Now the beats on this album were not produced by DJ FreshKuttz but were instead produced by someone else who properly was an in-house producer for KMC Records. The beats on this album were not produced by DJ FreshKuttz as many people would have you believe.
MASS had nothing to do with the release of this album. He was already active in Christian ministry and was left the group to take care of J-Rome’s daughter. He quit Simken Heights to raise his niece and take care of her. MASS and DJ Freshkuttz had nothing to do with this album. Only Cap One did.
The back of the album cover has the names of totally unknown rappers. Not too many people know this but Cap One had his own crew in Indiana during the time this album was recorded. He included them on this album.
The reason this album is so rare and extremely difficult to find is because this album was a flop. All Simken Heights fans felt cheated with that release. The only good songs were the 3 tracks from the Ashtray Junkees album and the Shadows of Death song. Most of the other songs were horrible. The beats were wack as they were not produced by DJ FreshKuttz. Overall A New Beginning was a terrible album and a horrible way for Simken Heights to start off 2000 with. Which is why only die hard Simken Heights fans know about this album.
Tthe 3 tracks from the Ashtray Junkees album which were included on this album were Slay The Hook, Learning To Fly, and Ignite It.
A New Beginning was released on CD format in the year 2000 from the Lansing, Michigan based label KMC Records. This album is one of their albums that was not released in cassette format because by the time the 2000s rolled around, CDs were a common media format.
Learning To Fly has a unique sound where blues music meets acid rap with a touch of that wicked horrorcore sound. The song uses heavy bass. The strings selection is composed of upright bass, acoustic guitar, and an electric guitar. Learning To Fly has a mellow mid tempo vibe. The electric guitar used gives Learning To Fly that sad downtempo blues sound.
Simken Heights first made their way through the Midwest in 1991 with one of their most well-known songs Blast Blast and this song as well. Simken Heights began building a loyal fanbase immediately with this song.
Ignite It has that eerie sound similar to that crunk Memphis rap. Simken Heights shows a nihilistic look on life on this song. Ignite It is another classic song from Simken Heights that helped them become popular in their hometown Lansing, Michigan. Overall this is a great song to burn a blunt and get high to.
Now this version of Ignite It is not the original. KM raps through most of the song with only vocal samples from MASS being used during the chorus. War Horse is a reference to their 90’s song of the same name. The only part of the song that is original is the chorus which was left unedited and not tampered with. Some of Cap One’s vocals are used here and there.
Slay The Hook is a solo rap song performed by member MASS. MASS murdered Slay The Hook lyrically! Slay The Hook is from the 1991 album Ashtray Junkees. This song also helped Simken Heights build a loyal fanbase.
Not too many people know this but Oh Zee helped create Slay the Hook with MASS. He was responsible for producing and arranging the instrumentation for the song. Not Cap One as many people would think or believe. J Rome is the person making funny background noises. J-Rome who was later murdered not too long after this song was recorded.
Shadows of Death uses fluttering sound effects over heavy bass and a dark vibe. The instrumentation is perfect. The song uses a touch of new school rap over death rap. The song is almost perfect despite not having to do anything with Simken Heights. Female rapper KM is all over the song. She gets super chatty as she mimics Twista’s style and flow.
Female rapper KM is inhaling weed smoke. She does not feel loved. So she decides to inflict self-harm to herself and cut her wrists. She sits alone in the dark meditating. She sees the shadows of death while meditating. Next she starts conversing with Satan.
Of course she gets hurt in the worst way possible. KM walks through the valley and shadows of death. Her eyes see the light when she takes her last breath. Things get dark. Now back to reality.
Suddenly a sound comes from nowhere. She then decides to board all the windows shut. All of the windows are now closed. It is here where she curses at everyone. The more medication she takes, the more crazy she becomes.
Now she lays on the floor trying to catch the light. She feels a shadow coming towards her body. The shadow comes closer to her body. This is where she starts wondering about what she did. The room is dark as night. She walks through the valley of death. What awaits her will take away her last breath.
The walls are closing in tight. She keeps slipping as she is walking on a thin rope. Nothing seems to make sense to her anymore. Shadows lurk behind her. These are shadows of death. Her life is ending. Her nigga D is the only one that feels her. Her own family doesn’t even hear her. Since the age of 14, she was convinced that she was mentally disturbed. Her family put KM into a clinic. She could not cope. She now faces her inevitable demise. She will never see another sunrise. Death takes her
Weed Got Me Trippin is another good song to relax and smoke a blunt too. KM is all over the song of course. Some of Cap One’s vocals are used.
Warhorse Part 2 is a remix of the original classic song which was called War Horse. Warhorse Part 2 revisits the original version of War Horse. Different beats and synths are used in this version. The sound is more polished and is not low quality either.
Wrath in the Woods is a wack rap song because KM bites Twista’s style and none of the members of Simken Heights are even on the song. This song has nothing to do with Simken Heights. None of Cap One’s vocals are even used. The only thing enjoyable about this song is the heavy bass. The song haas a West Coast rap sound.
I rate this album 1/5*.
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