Experience Unlimited - Knock Him Out Sugar Ray / E.U. Freeze single review
Washington DC based go-go funk band Experience Unlimited released their single Knock Him Out Sugar Ray / E.U. Freeze on Vermack Records in 1980. The single was issued on vinyl. Vernon McDonald served as the producer for this E.U. single. This EU single was released during a time when the band was considered a more regional act in the DMV area. Now the record itself is a long forgotten classic of American funk music.
This E.U. single was first recorded record right after Sugar Ray became a pro boxer. Everybodys' talkin' bout the way they feel but Sugar Ray is the real deal! "Palmer Park got Sugar Ray and E.U. got Sugar Bear.
Experience Unlimited had recorded this Knock Him Out Sugar Ray without using any keyboards or electronics. The band used vocals, drums, percussion, bass, horns, and a lead guitar. The song is notable for its drum breaks and horns section. Knock Him Out Sugar Ray is a fine example of go-go music.
E.U. Freeze is one the underrated go-go jams of the 1980s. This E.U. song was hot in Philadelphia back in 1980 as Lady B would play it on W.H.A.T 1340 AM constantly. This song was played at house parties and block parties.
5/5*****!!
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Jon St. James – Fast Impressions album review
Jon St. James – Fast Impressions is an electronic music album that is often overlooked due to many electronic music based albums out there and what’s already in the music market. The album uses soft keyboard synths over an electronic instrumental soundscape. However most of the production along with instrumentation used is basic and can be considered to be low quality & low budget. The album was released in 1985 at a time when electronic music was taking over mainstream music. Enigma Records dropped the ball by not promoting this album properly. This album could have been a 2x platinum classic.
Down Time is sure upbeat for a slow downtempo song. Its tempo seems to sound more mid tempo than downtempo. The percussion used is very soft. Toms, snares, bongos, cymbals, and kick drums are used for the percussion. The song is mostly instrumental except for usage of an occasional sampled angelic chorus singing “ah” repeatedly for a few seconds or such. A twangy rock guitar is also used. In the middle of the song is when a guitar solo is performed. Electronic meets rock music on the song Down Time.
St. Somewhere uses a light percussion ensemble of bongos and snares used over electronic synths from a keyboard. The song is mostly synths and percussion. Percussion and synths are very basic. The song is an electronic instrumental.
Rainy Taxi uses a rhythmic instrument selection of bongos, conga, keyboards, a steel electric guitar, and bells. The percussion selection can be considered rhythmic due to the use of conga and bongos. A guitar solo is performed using steel electric guitar. It’s a great electronic instrumental song from the 80s. The song follows a slow tempo pace using legato technique.
Portofino is more jazz oriented due to it mid tempo pace, percussion selection, and usage of a saxophone. Portofino is a jazz instrumental.
3/5***!
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Luke 808 - Island Vibin album review
Luke 808 - Island Vibin' is a hip hop/rap influenced reggae album where hip hop/rap meets the sounds of tropical reggae music with positive vibes. It’s Hawaiian reggae. Think reggae with a Hawaiian touch. His album has something for everybody to kick back, enjoy, and listen to. Everything from his lyrical skills to smooth singing styles are great. The album was released to CDBaby online in 2009 as a digital download.
Hip hop/rap meets the sounds of reggae music on the title song Island Vibin’. The song uses a mixture of both reggae and hip hop/rap. A live drum kit is used throughout the song which matches the reggae rhythm. The song will make you feel at home due to its reggae vibe.
Don’t Go has a West Coast flavor with a reggae rhythm mixed with hip hop with dub bass for backing. The song uses a wide array and a variety of live instruments which is why you can feel that live vibe inside the rhythm. Percussion, guitars, and the piano stand out the most. The song has an easy going, laid back vibe which you can kick back and relax to.
Life of Mine is an upbeat reggae with a touch of West Coast rap flavor. Life of Mine has many similarities to the song Don’t Go due to its upbeat rhythm and sound. Reggaeton meets hip hop/rap on the song Life of Mine. So Aloha to that!
Hide N Seek is a slow paced hip hop song with a touch of reggae from the Hawaiian Islands. One would not expect a song such as this to come from the Hawaiian Islands.
5/5*****!
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Dangerous D - Hater Kryptonite album review
Hater Kryptonite is one of Dangerous D’s best albums to date next to his albums from the 90s. His 2012 album is filled with hardcore lyrical rap. His lyrical content paints pictures so vivid that the listener will experience an array of emotions. Dangerous D - Hater Kryptonite was one of the most slept on albums of 2012.
I Can't Wait To Get Home is a chilling, sinister tale with a shocking and tragic ending. The song was written by Dangerous D in 2012.
He had been in a relationship with this woman for 7 years although it seems like yesterday. She was the girl of his dreams. A true godsend. He shared the memories of skinny dipping in the neighbors pool, sipping margaritas on the beach, and playing strip poker. He can’t wait to go home to her.
However the last six months haven’t been so great. She stopped wearing her wedding ring last week. Something must be going wrong.
Now this is the part of song where the tragic ending begins. Dangerous D got up for work in the morning like every other day. He kissed his wife. Dangerous D left his residence at 7:04 AM. In his briefcase was a loaded .44 ready. Tragically he commits suicide.
Under Pressure is a raw & uncut tale of a good man that finds himself in dire circumstances which drives him to make some desperate decisions. Desperate people do desperate things.
Dangerous D has been up and out searching for employment all day. He can’t find work. He can’t stand going home to his wife because she only makes it worse. All they do is yell and fight every night. Dangerous D remembers things didn’t used to be this way. He has no money to pay bills or for trying to make ends meet. Overall he has no money.
Hard times have him gotten him to the point where his about to loose his mind and is about to do a crime. He already spends too much time in the unemployment line. He is sick and tired of struggling. Not only that, he is tired of the government lying to the people.
Dangerous D was doing 98 mph in his Oldsmobile. A robbery was in progress. Of course people got killed in the process during this bank robbery. He managed to obtain $150,000 grand using a nickel plated hand gun.
He planned the perfect heist. Here is how his planned bank heist went down.: He stepped up to the bank teller calm, cool, and collected. He slid a note her way. She then panicked. He tried to stay calm as she went into the safe. She put the money on the counter. It was then Dangerous D was approached by a bank security guard. He was then apprehended by the bank security guard. Dangerous D then knocked him out cold with an elbow to the jaw. That wasn’t how the bank heist was supposed to go down.
Next thing you know he was shooting off rounds from his nickel plated hand gun. People started to scream and run. He shot a woman in the chest. She might have pulled through and survived if she was wearing a bullet proof vest. He also shot another bank security guard. More people were shot. He then grabbed the money and made an exit to the door. It was a dirty getaway.
His getaway turns into a police chase. Police are in pursuit. Dangerous D prays and hopes that he can get away.
Definition Of A Mack is a story of a microphone veteran with years of experience in music. Everyday Dangerous D is on the grind. He moves crowds with his loud music. Years of hard work got his bank account fat. Dangerous D has been in the music game for years now.
Production on Born 2 Fly is so futuristic that it is breathtaking and angelic. A sampled angelic chorus is used throughout the song hence the angelic vibe. Saginaw rapper Dangerous D is known for his lyricism and this song is no exception to that.
Bombz is a bangin’ battle rap song performed by Dangerous D. He goes solo on this one.
Kloset Maniak is a dark horrifying horrorcore track with chilling sounds. Kloset Maniak is something similar to what you would expect from ICP, Twiztid, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, or Zodiac Mprint. It’s chilling sound effects and foley are appropriate to accommodate the dark vibe.
The title track Hater Kryptonite has a hardcore rock vibe and sound. The track is very hard edged. Rock meets hip hop/rap on Hater Kryptonite. Dangerous D calls all haters out lyrically on this track.
5/5*****!
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Dangerous D - Immortality album review
Immortality is Dangerous D’s most provocative album yet. The album itself has digitally arranged production. This album has a more electronic sound than all of his other previous albums from years before. All 11 songs are considered to be masterpieces which are immortalized for eternity! People slept on this album of his yet again sadly. The album was released online to CDBaby in 2015 digitally.
Input HD serves as the futuristic electronic introduction to the beginning of this Dangerous D album. The song itself sounds very robotic.
This Winding Road is about uncertainty of where roads of life will take you. This Winding Road is a slowed paced, slow tempo song with a harmonic vibe. The organ playing in the background helps give this song a harmonic vibe. Dangerous D feels a lot of pressure laying on his chest from this world. He is hanging off the edge with no safety net in place. With uncertainty, he does not know where this road goes yet.
Supafly uses a barrage of heavy drums and heavy bass over an angelic chorus. The kick drums give away a heavy resonance as they rattle the speakers and will surely leave an impact in your ears. What’s different with this Dangerous D song is that auto-tune is used. Supafly is one of the more lyrical songs on this album.
Here We Go Now uses a mixture of different genres such as hip hop/rap, electronic, and dance. Various electronic sound effects, amplifiers, vinyl scratches, and techno keyboard synths are used throughout this song giving off an electronic techno vibe. Here We Go Now also uses a barrage of heavy drums and heavy bass similar to how the song Supafly does.
5/5*****!
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Lil Benny & The Masters – Gett Your Drink On (Gett Your Freak On) single review
Lil Benny & The Masters – Gett Your Drink On (Gett Your Freak On) is a long forgotten go-go soul single from the mid to late 90s which is a classic to its own right. Lil Benny & The Masters are icons in the history of go-go and this single can attest to that statement.
Gett Your Drink On (Gett Your Freak On) is a fresh upbeat go-go song with such fresh new energy and uses a new style of go-go. Although Gett Your Drink On (Gett Your Freak On) is similar to the classic early 80s go-go sound. This song spawned off a single which created an underground buzz in the DMV area specifically in the state of Maryland. The song was play on radio stations in that area. Lil Benny goes back to the basics on Gett Your Drink On (Gett Your Freak On).
I Never Seen A Man Cry is a go-go soul cover of Scarface - I Never Seen A Man Cry. Lil Benny raps on this song. Luther frequently uses melodic riffs here. Bellow-Meso-Bardo is a go-go rendition of Chuck Brown’s Bellow-Meso-Bardo. The song has a mellow yet upbeat vibe.
4/5****!
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MC K-Cold & DJ Rock D – Rock Star / Yellow Hammer single review
MC K-Cold & DJ Rock D – Rock Star / Yellow Hammer is a classic single from the early days of Dallas hip hop and rap. Their single was pressed on vinyl and released in 1988. It is considered to be Dallas history as their songs were first played by Nippy Jones on KNON and K104 during the late 80s and early to mid 90s. Both songs on this single use 909 beats which came from a Roland 909 machine. MC K-Cold & DJ Rock D are similar to MC E-Rock, Miss Vee, UKnoWho, Something Fresh, and Nemesis.
The song Rock Star is backed by a mild bassline with a fresh 80s touch. DJ Willie Fressh produced Rock Star using 909 beats from Roland 909 machine. The song itself was mixed by Patrick Keel. The song Yellow Hammer uses breakbeats and various vocal samples in the background. The beats are very basic for an 80s song.
3/5***
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Soul II Soul – 2 Sides Of Soul II Soul album review
Soul II Soul – 2 Sides Of Soul II Soul was a promotional album that was issued on CD by Virgin in 1992. Most of the songs on this album came from their first 3 albums. The first half of the album instrumental tracks and the second half of the album is vocal tracks. A few of these songs were massive hits in the 90s.
Time is an instrumental piano solo that is accompanied by an Afrocentric percussion selection. Bongos and congas are what make up the Afrocentric percussion selection. Maracas are used as shakers. Low upright bass can be heard in the background if you listen closely. Time is a song that came from their 1990 album called 1990: A New Decade.
African Dance is an instrumental song which uses an Afrocentric percussion selection. The Afrocentric percussion selection helps give the song an African music vibe. Bongos and congas are what make up the Afrocentric percussion selection. A couple of flutes compromise the woodwind selection. African Dance can be considered to be a very hypnotic groove. This is one of those songs you can dance to, meditate, or work out to. The song African Dance came from their debut album called Keep On Movin’ which was released in 1989.
Mood is an upbeat smooth jazz instrumental with a reggae vibe and an African music vibe. The song itself has very Afrocentric feel. The song Mood came from their 1992 album Just Right.
The song Storm uses a small selection of shakers which are actually rainsticks. Rainsticks make up the shaker selection. Storm is an instrumental track. Gary Barnacle is the one who played the flute. Luis Jardim was responsible for all the percussion. The song Storm came from their 1992 album Just Right.
Courtney Blows uses a selection of percussion, woodwinds, horns, and shakers. Courtney Blows is an instrumental track which is quite soothing and smooth. The song has a tempo of 97.4 BPM. The song has an electronic house feel. Courtney Blows came from their 1990 album called 1990: A New Decade.
The song Back To Life has catchy lyrics especially the hook which is “Back to life, back to reality”. Caron Wheeler does a lovely job singing the lyrics. Its catchy beats and percussion selection make this song memorable. House music meets world music on Back To Life. The song Back To Life came from their debut album called Keep On Movin’ which was released in 1989. This version is the Acepella Version.
The version of Keep On Movin’ is a remix called Keep On Movin' (Nellie's 7”). This is not the original version from their debut album. Keep On Movin’ is a song internationally known for its hip hop influenced beats over soulful background vocals. Keep On Movin’ was a massive hit which became internationally known in 1989. The song was a hit!
Move Me No Mountain is a Soul II Soul cover of Love Unlimited - Move Me No Mountain. The Soul II Soul cover of Move Me No Mountain featured Pennye Ford on the background vocals with a soulful delivery on top of upbeat percussion. Move Me No Mountain is a soulful dance song. This song uses a tiny selection of strings. The song Move Me No Mountain came from their 1992 album Just Right.
5/5*****!!
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Trina Broussard – Pages From Inside My Love single review
Trina Broussard – Pages From Inside My Love is a single which was packaged as an album sampler to promote her 1998 album Inside My Love on So So Def/Columbia. The single was issued in CD single format. Included on this single were 3 songs which were Remember Me, Losing My Mind, and Inside My Love. Trina Broussard produced all 3 songs herself. Jamey Jaz co-produced the song Losing My Mind. What is notable about this singe is the vocal range of Trina Broussard of when she sings.
Now the title of the single itself could have been used on another album such as a follow-up album to Inside My Love or a B-sides album. The title Pages From Inside My Love would have been an appropriate title for a B-sides album.
Trina Broussard produced the Remember Me in 1997 all by herself. She wrote the song during the same year as well. The song itself has an uptempo vibe. Trey Lorenz sings the background vocals. The song has a lovely touch of soul used and sung.
Remember Me is about memories of a past lover. Trina shares memories of a previous relationship through out the song. She wonder if her lover still remembers her. Never did she think she would be standing there all alone. She never thought she would be all alone. Trina wonders where all the good times went. Where did all the good times go?
Trina Broussard’s Inside My Love is a cover song of Minnie Riperton - Inside My Love. The song was originally performed by Minnie Riperton. This is the song that begun her career in singing. Her song was also included on the Love Jones film.
The song begins with two people who are meeting with each other. They are barely touching each other.
The two people are strangers who lack knowing or feeling love. Both of them question whether or no they should take their love further to the next level. Both of them question if they should take their relationship further to the next level.
Trina Broussard wrote Losing My Mind while Jamey Jaz co-produced the song. This song was successful enough to have single which garnered a minor buzz in the music scene back in 1998. The song from this single was used also featured on her Motown album called The Same Girl in 2004.
Trina has lost the right to say her man is fine. She lost the right to love him. She is slowly loosing her mind. Trina was young and just a fool back then. Both of them couldn't hear the lovers call. Now Trina is all alone and here waiting. She has no one to call her own.
5/5*****!!
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Trina Broussard - Inside My Love album review
Inside My Love is a quality contemporary R&B/soul album from female singer/songwriter Trina Broussard. Her debut album is filled with love ballads, soulful tunes, pop jams, and love songs. The album is perfect for fans of soul music who are looking for maturity. Just good old fashion relationship music. Her album has an old school R&B touch making this a timeless album.
The album is notable for her vocal range. From high range to low range, her vocals are soothing. She hits on the high notes perfectly.
The music matches the style. The album is reflective of her upbringing since she comes from a very musically inclined family. Which is no surprise since she has been around music all her life. That is why you can feel the live musicianship coming from this album. The album uses true musicianship by using real instruments and uses live instrumentation along with other organic elements involved.
She is truly talented. She produced the almost the whole album herself which was unheard of for R&B stars at that time. Production was also handled by Jamey Jaz, Waryn Campbell, Jermaine Dupri, Gordon Williams, and Kelvin Broughton.
You can this album from start to finish without skipping a song. You can’t do that listening to R&B albums that come out nowadays. Three words to describe this album are mellow, organic, and soulful. Many soul fans will consider her debut album to be very organic.
Inside My Love was set to be released on So So Def/Columbia but its release was cancelled at the last minute leaving the album to be shelved for 10 years. Her debut album remained unreleased due to industry politics and internal politics which prevented the album from being released. Columbia decided not to release the album. That is until the Expansion label from the UK purchased the rights to her album from Columbia. Her Inside My Love album was eventually released on the Expansion label from the UK in 2008 on CD.
If this album had been properly released during the height of the commercial hip hop/R&B era, Trina Broussard could have risen to stardom. Inside My Love could have been a multi-million selling album selling out internationally. Instead internal politics prevented that from ever happening. One thing is true is that Jermaine Dupri knows how to discover talent.
Still, her debut managed to gain favorable reviews among her loyal fanbase. Her loyal fanbase remained true and purchased this album which became a cult following and a collectors item. Inside My Love is considered as a collectors item. It’s great to see an album finally available to purchase after that album sat on the shelf for 10 years! People still talk about this album today.
Here is how Trina Broussard’s debut album was finally released on Expansion. Back in October 2007, she was a backing vocalist with indie soul artist Rahsaan Patterson at the Jazz Café in London, UK. Ralph Tee saw their performance. Ralph Tee approached Trina Broussard after the show about possibly releasing her debut So So Def album in its entirety. He explained to he that he had put some of her songs out on various compilations previously over the course of several years.
In December 2007, Ralph reached out to Trina to tell her he had purchased the music rights from Columbia, Sony, and So So Def. With all the proper work completed, her debut album was finally released in spring of 2008 on the Expansion label.
Trina Broussard wrote Losing My Mind while Jamey Jaz co-produced the song. This song was successful enough to have single which garnered a minor buzz in the music scene back in 1998. The song from this album was used also featured on her Motown album called The Same Girl in 2004.
Trina has lost the right to say her man is fine. She lost the right to love him. She is slowly loosing her mind. Trina was young and just a fool back then. Both of them couldn't hear the lovers call. Now Trina is all alone and here waiting. She has no one to call her own.
Why Do I Feel So Sad is a very sad love song written by Trina herself. Warryn Campbell produced the song. This song would later appear on Alicia Keys - Songs in A Minor in 2001. Alicia Keys sings in the background vocals with Warryn Campbell.
The song Why Do I Feel So Sad is about Trina discovering sometimes in a relationship it’s best for both people to go their own separate ways. Also the song deals with the sadness and isolation of breaking away from a relationship of love.
Trina wishes sometimes that she could cry. There is only emptiness inside. She wishes that she could stay. But like the seasons, everything must change. It shouldn’t be so bad. So why does Trina feel so sad?
In Verse 2, Trina begins to question how she will get used to this. The thought of him not being here is killing her. This is explained in Verse 2.
[Verse 2]
How can I get used to this?
The thought of him not being here
It's killing me
How I long for us to be
Just how we used to be
If Trina could stay with him, she would. He’d never be sick of her. That the best thing to do is for them to go their own separate ways.
All I Need Is You is a Donny Hathaway inspired song. Clearly Trina was inspired by the sounds of Donny Hathaway when she wrote this song. The song is very reminiscent to 70s soul. All I Need Is You was co-produced by Jermaine Dupri.
Her smooth vocals fit in with the instrumentation as always. The song itself is very soothing. All I Need Is You has a gospel feel due to the organ being used.
Say You Really Love is a love song which uses a small selection of shakers and keyboards. Her smooth vocals fit in with the instrumentation as always.
Trina fell in love too fast. She is well aware of this. What’s a girl to do? Sometimes she makes the mood too strong, but she keeps moving on. Here she is singing this love song to you. There is nothing wrong as along as you feel the same way as Trina does. Say you really love me like I love you.
How can Trina convince you that her heart is true when you insist on a long distance relationship? You’ll never see how much you mean to her. You won’t let her.
Her love runs deeper everyday. But she can’t go on until you tell her that you love her. Her love for you runs deeper everyday.
Sailing has a soft sultry feel with a touch of modern soul. Her smooth vocals behind in perfectly with the instrumentation. Sailing has true passion thanks to its vocals and instrumentation. Smooth, mellow, faint, and soulful are words which can be used to describe this song.
It’s a shame we have not heard this extraordinary voice on the radio especially with a song such as this one. A voice such as hers should not be overshadowed by the like of Beyonce, Coko, or Rihanna.
Not Around is a song which was written and produced by Jamey Jaz. It was not produced by Trina Broussard as many people would have you believe. The song was written by both Jamey Jaz, Rashaan Patterson, and Trina Broussard. The song has a touch of funk. An ensemble of guitars are used on this song.
However Jamey Jaz, and Rahsaan Patterson are featured on the vocals. This time Trey Lorenz is not singing in the background vocals as he does on half the songs for this album.
Trina Broussard’s Inside My Love is a cover song of Minnie Riperton - Inside My Love. The song was originally performed by Minnie Riperton. This is the song that begun her career in singing. Her song was also included on the Love Jones film. The song itself is a mid-tempo song with pop-influenced beats.
Inside My Love is about her being aware of the power of love put her into a situation she can’t control. She is not fully in control of her emotions yet is fully aware of everything else.
The song begins with two people who are meeting with each other. They are barely touching each other.
The two people are strangers who lack knowing or feeling love. Both of them question whether or no they should take their love further to the next level. Both of them question if they should take their relationship further to the next level.
All Night Long is a slow tempo jazz song which calms down the album. All Night Long uses live instrumentation and real instruments. Her singing is breathtaking.
All Night Long beings with a selection of violin strings playing in a downtempo mood. A couple of shakers are used. 30 seconds into the songs is when the percussion starts to kick in. At the 2:30 mark in the song is where things get sultry. An organ is used. The rest of this jazz song is pretty much slow tempo.
Trina Broussard produced the Remember Me in 1997 all by herself. She wrote the song during the same year as well. The song itself has an uptempo vibe. Trey Lorenz sings the background vocals. The song has a lovely touch of soul used and sung.
Remember Me is about memories of a past lover. Trina shares memories of a previous relationship through out the song. She wonder if her lover still remembers her. Never did she think she would be standing there all alone. She never thought she would be all alone. Trina wonders where all the good times went. Where did all the good times go?
Love You So Much was also a single too which spawned a moderate buzz on radio stations. Love You So Much samples Notorious BIG’s I Got A Story To Tell. Her soulful vocals flourish here.
The song discusses how the love of her life brings her joy. He says all the things she wants to hear. She loves him. He brings joy to her life. His embracement of everything is alright. Sweet and sexy is what she wants. Trina stopped caring about what everyone thought.
Her debut album includes one Christmas song called It's Not Really Christmas which serves as the bonus track. The production is quite outstanding. Jermaine Dupri served as executive producer for It's Not Really Christmas. The mood of this song will get you into the holiday spirit.
In this song, Trina expresses desire and wants her lover to be home on Christmas night so he can be home with her on Christmas. Trina does not want to be alone at home on Christmas night. Not without her lover.
It's not really Christmas no without you here with me all night, baby. Without you it can't be. It really ain't Christmas even if it's the 25th. Trina does not want to be alone at home on Christmas night without her lover.
Fast forward to Christmas night, it’s the evening of the 25th. Presents are under the tree. Everyone is singing. The fire is burning so bright. Lights are shining so brightly. Still there's something in this house tonight. It’s him. She wants him home for the night. No still it ain't Christmas without you here with me.
5/5*****!!
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