Brother Nomad - Pacific Bad Boy album review
Brother Nomad’s Pacific Bad Boy is a long forgotten album that was a minor classic of which the music industry overlooked. The calmness of Hawaiian music is what this album is filled with. Folk music meets world music on Pacific Bad Boy. 35% of this album is filled with romantic love songs. Around 14% of this album is filled with motivational songs filled with inspiration to uplift and empower us.
Honestly Brother Nomad should received the amount of international fame IZ and Steve Maii had received. His songs are just as good if not better than Steve Maii’s. Brother Nomad’s songs are just as good as songs from famous Hawaiian singer IZ.
Coconut Girl is a fruity smooth Hawaiian love song about someone who Brother Nomad’s girl from him. This love song is very goofy with a fun Hawaiian punch and a twist of reggae sound.
Someone took Brother Nomad’s girl from the tropical island of Hawaii to the Hollywood, California where all the money is. Now she is a coconut girl in a top dollar high fashion world. Many fans have got her pin-up poster in their bedroom.
Brother Nomad himself wants to go to Hollywood so he can be at her house instead of far away from her. He would rather be with her all night.
Savannah Woman is about a woman who is a beach dweller. In this song, Brother Nomad finds out what type of person the Savannah woman really is. The song has a similar vibe as New Bohemians - Air of December due to its cold harsh vibe.
This Savannah woman is dressed in white. She pulls out her gin and tonics. Winds from Hawaii and the Brazilian winds blow in the warm air. Brother Nomad lets her know, “Savannah woman, I would never leave you so unkind.” However she left him behind. Although she seemed snow white with desire, in reality she was cold and distant as the moon. This Savannah woman was a really unkind person.
The song mind drive teaches people how to use their minds and learning to live. This song is another of those inspirational songs on this album such as Hastala and I Am Mountain.
In life, everyone wants to feel better and keep it all together. You do what you do in order to flow with the groove. Learning to live, to give to others, and to hold on is what people do in life. That is how people keep it all together.
The following lyrics teach us how to use our minds.: “Move on down the line/use your mind/Move on down the line/use your mind”
Eyes is a song that teaches us to not lose our minds and to open up our eyes.
This man has been talking up the town with his false lies and people don’t like it. He has been talking down on things he has no knowledge of. Brother Nomad thinks someone ought to take the time to set him straight and tell him he’s not in line with his behavior. He better wake up and open his eyes.
This woman has been talking around her friends just to please her mind. She’s a teaser. She’s a big gossiper. Yet everyone knows her stories go. Brother Nomad thinks someone ought to take the time to set her straight and tell her she’s not in line with her behavior. She better wake up and open his eyes.
Open up your eyes. Someone really cares about you.
Brother Nomad wishes he had the time to sympathize her mind. He also wishes he had had the time to sympathize with her for her well being. Brother Nomad is aware that she does not know how to act and she does not know where she is at.
I Am Mountain is a motivational song which inspires you to reach your goals. How high can you get? As far as you can push yourself. You can do it. Do you need a helping hand to realize where you stand in life? Does life really need a bridge? If you want to reach your goals, just go find you soul.
The song Hastala teaches us sometimes doing things right means having to endure pain and to search for freedom in our minds. When you turn darkness into light and you’re not afraid to do it right, That’s the time you know you opened your eyes. Only good will come out when we learn to change.
4/5****
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Johnny P - Bedtime Story single review
Bedtime Story by Johnny P is one of the rarer singles from Rap A Lot and Sing A Lot (Sing A Lot Records) which unfortunately did not receive much promotion. Not that many people knew the single existed except for a select few which can partly be blamed on by Rap A Lot.
Bed Time Story is an impressive slow jam sung by Johnny P. His vocal timbre will send chills down your spine. On this song, his voice is a cross between Michael Jackson and R. Kelly. Bed Time Story is perfect for a little bump n’ grind or foreplay.
Shake It has beats which sound similar to Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It. This song is perfect for the dance floor. The piano playing in the background is either sampling a Curtis Mayfield or an Isaac Hayes sample. Johnny P did the vocal arrangements himself.
The song “I” only appeared on the cassette and vinyl of the Bedtime Story single. Talk about false advertising. The song “I” didn’t even appear on The Next album. Unfortunately this happens as record companies put songs on singles that aren’t included on the album as a promotion tactic when promoting the album before it gets released. Besides that, “I” was the bonus song for this single.
5/5*****!!
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Ayesha - Where Do U Want It? In Your Head Or Ass! EP review
Ayesha - Where Do U Want It? In Your Head Or Ass! is the most sassy, funky, and raunchy hip hop EP to ever come from Philly! Philadelphia female rapper and emcee Ayesha raps with a raunchy sound and sass with her bad self. Ayesha sounds very similar to Yo Yo, Champ MC, and MC Lyte. Ayesha is Ayesha Adger.
Aw shit! It’s another hit! Where Do U Want It? In Your Head Or Ass! is the title track which is sassy and raunchy. That is no surprise seeing as how Ayesha comes from Philly. Her raps are very hardcore. Ayesha sounds very similar to Yo Yo on Where Do U Want It? In Your Head Or Ass!. Where Do U Want It? In Your Head Or Ass! is heavily influenced by old school rap.
Don't Ride Me Now! samples the soulful Funkadelic - Good Old Music. It’s a funk/soul infused rap song. Feel the funky feeling yet? Don't Ride Me Now! serves as a eulogy. It’s obvious that it was senseless and futile to flex with Ayesha as she was built strong. She’s down for composing lyrics that will satisfy your curiosity. Don’t ride her now as she has got clout. She is a sharp motherfucker with a sassy side and a hardcore vibe.
Lime Green Jello has a laid back mellow summertime vibe to it. This song also is accompanied by the smooth sounds of a single acoustic guitar. Ayesha is rolling in a fat Benz (phat Benz) with a convertible top. The windows are down and she has on Gucci shades. She was just cruising. The girls are getting jealous but to her attire. So Ayesha refers to them as “lime green jello”. Friendship ends when jealousy begins.
5/5*****!!
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Wreckin Crew – Chance To Dance single review
Who knew that Indiana had such funky hip hop? Wreckin Crew – Chance To Dance is a funk influenced hip hop single with an electronic touch. That is no surprise seeing as how the vinyl single was released in 1983. The single is filled with funky dance songs. Wreckin Crew sounds very similar to Skyy and The Gap Band. Chance To Dance is a very funky dance song. The horns selection at the very beginning is timed appropriately. You can feel the groove and funk inside of this dance song. Stay is a smooth love ballad on the B side.
5/5*****!
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Def IV – Nice And Hard album review
Def IV – Nice And Hard is a super dope def hip hop album laced with hip hop beats that will compel you enough to buy this album. Their rhymes and lyrics are def as well! Their album is heavily laced with old school hip hop sound with an East Coast hip hop influence. The constant vinyl scratches, sampling style, breaks, and the thrown in breakbeats are what make up the hip hop sound for this album. There’s a lot going on musically inside of the songs on this album.
Def IV – Nice And Hard was released in 1988 on the Rap-A-Lot label around the time when Rap-A-Lot had a distribution deal with A&M Records when they were promoting Raheem - The Vigilante. A handful of groups on the early Rap-A-Lot roster were from New York and New Jersey. Def IV was from New York hence the East Coast sound relying solely on sample heavy sound in their songs and lyrics.
Sadly Nice And Hard is their only album which went unnoticed by music fans. Def IV – Nice And Hard was one of Rap-A-Lot’s most slept on hip hop albums next to Raheem - The Invincible. The album was highly slept on and overlooked for its time. The fact that Nice and Hard was released on a Southern rap label is probably why the album gained limited exposure to the world. If the album was released by Warlock Records, Profile, Fat Beats, Def Jam, Priority Records, Atlantic, or Motown, then their album would have gained worldwide exposure and airplay.
Nice And Hard was definitely a dope title for a hip hop album from the 1980s, but if the album were released today people would think the albums title would be a reference to a Viagra add or something sexually explicit in nature although the album far from being considered obscene by todays standards.
The Def IV hip hop group was composed of New York transplants which consisted of brothers – DJ Vicious Lee and Jon B, beat maker DJ Lonnie Mac, and vocalist Prince E-Z-Cee. DJ Vicious Lee and Prince E-Z-Cee take control for most of this album. However it was mainly DJ Vicious Lee did all the entire pre-production during the beginning. DJ Vicious Lee breaks down most of the vinyl cuts and scratches on this album.
School Boy Crush is one of those hip hop songs which appeals to high school kids. Obviously it’s a love song. A boy waits an hour long just before school lets out so he can be with the girl of his dreams. Things couldn’t be more sweet. It’s more than just puppy love to him.
Honestly one would expect a song such as School Boy Crush to be a song from either New Edition, Klymaxx, Stephanie Mills, or Run-DMC due to its title. School Boy Crush samples Average White Band - School Boy Crush.
Get Busy uses a layered, sophisticated sampling style over constant scratches. It’s a hardcore lyrical rap song by the Def IV. Def IV brings the hardcore funk. This is dope stuff. Get Busy was done completely on an SP-1200 by Wiz.
The beginning of the song turns into a PSA announcement. “The Def IV would like the people of the world to know that we oppose the use of drugs. We totally advocate dancing, having fun, and enjoying life.” After the PSA is when constant scratches and rapping being. The funk begins.
That's The Way is a funk influenced rap song which constantly uses a sample of Kool & The Gang - That’s The Way I Like It. That's The Way uses interesting blends of musical styles. Def IV brings the hardcore funk here also.
Obsession is about E-Z-Cee’s failed attempts getting a girl to love him. You can feel the melodrama in this song of his. It’s another love song. Obsession samples Barry White - Playing Your Game, Baby
What Goes Up is an upbeat hip hop song which uses a funky horn selection all over the place. The horn selection brings out the hardcore funk.
What goes up must come down. Analyze it with the lyrics and sound. The song talks about the way some people are living. Some people act so devious they could never be forgiven.
Peep out Tony aka Cool T. He really wants to be an emcee. He met Def IV’s producer. Their producer said he could put his songs down on wax if Tony could get looser than any other emcee that he’d ever heard. Tony kicked down some funky correct lyrics. So they end up in the studio to record a record.
Tony made a hit records which really took off into heights of high sales. His records sold past the 50,000 mark by selling over 50,000 units in the first month. Tony was cool with this success even though he was new to emceeing. He now realizes he could get used to this. So he went back to their producer to make another record. The producer tells Tony, “No. You have to wait, son. It’s all about marketing and strategy.” Tony got self-centered and arrogant by thinking his career was all about him. Tony tells Def IV’s producer he knows another man who is a producer who could make him into a star. He could do a lot more by making Tony even greater than he already is. So Tony and Def IV’s producer end up cutting ties due to disagreements in marketing and business decisions.
So Tony went to the man he knew that could make him into a star. He goes to him to get a recording contract. A lawyer is present by his side. Their lawyer keeps both parties in check. The record company, producer, and recording artist. Their makes sure all parties are receiving checks. Then Cool T’s second album was released. His second album went platinum in just a period of 2 weeks.
Tony thought he was making money due to the success he got from his second album. However that was not the case as he did not read “the fine print” by the dotted line on his recording contract. All the money went back into the record company. Tony’s ego got too big for him. He got played big time by the record company. Now he has no money and no friends. He had dissed everyone he knew.
Things take a tragic twist as Tony was shot in the head by a player hater as he was outside walking by himself. He was murdered in cold blood. As if anyone cared, they didn’t know he was dead.
Now Ann was a lady full of intelligence who was determined to have her own independent career. Her career was fulfilling her needs. Everyone knew Ann would succeed. She had no time for dating men as she was into success. She did it on her own.
She was out one night at the club with the girls. A different type of man stepped into her world. This never happened before. They went outside for walk to a Benzo (Benz Mercedes). She wanted to see if this man had self-respect and where his mind was at. They ended up dating each other. They called each other every day during the week. What a twist!
One day they were cooling off by fooling around downtown at a party. Both of them had drinks at this party. They got down at the club. Every day there was a gift and a flower. She was captivated by him. She could have held on bu the final blow was simple. Her friends tried to warn her but she thought they were jealous. Her life was on the upswing.
The man she was dating was using her for her money. He left her broke.
Thank U is where Def IV gives appreciation and dedication to their label Rap A Lot. You don’t see too many rappers or groups giving thanks to their record labels these days. Thank U is an upbeat Def IV posse cut where each member performs battle rap.
Our Own Style is a dope hip hop song with def rap lyrics which uses a layered, sophisticated sampling style over constant scratches. Our Own Style samples C.J. & Co - We Got Our Own Thing.
Walks Like Sex is a provocative sex rap song with not too raunchy or explicit lyrics despite the title. Parts of Walks Like Sex sample Barry White - Playing Your Game, Baby. What an appropriate sample to choose from.
Do It E-Z is an E-Z-Cee solo. It’s his own lyrical freestyle song where he does it easy. The song samples Slick Rick - Mona Lisa.
Def IV lets us know they don’t play on the song We Don’t Play. Def IV is nothing to play around with. They rap for the people.
DJ Ready Red laid down the 909 beats you hear on the song Outlaw. The song Outlaw has a country vibe to it. This song is much different than all the other songs on this album. Hip hop/rap meet country music on Outlaw.
Buggin’ Out Time was a Lonnie Mac DJ’ed and produced. The constant scratches and Afrocentric percussion are what give the song a hip hop feel. Buggin’ Out Time cannot be found on the vinyl version but instead on the CD and cassette versions.
4/5****!!
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Def IV – Get Busy single review
Def IV – Get Busy is one of Rap-A-Lot’s lesser known hip hop singles from the 1980s that has been lost and forgotten with time. This single has that East Coast hip hop sound from the late 80s. Def IV – Get Busy was released on 12" vinyl in 1988 as RAP-52-1.
Get Busy uses a layered, sophisticated sampling style over constant scratches. It’s a hardcore lyrical rap song by the Def IV. Def IV brings the hardcore funk. This is dope stuff. Get Busy was done completely on an SP-1200 by Wiz.
The beginning of the song turns into a PSA announcement. “The Def IV would like the people of the world to know that we oppose the use of drugs. We totally advocate dancing, having fun, and enjoying life.” After the PSA is when constant scratches and rapping being. The funk begins.
Our Own Style is a dope hip hop song with def rap lyrics which uses a layered, sophisticated sampling style over constant scratches. Our Own Style samples C.J. & Co - We Got Our Own Thing. The song Our Own Style is a ‘We don’t need no help from you’ type of song.
Now Walk On is exclusive to this 12” single and was not included on their Nice And Hard album. Which is a shame but this often happens as record companies put songs on singles that aren’t included on the album as a promotion tactic when promoting the album before it gets released.
5/5*****!!
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Extra Prolific - From Block To Block EP review
Extra Prolific - From Block To Block was a rare tape only album which was released in 1998 from the Bay Area of California. Only 500 copies of this album were pressed on cassette. All tracks on this album were produced by Snupe. Most of the beats are thin and watered down. However the raps are not too mediocre. Extra Prolific puts it down from block to block in his raps on the track From Block To Block. He’s no joke on the microphone. Hitting Corners is driven by vocals with reduced treble. However the musical notes seem very off key and off balance.
2 1|2**\
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