This is Michael Mixerr. Today I will review Hank - Life of a Criminal. For those who don't know, Hank is André Weems from Saginaw, Michigan. Hank grew up in Saginaw and Bloomfield Road is his stomping grounds. Bloomfield Road and Townhouse Road was the intersection Hank had lived at. This debut album was released on cassette only in 1993 on Laraza Records. Hank sounds very similar to Big Wy of Young Soldierz.
This album has that Saginaw blues and Saginaw rap sound. You would've thought an album like this would have been produced at U Be U Studios with that ghetto raw Sag Nasty rap sound. The mood for this album is dark, ghetto and raw.
This album was recorded and produced at Uptown Studios in Owosso, Michigan.
Life of a Criminal is about why Hank is a criminal and how he chose to live the life of a criminal. It shouldn't be happening but that's what's happening on this song. It deals with cycle of poverty that Hank's upbringing was made out to be. Life of a Criminal is very overlooked. The sample used is Average White Band - Love of Your Own. I love the garage beat boxing drum sample used in the background of the song. I think of this particular song has a ghetto rap song. It came out at right time. Right during the rise of gangster rap.
Hank makes a desperate plea for changes to happen at the very beginning of the song. Hank is a criminal, however he did not choose to live the life of a criminal. It was due to the downfall & turmoil of the economy of Michigan that led Hank to be a criminal. It is obvious that Hank is tried of shooting niggaz at point-blank range. You see Hank grew up on ghetto blues, bad news, and wearing sporting beater bast tennis shoes. Beat up too. Hank ran around wild as a child. Hank started acting buck wild at age 14 due to the lack of guidance in the right direction. It got to the point where Hank wanted to commit suicide. So he started writing rhymes in his bedroom while listening to dark Scarface tunes. Living his life on the edge thinking about committing random homicide/murder acts and on the verge of possibly committing suicide. Hank does have thoughts giving niggaz two to the head and shooting them up point-blank range as he tells us earlier in the beginning of the song. Hank wishes he did not have to depend on living a criminal lifestyle to improve his living situation while in living in the vicious cycle of poverty. For the duration of the track, Hank comes to conclusions that it's not easy to break-through the cycle of poverty.
Bloomfield Blues has that Saginaw Blues and Detroit Blues sound to it and rap too. This song is mostly about bad news. Bloomfield Blues is about that dope ass ghetto reality. At the beginning, Hank describes how he is living like J. J. Evans. Hank is now gafflin'. Hank ain't afraid more. His decision is bar none which his temper keeps ticking like a trigger to a timebomb about to explode. Hank cannot find anything in his lifetime to live for worth living for. Hank wonders about possibly committing suicide. In order to be eligible for SSI, Hank think about slitting his wrists to get SSI. So Hank has a death wish by living by the 40 oz.! Hank is representing Bloomfield Road. Hank wishes he did not have to depend on living a criminal lifestyle to improve his living situation while in living in the vicious cycle of poverty. For the duration of the track, Hank comes to conclusions that it's not easy to break-through the cycle of poverty.
Dreamin' is a very heartfelt song dedicated toward his pops. It's all based on lessons in life that Hank has learned from his father. The live and learn element is presented in this track. Damn! I really felt this track because I can relate to it. I have been what Hank has been going through. As an I adult, I take what my parents tell very seriously. I try to never overlook their advice.
Stick Up Kid is about stick up robberies. Planting jack moves in the ghetto. Stick Up Kid has early 90s R&B sound mixed with rock, gangsta rap, and Detroit blues to it along with that fast paced police chase music to after the drama that Hank has caused. Hank ain't 2Pac but he still got juice while giving niggaz two to the head and shooting them up point-blank range. This is basically a violent gangster rap track that all is very murderous but offers no solutions to the problem. The piano has that Leroy Dukes production sound to it similar to Dangerous Records. As I had said before, Hank ain't 2Pac but he still got the juice.
Life of a Criminal along with the radio and instrumental all should've been grouped together on side one of the cassette. That's what I think. All the other songs on side two. If it wasn't for people like Hank, there would be no big time celebrity rappers and actors like Eminem, 50 Cent, WC, and Vanilla Ice if it weren't for people like Hank. That's why.
This album called Life of a Criminal is the 2nd Best Album to come out of Saginaw in 1993 next to Mack Tha Jack'a album. I love the 60s classic rock samples used in Hank's songs and you will too! The low pitched Tom drums productions are off the hook and in the house.
I rate this album, Life of a Criminal 5/5*****!
No comments:
Post a Comment