Lil Rascal - Da Phunky Runt album review
Lil Rascal - Da Phunky Runt was released by none other than gospel rap artist Lil Raskull in 1994. That album was released on Dead Game Records. This album was released during the great ''Golden era'' when music was not only music but was an art. This album is one of Lil Raskull’s lesser known albums that did not receive nationwide distribution similarly to the albums The Benediction and Because It Was Written.
Now Lil Raskull was going by the moniker of Lil Rascal and was not a well known gospel rap artist in the world of Christian hip hop yet. This piece of work was his first professional album. He was a gangsta rap artist at the time this album/EP was recorded and written. This album is a gumbo of mixture of gangsta rap and funk produced by Tiger. Now Tiger had magic. He could play music he produced and dudes would throw money at him. He was definitely real sick with them beats. Not to mention funky. The deal was made possible by Tiger. Lil Raskull wouldn’t be the artist he is today if it wasn’t for him.
Pen N Pixel did the designs for the label logos and fonts. The vinyl uses a black and white color scheme.
Lil Raskull was signed to an underground label in Houston, Texas called Knee Hi Records. Knee Hi Records was the byproduct of seed money they received from a street pharmacist. The street pharmacist funded Knee Hi Records for $10,000 dollars in terms of start up cost. Tiger was working out of a studio on the Southside neighborhood of Houston, Texas. (This studio was the same studio Scarface was discovered in.) However this album received limited distribution and was only pressed up on 12” vinyl. Only a limited number of copies of this vinyl seem to exist.
Here are the reasons why Da Phunky Runt album did not receive nationwide distribution and became one of his lesser known albums.
Reason #1. Lack of being business savvy.
Neither Tiger or Lil Raskull had any business savvy. That $10,000 dollars worth of funding dried up before the album could get any nationwide distribution to the streets. So this resulted in only a limited number of copies being pressed up on 12” vinyl. That is why Da Phunky Runt was never pressed up on CD or cassette.
Reason #2. The demand of wanting more from the producer instead of the artist.
People in Houston wanted more from Tiger (the producer) instead of Lil Rascal (the artist). Everyone believed in Tiger’s production, not necessarily Lil Rascal. His production is what lead Lil Rascal to be overlooked. Dead Game heard Tiger’s production from Lil Rascal’s album/EP and immediately wanted to draft him to their production team and label.
Reason #3. Low confidence on Lil Rascal’s part.
His talent wasn’t strong enough to make anyone believe in him yet. Lil Raskull didn’t think he could be a talented rapper.
Three of the songs including the Jus Da Intro and Mi Way were later included on his 1995 album Like A Grown As Man.
The version of Mi Way that is on this album/EP is the original version and is not labeled as interlude. Dead Game Records like the song so much they decided to turn Mi Way into an interlude called Mi Way (Interlude) which would later be included on his 1995 album Like A Grown As Man. The funky bass lines follow a ghostly rhythm that is produced by Tiger. The Mi Way song is an instrumental.
4/5****!
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Techmaster P.E.B. – Bass Computer 2000 album review
Techmaster P.E.B. – Bass Computer 2000 was one of the best bass music album that got overlooked in 1998. The whole album is a journey into Miami bass. Not only that, the album includes 4 previously unreleased tracks that have never been heard before. Car audio enthusiasts will enjoy this album as it includes low-frequency bass music. Now some of you may know that Techmaster P.E.B. as one of the pioneers of low-frequency bass music.
Techmaster P.E.B. takes listeners on a musical journey with the song Bass Journey. This is a journey into bass music. Warning: Low bass might cause damage to your speakers.
Eurotica is an unreleased song of his where Miami bass meets the sounds of European music in an erotic manner and demeanor. Notice how the song incorporates low-frequency bass tones everywhere. The sound Techmaster P.E.B. uses is perfect. He never does any wrong when it comes to production.
5/5*****!
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Diamond Rexx - Rexx Erected album review
Rexx Erected served as the comeback album for the 1980s glam rock band Diamond Rexx. These 1980s glam rockers shows us they haven’t lost their touch with this comeback album of theirs. This album is not a glam metal album as people would have you think. The album has dark themed songs such as Bang! Bang! and Medicine Man. Love songs such as Fire, Is That All, and One Step Away are included on this album.
Watch Your Step is a short glam rock song about lies and deceit. The song includes the classic 19th century nursery rhyme Step on a Crack.
Diamond Rexx gets hot and bothered on the song Fire which ignites the fire to their fuel. The night’s getting hot and you will feel the heat. You’re in too deep and can’t escape. Your body aches as your feel the heat. The flames of love are what’s burning up inside your mind.
Medicine Man deals with drug addiction and drug abuse. Although the song mostly deals with drug addiction. The song also explores the thrills and side affects of drug addiction. Now the middle of the song explores the dark side of drug addiction.
The following lyrics are an example of drug addiction and drug abuse.: “Looking for a hand/I got your prescription, I know what’s in demand/Take another bottle, swallow down some pills”
Bang! Bang! is a dramatic tale about suicide. The song follows a character named Southside Johnny who is down on his luck and decides to take the easy way out by committing suicide.
Southside Johnny was dealt a bad hand of cards in life. The pain was too much for him to bear. Life was becoming a burden on him. He was already alone and out of luck. So he decided to take the easy way out by committing suicide. Death by gunshot was what ended his life.
He was running crazy on the street on a day to day basis. Undoubtedly he came to the conclusion that there ain’t no easy way to get out of this insane life. So suicide was the answer for him.
*[Rexx Erected is a wordplay on resurrected.]
4/5****!
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Econochrist - Skewed EP EP review
The Econochrist - Skewed EP is a hardcore punk rock EP with songs that have politically charged lyrics and messages to them. Songs such as Words Alone and Bled Dry are songs that have politically charged lyrics. Skewed is American hardcore punk rock at its best.
Bled Dry is a politically charged punk rock song about how we are slaves to our own selfishness. Our greed, selfishness, and decadence is what bleeds the world dry. Econochrist takes a stance against greed in this song of theirs.
Econochrist calls out the elite class for hoarding all their wealth and not paying their fair share of taxes. The elite bled the world dry. Wealthy people are what drain society. That is what these lyrics mean, “You bleed the world dry/The elite bled the world dry/For you too much is never enough/You horde all the wealth at our expense/You have too much when others don’t have shit”
Words Alone is a song how we can justify and defend our words with our own views. People cling to their opinions and views because it gives their lives a sense of meaning. What is it all worth anyway? What are words worth alone? Those are the big questions for this song. Words alone aren’t enough. People need to get up and take action.
Econochrist fights the system on this song with their lyrics with their “Question everything!” approach. Ironically the same people saying, “Fight the system” are the same ones that still work for the machine. That is what the lyrics “Of course the injustice must be stated/And everything must be questioned” mean. They say everything must be questioned. This is what we deal with.
It’s guilt and shame that makes people blame each other. That is similar to the blame game.
4/5****!
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Passion Theatre – Mannequin single review
Passion Theatre – Mannequin is the most expensive new wave synth-pop single in the music market. The single usually goes for $200 dollars when sold online. Very rarely does this 12” inch vinyl single sell for a reasonable price. Passion Theatre – Mannequin is an unusual new wave synth-pop single that got overlooked during the New Wave era of the 80s. The songs In Love With A Mannequin and Vacation Day are what make the single quirky and unusual.
In Love With A Mannequin is known for the sample “They're coming to get you, Barbara!” The song is backed by an electric bass guitar, a kick drum, synths, and a tambourine. The song has that 80s synth-pop sound and is known for such unusual subject matter as the song pokes fun at agalmatophilia. Big Engine samples the lyrics to their song Liar Taker.
The vocal sample at the beginning says, “They're coming to get you, Barbara! Stop it. You’re ignorant. They're coming to get you, Barbara! Stop it. You’re acting like a child. They’re coming after you.”
The quirky synth-pop song In Love With A Mannequin is about a person who falls in love with a mannequin. Staring at them with those gorgeous eyes from a window of a clothing store. A nicely dressed mannequin is staring down the aisle. That's when the person realized they are in love with a mannequin. That person only wishes the mannequin was real. Lyrics to the chorus say, “Oh, I’m in love with a mannequin/I only wish she was real”
Here are the lyrics that make this song creepy, “I wanna make love to a mannequin”
The Fiesta Mix of Mannequin is pure fire. That joint is lit. Mannequin (Fiesta Mix) is considered to be rare and hard to find elsewhere.
Vacation Day is backed a selection of guitars, drums, and synths. The bass is ultra thick. Now the bass and beats are what stand out on this new wave synth-pop song. Most notably, the volume is set to a high setting. The song uses the balearic style of house music.
5/5*****!!
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Brissa - Brissa album review
Brissa’s self-titled debut album was released when Latin pop was at the highest peak in music with artists such as Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Oro Solido, and Santana. Brissa’s sound and style are reminiscent of Jennifer Lopez. Heck she even gives Jennifer Lopez a run for her money with this debut album of hers. Her album has an influence of dance pop used in her songs. The album reflects her versatility with a mixture of different musical genres and styles. Latium Records CEO Charles Chavez calls her album “Latin influenced dance pop”. Her album is filled mostly with love songs though. Brissa’s self-titled debut album was sold at all 8 Soundwaves locations in Houston, Texas back in 2000 and on their website www.soundwavesusa.com.
Dream A Lil Longer is a dreamy pop song backed by heavy dance pop oriented beats which are actually 808 beats over heavy bass. The song explores the joy of holding a child. The song also explores the joy of being a mother to a newborn child.
Her first single "For Love" created a buzz for herself back in 2000. Brissa's buzz single "For Love" was sold at all Soundwaves locations and on the web. The song is backed by heavy dance pop oriented beats over heavy bass.
Brissa switches her style up by doing something different in an attempt to crossing over to the English pop market with the song Merengue Flavor. She changes her style by singing in Spanish. Brissa sings in the English language on the 1st verse and sings in Spanish on the 2nd verse. The 3rd verse is where she starts singing in the English language again.
Brissa brings he own flavor to Latin soul on the song Muevelo. The song uses Latin soul, dance pop, and R&B in one setting. Brissa switches her style up by doing something different an attempt to crossing over to the dance market by singing in Spanish. She ends Muevelo by singing the 2nd verse in Spanish.
3/5***
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Mateo & Matos - Songs For The Soul EP review
Songs For The Soul is one of Mateo & Matos lesser known releases that are just as wonderful as their other releases. The EP is a classic many will enjoy. The duo will put you into a trance with the deep house sound that is on this EP. Home uses several layers of instruments over processed electronic beats and a funky bass line. Home is considered by many to be a solid classic. Intense uses a more deep electronically processed sound as the volume and production are set to a higher standard than Home. Intense is another solid classic from the duo. Just Keep Feelin' uses a set of drums, bass, vocal samples, and synths. The Afrocentric drums and super heavy bass are what stand out.
5/5*****!!
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Mateo & Matos - Early Reflections EP EP review
The Early Reflections EP is one of the earlier works from the electronic DJ duo Mateo & Matos which is considered to be one of their lesser known releases. The electronic DJ duo marked their entry into New York City’s burgeoning electronic music scene with this EP. Only this EP is uses more house oriented sounds than electronic. Now this EP is a classic many will enjoy. The duo will make you want to dance with the deep house sound that is on this EP.
Dancin' uses a percussion loop sample over infectious groovy bass over house styled beats. A set of bongos are also used. The song is perfect for the dance floor. For those who are wonder what the vocal sample says, “Dancin/let the music make you/I let the music make you/I let the music make you high”
Evolution uses a small ensemble of Afrocentric drums which consists of bongos, congas, timbales, and steel drums over processed bass that is noticeably filtered. The heavenly synths you hear 3 minutes into the song are filtered by an amp. Evolution uses a more deep electronically processed sound as the volume and production are set to a higher standard than the other songs that are on this EP.
House music meets soul on the song Soul Groove hence the soulful influence.
5/5*****!!
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Connoisseurs Of Groove – Reap And Destroy album review
Connoisseurs Of Groove – Reap And Destroy is an example of early Flint hip hop and rap. This was probably the first hip hop/rap album out of Flint, Michigan! This was way before MC Breed, The Dayton Family, Top Authority, and Jake The Flake.
The album is filled with everything hip hop heads will enjoy. Heavy turntableism, loud heavy pounding beats, electro synths, and phat bass. You can tell the group put in a lot of work put with production due to the use in multiple layers of instrumentation The number of instrumental layers used in their songs is amazing. 2 layers of instrumentation for percussion and 4 layers of instrumentation for keyboards.
This album was released on vinyl only in 1987 on the Flint City Fresh label. Bernard Terry engineered the whole album at Silver Sun Studios. L. N. White served as executive producer. Connoisseurs Of Groove consists of 4 rappers which are Fresh Kid, Master Emcee, Doc Beat, and Jay.
Reap And Destroy serves as an introduction to the album telling who Connoisseurs Of Groove are. As the liner notes read, “The Connoisseurs of Groove is a group of young men from Flint, Michigan, who insist that the Midwest is the best when it comes to rap music.” Connoisseurs Of Groove seek out to reap and destroy any of those who oppose through their rap lyrics. They cold crush emcees using their incredible lyrics. In rap music, it’s about who’s crew is the best and who is the better rapper.
Things start to rumble as Connoisseurs of Groove introduce to us who they are. Down thought the years as the properties were told. A crew came out that was skilled and groomed by the masters. They would come into the rap industry. And throughout def words they shall deploy. There’s no place to hide as Connoisseurs of Groove have come to reap and destroy.
Have you ever heard MC’s so raw? That is what Connoisseurs of Groove are. They have potential with their credentials. They are supreme. They are kinetically inclined and have visual rhymes meaning that their rhymes use such vivid imagery. So duck! Connoisseurs of Groove are coming fast! Their legions of lyrics are coming tight as a beast. Not a bitch. Surely they will raise hell with their lyrics.
The song uses a bit of rock influence hence the guitar. Most hip hop and rap songs from the 1980s sampled rock guitar riffs. Heavy turntableism throughout different parts of this songs. The song uses old school beats.
Def Words uses dope and def sounds. Heavy turntableism, loud kick drum beats, and phat bass. The song uses old school beats. Def Words is one of the highlight tracks which uses multiple layers of instrumentation.
You can feel the beats as you listen to their lyrics. Def words are what you hear. Connoisseurs Of Groove is always on the go due to their def sounds and words.
Def Words uses samples from Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) (A-Side) and The Fearless Four - Rockin’ It. Connoisseurs Of Groove never fail to disappoint when it comes to choosing creative samples for their music selection. Hip hop and rap nearly always uses samples. 80s rap more than anything did that.
Jay's Beat uses a hodgepodge of old school beats and samples. The bass explodes with rhythm and force. The rhyme is ignited by the sound of a voice. You’ve never heard of a rap group so fierce when it came to Connoisseurs Of Groove.
The song uses 80s electro synths over low bass. The Connoisseurs Of Groove are suppressing all beats that you thought were hard. Their beats are darker than Darth Vader.
Stone Break is similar to both Jay's Beat, To The Beat, and Rock the Lynn in terms of sound and beats. Of course some of the beats used for the songs on this album are recycled. Stone Break is one of the more slower songs which slows down the album and calms down the mood for this album. It’s some slow big beat type of shit here.
The thick heavy beats are what really stand out the most and are considered the highlight for this song. 80s rap can’t go without heavy beats. The song uses a bit of rock influence also.
Friends (Watch Who You Call Friend) is the Flint, Michigan answer to Whodini - Friends. Their take on the song is much slower than Whodini’s using a slower tempo. The song serves as a cautionary tale telling us we better know who our friends are and watch what type of person we call a friend.
The beat used on Rock the Lynn is similar to Reap and Destroy. That is no coincidence given that both songs were recorded in the same studio session. Rock the Lynn uses some amazing beatbox skills! All 4 rappers use fast complex rapping skills on this song of theirs. Overall Rock The Lynn is a dope fast paced rap song.
Free-Base City is an example of early Flint hip hop and rap. This was probably the first rap single out of Flint, Michigan! L. N. White and L. J. Reynolds of RAPP Studios produced Free-Base City in 1986. This song has got some faster raps than Reap and Destroy.
Free-Base City is an anti-drug rap song which in turn is based off the life of a cocaine addict where the cocaine user turns into a cocaine abuser. Free-Base City also serves as a cautionary tale on why to not use cocaine and the effects using cocaine. The dangers of using cocaine are discussed too. Cocaine. You ought to leave it alone. Raw cocaine from an 8 ball can be highly addictive. Cocaine if it’s raw is highly addictive.
Now Flint was turning into cocaine central back when this song was written and produced. 1986 is the year when cocaine was becoming big in Flint. Cocaine hit Flint hard more than any other place in Michigan. Cocaine is the most accessible drug in the city of Flint. Cocaine usually gets sold on Grace Street or McClellan Street. Those are the places where cocaine is sold the most in Flint. People were dying over just small amounts of cocaine and not just kilos.
The 1987 version of Free-Base City is different from the 1986 version of Free-Base City. The 1986 version is longer than the album version. This version here is the album version which is shorter than than the 1986 version which was issued on a 12” vinyl single.
To The Beat is similar to Jay’s Beat as the song uses beats from that song. Some of the beats are slow. It’s some slow big beat type of shit here.
5/5*****!
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Connoisseurs Of Groove - Free-Base City single review
Flint rap group Connoisseurs Of Groove released an anti-drug single titled Free-Base City which was released on the Detroit label Arrow Records. Free-Base City was issued on a 12” vinyl single in 1986. Free-Base City is an example of early Flint hip hop and rap. This was probably the first hip hop/rap single out of Flint, Michigan! This was way before MC Breed, The Dayton Family, Top Authority, and Jake The Flake. This single has that retro electro sound.
Free-Base City is an anti-drug rap song which in turn is based off the life of a cocaine addict where the cocaine user turns into a cocaine abuser. Free-Base City also serves as a cautionary tale on why to not use cocaine and the effects using cocaine. The dangers of using cocaine are discussed too. Cocaine. You ought to leave it alone. Raw cocaine from an 8 ball can be highly addictive. Cocaine if it’s raw is highly addictive.
Now Flint was turning into cocaine central back when this song was written and produced. 1986 is the year when cocaine was becoming big in Flint. Cocaine hit Flint hard more than any other place in Michigan. Cocaine is the most accessible drug in the city of Flint. Cocaine usually gets sold on Grace Street or McClellan Street. Those are the places where cocaine is sold the most in Flint. People were dying over just small amounts of cocaine and not just kilos.
The 1986 version of Free-Base City is different from the 1987 version of Free-Base City. The 1986 version is longer than the album version. This version here is the original version.
L. N. White and L. J. Reynolds of RAPP Studios produced Free-Base City in 1986.
Connoisseurs Of Groove tells us crime doesn’t pay on the anti-crime song U Can’t Be The Streets. The song also serves as a cautionary tale by sharing the dangers of crime. L. N. White and L. J. Reynolds of RAPP Studios produced this song in 1986.
A child was born into a broken home. This child has now grown into a man. He can’t understand why and how things are. So he solves his problems by using his gun which contributes to gun violence. The life he leads is dangerous and he won’t live too long. If you live by the bullet, you’ll surely die by the gun.
A fresh known dude is selling dope (cocaine) on the street corner where there is no hope. He makes $500 dollars a just by selling cocaine. He doesn’t know the ropes. He forgot about his boy who sent him through the game. Of course he owes him some money. This fresh known dude dropped out of school. Being a full time drug dealer is his occupation.
Now he is in a sticky situation as he is now using cocaine. He lost all his gold and everything else he had. The pusher is getting on him and he is mad. Now he is on the run from the drug pusher. But the pusher caught him. Now that person is dead. You can’t beat the streets.
The second verse explains the story about man who slept all day and committed robberies by mugging people at night.
This man never did right. He who slept all day and committed robberies by mugging people at night. One Friday evening he was on the prowl, he found someone. He saw this lady cashing her cheque. So he put a gun to her head and choked her by the neck. Now homeboy’s in jail. You can’t beat the streets.
5/5*****!
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