Frantic In The Inner City Ghetto is the debut album from Brothers 4 The Struggle which became an underground hit in Cleveland, Ohio and nationally in 1991. This album of their has politically conscious songs that raise awareness to the community. All of these songs raise political awareness and are socially conscious. Yet many people slept on this classic hit of an album. This album was originally released on vinyl in 1991. The CD and cassette versions came out in 1994. The album was released by Rampage Records and Progress Entertainment.
Not too many people mention Brothers For The Struggle (Brothers 4 The Struggle) when bringing up Cleveland hip hop. Brothers For The Struggle hails from Cleveland, Ohio. (East Cleveland to be exact.) Brothers For The Struggle was the first rap group to put Cleveland on the rap scene next MC Chill, Cochise, and Johnny O.
The Intro uses a samples from the New Jack City movie with quote from the character Nino Brown. This is the quote from when Nino Brown testifies in court.
“I’m not guilty. You're the one that's guilty. The lawmakers, the politicians, the Colombian drug lords, all you who lobby against making drugs legal. Just like you did with alcohol during Prohibition. You're the one who's guilty. I mean, c'mon, let's kick the ballistics here: ain't no Uzi's made in Harlem. Not one of us in here owns a poppy field. This thing is bigger than Nino Brown. This is big business. This is the American way.”
Chop Chops is the follow up to their first local breakout hit Back in the Day (Ready Rocks) off of their first EP Straight Outta Cleveland in Full Effect that was released on cassette in 1990. Chop Chops is Back in the Day (Ready Rocks) revisited. Chop Chops is a hip hop/rap tale of Brothers For The Struggle uplifted themselves out of poverty by selling cocaine rocks. A classic from the OH10.
Reggae music meets hip hop on Chop Chops. Chop Chops is a reggae infused hip hop song with a dancehall type sound hence the ragga type sound. The timeless reggae sound never gets old. The beats are fairly upbeat and so is the tempo. You can feel the bounce in the beats as you listen to this song. Notice the little strings and keyboard accents they throw in every now and then. You can hear the reggae vibe inside the strings and keyboard that is used.
It’s Over was a hit among fans in clubs all across Cleveland. The samples used are David Porter - The Masquerade is Over, Grover Washington Jr. - Mister Magic and Staples Singers - I’ll take you there. The bass line samples Staples Singers - I’ll take you there. It’s Over is classic Cleveland hip hop!
Paycheck calls out the school to prison pipeline in his raps. For example, “Ever since 8th grade I was groomed to be a lyricist/with a style of speech that had emphasis/and more lyrics than I knew what to do with” “When dope was imported in the states/they’d rather have a sucker for the system than a brother like me” The justice system and the rich people that run the United States would rather have Paycheck in prison than him have a free mind and being well educated.
Paycheck shows no fear in his raps. “The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not fear” The Pratt Attack makes a lyrical attack next. He’s just as good if not better. Brothers For The Struggle has funky lyrics for you whether you’re high or sober. Brothers For The Struggle is too intense for games because it’s over.
All Rise uses the sample of Barry White - Never Gonna Give Up over a small bass line. Volume for this song is set very high. So take caution. Pratt Attack was on another level back in the days because he was telling the truth. Icey D used to play this song regularly on his mix show on WIZF in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Freedom of speech makes Pratt Attack a minister. The image Pratt Attack projects in considered sinister by society and social standards. People get nervous when Pratt Attack raps. Society can’t handle truth coming from Pratt Attack’s month.
KracKKa Season deals with how racial profiling of black people by police. This song uses samples from James Brown - The Big Payback. Various soul samples are used throughout the song.
Brothers 4 The Struggle are on their way to Toledo, Ohio. Suddenly they are stopped by police. Quik said, “What is this?” Police tell them it’s a routine check. Ali tells police they are not dealers smuggling in drugs and they don’t even use drugs. Brothers 4 The Struggle are alive thanks to them listening to word from Minister Farrakhan from Nation of Islam.
They soon realize they being racially profiled by police. Sadly they end up getting arrested and into a scuffle. Paycheck is mad.
Down In The Valley is a Paycheck solo. This deals with how drug problems plague Cleveland. The song deals with problems that plague inner city ghettoes.
Down In The Valley takes place in the neighborhood of Hayden Avenue & Woodworth Street. All kinds of fiends live there. A fiend played himself by loving on a double edge sword, but at the same time he took a brother’s life. It was one of Paycheck’s brothers. This fiend takes advantage of smoking a crack pipe.
A Message From Michael McGhee borrows a vocal sample from a news clip where Michael McGhee speaks. For those who did not know, A Message From Michael McGhee is actually a 22 second skit.
He discusses how guns are aimed at the black community. He discusses social issues of black on black crime. He feels the guns need to be turned around at some other people so they can get injured and feel the pain. Michael feels that other people need to feel the pain and not just black people. The skit resolves with Michael saying, “There can be peace.”
Niggas Scared is about how black people of revolution. Black people are scared of political revolution and social revolution. It is one of the social and political issues black people face.
It’s getting frantic in the inner city ghetto on the song Frantic. The song mainly deals with drug transactions Brothers For The Struggle are planning to make. They plan on making drug deals. The song deals with problems that plague inner city ghettoes.
I rate this album, 5/5*****!
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