Dirty Work - Fatality album review
Dirty Work - Fatality is one of the many Michigan rap releases and Detroit rap releases that pops up online from time to time but not too frequently. Being that the album was released in the mid-90s, the album goes for a hefty price when being sold online to buyers. Sometimes this album goes for over $200 dollars.
For some reason this album keeps appearing on Japanese websites such Yahoo! Auction, hmv.co, and melonbooks. The album has popped up seldomly on Yahoo! Auction and hmv.co over the years. Japan is known for having bigger market of 90s rap music than the United States. In Japan’s case, they favor 90s Michigan rap and 90s American rap (US).
Overall this album is a dope rap album which people had slept on. Songs on this album have lyrics that rhyme and make sense. Take the title track for instance. Also take Henna Bou, Push Comes To Shove,
Dirty Work is James Smith (Jay), Jesse Cunningham (Rashee), and Dearnard Taylor (Doggy). The group is a trio as shown on the album cover. Dirty Work was from Detroit, Michigan.
The title track is a representation of what the Dirty Work stands for and goes. The song Fatality serves as the opening and introduction for the album. Everything is driven by a kick drum, snares, funky electric bass, and a keyboard. That is the instrumentation backing this song.
It’s not about a salary. It’s all about fatality. That is how the Dirty Work goes. Those are the exact words you hear at the beginning. “It’s not about a salary, it’s all about fatality/The Dirty Work goes”
Single kicks to your grill is how Dirty Work is serving you. You can guarantee they’ll bring pain. Uncontrollable man cutting throats like a wolverine. They aren’t scared of you. The trio brings out deadly rhymes throughout the song. Fatalities are what they bring in their rhymes and raps.
Below are some of the lyrics to this song which have rhymes.
“What’s the deal?/I’m real, packin’ steel/In your grill/Leaving you dead on Sugar Hill”
“The Dirty Work goes/It’s not about a salary, it’s all about fatality”
“Fatality is what I bring when I swing these blows to your nose/Come with afros packing Calico”
“Who’s the next contender?/Send them through the blender”
Push Comes To Shove is backed by heavy eccentric bass over cosmic electric synths which have a celestial sound. The bass is hard hitting and will surely rattle your speakers. Dirty Work is coming with their skills on each and every flow.
Don’t nobody know what to expect when push comes to shove. Ain’t no love for the set. People are preparing to catch wreck. The song delves into a past memory when Dirty Work had 4 people. That is what the lyrics “Dirty Work/Remember there were 4 of us” mean. How the members met each other is discussed. When push comes to shove, you get back on your feet.
The song AIDS deal with the touchy subject of having full-blown AIDS. Dirty Work wants the public to recognize and have awareness of AIDS. AIDS comes from unprotected sex. AIDS can come from unprotected sex and yeast infections. People who neglect their have tend to have AIDS.
The 4 minute song Henna Bou has some dope G-Funk beats. The song is an ode to Hennessy. People who drink a lot tend to drink Hennessy. Hennessy can make people so good by taken towards a state of drunkeness and smoothness. Dirty Work describes the taste of Henna Bou as being smooth. There is something irresistible about Henna Bou. Be cautious when drinking Henna Bou.
4/5****
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Lasgo - Smile album review
Lasgo’s third and final album Smile did not fare well with listeners as Europop and trance were on their way out in 2009/2010. By the time the trio released their third album, Europop was already popular and was not top charting. Smile was their lowest charting album. This album incorporates the sounds of trance, pop, dance, and electronic music resulting in the creations of both Europop and Eurodance.
What is different about this Lasgo album is the producers chose to lean more towards the sounds of Europop and not much Eurodance. Peter Luts and David Vervoort chose to go a different musical direction on this album. Not as much trance is used as on their previous albums.
What’s also different is the lack of Eva Goffin’s presence. That is because Evi Goffin left Lasgo in 2008 to become a full time mother. Jelle Van Dael was the vocalist you hear singing on this album. Jelle Van Dael replaced Evi Goffin after she left the group. As always Peter Luts and David Vervoort do some fantastic work on producing electronic and trance music acting as producers for the album.
Smile was their lowest charting album. The album did not fare well on the charts internationally. In fact, Smile only charted in Belgium at #8 on the Billboard charts. Their homeland of Belgium was the only country that the Smile album charted in.
This is a fair warning. Most of the songs have subject matter and material in them that is nothing new and have been played out. You know, the usual love songs you would expect to hear from Lasgo. Basically it’s the same as on their previous albums.
Take-Off served as the opener for the Smile album. The song is a close to minute long song that is actually an intro. Similar to the intro on their debut album.
Alone Tonight deals not wanting to be alone tonight and knowing that person is not right for you. This song is fantastic. Lasgo should have released this song as a single. The song would definitely have charted the Belgium Ultratop 50 charts.
You know that person you love is not right for you. They are not who they claim to be. Right now you don’t want to be alone tonight.
That person you love knows what they have to say. They know how to take your breath away. Don't ask how I feel. It's so good it can't be real. You are giving in without a fight.
The song Gone charted at #5 on the Belgium Ultratop 50 charts in 2009. The song was moderately successful landing in the double digits on Billboard charts across the globe. Gone landed a spot on the US Dance charts right at #15. This song was one of their more successful songs next to Alone Tonight. Gone actually did better than Alone Tonight on the Billboard charts.
Gone tells the story of a man who cheated on his lover who is a woman. There are secrets the man know that the woman doesn’t know. The man who cheated on her has secret he won’t show her as he is still in love with another person. Even after all this time.
The heartbroken victim is a female. She tells him, “Even after all this time. You cheat on me and pretend we’re fine. You know I can’t stand you anymore. Every single moment I was there for you. All you ever did was be untrue. Just play your games with someone else. I’m done with you and your lies. You’re so wrong to make me cry. This is the last goodbye.”
She was young and so naive. He led her to believe they would stand the test of time.He said he’d be forever hers. The woman tells the man, “Just give me your key before you leave.” “Every single moment I was there for you. All you ever did was be untrue to me.”
Cry 4 You is a song about cold lies.
It´s cold outside. But not as cold as all your lies. No need to hide. The truth is in your eyes and actions. You broke my heart. I don´t know why you´re so cruel. Right from the start you played me like a fool. Just give it up. Because I've had enough.
I´m not gonna waste my tears by crying for you or stand here in the rain. You're not worth the pain, heartache, and headache. I will make it on my own. So just leave me alone. Don't think I will take you back again.
Somehow I knew that you were holding something back. I felt so blue and too afraid to act. You had me good to use your friends as alibi. You thought I would just lay down and die. You're wrong. I'm moving on.
Lost tells us the story of a lost love. The love is gone.
I can see it clearer now. The love we once had is now gone. We don't have a common ground a reason to hold on all the faith. After all that both of you have been through, your lover left you in the cold.
Here is what you tell your lover. “I don't wanna be lost tonight. I wanna live my life. Leave me alone.
Gonna be my own boss tonight. I’m gonna feel alright all on my own.” You say that your sorry now you want to start again. It's a bit too late for that.
Over You is getting over your ex-lover that did you wrong. You just want to be alone tonight. Plain and simple. It’s just one of those nights.
You know you don't need your ex-lover’s love. Their love was never true. You’ve already had enough. You’re over them already. The world gets dark. But you’re not coming home tonight. Too late to talk. You’d rather be alone than caught in another fight.
You can't change what you've done. Sorry is not enough. Now you see that person will never be what you were was dreaming of.
You tell your ex-lover, “Don't act so cool. There's nothing you can't say or do. You're such a fool if you think I will stay one minute with you. You can pray all you want, but it won't keep me here.”
Now the song Over You was their least successful single of 2009. Over You charted at #23 on the Belgium Ultratop 50 charts and #53 on the Dutch Top 50. Despite being chosen as a single, the song only fared in the double digits.
Believe is about believing that there's more than you and me in a relationship. You want to believe that we weren't meant to be. You gotta believe there's someone there for you.
You had your doubts. But that person made them disappear. However that person lied to you. You should have seen it all along. Yet somehow your faith is still going strong. You know you believe that love will set yourself free.
Serendipity is about turning something negative into something positive. In this case, serendipity turns love into trust. Is it luck or is it serendipity?
You were lost when you first met that person. How that person smiled and walked away. You tried so hard to forget that person. Just to find them here today. It feels like you both were always meant to be.
They turn the darkness into light. I guess that you could call it serendipity. When something's wrong, they make it right. You will give in without a fight. When the world gets hard on you, you can rely on. They are the shoulder you can cry on.
Read these lyrics to understand the concept of serendipity better.
I guess that you could call it serendipity
You turn the darkness into light
When something's wrong, you make it right
I will give in without a fight
I don't know how, I don't know why
But when we touch, I get so high
You make me feel like I can fly
You're the shoulder I can cry on
When the world gets hard on me
You're the one I can rely on
Only you can set me free
It's like I've always known that we were meant to be
Is it luck or is it serendipity?
You turn the darkness into light
When something's wrong, you make it right
I will give in without a fight
I don't know how, I don't know why
But when we touch, I get so high
You make me feel like I can fly
Smile is a typical electronic love song that is nothing too special. The song is worth skipping.
Night On Fire is a song of affection and hot love. Obviously Night On Fire is a love song.
The man makes the woman hot. She is burning with desire. She longs for his affection. She really wants some satisfaction. She tells him, “Well come on and set the night on fire! I'm burning with desire. Oh boy you make me hot. So come on and show me what you got!”
Notice how some of the words to Verse 1 use the suffix ‘-tion’.
I see you look in my direction
You know I long for your affection
You're not what I need
But you could make my night complete, cause
I really want some satisfaction
Out Of My Mind is about not being able to get the person you love out of your head.
You can't get that the person you love out of your mind. It's silly but you think about them all the time. All they have to do is give you a sing to make you fall in love.
You’ve been waiting for tonight. It's you and me together. You feel it in your soul. We can last forever. You just make me lose control. When you're dancing close to me, it's for everyone to see. It's you and me together. Am I getting through to you?
In My Arms song is similar to Something and Pray in terms of subject matter. This song serves as the closer for the Smile album.
You want to hold that person in your arms and never let go of them. You need them. Your feelings for them are still strong. You know that person you love has been hurt before. They don't want the pain anymore. This is the reason why they are so shy.
You are here to fight for us. Help you through the night with love. Stars are shining bright above. I'll be here when times get rough. If I could hold you in my arms you'd feel my love. If I could hold you in my arms tonight would be enough. You want to hold that person in your arms and never let go of them. This is not a game I play. Listen to the words I say.
4/5****
Agony - Discourse demo album review
What’s the story behind the Agony - Discourse demo? This album review will explain exactly what you want to hear.
The Agony - Discourse demo album was recorded at Boomin Studios in Flint, Michigan and was engineered Ahmad Weston in 1995 which was when recording took place. Production was also done by him. The demo had a more hip hop influenced pro-black sound than any of the albums in Flint at that time. The genres and sounds of hip hop, jazz, and electronic all meet each other on this album. The album is on the Black Panther tip with politically charged songs such as Panthers, Enter Tha Pantha, Amerikka, Welcome, and Hypocritical Hypothesis.
Ahmad Weston was the producer, composer, and main artist behind the Agony album. He was the backbone and brains behind everything in the group. Ahmad Weston was an engineer for Boomin Records at that time. He also engineered at Boomin Records for many years. Agony is Stamina, Lady Lo, BJ, and Agony.
Agony’s album was a demo issued on cassette. This demo cassette was pressed up in limited quantities. Possibly less 300 copies of this demo cassette were ever pressed. Today the Agony - Discourse demo cassette is regarded as one of a kind treasure. This album is of those Boomin Records mystery tapes in a cluster of several albums that were recorded at Boomin Records from 1991 to 2005.
Side A is labeled as Dramacide and Side B is labeled as Traumacide.
The song Voodoo is about voodoo magic. You can feel a vibe of uncertainty and tensity as you listen to the song. The beats Ahmad used on this song are thick and so is the bass. Voodoo serves as the opener for this album and the Dramacide.
Voodoo opens up with a calm opening on a dark night. Crickets can be heard chirping in the background. A kick drum is used throughout the song. There is a numbing blaze. Agony creeps in through the air. Something eradicates the body and then play up on the fears. Agony has that voodoo. The song makes references to voodoo magic.
Panthers is a song dedicated to the Black Panthers. Agony takes a pro-black stance in this song getting on revolutionary tip. This hip hop song uses a hodgepodge of samples. Lady Lo raps here too.
Agony had to learn a hard lesson on Panthers. Catching drama keeps him stressing. Days are getting longer. He doesn’t know how to adhere to all of this drama. Winter is almost through and he is getting evicted from the crib. His baby mama is pressing charges against him. So it’s time for him to lay down a track at Boomin Studios. He plays his song over again. Agony believes his life goes faster when he’s loyal to the game.
Agony tells black people to raise their fists up. He says, “We can take this nation if we get pissed enough.” Until black people fight the war for justice, they will never see peace.
Lady Lo raps after Agony. Her verses came hard in the paint. She wants to get high off that endo (marijuana) and black power. She is high as hell and ain’t gonna give it up. Lady Lo shows much love and appreciation to the Black Panthers. Gangstas and thugs have her back.
Freaky Demo is an East Coast rap styled hip hop song with a touch of jazz hop. Notice the boom bap beats and medium bass. The beats give away an East Coast rap vibe. Hip hop meets jazz on Freaky Demo. Lady Lo and Stamina rap here too.
Freaky Demo is a posse cut in which the group Agony seeks to break out people with their complex features in the style of rhythm and poetry which is rap.
Stamina is doing damage worldwide with his East Coast style of raps. Just like that. Take flight as he is in command. He is bringing death and destruction to your label and production team. Stamina needs to supersede over all MC’s. Stamina sounds very much similar to Big G of MOSS when he raps. He raps 2 verses on Freaky Demo.
Midnight Cheradez has a laid back relaxing sound with a super chill vibe. You can hear the relaxing sound inside the instruments used on this song. Agony is on a late night creep in the night club. He meets a female who he finds himself in love with. It’s an Agony love song. Orgasmic is one word to describe Midnight Cheradez. The song is surreal.
It’s midnight. Agony is on a late night creep. Agony feels like he was in heaven. It’s freaky yet subtle. It feels like a dream but its reality. He meets a female who he finds himself in love with. Her conversation with him touched his soul.
The atmosphere is okay. Agony picked up a lighter from the table and grabs himself a cigarette. He leans back to roll back more blunts. She whispers in his ear. She grabs the end of his blunt with her mouth. This blunt of his is French flavored. An illusion occurs when they both see visions of each other when they close their eyes. This illusion is soon interrupted by the vibrations of his pager. Their emotions keep them rested.
She wants him and he want her. They confess. Agony asks her, “Why don’t we get together?”. So they engage in another blunt session. Agony tells her, “You’re an exceptional lady of mine. Let’s dine on each others fantasy. We can fall apart and come together.” “I respect your mind and your body.”
Hypocritical Hypothesis is song where the group Agony calls out hypocrites. On this song is where Agony switches their style of rapping. They rap in the form of fast paced style of Memphis rap. Coincidentally this song has that eerie vibe you hear in Memphis rap. Synths Ahmad used on this song give away an eerie unsettling vibe. The song is surreal. He gets into the religious tip on this song.
Agony make light of how many African American men are incarcerated in prison as part of the prison industrial complex in America. That is what the line “Of black men, 50,000 negroes incarcerated in camps concentrated” means. He is comparing the prison industrial complex of America to concentration camps. That is how the conditions are.
Da Crib uses a jazz hop oriented sound where jazz meets hip hop. Freeform jazz also meets upbeat jazz with a touch of funk. The grand piano gives that away. Ahmad uses distorted bitcrushed synths and keys on this song. Agony uses a fast paced style of rapping on this song.
Da Crib is a song about how Agony attempts to persuade a fine female to come over to his crib. He wanted her over at his house right now. They have plans to do some shit.
BJ is not paying for anything that’s going to leave a rash. He uses petroleum on the end of rubber condom for sexual intercourse. In 9 months he could say the child is not his. Fucking bitches twice was sure damn nice. They had to pay the price the same week.
Cypher Fields is a rap battle and cypher where rappers Agony and BJ rap against each other. It’s about who’s the better rapper. It’s straight up rap with lyricism that gets to the point with hardness.
Welcome is a soothing jazz hop song that is laced with heavy bass and a single old timey piano. Jazz meets hip hop with a bodacious sound on Welcome. Agony would rather treat his people than to beat on them physically by assault. He loves his people. Black people. He welcomes them with open arms.
All I Seen (Straight Souljah Mix) uses a different sound than the original. This version of the song uses a much darker sound. Some of the lyrics are retained from the original version. This version uses an angelic chorus which singing in harmony in the background throughout this song. This version is the pro-black Black Panther version.
Agony uses a robotic voice to discuss the evil and wickedness in this world. Sometimes he just can’t take it. What can a person do? Sometimes it’s based on where a person lives. It’s hard for a young black male to live in this world. He tries to keep his soldiers strong and army tight.
You know the old saying, “Everybody knows why the dove cries.” Agony tries to get ahead in life by increasing his knowledge through education.
The lyrics “It’s hard to be alive/The struggle continues” make frame of reference to how living every day is a struggle. Daily living is a struggle. The lyrics “Earthbound/we are walking dead” represents the insanity we face on Earth. Agony shows us he is aware of violence. These lyrics are an example “Yesterday we played in the rain/Todays streets lay with blood stains” These lyrics exemplify a violent chaotic world.
The Debut is the song which slows down the mood for the album on Traumacide due to the slow beat programming by Agony. Rapper Stamina makes his debut on this song. The song uses a hodgepodge of collected samples.
The song Ghetto Classic is a classic song all into itself. The song incorporates the sounds of rap, hip hop, funk, jazz, and soul by using samples of many different songs. Ghetto Classic is a solo cut where only Agony himself raps.
Agony gets some stress off his chest in the form of rapping on Amerikka. The song uses medium bass over soft processed beats. The song is laced with medium bass. It’s straight up hip hop and lyricism that gets to the point.
Agony has some stress to kill and get off his chest. He shares his true genuine feelings. He’s keeping it real. Distance is getting the best of him. He claims the government hates people and separates them. Sadly this fact is true. It’s really a separate but equal type of deal. It’s evil what the government does.
He makes several references to the religion of Christianity. These lyrics are an example: “The son of God and brother of Jesus/you need us”
The song deals with Agony trying to find peace and his place in America. These lyrics are a reference to what I said, “Sometimes I find no shelter/Heaven or hell/Still I find no peace for me/Sometimes I’m brokenhearted/Dearly departed/Don’t get me started/I’m just trying to play my part/Dearly departed”
Enter Tha Panther is a politically charged pro-black rap song that is on the Black Panther tip. Agony goes hard on this track.
Agony’s pickup line is “Do you have any sisters or friends that I can fuck with? Do you run with hella bitches I can trust?” . What are the facts behind the lines Agony is spitting? That is a question that has yet to be answered. Don’t fuck with the brother dressed in black. Things are happening more locally than globally. Even on the richter scale. Agony paints a picture with his vocals. That’s why they call Picasso.
Mental Ejaculation is a sexual song with subliminal messages. Agony gets kinky on this song. He gets very lyrical and hard as usual.
Cum Wit Me has a tropical Caribbean vibe and feeling. The feeling is mellow and calm. A soft piano seems to have been used. Agony learned his lessons. His confessions keep him going. Agony is a state of psychosis. He learning the game of life while getting drunk. He invites us to come with him.
Flint Wil’ is one funky hip hop cut laced with hazy synths, bodacious piano notes, and thick beats. Funk meets hip hop on Flint Wil’. Flint Wil’ was recorded in 1995 and recorded again in 1997.
The very beginning of Flint Wil’ uses the sample of James Brown - The Big Payback. That is where the funky guitar sample comes from. The sample begins at 0:02 and ends at 0:12. A hazy synth can be heard repeating itself every 3 seconds. Agony thinks about all the bullshit that has gone on in time as the years progress. You know how Agony does. It’s straight up hip hop and lyricism that gets to the point.
The Defeat is a hard edged rap song with heavy beats that is laced with an enjoyable sound. Stamina and BJ rap on this song.
All I Seen uses thick beats and low bass over a hodgepodge of samples. The beats used are snares, toms, and kicks. Female vocals sampled from a classical music composition are used on this song. The words from the classical music composition say, “All I see are my shadows” . The classical music composition is layered over an organ you would hear playing in an old horror film.
There are 2 downsides. One downside is the instrumentation and vocals are not equally balanced on a 50/50 level. The instrumentation overlaps the vocals making listening to the vocals very difficult. The other downside is not being able to hear the vocals.
Agony takes us into his mind. Things he shares are not wholesome or pretty. He discusses how generations and nations breed terrorists. Terrorists are bred off of hate and fear. Not to mention corruption. Agony wants to get up and fight the feelings he has been facing. It’s hard to be alive. The struggle continues.
The lyrics “It’s hard to be alive/The struggle continues” make frame of reference to how living every day is a struggle. Daily living is a struggle. The lyrics “Earthbound/we are walking dead” represents the insanity we face on Earth. Agony shows us he is aware of the violence. These lyrics are an example “Yesterday we played in the rain/Todays streets lay with blood stains” These lyrics exemplify a violent chaotic world.
Addicted To The Pain is a solo cut written and performed by Agony.
4/5****!
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