This is Michael Mixerr. Today I will review G's Live Forever by gangsta rap artist Cat-Dat who is known by his name as Kenneth Mitchner. For those who don't know, Cat-Dat is a gangsta rap artist/rock musician and also a producer from the Flint, Michigan area. Flint, Michigan which is known to most Flintstoners as Bedrock. Bedrock is full of dope among shot callers all time long. Everywhere from Indiana to Flint, Michigan is known as Bedrock. Cat-Dat is from the North Side of Flint, Michigan. The North Side people refer to is north of the Flint River just to set the record straight!
Anyway… This album was released on Front Street Records out of Flint, Michigan, Pointblank Records, Funkstreet Records, and Marquis Entertainment, Inc. out of Flint, Michigan back in 1995. The album was distributed by B.E.G. (Bryant Records out of Detroit) INDI, CRW, Rainbo (out of Long Beach, California), and Select-O-Hits. The whole entire gangsta funkadelic album was produced by local Flint record producer Steve Pitts. So did Cat-Dat. The whole album is a crossover of gangsta rap and heavy rock mixed together. I have never seen a gangsta rap / heavy rock crossover in my time as a music critic except for 187 - Darkside and the self-titled Body Count album. But I'm sure there's more
The introduction is very dark, mysterious, and foreboding with a horror movie sample of some kind being used in the background of the gusting wind that distorts the track. You can hear a pack of crows at very end of the introduction that appear to be angry. The introduction is about 42 second long.
The heavy rock element is prevalent in Fuck That Bastard. Cat-Dat is an OG of Flint. Young niggaz and cats have been pulling hoe shit on a daily basis coming against young Cat-Dat, but Cat-Dat keeps his vision clearly otherwise he would end up paranoid. Niggaz like Cat-Dat always roll in packs in case someone wants to start shit. Niggaz be settrippin' in Flint. Shots are blasting in Flint making the city of Flint the #1 murder capital of the United States at that time and still is. Cat-Dat has tattoos while bumping old school hip-hop Eric B. & Rakim - Microphone Fiend. So you know he's real and doesn't fuck around. So get up off his dick and let him swang. Cat-Dat is smoking blunts back to back with the homies while shooting craps in dice game thus engaging in illegal street gambling. Everyone is getting tipsy from the chemicals effects from the St. Ides. Cat-Dat is down with the old school.
The eerie bells really have an aftereffect on Steady Mourning. Quite dark and foreboding. Cat-Dat is under pressing and his family is heart-broken because Cat-Dat is a hustler. Cat-Dat is struggling of course. The streets of Flint gave Cat-Dat game. Tears of retaliation from young niggaz are common in this situation. Many have fallen on this dangerous path we call life while making decisions. Every time Cat-Dat thinks about death and mourning tears come to his eyes. However a soldier must be ready to die. Now people pack guns and don't fist fights. It's survival to the fittest. Play your cards right. Cat-Dat's younger brother fronted him some dope. Niggaz is out to get Cat-Dat. The Mob Life is family to Cat-Dat. The outsiders are enemies in the gangster lifestyle and mob lifestyle.
Akilah is the lead on the background vocals Steady Mourning is about morning the death of loved ones whom have passed away for whatever the reason.
Steve Pitts production style is excellent on Last Soldier Serving. The bass and drums are on point. The beats are in time with the timbre. This track is based on a true story about Cat-Dat. The odds are against Cat-Dat on the Last Soldier Serving track. The heat is on and war is boiling from the Federal Indictment list and you're facing 20 years. The justice system is heartless. The case is long and lengthy with a possibility of parole in 20 years. Justice is blind in the United States Department of Justice in the United States court systems. You figure out that the fast life of street life is your only means of survival. A misdemeanor of a 187 has gotten you trapped in the court system. Live until you die in the motto on the Flint streets.
Rolling Threw Your Hood is some funky gangsta ass shit with Steve Pitts signature production of that Flinttown Funk.
The track is dedicated to all the OG's on the North Side of Flint. Cat-Dat was born a G in 1972. Cat-Dat's father fell victim to living the criminal lifestyle of a gangster. As a G, Cat-Dat is struggling hard to play his cards right. Cat-Dat got engaged in the criminal lifestyle as his start as a narcotics distributor in 1986. Cat-Dat looks up to the old school OGs while living a life of crime. (Original Gangsters are known as Original Gangstas.). Cat-Dat sold cocaine in the hood which is a war zone. His pager is blowing up. BG's are blowing up the hood. (Baby Gangsters are known as Baby Gangstas.). Cat-Dat is down with niggas and is ballin' big. When you're rolling threw your hood keep your eyes on the prize.
All his niggas are down for the struggle. Gangsters are rolling deep. Cat-Dat is at the block party with his niggas. At the block party, everyone is drinking Colt 45s and getting a blaze of weed. Bumping that G's Live Forever shit loud! Getting ends and breaking niggaz. Things are looking up. Cat-Dat is a baller. Do you all feel me? Cat-Dat has his game on tight strictly for the hustle. Cat-Dat is dodging all the one-time's and jetting through the ways of life. Jetting through the gangways that is. The streets is where you can find Cat-Dat packing gats (guns) and packing heat. The drama is getting one. Lunatics are rolling deep killing people.
Today We Bury The Home is a sad sorrow mourning track over the death of a homie. Today We Bury The Home is very similar to Steady Mourning. Both songs have the death element and darkened dark theme. The eerie electronic synths and synth bells really have an aftereffect on this track as they do on Rolling Threw Your Hood, Still In The Game, and Steady Mourning.
G's Live Forever is a comparison to the Babe Ruth quote of: Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Legends live forever. Cat-Dat had felt and was well receptive to Babe Ruth's quote. In other words, Cat-Dat could relate to Babe Ruth's quote. Also Cat-Dat had took the 'Legends live forever." quote and had turned into G's Live Forever. That's why Cat-Dat chose G's Live Forever at the title for his debut album.
The low organ notes sound very similar to male chorus from church Do You Feel Me. The world is slowly closing in on the gangsta lifestyle. It's all good in the hood while understanding by being true to this thug life. Sniper is on premeditation for a 187. Not to mention a preemption. Cat-Dat is fighting for survival in this game until it kills him. Do You Feel Me is very mysterious quirky track.
The Game Is The Reason For Livin' is a self-explanatory track explaining about why leading into the life of crime is the way live. The bass notes in the beginning is heavy hitting. Cat-Dat is still a heartless motherfucker but his shadow is watching over him. Show some luv. Cat-Dat is very loyal to the game. Cat-Dat's mother raised him as a G. His mind is on his money. He got the biggest strap. We do what we do. The Game Is The Reason For Livin' samples Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend. This track however is more lighthearted than the last one. It has a more lighthearted theme that is present.
Since Eighty-Six has a more lighthearted feel than the last track. This one went out to all the niggas that was down with Cat-Dat from the jump. Since Eighty-Six is about how Cat-Dat and his niggas used to chill. 1986 is when Cat-Dat got engaged in the criminal lifestyle as his start as a narcotics distributor in 1986. Cat-Dat was block hustlin' and big ballin' in the 80s and 90s. Young nigga getting his ends. Drama is on the down low. People are starting feuds by commenting shootings and murders while glamorizing the thug life Tupac had idolized. Cat-Dat has been trying to stack a grip since 1986. Cat-Dat is stepping back with the ballers. The funk jumping up with the fast life. Obstacles are common when living the gangster lifestyle. Street hustling is about playing your cards right. It gets shady with a lot of shit. Everyone still survives that life somehow at the end of the track.
Still In The Game is the last track on this dope ass gangsta rap album! The eerie electronic synths and synth bells really have an aftereffect on this track! Cat-Dat is creeping up on a hater from behind with his 9 millimeter in a plot to murder him. Time will tell if he lives or dies. Cat-Dat learned game from the old school. Cat-Dat is representing the city of Flint, Michigan on this track. Cat-Dat glamorizes the 'thug life' Tupac does in his tracks. He is still alive in the game. Still packing guns. Cat-Dat plans out his next murder. The plot is on his assailants head and now he is dead. Cat-Dat lives life on the down low.
Now I will talk about how this gem of an album had a great extravagant title for an album! I will discuss how and why
G's Live Forever was a perfectly good album title for this album.
As I said before, G's Live Forever is a comparison to the Babe Ruth quote of: Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Legends live forever. Cat-Dat had felt and was well receptive to Babe Ruth's quote. In other words, Cat-Dat could relate to Babe Ruth's quote. Also Cat-Dat had took the 'Legends live forever." quote and had turned into G's Live Forever. That's why Cat-Dat chose G's Live Forever at the title for his debut album.
The reason I decided to review this album was because this album never got the chance to be reviewed by any national magazines, local papers, or Billboard music critics. It was largely ignored due to too many gangsta rap artists trying to break their way in the music business at the time during the mid 1990s. If Cat-Dat had released G's Live Forever around the time The Dayton Family, Top Authority, Tupac, Conscience Daughters, NBOH or Dr. Dre came out in 1992, then Cat-Dat would not have been overlooked by corporate executives, music critics, and the news media. It's too bad that Cat-Dat unfortunately never came out with a follow-up album for a second album.
I rate this album, G's Live Forever, 5/5*****!!
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