Titan - Kill-A-Gram album review
The Titan - Kill-A-Gram album was a demo album that was supposed to be the debut album for Titan which was to be released on Boomin’ Records in 1993 after the Ruff N Rugged album. DJ Clay engineered the whole Kill-A-Gram album himself. Titan’s parents actually helped invest in this album.
The Titan - Kill-A-Gram album was a demo album for an album that was supposed to be on Boomin’ Records in 1993 after the Ruff N Rugged album. The Kill-A-Gram album was supposed to be the debut album for Titan. DJ Clay engineered the whole Kill-A-Gram album himself. Titan’s parents actually helped invest in this album.
However that never happened and Titan’s album was never released. This was due to issues with contractual terms. DJ Clay’s contract didn’t make Titan’s father feel comfortable to his liking. Something didn’t seem right to him about the contract with Boomin’ Records. It was a fair contract to Titan and Clay. However Titan loving music as much as he does continued to pursue finishing the album. Still the album remains unreleased today.
His demo album was issued on cassette only. Less than 10 of these demos exist today. Only a few people have the 1993 Kill-A-Gram demo album. His album remains unreleased today and exists only on cassette format.
It’s too bad Titan’s solo album never came out on Boomin’ Records in 1993. It’s never to late to release the album now. However his album wouldn’t sell due to the dated sound and couldn’t compete with todays music. Although in the event if his album were released, it might still appeal to or attract old school heads (old heads).
There are a few strong reasons/guesses as to why Titan’s debut solo album never was released. Not just solely one reason or two reasons.
Reason #1. DJ Clay focusing his time on Ruff N Rugged.
Many Flint rappers and groups used DJ Clay’s Boomin’ Studios to record their songs at. This left Clay with not enough time on his hands to shift focus on one artist. Focusing his time and energy on one artist would not have left him to engineer and produce songs for other artists. This would not have allowed him to fully operate a recording studio.
Another reason why Titan’s solo album never was released was due to DJ Clay focusing much of his time and energy on his group Ruff N Rugged with C Lo D (now Carlito810). Ruff N Rugged was constantly touring throughout the United States and Canada leaving Clay no time to be hands on with engineering for artists who used his studio. To put things simply, there was much focus on Ruff N Rugged from 1993 to 1995.
Reason #2. Issues with contractual terms on the contract.
Issues with contractual terms on the contract is a huge reason why Titan’s solo album never was released. Terms of the contract didn’t make Titan’s father feel comfortable to his liking. Something didn’t seem right to him about the contract. DJ Clay even sat down with Titan’s parents to discuss the contract and everything. It was a fair contract to Titan and Clay.
Reason #3. Titan focusing on King Hood Cykoz and their demo album.
Titan was part of a rap group called King Hood Cykoz which lasted from 1991 to 1995. King Hood Cykoz was from the King neighborhood near Civic Park in Flint, Michigan. King Hood Cykoz often recorded their songs at Boomin’ Studios off Dort Highway. They were recording a demo album around the same time Titan was recording his solo album. This led Titan to shift his focus on King Hood Cykoz.
Reason #4. The subject matter.
Much of the material and subject matter on his demo was very dark and obscene to many people. This might have caused DJ Clay to not release his album. Titan’s parents objected the content of material and subject matter of his debut album.
Mr. Billy Club was a song that dealt with police brutality. Titan takes a stance against police brutality in this song. Sadly nothing has changed when it comes to police brutality.
The great Titan Kill-A-Gram aka Titan wrote Mr. Billy Club himself in 1993. Today this song is regarded as a classic to its own right. The song has a gangsta rap meets Cypress Hill and Body Count type of vibe. What stands out the most about this song is thick layers of beats. This song also appeared on the demo for King Hood Cykoz.
The shooting incident is reference to a real life shooting event. Someone got shot on the hood of Titan’s minivan at the CLC Skating Rink (CLC) in Burton, Michigan. Burton, Michigan is located south of Flint, Michigan.
No Screwz is about living with an insane unsound mind. It’s no screwz, no rules. Living life with homicidal tendencies and suicidal tendencies is highly disturbing. The lyrics “I’ve got a head with no screws in it” tell all of what exactly needs to be heard in a less descriptive manner.
Southern rap influenced the creation of No Screwz. Notice how some of the samples used excerpts of Geto Boys songs. No Screwz used the samples of Scarface - Mr. Scarface, Geto Boys - 6 Feet Deep, and 20-2-Life - Inside Looking Out.
Episodez uses a touch of hip hop hence the turntablism. The song featured C Lo D from Ruff N Rugged. The song samples Dr. Dre - Ain’t Nothin’ But A G Thang. Hip hop meets gangsta rap with a touch of East Coast rap on Episodez.
As the skin gets to life, as the pen gets to writing. A brotha named Titan from the North goes off. Still making hits. Every jam he writes gets phatter (fatter). Just a totally damn good poet. Titan goes on about how good of a rapper he is. He’s into wrecking many sets and flows with episodes.
C Lo D is next. Dope as you saw. C Lo D is coming at your ass straight jackin’. Quickly making this shit a hit. He is down with DJ Clay. Don’t even play. It’s time to get ill.
Struggle in tha Jungle is about trying to survive in the ghetto. You tell just by listening to the hodgepodge of collected samples which DJ Clay used and the beats that were used, this song is from the early 90s. Some of the breakbeats give that away.
People try to survive and live in the ghetto. Gunshots from the streets keep people awake as they try to sleep. It’s time for Titan to jet. Titan is going to school trying to get his GED. It’s a cold heartless world out there in the ghetto as the ghetto is a cold place.
Just yesterday is when he found out his brother started slanging stones (selling crack). Moms is steady beefing with the cats he’s bringing home. Is it because she’s jealous of the fellas? The bitch ain’t got no class. Slave to the system while being in a struggle of the jungle. The ghetto is a cold place. Out there is a ghetto hell. It ain’t no fairytale.
It’s another day, another dollar. He cannot tell if the day is going to be bad or good. The cops still beat us. What else is new? Titan refers to police as devils dressed in blue. Police harass and intimidate people because of their skin color. It’s an ‘us against them’ mentality in the jungle.
Titan is another brother caught up in the rap game. Struggling to make it without being in the drug game. If he wasn’t rapping, he would be jacking. Never putting up a front. Titan knows who he is.
At the end of Struggle in tha Jungle, Titan tells us the way to get out of the ghetto is to get an education. Not being in the dope game. Being in the dope game gets you caught up in the wrong shit. Go get you a job.
I thought U knew uses a touch of jazz hop. The song was recorded in 1993 at Boomin’ Studios on Dort Highway. Titan was going by the name Bone when this song was written.
Once again it’s on. I thought you knew. It’s 1993 and Bone is back on his feet. There’s only one Bone known on Death Street. He is coming real for all the OGs though. Ya’ll don’t hear him though.
Kicking more drama. Color Bone Badd as he is still black and struggling in this ghetto hell. Mr. Billy Club is all on his ass. One time still gaffling since he’s black. They must think he’s selling drugs since he is creeping in a droptop convertible Mercedes Benz. Bone tells police he is not drug dealing. He reaches to grab for registration only to have police overreact.
Color Bone Badd is a reference to the 90s all-male pop group Color Me Badd. They were 3x multi-platinum selling group with international popularity back when this song was written. The all-male group was at the peak of their career.
There’s a struggle in the jungle due to this skeezer. Bone knew he had to please her. He spotted her sorry ass. A hoe got caught in the midst of this mix. What you wanna do, punk bitch? I thought you knew.
Titan thought you knew that a nigga snaps even without his crew. He still reminisces about the year of 1992. Pain of the pill is still there. A true cyko has a heart despite the rumors. It’s on. Bone ain’t no fucking joke. Playing with a half deck and best believe he’ll go for broke. It ain’t over until it’s over. Bone thought you knew.
4/5****!
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Monteloco - Retaliation album review
Norteño rapper Monteloco incorporates the sounds of gangsta rap and Latin rap together on this album called Retaliation which was on Familia Records in 2001. His flow and style are similar to Knightowl. This album one of the most rarest albums to have come from Familia Records. Today this album is a collectors item which sells past over $100 dollars. The average price for this album is usually $90 dollars. Retaliation is one of the most rare Chicano rap albums on the market.
Monteloco uses amazing lyrics on Going Places. The beats are phenomenal. Overall the song has a smooth soothing sound. Going Places sampled Tina Turner - What’s Love Got To Do With It and uses clips from the 1974 movie The Mack.
What The Homies Want uses an East Coast rap sounding instrumental. This song is one his more lyrical songs. Monteloco gives the homies what they want on What The Homies Want.
Monteloco shows consistency with his flows on Intoxicated. There is not any long pauses or hesitation in his vocals when he raps. Intoxicated uses the sample of Ben E. King - Stand By Me.
4/5****!
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Hollow Point - Hollow Point album review
Hollow Point was once a group composed of ex-Familia Records artists Knightowl and Mr. Lil One (Lil One) from 1992 to 1995. Hollow Point – Hollow Point their debut album which was released on Repo Ric’s Repo Records in 1992 on cassette only. Only a few hundred copies of this album were ever pressed making this album a collectors item in the market. The album sold out quickly in their hometown of San Diego, California. The whole album gangsta rap influenced Latin rap. 75% of the songs on this album are about violence and shooting people.
The song No Mercy is from their first Hollow Point tape that was released in 1992. The song was later re-released as a bonus track on their Finger On The Trigger album in 1995. No Mercy also later reappeared as a bonus track on Mr. Knightowl's The Chronicles of Knight Owl compilation in February 18, 2014.
No Mercy has heavy pultruding bass lines that will rattle your speakers and angelic synths from a keyboard which give the song a vibe of darkness. No Mercy is an example of old school Latin rap. Both Sureño rappers Knightowl and Lil One show no mercy in their lyrics and rapping styles.
Finger on the Trigger is yet another is a shoot ‘em up gangsta rap type of song where Knightowl and Lil One show no mercy. Never try and fuck with them. This is a cult classic and favorite amongst fans of Knightowl and Lil One.
Knightowl has a backpack full of mothafuckas that are down to cap when he’s got a cuete. Make a mothafucka run over off the map. Let out the chrome give em all a new home. Make a mothafucka panic. When you die your spirt doesn't wanna roam. Knightowl be smoking vatos.
Knightowl knows that he brings a lot of pain. Say you wanna battle him? Become another victim he’s choking? Better quit, fool, or become another mothafuckin hit. It’s so god damn insane. Vatos die when he’s on the mic. He is a loco chingon, miatone. Everybody knows que es todos cavrone. Levas I break em your bitches I take. All putos I shank em. Never try and fuck with Knightowl. He’s got his finger on the trigger and he’ll pull it.
Mr. Lil One comes again. Fuck em all around buck em all. He’s comin’ in a way that'll make you back away. So you better lay down on the ground. When he busts around, you don't wanna fuck around. Lil One is getting rid of all them busters. The levas too. He’s killin them. That's what he’s gotta do gotta stay true. It’s the insanity mentality.
Knightowl is slugging them all in the face just to put people in place. Enemies will mess around. Gotta get down with another fool. All their varrios/barrios he will strike.
4/5****!
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Hollow Point - Finger On The Trigger album review
Hollow Point was once a group composed of ex-Familia Records artists Knightowl and Mr. Lil One (Lil One) from 1992 to 1995. Hollow Point – Finger On The Trigger was released on Repo Ric’s Repo Records in 1995 on cassette only. Only a few hundred copies of this album were ever pressed making this album a collectors item in the market. The album sold out quickly in their hometown of San Diego, California. The whole album gangsta rap influenced Latin rap. 75% of the songs on this album are about violence and shooting people.
The song No Mercy is from their first Hollow Point tape that was released in 1992. The song was later re-released as a bonus track on their Finger On The Trigger album in 1995. No Mercy also later reappeared as a bonus track on Mr. Knightowl's The Chronicles of Knight Owl compilation in February 18, 2014.
No Mercy has heavy pultruding bass lines that will rattle your speakers and angelic synths from a keyboard which give the song a vibe of darkness. No Mercy is an example of old school Latin rap. Both Sureño rappers Knightowl and Lil One show no mercy in their lyrics and rapping styles.
Putting Them All in the Pantion is a shoot ‘em up gangsta rap type of song where Latin rap is blended in to the mix. Both Knightowl and Lil One show no mercy in their lyrics and rapping styles.
Lil One and Knightowl had intentions to use this song to get signed to Ruthless Records. However Eazy-E got AIDS and passed away. So that plan got put on hold. Hollow Point decided to team up again with Repo Ric to release this song on their second album Finger On The Trigger in 1995.
It’s early in the morning. Lil One is headed for the barrio. He kicks it with the thugs in the hood that he resides in. His enemies know what he is capable of. Lil One will leave people mentally scarred. This whole verse was dedicated to the gangsters that understood him.
As he is rolling in his drop top, he notices the same putos from the other day. The big payback is going around the way. Those putos hit ground in the fight. He’ll put a snitch in a ditch.
Finger on the Trigger is yet another is a shoot ‘em up gangsta rap type of song where Knightowl and Lil One show no mercy. Never try and fuck with them. This is a cult classic and favorite amongst fans of Knightowl and Lil One.
Knightowl has a backpack full of mothafuckas that are down to cap when he’s got a cuete. Make a mothafucka run over off the map. Let out the chrome give em all a new home. Make a mothafucka panic. When you die your spirt doesn't wanna roam. Knightowl be smoking vatos.
Knightowl knows that he brings a lot of pain. Say you wanna battle him? Become another victim he’s choking? Better quit, fool, or become another mothafuckin hit. It’s so god damn insane. Vatos die when he’s on the mic. He is a loco chingon, miatone. Everybody knows que es todos cavrone. Levas I break em your bitches I take. All putos I shank em. Never try and fuck with Knightowl. He’s got his finger on the trigger and he’ll pull it.
Mr. Lil One comes again. Fuck em all around buck em all. He’s comin’ in a way that'll make you back away. So you better lay down on the ground. When he busts around, you don't wanna fuck around. Lil On is getting rid of all them busters. The levas too. He’s killin them. That's what he’s gotta do gotta stay true. It’s the insanity mentality.
Knightowl is slugging them all in the face just to put people in place. Enemies will mess around. Gotta get down with another fool. All their varrios/barrios he will strike.
4/5****!
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Scratch Acid - Beserker EP review
Scratch Acid - Beserker is a quirky punk rock EP that was released a 12: inch vinyl on Chicago’s Touch & Go in 1987. The post-punk sound of the 80s can be heard on this EP. People may think that Beserker is a full album, but sadly that is not the case. The songs on this EP are 2 to 3 minutes a piece on average at best. This EP isn’t exactly the best of what post-punk has to offer.
Back in the 80s and 90s, Austin, Texas had a pool of talent when it came to punk rock with bands such as N.O.T.A., Hickoids, Sincola, Not For Sale, Offenders, The Pool, Doctor’s Mob, Ideals, diRTy WoRMz, and Plastic Patrick. 80s Austin rock is the best!
Each song took month to write or compose as Scratch Acid was so slow to proceed with new material. Despite the band being slow to proceed with new material, Beserker is regarded as a hi-fi recording thanks to the help of Dallas engineer Kerry Crafton. He was hands-on with the engineering of this EP.
Mary Had A Little Drug Problem is the drug themed punk rock cover of the children’s song Mary Had A Little Lamb. This named Mary had a little drug problem that soon got way out of hand and uncontrollable. It was there from the moment people first laid eyes on her.
The song doesn’t stay on topic as the rest of the lyrics go off topic. It’s hard to decipher reading the lyrics inside the liner notes as text is smudged together.
Skin Drips has a blues rock type of sound and vibe. Things are worse than they’ve ever been. Because of the way things were done in the relationship. Complaining won’t do any good.
The second half of the song takes us back to a distant memory. Down her skin drips. The language of love. They drink tomato juice in the backyard. I read her languid book. They are also naked. They walk naked in her backyard. It’s the language of love.
The song gets graphic and obscene at the very end. Notice how Scratch Acid that rhymes at the end of each sentence every 2 sentences. Read these lyrics.:
Walk naked in her backyard
in a wild and wooly hunt
Oh, that I were the glove on her hand
I might touch her sloppy cunt
For Crying Out Loud has a surf rock type of vibe due to the upbeat nature and cool sound. For Crying Out Loud is an instrumental that is 2.3 minutes long. Honestly Scratch Acid could have put in more effort into making For Crying Out Loud a longer song.
3/5***
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Lil Louis & The World – Club Lonely (US version of CD single) single review
The US version for the CD single of Lil Louis & The World – Club Lonely was released in 1992. This single is one of the most highly sought after dance singles from Lil Louis and from the year 1992. This was Lil Louis’ #1 single of 1992. Club Lonely was the international club hit which revived Lil Louis name into the 1990s which gave him popularity at the earlier end of the decade. It’s another song which made Lil Louis an international underground house music sensation.
This song defined Chicago house music back in the 1990s. The song is a mixture of house music and techno. It’s a perfect acid house jam. Acid jazz meets house music with sensuous melodies. The melodies are sensuous. Sensuous melodies are what made this song a dance hit for 1992. Club Lonely stayed at #1 on the BillBoard Charts for a few straight weeks in summer of 1992.
Club Lonely was a song written for the lonely people who were part of the lonely generation. Lil Louis was well aware of this when he wrote Club Lonely. The song is perfect for this lonely social outcasts of the world.
Club Lonely is the club that worldly people love. Club Lonely is the place for broken hearts is where players hang apart and the lonely people congregate. You’ll find happiness and love among the rest if you go to Club Lonely. Listen to the music and the sound. The beat makes you move in the groove. So work on in the groove down at Club Lonely. Listen to the laughter from the crowds. That will liven up your mood.
Club Lonely (DJ Pierre's Afro Club Mix) uses a more Afrocentric percussion selection which is influenced by African music of course. Notice the congas and bongos used. Listen to the music and the sound. The beat makes you move in the groove. So work on in the groove down at Club Lonely. That will liven up your mood.
Club Lonely (Bellbottoms & Platforms Mix) is a song which will want to make you dance and bust a move. Perfect for the dance floor. This mix uses a touch of auto-wah.
Blackout (92 Remix) is actually Blackout (Phase 1) aka Blackout (Phase I) which is also known as The Lights Go On and Phase 1: The Lights Go On. Now the 92 Remix of Blackout nearly the same as the original version. However at the 4:21 mark in the song is where the song gets played in reverse. This lasts for about 45 seconds until the 5:04 mark as that is where things go back to normal.
Blackout by Lil Louis was released as a promo on vinyl in 1989 by FFRR and Epic to promote his From The Mind Of Lil Louis album that would be later released that year. Blackout has a very deep house sound mixed with electronic music. This song was played around the world in nearly every club and at every party back in 1989. Its uplifting vocals are what really energize the song. The song Blackout utilizes a time signature of 4|4.
However Lil Louis gets in touch with his religious side by quoting some scriptures from the Christian Old Testament book. Such as mentioning The Lord is my shepherd from Psalm 23. Psalm 23 is the 23rd psalm of the Book of Psalms.
The first verse quotes the beginning of from the Christian Old Testament and Book of Psalms.
[Verse 1]
The Lord is my shepperd, I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
He leaded me beside the still waters
He restoreth my soul
He leaded me in a path of righteousness
For His name's sake
Yeah
Though I walk to the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me
Thy rod and thy staff comfort me
Thou preparest a table before me, in the presence of my enemies
Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup's runneth over
Surely goodness and loving kindness
Shall follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord
Forverer
In the middle of the song is where Genesis 1:1-10 is quoted. Revelation 6:12 is quoted as well. These are the scriptures listed below.
[Genesis 1:1-10]
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth
And the earth was without form and void
And darkness was above the face of the deep
And the spirits of God moved upon the face of the waters
And God said "let there be light", and there was light
[Revelation 6:12]
And I beheld when he opened the sixth seal
And Lord there was a great earthquake
And the sun became black a sackcloth of hair
And the moon became as blood
And the stars of heaven fell to the earth even as
A fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together
And every mountain and island were moved out of their place
The message at the end of the song tells us to seek out the truth. The message at the end of the song is “The truth is now, don't wait, too late to wake up” .
5/5*****!!
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