Lynch - A Pinch of Lynch album review
For those who don't know Lynch is none other than Roger Troutman II of Zapp and was the son of Roger Troutman. Roger Troutman II unfortunately died in January of 2003. He was in Zapp in until 2003. Lynch started touring with Zapp in 1987. His father taught him how to use the talkbox.(Although there supposedly is a Roger Troutman III out there somewhere.) He learned how to use the keyboards and master the background vocals. He did not get as much fame as his father Roger Troutman, but Lynch did have a cult following underground as far a songwriting goes and other music credentials.
Anyway… On with the album! No One Ever will is one of those "No one will ever understand our love." type of tracks. Change My Mind one of those "What can I do to make you love me?" type of tracks. It's very much a love ballad. Can It Be is another one of those love ballad songs. It's one of those What can you do to make me change my mind so that I can love you?" type of tracks. Here Once Again will remind you of Been This Way Before by Zapp.
Bobby Glover was on the vocals for Magic Spell. Magic Spell is a cover version of the same song which is called Your Spell by Bobby Glover. To sum it all up, Bobby Glover did the song first. It's a cinch with a pinch of Lynch on A Pinch of Lynch. The title track fits perfectly in the middle of this album. Ray Davis (aka Sting Ray) showcases his bass playing skills.
Heartbreaker is Lynch's cover version of a Zapp song by the same name. This single record should have gone Gold! It's absolutely funky! The tempo is sped up. The reverb gates are on point. Heartbreaker is one of those skating rink type of songs.
I Found Out sounds like a late 1960s Philly style ballad. You can the kick drums and the cymbal crashes. The chords are set in a very romantic mood. Lynch feels that he broke with up with his girlfriend and now he wants her back. But Lynch "found out" she's dating another man. Even though he realizes it's too late.
Scooby Doo is… well… a tribute to the Scooby Doo show. Into My Life is about Lynch accepting his girlfriend into his life. Sara is a nice little song.
Perhaps if Roger Troutman II had used "Roger Troutman II - A Pinch of Lynch" or "Roger Troutman II - A Pinch of Roger" for the album title instead of "Lynch - A Pinch of Lynch" the album would have should more and Lynch would have been nearly as successful as his father Roger Troutman and would gotten his name out there more. Also music was transitioning from Dance to New Jack Swing. If Lynch had released this album in 1986 instead of 1989, the album would have gotten more noise. The label never really promoted A LOT of their musicians the right way. This album was slept on and very much overlooked.
5/5*****
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Alumnyh - The Album album review
Alumnyh was a one time thing only. Born Soul Productions is based outta Austin, Texas.This album was released on Born Soul Productions in 1999 with distribution by Southwest Wholesale and INDI.
The Intro explains who Alumnyh is and who the members are. Alumnyh is Born Soul, Mr. Man, Luscious T, R.C., Mello D, Chieve, Hennessey, and Golden Child. The Alumnyh song has nearly all the members of Alumnyh all on one track.
Nursery Rhyme samples Tom Tom - Club Genius in a musical box instrument form like how Alumnyh incorporated Hush Little Baby into rap on Nursery Rhyme. This should have been a single.
In Drip Drop you can hear a sample from a Disney movie called Bambi. The song is Little April Shower.
Be Wit Me is a slow jam. You’ll love the MIDI rock keyboard in the background. Be Wit Me is a perfect slow jam to play to your lover at night.
Slave Chronicles is about Black History and a fast paced song that was produced by Reggie Coby. Slave Chronicles is a great song also!
5/5*****!!
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Domino - Physical Funk album review
Physical Funk was released on Outburst Records, Columbia Records, RAL, and Def Jam in 1996. Physical Funk was his last album on Outburst and Def Jam unfortunately. This album charted #34 on the BillBoard in 1996.
Microphone Musician reintroduces us to Domino. You may remember Domino's Getto Jam back in 1993. Everyone loved it! It's Diggedy Domino!! He's a microphone fiend on this track. Lovely Jazz piano in the intro. Microphone Musician displays Domino's lyrical styles.
Macadocious is underrated G-Funk cut. The beats are superb! Domino meets this woman at a bus stop. She wants him. They both have a conversation. Domino invites the lady to a house party. Domino is The Mac! You know how it goes there.
Domino makes an ode to Hennessey on Hennessey. That's his drink. Perfect G-Funk beats on Hennessey! This is a mellow party jam. Hennessey could have been a single, but corporate sponsors such MTV, VH1, and BET would not play due to the references to alcohol. Plus people like Delores Tucker would have caused static over the song. Gotta love the 90s!
Now what makes the world go round besides checks? Sex and Domino! Physical Funk is the #1 single of this album along with So Fly and Do You Qualify?. The music video for Physical Funk was made up of parodies of other videos such as Baby Got Back, Scream, Addicted To Love, Wild Thing, and the cartoon version of Fantastic Voyage. This is a great parody music video!
Domino revisits Do You Qualify? except the lyrics have been reworded a bit. Although DJ Battlecat produced this song, Domino produced a majority of the Physical Funk album. Yes DJ Battlecat produced this song on the album Do You Qualify? !
Trickin is an ode to prostitution and sex. One of those slow jams to have intercourse (sex) to.
For those who don't know, Long Beach Funk sampled Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)" by Tom Browne. Long Beach Funk should have been another single as well! So Fly hit #17 on the charts.
If the fans and news media would have stopped accusing Domino stealing Snoop Doggy Dogg's style, then Domino's career would have blown up bigger. Then Domino would have stayed on Outburst Records and Def Jam for 2 more albums. Plus Physical Funk seemed a bit rushed. This was his last album on Outburst and Def Jam unfortunately.
If Def Jam had not dropped Outburst before Physical Funk dropped, Physical Funk would have done a lot better. This album needed A LOT more promotion than it got. If the album had Domino's In The House as a track and a single, Physical Funk would have done a lot better. Also the album was as sample crazy as the last album.
5/5*****!!
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Poi Dog Pondering - Volo Volo album review
Poi Dog Pondering - Volo Volo was overlooked by so many people and music fans. Not to mention by mass media and independent news stations across the US. Volo Volo was released on Columbia Records in 1992. This album was done when Poi Dog Pondering was still in Austin and before they moved to Chicago in 1995.
Lackluster is an ironic song because of the way Poi Dog Pondering was supposed to make it big and didn't, but other than that it's an OK song. Both the grand piano and Jazz piano in the background of the vocals are great!
The Hardest Thing is love, which proves to be the hardest topic on the song The Hardest Thing. It's about lovers dictating each other and dictating other peoples lives. Think about them arguing and fighting. Consumation as well. Love can be about getting to the truth behind all those lies.
Te Manu Pukara is a fast playing banjo song which sounds like a Spanish Country song. Te Manu Pukara is certainly a funny song.
Collarbone to me is more of a Jazz Rock song. Meaning that the song Collarbone is a crossover of Jazz and Rock. I can hear both the grand piano and Jazz piano in the background of the vocals.
Entrance should have been the first song as the intro. Tall and Building should have been one song together call Tall Building. Be The One should have been omitted. I've Got My Body should have been about record companies owning peoples souls or a sexual track about intercourse.
Volo Volo should have a crossover album with Jazz and Rock being called Jazz Rock.
Poi Dog Pondering got screwed by Columbia Records. Poi Dog Pondering was supposed to make it big yet they didn't. The album Volo Volo was supposed to prove to be their big break. Low album sales proved otherwise.
4/5****!
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Jhiame - Screamn' Dat Pimpin' album review
Screamn' Dat Pimpin' was released in 1995 on Jhiame Productions based out of Houston, Texas and B 4 Reel Records which is based out of Houston, Texas. This album is filled with Hip Hop/Rap, Funk, Blues, and R&B/Soul. The back of the album cover represents symbols of the 1970s such as the Black Power fist chain, the Afro pick comb, the black Go Go boots, and the star glasses. The front cover parodies the Superfly lettering of Superfly by Curtis Mayfield.
On Screamn' Dat Pimpin'… It's 12 o'clock with OG Jhiame Dog and he needs a dub sack. OG Jhiame is a player raised by the old school and spreadin' hustle to the new school. This is an international hustle. From Hollywood to Houston. From Newark to Paris to Dubai and to New York City. The drum programming is on point.
Hustler's Anthem is dedicated to all the hustler's of course. Whatever your hustle is, keep on pimpin'! Whether you a doctor, a lawyer, or a social worker. Do whatcha gotta you do! Pimp On samples The Floaters - Float On. I love the Djembe drums and drum beats on Pimp On.
Stop Hi-Cappin' is talking about religion at first. The beat is real good. E-Z Way Out is about a brother (hustler) making his way out the ghetto. The title says it all. Gangsta! I B Not is all about the streets. Ooo! Wee is just a party jam.
Cats Wanna Be Dogs is an ode to George Clinton - Atomic Dog. Perfect G-Funk jam! The choir, beats, bass, and vox are on point! Hey Hoez is dedicated to all the hoez out there! You know who you are. Playarism is about how playas do.
Playa's Blues is a Blues track featuring famous Blues musician artist Leon Banks. Although it should have been more than 2 minutes and 50 seconds long. It should have been close to 4 or 5 minutes long.
For some reason this album went under the radar. Maybe it was something with Southwest Distribution or lack of promotion. One can only know so much.
5/5*****!!
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Malik-Bo - Brootikus album review
Malik-Bo has to be one of the most slept on artists from San Diego, California next to The Green Eyes, Big June, Ms. Sancha, Ms. Kitty, and Black Mikey as well as others that I forgot to mention on this album review. The album Brootikus is more Jazz Rap than Hip Hop to me as Malik-Bo sounds like a darker version of Brotha Lynch Hung. Even if it does seem more Hip Hop. The album features artists such as June Bug Spade, Brooke Style, Chalon, Lil Naje, Silhouette, and Prophet Sativa.
Gangstaism is one triv G-Funk track filled with political conciseness hip hop. Various references to Islam and Black Panthers are made in this intro. This one is for the homies. These days are cold. In my opinion, Gangstaism should have been a full song.
Buttsupsideyahead is a dark gangsta ass parody of Bootsupsideyahead by Candyman. The sounds are very spooky and erie. The car alarm goes off only to upset a man. Malik-Bo's car alarm goes off. Blood oozing from a .380 caliber shot. He jets out the door. A strap wrapped up in pantyhose. (Gotta love the 90s!) Malik-Bo is down by your living room making your quiver in fear. Will he decide to shoot or not?
He heard barking before he drew down by the gate. Fuck! A murder. Blood on his Nikes. The dark eerie vibe is accompanied by the streetlight. Red drops are running down your cheeks. A little in a 64 cutlass drives off. Malik-Bo needs to get high to relieve his grip on reality. Ordeals be coming. Time to go back and grab the six deuce. Fuck around and get smoked!
Now we are up on Mayberry Street creeping up in the dark slowly. Time to bounce out of the ride. necks all swoll up. 500 feet until the road is gone! The road is getting shorter. 3 trigger happy niggaz show up. Niggaz waisting ammo. The killing just never seems to stop. It goes down on and on.
Up On Bitches will remind you of Ghetto Star on the Suthernkali4yaman album from 1998. The theme is very dark for a solo. Up On Bitches is about how Malik-Bo be doggin' them bitches. Bitches run in packs. as Snoop Doggy Dogg said "We don't love dem hoes.". The keyboarding was off key. The bass was distorted.
How U Goin' Out? tells us about how Malik-Bo is going out. Is you goin' out like a g or a fucking bitch! Real niggaz ain't always punkin' bitch niggaz while they go off running their mouths. In other words, people just test each others patience in regards to human behavior and start rumors about each other and whatnot. This song is more of a freestyle. You will love the Jazz horn synths and snare drums on How U Goin' Out? ! Junebug Spade killed it with his verse on the last part of the song! The live drum instrumentation is on point!
The song starts off with 30 or more niggaz with one person dead from hot lead and shanks. Them niggaz be your fucking enemies. Just another victim of genocide at the back of the club. Them ese's wanna buck. That's how they be going out.
This bitch who Malik-Bo met on Sunday wants the dick on Monday, but damn! Why not 4 am? Up in the Bently. Be for real and tell your bitch how you feel But you didn't. You look good and smell fresh but this bitch is hyper rich! June Bug Spade ain't going out like no fucking hoe. Junebug Spade killed it with his verse on the last part of the song! He went out like a G.
Let's Get Together and Passion Marks might seem to be tracks from cheesy love songs, but they're not. Malik-Bo made a reference to gmail before it was popular the way it is now today. Malik-Bo was a prophet of his time.
Pigs is an anti-police track dedicated to the cops. So is Predators. (Sort of.) Steady Grinding is a hustler/sex song.
Make way G! Move! Malik-Bo is about to prove why SouthEast Gs be blowing up the map trying to put San Diego on the map concerning the music scene, tourism lifestyle, daily life, and crime statistics on this bomb ass rap track SE Ballin'! SouthEast Gs be blowing up the map bomb ass gangsta raps on this track. Forget what the average head says about SESD. Gangs be shooting off fools execution style. Plenty of outsiders want to blend in San Diego scene but you don't want none of these SouthEast OGs. In other words everyone wants to be from San Diego. His homies be off in the cut. His homies are chopping guts and creating turmoil.
Rewind. Malik-Bo takes us back to 1988 where gang rapes happened at house parties where it got frisky when fools step in. 10 milli's should be kept while being crept in the city of San Diego. Other people do get in your business. Fools be ballin' and set trippin' while nark bitches and Feds be their downfall. Niggaz be tripping too. It's about being put on the game in San Diego.
Now Malik-Bo takes us back to 1994 when this song was written. Fools don't loiter in spot like back in 1988 because in 1994 that would lead up to a parole bust. Hot be the Babylons want Malik-Bo for being an ex-con. Police will want to lock up ex-con I don't think so. He doesn't think so. Yeah right! Nigga please!
Malik-Bo is not an ex-con, but police are still racist which often leads Malik-Bo to be harassed by police on hot cases. In other words, the police (San Diego Police Department better known as SDPD) hate Malik-Bo for looking like an ex-con. Nigga please! The police hold Malik-Bo up for the evening even though he has plans. Police search his car looking for narcotics (the product) for disturbing the peace because Malik-Bo has black skin and is an African-American male. The courts want to give Malik-Bo ten years upstate because he has melanin in his skin.
Don't ya'll wanna floss with Malik-Bo in his 84 Cutlass Beach Cruiser in SouthEast San Diego while touring the city of San Diego? Don't ya'll wanna floss with Malik-Bo?
It doesn't matter to Malik-Bo where he is because he cherishes these SouthEast oranges, the music scene, criminal lifestyle, and tourism. Malik-Bo cherishes these SouthEast oranges and tourism lifestyle basically. This one is for the homies. These days people are cold. It's easy for a peezy head nigga that life in San Diego ain't all grimey and gutta.
Oh Malik-Bo even loves it when he hops on the trolley. To get this little nigga and trip this little nigga.
Now it's that bitch named Orko whom Malik-Bo is referring to. Malik-Bo spits game very great as he always does. Malik-Bo spits educational information about the music scene and tourism. He's coming over now. Malik-Bo wants Orko to stay off Motorola cellphone and stop calling him on his cellphone. Orko put Malik-Bo up on this bitch who turned out to be mischievously scandalous or wasn't loyal in the relationship. So as soon as Orko gets off the transit trolley, Malik-Bo will kick his fucking ass real bad! He's gonna get his fuckin' ass kicked!
SESD got good neighborhood mama's and hoes with the drama in their relationships. Battles shot up in the clubs. Malik-Bo cherishes his friends and family even with all the killer fiends, deadbeat dads, and car jackings it ain't safe but Malik-Bo still loves this place. It ain't nothing but SE Ballin'!
SE Ballin' is about the daily life in SouthEast San Diego that is very combined with the music scene, lifestyle, and tourism lifestyle in San Diego along with the dangers and perils that loom on a daily basis. SE Ballin' is about everyday life happening in San Diego basically. It's about being put on the game in San Diego. The latest news! So peep game!
SE Ballin' is a prime example of Jazz Rap with the saxophone, Jazz bass guitar, and the drum set. It's filled with G-Funk too! Think early Onyx, Raekwon, Bahamadia, Main Source, Dream Warriors, Native Nuttz, Killarmy, U-God, and Shyeim. Those are also prime examples of Jazz Rap. Prophet Sativa is the female that sings.
Malik-Bo was a prophet way ahead of his time! SE Ballin' is a great track! SE Ballin' is one G-Funk rap track filled with political conciseness hip hop.
Arm's Length is about keeping your friends close and enemies closer. Malik-Bo blames the COINTELPRO operation for throwing the black revolutionaries behind bars. Malik-Bo is more savage than the average man. Arm's Length is another anti-police song. Very Sun Tzu. It's another great song done by Malik-Bo!
Back To Back Flows is Malik-Bo and Lil Naje flowing and doing back to back freestyles. Lil Naje should have considered doing 2 solo albums. Both Malik-Bo and Lil Naje have awesome raps in this freestyle.
Plenty of Love is dedicated to the dead homies of Southeast San Diego. As well as the remix.
Reminiscin' has that classic rock, doo-wop sound! It samples Papa Chuk - Show Me Some ID and Down By The River by Buddy Miles.
The song Ain't Bangin' is about niggaz that were fresh to def & bangin' and now them niggaz is all washed up. As well as the fake studio gangsters out there. This song is dedicated to all gangsters out there on the mainline! Ain't Bangin' is a slow Blues style track with Blues style drums used along with the original slow paced Blues style. Ain't Bangin’ is about 6 and a half minutes long.
5/5*****!!
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2nd II None - Classic 220 album review
2nd II None was that group who did not put out enough albums for their fans to be satisfied. (Minus Tha Kollective and 2008's Tha Shit of course.) DJ Quik is the main producer with AMG on this album as he was on the last one. He is also the DJ for 2nd II None from time to time. The reason this album was released on Arista Records is because Profile Records closed down in 1997 due to Cory Robbins want to go his own way and form Robbins Entertainment. Classic 220 has that late 1990s & 2000s West Coast feel (sound), Long Beach Funk, and Compton sound (CPT sound) since it's coming from Los Angeles, mainly Compton.
The first song is Stragglaz. Stragglaz is a song about all different types of hoes. It has that funk, timbal drums, and psychedelic carnival theme (Listen to it and you'll here it in reverse.).The drum beats and production are on point! This song should have been a single.
Up 'N Da Club is a party joint. A song to hear when you walk into the club. Up 'N Da Club features DJ Quik and AMG. It has a Hawaiian beat to it. It's great song to play while in the Bahamas. Don't U Hide It is a defiant song. This song should have been a single too!
For those who don't know, Y? was originally called The Dogg N Me. This song was recorded in 1994 when 2nd II was on Death Row Records with DJ Quik. This song wouldn't be used until 1999/2000 on this album and the 2008 album Tha Shit. Y? samples By Your Side by Con Funk Shun and Atomic Dog by George Clinton.
Gangsta D remember way back when he was young, living that crazy life and getting sprung. Out there getting' busy getting his own. He didn't really care because Mama wasn't home. Hanging out with the wrong crowd, solving problems by shooting other people and making ends meet by doing robberies. Snatched up one fool and took him out his. The homey survived. Gangsta D didn't really care because he was young. Now he's rollin' with his baby mama. Didn't even know he was in the drama. Suddenly the homey pulls and starts blasting at Gangsta D. A bullet hit Gangsta D's head, so now he's laying down on a stretcher. The family is stressed out because Gangsta D is in a coma. Everybody is praying while Gangsta D is trying to hold on.
When KK was little, he was trying to get himself a down ass reputation while growing up in Compton. It didn't matter if KK got his ass beat or not. Didn't even care at the time. KK wasn't no punk. One day when he rollin' with all his straps, he got caught by the cops and took all the fault. He didn't even snitch. KK eventually find himself a minimum wage job but his pockets were still hurting. KK and his relative found a way to come on up. He's pushing a quarter kilos cross country. That's how it is when you coming from the CPT.
If You Ain't Fuckin' is a late night sex jam to when you're sticking it in your girl or while you're having sex in a convertible. (The type of car can be your choice.) Or after you just came home from the club all drunk and shit. So you're ready to make love. Stuff like that. You get the idea!
Don't Do Dat should have been a single also! Don't Do Dat has more of a mid 90's feel to it than a 00's feel. (Some of the material was recorded in the mid 90's for those who don't know.) Production is on point. (Which is very good!) DJ Quik and AMG should have produced that thought.
Got A Nu Woman is a great song which features DJ Quik, AMG, Hi-C, and Playa Hamm. The song is almost 9 minutes long. This song is the longest one on this album. Got A Nu Woman is similar to Got U A New Woman.
The song Princess with James DeBarge was an ok song even if the fans weren't feeling it. Love U should have been the last single for this album. You can hear the 70s guitar in the background.
Whateva U Want features AMG and James DeBarge. The production is on point. Make 'Em Understand samples Inner City Blues by Marvin Gaye. Make 'Em Understand features the late Mausberg (R.I.P.) with production by DJ Quik. Pawdy should have been a single also! Pawdy features Playa Hamm. DJ Quik should have been on Pawdy. Back Up Off The Wall samples Get Down On It by Kool & the Gang. Back Up Off The Wall features DJ Quik.
Sadly, none of the songs charted. If the following songs as singles had charted, here is how the positions would be listed as followed.
(Not everyone and every song can be #1.):
Stragglaz (BillBoard Top 100: 13 | Hot Rap Singles: 22)
Up in The Club (BillBoard Top 100: 3 | Hot Rap Singles: 2)
Don't U Hide It (BillBoard Top 100: 14 | Hot Rap Singles: 2)
Make 'Em Understand (BillBoard Top 100: 43| Hot Rap Singles: 48)
Back Up Off The Wall (BillBoard Top 100: 48 | Hot Rap Singles: 43)
Y? (BillBoard Top 100: 5 | Hot Rap Singles: 5)
Don't Do Dat (BillBoard Top 100: 12 | Hot Rap Singles: 8)
Love U (BillBoard Top 100: 12 | Hot Rap Singles: 8)
This album to most of us fans did not receive enough recognition despite the facts that this album did get positive reviews from music critics.
5/5*****!!
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