Canibus- Melatonin Magik Review

Well people it's time for a new Canibus album. For some that is great news and for many others it's a new time to be greatly annoyed or not interested at all. You might enjoy Canibus's superb lyricism and ability to ramble about some of the most random things ever. Get your dictionaries out, stay close to Wikipedia and prepare to get educated or fucked in the ears by Canibus's voice. Here is the review:


First off let me start by saying Canibus tends to to just talk about the most irrelevant and stupifying subjects. Half the time he makes absolutely no sense, the other half he's just boring you to death with the most dull and lame subjects that he probably made up himself. I can't say he has a lack of subjects because it ranges all over the place but it's just a lack of subjects that we give a fuck about. I mean just why? Why does he talk about these subjects? I get it Canibus, you're smart, we're not as informed but if I catch you on the street I'm going to slap you upside your head for talking about alien abduction, probing, conspiracy theories and just in general being one of the lamest nerds in history. Now this isn't to say Canibus can't be dope, I enjoyed both Rip The Jacker and Mic Club for the most part. He's still very hit or miss and usually he misses. None the less let us move on. So this album starts off as typical Canibus, it's track after track of random topics and talking down upon the industry. The usually sporatic flow is there along with the good lyricism. It's everything you are used to with Canibus. The song "Hip Hop Black Ops" is a song in which Canibus retruns to his battle rap roots and talks about reclaiming hip hop for whatever self righteous reason.

Two interesting songs are "The Dragon Of Judah" and "Post Traumatic Warlab Stress". Both attacking the industry and the backstabbers Canibus has met, not really dropping names but he does drop clues. He talks about the "Beef" DVD and how he never got paid for it. As a matter of fact, judging from most of the things Canibus says in these songs he seems to get fucked over quite a bit. Seems a little sore about it. A rapper named DZK (A fellow labelmate) comes in with a good verse on "Post Traumatic Warlab Stress". So basically what we've evaluated is Canibus is pissy about not blowing up.


One very very notable track that you may have heard already is the Eminem diss, "Air Strike (Pop Killer)". This is a well made diss directed straight at Eminem and his antics throughout his career. DZK gets on the track along with D12 (Not really how they wanted, but D12 appears on the song against D12's wishes I believe)So the diss is actually not that bad, very methodical as you can expect from Canibus. However it's completely irrelevant and lame. Where was all of this years ago when they were actually beefing? Now because he's even more of a nobody he's gonna go at Eminem when Eminems career is virtually over? What does he expect to gain.? He's just mad that Eminem spanked him hard and now 10 years later he wants to release a diss. It's fairly disgusting. So Canibus takes another fail.


The album is pretty much uneventful and the same old same old from Canibus. It's boring, it's random, the production is lackluster, other than the no named DZK the features don't blow you away with their verses. The Canibus stans will probably love this because it's no different from his other efforts outside of Mic Club and Rip The Jacker. A weak album that doesn't reinvent Canibus as an artist and if you didn't like him before you wont like him now.


RATING:

2 Out Of 5

Styles P & DJ Green Lantern- The Green Ghost Project Review

DJ Green Lantern teams up with another member of "The LOX". You're used to seeing him with Jadakiss but now Green Lantern & Styles P bring you "The Green Ghost Project". You can expect Styles P usual gangster lyrics with some original production from Green Lantern and others such as Alchemist, Buckwild and Statik Selektah. However even though Styles stays true to his grimy roots with this album he finds ways to do so creatively and with a purpose. He also gets some help from features such as Sheek Louch, Jadakiss and Raekwon.


The album starts off with an aggressive song in "Nothing To Lose" that sets the tone for a vintage Lox/Styles P album with street lyrics that Styles fans will enjoy and feel right at home with. In follow up to that there is the Public Enemy sounding "Double Trouble" and the very smooth almost soulful "Callin' Me". Callin Me is a song with a steady beat where Styles talks about his love for the streets and talks on his experiences growing up in the hood and how he can't leave it alone of course. One impressive trait that Styles P displays on this album is his ability to show originality in a genre that lacks just that. For example on the song "Send A Kite" he raps from the perspective of inmates over peaceful yet saddening production. A great way to switch up the pce for the album. Then there is the song Time Will Tell featuring Raekwon and produced by Buckwild. There isn't much originality in it but who says there needs to be? The beat will have you nodding your head and vibing with the 2 emcee's as they spit there own signature grimy NY styles and flows. Green Lanterns production shines again on the song "Pablo Doe" featuring Noreaga and Uncle Murda. Where all 3 rappers trade verses over a very original beat that is memorable, different and intriguing. Another song that stands out is the seemingly female friendly love song "Pretty Little Thing". You think he's rapping about a woman in his life but instead he's rapping about a certain object that's near and dear to him. It's not his gun though, but is still comparable to "Me And My Girlfriend" none the less. It made for an enjoyable song that is no doubt worth a spot on your iPod. Once again Styles P showed originality with the concept of the song and for that I gotta give him more credit than a lot of other artists like him. At least he tries to spice his songs up. The only other notable beat is the Statik Selektah produced "Shadows" which is a take on the ever so common feeling for a gangster, that feeling is paranoia.


In closing this album wasn't the most outstanding lyrical album but it isn't your everyday run of the mill gangster rap album. Styles P shows originality time and time again with new concepts and new takes on old subjects that have been watered down over the years. Production wasn't to shabby either. Styles P wasn't outshined by a single feature and he kept it street, stayed true to himself. Can't give it anything else than a 4 Out Of 5



RATING:

4 OUT OF 5

Lil Wayne- Rebirth Review

When you listen to Lil Wayne do you ever have this long period in the middle of his songs where you just look up at the sky and go "Why?". "Is this man just a figment of my imagination? Is this a test lord? I'm not actually sure if I'm conscious right now but this is the worst possible form of mental torture in the history of torture techniques." That sometimes happens to me. So since this isn't really a rap album I can't review it as one. I now have to look at Lil Wayne as a rockstar and not a rapper. I wont hit you with the countless Lil Wayne insults you see on Youtube about Lil Wayne killing hip hop or whatever. Not even gonna waste my time but I'm still just wondering, "WHAT THE FUCK?" This album is enough to put you into a cohma and then you'll snap out of it but it'll leave you retarded and you wont be able to shake it from your memory. The first time I heard it, I contemplated killing someone. I think I slowly gained an immunity as I gave it more listens but I may still be in shock from the sheer craziness of this album. Craziness as in are you fucking serious? Did a human being actually make this? It was in this moment that I felt like I was in The Matrix and was not sure if I or Lil Wayne existed and this was all just some sick joke. I was having a mental breakdown while Lil Wayne pretended to play the guitar. Yet I feel like I'm stronger now after all of this. There needs to be a warning sticker that tells you not to listen to it if you aren't retarded because I swear to god this album was forcing me to have back spasms. It was like the room was spinning and the world was beating me over the head with simple lyrics and guitar riffs. Yet I digress and will give you a fair review of this album. Enjoy!


So in all honesty I think I sort of like the first 2 songs on the album. The songs American Star and Prom Queen both feature Young Money Artist, "Shanell" and I actually found to be semi enjoyable. With American Star you can feel a sort of Bob Seger or Bruce Springsteen influence. It's actually not that bad of a song. I could do withoutthis song and every song being drenched in autotune and Lil Waynes voice in general but what can I expect. So "American Star" isn't actually that bad and was pretty well written and I didn't feel the need to turn it off. "Prom Queen" is acceptable as far as the upcoming disasters and poor excuses for music go. It's catchy if nothing else. I sort of like Shanell's voice. So everything started off not so bad right? Can't be to picky with Lil Wayne, especially with how experimental this whole thing is. So onto the song "Ground Zero". How exactly do I describe the listening experience to this song? Well it's a lot like being stabbed in the ears with scissors....again.....again....and again. As a matter of fact to speed this up, the next song "Da Da Da" is on the exact same level of awful. Then we got to another not so bad song called "Paradice". I honestly didn't mind this song so much, I mean Lil Wayne sounds like a dying cat when he sings but it wasn't an awful song. once again, not awful for Lil Wayne or Rap/Rock standards. So 3 out of 5 tracks aren't all that bad. Looking good right? Nope because that my friends is when this goes from pretty bad album to an unbelievable raping of the human soul. The song called Get A Life is just so fucking STUPID!!!! The simplest and most kindergarten song I've ever heard. It's like I was listening to "The Wiggles" or Culture Club. Then there's that song "On Fire" that samples and takes it's rhythm from Amy Holland's very own "She's On Fire". You've heard it if you've seen Scarface. I don't know why but I was actually offended by this song.


Moving on now we run into the song "Drop The World" featuring the ever more increasingly gay Eminem. Actually featuring yourself on this album makes you a bitch but this whole song is meant to be a sort of "Fuck the world" style song but instead you're just like, "oh Fuck me god dammit I can't handle it anymore". If you're wondering about how good Eminems verse was. I wouldn't know because I was to busy covering my ears. Seriously though his verse was weak as hell. Runnin was a meh track. it seems like really the only songs I could stomach were the ones featuring Shanell. That's probably because a good female voice was refreshing compared to Weezy's awfulness. One Way Trip & Knockout are both equally terrible tracks that sound like Blink 182 ripoffs. Wait no, I apologize Blink 182, you guys aren't this bad. Oh but this review is not over. ONE MORE SONG and forget what I said about all the other songs. The final song called "The Price Is Wrong" is worse than all of those songs combined. I really don't see how someone could be as garbage as Lil Wayne. Excuse me I have to go throw up.


At the end of the day this album is so terrible it needs to be studied by scientists. I meant what i said about certain song sbeing listenable but I think they were just okay in comparison to the other more dangerously terrible tracks. If you like this album, you're a Lil Wayne dickrider and you're probably white. This album is awful and I expect nothing but that from Lil Wayne. Just fucking terrible. All of Lil Wayne supposed street cred jumped out the window with this album not that I thought he was gangster anyways but now I'm questioning his sexuality even more than I did when he kissed another man on the lips and called him daddy. this album gets a huge 1 Out Of 5 and may God have mercy on you Lil Wayne.



Rating:

1 Out Of 5

Kurupt- Down And Dirty Review

Kurupt is considered one of the greatest lyricists to hail from the west coast. His body of work and influence speaks for itself. One of the most popular artists of his time. "Down And Dirty" is a compilation album featuring songs recorded from 2002-2003 and 6 tracks recorded from "The Row Era" featuring 2Pac, Petey Pablo and Danny Boy among other artists. It's very similar to the recent Death Row Sessions released by Snoop Dogg. So does this album give most of us what we would expect from Kurupt? I'm going to say yes.


From the beginning of the album Kurupt sets the mood with the signature "Fuck you, you and you and the media and everyone that don't agree with me" type of mentality you came to love from the Death Row collective. On the first song "Speak On It" featuring Val C Kurupt talks for about a minute and a half or so about how there is was no Eastcoast and Westcoast beef and that was just the media and it was a war betweeen individuals and not coasts. He also says there is only ONE Death Row and ONE 2Pac and ONE Biggie and that Nas, 50 Cent, DMX, Ja Rule and others could never take their places so people needa get off of their dicks. So if you're feeling nostalgic and wanna here Kurupts opinion on dead rappers and dead beefs then you may find that interesting. Anyways from the first few tracks of this album you get the feeling that you're listening to a seasoned veteran on the mic. It's everything you'd expect from Kurupt, a great mix of the G-Funk sound, gangsta rap and clever yet simple lyrics that are pleasant for the listener. Kurupt doesn't insult the listener by trying to leave you dumbfounded with wordplay or multies. He just handles his business. This album has a great blend of songs for the hardcore Kurupt fan or someone who just wants to take a listen to Kurupt and decided this would be the first thing he listened to. It's got good gangsta/hardcore songs like "U Don't Know Who U Fuccin Wit", "Jealousy", "Hustlin" and "Anarchy" but it's also got nice songs to play at parties that remind you of other tracks such as the Dogg Pound classic "Let's Play House". The song "Can U Feel It" is catchy and simple.

One thing that really impressed me on this album is the production. No one beat is the same as another. A very well produced album. Beats that definitely stand out is the hard hitting beat of "U Don't Know Who U Fuccin Wit" that'll have you replaying the song over and over because it's just one of those songs that you listen to when you ready to kick somones ass or you're just mad in general. Another beat that needs to be mentioned is the beat on "Jealousy". Another hard hitting bass track. All in all the production is very good on this album and was greatly impressed.


It took 2 listens to appreciate this album fully. I was gonna give it a 3 out of 5 at first listen but after evaluating this whole album for what it is I'm happy with it. For a compilation album it's almost as good as it gets. Well produced, 4-5 stand out tracks and it doesn't make you wanna fall asleep. There isn't a general direction of the album but the whole thing is very enjoyable and I'm not even a Kurupt fan per say. So I have to assume the Kurupt fans in this world will enjoy hearing unreleased material of this quality that doesn't seem half assed. I could be an ass and really nitpick at little things but I feel this album deserves a 4 Out Of 5 so that's what it is getting.


On another note I'm also aware that a lot of these tracks have already been released on Against Tha Grain but I don't make the tracklisting I just review the album. Therefor I just treat it as normal.

Rating:

4 Out Of 5

Big Noyd- Queens Chronicle Review

Big Noyd calls what he makes, "Hustle Music". Would you disagree? It would seem comparable to "Trap Music" except Big Noyd uses a completely different production style. More of a grimy and less flashy style, in other words that grimy New York sound made popular by so many artists but since he has ties to Mobb Deep we'll say Mobb Deep's sound but it's still definitely not Havoc's production need I remind you. Well let's see where should I really really begin with Big Noyd and his newest album. He's not a liar, I don't have to pull the "I Don't Believe You, You Need More People" card. He's not a bad rapper, granted not great either, especially post incarceration Big Noyd. I wont dance around the point I wanna make. Big Noyd is boring, this album is very boring, it's very uninventive and lacks anything to keep you listening. It was painful for me to give this 3 listens because you start to fall asleep at track 6 and then next thing you know you're on track 13 and yet he's still talking about the same thing. That is harsh I know, but that's what happens when you have no concept to your album other than "I've Dealt Drugs In My Life" Doesn't leave you wondering why he never blew up at all. Like a watered down Mobb Deep sound with mostly very very boring production and repetitive lyrics. Can't even pull off Mafioso rap or make it interesting. Just boring track after track that'll leave you thinking "Didn't I already hear this?" The chorus's and hooks are too monotone and Big Noyd himself just doesn't keep you interested conceptually, lyrically or in any other way. It's a shame because like I said I don't take Big Noyd for a fraud or anything but he has a terrible time convincing you that he has lived the life he's rapping about. You'll be left with no interest in this album and never wanting to hear it again because it's that boring and unimaginative. He sounds like every other generic myspace gangster rapper out there. Big Noyd fails to create any sort of theme around this album to keep you listening and instead sort of drags himself along from track to track and unfortunately drags the listener along with him. That my friends is the truth.


All the downfalls of this album aside here are the Pro's for it. Gotta give the man credit for keeping it street and keeping to the grimy Queensbridge sound of criminal rap. He may have failed to make an interesting album or flashy mafioso rap styled album but such is life. He's not the only rapper from New York that fails to do so. The first 5 songs are however listenable starting with "All I Got To Say" and ending with "Kilo Rap". After that I'd say it's about time to pack it up and leave this album alone. The main thing about the good tracks is that I found that I was listening to the beats and sampling more than the lyrics themselves. That is never good.

Is this album really really awful? No, it's just not engaging at all and tends to tire itself out to the point where it's just like one mashed up and boring concept. This is one gangster tale not directed by Martin Scorcese. (ZING!)

RATING:

2 OUT OF 5

The Jacka And Laroo- Neva Be The Same 20 Bricks: Season 1 Review

Okay well let us make this short and sweet. Read what I said in my review of "The Jacka- Broad Daylight" and apply that to this album. Basically identical reasons why this album is getting a 2 Out Of 5. However, if it means anything to anyone, this is a slightly better album than "Broad Daylight" Not big enough to change it's rating but a slightly better and more rounded album. It has better hooks and doesn't seem like a mixtape. There's still not much of a concept or reason to it. Just the same things repeatedly thrown at you but there is some nice tracks that have a good sound. The song "Bring Da 80's Back" has an elegant and original hook that makes the song memorable. Matt Blaque contributes nicely to the album as much as he can by adding some flare to another okay track called "Don't Be Scared". "Dip Wit U" and "Top Floor" also have their own nice sound to them but all in all I'm picking decent songs from a not so good album. The whole album seems like you're being beaten over the head with cliche gangsta rap rhymes and concepts with a decent hook thrown in here and there. For some people I know this album wasn't as bad as I make it out to be. So give it a listen for yourself, you may enjoy it, especially if you're a Jacka fan (or a Laroo fan I guess). This album didn't do anything for me personally though. Better luck next time Jacka, from what I hear you're dropping quite a bit in 2010. Hopefully the efforts get better as the year goes on

Rating:

2 Out Of 5

The Jacka- Broad Daylight Review

I think I'm going out of order with The Jacka's two new albums but that's okay. I believe The Jacka's last album was "Tear Gas" which was rather well produced but seemed uninventive in all other categories. This is sort of the same exact deal except the production isn't as good as Tear Gas's was. Yet somehow I still think the production was the strongest part of the album. It's not overly impressive but you can appreciate it's subtlety and the work on the keys. That being said a lot of the beats sound the same with small changes done hear and there. As a matter of fact the whole album isn't very inventive and there isn't much that sets it apart from many other Bay area gangster rap efforts. The whole entire effort is like a blur. You just hear the same exact things over and over again for 11 tracks (Plus The Intro, Outro and Interlude) Basically 2-3 tracks worth of content spread out over an entire album. if anything this should've been a very short EP instead of an album. If I could pick one word to describe "Broad Daylight" that word would be GENERIC.

The thing I don't get is why does The Jacka only have one verse per track mostly? Yet again another reason this shouldn't be an album. A mixtape or EP at best but I digress. Other than Keak Da Sneak, The Jacka is bigger than all of his features. So who is gonna buy something because of T-Wayne? It would seem as you'll see in my review of his other 2010 album that The Jacka is going for the ol' quantity over quality method.

Though this album has nothing original, shouldn't even be an album, hell 90% of it shouldn't even exist because it's the same tired shit as the track before. I still can't give it a 1 out of 5 because a 1 out of 5 would literally have to be unlistenable. If I had to pick the 3 best tracks off of the album those 3 tracks would be, "We Mafia", "Have You No Fear" and "Try To Let Go". Come on Jacka, you're better than this.

Rating:

2 Out Of 5

Strong Arm Steady- In Search Of Stoney Jackson Review

The intriguing combination of Strong Arm Steady over Madlib production is enough to attract any hip hop listeners attention. How could you really go wrong with Madlib? You could argue that the west coast sound of SAS [Strong Arm Steady] wouldn't match up well with the imaginative, original and sometimes experimental sound of Madlibs production. If there was any doubts that a great album could be made, "In Search Of Stoney Jackson" puts them to rest.


Right from the beginning this album delivers with a smooth, soulful and funkified sound that only Madlib could bring you. With great samples and a sound that never gets old it seems like you stepped into the 70's, if all 70's music was as dope and sounded as nice and smooth as this album. SAS and featured guests such as Phonte, Planet Asia, Talib Kweli, Sick Jacken, Guilty Simpson, Evidence and other artists all sound right at home over the production. A perfect blend of good lyrics and original production make this not only a good hip hop album but also a great album to get blazed to without a doubt. Hip Hop lovers of all types should enjoy this effort from SAS. if you're an SAS or Madlib fan you'll no doubt love this and bump it relentlessly for a week long period at least. If you don't listen to SAS I still think you'll enjoy it. This is one of those albums it's nearly impossible to not feel. Just kick back, relax and play this shit and it'll grow on you with every track.


The song "Pressure" featuring Sick Jacken stands out because of the heavy beat and Sick Jackens hard hitting verse. "True Champs" is another nice track featuring Evidence, Montage One, Roc C and Oh No. The guest appearances all show up and spit nice verses throughout the album. Especially Planet Asia (Chittlins & Pepsi, Questions, New Love and Ambassadors) who comes more than correct on every song he touched. With so many features it was hard to keep track of SAS in this album. They seemed to get lost and sometimes their verses went unnoticed compared to the features. But have no doubt that SAS did their thing over a greatly produced album. Krondon came correct more than once and Mitchy Slick was being...well Mitchy Slick who is in my humble opinion the nicest in the group. Though sometimes it seemed like you couldn't keep up with the features and who was doing what in the overall scheme it didn't hurt the album much.


In closing I'm gonna say this again, Madlib is a master. Just listen to this album and you'll truly understand what I'm saying because my compliments don't do Madlib any justice. Overall this is a very very good album with great funk inspired production and good cast of emcee's to join the already dope SAS. I recommend this album for any hip hop fan. Great way to kick off 2010

Rating:

4 Out Of 5