Tee Double - The Growth album review
The Growth album by Tee Double stands out as being a more Jazz oriented album than a Hip Hop/Rap album. Tee Double is known for using Jazz samples and Jazz sounds throughout in his music. Take Lost Scriptures, Mirage, The Jazz sound is more prevalent on The Growth album than on any other of Tee Double's albums. Think Jazz rap in this case. That's how The Growth album stands out more than any of Tee Double's albums.
Tee Double brings us into throwback mode with Bringing It Back. Tee Double brings us to the old school rap technique of simple backpack rap with simple raps. The drums and beats are similar to a Jazz drum kit with a new school modern pop sound. The drums are sped to an upbeat mode.
Tee Double practices his vocal laps on the track Vocal Laps. Rap meets Jazz on Vocal Laps. Think Jazz Rap. The raps are perfect and on point not to mention relevant to the track.
5/5*****!
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Black Hippiz - Dead Rezidentz album review
The album Black Hippiz - Dead Rezidentz was released on Black Sunshine Entertainment and distributed by Triad Records from Norcross, Georgia in 1998. Black Hippiz is Gargamel (Melvin Nappier) and Cutt (Curtis Nappier) from Flint, Michigan.
The Dead Rezidentz album did not enjoy as much success as labelmate Spice 1's Let Be Known album and 1990-Sick album due to the fact that Triad Records was going bankrupt at the time. You see, Triad Records went bankrupt in 1999. So promotional support for the Dead Rezidentz album was put to an abrupt halt. The schedule for touring was cut drastically short. Black Sunshine Entertainment went back to distributing albums themselves. In other words, Black Sunshine Entertainment went back to being an independent distributor.
The Michigan grimey ghetto tech is pretty much prevalent in the album. Dead Rezidentz is very much Esham influenced since Esham guest stars on one track. A majority of the tracks combat the subject of drug usage and substance abuse. The criminal element is present in most of the tracks. Michigan rap heavyweights such as Esham, The Dayton Family, Top Authority, Selby Hood, and Styx Greed make contributions to the Dead Rezidentz album. Black Hippiz is an example of overlooked underground rap that has not received the recognition it deserves.
4/5****
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Tone C - Mayor Mix (SXSW Edition) album review
WTFWY starts off with a drill beat. Think drill beat intro. Tone C describes how he overcame his struggles when he was down on his luck. Tone C is a brother who is down for the struggle. The ways Tone C describes exactly that he was a hardhead is quite amazing. The lyrics are not too staggering however.
The auto tune and drill beats ruin the track Never Stop. It would be a lot better if auto wasn't used or present. Tone C be messing with them drill beats tho. The beats rock and raps rule!
My Everything calms down the mood for the entire album. The oriental harp used on the My Everything is what makes the track retain that calm sound and mellow mood. Tone C takes My Everything on a whole another level in rapping by Spanish ad-libbing. My Everything is a love track. She is the best thing Tone C ever had. He only wants them to be successful. Them together make a great couple. Tone C holds it down with her.
The beats on Nympho are too repetitive and the raps are weak. Tone C could have done a lot better in rapping. Nympho was a wack track.
4/5****!
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Jon Dee Graham - Hooray For The Moon album review
New West Records from Austin, Texas presented to us in 2001 an unprecedented stellar effort of an album titled Hooray For The Moon by guitarist Jon Dee Graham. For this album, Jon Dee Graham gathered a wide variety of producers, engineers, vocalists, guitarists, and musicians to contribute to his album. That's how Hooray For The Moon stands out in its own right. The album has a calm yet chilling effect. New West Records did an awesome superb job on promoting the album in stores and over the radio waves. Jon stuck to his roots while rockin' out on tour to promote the 2001 album.
4/5****
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Zane Campbell album review
The Zane Campbell album is a collection of requiems and cautionary tales. The Zane Campbell is a self-proclaimed master of Country music. The Zane Campbell album is a trajectory intricately woven into the evolution of Country music. All of the album is basically country music. Mainly outlaw country music. Zane is a member of the Campbell family which is a clan of renegade musicians and songwriters. Zane is the most well known of the bunch. He can outwrite and outsing any sap out there. These days Zane Campbell is proudly carrying on the family tradition.
4/5****
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Coal Chamber - I.O.U. Nothing single review
I.O.U. Nothing is basically heavy metal meets thrashcore with an emo/punk vibe. The gothic feel is very prevalent as the track has a dark mood of course. You can feel that emo vibe to it. Most of the single has a dark emo/gothic feel and vibe to it. Think Misfits meets Slipknot when you listen to this particular single.
I.O.U. Nothing is basically heavy metal meets thrashcore with an emo/punk vibe. The emo vibe and gothic feel is very prevalent as the track has a dark mood of course.
IOU deals with the emotions of about being done with someone to the point when you know you owe them nothing. The words in their voice is very clear. Their words are pretty clear. They owe you absolutely nothing. Nothing at all. You get nothing in return. Coal Chamber will be the ones who will take the limits too far. Don't expect nothing. Make your moves and do it right.
The Bridges You Burn is about how the bridges you burn will come back to haunt you. The Bridges You Burn is yet another emotional gothic metal song. This song also has a darkened mood to it in the background. Most of the song has the hard rock sound.
The Bridges You Burn is quite essential to this single’s mood with it being about emotions mainly. The lyrics are not too staggering however.
5/5*****!
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Derek Miller - Music is the Medicine album review
If you are looking for something calm in the mood to listen to, then this album is for you. The album's mood is quite calming and smooth. The SOAR Corporation and Derek Miller will take you on a tribal experience with this album. The sounds of Native American Indian music is truly mellow.
Music is the Medicine for your soul and you have to let that light shine through your heart before you fall apart and loose your composure. Derek is telling us so. Have a smoke while praying is not a bad idea but not too great of an idea though. Music is the medicine of Derek's soul. God is his only friend.
Fortune Teller is a song that foreshadows the future. You can feel the smooth Native American Indian vibe and slow melody on Fortune Teller. Fortune Teller seems to be similar to a rain dance from such Indian tribes.
Faded In My Wings deals with washing away the emotional pain. The song Faded In My Wings deals with the subject of abuse.
The heartfelt songs are End of The World, Into The Storm, Heaven, and Corn Cob Soup.
[Derek Miller is a Native American Indian of the Zuni tribe. Zuni baby!]
5/5*****!
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Cold Specks - Neuroplasticity album review
Neuroplasticity is an alternative rock album that has that particular hard rock edge. The alternative rock sound is what makes this album an enjoyable listening experience for the fans of rock music. Neuroplasticity is a unique album in its own willful right. Alternative rock meets hard rock with an underground sound that nightclubs play. This album is a diamond in the rough.
Love ages as time progresses forward on the song Bodies At Bay. Love ages as time progresses forward before the relationship becomes sour. Don't look back in time on past romantic relationships. Love does not have a time even though love does age with time. True love lasts forever. Some say love can thrill and enthrall you. True love enthralls you to be in a relationship. Bodies At Bay seems to be a calm smooth rock song.
Old Knives is a song that describes what emotional pain is. The main character in the song wants you to feel the same emotional pain they are feeling. Everything they are feeling you will feel too. Pain is what you get as in the terms of feelings.
Absisto is an unseen and overlooked rock song the music industry didn't hear. Absisto should have been a single for the album.
Living Signs is a song about dealing with guilt. The guilt chips away at you after a while. Living Signs is an unseen and overlooked rock song the music industry didn't hear as the track Living Signs should have been a single for the album.
5/5*****
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Domino Theory Album Sampler album review
The beginning of the Domino Theory Album Sampler begins with a smooth piano solo that's somewhat short but memorable as you would hear one of those memorable golden nights. The intro plays into the first track which has a Latin Salsa meets quiet storm soul music of the mid 1990s. The percussion matches the Latin Salsa sound perfectly.
Funky breakbeat elements are blended into Hip Hop music on the second track. Think Funk meets Hip Hop music. This is where the music gets funky and uptempo. Second track is where the music starts to get upbeat in an uptempo manner. The double bass violin used gives us that mysterious mystery vibe as if someone's up to something. It's that same double bass violin that would be used where a criminal would be sneaking around on a mystery drama television show. Think detective fiction for instance.
While the Domino Theory Album Sampler has its perks and charms, the album sampler has some flaws. The volume on the vocals are set 20% too low at a 40% vocal volume/60% instrument volume. Music production volume overlaps the volume which can be troubling for the listener. This experience can be troublesome. Some of the songs are too short to enjoy. Also the basis of the subject matter in these songs don't cover new ground. Although the Domino Theory Album Sampler stands out by not using the New Jack Swing sound that was popular at the time. That's what makes the album sampler interesting.
4/5****
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Michael Jackson - Ben album review
Michael Jackson brings us joy and enchantment on the Ben album production help from the famous record label Motown. Each and every track on this particular album is memorable. Ben features Michael Jackson in the spotlight of course. Most of the Ben album is geared towards a cheerful mood as that's what pop star Michael Jackson is known for.
Everybody's Somebody's Fool shines light to the audience as a love song. Despite that, the lyrics don't sound very convincing as they are not very happy. The sound quality is perfect though.
In Our Small Way is cute, special, and moving. Not to mention the cheerful mood. After all, this is a Michael Jackson song that features Michael in the spotlight of course.
Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day has that Jackson flavor to it with help and production by Motown prodigy Stevie Wonder. The Motown prodigy collaboration is purely genius! Results prove otherwise. The pop ballad surely displays its mood in a seldom cheerful manner. As a musical prodigy, his music brings us joy and enchantment.
5/5*****!
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Yardley Griffin Jr. - Hear Me Now album review
Hear Me Now has hit #9 on the Billboard's Gospel chart. It is Black Market's most spiritual uplifting album to date. The album Hear Me Now features everything from I Love You to Powerful, Mighty God to Everything, and many more. Yardley Griffin Jr. showcases his true pure vocal talent through prayer and hymn as he is currently the worship leader at Destiny Church, in Sacramento, California. Ced Singleton has done a superb job promoting this album! The album Hear Me Now was released on Black Market Records from Sacramento, California in 2015.
Hear Me Now deals with the emotional difficulties and grief of Yardley Griffin. Griffin had lost his youngest brother in 2010. This song was written from a heartfelt experience. Griffin had difficulties talking with God through prayer. The grief is still very real.
Flawed is the hit single off the Hear Me Now album charting as a BillBoard Top 10 release! Flawed comes with no flaws at all. Powerful is a powerful emotional uplifting song with spiritual uplifting vibes. Powerful is a spiritual uplifting religious song.
Music industry heavyweight/reputed songwriter Derek “DOA” Allen lends a hand in songwriting and production on the hymn The Storm Is Over. The Storm Is Over a nine minute long religious track. The reprise for The Storm Is Over blends in perfectly with the timing.
5/5*****!!
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Sha'Key - Adidi Skizm album review
Sha'Key - Adidi Skizm was released on Imago Records in 1994. A majority of the album was produced by Earl A. Blaze. His production sound can be heard throughout the album. Adidi Skizm itself was distributed by BMG Entertainment. BMG was the financial backer for the album.
The track Soulsville is a standout track! On Soulsville, Sha’Key explains in lyrical detail how she is living her life for the Soulsville. The raunchiness in her makes her sound like a male rapper instead of a female rapper. Sha’Key proves she is politically conscience and aware of urban despair on the track Soulsville. Most of Soulsville deals with poverty, violence, isolation, drug paraphernalia, abuse, life, and urban sprawl. Soulsville was ahead of its time. Spoken word poetry was not common in rap at that time. Earl A. Blaze produced Soulsvile.
Sha'Key describes Soulsville as ”laid back G music”. (G Music is G-funk basically.) Soulsville is one of those track you will want to loop over and over again. Soul and rap meet each other on this track. The beats are tight!
Sha'Key takes us first thought the perspective of a drug addict. Some will be in the front slicing up a blunt. We’ve got many in the house just calling out. The pieces of the drug unfold and the blood runs cold. Of course this is the ghetto. The trouble starts where the money rolls. It looks like another brother is washed up on the unhealthy effects of narcotic drugs. He’s out of work again. On that smoke again. Onto the streets where people make bad choices. There is too much pressure in the struggle.
Onto the streets where young girls make bad choices. Choices of a better life relent. There is too much pressure in the struggle. Young girls giving birth to a woman's world. Staying together in a relationship is too much pressure in a struggle.
The money doesn’t come smoothly when it comes to welfare. Many get welfare. Conscience falls when it comes to your kids. Their clothes don’t always fit. They had the same shirts since they were 6. The children don’t have enough food to eat. Downstairs, a women spends money from what change she went snooping around for at the laundromat. The money she gets isn’t enough to provide for her kids.
Now you step onto your own block, you hear gunshots. First it’s quiet and calm. Now it’s Vietnam starting off just a like a battleground. Bullets are on the rebound. You have to get down! This is a nation Janet Jackson don’t know jack about. Young girls giving birth to a woman's world. The drama goes on and on.
A little baby is being shifted around from household to household. From man to man. The kid is your task. How can anyone do that? How can a mother do that? Putting personal needs before your own children. That is an example of priorities over people.
Pedicure deals with the black-on-black disrespect that plagues the black community. Sha’Key tells us there is such disrespect towards in the black community. Such disrespect leads to decline in morality which is considered degrading to many others. Such disrespect is considered to be degrading. Pedicure also deals with the hypocrisy of black-on-black disrespect along with its double standards.
Pedicure deals with the black-on-black disrespect in the black community. Sha’Key wishes there wasn’t so much disrespect in the black community towards each other. To her, such disrespect is considered degrading. It’s degrading to others.
From the East to the West, this is not a contest because Hip Hop has it going on with the track Bicoastal Holdup. Sha’Key tells us we will overcome wack MC’s! The beginning starts off with human beatboxing and Sha’Key rapping off a freestyle. Notice the killer cuts and scratches on the turntables. The beats are off the hook on this track!
The way Sha’Key was rhyming on A Headnoddas Journey was truly unique and creative. You will only find this type of creativity in artists such as Sha’Key. A Headnoddas Journey takes on a spoken word tour of rap and poetry while the rhythmic sultry funk plays smoothly.
This album was criminally slept on. It was so good! Especially the song Soulsville! This is one of those albums you have to have on vinyl. If this album was on Atlantic, RCA, Pay Day Records, Columbia Records, Rounder Records, Blue Note, and London Records, the album would have gotten more recognition and sold more units. 13 tracks of soulful music, spoken word poetry, and G-Funk best describes this album! Sha’Key showcases her Afrocentric agenda with political conscienceness and is not afraid to do so. Sha’Key will remind you of Nefertiti, Bahamadia, Poetess, Jessica Betts, MC Lyte, Snow Tha Product, Lin Que, and Brandy.
[Sha'Key still does musical poetry. Sha’Key now goes by the name Hanifah Walidah.]
5/5*****!!
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