Mixerr Album Reviews #587

This is Michael Mixerr. Today I will review Just Riden’ by Saafir released on Qwest Records/Reprise Records in 1994.

Just Riden’ by Saafir is not your typical West Coast G-Funk rap record. It is more of an East Coast hip hop old school flava blend. Just Riden’ has more of an East Coast feel than a West Coast feel. Not that many synthesizers and guitars are used or present. After all Saafir is all about that freestyle rap meets old school hip hop mixed in with lyricism. Saafir, Quincy Jones, J-Groove, Jay-Z, and Sleuth all lent out a hand towards production skills, mixing, and mastering for this particular single.

Just Riden’ by Saafir is not your typical West Coast G-Funk rap track. Just Riden’ sounds similar to one of those songs that you cruise to in your beach cruiser or lowrider. However Just Riden’ by Saafir is more East Coast sounding than the West Coast sound that was burgeoning at the time during the middle of the 1990s across the United States and Canada. Just Riden’ was chosen as a select single by Saafir himself. The musical melody and lyrical flow of the Just Riden’ track is just smoothly laid out with production skills by Saafir, Quincy Jones, and Jay-Z.

The pultruding bass notes hit off on the deep darkened end of the musical note tuning right at the very beginning of Pull Ya Card. Pull Ya Card has that deep dark grimey rap meets old school hip hop blended with battle rap freestyle lyricism similar to Onyx, GP Wu, Necro, Raekwon, Vakill, and Ill Bill. Not mention Pull Ya Card has a brooding dark gangsta rap feel throughout the track. Pull Ya Card is a non-album track that did not appear on Boxcar Sessions.

Hype Shit is a fast paced 87 BPM to 107 BPM jazz rap song filled onto raspy jazz fusion with heavy musical note pounding bass guitars added in the bridge and background. Saafir is kickin’ up hype shit on Hype Shit. Hype Shit is a non-album track that did not appear on Boxcar Sessions.

The two non-album tracks that didn’t appear on Boxcar Sessions were Pull Ya Card and Hype Shit. Saafir was underrated and overlooked during his music career on Quincy Jones’ Qwest Records label from 1992 to 2001.
I rate this single, Just Riden’, 5/5*****!!