Unsane - Visqueen album review
Visqueen Deluxe by Unsane dropped in 2007 and again on LP which was released by the record label named Black Diamond in 2008. Visqueen first came out on CD in 2007 just to set the record straight!
By Unsane fan standards (as well as heavy metal/rock standards), Visqueen was experimental. Chris Spencer had wanted to use an experimental sound for the album this time and so did the rest of the band. The songwriting was pushed forward as much as it should have been.
The band had been getting a little too refined for the tastes for the hardcore Unsane fans out there by that point in time. Yeah the material isn't as powerful as Blood Run or any of their previous albums.
Disdain was a mid-tempo song. It can seem quite instrumental if you listen to this song over and over again. The sound is well worn out by most Unsane fans standards. The sound on this track is well worn out by most Unsane fans standards. The same can be said about the Disdain instrumental.
The sound is well worn out by most Unsane fans standards. The album Visqueen was not well-received by fans. Sad to say, but this album did not make a dent or a stain in their legacy. It's sad when heavy metal/rock bands and artists loose their touch after a while or even in a short period of time or a shortened period of time which can come unexpectedly. That really does suck! Some of the songs were mediocre to be honest.
2/5**
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The Legendary Ronnie Spencer album review
The Legendary Ronnie Spencer album was released on Sucka Free Records from Houston, Texas in 2014. Now Ronnie Spencer is out of the penitentiary and back in the recording studio, he's gotten his shit together.
How Many Ways is about how many various ways can Ronnie's wife can really love him. She is really driving Ronnie crazy! Talk about freaky love. Thinking About You should be a single. Thinking About You, Talk About Getting It On, and Turn Around Baby are sexual intercourse in the bed love songs. A lot of the songs on this album are by the way!
She's A Stripper is a promiscuous strip club track. That song is like a slow jam mixed with a club joint. Not too bitter, not too bland. Jhiame should have been on there. It's something that he would sing or rap about. Another song appropriate for being a single!
The song Ronnetta is a dedication track to his daughter, Ronnetta Spencer, whom is an actress from Houston, Texas. Ronnetta is his soul inspiration to do what he does on regards to singing. Ronnetta is what gives in to his motivation in aspects as to living life to the fullest. Basically Ronnetta is his motivation.
Half the album is sexual love songs and part hip hop. Ronnetta Spencer and D-One are the most featured guest artists for this album. Sexy love songs done on the R&B/Soul aspect had already been done. Especially way before this album!
Ronnie Spencer will remind you of Jhiame. Both whom are Screwed Up Click (SUC) affiliated.
As you all know, Ronnie Spencer has been around 1998 since Fat Pat's "Tops Drop". Ronnie Spencer has been laying down his vocals on various Houston rap artists album for over more than 10 years. As well as Houston soul artists. He should have spent more time in the booth. He is a huge contributor for the SUC. If this album was released on Wreckshop Records and Sucka Free Records in 2001 as the Finally! was, then there's no telling where he would be. He probably would have been more above ground.
5/5*****!!
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Tha S.E.T. - Trickeration Foe Life album review
Tha S.E.T. - Trickeration Foe Life album was released in 1996 on Introspective Records and B Up Records. . Tha S.E.T. is from Southeast San Diego, California.
The first track is New York City. Tha S.E.T. finds themselves in New York City at record store in search for some gangsta rap music. They do not like the East Coast sound. Now remember, this album was made during the East Coast vs. West Coast feud. It's a diss aimed at New York City basically.
Listen To What I Kick is a lyrical and biographical sone at the same time. Pure G-Funk beats and nothing but gangsta lyrics! Triv. Dat Nigga Erick, Sir Devoe, and Mikey Eastbound hit it off great on this track! Real riders will like this track. Killa shit!
Raised By The Streets is an upbeat ska surfer song mixed with Rock.
It is another lyrical and biographical song at the same time. The song is really about the perils of Southeast San Diego. Such as being raised by the streets, being raised by the hard knocks, relying on gangs, turning to drugs, doing crime, roaming the wicked streets, committing armed robberies, and aggravated assault. Real rider will like this!
The Struggle Is On is about the daily struggles and daily hustles of in SESD. Sir Devoe flows good on this track. It's all about day to day struggles and day to day hustles with life in San Diego. Pure gangsta shit! The xylophone is on good point.
My Life is an autobiographical track about Dat Nigga Erick's life in Southeast San Diego.
This is a solo track by Dat Nigga Erick from Tha S.E.T. right here. He born in 1973 to a single mother in SD. He was at a straight disadvantage being mismanaged by street life at a young age. Talks about being a bad ass knuckle head in SD sporting Dickies, Chucks, and rags as well as other illegal activities such as hiding from the police (dodging the one time), drive by shootings, theft, and public intoxication. These were all the things Dat Nigga Erick did as he got older. He soon realized his errors and gave up that way of life.
Bouncin' will remind you of More Bounce To The Ounce by Zapp. This is Dago truck music. A song to go cruz'n to. This a solo track by Sir Devoe. This is funky. Floatation is a darker track as My Life by Dat Nigga Erick was. I'm not too surprised by that.
Let Loose is a gangsta ass track! Trickeration finna let loose is about smoking on a bong and sipping on a deuce deuce. It's Da Bomb! Real gangsta shit!
Let Loose is what gave the name Trickeration to the streets of Southeast San Diego. Trickeration would be later popularized by Mitchy Slick in 2001 which turned into triggeration that year and the name stuck after that. Trickeration later turned into Mitchy Slick's catchphrase as well as "Triv." and "Yeah dat!".
K-SIMP is a radio interlude which is very funny. Tyrone was the funniest on this interlude! We need more tracks like this nowadays! It's a nighttime track. All the chicks will go wild for the radio DJ Daddy Long Straight dickin' all these bitches down late at night. Dickin' them down on a late night creep.
Tell Me What U Wanna Do is a late nighttime song. Sort of a love song which calms down the albums mood. This love song just mellows the mood out perfectly. Tell Me What U Wanna Do is perfect for a radio song when driving on a dark road late at night by yourself. It's one of those songs.
Young Thugs is a darker gangsta track like Flowtation. Southeast Struggle is the same theme as The Struggle Is On. 12 Gauge Dumpin' is a pure gangsta track! Also similar to Let Loose and Young Thugs. Trickeration Foe Life is a dark gangsta track similar to Let Loose.
If you hadn't bought or got this album, buy it! You won't regret it! Trickeration Foe Life is filled with funky raw material that breeds from San Diego. No filler material either. Even the skits are worth playing! No track on here is worth skipping! You don't get that a lot with albums these days.
Trickeration Foe Life one of those album that got lost in the shuffle during the East Coast vs. West feud along with many other gangsta rap albums and new school hip hop albums. It's a shame too because that San Diego Funk always went under the music radar. That Dago G-Funk is raw!
5/5*****!!
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Tweet - Tweet Sampler album review
This album sampler was released on Goldmind Inc. and Elektra in 2001. This was the up coming sampler for the Southern Hummingbird album by Tweet that was released in 2002. This album sampler was released on both CD and vinyl. Tweet was the newest addition to Missy's Goldmind Inc. in 2000 and 2002. She was the tenth artist to sign to Goldmind Inc.! Tweet is multidimensional with her acoustic guitar. Either way... This album sampler is off the hook!!!
The Intro starts off with Missy Elliott telling us why we should buy Tweet's album, what the songs are, and what the fans should expect from the Southern Hummingbird album. Missy Elliott gets into her testimony about this sampler.
Oops (Oh My) knocks down artistic boundaries in ALL directions because it talks about masturbation and having sex in bed. That is one cold track. Missy Elliott is on there too. This is a new school track. It blew everything else out of the water back in 2002.
Motel sounds like it was based on a true story. Tweet showcases her guitar playing skills on this song. I love the acoustic guitar used on this song. Yes it is a love song. Tweet goes solo on this song. You can feel this song. It is great!!
Boogie 2nite is a dance track with pure old school funk and new school soul. This is one of those tracks that makes want to get up and dance. Tweet goes solo on it. I love the production even if it seems a bit distorted and unbalanced. The beats and vocals were not up to par. The vocals were a bit too low. You will still love this song either way.
5/5*****!!
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Sam Huston Boyz - Stay Real album review
Stay Real was released in 2002 on Isolated Records and Iced Down Records out of Austin, Texas. TJ Muzic is the producer. The members of SHB are Lil Breazy, Ajax, Lil Man, Lil Buzzy, Big Red, Riel, Al G., and TJ.
Sam Huston Boyz got their group from their street of the same name (Sam Huston Ave.). They were popular at house parties in Austin in the early 2000s, especially in East Austin. The reason they had connections with Houston rap artists on their albums is because of the name "Huston", which gave them popularity in Houston as well. The other reason is that TJ Muzic was a well respected producer in Texas rap regarding Houston and Austin.
Only Way 2 Shine was an underground hit for the group. This song was on their debut album, Only Way 2 Shine. This version of the song features Lil Keke and Lil Flip. The original features Lil Keke. This version is the remix.
Stay Real a good song. The message of this song is to stay real and stay true to yourself. To your mission and goals. Fuck all the haters and naysayers in the game. Staying real is the only thing on Lil Breazy’s agenda.
Tonight is a late at night club song that features ESG and Z-Ro. The beats are on point. Stephanie is the vocals as she is on all the other Iced Down albums. Z-Ro hits it off with his fast flow. ESG was the coolest.
Leaving You is a break up song for those sour relationships that unfortunately don't last very long. 3-2 did most of the rapping as he did a lot back in the 90s and 2000s. 3-2 had his act together unlike now where he’a doing drugs.
Diamonds & Gold is a southern rap song with that bling bling sound (look). Think Dayton's and Vogues. And the finest clothes.
Do What You Like is an upbeat song with a sample. It features Lil Keke and was produced by Jhiame.
You will love the beats and heavy beats on Bitch Please! TJ makes an appearance as well. It hits hard in the paint. Players in the Club is a club song that features MC Fatal. All A Dream is a song about pipe dreams. Al G. and Z-Ro hit it off on Thankin Throwed. Texas Boyz features Slim Thug and Big Pokey.
Austin rap always gets overlooked. Everyone's been missing out or sleeping on it. Austin had some great talent back then.
5/5*****!!
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Sam Huston Boyz - Only Way 2 Shine album review
Only Way 2 Shine was released in 2000 on Isolated Records and Iced Down Records out of Austin, Texas. TJ Muzic is the producer. The members of SHB are Lil Breazy, Ajax, Lil Man, Lil Buzzy, Al G., Big Red, Riel, and TJ.
Sam Huston Boyz got their group from their street of the same name (Sam Huston Avenue). They were at house parties in Austin in the early 2000s, especially in East Austin. TJ Muzic was a well respected producer in the Texas rap scene at that time. That's how SHB got love in Texas!
Only Way 2 Shine was an underground hit for the group. This song is on this debut album, Only Way 2 Shine. This version of the song features Lil Keke. The other version on Stay Real features Lil Keke and Lil Flip.
You will love the beats and heavy beats on Bitch Please! TJ makes an appearance as well. It hits hard in the paint. Recline & Shine is a car riding song whether your car is on Candy Paint or not. Ain't No Doubt, Dirty South, PLAYA, and 1/2s To Wholes are southern rap songs. Gone Off Fry is a drug flippin song. Lil Black and Lil Sin have the best verses on Haters and Hos.
Haterz was a diss track aimed at Big Baby Records and Nuf-Sed Inc. Why Big Baby and Tim Bailey were dissed, who knows. Big Baby did not respond back. Lil Black was on his way to fame at that time. So probably he didn't care. Nothing really came out of it.
Their debut album was way overlooked and slept on. Austin rap always gets overlooked. Everyone's been missing out or sleeping on it. Austin had some great talent back then.
5/5*****!
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NFTP - Scandalas album review
NFTP - Scandalas was released on Cut Foul Records, distributed by INDI, and distributed by City Hall in 1993. Think gangsta rap meets old school hip hop with this album when you listen to this album by NFTP. Many cars in Flint were playing NFTP, DOA, and The Dayton Family at the time this cassette came out.
NFTP is Niggaz From The Park from Sarvis Park on the West Side of Flint, Michigan. NFTP was from Moore Street as was Took-N-Bone. Sarvis Park was a hood not to be fucked with back then as Dayton Street was. NFTP made it very clear they did not like snitches. NFTP was a group composed of gang members from the city of Flint during that time period. Most members of the NFTP were Crips and some were Vice Lords. NFTP was a group composed of nine members. Big Dane, The Mac, Lil Mac, Big Rock aka Big Roc, A. Bone, Mackee aka The Undertaker (Mackeef), and others were members of NFTP.
The Lurk is about Big Rock's life of street hustling and dope smuggling. Big Rock would rather roam the streets and sell drugs than to prefer being in school and getting an education to better himself so he can become a contributing member of society. The dark grim realities of street life do lurk on this song. The song shows us no solution to end the problems of the United States drug epidemic.
One thing is for sure! NFTP made it very clear that they did not like snitches. That was what the song Uah Snitch was all about. The Mac can't stand the fact that there are too many snitches in Flint due to the fact that Flint is a small city of 100,000 people. NFTP had beef with many snitches as well as many local Flint gangs such as Flint Bloodstones, Spanish Cobras, Dayton Mafia, and Selby Hood. NFTP was cool with Took-N-Bone and DOA while almost no one else in Flint was at that time.
The productions styles and sampling are very underground and bass heavy. The Slick Rick samples are phat and off the hook!
Big Rock's Ride was the dopest cut! A lot of NFTP fans and Flint citizens can agree with that. Most cars in Flint were playing this and The Dayton Family at the time. Big Rock's Ride will remind you of the song Cruzin' by the DOA during the same year.
The Undertaker's Dozen (13) is a short two and a half minute interlude about how The Undertaker killed 13 people and why his nickname is "13 Booties in a Basket". It's a never ending saga of The Undertaker committing random killing of unsuspecting victims. The Undertaker starts his first murder related killing on Friday the 13th. He killed women, men, and children. The Undertaker's Dozen (13) is about why Mackeef is The Undertaker. The mood of this interlude is very dark, sinister, foreboding, and brooding.
Next up is the title track of Scandalas. Most cars in Flint were playing this and The Dayton Family at the time as I had said before. This track is filled with pure gangsta ass dopeness. Being "scandalas" is about living that criminal lifestyle as a rebel to society and the moral standards set in place. It's clear that NFTP was pissed off about some shit when they recorded this track. Fools were still having beef in the 90s. There is still chivalry in the 90s that is mentioned in the beginning of the title track. The productions styles and sampling are very underground and bass heavy modulating pounding keynotes. NFTP was the most "scandalas" rap group from Flint!
Mackee (The Mac) has a raspy distorted voice on Behind The Mac. I love the heavy bass and drum beats on Behind The Mac. Mackee made it clear he did not like Slobs (Bloods or in this case Flint Bloodstones) because he was a Crip. (Not to mention Spanish Cobras, Dayton Mafia, and Selby Hood.) Big Dane was a Crip too. It's a straight gangsta song!
On Park Thang is how NFTP proves it's just a Sarvis Park thang.
While DFC was the most funkiest rap group, while Took-N-Bone were the dopest, The Dayton Family was the most hardest gangsta rap group, DOA was the most deadliest rap group, you had Ruff-N-Rugged which was the most rugged rap group in Flint, Top Authority was the most authoritative in Flint, Guttt Control was the most gutsiest sexually suggestive out of all the Flint rap groups at that time, while FOD was the rawest, and Artfull Dodgers was the most artsiest, NFTP was the most scandalas rap group from Flint!
It's too bad NFTP didn't make 4 more albums after this one. A lot of rap groups from Flint only dropped one or two albums for some reason. The reason that a lot of rap groups from Flint only dropped one or two albums was due to lack of finances, lack of resources, lost interest, creative differences, contracts, and criminal lifestyles at most. So that's why NFTP only released one cassette. NFTP was the most gutta! NFTP lyrics were def not wack unlike them Took-N-Bone.
5/5*****!
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Jack White - Lazaretto album review
Jack White is a world renown guitarist that has been in the music business for some years now. The album Lazaretto was inspired by a collection of short stories, poems, and plays that whom Jack White wrote when he was 19 years old many years ago. Only to be rediscovered years later right in his attic. The intro is played at two different speeds. Lazaretto is a lot better than Blunderbuss. Not sure why this album did not get more news coverage and footage by NPR.
The stage set and stage props for the album photography shoot remind me of the Disney movie Frozen. At the front album cover, Jack White will remind you of the Edward Scissorhands character. The dark monotone blue scale miniature statues will remind you of the inside booklet of a Prozak album The stage sets will remind you of Frozen. The cold chilling winter scenery of the front cover foreshadows the albums mood. That would have been pretty dope if the front cover was a holographic lenticular printing for a front cover. In fact a holographic lenticular printing for a front cover would have been doper.
The flashy sequin clothing was a grand fashion design! It really fits in with the album's theme and mood. That flashy sequin clothing is perfect for cold chilly winter during the wintertime. Clothing should have been holographic like Janell Monae.
Lazaretto has liner notes, detailed graphic design, splendid artwork, bonus tracks too! Buy the deluxe version if you are a Jack White completionist!
4/5****!
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Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay album review
This album Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay was released in 1970 on CTI Records and CBS. Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay is one of most underrated piece of Jazz albums to ever come out! This album was produced by the underground Jazz producer Creed Taylor. Herbie Hancock is on the piano. Lenny White is on the drums. There are 5 songs total. This album along with other albums by Freddie Hubbard where a very overlooked and underrated this bite him being the world known trumpet player that he is.
Red Clay is one of the most absolutely most masterful jazz pieces of all time! It is absolutely a brilliant masterpiece! The pace gets slower yet gets faster to retain that 40s swing jazz ensemble sound. First the pace is slow then fast. It gets faster. Red Clay is one of the most jazziest songs of all time! Best 12 minute long Jazz songwriters piece ever written! Red Clay was an underrated and overlooked hit single indeed. Red Clay will remind you of New York City and Philadelphia on grey stormy day.
Delphia has that swing dance/swing Jazz along with the ensemble and riffraff of Philadelphia Blues from the timeline of the 1940s. However Delphia is not as fast paced as Red Clay is. Delphia should have been the second single in my opinion. The song is about 7 minutes and 20 seconds long. Killer effects on the Jazz organ and Jazz woodwind flute.
Suite Sioux is an 8 in a half minute long Jazz song. Cold Turkey is another underrated jazz masterpiece!
5/5*****!!
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