Big June - My Day GoeZ On album review
My Day GoeZ On by Big June was recorded from 2002 to 2003. This album was released on Big June's own imprint label Big N It Records and Repo Records in 2003.
The three tracks done in 1992 that the front cover of the album is referring to are Intro, Big June Nigga, and Straight Jackin' which were off the EP's Da Plug and Nightrider. Big June had just done a 5 year bid in the pen at the time for a home invasion and robbery.
First of is the intro which repeats Big June N-I Double G-A over and over on a sample of More Bounce To The Ounce by Zapp. Screams, screeches, tires peel outs, gunshots, ammo, and bullets can be heard in the loud background. Big June is letting us know… Big June is comin' at yo ass one mo gin!
Still Jackin' is a continuation of Straight Jackin'. This is where Big June picked up where he left off on this track. VMF aka Steve Vicious produced this track. The song features Gangsta Boi as well.
On So Unfuckwid'able, Big June tells us why he's Unfuckwid'able. Steve Vicious produced this track as well. The volume of the production is very loud. It is well and on point!
All Night is about fealin' freaky up all night. It's a late night jam with heavy drums and bass.
Gee Uv Ya Own is a dope song! Big June tells how to keep to yourself and mind your own damn business. That's how the game goes sometimes. This shit slaps hard! Big June is an OG. Gee Uv Ya Own is a dedication to all the G's.
Me, You, And God is about Big June having second thoughts on sleeping with his homeboy's girl. He wants to keep a relationship with her, but he knows he has to keep it secret. So henceforth the track title.
Shackled explains the events about how Big June was locked up and why he was locked up. The charge was shooting up an occupied dwelling. The courts did not drop the sentence for Big June on the gun charge. The other charges were breaking & entering. Talk about walking a straight. This song features another rapper named Mally. Mally states that his prison number was K70585 and the charges were murder and weapon possession. Big June goes with a Reggae flow on this track!
For All The Wrong Reasons explains the reasons why G's keep getting caught in the midst of doing stupid shit. Such as 25 to life with no get back, committing shootings, and festivities. Big June goes with a Reggae flow on this track as well!
On the title track, we appear to be at prison in the parole line. Big June is having another conversation with another inmate about what he's gonna do different when he gets out. Big June's name gets called. The guard addresses him as Inmate Price. Big June is out the gates! The whip on chrome starts up. It's back on. Nothing has changed since Big June had left these SouthEast streets.
Big June and Brotha Lynch Hung are on the track Young Riders from 1995. Young Riders is a dedication to all the G's.
Big June was a young rider creepin' in the night. He does it at night because that's when young motherfuckers get gunned down. He keeps 16 in the clip. Big June is form the Wicked Ass South East streets of San Diego when the gangstas kick it! So don't get caught slippin'!
This album slaps hard! The production is on point. There are no filler tracks. Party joints with that West Coast sound are All Night, Gee Uv Ya Own, and Damn!.
5/5*****!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vallejo - Black Sky album review
Vallejo's Black Sky album which was supposed to be released in 2001, but was pushed to 2003. This has to be the most overlooked album done by Vallejo!
Black Sky was recorded from 2001 to 2002, but was not released until 2003. The labels Epic, Sony, Vallejo Music Group, and Vallejo had many different views on what direction the band should pursue in the changing times in the state of the music industry and the media news. Many of the songs on this album were inspired by the post 9/11 era. That's why this album shows a darker side of Vallejo. Which is why you hear such a heavy metal influence with a brooding mood. There is such negativity in their lyrics due to tension with the record labels. It was truly a trying time for the group.
The Stereo album was written in this time span as well. Sony and RED Distribution were supposed to be the distributors for the Stereo album in 2002. Which due to label politics and marketing did not work out well. Vallejo was to import their album to Mexico, but instead Sony imported Stereo to Japan. That was against the Vallejo bands wishes causing them to depart with Sony. The band parted ways with Sony in January of 2002.
5/5*****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big June - Flamed Up album review
This album was released on CD by Big N It Records in 2006.
On the front album cover, Big June is posing up in nearly all red everythang at the corner of 1000 Meadowbrook Drive & 7800 Skyline Drive in San Diego, California.
Big June was fresh off parole in 2006 for shooting up an occupied dwelling asmentions that in the intro.) Artists mentioned in the intro are Suga Free, Lil Rob, JT The Bigga Figga, Lench Mob, and Brotha Lynch Hung. Big June higher than a helicopter! Big June is at you one mo' muthafuckin' gin! This ain't no "neo gangsta rap" 'like' 50 Cent or G-Unit. This is street gangsta rap!
Flamed Up a song to walk to in slow motion as a building explodes in the background and bursts into flames. Like an X-Men commercial! Big June is FLAMED UP from the Skyline neighborhood in San Diego. He got on red everythang. References to gun types such as Mac 11 and AK's are mentioned. Stormin' Stackabill, Gangsta Boi, and BossManHog all make guest appearances on this FLAMED UP track. The beats are on point!
On Where I Live, Big June talks about how it is with the G's on he block. The spacey electronic keyboards are used on Where I Live. Big June wants you to ride to this.
Im'a Buss At U is Big June cover song of Butch Cassidy - I'm A Hustla. Many rap artists of the 2000s era covered Butch Cassidy - I'm A Hustla in their freestyles or flows.
The vocoder is what makes In The Parking Lot a great track! The drum beats are on point!!
5/5*****!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norah Jones - First Sessions album review
In 2001, Blue Note A&R Brian Bacchus put Norah Jones with the experienced engineer named Jay Newland. Norah Jones had done some background vocals for singer Victoria Williams who was on Atlantic Records at the time. Six of those songs made to First Sessions, while the other 3 songs made it to the 2002 album Come Away With Me.
The song Come Away With Me should have been released as CD single in card sleeve form. Lonestar should have been a single. Don't Know Why is a cover song written by Jesse Harris. This album covers jazz songs. 10,000 copies of this album were made! These were available at her live gigs. The album should have been longer. Nine songs would have been fine.
4/5****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dwight Yoakam - Under The Covers album review
Under The Covers was an underrated album. Had it been released in 1993 instead of 1997, the album would have gotten more recognition. 1993 was better year for country musicians since Tracy Byrd and Toby Keith proved so otherwise. Writers such as Sonny Bono, Brian Holland, Danny O'Keefe, Gladys Horton, Ray Davies, and Jimmy Webb contributed to this album. Even Sheryl Crow made a feature! Dwight Yoakam did a cover song of Claudette by Roy Orbinson.
The album was supposed to go gold by RIAA standards. It shouldn't take anybody who's a musician to take 11 years to record an album. It should take 2 months to 2 years to record an album. 6 months at best.
4/5****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Born Soul - From The Beginning To The End album review
This album was released on Born Soul Productions in 1999 with distribution by Southwest Wholesale and INDI. Born Soul Productions is based outta Austin, Texas! Harold Green is the executive producer and the manager. Most of this album was recorded at The Bomb Shelter Studios near Arlyn Studios in South Austin. Born Soul is K-Smooth the Innovator (Kelly Hancock), DJ Crash (of diRTy WoRMz), Born Soul (rapper), and Mello D.
Guiding Light is a great song to start your morning to as you awaken during the sunrise. Think about it as the sun starts to rise. It's the symbolization of a better day with a positive outlook that's things will get better in lifetime. The beats and rhymes will guide you through this song. The beats and rhymes will make you high tonight
This song is very great and classical. The Peter Nero sample is really perfectly settled in with the calm mood and timbre of this song right here. Guiding Light is a good song. Guiding Light is a perfect way to start the album.
Fold 'Em contains an interpolation of Kenny Rogers - The Gambler. The lyrics are very mimicked from Kenny Rogers. This song called Fold 'Em teaches us that you've got to know when to fold them and know how to walk away from a situation that could seriously jeopardize your own life when times get ruff. This song is very real. This song called Fold 'Em is considered to be too real for some certain people to handle.
Searchin' is a religious song about religious soul searching. This song is about loving God the most. Searchin' is a very religious oriented song based on religion. The religion of Christianity that is! The beats and production are on point!! Those smooth classical xylophone is smoothly played out on very lighthearted felt notes. Born Soul and K-Smoove invite you to soul search with them.
K-Smoove faces a lot of stress and pressure on the song Stress. K-Smoove got an interview for a job opportunity but he knows very good and well that the employer is going to hire that other prior employee over him. It's similar to the rampant "getting hired and fired on the first day" stigma that is unfortunately overlooked in the United States workplace culture.
This just goes to show you how replaceable of an employee he really is. K-Smoove is about to loose his composure due to too much stress from various factors of life. Can you see what K-Smoove sees? He wants you as the listener to relate to him. Too much stress.
K-Smoove and Mello-D rapidly flows off on the southern rap freestyle Jump On It. DJ Crash really showcases his production skills on this rap song as a well known underground DJ right here. The nighttime mood really fits in perfectly right here with this particular song.
Like Dat is a perfect song in a way to end this classic masterpiece of an album. Like Dat will remind of Run-DMC - It's Like That. Yes, Like Dat is another freestyle rap song filled with southern rap. It will remind you of Madlib, MF Doom, Little Brother, Bahamdia, MC Lyte, Talib Kweli, and Mos Def.
The Stress Factor skit should have came after Paper Chase. The song Stress should have been after Guiding Light. Brotha From The South was too short of a song for me and it should have been longer. This album will remind you of Outkast. This albums is filled with obscure soul samples, classic breakbeats, ambient electro house production, and hip hop sounds.
This album is filled with fun Southern rap freestyles that relate to reality of people's problems they face on a daily basis. Most of the songs are freestyle raps. Think similar to Lil Flip. This album will remind you of Outkast. The whole album with make you groove to songs like The Groov, Jumps On It, Fatal, and Southern Fried Flav!
Samples used in this album were Wonderful You by Peter Nero, The Party Continues by Jermaine Dupri, Love Put Me on the Corner by Isley Brothers, Searchin' by Roy Ayers, Tomorrow by The Brothers Johnson, Tribe Vibe Break Beats, and Give Me the Night by Quincy Jones.
It's too bad that this album was underpromoted and overlooked. This album right here only sold 10,000 units. Whenever Born Soul releases an album, it usually sells 10,000 in the United States, Japan, France, Spain, Canada, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, and China. Born Soul Productions had vast potential to be the next OutKast from Texas. ATX that is!
5/5*****!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bobby Brown - Forever album review
From a sales point of view this album did not sell very well. It was the least promoted album in his career. Bobby Brown was still with MCA Records in 1997. 1997 was a bad year for MCA because the label MCA was in turmoil due to a bidding war with Geffen and Polygram Records at the time. So the promotion department of MCA wasn't doing so well. The other drawbacks were due to Bobby's bad image problem. He was known to be abusive to his ex-wife Whitney Houston and doing crack. He just needed to rehabilitate himself. Basically he had an ego problem.
Also he did not produce this album himself like he did on the previous album Bobby in 1992. He had full creative control over this album. The producers on this album were Carole Sager, Derek Allen, F-Sharp, Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson, Victor Merrit, Jerome Woods, and Kenny Finnel.
Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown both did a good job singing in the intro. Every time Bobby and Whitney write a composition or sing, you know it’s gonna be a hit! Whitney Houston really shines with her gospel choir singing.
Still My Thang had the possibility of becoming a single and a music video. Still My Thang need should have been a single to accompany this album.
My Place is more of an at night slow jam. My Place should have been a single as well to accompany this album.
The horn synths are on point on Happy Days! Happy Days should have been a single also!
It's too bad this album was under promoted and overlooked by MCA. If MCA and Bobby Brown had promoted this right, his career would have been a lot different then it is now. It's always good to have producers on more than a few songs or just one song. If Bobby hadn't done crack, things would have been a lot different.
5/5*****!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C-Ordell - Under Investigation album review
This album came out and dropped in 1994 under BLVD Records. C-Ordell helped Lil Sin get into the music business. C-Ordell was signed to the same record label as Lil Sin was in the 1990s, which was BLVD Records. C-Ordell is known as Derrick Crawford and he is from San Antonio, Texas! Finesse 1, Ricé, C-Ordell, Sugabear, and Lil Sin were the producers for this album. Denise James (now Denise White) sings the background vocals and Daryll Surratt does the guitars. Under Investigation has that 1990s gangsta rap and G-Funk sound to it.
Generation is the first song on the album. It samples Soul II Soul's Keep On Movin'. C-Ordell tells us he's the tightest MC from San Antonio, Texas! He has castle where he writes rhymes and fucks the finest hoes.
BLVD is Rollin' is the second track. C-Ordell shows us how he rolls with BLVD Records because ain't no party like a BLVD party because a BLVD party is the shit!! BLVD is Rollin' is the 1st single!
Smoke Filled Room is and ode to ganjah smokers and weed smokers. An ode to 420. Denise James sings in the background. Everybody smoking ganjah on Smoke Filled Room.
In My Life tells about the drama that surrounds C-Ordell's life. All the drama and negativity that surrounds C-Ordell's life. The track starts off real deep, dark, and brooding with a heavy piano note playing at the beginning.
On Live By The Gun, a female news reporter appears at the beginning of the song telling us that a fatal shooting had occurred in inside Windsor Park Shopping Mall sent Christmas shoppers running for cover. The mall was crowded that night. Many people who say they saw it are not afraid to shop there. C-Ordell dips thru the cut and notices an unfamiliar face.
Something's going on. He 's never seen the individual in/around his neighborhood. He's a bit paranoid. C-Ordell has binoculars, 9 millimeter, and a ski mask. It's do or die. C-Ordell heads back to the hood. (He committed a jackin' basically.) Someone snitched on C-Ordell and now he's doing a year in the county jail for drug possession. He gets Sugabear to bail him out. He's now out in the hood. The track ends with a gunshot.
1 4 U has a dark brooding mood to it. C-Ordell tells us everything he does is for BLVD. It's about loyalty and betrayal. This is a danger themed song.
Funeral had some DEEP bass to it. The track starts off real deep, dark, and brooding with a heavy bass note playing at the beginning. It's about loyalty and betrayal. Funeral had some DEEP meaning to it.
On Final Cry, C-Ordell and Lil Sin get together on Final Cry. C-Ordell asks how Lil Sin feels about his father passing away. This is the ORIGINAL version of Final Cry and NOT the one on Lil Sin's debut album Frustrated By Death in 1996. The one on Frustrated By Death is a remix.
Swangin' is a bouncy tune. Swangin' is the second single. C-Ordell tells us where's he's kicked it in various cities in the US and the world.
On Land Of The Living, what you see is what you, what you get is not always a good thing.
Actions have consequences.
C-Ordell once knew a guy by the name of Chuck Heimer. His friends were mixed up. They decided to skip school and go rollin'. One of his friends had a twelve gauge and planned to kill somebody. Chuck hears a voice in his head. It's his conscience. Johnny Ray sells crack to elementary kids. The system needs to do some time. C-Ordell tell us how real it is on these SA-Town streets.
The title track (the last track), Under Investigation, has that James Bond theme with the heavy guitars with the detective crime theme for the score. This is a danger themed song. Under Investigation is very mystery themed.
It's too bad this album did not reach the BillBoard and go platinum as C-Ordell wanted to happen. IF this album DID reach the BillBoard, It would be #3 for Top Heatseekers and #20 for Top 100. Things happen for a reason.
Under Investigation is and was the most overlooked rap album to ever come out of Texas!! An excellent album!! No filler tracks and no filler material. Every song is worth playing!
5/5*****!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Snoop Dogg - Da Game Is To Be Sold album review
Moving to No Limit in 1997 for Snoop Dogg proved to improve his musical career. Da Game Is To Be Sold was a departure from his two previous West Coast sounding album. This album was a lot more commercial. Thanks to Pen & Pixel Graphics, the album stood out with that bling bling and jewelry in Snoop Dogg's name on the top. The title at the bottom of the album cover is gold with bling bling! That's what made it go platinum. Pen & Pixel Graphics always stands out to everyone in a good way.
Woof! proved to be a smash hit! So did Slow Down, but not as much as Woof!. He went into pop after R&G in 2004.
4/5****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Breed Of Hustlas - Pimp Arrest album review
The pimp is in all white. But the low tint contrast makes the album seem more 90s than 2000s. The album art on the front cover makes it look like Pimp Arrest came out in 1996 rather than 2002. The yellow front album cover with four females n their knees!! You don't get that type of shit anymore.
West Side has that classic rock from 1950 feel to it. It's dope!! The beat is good.
IE Players is straight up West Coast. Dope sample on Sunshine. For those who don't know, Sunshine was written for Sandy Hamilton. Supposedly Sandy was a prostitute. G-Bubs said she was a hoe. It's more sex themed.
To sum it all up this album is more pimp-related than gangsta. This album is more pimp-related than all their other albums. This album is more Rock oriented than Hip Hop/Rap despite New Breed Of Hustlas being a rap group. Riverside has talent!
4/5****!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lil Sin - 4eva Young album review
This album was released on SoufField in 1999. Santee of PRC Recordings makes an appearance. Lil Sin went under the name Young Namar for the first time on this album. The album has 12 songs and they're all very good. The producers for this album were Santee, Poppa Squali, Lil Sin, & LC-1. Artists features were Cashus, Santee, WB, and Bizzle.
Global Freeze is about how Lil Sin has the game on lock. He is the coldest lyricist in the game! Lil Sin has the game on lock now!
He Ain't Done Yet tells us that Lil Sin is going to continue droppin' albums. He’s already platinum! Believe it or not!
No Love is to all the haters and fakers.Lil Sin does not have time for foes, haters, and enemies as he is loved and cherished by family. Lil Sin breaks off all the haters on this track in a southern versatile style right here.
Loved By Many tells us about the love Lil Sin's been getting. Lil Sin does not have time for foes, haters, and enemies as he is loved and cherished by family and friends which is something you cannot put a price on.
Truth Lies in Pen shows us how cold Lil Sin's lyrics are!! As a lyricist, writer, and an artist, the truth lies in pen. The truth lies in the pen. No matter what people say. It’s not about the money. It’s about what’s in your hear as an artist. Lil Sin is going to continue droppin' albums. He is the coldest lyricist in the game!
5/5*****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U-Vox - Ultravox album review
This album was released in 2009. This placed at a well receptive place on the UK BillBoard Charts, but the album was criticized by hardcore Ultravox fans. This was an Utravox reincarnation fronted by Midge Ure. It was a new beginning for Ultravox. Billie Currie was the lone keyboardist of the band. Unusual instrumentation was used.
Same Old Story was an okay but not great song. Same Old Story will remind you of Van Halen and Outdates. Same Old Story should have been a single.
All In One Day was the lowest charting single by Ultravox reaching #88 on the charts in the UK. 3
If the Ultravox fans didn't pay too much to the conservative media and liberal media, maybe this album would have done better. And if Ultravox wasn't trying to change their sound then the album would done better as well.
4/5****
No comments:
Post a Comment