed the next one "I Can't Wait For Your Love"(w/ Joyo again) even more. I'm a sucker for lyrics, and while I didn't find LB is be a superior lyricist, his eclecticism and versatility is irrefutable. Plus, he does flex lyrical muscles on tracks like "Do That There" and "The Last Trumpet," among others.
Overall, the eclecticism and production make this album a winner. The production is great throughout, and is as eclectic as LB's styles. There are instances of funk, soul/R&B, hard bass, and just pure Hiphop that give this album such a vibrant quality. For now, it's one of the better Hip Hop albums of the year, and something worth checking out. The excellent bonus DVD makes the purchase a wise investment.

Lyrics Born Joins Quannum's Top Ranks

It's 2005 and, since his beginnings as MC Asia Born, Lyrics Born has undergone a massive artistic transformation. The high-pitched freestyle ramblings, off-kilter flows, and nonconformity that once defined Latyrx and the Quannum Projects collective are completely absent from "Same !@#$ Different Day."

Instead, LB has mastered his craft as both a versatile emcee and, in the post-Jay-Z era of hip-hop, involuntary businessman. The insipid beats found on "Later That Day" have been replaced with top-notch production from Jumbo The Garbageman, Dan The Automator, Chief Xcel, and DJ Shadow; and the album also includes a DVD chronicling Lyrics Born's career.

But the true highlight of "SSDD" is LB's phenomenal range. He gets downright funky one minute ["Do That There (Hoo Hoo Mix)"], and then vents all of his angers and frustrations the next ("Shake It Off"). On "I'm Just Raw," LB utilizes a Stuart Smalley (of SNL fame) phrase to belittle his competitors, and then croons his heart out on "I Change My Mind (Rattlesnake Mix)." The already larger-than-life political anthem, "The Last Trumpet," is remixed into a Latyrx classic; complete with paranoid whispers, a DJ Shadow scratch solo, and progressive warnings of the country Americans REALLY live in. The album then climaxes with "I Can't Wait For Your Love," LB and Chief Xcel's ode to committed couples, and "Callin' Out (Remix)," where E-40 and Casual drop candy-painted flows bound to get a few rumps shaking.

In terms of faults, the sequencing on "SSDD" could have been better. DJ Spinna's remix of "I Changed My Mind" is both poorly executed and blatantly unnecessary, while Morcheeba's remix of "Stop Complaining" would have fit in around mid-album.

Other than that, however, Lyrics Born has created his most cohesive album - group-wise or solo - with "SSDD." The album deserves your ducats for its sheer positivity and ambitious lyricism, if not for its rock solid production. Lyrics Born - already the best live performer in Quannum - can now claim bragging rights as one of the label's premier artists; and after 12 years of grinding it out on the independent hip-hop scene, those rights are well deserved.

quit bein stupid and buy this album.
maybe i'm just nuts, in fact i probably am.at least that's what my last therapist said.regardless - this is the best hiphop album to drop in 2005 - all you palookas out there still listenin to lame hip POP need to toss out your old eminem, 50 cent, li'l jon, and... well you get the idea.use 'em for coasters or somethin'.but LISTEN to this cd.even better get it on 12".this is the truest and illest hiphop currently, the fact that The Blastmaster Himself KRS-One appears on the album should be proof enough of that for any true hed.can we get Chuck D on the next Quannum?i WISH someone would bring back '88... before hiphop went all screwy.LB and crew (and special honored guests) are here to straighten it, and YOU, out.word.

Quannum does not disappoint...
I found this CD yesterday on accident. I'm a HUGE fan of all of the Quannum artists (Blackalicious, Lateef, Joyo Velarde, DJ Shadow) and was just looking around in the L section of the record store when I saw this. Now I usually wouldn't buy a 'remix' album. I mean, I assume that it would just be the same songs rehashed. But I knew this one would be different. I was right. This is an AMAZING CD with new songs as well as great takes on old favorites. Here's how I rated each song:

1. Intro (4 Stars) - Well, this is an intro... but it keeps with the same vein as LTD, and I liked the ambient feel.

2. Hello (5 Stars) - Wow, I haven't heard much of Lifesavas, but their production can be felt on here. Easily as funky as DJ Shadow or Lyrics Born's own beats, this is a great song to start the album off with. (It's weird that it ENDED the last CD). Very dancable.

3. Pack Up (4 Stars) - This was a great song, and it was great to hear the Godfather, KRS-One, as well as Evidence spitting on this track. It wasn't as unique as the others, so I don't give it five stars, but still a song to bump in your car.

4. I'm Just Raw (4.5 Stars) - Very funny and intelligent battle rap. Good to hear a rapper come up with reasons why he's good besides his b*****s and money.

5. Do That There (5 Stars!) - Wow, one of my favorite moments on LTD was the nonsense of the third verse of Do That There, and him rhyming 100 words that were off-the-wall. Now he gives us a WHOLE song where he does this, and it rivals the flowing ability of Gift of Gab. My third favorite song on this CD.

6. I Changed My Mind (Rattlesnake Mix) (4 Stars) - Very funky, very original. I like hearing Lyrics Born belt the funk and take a break from rap, but seemed too long after a while.

7. Bad Dreams Interlude (5 Stars) - Great way to remind us of the FIRST Bad Dreams cut.

8. Shake It Off (5 Stars and more...) - This is my favorite song on the CD, and the one where he doesn't rap. A lot of people where tripping when he sang on his first CD, but people don't realize that this is Bay Area HIP-HOP, not RAP. Hip-Hop is being funky, and flowing over a great DJ or producer, whether it be singing or rapping. And he really funks it up to the level of Sly or P-Funk.

9. The Last Trumpet (4.5 Stars) - First mellow song, and done properly by DJ Shadow. I enjoyed it, but it still seemed too similar to the first cut, so I couldn't give it 5 stars.

10. Over You (3.5 Stars) - Not totally feeling this one yet, may need to listen to it in the right mood. Not bad, but his next track is a better duet with Joyo.

11. I Can't Wait For Your Love (5 Stars) - This song is more proof that Lyrics CAN speed it up AND slow it down whenever he darn well feels like it. And I'm not stopping him. Very poignant song.

12. The Bay (4 Stars) - Nice song, good to hear a shout-out to the area responsible for such great underground hip-hop. I wasn't feeling the LB feel as much on this, but a great track nonetheless.

13. Callin' Out (4.5 Stars) - And here, the funk comes back in. Tight track, E-40 should've rapped at his normal pitch, but overall keeps the party goin'.

14. Outro (5 Stars) - Nice outro, tones it down for us.

15. Stop Complaining (5 Stars) - Holy crap, more songs? Nice! This is my 2nd fav, and it's VERY funky. I actually didn't like the beat at all on the original, but I can listen to this song 5 times in a row, and STILL hit repeat. LB & Capricorn work well together.

16. I Changed My Mind (DJ Spinna mix) (3.5 Stars) - It was a good song, but it wasn't right for this CD. If it was on a DJ's CD, or maybe on a more relaxed CD, I wouldn't mind. But I'd rather listen to the Stereo MC's version to keep with the LB funk explosion.

Overall, this CD is well worth its money, and I would've even payed double for it. I played it at a party that same night (last night), and had all the girls dancing in a second. Get this CD if you like funk, underground hip-hop, soul, or if you're just looking for that feel-good CD.

LB remixed
"Same S!@#$ Different Day" is one of those rare occurances where the remix album is stronger than the original album.I thought the original Later That Day was good but it didn't do that much for me.This remix album is underground hiphop from the bay area, with good beats.

The Quannum-label as usual, means it's good stuff.The beats are stronger on the remix album.The songs seem to have more energy.

It's odd that the album is tighter on the second go-around.Well worth the affordable list price! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Nice departure from the mainstream crap
If you're sick of the mainstream trite crap, check this out.Walking Dead with Chester Bennington is a dope track along with the stellar effort from Chuck D and a few other less know MC's that add their talent to several tracks accompanied by Z-Trip's renowned skills on the wheels of steel.

Average cd from a great DJ
"Shifting Gears" is a decent, good, not great, release from the extremely talented DJ Z-Trip.Z-Trip was the king of the mashup before it became the trendy hip, cool thing to do."Uneasy Listening" is a classic, if you can somehow locate it.

"Shifting Gears" is more of a regular producer album with a bunch of guest MC's.It's very similar to DJ Babu of Dilated Peoples cd.It's very up and down: some MC's are good, some not so good.I guess it depends on which rappers you like/dislike; that may affect your opinion a lot.

Luckily, the last song Revolution features his classic mashup mixing.His ability to blend two completely irrelevant records together into something tight is amazing.

I think it's too bad the whole album wasn't mostly instrumentals with a few vocalists scattered throughout.Instead it's a mostly average guest-MC-vocal album with a few fantastic instrumentals thrown about.Three stars.It's reasonably priced too, which is great!

Goddamm that DJ made my day !!
Having followed Mr Z since about 98, he finally releases a mainstream CD, which is something of a departure, believe me, trying to get hold of anything from this elusive DJ is a result.So has he sold out ??No, he definitely has not, although this is not Uneasy Listening Vol 2, its not a mix CD, although all tracks blend into each other effortlessly.The tracks are so diverse, you never know what to expect next, soul, funk, rock, hip hop and that is Z-Trip`s trade mark, never a dull moment throughout.Some purists might persist that this is a confused CD, trust me he has hit the mark, when listening to this CD you're feelings are taken for a journey of bends, you just cant see what's coming !!Drill Sergeants, Breakfast Cereal's, ambient wave sounds lapping on a beach, yes really !!Suffice to say at the prices I have seen this CD for, you really cant go wrong, the only catch being that you will want more and more of this maestro of the decks, and as you will soon find out, that is not such an easy journey :>)

On a personal note, the outstanding track for me is "Shock and Awe" such power and emotion from a song, listen to the lyric's,Z-Trip and Chuck D it really doesn't get deeper or nastier !!

Good, but not THAT good
Being from AZ I've seen this dude live and own some of his underground cd's.So I know how sick this guy is. This cd is good, but it's not sick.Z is very capable of making some sick sounds, but his full talent isn't really present on this cd.One of the other reviewers said that Z couldn't get a lot of his samples cleared, and I think that hurt him.This is a very solid cd, but lacks in something that doesn't make it a five star.the song with murs and super nat is my fav on the cd.If you're looking for a good "mixed tape" cd check out Prefuse 73's Surrounded by Silence, which is pure butter.

Classic
Seriously, if you want some music that not only stands out but that will stand the test of time, this is it. one listen and already i can feel how much energy went into this. this album is exactly what i wanted. Buy this now and you will not regret it

Peace ... Read more

Amazon.com

More than a mere rap album, Mos Def's long-awaited The New Danger combines hip-hop, blues, soul, and rock in an 18-track package that seeks to transcend convention. In that sense, it shares a similar spirit with Andre 3000's The Love Below or Common's Electric Circus, with mixed results. Mos's reputation has been built on the strength of his lyrical charisma, and songs like "Close Edge," "Grown Man Business," and "Sunshine" show that his skills haven't faded just because he's Emmy-nominated. He's already proven that he can cut more than just street heat--best evinced on the soulful, poetic "Umi Says," a surprise hit from his previous release, 1999's Black on Both Sides. Yet, the rock- and blues-inspired songs here, while by no means poor, are acquired tastes, given their tendency to noodle--they simply can't compare with Mos's cutting verbal displays. The album's length and sometimes clunky sequencing can make for challenging listening, especially when so many of his more experimental cuts come early on. New fans might find the album's eclecticism intriguing, although older fans will likely be a bit perplexed. --Oliver Wang ... Read more

Amazon.com

Their remake of "Killing Me Softly" was the hit, but that's only the beginning of the story. A hip-hop trio whose talents reach out into the world of the pop song (Wyclef Jean is a fine guitar player, and Lauryn Hill's a heck of a singer), the Fugees are also all distinctive, inventive rappers--you find yourself waiting for each of them to take the next verse in turn. The beats are the familiar crossed-armed boom-bip, but the group's understated grooves and subtle effects lie low in the mix. Aside from two kicky covers of classics (the other is Marley's "No Woman, No Cry"), The Score'sfocus is on the stars' rhyming with the free-form grace of performance poets and showing that they've thought deeply about the issues they raise. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (60)

"It's Time To Settle The Score!"
What can I say? The Score by the Fugees was definitely their best effort. While the group soon split up and the members, with the exception of Lauryn, tried to capture the Fugees' formula with less success, The Score still stands the test of time. On this release, the Fugees matured from Blunted On Reality and became much more focused. The beats are interesting relying on nice drum and bass lines mixed with reggae, soul, and lots of hip-hop flavor. The lyrics are very good, and the group seems very confident and relaxed when it comes to the delivery. Check out the classic "Fu-Gee-La," the Diamond produced title track, and the posse cut "Cowboys" featuring members of the Outsidaz. And of course, the two cover tunes work. Lauryn proves she is a great singer on "Killing Me Softly" while the "No Woman, No Cry" cover adds a new twist to the classic Bob Marley song. The only low points with this album might be the skits which can get monotonous and stupid after a while. Otherwise, The Score definitely deserves a listen.

A 5 Mic classic according to the Source and Me
This one was a massive comercial sucess in 1996 here is the song
by song review of the Fugees score album.
2.How many Mics-Classic freestyle joint like for Supernat this is not as good as those versions but it is very tight 10/10
3.Ready are Not-One of my favorite rap songs 10/10
4.Zealots-Early 60s 10/10
5.The Beast-Great Produced Album this is tight 10/10
6.Fu Gee La-I was always a fan of the Fugees this tight 10/10
7.Family-They did great on this album 10/10
8.Killing me Softly-Hip Hop Soul classic 10/10
9.The Score-Carribean feel I did not no Pras was this tight 10
10.The Mask-This albums got it all rap-hip hop-raggae not his usual stuff and also Soul 10/10
11.Cowboys-this is pretty raw all of it MCs 10/10
12.No Women Cry-I guess a cover 10/10
13.Manifest-I love the Carribean feel to this album 10/10
16.Mista Mista-Accoustic Guitar pretty tight 10/10
This Album sounds great I have been sleeping.
Lyrics 10/10 Production 10/10 X Factor 10/10 Style 10/10 Voice10

Music 10/10 Innovative 10/10 Classic 10/10 Guest 10/10 Blends 10
Overall 100 This album sounds completely Masterpiece the Source
was good for giving the Fugees there respect they deserve this is a 5 Mic Classic wich is *****Classic

This Is Hip-Hop
"The Score" is one of those unique albums that can never be outdone. Wyclef Jean, Pras, and Lauryn Hill all work together in giving us this classic sophmore album. Guest appearences by John Forte(a member of the Refugee Family), Tha Outsidaz(Rah Digga, Young Zee, Pacewon), Diamond-D, and Omega all do well, but it's really the main trio that make this album great. Wyclef's crazy flow, Pras' laidback rhyming, and Lauryn's angellic voice bring a beautiful flava to this LP that no one else could've done. "How Many Mics" is an example of all three members rhyme skills, especially Pras' who spits, ("too many MC's not enough mics, exit your show like I exit the turnpike"). "Ready or Not" is one of my all time favorite songs, because of the cool beat and the memorable last lines of Wyclef Jean("I think not I'll send a letter to my friends, a born again hooligan only to be king again") and Lauryn's opening line("I play my enemies like a game of chess") and lastly Pras' opening("ready or not refugees taking over"). "Zealots" is a well made song in which Wyclef sings the hook and Lauryn teaches Hip-Hop physics over an amazing beat. But it is Pras who delivers the best lyrical verse("I compress sound sets with my rap DBX, then drop vocals on my 456MPEX, bring terror to the shop of horror, as you cry meamore, the phantom dies in the opera"). "The Beast" is a weirder song and not one of my favorites, though it is not to be skipped. "Fu-Gee-La" is another favorite of mine because of its Caribbean lyrics and beat, and amazing chrorus by Lauryn. "Family Business" is a sad song but another great one with guest rappers Omega and John Forte, rhyming over a frantic beat with a verse surprisingly by Pras(it's the only chorus he does on the whole album). "Killing Me Softly" is a solo song by Lauryn Hill who remakes the song with a Hip-Hop groove. "The Score" is quite simply a lyrical song, produced and guest featuring Diamond-D, the trio drop some of their best rhymes in between a scratched hook. "The Mask" is another good song, with a great chorus and verses. "Cowboys" is the gangsta western song featuring Tha Outsidaz. The mix of Carribean rhymes and hardcore rap is amazing and turns out good, even with the oh-lae-he chorus by Wyclef. "No Woman, No Cry" is another remake, this time of Bob Marley's classic song(Wyclef solo). "Outro(Manifest)" isn't an outro but another real lyrical song where you can actually hear the anger in the trio's voices. The first and best remix of "Fu-Gee-La" is the last great song on the album. The final remix of the song isn't very memorable and not one of my favorites. The final song "Mista, Mista" is very confusing. It's a sad song but you can't help laughing at the constant cussing through the whole song.

The main point is that "The Score" is one of the many classic rap albums of the 90's and was very groundbreaking, because it brought Hip-Hop to the entire world. If you like this album go pick up the trio's solo albums:

*Wyclef Jean- "The Carnival"
*Lauryn Hill- "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"
*Pras- "Ghetto Supastar"
*Wyclef Jean- "Ecleftic: 2 Sides 2 A Book"
*Wyclef Jean- "Masquerade"
*Wyclef Jean- "The Preacher's Son"

The Fugees are broken up now, but they will always be remembered as one of the greatest and most creative rap group of all time.

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ONE OF THE BEST !
The Fugees are definitely the most complete group of all times. TLC, WuTang, etc all are real good groups, however The Fugees integrated every form of music into rap and made hiphop globally respected. Their themes and videos were the best of all times. The Score is really a street classic. From " Ready or not", cowboys, "the beast". Everything is tight. Lauryn is fascinating though. She really makes fugees what it all is. their breakup is a great loss to the enrichment of hiphop.

The Score [EXPLICIT LYRICS]
The Score [EXPLICIT LYRICS]~ The Fugees is avery good album with great fun and good lyrics. Hill is a good singer and the other guys prevent her from getting to cynical and boring which is her tendency otherwise. A very good album and one should buy it ... Read more

Amazon.com

Badu and her large turban appeared out of nowhere in early 1997, on a murmuring, romantic album that trod the median between old-school soul and contemporary electronic R&B. Badu's songs, especially the hit "On & On" and the catchy "Certainly," recall Sade in their polished, subtle sexiness. Badu almost never raises her voice--save the occasional "ooh-wee!" exultation--but she skillfully uses repetition and chanting to empower her words. Later portraying a beautiful swamp queen, she was one of the only good things about the movie Blues Brothers 2000. --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (83)

My Personal Favorite Album
Erykah Badu is a very gifted & talented singer, songwriter and actress. Her soothing blends of old-school jazz & soul influences create an amazing backdrop of seductive beats, and a distinctive vocal style. With a musical approach that contains highly mature lyrics, Badu scats her way through an album of masterpieces.

From the opening "Rimshot Intro" all the way to the closing "Rimshot Outro", Badu offers us an in depth look into her wonderful life filled with poetic visions and respected insights. "On & On" is a treasure, as is the hip-hop influenced "Apple Tree". "Otherside of the Game" is silky smooth and my personal favorite track "Next Lifetime" is a tale of reincarnated love.

Though some found "Afro" humarious, it carried a very distinct message, that Badu plays nobodys fool. Other sure fire favorites include "Certainly", "Four Leaf Clover", "Drama" and "Sometimes".

The lyrical content varies from track to track, and its nice to hear Badu's unique style of blended music put together onto one terrific album. She is definetly gifted and I hope that all her releases leave me as happy as this one in the future.

Good Sleepytime Music...
Odd as it sounds, I really enjoy listening to this album when I'm sleepy. It lets me relax and eventually fall dead asleep. The rhythm and music is just so soothing and relaxing. This definatly isn't driving music if that's what you're looking for. Though some of the songs on this album sound the same, I give Erykah Badu credit because she was truley an influence in modern day r&b and soul, thus paving the way for such artists as Angie Stone and Macy Gray. She is definatly an interesting figure in the music industry, known for her body jewlery and hair raps (I remember hearing Billy Crystal commenting at the Academy Awards on her infamous hair wrap: "They finally found the last missing Oscar. It was found under Erykah Badu's wrap." LOL) Hit songs include "On & On", "Appletree" and one of my favorites, "Certainly." Another song I also enjoy is the catchy, "4 Leaf Clover" as well as the "Intro" and "Outro." "Next Lifetime" I also remember hearing on the radio and is catchy as well. So, if you're interested in modern Soul/R&B that you can relax to (Whether it be at dinner or going to bed) this CD is reccomended.

Next lifetime
This is one of the best debuts ever. She put her foot in this one along with her other cds. She created a new field in R&B with her new sound. Her album can fit any mood and make you feel like a glass of wine and just relax.It starts off with the mind moving (Rimshot) and flows all the way through with hits like Otherside of the game, Sometimes, No love and maymore. This is one Cd that I can listen 2 all the way through with out pause or fast forward. She hit a home run with this one . If you like this one you will love Momma's Gun and fall in love with her latest cd Worldwide Underground its hot along with her concert.

how cynical can erykah badu be?
i love badu's voice, i love the music, but i cannot stomach how her lyrics convey such cynicism and bitterness. listening to "lifetime" makes me utterly depressed that this woman in her lyrics cannot hope that she can get the man she wants in her present lifetime, perhaps a bit later than sooner. the lyrics in "certainly" give me the impression that badu deliberately preaches that alienation is her life script. has she gone through horrible relationships which reflect in her lyrics? again, i love her voice; billie holiday's sensuality comes to mind when i listen to this CD. the music is amazing; jazzy, soulful, smooth, and entralling. i'm not saying that erykah should sing about all things hunky-dory, but enough with the cynicism.

A cooled debut...
Erykah Badu was part of that neo-soul movement from the mid to late 90s that were trying to make REAL R&B rather than all the bad boy hip hop kinda mess that most acts were making. 'Baduism' is a real cool debut, a nice collection of chilled, jazzy numbers about love & spiritualism etc. The main song here is 'On & On', the big single that I personally can play over and over. But there's a lot of other good stuff here, the production is inventive and Badu has a nice style. 'Next Lifetime' is a deep & meaningful song with a lot of truth. All the melodies here are real nice and the album is likely to stay in your hifi for a long time. Well Recommended for those in need of some intelligent R&B. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After a five-year hiatus, superstar producers Prince Paul (De La Soul) and Dan the Automator (Gorillaz) join forces again, assembling an even more eclectic and arguably more rewarding sequel to 1999's So… How's Your Girl? Most producer-based albums suffer from guest overload, and certainly Handsome Boy has a challenge in juggling over 25 different cameos, ranging from Del Tha Funkee Homosapien to Barrington Levy to Pharrell Williams to Cat Power to John Oates to… you get the idea. Yet they thrown down with such creative aplomb that you're just thankful to have a ticket for the ride. The vibe jumps from the soulful slide of "Breakdown" (feat. Jack Johnson) to the high-powered hip-hop of "If It Wasn't for You" (feat. De La Soul and Starchild Excalibur) to the indescribably dense "Rock and Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This) Part 2," which includes DJ Qbert, Lord Finesse, and Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda among other guests. There's so much to digest as Paul and Dan stock the album with a wide range of treats, and each listen reveals something new and delightful. --Oliver Wang ... Read more

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You get the feeling Mike Patton did his time with major label bands like Faith No More and Mr. Bungle merely as a way to fund the stuff he's really into. He's got a solo project called Peeping Tom that includes collaborations with Massive Attack and Amon Tobin; the fourth album from his experimental instrumental outfit, Fantomas; and guest spots on Björk's Medulla and Handsome Boy Modeling School's White People. At the front of the pack is this collaboration with Oakland, California turntable crew the X-ecutioners. Using the group's punctuated scratches and samples as raw material, Patton builds a symphony of cut-and-paste chaos over which he applies his trademark shrieks and growls. It's clearly not for everyone, but those who found Jay-Z and Linkin Park's Collision Course a little too sterile will definitely find something to gape over. -- Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of a kind Hip-hop . . .
. . . from Mike Patton and the great X-ecutioners.Lots of commentary on the album that I won't go into here. (Suffice it to say, it's both entertaining and subtle while being not-so-subtle.)
Patton sings his heart out on some tracks, in a very polished, poppy way we've not heard in a while, and the X-ecutioners are as impeccable as ever throughout.

Pick it up, put it on and enjoy. It's delicious.

Rap-a-tap-a-tap-a-Jazz
Causa efecto, reacción! Se subentiende quien gana en esta batalla de scratch, samples y trastornados ruidos vocales en esta guerra entre Mike Patton y The E xecutioners
General Patton :10
The E Xecutioners:01
La mayoria de los ritmos latinos, étnicos y el swing, ya se están convirtiendo en una característica reconocible para los seguidores de este vocalista compositor solista, lo que transforma a este disco en uno mas de su coleccion particular, pero sin restar meritos al trio de scratch, quienes aportan una gran técnica y dominio en la tornamesa, dándole características impresindible para la realización de este disco.
La utilización de ritmos hip-hop, podrían hacerte creer que se trata de un disco de rap, pero mas bien parece ser una composición de "Avant Rap", ya que no encontrarás un vocalista freestyle, sinó a Patton.
Con cierta similitud al proyecto "Moonracker" (sin discos editados), este disco juego con los cambios de ritmo inesperados, ruidos indecifrables y tecnología en demasía, pero con un nivel muy superior por sobre una improvisación en vivo.
Si te gusta "Naked City" en su epoca "Torture Garden" este disco te vá a gustar, pero si esperas escuchar un rap de "Doctor Alban" este disco no es para ti.
"Get Up, Punk", "Fire In The Hole" y "L.O.L" son los track mas Pop y orejas (con una composición convencional) listos para la fiesta (o para escucharlos con tu nena, ya que Patton que no olvidó su lado sensual de "Lovage"), el resto son temas de no mas de 1:30 minutos con cambios de ritmos constantes y saturantes cada 3 segs. Y otros temas de 3:00 minutos mas atmosfericos y constantes, lo que lo transforma en un disco que no se formará en una tortura musical, pero recuerda, estás en medio de una batalla y estos tipos se dan con todo.

A Collaboration of Legends
Simply amazing.Those are the two words that went through my mind after I listened to this album two times through.Being a fan of both sides of this collaboration, I had very high hopes.The entire 3 months before this arrived on the shelves I had contemplated and considered the idea that my hopes may be too high, that I was only setting myself up for disappointment.Not only did this meet my expectations, it managed to exceed them.The X-ecutioners are as sharp as ever, reminding me of their absolutely stellar preformance and Bonnaroo last year.No other ensemble can work those turntables quite like DJ Rob Swift, Grandmaster Roc Raida, and DJ Total Eclipse.Their albums most always involve guests, but they always outshine said guests.Not here, but then again, this is no ordinary guest.Mike Patton has always pushed the envelope, challenged us to question what we know as music, and brought us what is truly music.From absolutely stellar groups such as Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, and Fantomas, Mr. Patton has very rarely let me down.If you enjoy Fantomas's first album or Mr. Bungle's "Disco Volante" you should enjoy this.If you are an X-ecutioners guy, give this a shot.If you dig it, and you are open to experience truly challenging music, I'd give the two afformentioned albums a good listen.If this is your first time with both sides, I'd recommend the X-Men's "Genocide in Sudan" and Faith No More's "Angel Dust" as starter albums.

Genre bending jump cut hip hop.
This one is really intriguing--vocal acrobat Mike Patton goes to war, sometimes literally, with turntable army The X-ecutioners.I'm a big proponent of turntablism, and I enjoy the fusion of Patton's avant-garde and rock sensibilities with the the X-ecutioners.

Much of this is scratches, screams, yelps, effects, noises, etc. interspersed with bizarre commentary about war, there's precious little in the way of songs.Its more often genre bending/blending, "Precision Guided Needle-Dropping and Larynx Mutations" in less than two minutes manages to bounce between California-esque pop music, organ drones, swing, and scratches before fading into a bizarre banjo piece that ends with a hip hop take on a marching drill.All this is followed up with "Battle Hymn of the Technics Republic", which is roughly what its title sounds like, scratches over a dark march.Some of the jump-cut pieces also bring Patton's singing (rather than vocalizing) to the forefront, including the rather familiar rhythms of "Take a Piece of Me", it never ceases to amaze how he can sing in the most pop-oriented styles over the most dense hip hop and somehow make it work, and we even get a straight lounge style croon (if only for 20 seconds before it cuts styles again) in "We'll Paint This Town".In many ways, its like Zorn's Naked City filtered through Patton and hip hop, some tracks, like "Modified Combined Obsticle Overlay", bounce through half a dozen genres in the first 45 seconds before settling into a funky groove, only to switch gears altogether and start bouncing through genres again.It can be frustrating at times, because just as you start to really enjoy something, it switches gears, but somehow in the end, it all fits together.

The structured songs that are there are of remarkable quality-- "Get Up, Punk!" is a good example of this early on in the record, with a droning synth line, hip-hop beats, and Patton's growled vocals, its superb.Perhaps even better is the mighty "Fire in the Hole", more turntablism and hip hop beats, with a crooned vocal courtesy of Patton.Also a more concrete song form is the near-alternative/industrial "Loser on Line", probably the closest thing to a commercial song on the record (which is to say its only moderately bizarre).

I suspect this is a first listen thing for most people, either you get what they're trying to do and you think it works, or you think its a mess.I personally loved it.

Suspended Variation
If there is one thing you can count on Mike Patton for it's variation.No two projects sound anything alike.I would love to tell you this is a standout project for the man, but it is not.For most of his career, thus far, Patton has been involved with and created some of the best music I have ever heard.I used to eagerly await the release of albums from a number of artists, but I am now eagerly awaiting the releases of one artist. Oh, I'm still buying far too many CD's for my own good, but I'm no longer marking calenders and counting the days for anyone else.Patton never disappoints me in quality or quantity.If you are not already listening to this guy, you have no idea what you're missing.The guy has changed my whole music world.In my personal opinion, you can start here with Patton.You can start anywhere, just don't ever expect to listen to one of these CD's one time and see the brilliance.It's in there, you just have to give it time. ... Read more

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Talib Kweli's sophomore solo album arrives with considerable fear that his mainstream aspirations may turn off longtime fans (ah, the curse of the conscious rapper). However, the album isn't as crassly commercial as some might complain. To be sure, The Beautiful Struggle could stand more consistency, and the album's production is a primary liability: songs like "A Game" and "Going Hard" weakly ape current fads while "Around My Way" inadvisably interpolates the Police's "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." That said, the balance of the album still holds up to scrutiny. Kweli might cut a party track ("We Got the Beat") and puff up his street cred ("Back Up Offa Me"), but much of The Beautiful Struggle articulates itself with emotion and intellect: "I Try," "Ghetto Snow," and "Black Girl Pain," for example. Like Kweli's debut Quality, this follow-up falls considerably short of classic status, but it still suggests some moves in a promising direction. --Oliver Wang ... Read more

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A couple of years after asking Can I Borrow a Dollar? and before he lost the "sense" in his moniker, the Chicago MC now known as Common dropped this impressive sophomore set, marking him as one of the most versatile MCs to emerge in the 1990s. Shirking the often derivative flows of his debut, Resurrection finds the Windy City rhymer ably assisted by the voluptuous jazzy excursions of producers No I.D. & Ynot. He revels in ear-tickling wordplay, slinging countless witty punchlines and similes on "Orange Pineapple Juice" and "Communism"--songs that require several listens to unravel. Far from relentless chest-thumping bravado, Common's lyrics have substance, exploring inner faults and fears on "Book of Life" and touching poignancy on his classic metaphorical ode to hip-hop culture, "I Used to Love H.E.R.," a track that is perhaps more relevant today than when it was released. The beginnings of Common's ongoing struggle between his boyish effusiveness and moral responsibility, which figures greatly in his subsequent releases, is captured on this essential release. --Del F. Cowie ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Roni Sarig Needs To Listen Better
Rhymes "rarely spectacular"?!?!? They must have been pretty deep considering that you failed to understand them. Everytime I listen to this album, I pick up something that I didn't hear before. (So I can understand where you're coming from, Roni, if you've only listened to it once or twice.) "My style is too developed to be arrested/It's the freestyle so now it's out on parole." "I'm like BJ/My arm is strong/So I'ma Stretch a/Style from east to west..." (Get it? BJ Armstrong/Stretch Armstrong...yeah, ya probably missed that.) Lines like those can be found throughout this album, and "I Used to Love H.E.R." is reason enough to buy it. "Communism" stands out, utilizing COMplex language and fantastic rhyme control. "Chapter 13" is an excellent example of Common's social awareness, a theme that presents itself throughout the album. The X-Men's Mista Sinister's scratches are on-point and add a unique flavor lacking from many a hip-hop song nowadays. NO I.D.'s production is ill, but it is Common's relaxed flow that makes this album a classic. Take another listen Roni, because you're missing out on the best emcee to bless the hip-hop community.

It's a start, a very good start. Common is anything but.
Common's newest album, "Like Water for Chocolate",is a 5-star album without a doubt. After listening through that album the last couple weeks, I backtracked to his first album, and I was impressed. Although it is not up there with Mos Def, Black Star or some of The Roots album's, this is still better than most. The two classic tracks are the title song, of course, and perhaps the greatest new-school song ever, "I Used to Love H.E.R.". It has a great message, and, overall, very well written lyrics, with the exception of lines like "And you could tell, by the way her ti**ies hung". Overall, this is a great effort from the young cool cat from Chicago. Buy this, you will not be disappointed. Peace out. And keep Hip Hop in its Essence for Real going.

One of the all time greatest...
Ressurection is one of my favorite albums of all time, in any genre. Having said that, it's probably the greatest hip-hop album of all time. (even better than Blazing Arrow and Madvillainy, and those records are really dope) Common blends funny and intellectual lyrics with jazzy, catchy beats. Its hard to accuratly describe the genius of this album, all I can say is buy it.

At any rate brothas gain interest cause I loan em microphone
It is clever wordplay such as this that absolutely saturates this hip hop masterpiece by my man Common (formerly known as sense). I actually still have copies of this album with Common Sense on the cover instead of Common on both cd and cassette. They're not in the best condition though because I've listened to this album so many times in the past nine years. This is one of the last great hip hop albums to come out of hip hop's most fertile period, which lasted from around 1987-1995. When I listen to this album now, it sounds even better than it did back in the mid-nineties. The music of this album has a very lite funk/jazz type feel to it. It is the perfect backdrop for Common's cerebral rhymes. Common kicks it off with the title track which is nothing more than a continuos flawless display of clever and witty wordplay. The next song is one of the greatest hip hop songs to ever be recorded. 'I Used to Love H.e.r.' was my absolute favorite song for at least a year. The first time that I listened to the song, I knew exactly what he was talking about before I even heard the ending. 'Watermelon' is yet another impressive display of witty wordplay and rapping technique. 'Book of Life' is one of the most honest songs about being a young black man in urban America that I have ever heard. He paints a vivid picture about life that is not at all exaggerated. 'In my own world' features him and his producer having fun trading verses back and forth. 'Another Wasted Nite With' is an interlude that you will probably either find hilarious or offensive depending on your perspective. I find it to be hilarious myself. 'Nuthin to Do' finds Common reminiscing about fond memories of the good times and the strong and true bonds that were built with his homeboys growing up. This is a real love song right here. 'Communism' has nothing to do with the social theory, but rather finds Common brightly demonstrating his lyrical dexterity by using the first three letters of his name about thirty different times in about thirty different words all throughout the song. This is the type of display of craft and ingenuity that Common probably used to seriously hurt brothas all over the streets of the Chi. 'WMOE' is an interlude that act's as a prelude to the most personal and introspective song on the album: 'This Is Me'. This song has a really dreamy otherwordly feel to it. It basically finds Com opening his mental window to let you in. He's largely talking about coming to terms with just being himself inspite of the pressure that he's getting to conform, particularly the pressure to be a more gangsta mc. 'Orange Pineapple juice' is not only one of my favorite drinks, but is yet another song on this album where Common effortlessly displays his wit and cunningness. The next song, 'Chapter 13 (Rich Man vs. Poor Man) is hilarious. It is basically a really lighthearted song about being broke, that has a really funny story in the form of a common joke at the very end. The next song is yet another display of Common's quick wit and intelligence as an MC. This song has a real party feel to it. The next song is another clever and even more straightfoward on the corner battling diggin in rapper's stuff type song. This is what was so great about hip hop in the early to mid-nineties, crafty displays such as this were common place on city streets. He uses so many double plays on words and points out so many ironic double meanings in phrases and words that I still catch something new every time that I listen to this song, and the same goes for the entire album. Common is one of the most gifted, astute, and intelligent mc's ever, and he proves it continuously throughout this album. He ends the album off with a nice spoken word piece by his father. This album is a hidden hip hop gem that I would encourage all of you to take the time to discover.

another great album that inspires thoght.
if you love a great, lyrically advanced mc then get this album. he is one of the best rappers in a dying breed of lyrical rappers (mostly Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, and oldskool OutKast but there a few others). "I used to love H.E.R."is reason enough to get this album. if i had donald trumps money i would personally by this album for every one jus so they can expiriece it. ... Read more

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Imagine if the ghetto got electrified. That's Stankonia, an album ofstreet smarts doused with gasoline and ready to burn. When a thundering electric guitarcollides with a relentless drumbeat on the molten "Gasoline Dreams," it dominates mindand body, setting the tone for the album. Dre and Big Boi spin a world of freaks, poets,preachers, and pimps, but most importantly, possibilities. This music messes with yourhead. --Lizz Mendez Berry ... Read more

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