Bloods & Crips - Bangin' On Wax album review
Bangin' On Wax was a great way for gang bangers to get their frustration out on wax The album is sample crazy as most rap albums were in 1993 which was put out by Dangerous Records/Warlock in 1993. Capitol Records executive producer Ronnie Phillips (Ronnie Ron) came up with the Bangin’ On Wax concept with Tweedy Bird Loc and Redrum781. Bangin' On Wax showcased the best out of rappers from both sides of the Bloods & Crips.
Ronnie Ron held auditions prior to the production of the Bangin’ on Wax album to see who was going to record and who wasn’t. 1993 album Bangin’ on Wax was the final product. Prior to the auditions held for the Bangin’ on Wax album, many of the members either didn't know each other or only knew of each other by name and reputation from both gangs on both sides.
The Bloods & Crips group eventually broke up due to a certain violation of the Cease Fire treaty between the Bloods & Crips that had occurred somehow consequently. When the Cease Fire treaty was over so was the Bloods & Crips group Ronnie Ron had created. Ironically, the Bangin' On Wax album was not even released until after the Cease Fire treaty was signed and active. Before the album, they were all individual representatives of their various respective sets. Bloods & Crips were not identified as two separate groups until 1996 when they broke off into the Damu Ridas and Nationwide Rip Ridaz groups.
The best known rappers were Domino (the then Genuine Draft), Bloody Mary (also known as Nini X), Sin Loc (aka Hitman D), Tweedy Bird Loc (the brains behind Bangin' On Wax along with Ronnie Ron), Fo Clips, AWOL, Redrum781, and rap group Young Soldierz (Big Wy, Lil Stretch, & Dogg).
5/5*****!!
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Bloods & Crips - Bangin' On Wax 2 album review
Bangin' On Wax 2 was a great way for gang bangers to get their frustration out on wax which is what both Bloods & Crips did. Bangin' On Wax 2 was put out by Dangerous Records/Warlock in 1994. The album wasn't as tight as the last one mostly due to the change of artists. If Redrum781, Bloody Mary, Sin Loc, C-Note, Blue Rag, and Domino hadn’t been phased out, Bangin' On Wax 2 would have received as much media coverage and media attention as the precursor Bangin’ On Wax album did. That is what made Bangin' On Wax 2 kinda wack.
The productions skills along with the beats were done by QLuso, DJ Battlecat, J Stank, Key Low G, and Ronnie Ron. The best known rappers were B Brazy, Lil Hawk, Sin Loc (aka Hitman D), Fo Clips, Tweedy Bird Loc (the brains behind Bangin' On Wax along with Ronnie Ron), AWOL, Batman, and Young Soldierz (Big Wy, Lil Stretch, & Dogg).
Set Trippin’ is to double flag or switch in and out of certain sets or gang. To set trip is to claim a gang but then drop out. Set Trippin’ can also refer to a person representing a certain gang or set, but is confronted and that person acts if they are not affiliated. Set Trippin’ is basically cowarding out from a gang. The track Set Trippin’ sums it up pretty well.
G's and Locs has the same beat as Shuda Beena B-Dog from the Bangin' on Wax album had. Only the beat for G's and Locs is a slightly modified. The beat used for G's and Locs is a slightly modified beat from the previous Bangin' on Wax album. G's and Locs is a posse cut which is includes both Bloods & Crips.
Mafia Lane is a gangsta rap rendition of Mary Jane by Rick James. Big Wy produced Mafia Lane. Most of Mafia Lane was devoted to Lil Hawk as Lil Hawk himself was all over Mafia Lane.
4/5****
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Bloods & Crips - Bangin' On Wax Greatest Hits (Bangin’ On Wax 3) album review
Bangin' On Wax Greatest Hits (Bangin’ On Wax 3) album was put out by Dangerous Records/Warlock in 1996. Both Pump Records and Warlock Records distributed this compilation album nationwide across the US.
This album was thrown together as a compilation album by Ronnie Ron. On this Dangerous Records compilation is some unreleased tracks from the Dangerous Records vault consequently Ronnie Ron threw in together. The album was produced entirely by Ron "Ronnie Ron" Phillips and his production team. Unreleased tracks from the Dangerous Records vault that were included on this compilation were Slob BKO, Don’t Stress Me, and Shit Ain’t Over. All tracks mentioned were recorded during the 1990s era.
Slob BKO is a gangsta rap cover of the classic soul song by Teddy Pendegrass called Love TKO for which Crips perform on. Rappers from the Crip side on Slob BKO are Domino, Sin Loc, AWOL, and Blue Rag. DJ Battlecat and Leroy Dukes produced Slob BKO.
Don’t Stress Me was a leftover cut from the Bangin’ On Wax album that didn’t make the final album. Don’t Stress Me was recorded by Gangsta Red & The Bloodstone Villains.
Shit Ain’t Over was a track that featured Dog, Green Eyez, Laniak, Lil Hawk, and Yank. Shit Ain’t Over can be found on Bang'n On Wax: The Best Of The Damu's from 1997.
Ronnie Ron held auditions prior to the production of the Bangin' On Wax Greatest Hits compilation album to see who was going to record and what tracks will be included on the Bangin' On Wax Greatest Hits compilation album. Some of tracks recorded by both groups from both gangs that did not sound perfect from Ronnie Ron’s perspective that were led to be stored in the vault which is why they were included on this particular compilation.
The Bloods & Crips group eventually broke up due to a certain violation of the Cease Fire treaty between the Bloods & Crips that had occurred somehow consequently. Before the album, they were all individual representatives of their various respective sets. When the Cease Fire treaty was over, so was the Bloods & Crips group Ronnie Ron had created. And thus two separate groups were formed which were Damu Ridas and Nationwide Rip Ridaz.
The best known rappers were Domino (the then Genuine Draft), Bloody Mary (known as Nini X), Sin Loc (aka Hitman D), Tweedy Bird Loc (the brains behind Bangin' On Wax along with Ronnie Ron), Lil Hawk, B Brazy, AWOL, Fo Clips, Redrum781, Batman, and Young Soldierz (Big Wy, Lil Stretch, & Dogg).
As for the graphic design aspect and artistry aspect…
Notice how the graffiti tagging “EVIL ASS EASTSIDE” is not covered up? Well that graffiti tagging was used on the front cover for the original 1993 Bangin' On Wax album, which was censored due to a marketing tactic Warlock Records/Pump Records used to keep their image clean. On the front cover of this compilation album, the graffiti tagging “EVIL ASS EASTSIDE” is not covered up.
Also notice how the C Side came first instead of the B Side? Well the B Side was supposed to come first and the C Side last being that this compilation album is a Bloods & Crips album. This was an error Ronnie Ron and the printing press company addressed nor looked at.
Overall, Bangin' On Wax Greatest Hits was a great way for gang bangers to get their frustration out on wax which is what both Bloods & Crips did. Bangin' On Wax Greatest Hits (Bangin’ On Wax 3) album was put out by Dangerous Records/Warlock in 1996. Some cuts were weak and some cuts were wack. Some cuts were great. All in all, this compilation album could have been a lot better on the same level as the original Bangin’ On Wax album was.
4/5****.
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Thelma Houston - Qualifying Heat album review
Qualifying Heat surely deserves its title because this album is hot! Each additional song is filled with a flare of pop music. The Qualifying Heat album crossed over into the pop market in the 1980s ultimately making Qualifying Heat a success. The Qualifying Heat album featured the Top 10 R&B hit You Used To Hold Me So Tight. Her breakthrough success with MCA led her to chart in high numbers on the BillBoard. This Houston is not related to Whitney, but this woman has a lot of musical history in her background. (Some pop fans think Thelma Houston is related to Whitney Houston, but that’s not the case.) The album can be noted for the early Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis production sound and style.
4/5****!
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Twinspan - Anthems of Your Scene Phase
Twinspan - Anthems of Your Scene Phase was released as online as a digital download in 2016/2017. In other words, it was an online album. Anthems of Your Scene Phase is an album that all metal heads and punk rockers alike should hear and buy for today's musical and political climate that is against the mainstream music market if they have the time. This album is a breath of fresh air for metal heads that are tired of hearing that pop shit in the radio. However, the album is trash.
Metal fans and music news website Sputnikmusic all thought the Anthems of Your Scene Phase album was horrible. Sputnikmusic gave the album Anthems of Your Scene Phase 1/5* (1 out of 5 stars). One can see why metal fans would consider this album to be horrible. The instrumentals sound muffles and the vocals are too quiet. You can hardly hear the vocals on some of the tracks. Their choice of lyrics are bluntly terrible. Twinspan dragged metalcore through the mud with this album while they were experimenting on their sound. Overall, the album is trash.
240 HD is the best track on the album despite being almost terrible! 240 HD is everything that metal and punk rock should be. Not that punk pop bullshit you hear on the radio. Heavy thrashing percussion, loud distorted screaming voices with the occasional singing of course, killer overdub, and the fast paced tempo are what make this track so perfect. The singing came with compassion from the soul and heart.
Most of 240 HD is filled with soulful singing in certain parts of the song however, making 240 HD stand out on the album. That's how this song is different from any of the other songs on the album. As stated, 240 HD is the best track on the Anthems of Your Scene Phase album!
Downsides of 240 HD are the lyrics, inability to hear the vocals clearly as the vocals volume is set to an unbalanced low volume level, and the irritating loud distorted screaming voices. Mostly the inability to hear the vocals clearly on this song is what made 240 HD somewhat almost terrible.
Tear This Wall Down is an anger and angst driven ballad. So much anger is focused on those lies from someone who obviously lies to people. We can see the lies through your eyes. Twinspan wants to tear down the emotional wall that suppresses us all as humans. Twinspan has had enough as Twinspan has so much anger focused on this emotional wall that puts a lot of stress on us. There has to be a different alternative with dealing with such emotional pain instead of yelling, screaming, and violence. So the only way to tear down this fucking wall is to scream about it in song. That's the only way to tear down this emotional wall.
The leader of the oppressed people does not want to tear down this wall. Twinspan directs their anger toward the leader and leaders for them spouting such lies to the masses of people. Twinspan won't stop rising up against the leaders in leadership until they get their point across and when the leadership finally understands the demands from the people for their leadership to stop lying. Twinspan represents the oppressed people who are tired of their leaders in power of leader not listening to their demands by demanding more civil rights. "For year we lived aloof" is the verse that describes how the people were oblivious to the lies from their own political leaders in political leadership.
Twinspan rises up against the machine in terms of political leadership hoping that the leadership will understand the demands from the people on the track Tear Down This Wall. Obviously Twinspan wants to tear down the emotional and political walls that oppresses the people who are citizens who are tired of their leaders in power of leader not listening to their demands by demanding more civil rights.
Myself Benevolent showcases such true promise for their metal style when it comes to rock music. Myself Benevolent is a metal heads anthem. Take notice of the heavy hardcore metal sound of this anthem here. The instrumentation is truly perfect. Myself Benevolent is a violent metalcore song with an aggressive vibe. The aggressive vibe comes with metalcore of course.
Captain Hindsight is a upbeat heavy metal song that is what metal truly represents for metal heads. The song Captain Hindsight is a song that every metal head out there should listen to.
2/5**.
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Z-Ro - Crack album review
The Crack album has an urban feel to it. It’s very street. His hooks inside his raps were on point as usual. You can expect that from Z-Ro as he is from the streets undoubtedly. Purposely, Z-Ro garnered his fanbases attention from the street to buy this album. As with most of his albums, he got listeners from his audience and fanbase hooked on this appropriately titled album. As with most of his albums Z-Ro is reputedly well known for his hooks. After all, this is Z-Ro we are talking about.
Z-Ro pays homage and tribute to legendary Port Arthur DJ named DJ DMD and the late deceased Fat Pat on 25 Lighters. 25 Lighters is a 2008 version of the 1998 hit 25 Lighters.
Tired with Mya should have been a featured single to promote the Crack album. This is where Rap-A-Lot dropped the ball on this album. Despite having a music video to accompany the song, Tired was overlooked by fans of southern rap.
Z-Ro started getting repetitive when he began to title his albums with lame drug titles such as Crack and Cocaine. Some of the hooks were repetitive as is most of southern rap. This album would mark the beginning of Z-Ro’s repetitive hooks and when began to title his albums with lame drug titles.
3/5***
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Foe Loco - Them Indians album review
Them Indians was an album, or rather EP, that was released independently on cassette only in 1992 in the Sacramento, California area. Them Indians is a fine example of Native American hip hop and rap as Foe Loco is an Apache Indian. A limited amount of copies of this cassette were pressed up making Them Indians a rarity among collectors of Sacramento rap. Foe Loco was influenced by the dark sounds of gangsta rap and Native American hip hop when writing this album.
Them Indians has that dark sound which is prevalent in horrorcore rap. Foe Loco discusses and raps about the problems Native American Indians face on the title track Them Indians. Foe Loco was influenced by the dark sounds of gangsta rap and Native American hip hop when writing this song and album.
You can hear the dark early sounds of that horrorcore ripgut cannibalism rap that Brotha Lynch Hung would become well known for on Hold’em At Gun Point. Gangsta rap meets horrorcore rap with a dark negative vibe on Hold’em At Gun Point. The sound quality and production quality is rather dated and low due to the fact it was recorded in a home studio in 1992. Hold’em At Gun Point a Foe Loco and Brotha Lynch Hung song as Hold’em At Gun Point is considered to be one of their rare early recordings.
4/5****!
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dj taka - TRUE BLUE album review
TRUE BLUE is dj taka's second album produced by Sota Fujimori. TRUE BLUE was a soundtrack for Bemani from Konami.
Broken is the first introductory track on the album. Broken is about a desolate soul whose heart has been broken. All that remains are broken pieces of their heart. A desolate soul such as this one mentioned feels ignored and isolated. This desolate soul is isolated in sadness and loneliness. At the end of the song, this soul wants rebuild using broken pieces from the heart. dj taka wants the listener to sympathize with him to realize a broken heart is hard to fix.
Massage uses an advanced eclectic vocabulary from Japanese language and French language. Various sentences and phrases spoken in French are fairly well used in this song. You don't hardly ever hear a Japanese-French fusion song. That is why and how Massage stands out in its own unique way.
Perditus is similar to votum stellarum. This song is an instrumental.
4/5****
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Zodiac Mprint - Ride The Stars album review
New group Zodiac Mprint from Majik Ninja Entertainment has dropped a new stellar EP for 2016 called Ride The Stars. Each single track on this EP is filled with pure brehsiveness. This Zodiac Mprint EP is popular among MNE fans alike across the globe. Ride The Stars could only be purchased in certain bundles. Certain physical pressings of Ride The Stars have a difference track sequence such as the The R.O.C. version (the Green version) for instance. The R.O.C. version (the Green version) is the Twiztid Shop Exclusive Version.
4/5****!
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Vanessa Williams - The Way that You Love single review
The Way that You Love is about how love drives Vanessa Williams crazy. The way that someone loves her drives her crazy. Yes love can drive people crazy to such stated point. The song title itself is appropriately titled as The Way that You Love is obviously a love song. The Way that You Love proved to be a hit for Vanessa Williams as the song peaked at the Top 20 on the BillBoard peaking at #2 at one point in 1994. The rhythm for this song blends in perfectly with the mix.It is clear Babyface had some input for this song as Babyface wrote and produced the rest of this single.
Ellamental has a smooth rhythmic pop flared mixture added to the mix. Vanessa Williams, herself, produced the song Ellamental incidentally. Had Rodney Jerkins produced the song Ellamental would have been a bigger hit on the level as The Way that You Love was when it peaked #2 on the Top 20 BillBoard Charts. It is clear Babyface had some input for this song as Babyface wrote and produced the rest of this single.
It is clear Babyface had some input for this single as Babyface wrote and produced the rest of this single. With appropriately titled songs such as The Way that You Love, You Can’t Run, and Betcha Never, the single has Babyface work all over it.
4/5****
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Demolition Phat - Phat EP
Looking for something phat to listen to? All the Phat EP by Demolition Phat has phat hip hop beats over that old school hip hop sound perfect for you hip hop heads out there to listen to! The Phat EP is an EP filled with heavy percussion ridden songs truly aimed to capture your attention in an effort for you to enjoy this old school EP. The EP itself did not receive the recognition it deserved. The EP itself truly deserves more recognition than it had received if anything. Darin McCoy (of 1st Platoon fame) serves as the executive producer for the entirety of this EP under his excellent supervision.
The song Phat is accompanied by a heavy percussion ridden ensemble of drums to accompany the phat hip hop beats. A miniature ensemble of synth horns can be heard at the very beginning which eventually accompanies the percussion. Phat represents that old school hip hop sound found in East Coast rap. The rap is accompanied by Demolition Phat’s reggaeton styled voice similar to Redman, Black Mikey, or Method Man. The song Phat is a mixture of hip hop and reggae.
We Got It Going On is an ode to both East Coast rap and party rap. Elements of party rap are added into the production mix as the song pays homage to East Coast rap. We Got It Going On is very East Coast influenced. Darin McCoy serves as the executive producer for the track.
Funky Jungle Drum is also accompanied by a heavy percussion ridden ensemble of drums as the song Phat was. The rap is accompanied by Demolition Phat’s reggaeton styled voice similar to Redman, Black Mikey, or Method Man. On this song, Demolition Phat sounds very similar to a cross combination of Redman and Black Mikey.
The bass on Big Up! is rather heavy hitting. Of course the heavy percussion ridden ensemble accompanies the heavy bass. Big Up! represents that old school hip hop sound prevalent in East Coast rap.
4/5****!!
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