Mixerr Reviews: Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 44

Geno V - Take Me To Tha Homies album review

Geno V released a Latin music infused rap album on Grapetree Records during its prime years of operation. He worked very hard with Knolly Williams to get this album released. Many people contributed to the recording of this album. Producers, vocalists, percussion ensemble, you name it. Take Me To Tha Homies was an album that was nominated for a Dove Award in 1997. Despite receiving a Dove Award, the album quickly lost the publics focus. The tracks are firme and tight.

In the introduction of Take Me To Tha Homies we are live on a radio station broadcasting airwaves. Now Take Me To Tha Homies turns into an oldies song with a catchy doo-wop chorus. A Latin oldies song. It's his #1 hit song of all time.

Este Vato copies the percussion ensemble kit of Santana - Oye Como Va. The Latin samba comes complete with the percussion sample. The percussion ensemble is played in a virtuoso manner as the song quickly turns into a Latin dance melody. Geno V uses a twist of linguistics in word from the Spanish language. He uses both English and Spanish languages. (Este Vato is "That Friend" in Spanish.)

Geno V dedicated Madre Mia to his mother. He speaks the entire track in Spanish. An eclectic selection of drums are chosen for the percussion ensemble. The percussion ensemble for Madre Mia is much lighter than Este Vato as Madre Mia is a much darker song. Geno V sheds light on the controversial subject of child abuse. (Madre Mia is my mother in Spanish.)

Chisme quickly turns into an upbeat Latin samba dance melody of happiness. The beats are loco! The entire chorus sings in Spanish as Geno V raps in Spanish. Maracas and bongos are added to spice of Spanish flavor in this song. Such bongos are appropriate to match the upbeat tempo of the percussion as Chisme is a heavy percussion song.

Geno V rambles on about the craziness in his crazy lifestyle on Mi Vida Loca. The timpani drum in the background matches the beat of Michel'le - No More Lies. Mi Vida Loca is an acoustic guitar ridden song driven by an earthly percussion ensemble.

Geno V gets deeply religious on Who's Got My Back? He raps about how Jesus has back. Jesus has guided Geno V through the rapture where he saw the light. That light was a wake up call because he lived a crazy lifestyle. He had an epiphany.

5/5*****!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lil Flex - Time 2 Play album review

The strong points on this Time 2 Play album are the graphics design created by Pen N Pixel and a few noteworthy tracks with mentioning such as Hero, Welcome 2 My Hood, and Player. Lil Flex proved to be a similar to Yungstar. That's no surprise because he was featured on Knockin' Pictures of Da Wall on his Throwed Yung Playa album in 1999 riding on the coattails of Yungstar's success. Lil Flex bit off Yungstar's style as a rapper. He featured a lot of local n rappers who rap on this album. (Such as Kool-Aid, Yungstar, Z-Ro, Wood, Quincy, D-Black, and Slym Chance.) Featuring all these rappers shows you he's a weak lyricist. In retrospect, Lil Flex is a Yungstar clone. That doesn't stop the fact Lil Flex made a name for himself with this album in the underground circuit of Houston rap.

The producers play with the experimentation of the Screwed and Chopped sound on Bad Ass. For some odd reason, Bad Ass is screwed and chopped rather than played at its regular speed like all the other tracks on this album. Such a decision is mind-boggling.

Player is a soul rap track done the right way. Lil Flex and Yungstar do a rather good job on this collaboration. Lil Flex proves to us how he is a true player. So does Yungstar. The production is strong and stellar. Adding Quincy on the hook chorus was a brilliant wonderful idea. (Quincy is the one singing the hook.) You and your girl will love this. No auto tune. Just pure singing and rap.

Holla At Me is your typical run-of-the-mill Southern rap track. The fun doesn't stop on It Don't Stop with Lil Flex. The fun doesn't stop. It's Time 2 Play with Lil Flex. It's lyrical Southern rap here.

3/5***

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lil Flex - Playtime's Over album review

Many Lil Flex fans regard Playtime's Over as a fake album or a bootleg album. The truth of the matter is Playtime's Over is indeed a real album by Lil Flex. Lil Flex recorded this album for fun. Lil Flex clearly expreses that he had fun recording his freestyle raps while freestyling at the time. He was freestyling other rappers Drastik Recordz pressed up this album on CD-r sometime back in the 2000s era when Lil Flex was popular in the underground circuit of Houston rap. Drastik Recordz was also trying to make money off of his name too in the process as well. The whole album is chopped and screwed however. A lot of tracks from him on this album are from other albums he's featured on. Lil Flex obviously had fun using Photoshop to create the front album cover. He copied his own logo Pen N Pixel created for his debut Time 2 Play album in 2001. Also he used the Chalkboard typeface font for the album title.

Lil Flex and TYP freestyle a spontaneous lyrical combustion Throwed Minds Combine! In a chopped and screwed fashion, a lyrical combination is created. It's a lyrical freestyle rap battle of a Lil Flex against other rappers.

The fun doesn't stop on It Don't Stop with Lil Flex. The fun doesn't stop but playtime's over. It's lyrical Southern rap here. Feelin' Good is a good freestyle.

3/5***

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DJ Kridlokk - Mutsi (Digital Download Edition) album review

Mutsi is an electronic album that came out the Scandinavian country of Finland in 2014 on cassette and released as digital download in 2016. Some cassettes came with a card that had the code for a digital download. Mix the electronic ambient sounds of DJ Krush & DJ Shadow and you have the result of this album. The soundscape is truly ambient in a mellow mood. DJ Kridlokk is a virtuoso in what he does. Some songs seem rushed and fast paced however. Sure the album may be quirky to mainstream music fans. But that's only because DJ Kridlokk is a DJ in the underground music scene.

The Mutsi track sounds very similar to a warped sci-fi electronic track. Notice the warped auto-wah effect on the electronic keyboard used on Mutsi for example. That's what gives Mutsi a warped sci-fi feel. Mutsi is a quirky looped electronic song by DJ Kridlokk.

Teepait is a heavy percussion ridden song over ambient electronic music. X is a slow electronic solo. Notice how warped the sound is. X is a quirky looped electronic song by DJ Kridlokk. No, the song is not as percussion ridden as the other songs are.

4/5****

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DJ Cam - The French Connection album review

The French Connection album by DJ Cam is a continuous mix of eurotechno electronic music featuring contributions for The Sounds of Artefacts from France. The Sounds of Artefacts come with an avant garde Jazz meets Electronic music sound. Focus remains on DJ Cam to lead the charge on this album. Most of the tracks are continuously mixed by DJ Cam.

The Mighty Bop Remix of Garance is a mixture of Jazz, electronic music, and hip hop music from the soul of DJ Cam and Artefacts. DJ Cam experiments with spacey auto-wah sound effects at the very beginning of the track.

DJ Cam Remix of More comes with a funky organic bass line onto breakbeats of hip hop sound. DJ Cam lays down the track with key signature turntablism skills. Simultaneously, he adds church bells every 10 seconds to the breakbeats. Breakbeats are a part of DJ Cam's turntablism as they are included on this track.

Epistrophy comes with an angelic harmonious electronic uprising from sounds of the keyboard. The keyboard arrays are not too distorted. Upright bass is played on middle note.

5/5*****!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lil Zane - None Tonight Plus single review

None Tonight Plus is an enhanced CD single that acts as an album sampler for the 2000 album Young World:The Future by Lil Zane released in 2001. There are 4 additional album tracks with there being 9 tracks total. There was a bonus interview not to mention the personal conversations. Priority Records and Worldwide Entertainment had used a CD single as an album sampler for the first time. Most of the tracks are clean because Lil Zane and Priority were trying to gain a younger audience for the record sales and management.

The main message for this single/album sampler and Young World:The Future to the children is that it's cool to be young. That's Lil Zane's message to the kids. Be fly, cool, and stay in school. That's how Priority Records promoted and packed this CD single in platinum record sales for prosperity and positivity for a good learning experience despite Lil Zane being a pop rap sex symbol along with the group 112.

Priority promoted the image Lil Zane of being a pop rap sex symbol along with the group 112. Lil Zane never wanted to be a sex symbol. He just wanted to be young. He also wanted to aspire to be a rapper and an actor. [He was also an actor at the time starring in many films.]

Lil Zane was 17 when he was working on his Young World:The Future album in 2000 and this single. He was young and fly at the time when working on the recording of the Young World:The Future album. Lil Zane’s #1 single called Callin’ Me was a conclusive hit charting in the single digits on the BillBoard Charts. Callin’ Me set it off and launched his career into stardom as a celebrity sex symbol reaching an unprecedented level of popularity. Lil Zane had a huge audience of fans in terms of popularity back in the early 2000s. He toured all over the United States and Canada as result of being on the BillBoard.

People say Lil Zane is a 2Pac biter or being a carbon of 2Pac or Krazy of 504 Boyz. His flow and style is similar to 2Pac. That’s why Lil Zane is compared to 2Pac. Obviously by listening to the sound of Lil Zane, you can easily tell he’s 2Pac inspired just by listening to his voice. [Back in the 2000’s people accused Lil Zane of biting 2Pac’s style and being a caron copy of 2Pac.]

On None Tonight, Lil Zane is trying to have some fun tonight with a woman up in the club but the woman won't give Lil Zane any play or any nookie. Lil Zane proves to why he is the one she needs go home and bone with in order to be eligible to have sex with Lil Zane. You see Lil Zane is obviously looking for someone to sleep with when he's up in the club. After several attempts, it’s obvious Lil Zane is not getting any play tonight. It’s well obvious Lil Zane is having fun tonight. None Tonight was written from a males perspective.

You see, None Tonight is one of those tracks to dance to when you're up in the nightclub. The song None Tonight is a freaky fun dance/rap song. None Tonight is the shit!

The Bad Boy Remix of None Tonight was produced by fashion and rap mogul Puff Daddy (P. Diddy) was an upbeat more hyphy faster version of the original None Tonight song. Both Puff Daddy and Lil Zane liked the beats for the Bad Boy Remix of None Tonight. The quality in terms of sound and production is well polished without any flaws. The audio is well balanced. The Puffy remix is so crunk!

Only in this version of None Tonight, Lil Zane is trying to have some fun tonight. Lil Zane establishes clearly that he doesn’t want any drama or trouble tonight because he came to have fun in the club tonight. It’s obvious Lil Zane is having fun tonight.

The Mike Cee Remix of None Tonight has incorporated the sounds of Atlanta snap music and New Orleans bounce music over Dirty South beats with slight touch of upbeat go-go music. The Mike Cee Remix of None Tonight has that Collipark music sound from Atlanta prevalent in the track also. It’s a Planet Rock type of track due to its upbeat tempo and uptempo sound. Radio stations will love this song! Dancers and breakdancers will love this track also!

Lil Zane was inspired by the genres & sounds of dance music, hip hop/rap, electronic music, techno, and rock music when recording the Mike Cee Remix of None Tonight. Lil Zane was also inspired by the musical styles of bounce music, snap music, go-go music, Collipark music sound, and crunk as well. The Mike Cee Remix samples Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa.

Lil Zane tackles problems of our world due to injustice that commonly occurs on Ways Of The World such as violence, drugs, political corruption, poverty, greed over capitalism, and living in a war zone. These are unfortunately ways of the world in many. This song is rather sad than upbeat as the rest of the songs on this single are. Lil Zane has obscenities hurled at his enemies. So basically Lil Zane tackles problems of our world in the best way he knows how by rapping about such matter in explicit detail. Lil Zane doesn't want to sugarcoat reality. So to get his point across he raps with such explicit lyrics doing so.

Ways Of The World sounds very similar to sad heartfelt love ballad with the addition of those downtempo guitar notes played by Santana. Ways Of The World also sounds very similar to sad heartfelt love ballad written by Carlos Santana. The sample used in Ways Of The World is Shape Of My Heart by British pop/rock musician Sting. The Sting sample fits Ways Of The World perfectly.

What Must I Do is very similar to a Keith Sweat song. Lil Zane's a player and he's begging for love. He just wants attention. He craves attention. This joint is dedicated to that one girl that every player wants. Those other cats are not needed in her life. Lil Zane needs a lady in his life and she is the right one for him. Lil Zane will want to commence sexual intercourse and doesn't give a fuck whether it's dark or not. It's already hot out and shirt, of course, comes off.

Akon is the one singing in the background vocals. Both Lil Zane and Akon sing their hearts out on Keith Sweat and 112 should have been on this particular song right here. What Must I Do seems to haven been inspired by the genres of Latin, pop, soul, and hip hop/rap.

You Must Really Love Me is a Love & Basketball themed, Omar Epps inspired love song written and recorded by Lil Zane. You Must Really Love Me is about a girl who must really love Lil Zane. It's not about Lil Zane having a load of money or sports. It's about being down with a chick. Think Love & Basketball where the chick is down with the dude the whole time.

You Must Really Love Me will remind you of the Omar Epps inspired Love & Basketball movie, It's All About The Money by G Len and Let's Stay Together by Al Green. You Must Really Love Me incorporates the genres of R&B, Soul, pop, and hip hop/rap.

The music video was off the hook and off the chain! Callin’ Me ended up being Lil Zane’s #1 single as a conclusive hit and charting in the single digits on the BillBoard Charts. Callin’ Me set it off and launched his career into stardom as a celebrity sex symbol reaching an unprecedented level of popularity. Lil Zane had a huge audience of fans in terms of popularity back in the early 2000s. He toured all over the United States and Canada as result of Callin’ Me being #1 on the BillBoard.

5/5*****!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lil Zane - Young World:The Future (Poster Edition) album review

Young World:The Future by Lil Zane was released on Worldwide Entertainment and Priority Records in 2000. All of this album is pop rap meets and spoken word with a touch of reality win explicit lyrics. Much of Young World:The Future is a sexually raunchy upbeat pop rap album. Some tracks are clean such as What Must I Do, You Must Really Love Me, and Callin’ Me.

Despite the inappropriate lyrics, sexually suggestive material, and the obscenities hurled at enemies…

The main message for this album Young World:The Future is that it's cool to be young. That's Lil Zane's message to the kids. Be fly, cool, and stay in school. That's how Priority Records and Worldwide Entertainment promoted and packed this album in platinum record sales for prosperity and positivity for a good learning experience despite Lil Zane being a pop rap sex symbol along with the group 112. Priority Records and Worldwide Entertainment were trying to gain a younger audience for the record sales and management.

Lil Zane was 17 when he was working on his Young World:The Future album in 2000. He was young and fly at the time when working on the recording of the Young World:The Future album. He felt good with the results of his album obi. Lil Zane’s #1 single called Callin’ Me was a conclusive hit charting in the single digits on the BillBoard Charts. Callin’ Me set it off and launched his career into stardom as a celebrity sex symbol reaching an unprecedented level of popularity. Lil Zane had a huge audience of fans in terms of popularity back in the early 2000s. He toured all over the United States and Canada as result of being on the BillBoard.

Uncle Luke and Lil Zane got the block locked down and the top down on first track called Top Down. Lil Zane's music is being played block to block. It's toe to toe, line for line, and blow for blow on for a Top Down. Lil Zane gets down! Lil Zane got his top down. Lil Zane displays clever wordplay technique with his fast rap rhyming on the freestyle. He changes up the pace. Worldwide Entertainment got it locked down! The production is well up to date.

You see, None Tonight is one of those tracks to dance to when you're up in the nightclub. The song None Tonight is a freaky fun dance/rap song. None Tonight is the shit!

Lil Zane was happy when he during the recording process of Callin’ Me because Lil Zane had just gotten a deal for a recording contract with Priority Records. Lil Zane knew that Callin’ Me would be a #1 single that would set it off and help launch his career as a rap artist. The chorus is supported by pop soul group 112. 112 was Lil Zane’s group. He even felt as if he were part of the 112 group despite not being a part of the group. Priority promoted the image Lil Zane of being a pop rap sex symbol along with the group 112. Lil Zane never wanted to be a sex symbol. He just wanted to be young. He also wanted to aspire to be a rapper and an actor.

The music video was off the hook and off the chain! Callin’ Me ended up being Lil Zane’s #1 single as a conclusive hit and charting in the single digits on the BillBoard Charts. Callin’ Me helped launched his career setting it off into stardom as a celebrity sex symbol reaching an unprecedented level of popularity. He toured all over the United States and Canada as result of Callin’ Me being #1 on the BillBoard.

Lil Zane and his boys are hot and bothered. (And quite horny at that!) So Lil Zane takes his boys to meet some chicks for an all night out orgy so they can all have sexual intercourse. This message is applied on Partners Come Along Too. This whole song is basically a "sexcapade" for all of Lil Zane's boys. (Partners Come Along Too is basically a "sexcapade”.)

Ride On 'Em is such a futuristic track featuring some of the artists from the Worldwide Entertainment roster. The bass is quite brooding and deep. Think deep bass. The electronic sound on the electronic production used for this track in particular is tight right here.

Beautiful Feelin' is about young female who Lil Zane describes biographically in a romantic way. On Beautiful Feelin', this young female has got the attention of all the fellas, so the females are going to be jealous naturally. All the fellas wanna be down like Brandy. Of course they got no play or nookie at that. This leads this young female who Lil Zane is referring on this slow jam love track to be on the fellas bad side. A lot of times it seems like it gets hard for her to maintain her sanity and composure.

[The Poster Edition of Young World:The Future came with a Lil Zane poster of himself and hidden bonus tracks entitled Money Stretch, Hardball, and We Ain’t The One.]

5/5*****!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lil Raskull - Gory 2 Glory album review

Lift Him Up is an uplifting spiritual religious track within a positive atmosphere in which the instruments for musical arrangement interpolates Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing. Lil Raskull preaches to the people in the ghetto they don't have live life stuck in a maze in which the ghetto is a maze in this case. Lift Him Up stays true to Jesus.

Two Sides To A Coin is an educational track with an uplifting positive message in ab uplifting positive atmosphere describing how there are two sides to a story or how there are two sides to each story in some cases. One side is right and one side is wrong.Two Sides To A Coin with the struggles of good and evil

Walking Blind deals with the struggles of good and evil. Walking Blind is quite similar to Two Sides To A Coin in this aspect in retrospect.

Pray On is all about praying. Pray On stays true to God and Jesus not to mention the gospel. People slept on this track right here.

Ghetto Dreams is a track that has both a negative and a positive vibe to it. Lil Raskull preaches to the people in the ghetto they don't have live life stuck in a maze. In which the ghetto is a maze in this case. Ghetto Dreams stays true to Jesus.

Gory 2 Glory is one of Lil Raskull's most overlooked albums in his music catalogue. Gospel rap fans, ministers, preachers, youth leaders, Saints, and radio stations did not give this album a chance to be heard by the masses worldwide. The Gory 2 Glory album is one of the many Christian rap albums that were overlooked by fans. Gory 2 Glory is one of Grapetree Records most overlooked albums in their catalogue.

5/5*****!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lil Zane - Tonight I’m Yours single review

Tonight I’m Yours was released a CD single in 2003 on Capitol Records.

Tonight I'm Yours is about Lil Zane strictly focusing on his girlfriend instead of his acting career, music career, family, and, of course, friends. Lil Zane does this by turning off his 2-way cellular phone and taking off time from touring for his music career. Tonight I'm Yours is the hit single off the Big Zane Theory album despite charting on the BillBoard Charts hitting from #106 to #108. Using Tank as a featured guest artist was a smart move because Tank was already established in the music business when Lil Zane was just getting started in the music business. Tonight I'm Yours is a basically a love song with Tank.

L.I.L.Z.A.N.E. is the Big Zane/Lil Zane anthem of this album right here! Envyi does a great job on this track with singing the background vocals. Lil Zane tells us all about him on this standout track song here! It will remind you of Big Spender from 1963. Lil Zane is still banging out classics to this day. Lil Zane is glued to his original masterplan of his game plan. Other than that, L.I.L.Z.A.N.E. had a positive potential to be a single and have a music video.

The Do It, Don't Stop track will remind you of the beginning introductory track for a Broadway musical or a stage play when the play is first started to be conducted as the actors are getting ready to act on stage. The synth horns seem to be made to sound live. Do It, Don't Stop is celebrating the return of Lil Zane as Zane basically.

Peel Out is all about wildin' out! With Enyvi on the track as the background vocalist, it makes Lil Zane eye candy. Lil Zane is obviously living the fast life in his musical career and his acting career. Only real true ballers really "peel out". Peel Out is very sexually suggestive when it comes to dealing with the song's subject material. A lot of model car references are made.

Come Runnin' is a morning after type of track being that Come Runnin' is a sex track/love song. It had a lot of potential to be a single along many other tracks on this single. Come Runnin' is very similar to Peel Out, Tonight I'm Yours, and Do It, Don't Stop. Envyi is on Come Runnin'.

5/5*****!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zapp - Back By Popular Demand album review

Following the tragic deaths of Zapp band members Roger Troutman and Larry Troutman in 1999 as a result of a murder-suicide, the band took a break to recover emotionally. A few years later in 2003, Zapp resurfaced after the establishment of its own independent label Zapp Town Records which the Troutman family continues operate out of Hamilton, Ohio. Zapp released Back By Popular Demand in 2003. Zapp decided that Back By Popular Demand would be the last Zapp album that the band would release because without Roger’s presence the band’s charisma and atmosphere isn’t the same. Zapp without Roger is unthinkable. Since then, Zapp has returned to performing live concerts and touring across the US as band. Zapp now performs only in live concerts.

Back By Popular Demand is all original material and not a bunch of remakes of classic Zapp hits. This makes the Zapp band and Troutman family works more commendable. There are no outtakes or remixes of earlier works to be found on this record here. You will found the traditional Zapp sound on this album. Zapp’s Back By Popular Demand delivers a breath of freshness with the traditional Zapp sound.

You've Got Mail is an updated version of Computer Love from The New Zapp IV U. The song You've Got Mail was truly ahead of its time and was ripe at the right time. It’s internet based love on You’ve Got Mail. Electronic music meets pop, R&B, and soul music on the You've Got Mail song. You've Got Mail is Computer Love revisited.

You've Got Mail showcases the Zapp band performing in their prime. Talk box vocals match up with both lead vocals and background vocals despite talk box vocals taking lead charge as being a main presence for the vocal portion. The percussion matches up perfectly with slow tempo of the song being that the tempo is not too fast as You've Got Mail proves to be a love song performed in a slow soothing melody.

Talk box vocals match up with both lead vocals and background vocals. The percussion blends in perfectly splendid with the moog synthesizers along with acoustic guitars. The upbeat tempo is perfect for this song. Parts of the song feel slow however. Zapp is known for being fast and slow at the same time in their songs.

She's Bout To Roll is another Zapp dance song. She's Bout To Roll is Get Up Off The Wall, The Way You Walk And Move, I Can Make You Dance, You've Got Mail, and Dance Floor revisited. Think of all these tracks rolled into one and you have the resulting song called She's Bout To Roll by Zapp. All dancers will automatically fall in love with She's Bout To Roll as well.

Talk box vocals match up with both lead vocals and background vocals despite talk box vocals taking lead charge as being a main presence for the vocal portion. The upbeat tempo is perfect for this song. The percussion blends in perfectly splendid with the moog synthesizers along with acoustic guitars. Big Robb is the man who raps here.

Get Up Off The Wall very reminiscent of I Can Make You Dance from Zapp III. This upbeat song is a perfect song to dance to and boogie. All dancers will automatically fall in love with Get Up Off The Wall. It’s one of those old school skating rink 80s dance type song. Get Up Off The Wall is I Can Make You Dance and Dance Floor revisited.

The upbeat tempo is perfect for this song. The percussion and beats blends in perfectly splendid with the moog synthesizers. Talk box blends in well with the moog synthesizers and lead vocals as well as the background vocals. Talk box vocals match up with both lead vocals and background vocals despite talk box vocals taking lead charge as being a main presence for the vocal portion. Soulful singing in the background is accompanied by an angelic harmonious chorus.

The Way You Walk And Move is smooth slow Zapp melody. The beats match up with the slow tempo. Soulful singing in the background is accompanied by an angelic harmonious chorus. Big Robb is the man who raps here. He does a fine job. Vocalist Nicole Cottom gives The Way You Walk And Move a breath of fresh sounds with her singing and vocals.

I Wanna Love You is collage of electronic and soul music soothing for the human soul. I Wanna Love You is a beautiful Zapp love song. The song I Wanna Love You is also perfect for a romantic marriage getaway.

This Is Our Song For You is a dedication song to the late great deceased Zapp band member Roger Troutman. The band promised to keep the tradition and legacy of their brother Roger. All Zapp band members perform together on This Is Our Song For You. All Zapp members truly shine here on this composition piece at the end. This piece of work is simply Zapp’s most splendid dedication song! This Is Our Song For You showcases the Zapp band performing in their prime.

4/5****!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zapp - Evolution album review

Evolution is all original material and bunch of remakes of classic Zapp hits. This makes the Zapp band and Troutman family works somewhat commendable. Evolution is the 7th Zapp album from the Zapp band that was released on Zapp Town Records in 2015. The bonus tracks Night Time and Jolly Roger were recorded by Roger Troutman as Lil Roger and His Fabulous Vel’s from 1966. The Live version of Heartbreaker can be found on this record. Remixes of earlier works to be found on this record here. Only 500 copies of Evolution were pressed up on CD.

[Following the tragic deaths of Zapp band members Roger Troutman and Larry Troutman in 1999 as a result of a murder-suicide, the band took a break to recover emotionally. A few years later in 2003, Zapp resurfaced after the establishment of its own independent label Zapp Town Records which the Troutman family continues operate out of Hamilton, Ohio. Zapp released Back By Popular Demand in 2003. Zapp decided that Back By Popular Demand would be the last Zapp album that the band would release because without Roger’s presence the band’s charisma and atmosphere isn’t the same. Zapp without Roger is unthinkable. Since then, Zapp has returned to performing live concerts and touring across the US as band. Zapp now performs only in live concerts.]

4/5****

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fashawn - The Ecology album review

Fashawn does triumph his own way be surfacing with The Ecology album in 2016. His perseverance and triumph is truly remarkable. The Ecology looks for a symbol of change in freedom, peace, and justice. Also Fashawn has seemed to have taken a liking to politics on this album. He wants freedom from ignorance as he combats ignorance on The Ecology album. Fashawn represents rap’s growing counter culture. The technology used on this album seems to be very advanced.

4/5****!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D-Law - Jordans And A Gold Chain album review

D-Law releases an introspective and lyrical album entitled Jordans And A Gold Chain. Jordans And A Gold Chain is hosted by DJ Komplex out the DMV (Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia). DJ Komplex did his thing on this album. The Jordans And A Gold Chain album was over the course from years 2015-2016. Producers Paul Cabbin, Danny EB, DJ Komplex, and M Beatz contribute to the hard-hitting stellar clean quality production.

Jordans And A Gold Chain is a disturbing reality based track about how people will kill others for something they want or desire as a result of materialism. Mainly Jordans And A Gold Chain represents the disturbing reality of American materialism which has gone wrong. Materialism is a lifestyle in America. Such style is duplicated by others. The drill beats are fire. The whole track is a fine example of drill rap. Drill rap meets go-go music on Jordans And A Gold Chain. DJ Komplex produced most of the production for the Jordans And A Gold Chain track.

Up (Finally Made It) is about how D-Law has made it in the rap game as an up and coming artist who’s young, internet-savvy, streetwise, and a lyricist. D-Law represents himself as a young streetwise lyricist coming from the DMV area (Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia). His aspirations as a lyricist and rapper show symbols of perseverance.

Black Summer is a symbol of representation on struggles and aspirations of the youth in the DMV. Production by DJ Komplex truly shines here. DMV (Dutch Masters And Vodka) is an ode to alcoholic beverages. A track to get drunk to. The DMV track is highly intoxicating.

5/5*****!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Limousine - Hot Pursuit album review

The production of Hot Pursuit boasts an enormous sound at high quality. Being that the sound quality is set at such high quality. Their two guitars together can pultrude and create some fat heavy obscene bass notes. Both guitars and bass create a great feeling. (When done correctly of course.) Hot Pursuit is a cluster of music. The album delivers a sound that rattles your ribcage. Their pultruding heavy ridden percussion ensemble via drums and unrelenting bass release an onslaught of melodious harmonies.

Limousine releases a fist of fury musically with heavy pultruding unrelenting bass on Fits of Rage. They do not relent their anguish of rage. The whole song is fire. Loud obscene distorted guitar notes dominate Fits of Rage. Fits of Rage relinquishes itself into a fit of rape appropriately. Fiera’s Work is one of Limousine’s lighter calmer works. A drum kit takes charge of the percussion bit. The percussion has a much lighter presence not dominating the song as much. The vocals are very clear.

4/5****!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lisa Tingle - In The Water album review

Folk artist Lisa Tingle releases a calm mellowing album timid in nature and sultry in songwriting. In The Water showcases some of her most advanced songwriting skills. The instrumentation arrangements and rhythm selection has a more progressed polished sound too. A portion of live instrumentation was used on this album to match the rhythm selection. More musicians contributed to this album a lot more than her last album. Carl Thiel produced a majority of this album.

Lisa Tingle gets personal, sentimental, and biographical on Get Thru You as she describes her memories to us in songwriting. She tells us tales of her suffering through her hard times. Her childhood story is filled with hard times, trauma, and adventures waiting to be told.

At the tender age of 15, Lisa had somehow contracted mono. Mono is a contracted disease that can prove to be deadly. This mono eventually led her to catching pneumonia twice. Lisa encountered trauma during the hard times of childhood. She learned to defend herself during childhood. If she can make it through, you can make it through. (When you make the effort, best intentions are always good.) It’s obvious that Lisa grew up in a troubled environment being that she lived in a rough neighborhood. Lisa Tingle never asked for your opinion or consulted your for advice. She made it on her own.

Lisa goes gun crazy on the Gun Song. We are taken on an adventure with Lisa through her songwriting and lyrics. This adventure ends being rather long. Gun Song shows that her songwriting has clearly improved since the last album. She takes us on an adventure with her lover.

Lisa is a nun who is escaping from the United States into Mexico. Never did Lisa think she was a criminal until she had a look at her lovers gun. We now find ourselves sneaking across the United States-Mexico border crossing into Mexico with Lisa and her lover. The Federales have been flipped off. Lisa was a nun until he dirtied up her mind with impure perverse thoughts. She left her religion behind her. Lisa was flirting with the busboy because he looked cute. Now we are included into a high-speed chase after the lover did to the busboy. Lisa jumped out of the car and he fell of a cliff like a rocketship. The only thing left the police officers found was a tiny piece of his gun.

She suffers a mental breakdown on Breakdown. Lisa is having a breakdown because she can’t pay her taxes. Everyone needs a meltdown once in a while. Lisa breaks down in singing and songwriting in her own lyrics.

Can You Help Me? is a short sweet song about a girl asking for assistance. She truly has nothing to show for her persistence. Can You Help Me? is a song of persistence. Many questions are asked by the girl in this song. These questions have yet to be answered.

Lisa Tingle never asked for your opinion or consulted your for advice when it came to Leave Me Alone as she makes it clear that she wants to be left alone. You don’t have to think twice to see inside her struggling with her internal struggle. Her internal struggles bother very deeply. She can’t get it out of her head. She needs time to be alone. Leave Me Alone is one long song.

3/5***

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brotha Lynch Hung - The Virus album review

The Virus album is a more darker Brotha Lynch Hung album from a time when his career was twisting into a downward spiral. Brotha Lynch Hung was involved in the Kevin Mann vs. Black Market Records lawsuit in 2000 because he thought Ced Singleton was misleading him by lack of compensation, breach of contract, financial mismanagement, and music business politics at the time. He wanted to get away from the legal drama and create his Siccmade/Madesicc label. Ced composed an album of Brotha Lynch Hung tracks from other projects without his consent resulting in The Virus album in 2001. Ced did this because he thought Brotha Lynch Hung was taking too long to compose and release albums. The Virus is almost comparably dark, foreboding, and brooding as the Season of Da Siccness album was.

At the very beginning of the album, Brotha Lynch Hung disses Black Market Records all over the track on a annoyingly repetitive catchy drum beat over this low quality production track called I'm Like. The track I'm Like is rather short. The track is too short to even enjoy.

Never Rode With Me is a track that came off the 2006 Greedy soundtrack for the Black Market Films movie called Greedy which came out in 2006. Brotha Lynch Hung along with Siccmade/Madesicc labelmate COS and Loki diss Black Market Records all on the track. The sample used for this track is a slow sultry soul ballad called Come With Me by Teddy Pendergrass with the percussion sped up faster to an upbeat tempo. Never Rode With Me is the best track off The Virus album. You can feel a warped negative upbeat vibe when you listen to this track.

Gotta Die Soon seems to have been an outtake from the Loaded album. In the mindset of a serial killer, one of us has to die soon. In the eyes of a killer someone's gotta die soon. People have to die. No matter what death is inevitable. A killer has gone on a rampant killing spree killing people in sight. Most slayings by killings happen. Die Soon is very similar to the brooding dark track Die 1 By 1 from the Loaded album from 1997.

In My Cup is a freestyle featuring Siccmade affiliate E-Moe. In My Cup is very similar to On My Briefcase. In My Cup is a 3 minute freestyle.

Mindset of One Of Us is one of us has gotta die soon. One Of Us seems to be a leftover from the Loaded album. One Of Us is very similar to Gotta Die Soon, Die 1 By 1, Did It and Did It, Raw Meat, Deep Down, and Naked Cheese. One Of Us is a rap track filled with horrorcore sounds and lurid details. One Of Us is very similar to the Gotta Die Soon track.

Now Chico was a 3 minute freestyle. Siccmade/Madesicc labelmates Phonk Beta, Tallcan G, and Loki join in and each spit a verse. The production sound is low quality though. It's a Siccmade freestyle.

The Virus album was regarded as a "cut and paste" bootleg album composed by Cedric Singleton for Black Market Records, The Virus album is actually a legit retail album in the BMR music catalogue despite what fans and Brotha Lynch Hung say. Some of the tracks on this album such as Never Rode With Me, Gotta Die Soon, One Of Us, and Lay Low appear on other albums Brotha Lynch Hung contributed to which is why fans regards the Virus as a bootleg album. The Virus is almost comparably dark, foreboding, and brooding as the Season of Da Siccness album was.

Brotha Lynch Hung's raps on are at average on this album rather than his Siccmade/Madesicc ripgut cannabalism rap style he is reputedly known for by his hardcore fans inside his cult following with his legion of fans. The lyrical delivery of his is not the same on this album as it was on other albums in his music catalogue similar to Loaded, Lynch By Inch, MannibalLector, Season of Da Siccness, and 24 Deep. His raps are not the best on this album. Some of the tracks on this album such as Never Rode With Me, Gotta Die Soon, One Of Us, and Lay Low appear on other albums Brotha Lynch Hung contributed to which is why fans regards the Virus as a bootleg album.

The production aspect on this album was overshadowed by the lyrical content for this album. Production quality and sound quality were rather low on some tracks than usual. Sound quality and production quality is rather low similar to the EBK4 album from 2000. Some tracks are rough draft demos such as Chico, One Of Us, I'm Like, Sicc & High, Lay Low, and of course the bonus track which is a Siccmade/Madesicc freestyle. The production aspect is probably why fans overlooked this album in its prime.

While The Virus album may not have been highly acclaimed, favored, or recommended by fans, The Virus album was very overlooked in its prime time of release. Many fans looked at the production aspect of The Virus album rather than the lyrical content and entertainment aspect. While The Virus album was overshadowed and overlooked for its time, the album has some tracks worth listening to such as Never Rode With Me, One Of Us, Modern Crimes, Gotta Die Soon, and Lay Low. The Virus album does have its high points. The Virus album is an average Brotha Lynch Hung album at best which can be considered as your typical "run of the mill" Brotha Lynch Hung album.

3/5***

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kyle Turner - Sincerely Yours album review

Kyle Turner plays the saxophone and he is quite good at it! (Well the tenor saxophone to be exact.) His tenor saxophone is his trademark instrument he is well known for using/performing on. In fact, he covers this entire album with a tenor saxophone.

Kyle Turner takes credit for most of the songwriters credits on Sincerely Yours since he is the one who wrote this jazz compositional piece. At least Kyle Turner gives credit to most of the songwriters who he covered by saxophone in the insert booklet credits. Kyle Turner covers songs by Marvin Gay, James Nix, Janet Jackson, Kerry Wilkins, Tim Gant, and Lalah Hathaway. In terms of songwriting and instrumentation contribution, Tim Gant helped with most of the songs on this album. To sum it all up, this album is a cover album and a tribute album. Sincerely Yours, Inner City Blues, Up North, and In Your Arms Again are favorable songs off of this album.

Kyle Turner creates a smooth instrumental jazz cover of Inner City Blues by Marvin Gaye. Smooth jazz meets instrumental jazz on the Kyle Turner cover of Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues. The whole composition/song is performed without vocals.

Anytime Anyplace is a Kyle Turner cover of the Janet Jackson song Anytime Anyplace. Kyle Turner performs a jazz cover of the pop song Anytime Anyplace. Pop meets jazz on the Anytime Anyplace song. This composition/song is performed with vocals.

In Your Arms Again is Kyle Turner’s cover of the Lalah Hathaway song In Your Arms Again. It’s a jazz love melody.

Nightcrawler is an Art Porter song. It’s a jazz melody.

Derrick Edmondson and Kyle Turner had written the title track Sincerely Yours. In fact, Sincerely Yours is really the only original song of the 10 songs that are on this album. Which is the irony that pointed out for a humorist perspective and a humorist insight full of humor. (That is pointed out from a humorist perspective.) Sincerely Yours is a smooth jazz song.

[The first edition of Sincerely Yours was released and distributed by Midwest Records. The second edition of Sincerely Yours released and distributed by Midwest Records from Dallas, Texas & INDI Network. Both of which were released in 1995.]

4/5****

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lil Eddie - Already Yours (Deluxe Edition) album review

Already Yours was released on CD in 2011 by Lexington/Manhattan Recordings (Manhattan Records) in Japan. 90% of the album Already Yours is material of love songs. Already Yours picks up where City Of My Heart left off. The singles Already Yours and Bring Me Back To Life hit #1 on the iTunes Charts in Japan. Lil Eddie continues to further himself in evolution as a singer-songwriter.

This album is yet another under appreciated Lil Eddie album that did not get noticed by mainstream media. Already Yours picks up where City Of My Heart left off in terms of music. Both albums have similar love songs in relative terms of similarities relatively speaking. 90% of the album Already Yours is material filled with love songs.

Start Over Again deals with the ups and downs in life. Lil Eddie tells us that no matter what stage you are in life, whether you’re young or old, it’s never too late to start all over again. You can always start over again. You know your limits and when you are torn apart. Lil Eddie also tells us that sometimes we need to start over again in life due to the ups and downs that take an emotionally effective toll on us as humans. Life has flaws and is filled with pain.

What's living without loss? What's life without loss? What's giving without a cause? Everything has a price, so now it's time to pay. What's life without the flaws? What's life without the pain? Life has flaws and is filled with such pain as stated. You can always start over again.

Guardian Angel is a heartfelt love song featuring Amerie. Here we are on a rainy day during the coldest summer under covers. Sounds of thunder sound very similar to drums. This is scary. Eddie needs his guardian angel. Everyone needs to have a guardian angel. The outro chorus is supported by adlib. B Section repeats the lyrics itself.

You Got Me (Like Ooh) is a Lil Eddie dance song. Lil Eddie must have been inspired by the dance music genre when writing this song.

Sabotage is about being without the person you love. Being without the person you love is quite difficult to imagine. That person is your emotional rock to lean on in a time of need. That person is your world. Don’t let anyone sabotage what you have been fighting for. Don’t let go.

Already Yours picks up where City Of My Heart left off. Eddie is not like those other guys as he puts it truthfully. You don’t have to read his mind because he is already yours. No one has to read his mind. He knows how you feel baby. Eddie’s actions speak louder than words. Already Yours is a single as well.

Perfect for Mother's Day is the song Momma. Momma expresses gratitude for the mothers out there. The single Momma proved to be of big success for singer-songwriter Lil Eddie as Momma charted #1 on the iTunes Charts in Japan and US. Momma is a blend and mixture of R&B/Soul.

Lil Eddie experiments with blending in playful futuristic sounding synth notes from an electronic keyboard making it a mixture of Techno and Electronic music for the love song Outta This World. The sounds of Outta This World sound very futuristic sounding for its time. All in all, the production quality is very smooth sounding. Lil Eddie knows what he’s doing when it comes to his own music. That’s why experiments with electronic music every now and then.

Change The World is a cover of "Change The World" of Eric Clapton which Lil Eddie fully demonstrated perfectly well. In a way of pop sense.

4/5****!!