Shnazz - Shnazz album review
Shnazz - Shnazz is a Hawaiian rock album filled with hard rock sound. Yet almost 4/10ths of this album is filled with typical love songs people may have heard all before. Of course 100% of the songs written on this album are original material yet some of the concepts to them are not. One example is Suburban Twilight which is about having a carefree lifestyle while in the suburbs. Another song is Bad Boys which is a song about a girl who loves bad boys. While nothing too special, Shnazz is your typical hard rock album.
Suburbanite Twilight is a song about having a carefree lifestyle while living in the suburbs. The song deals with living carefree while in the suburbs. The song has a carefree vibe similar to Avril Lavigne - Here’s To Never Growing Up. Some people will agree that the song itself is a nostalgia trip.
The suburban life is free and easy. Or so we’re told otherwise. It may not be realistic for some to live the suburban lifestyle. Growing up in the suburbs was alright. Some will admit it was nice. Some people lived in the suburbs all through high school and college. In fact, it is not uncommon for most people to live out their entire lives in the suburbs.
Living a carefree lifestyle and partying in the suburbs is where it’s at. It’s where we party down every night. It's about being young and wanting to be young forever while living in the moment by having fun while living in the suburbs.
However there is life outside of the suburbs. There is a whole world to explore which extends beyond the horizons of the suburbs. Lyrics to the last portion of this song highlight that.
Ask anyone who has left
Surely they’ll tell you it’s best
There’ll will be people you miss, that’s for sure
But there’s a whole world out there
for you to explore
Love To Rock has a vibe of rebellion due to its hard rock edge. Love To Rock is similar to Twisted Sister - I Wanna Rock, Avril Lavigne - Here’s To Never Growing Up, and KISS - I Wanna Rock. Roger Holland composed the entire song himself.
The song takes place in the year 1964 when Roger Holland was a child. He was watching the Ed Sullivan Show on television. Even as a child, he knew he would not be a conformist by just being an average citizen conforming to societal standards. He won’t just be an average citizen in society.
He realizes his dream is to become a rockstar. He loves his dream as he now lives his dream. He loves the loud huge crowd as the stars shine birth under heavenly light. Radiant laser beams flash on stage.
A small portion of the lyrics show a sense of nonconformity. For example, “Even though a child/I saw there and then/that I never would read Wall Street/I never would buy stock/‘Cause I realized I love to rock”
Bad Boys is a song about a girl who loves bad boys. The concept of this song is nothing too original nor anything special.
The song begins with the girl heading on her way out the door. She slams the door as she runs out to meet her boy. Of course this boy is a bad boy. She proceeds to blow him a kiss. He whips his Harley motorcycle into action. She claws on tight to him. Her arms are around his leather jacket as she sits on his seat beside him. She has her arms glued to the guy that treats her like dirt and she loves it.
She loves being treated like dirt. She is blind to the dangers of an abusive relationship. He owns a piece of her heart. The boy is well aware of what is going on inside of the relationship.
People have heard it over and over again. She likes the bad boys. She loves when the boy she is dating starts treating her mean. She loves his leather attire. It seems that all that boy does is treat her mean. Both of them are aware of this.
The song also highlight the boy’s acquired taste for leather attire in the lyrics. Leather is reference at least a couple of times throughout the song. For example, “Arms ring his leathers and old dirty colors” “Buy a Harley/wear leather/get down and start treating her mean”
Can You Still Come Back is a mournful love song about wanting your lover to come back to you. You wonder if you will seem them again.
3/5***
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Mo City Posse – H-Town Straight From The Underground EP review
Before there was the Mo City Don (Z-Ro) and Dougie D, there was Mo City Posse which was a rap group composed of 5 different solo artists from Missouri City, Texas better known as Mo City. Mo City Posse – H-Town Straight From The Underground was released on vinyl in 1988 from Godfather’s Raze Up Records and was the first Mo City rap record ever made. Mo City Posse paved way for the Mo City rap you hear today such as Z-Ro, Trae, Dougie D, FOEG4NG, and Snow Tha Product. Although Mo City is regarded as its own rap enclave, Mo City rappers still align and refer to themselves as H-Town rap from Houston.
The only downsides of this EP are the beats overlapping the vocals and low quality vocals. The vocals seem to be very low quality which makes listening to their songs difficult if you’re not wearing headphones. But this record was from the 80s so that’s not a surprise.
Straight From The Underground is a raw rap song with a touch of southern hip hop. Southern hip hop meets underground rap with heavy lyrical content on Straight From The Underground. Run-D and his posse Mo City Posse are in effect on Straight From The Underground.
Mo City Posse is in effect on the song Run-D. Run-D uses constant vinyl scratches and breaks. Hip hop and rap are blended in together here. Run-D takes control of this song as it is his solo song. Run-D and his posse are livin’ on a large level. Don’t sweat them as they’ll pull your card. His lyrics will do bodily harm in a metaphorical sense and not a literal sense. Run-D is strapped and heavily harmed. He has dope rhymes in his freestyles during freestyle sessions.
True To The Game is a funky electronic rap song which uses samples Zapp - Computer Love. The track True To The Game is regarded as a Mo City rap classic among fans of Houston rap.
4/5****!
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Extra Prolific – 2 For 15 album review
Extra Prolific – 2 For 15 is a timeless classic from the Bay Area of California. This album is a jazz hop album where jazz meets hip hop and rap. Only 500 copies of this album were pressed. All the Extra Prolific cassettes are considered to be extremely rare. The average price for this album when it sold online is $150 dollars. These days this Extra Prolific album is considered a collectable.
The only downsides are the album not being mixed and mastered properly. For some reason all of the songs center more to the left channel of the speakers instead of being equally balanced on a 50/50 scale. The vocals are set to mono instead of stereo.
Act/You A Fool is a jazz hop song where jazz meets hip hop. Act/You A Fool uses a looped jazz sample which consists of a horn selection and drum kits. The song is mostly horn driven. Extra Prolific fans refer to the song Act/You A Fool as a timeless classic.
Skimask & A Mic is an Extra Prolific freestyle. His raps are as smooth as ever. His flows are smooth. The incredible beat was produced by A-Plus.
Extra Prolific does a bit of soul searching on the song Searching. Searching is regarded as a masterpiece of a classic by Extra Prolific fans. He spits one of his realest verses on this song. “Tried soul searching but I don't trust the seeker”
The beat is hard and his flows are ill on Jump On It. It’s some smooth gangsta shit.
Critics (Oh My!) is a ‘fuck you’ to the editors who are music critics. He calls out critics in this songs. His writing skills are better than any editors out there. So are his rhymes. He provoked by those critics who are biased in reporting their news. The critics just don’t get it. Extra Pro believes criticism from critics is based on the popularity contest model. Be real. Music is something you feel.
5/5*****!
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Extra Prolific – Master Piece album review
Extra Prolific – Master Piece is a timeless classic from the Bay Area of California. This album is a jazz hop album where jazz meets hip hop and gangsta rap. Only 500 copies of this album were pressed. All the Extra Prolific cassettes are considered to be extremely rare. The average price for this album when it sold online is $150 dollars. These days this Extra Prolific album is considered a collectable.
Action Set In Flight was the comeback song for Extra Pro. He discusses what happened during those few years when he was away from the rap game. It was really hectic for him. He picked up a gun. Did some things he promised he’d never do. Clearly remorse is shown as he has repented since then. It still haunts him.
It was during a dark evening. Extra Pro was wearing a black hoodie off. He following someone to their house. Clearly his intent is to kill this person. What’s the real motive? The rent’s due. So Extra Pro needs some cash. He’s the guy ridin’ thru the night with a ski mask.
Second Sermon is First Sermon revisited as the song picks up where First Sermon left off. This song is the story of his life. He is reminiscing on innocence from his youth. A handful of references towards the religion of Christrianity are made. Such as Bible verse Romans 10:9.
Extra Pro was raised in the 3rd Ward of Houston, Texas. His father was absent during his childhood as the father was off the hook. His mother was a religious person who believed in the bible. Sunday School was mandatory. Extra Pro wonders why his father won’t come to church. To make matters worse, he abuses his mother. Negativity was hitting them from every angle. Could've sworn the devil sent his every angel.
His mother finally had enough of his abuse. So she left him and took Extra Pro to Oakland, California when he was 12 years old. They say you reap what you sow.
Romans 10:9 says, “Believe it with your mind. Confess it with your mouth. You will be divine.”
He’s still kickin' on the altar. The preacher made him more comfortable about his faults. G's don't get to heaven so stop hidin’. Everybody that was raised on prayer is now a player. Last days, these days be the last ones. It's not hard but he gave us a chance. God Bless every man in the sound of my voice. It's the second sermon.
When You Hoes is a rap song dedicated to the ladies. When you hoes is lonely in the night, all you need is the one who can make it right Just get back and page Extra Pro. He will find a way.
Extra Pro is in the mood for sex tonight.He’s the kind who’s macking for sex. He tells her, “Let’s do it like the dogs by the street sign.” He drinks wine off her thighs. This is implied in the following lyrics.: “Sweet is the wine I sip off your thigh/Reeking the smell of the cream that just slipped in your eye” She pops the Remy.
He hit the curb when he pulled over. Why did it take all that for her to fall flat on her face? He then hit the pedal. Laugh at bustas because you back with the hustler.
The other man she was dating went to jail. Time will reveal. Extra Pro showed up with my sex motor over her quota. Her man called collect. To give y'all respect. Extra Pro ensured him that the pussy's untouched and hung up on him. She keeps telling Extra Pro in person how she loves it so much.
Can't Reap Till You Sow A Seed is about how you can’t trust everybody you meet. You can’t trust everybody that smiles in your face. So take heed and listen!
5/5*****!!
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Tribe 46 - Summer Day single review
Looking for some smoove Latin music to get loco to with your ese's? Well Tribe 46 - Summer Day is a great cassette to bump in your lowrider. Whether it's at nighttime or groovin' on a Sunday. Johnny M is the background singer on this single. This cassette was released on Fifth Sun Music out of San Antonio, Texas. Summer Day and 46 Deep are the two songs that are on this cassette.
5/5*****!
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Tribe 46 (Brown Tribe) – Brown Profile album review
Tribe 46 (Brown Tribe) – Brown Profile is an overlooked album from Latin rap as a whole. Brown Tribe never got much recognition as a Latin rap group beyond the bounds of San Antonio, Texas which this group was from. The album is filled with smooth Latin music laced with funky rap lyrics. However they show no mercy for the lyrically weak emcees out there on this album.
Summer Day is some smoove Latin music. Summer Day is a great cassette to bump in your lowrider whether it's at nighttime or groovin' on a Sunday. Johnny M is the background singer on this single. This song was included on the 46 Deep cassette single from 1996.
Funk and rock meet Latin Rap on Funky Shit. Funky Shit is an interlude which samples Steve Miller Band - Gangster Of Love. Members of Tribe 46 such as Wikit J and Gino D rap that funky shit. This interlude should have been extended into a full length song but sadly wasn’t. Funky Shit had potential to be a full song.
Tribal Ceremony is a lyrical posse cut. A tribal ceremony is going. Tribe 46 are cultivators of the land. Tribe 46 describes themselves as kamikaze type emcee’s. They show no mercy for the weak.
Pay Your Dues is another posse cut by Tribe 46. Tribe 46 lets the public know they have to pay their dues if they want to stay relevant, be respected, and stay on top musically. Gino D pays homage to those before him by mentioning the names of WC, The D.O.C., and Coolio. Pay Your Dues samples Marvin Gaye - Make Me Wanna Holler, The D.O.C. - The Doc & The Doctor, and Full Force.
Tribe 46 shows pride and honors their Hispanic heritage & culture on the song Brown Profile. They also pay homage to their Hispanic roots. Long forgotten male Latin rapper MC Falcon is featured on this Tribe 46 song.
Tribe 46 represents San Antonio as the creme of the crop on the song Sabor. They represent the Southside of San Antonio, Texas. The song incorporates a huge touch of Spanish flavor inside the percussion and horn selection. The song has a tempo of 76 BPM.
46 Deep is another posse performed by Tribe 46. The beginning samples a country & western movie. The song uses a loopy bass guitar instrumental dub. This song was included on the 46 Deep cassette single from 1996.
5/5*****!
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Zapp – Zapp VII Roger & Friends album review
Zapp – Zapp VII Roger & Friends is the newest and freshest album from the Zapp band outta Dayton, Ohio. Yes you heard it correctly! It’s a new Zapp album! Zapp has that funky soul sound that will surely make you get up and dance. Zapp keeps it fresh and funky whether it be dance songs or love ballads regardless of time period or without Roger Troutman’s presence. The album continues their 40-year legacy of funk while paying homage to the creative genius of Roger Troutman. This is the second posthumous Zapp album since the tragic death of Roger Troutman.
Lester Troutman produced the whole entire album. Zapp band members contribute as well. Bootsy Collins, Frankie J, Kurupt, and Snoop Dogg all make guest appearances on this Zapp album. How exciting!
This Zapp album was released in 2018 on CD and vinyl. However this album was not released worldwide but was instead released to countries in Europe for some reason unlike their 2002 album Zapp VI : Back By Popular Demand. That is the only frustrating part about this album.
The song Shy is Dance Floor and Heartbreaker revisited. Notice how the term ‘nasty girl’ is used. Roger Troutman used that term in the song Heartbreaker from the Zapp III album in 1982. The shy girl sitting alone in the corner of the club has a secret love she will show nobody else. She wants to dance. There is definitely enough “bounce for your ounce” in this Zapp song.
Bootsy Collins and Zapp make it funky on the song Make It Funky. Funk meets soul on Make It Funky. There is definitely enough “bounce for your ounce” in this Zapp song. Make It Funky is a 2018 rendition of Funky Bounce from their 1979 debut and is Funky Bounce revisited.
Zapp & Roger serves a refresher to those who don’t know about Zapp or knowledge of who the Zapp band was. The song explains the evolution of the talkbox sound.
The song Bailando features Latin singer Frankie J hence the Spanish vibe. A bit of word from the Spanish language are incorporated into the English lyrics. The term quiero se y bailando is Spanish for I want to be dancing.
Appreciate You is primarily driven by the trap sound. This is not surprising given Zapp has a history of incorporating modern technology production into their songs. This Zapp song is also driven by hi hats and snare drums. The trap sound is very syncopated.
Angel was a song that was pieced together from an early demo by creative genius Roger Troutman. The song was recorded in 1977 and re-recorded just a decade later in 1987.
Angel uses his talkbox sound overlapped with the use of melodic bells. The song uses a modern electronic sound that is laced with soul and funk. This is not surprising given Zapp has a history of incorporating modern technology into their songs. The song Angel is an angelic modern day follow up to Roger’s 1987 hit called I Want To Be Your Man.
Byron Chambers plays the iconic talkbox on Rock Ya Body. Overall Rock Ya Body is a Zapp dance song. So dance to this groove. The synth bass lines are in full effect and groovy. You can feel the legacy of Roger living on inside of this song as you listen to it.
Rock Ya Body incorporates some lyrics from the song Dance Floor from the Zapp II album. “Let me see you move it on the dance floor baby/Let me see you move it” Only hardcore Zapp fans will notice this from the lyrics.
Red & Dollars with Snoop Dogg is a posthumous performances by Roger Troutman himself. The song Red & Dollars includes Roger's signature talk box sound. Funk meets hip hop/rap on this Zapp song. DJ Battlecat produced this Zapp song specifically for this album.
Calmness coming from the piano is perfect. The easygoingness of that piano is so good and perfect thus bringing the middle to the end in a smooth instrumental transition. The instrumental towards the end is quite jazzy. Jazz is incorporated into soul music on this Zapp song. Snoop Dogg helps bring in the West Coast flavor. This song stands out the most!
5/5*****!!
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Icy Blu – Pump It (Nice An' Hard) single review
Icy Blu – Pump It (Nice An' Hard) is a lost classic from 90s pop rap. The single included the funky pop rap songs Pump It (Nice 'An Hard) and My Guitar's Funky
Not too many people remember funky female rapper Icy Blu who was the first white female rapper, along with Tairrie B, to have an album released. The single is perfect for the family-friendly crowd as there is little to no profanity present. Icy Blu (Laurel Yurchick) was the female Vanilla Ice from Connecticut and Austin, Texas.
Pump It (Nice An' Hard) was an upbeat pop rap song everybody was dancing to it in the early 1990’s. The song Pump It (Nice An' Hard) had a music video to accompany the single. Some may remember the music video mimicked MC Hammer’s dance moves and Salt n Pepa’s vocal style with all the iridescent flashy lighting colors in the background. It was of the songs that rotated frequently on The Box.
Some might remember the song by these catchy lyrics, "Pump it, nice and hard. Pump it, nice and hard." Dance meets pop rap on Pump It (Nice An' Hard).
This is one of those songs that has a Salt n Pepa connection which is not coincidental as the song samples Salt N Pepa - Push It. The beats sample the classic Salt N Pepa - Push It. Sampling is what made this song of hers stand out.
The song is perfect for the family-friendly crowd as there is little to no profanity present. The song is about dancing The classic beats are refreshing. Many music critics such as the Austin American-Statesman and BillBoard referred to Pump It (Nice An' Hard) as a soft rap song due to her being a commercial pop rap outfit.
Pump It (Nice 'An Hard) peaked at #78 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States just as a song alone. The single for Pump It (Nice 'An Hard) reached gold status in the countries of New Zealand and Australia. The song charted at # 8 in Australia and at #4 in New Zealand. Her music was really popular in New Zealand and Australia for some reason.
My Guitar's Funky is a pop rap song with instrumental backing of a funky guitar. The whole song is about how her guitar is so funky. She raps and brags about how exactly funky her guitar actually is. It’s rare to hear a rapper brag about how funky their guitar is. That is what so unique about this rap song.
Icy Blu wrote the song by herself and Tyrone Fleming produced and engineered it.
My Guitar's Funky was included on the One Word Records version (OWR-51336) of the Pump It (Nice An' Hard) 12” vinyl single. My Guitar's Funky was not included on the Giant Records version of the 12” vinyl single.
5/5*****!!
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