Mixerr Album Reviews #130

This is Michael Mixerr. Today I will review Classic 220 by 2nd II None. This album to most of us fans did not receive enough recognition despite the facts that this album did get positive reviews from music critics. 2nd II None was that group who did not put out enough albums for their fans to be satisfied. (Minus Tha Kollective and 2008's Tha Shit of course.) DJ Quik is the main producer with AMG on this album as he was on the last one. He is also the DJ for 2nd II None from time to time. The reason this album was released on Arista Records is because Profile Records closed down in 1997 due to Cory Robbins want to go his own way and form Robbins Entertainment. We just wish it was released on Profile Records in 1999 & 2000. (But that's just me.) Classic 220 has that late 1990s & 2000s West Coast feel (sound), Long Beach Funk, and Compton sound (CPT sound) since it's coming from Los Angeles, mainly Compton.

The first song is Stragglaz. Stragglaz is a song about all different types of hoes. It has that funk, timbal drums, and psychedelic carnival theme (Listen to it and you'll here it in reverse.). I love this song. The drum beats and production are on point! This song should have been a single.
Up 'N  Da Club is a party joint. A song to hear when you walk into the club. I LOVE this song also! Up 'N Da Club features DJ Quik and AMG. It has a Hawaiian beat to it. It's great song to play while in the Bahamas. Don't U Hide It is a defiant song. I like that! Don't you? This song should have been a single too!

Whateva U Want features AMG and James DeBarge. The production is on point. Make 'Em Understand samples Inner City Blues by Marvin Gaye. Make 'Em Understand features the late Mausberg (R.I.P.) with production by DJ Quik. Pawdy should have been a single also! Pawdy features Playa Hamm. DJ Quik should have been on Pawdy. Back Up Off The Wall samples Get Down On It by Kool & the Gang. Back Up Off The Wall features DJ Quik.

For those who don't know, Y? was originally called The Dogg N Me. This song was recorded in 1994 when 2nd II was on Death Row Records with DJ Quik. This song wouldn't be used until 1999/2000 on this album and the 2008 album Tha Shit. Y? samples By Your Side by Con Funk Shun and Atomic Dog by George Clinton.
Gangsta D remember way back when he was young, livin' that crazy life and getting' sprung. Out there getting' busy getting his own. He didn't really care because Mama wasn't home. Hangin' out with the wrong crowd, solving problems by shooting other people and making ends meet by doing robberies. Snatched up one fool and took him out his. The homey survived. Gangsta D didn't really care because he was young. Now he's rollin' with his baby mama. Didn't even know he was in the drama. Suddenly the homey pulls and starts blasting at Gangsta D. A bullet hit Gangsta D's head, so now he's laying down on a stretcher. The family is stressed out because Gangsta D is in a coma. Everybody is praying while Gangsta D is trying to hold on.
When KK was little, he was trying to get himself a down ass reputation while growing up in Compton. It didn't matter if KK got his ass beat or not. Didn't even care at the time. KK wasn't no punk. One day when he rollin' with all his straps, he got caught by the cops and took all the fault. He didn't even snitch. KK eventually find himself a minimum wage job but his pockets were still hurtin'. KK and his relative found a way to come on up. He's pushing a quarter kilos cross country. That's how it is when you coming from the CPT.

If You Ain't Fuckin' is a late night sex jam to when you're stickin' it in your girl or while you're having sex in a convertible. (The type of car can be your choice.) Or after you just came home from the club all drunk and shit. So you're ready to  make love. Stuff like that. You get the idea!

Don't Do Dat should have been a single also! Don't Do Dat has more of a mid 90's feel to it than a 00's feel. (Some of the material was recorded in the mid 90's for those who don't know.) Production is on point. (Which is very good!) DJ Quik and AMG should have produced that thought. The song Princess with James DeBarge was an ok song even if the fans weren't feeling it. Love U should have been the last single for this album. You can hear the 70s guitar in the background. Got A Nu Woman is a great song which features DJ Quik, AMG, Hi-C, and Playa Hamm. The song is almost 9 minutes long. This song is the longest one on this album.

Sadly, none of the songs chartedIf the following songs as singles had charted, here is how the positions would be listed as followed. (Not everyone and every song can be #1.): Stragglaz (BillBoard Top 100: 13 | Hot Rap Singles: 22),  Up in The Club (BillBoard Top 100: 3  | Hot Rap Singles: 2), Don't U Hide It (BillBoard Top 100: 14 | Hot Rap Singles: 2), Make 'Em Understand (BillBoard Top 100: 43| Hot Rap Singles: 48), Back Up Off The Wall (BillBoard Top 100: 48 | Hot Rap Singles: 43), Y? (BillBoard Top 100: 5 | Hot Rap Singles: 5), Don't Do Dat (BillBoard Top 100: 12 | Hot Rap Singles: 8), and Love U (BillBoard Top 100: 12 | Hot Rap Singles: 8).


I rate this album, Classic 220, 5/5*****!!