Wiseguys - Sneak Preview album review
Wiseguys - Sneak Preview was an album sampler put out on cassette by Def Jam Recordings and Surrender Records outta Boston that was distributed with the Source Magazine in 1997. This album sampler wasn’t very well distributed despite Def Jam Recordings being a major label. Now promotion is where Def Jam Recordings dropped the ball. Def Jam dropped the ball by failing to promote this album sampler to its full potential for Wiseguys.
Every track on that cassette is a duration time of 1:30 (1 minute and 30 seconds) because these are only snippets. Now if these were not snippets, then more people would have purchased this album sampler from the Source Magazine in 1997. The beats and production were good but nothing too stellar.
Satisfaction is one of the hardest cuts on the album sampler. The track Satisfaction is a posse cut as a matter of fact. The Wiseguys go all out and do a good job at it. Def Jam dropped the ball by failing to promote Satisfaction to be a choice for a buzz single. If Def Jam chosen Satisfaction to be a buzz single, then the Wiseguys would have benefited from success. That Willie Hutch sampler was super dope!
Blowin´ Circles In The Wind as a track itself stood out despite being noting too stellar or memorable. Wiseguys production for the track Blowin´ Circles In The Wind was overall good but too mild. Nevertheless Wiseguys always came up with good concepts in their own tracks.
Relentless seems to be influenced by West Coast style production based on the beats. The beats and production were good but nothing too stellar. If Def Jam chosen this to be a single, then the Wiseguys would have benefited from success.
4/5****
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Bossalena - Purple Rose EP (digital download version) EP review
Purple Rose is a digital album that was packaged as an EP to be put online in the format of a digital download in 2017 from Bossalena. The physical copy of Purple Rose EP has 10 tracks with a 4 bonus track as an extra. The digital download version of Purple Rose EP only has 6 tracks instead of 10 tracks. This version only has 6 tracks.
Watch My Step is about how Bossalena started from the bottom. She built her own studio herself. Bossalena takes shots at female rappers with a no hold barred attitude. She tells people how to watch her style. Just know not to test her. With 25 mixtapes/album under belt, she truly made a name for herself in underground music.
Bossalena takes shots with a no hold barred attitude on We Winnin. 2017 is the year she is truly winning. Bossalena sure makes winning easy. The hard heavy hitting bass and trap beats will surely rattle your speakers! The track is very futuristic sounding. All shots are aimed at haters. So watch out!
On Direction, trap music meets drill beats. On Direction, trap music meets drill beats. You can feel the music deep down in your soul. The hard heavy hitting bass will surely rattle your speakers on particularly at On Direction!
Although the trap beats are nothing new, the futuristic sound make the Purple Rose EP stand out. Air It Out and Watch My Step are highlight tracks. What’s unique about this Bossalena EP is that there is a different producer for each track.
4/5****!!
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ICE AK - Sex, Politics, & Paper album review
ICE AK comes with a lyrical rap delivery with a southern drawl and twang coming from Iowa State in the US. He definitely knows what he is talking about in subject matter to such related topics. On this album, he delivers knowledgable game to his listeners about the game of life, music game, and business game. The album title itself is very well self-explanatory being that this album is about, well, sex, politics, and paper. ICE AK himself explores and touches ground the topics of sexuality and politics.
The general public doesn’t understand how business executives in business world operate. ICE AK explains in the Intro that conversation is 95% of this business game. This is knowledge about business here. Politics rule the nation and so does business. To ICE AK, conversation rules the nation and so do politics, sex, business. The Intro is a short one.
Money & Murder is all about making that paper. Whatever your business is, you have to be making that paper. Money & Murder quickly turns into a murder tale hence the title so on. The title Money & Murder is appropriate for a mystery novel. The Money & Murder track starts off with a phat bass line.
The title track itself is well self-explanatory. The track on this album is about, well, sex, politics, and paper. ICE AK. ICE AK himself explores and touches ground the topics of sexuality and politics on Sex, Politics, & Paper. However, Sex, Politics, & Paper for the most part is about politics and business.
At the beginning of this particular track, ICE AK explains the cycle of life is vicious. Crooked politicians murder musicians. What could be next? Money is vicious. Money gets people trapped up into a vicious cycle. Certain ambitions and be considered or described as vicious. It’s rough in this game called life. ICE AK explains how it’s rough in this game.
Politics rule the nation. If the conservatives had things their way, African Americans would still be lynched hanging from trees. African Americans would still be slaves if the die-hard conservatives had their way. Here at nearly 2 minutes into the track, ICE AK explains to us how things need to change.
Here is where ICE AK gets political. ICE AK debates about the subject of chemical warfare. Chemicals from chemical warfare are in the air and in our hair. Chemicals from chemical warfare are in the air effect the environment and life itself. These chemicals effect the air quality in our environment.
ICE AK makes references to the religion of Islam. This hellish world is complex. He then next dives into the topic of sexuality. Although he only mentions sexuality for a brief moment on this track right here. Sexuality only takes a small portion of this track.
Sex, Politics, & Paper has a West Coast influenced sound in production. The medium bass turns into deep bass after the first minute into the track. A whiny G-Funk sine can be heard throughout the track. ICE AK vocals seemed to be influenced by Dirty South rap.
5/5*****!
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LaReece - LaReece’s Pieces album review
St. Louis, Missouri native LaReece hailed as the original female ThugLine rapper/diva with her 2003 album LaReece’s Pieces. She was one of the first of few divas on Bone Thugs Records. This album was exclusively available through the BoneThugsRecords.com website back in early 2003. Bone Thugs N Harmony were anxiously awaiting for her album to drop. (Although the album did not sell very well.) Nevertheless, LaReece’s Pieces became a collectors item among BTNH fans. Of course this album being a ThugLine/Bone Thugs Records album, krayzie Bone is all over the album. Beauty and talent represent this album from LaReece.
The enhanced CD includes 2 videos and a live performance of Kinda Bitch I Am with Bone Thugs N Harmony at the House of Blues in Anahiem, California. An interview was included on this album. The Shake It Off music video is included on the enhanced CD. The unreleased track Cash Me is included as a video clip on the enhanced CD.
Thru Thick n Thin is a slice of life love song. In thug style of course. Thru Thick n Thin was produced by Young Dre and featured Krayzie Bone. Krayzie Bone is all over this track of course. Thugged out and ghetto fabulous is one way to describe this song.
It was love at first sight for LaReece. LaReece knew right from the start that he would take her heart away so she most dedicated to lovin' him through good and bad days. For rich or poor, it's him she’s for. When the world wants to tear him down, LaReece will build him right up (again). They won't falter through troubled waters. No. Nothing comes between them. Nothing can tear this love apart. She holds on to this love she found. “You’re the one I adore. Through thick and thin I'm gonna love you.” is the message of this song.
A police description identity file is announced at beginning of the Thru Thick n Thin track. Identity fits the exact description.
Suspect: male.
Black, dark complexion
dark clothes
"Armed with a handgun. He's crossing Keanton now. Got him about 70-80 passing on the right. Think we can get a vehicle to stop this thing? When you call my name I'll be there.”
Deeper and Deeper explores the risks of falling deep into the drug game while in seeking romance or being in love. LaReece is falling deeper and deeper. Krayzie Bone is all over this track of course as he is all over the album. Deeper and Deeper quickly turns into trifling man blues.
We, the listeners, are taken around the way down on the block. We are taken to the baller spot, a place where drug transactions and criminal activity takes place. All the big shots and high rollers loiter here. LaReece scored a little dope there. She fell in love with a man at the baller spot. He put it down for sure. She was feeling him every time. He kept it real and fucked her mind. Was he really loving her or just the sex?
Baby mamas take all the drama in the drug game and love. LaReece is simply filling out her dues. It’s silly to dodge two ways messages on pages. Because if you own a pager, you know you’re gonna get messaged whether or no you like it.
This is where Deeper and Deeper quickly turns into trifling man blues. He was cheating on the low all along apparently. She now quickly finds out. Take the verses below.
I’m in and out the door
Really, was you loving me, or my sex?
Lovely, (Lovely) shit it must be
(Shit it must be.) How I made your toes curl
and then you bragged on how I was your girl
(Hmm) with that bomb sex and then you turned around and flipped then fucked my best friend
But yet, still I’m falling
deeper and deeper
Also peep these verses!:
Shit, every week we back and forth we breaking up and making up shit
I’m ended up in love with your ass, moving fast
Am I wasting time or will it last?
Krayzie Bone takes it to some next level thuggish ruggish tough shit on this track. Although Krayzie Bone was bumping niggas from the jump, he was living her. He don’t never want to stop (He don’t want to never quit) thugging with her. (Sexing her or sexting her.) He makes it very clear and evident that his love for LaReece is unconditional. He has to try to maintain this love.
Thug Story is the thug version of a warrior story with Krayzie Bone all over it. Krayzie Bone takes it to some next level thuggish ruggish tough shit on this track. Thug Story is the tale of the mighty mighty warriors. The mighty mighty warriors are LaReece and Krayzie Bone represent the mighty mighty warriors and are the mighty warriors. LaReece is Joan of Arc in this story.
It’s storytime and Krayzie Bone is the storyteller. Listen to the story of the thugs. LaReece and Krayzie are the mighty mighty warriors. It’s ride or die for them. Thug Line got the fever to bust on haters. The mighty mighty warriors take no shit. People talk shit and triggers get pulled. Time and time again.
Time and time again. There are many hustles out there, but the mighty mighty warriors rhyme for game. The mighty mighty warriors supply all your lines of cocaine. Cocaine is in your eyes when they pop you. Playing this material and shit will get you switched up. Mentally heated, we strategic. Niggas that love that motherfucking drama. They don't stop till they see bleeding and the enemies no longer breathing. Cleveland, Ohio is the city where the mighty mighty warriors come from.
Krayzie Bone is the baddest when it comes to war. Mentally heated and strategic. He grew up in the streets where it's raw at. The streets of Cleveland are no exception to this case. Lurid stories of gangsta tales and stories are told by him.
They dwell amongst savages for the dough contemplating if they are friend or foe. This pretty thugs' stayin' heated fo' sho’. Daring niggas to test when on the frontline bustin' domes and steady with this Tech 9, nigga what? LaReece hardcore but still stunnin' and gunnin' the opposition and all the competition. Never running for fun. The mighty mighty warriors are on the frontline bustin' domes.
Why? is a song that will have you in a trace connecting nostalgia back from your past. The rhythmic guitar will surely keep you in a trance and get you instantly hooked on this track. Blended incorporations of rap, soul, jazz, and rock are incorporated into this LaReece song. The soulful chorus singing the “Why? Why? Why? Why?” hook has a vintage soul feel.
LaReece takes us on a journey and insight of her everyday life on Share My World. A blend of turntablism is used on Share My World. Share My World had huge potential to become a buzz single for this album. Bone Thugs Records dropped the ball here by not choosing Share My World to become a buzz single.
4/5****!
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Jerome Childers - Too Old For Me album review
If you love Tevin Campbell, Lil Johnny, or Quindon Tarver, then you will love the sounds of Jerome Childers. Remember when Jerome Childers was signed to Bad Boy Records back in the day from 1996 to 1998? That is when Jerome Childers went under the name of Jerome. He was a Bad Boy protege under tutelage of Puff Daddy in 1996. (A child protege at that, who was 11.) He wrote songs, produced, and sang on many hooks during his time on Bad Boy. Jerome is most memorable for his singing though. (He produced for Bad Boy Records and Puff Daddy from 1996 to 2000.)
Producers who contributed their production and sound were Mario Winans, D-Dot, Heavy D, and Teddy Riley. Heck even the Puff Daddy sound can be heard throughout the album. Heavy D and Teddy Riley production sounds really stand out on this amazing album! You can hear Mario Winans work all over this album.
Too Old For Me was the buzz single that led Jerome to have popularity in the spotlight for a short period of time. The single was accompanied by a music video which had featured cameos of Puff Daddy, Keisha of Total, LOX, and NORE of course. Too Old For Me has a catchy beat that is still considered memorable to this day. Production for this song was top notch with no flaw.
How Could You Leave is a heartbreak hotel type of song dealing with a relationship where the girlfriend leaves Jerome for someone else to be her new boyfriend. The song mainly revolves around a broken relationship. Betrayal and heartbreak are the themes for this song. After all it's hard being a young boy in love. He wonders how his girlfriend could leave him for someone else when she was the one for him.
Come Around My Way is a short and sweet song written by Jerome himself. The song lasts more than 2 minutes. Come Around My Way could have been chosen as another buzz single. Puff Daddy dropped the ball here by not doing so. Keisha was a song about a girl Jerome used to know. Keisha was a girl from around the way in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
Despite having a buzz single under the most prestigiously known record label of the era, the Jerome - Too Old For Me album never saw an official release as a retail album but instead as an album sampler released as a promo across the United States and Canada. Promo copies of this do exist in limited quantities. The buzz single did not exceed to meet the expectations Bad Boy Records was hoping for in order to become a chart topping success. Too Old For Me has some amazing singing talent with these ballads.
To clear out the air from any rumors, no Jerome Childers was not caught in the dressing room masturbating to a picture of Keisha from Total during the recording session for the Too Old For Me music video. That's total bullshit. Nor was Jerome fired. He was never fired by Puff Daddy or Mase.
But the real reason why the Too Old For Me album did not see a proper release is because Jerome fell ill with a certain kind of unpredictable sickness which led him to be released from his recording contract with Bad Boy. Also the album failed to produce any chart topping singles. After awhile he went back to producing for Bad Boy until 2000. Puberty is another key factor that led to his downfall with Bad Boy. His vocals kept changing which made it hard to difficult for him to hit certain notes at different pitches.
Luckily for us, Jerome Childers has bounced back onto the music scene writing, singing, and producing as an independent artist. You can listen to his music on MySpace or purchase a physical copy of his albums through email or CDBaby. He has since released a few albums of his own away from Bad Boy Records. Now he is back to writing and producing.
5/5*****!!
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Jerome Childers - Too Old For Me Album Sampler album review
If you love Tevin Campbell, Lil Johnny, or Quindon Tarver, then you will love the sounds of Jerome Childers. Remember when Jerome Childers was signed to Bad Boy Records back in the day from 1996 to 1998? That is when Jerome Childers went under the name of Jerome. He was a Bad Boy protege under tutelage of Puff Daddy in 1996. (A child protege at that, who was 11.) He wrote songs, produced, and sang on many hooks during his time on Bad Boy. Jerome is most memorable for his singing though. (He produced for Bad Boy Records and Puff Daddy from 1996 to 2000.)
Too Old For Me was the buzz single that led Jerome to have popularity in the spotlight for a short period of time. The single was accompanied by a music video which had featured cameos of Puff Daddy, Keisha of Total, LOX, and NORE of course. Too Old For Me has a catchy beat that is still considered memorable to this day. Production for this song was top notch with no flaw. Too Old For Me has some amazing singing talent with these ballads.
How Could You Leave is a heartbreak hotel type of song dealing with a relationship where the girlfriend leaves Jerome for someone else to be her new boyfriend. The song mainly revolves around a broken relationship. Betrayal and heartbreak are the themes for this song. After all it's hard being a young boy in love. He wonders how his girlfriend could leave him for someone else when she was the one for him.
Come Around My Way is a short and sweet song written by Jerome himself. The song lasts more than 2 minutes. Come Around My Way could have been chosen as another buzz single. Puff Daddy dropped the ball here by not doing so.
Despite having a buzz single under the most prestigiously known record label of the era, the Jerome - Too Old For Me album never saw an official release as a retail album but instead as an album sampler released as a promo across the United States and Canada. Promo copies of this do exist in limited quantities. The buzz single did not exceed to meet the expectations Bad Boy Records was hoping for in order to become a chart topping success.
To clear out the air from any rumors, no Jerome Childers was not caught in the dressing room masturbating to a picture of Keisha from Total during the recording session for the Too Old For Me music video. That's total bullshit. Nor was Jerome fired. He was never fired by Puff Daddy or Mase.
5/5*****!!
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Bad Mutha Goose And The Brothers Grimm – Tower Of Babel album review
This album was released on cassette, CD, and LP in 1991 on Alpha International Records. Most of the messages on this album are quotes that a motivational speaker would say. The album is filled with uplifting themes with positivity inside of them with a funky instrument ensemble. As with most Bad Mutha Goose And The Brothers Grimm EPs, singles, and albums, this album was overlooked by the masses including the general public.
Bad Mutha Goose was a rock/funk band out of Austin, Texas in the 80s and 90s. Bad Mutha Goose will kind of remind you Sam Salter in some way. Production was done by Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo and Tim Kerr. Tim Kerr and Yoggie Mosgrove were the brains and bread behind Bad Mutha Goose. Tim Kerr’s work is seen and can be heard all over this album.
Be Somebody was the song that everybody played at house parties in Austin back in the 80s and 90s. Be Somebody is an educational taste of motivational philosophy. Most of the messages in this song are quotes that a motivational speaker would say. Be Somebody is about being someone and just being yourself. You don't ever hear this type of funk in music anymore in this day and time.
We all know that everyone in life has ups and downs. The only way to keep your head above water is to set your mind right. So try a little harder. When times are tough, you gotta get tougher. Set your mind right if you have envision a dream you want to achieve. You gotta keep pushing along in life. Just let yourself be original and don't be fake with the rest of the people in modern society.
To set your mind right. Just be original. Just let you be you. Be Somebody! Get out there and do something! It's better than doing nothing at all really. There is a minority of us of that have mental power to not be spineless zombies. It’s just us and laziness that holding us and each other back. We’ve come a long way but we still have a long way to go.
Pride was a song about having pride in who you are and what you are. Such as pride in being black, being gay, tall, fat, obese, obtuse, or whatever. It didn't matter who you were. Reach down deep search for pride within yourself. Search deep into your soul. You got to be proud of life and not full of hatred. Some people let their pride slide unfortunately.
You don't ever hear this type of funk in music anymore in this day and time. Bad Mutha Goose represented the last wave of funk. The music genres of dance and funk are incorporated into one righteous Bad Mutha Goose song.
Bad Mutha Goose gets educational on the song Party Platform. Education brings truth to the minds. Those who are dissatisfied with the contents of daily reality go to school to get an education. Those who went to school in order to obtain a sophisticated education use history to help themselves through their future. Bad Mutha Goose tells us to use your history to help you through your future. Don’t get caught up in the cycle of being uneducated and uninformed.
Sometimes the truth is just meaningless chatter as told and described by Bad Mutha Goose. There is a minority of us of that have mental power to not be spineless zombies. It’s just us and laziness that holding us and each other back. It’s just us holding us back. We’ve come a long way but we still have a long way to go.
The band comes at us with a “question everything” mentality similar to Alex Jones, Jello Biafra, or Jesse Ventura. Bad Mutha Goose tells us to question everything as Alex Jones or Jello Biafra would. Bad Mutha Goose tells us to question everything that the system tells us. This is the bands attempt towards questioning the government.
Bad Mutha Goose tells us to use your history to help you through your future. When Bad Mutha Goose tells us, “Use your history to help you through your future.”, they are referencing the quote from famous social philosopher George Santayana, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”. We are currently dealing with this today regarding the George Santayana quote.
Bad Mutha Goose waists no time being consistent in order to be relevant. Bad Mutha Goose waists no time pushing consistency into the concept of relevancy. Party Platform is just as relevant today as it was at the time of this album’s release.
Sometimes the truth is just meaningless chatter as told and described by Bad Mutha Goose on Time To Get. There is a minority of us of that have mental power to not be spineless zombies. It’s just us and laziness that holding us and each other back. It’s just us holding us back. We’ve come a long way but we still have a long way to go.
Bad Mutha Goose describes to us on the song called 100% (%100) that life is only what you make of it. When things aren’t going good for aren’t going your way, they could be worse. Give it your all by giving 100%. Life is up to you. Only you can make those actions and decisions. When your life is through, people will remember you by all the things you have done.
Soul Food is a funky ensemble of instruments used on this funk track. It’s food for the soul and seeds for the mind. You can always count on music to change one’s emotions. Music has the power to educate your mind. Music is a universal language. Music is an important part of everyone’s life. The concept of music can make things much clearer than your words could ever say. The Bad Mutha Goose band hopes to entertain your soul. This is the jam!
Jump The Funk is the classic 80s funk jam that made the Bad Mutha Goose band famous in the music scene and in music of Austin otherwise. Jump The Funk had house parties in Austin rockin' out back in the day. If you were educated and informed about the social scene and party scene here in Austin, Texas, then you’d know about this song. This is one of those party on the boat dock at the top of the boat jams. This jam will make you want to get up and dance!
Higher is a funky dance song written by the Bad Mutha Goose band. Higher is a type of dance song that will make you (and/or partner) get on the dance floor. The music genres of dance and funk are incorporated into one righteous Bad Mutha Goose song.
Bills deal with the monotony of middle class living as well as low class living. Paying high rent while living low class. The song Bills is about being broker than broke.
5/5*****!!
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Lorenzo Smith - Let Me Show You album review
Let Me Show You is an album filled with sultry steamy love ballads and R&B slow jams perfect for a nighttime setting. The album Let Me Show You is perfect for the nighttime setting. It’s slow subtle R&B with a mild swing. New Jack Swing singer Lorenzo Smith released this album on Alpha International Records in the year of 1990. As a New Jack Swing singer, Lorenzo Smith was overlooked, under appreciated, and underrated for his time. Lorenzo Smith had pure talent.
Tic Tok reached #41 on the R&B charts in 1990. The Lorenzo Smith vocals on Tic Tok are very similar to Kenny Greene of Intro. This is grown folks music right here. Alpha International Records released a 12 inch version with different vocals than the original as well. The radio version was a more melodic passionate version.
“I can't believe it” comes laced with a funky upbeat vibe laced on top of a New Jack Swing vibe. It’s another one of Lorenzo Smith’s ballad song. “I can't believe it” is very similar to a pop song or an electronic music song you would expect to hear from the 80s. The beats of “I can't believe it” are totally funky with an upbeat vibe. The song I can't believe it should have been a single.
The album version of Angel is more melodic and settling than the radio version. Angel is another Lorenzo Smith love ballad. Angel was a perfect choice for a single to accompany this album.
5/5*****!!
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Lorenzo Smith - Lorenzo album review
Lorenzo showed a surprising level of maturity on this album of his. This album was released during the height of the New Jack Swing movement in 1992. Ironically and iconically, Real Love is the highest charted single for the Lorenzo album. On the Billboard R&B charts it had peaked at #6. Ironically Make Love 2 Me and I Can't Stand the Pain were the slowest cuts on the Lorenzo album. Yet both of these songs mysteriously charted onto the Billboard R&B charts dipping into double digits as a result. The singles are what drove the album’s success.
3/5***
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