Identically Different - (I.D) album review
Identically Different - (I.D) was the debut and only album from Canadian boy band Identically Different that was released during the second wave of boy bands that were taking over the 2000s. 2000 was a successful year for the pop market. This pop album was different because of the use of live instrumentation instead of electronically processed instrumentation. The song You is one example as the song uses live instrumentation which consists of an acoustic guitar and a set of bongos. Hand In Hand is another perfect example with the guitar and whatnot. Their sound and style are similar to O-Town, B4-4, and N*Sync.
The group lasted for a solid year. Identically Different could have gone further but sadly they broke up a year later in 2001. Identically Different split up after the release of this album and have pursued different careers. Joe Abbruscatto is now a gamer who goes under the name of Abbs Game on YouTube.
I.D (Identically Different) consisted of members Gary Laranja, Darryl Snider, Joe Abbruscatto, Mark Ghezzo, and Jesse Labelle. Not much is known in regard to what the band members are up to these days. To this day Identically Different remains one of Canada’s forgotten pop groups. These guys were good when they were singing.
Busted is the song aimed at ladies who are unfaithful to their man by cheating on them. Identically Different dumps on these ladies and call them out on their strange behavior. Unfaithful ladies hide things and play games on their man. You can sense that in their voice. Real men don't approve of girls and ladies like them. They never have and never will.
The song is cheesy but nostalgic to some people. This song has some of the most poignant lyrics such as “You're never gonna see my face again”, “Go and have your fun with somebody new”, and “I saw you getting freaky with my own eyes”
Lyrics to the first part of the song and chorus are catchy and gives the listener(s) an insight about what’s to come and what the song is about.
One day you'll see
Your cheating ways are gonna turn around you
You are busted
You can't be trusted, baby
Sometimes breaking up is the easiest thing do. These lyrics are an example of that.
Busted
That's the end
You're never gonna see my face again
There's only one thing left for me to do
And that's to break it up and call it quits with you
Busted
Through and through
Go and have your fun with somebody new
I hope you understand when I say to you
You had your one chance now I'm done with you
The second verse of the song is where things start getting sexually suggestive. But since this is a pop song, things aren’t exactly sexually explicit. The lyrics “I saw you getting freaky with my own eyes” are an example of something sexually suggestive. Of course not everyone will agree.
But to my surprise
I saw you getting freaky with my own eyes
I gave you such a stare
But you didn't see me there
All That I Desire has that 2000s pop sound mixed with electro synths from the electronic genre. The person you often see on a daily basis is the sole person that you desire. Your desire for them runs extremely deep. The song All That I Desire is basically a synthpop love song.
You is a beautiful song backed by an acoustic guitar and a set of bongos. The song calms down the mood of this album and gives it a subtle vibe. The tempo follows a slow vibe. You is a “memories of you” type of song which is about missing the people you loved and memories you’ve had with them. Breaking up is the hardest thing to do. That is a fact. Love isn’t supposed to cause pain. But sometimes that what happens when love controls you.
4/5****!
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Titan - Deadmate EP review
Titan’s Deadmate EP is nothing short of compelling. The front cover artwork shows a newspaper clipping from a North Carolina newspaper explains the story of a North Carolina woman who was found shot to death. Police found Yolanda Renee Cotton dead from several gunshots. The cause of her death was a case of domestic violence. Fernando Terrazas Ceja shot a woman named Yolanda Renee Cotton several times. He was her ex-boyfriend and the father of her child. Cotton’s homicide was the 64th homicide Charlotte-Meckleburg Police investigated in 2005. Yolanda Renee Cotton of Charlotte, North Carolina died on September 13, 2005.
The news clipping is covered in a solid black colored background which gives off a horror film feeling. The color black gives off a feel of uncertainty. The color scheme follows the format of a horror film or a mystery novel. The title DEADMATE in all capital letters located on the lower right hand corner of the album cover in uppercase and the font used was Courier. Courier font is appropriate for a horror film, mystery novel, or a thesis. The style is similar to the Cold Case concept.
The sounds of electronic music, horror films, and rap meet each other on this EP. Mix the sounds of DJ Spooky, DJ Shadow, DJ Krush, Esham, Dice, Prozak, horrorcore rap, death rap, and electronic music, thus resulting in this EP by Titan Graham.
Titan’s Deadmate EP was released digitally online on Bandcamp on the date of December 9, 2013. The lyrics were written and performed by Titan. Music was produced by Killa Keith aka Mr. Boxxxcutta himself! It is unknown is any CDs were pressed or sold.
The song Deadmate is laced with heavy bass that will definitely rattle your speakers. Headphone wearers, you have been warned! Heavy bass might damage your speakers. The beat on Deadmate were created by the legendary Mr. Boxxxcutta himself. Deadmate has a similar vibe to William Faulkner’s Emily Rose novel due to its gruesome foreboding vibe (parts of this song make reference to necrophilia).
There is a lot of pain inside of the songs Deadmate. You can hear the pain in the lyrics. He vented all the pain he kept bottled up. He did something completely different and had changed his style towards a more hip hop sound. He was trying to break free from the gangsta rap sound along with the horrorcore acid rap sound he made with King Hood Cykoz and Deuce 11 G’z.
Deadmate was actually inspired by old 3SE tracks as far as the 'story-rap' aspect goes. The style is similar to the Cold Case concept. Each verse is from the perspective of a different victim. Looking for absolution of being killed and having been filed as a cold case murder with their killer never found. The last verse is where the sprits come back to taunt the killer into taking their own life thus the victims redeemed.
Beyond doors of dreams is where horror lies. Titan brushed away the cobwebs being that there are several of them lying around. It’s been several months but you’ve never were forgotten. Now Titan takes us through the stone garden. In this stone garden is a grave plot.
A newspaper article lies right next the grave plot. He takes a picture of the newspaper article. It’s been a long time and Titan can’t take in the sadness and devastation anymore. He is feeling sad and blue since his baby left Earth. Things haven’t been the same since the liquor store closed.
Time is running out. Titan is well aware of this. It’s a pity. Life has gotten colder. Things haven’t been the same since she had died. That is that the following verse means: “Time is running out/This my last chance” Yolanda was trying to move on as she was drowned in so many emotions.
The lyrics “cold case, cold case, cold case/I’ve got another cold case/I miss my deadmate” are what give this song a cold chilling effect along with the mood and bass.
Now the newspaper clipping Titan Graham is referring to is reflecting upon the death of Yolanda Renee Cotton shown on the front album cover.
The newspaper clipping was a report on the death of North Carolina woman named Yolanda Renee Cotton who was found shot to death in her own house. Fernando Terrazas Ceja shot Yolanda Renee Cotton several times before leaving her for dead. Yolanda Renee Cotton of Charlotte, North Carolina died on September 13, 2005.
Cotton’s homicide was the 64th homicide Charlotte-Meckleburg Police investigated in 2005. The cause of her death was a case of domestic violence. She had a disagreement between her and her ex-boyfriend.
Officers eventually later apprehended Fernando Terrazas Ceja and had him arrested. Fernando Terrazas Ceja was an illegal alien who jumped the border of Mexico (US-Mexico border) to get into the United States. Her death contributed to another killing led by an illegal alien.
Don't Wanna Live was song written by Titan in 1997 after his time in the long forgotten rap group King Hood Cykoz. DJ Clay produced the song at Boomin Studios off of Dort Highway. Don't Wanna Live is a song that deals with suicide. Titan tells the story of his life in music and how sometimes he doesn’t want to live. The song serves as zeitgeist of his life in a way.
The vocals used on Don't Wanna Live sound very futuristic and not something you would expect to hear from a song that was written or recorded in 1997. His vocals are electronically boosted using some sort of electro-synthesizer with hints of distortion.
At the very beginning of the song, a woman asks “Do you ever think about suicide?” This vocal sample appears to from a movie. The question she asked is disturbing and thought-provoking.
Back in 1991 is when Titan Kill-A-Gram was writing killer raps with Leathaface. They would write rhymes in the back of the classroom. This was when him and DJ Clay were making tapes. DJ Clay was a hustler back then. If only nonbelievers could see him. Titan brags about how people should see him now.
Marc Steele had visions of jumping into Niagara Falls. His life was going into a downward spiral. It’s no wonder Titan keeps going under. If you wanna know why he wants to die, the reason why he wants to die is because he does not want to live anymore.
Here is how Verse 1 went:
Back in '88 me & my lil brotha would break
now I'm making tapes with Clay he went to Michigan State
I went to high school high off a sack off Grace
In the back of the class writing rhymez wit Leathaface
So where my Niggaz From The Park?
Whatever happened to Smart?
When King Hood waz kickin flowz hoe’s waz doin 'The Bart'
Marcus had thoughts of bungee jumpin in Niagara Falls
Niggaz wit the bigga balls pause for the cause
I blaze a bowl for Too Cold outta Inktown
If nothin ass non-believers could only see me now
I used to drop LSD with White Mike T
Watching my life goin down
Do I love or dislike me?
An eyesore among eyesores turnin the corner
Makes me wonder sometime how I keep from goin under
Mic rockin nothing’s shockin to me or Death Wish
So go jump a cliff or something
Cut a record or wrist
Go back to sleep. Titan will wake you up for your funeral. But first say a prayer for his demo. His demo is “too real” for record deals. “No rules. No screwz.” Titan does his thing in a genuine old school manner. Picture him gone with a suicidal tendency. He looked in the kitchen door and all that was there was saran wrap. Can’t imagine that? Picture this. Him strangled by a microphone cable.
Fuck a platinum plaque. Titan’s down with those maniacs in King Hood better known as the McClellan Maniacz and King Hood Cykoz. Such as Maniac, Leathaface, Randy, and Lunatic for instance. Don’t make him crack. He’ll get blood on his shoelaces. Morbid thoughts continue. He’s been haunted by morbid thoughts in his bedroom. He knows he’ll be dead soon.
The lyrics “Fuck a platinum plaque/I’m down with those maniacs” is a reference to a local street gang called W. McClellan Maniacz aka West McClellan Maniacz. This gang was based in King Hood on the Northside of Flint.
The demo Titan is referring to was his first solo album that was recorded on cassette at Boomin Studios off of Dort Highway in Flint, Michigan in the year of 1993. His album was set to be released on Boomin Records in the same year. However his debut album was never released due to the popularity geared towards Ruff N Rugged and other issues.
“No rules. No screwz.” was a quote from the song Don’t Wanna Live which is a reference to a song from his 1993 King Hood Cykoz demo cassette called No Screwz.
Honestly this EP could have been turned into an actual full length album. The EP had potential to become a full album or at least serve as a precursor to a full album. There is such potential with this EP due to the lyrics and futuristic sounds. Sadly there are only 5 songs. (Technically 2 if you don’t count the instrumental.)
4/5****!
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D Rock and the Bayou Crew - My Mama Name Me Batman (Get Some of This Funk) single review
D Rock and the Bayou Crew - My Mama Name Me Batman (Get Some of This Funk) was one of the first rap projects record producer Ronnie Marlon Phillips (Ronnie Ron) produced. The single is a coagulation of funk, rap, and dance on one single. The whole single relies on a funky instrumentation backing. This single was released as a 12” vinyl single on Dance Craze Records in 1990. Now Dance Craze Records was the early incarnation of Dangerous Records. Dance Craze Records would eventually become Dangerous Records in 1992. Actor John Amos and singer Freda Payne were part of the label’s launch.
Tony ‘The Tone’ Jackson co-wrote My Mama Name Me Batman with Ronnie Ron, Dwayne Jackson, Lolita Carter, and Don Fullilove in 1989. Tony ‘The Tone’ Jackson co-produced My Mama Named Me Batman for D-Rock & The Bayou Crew. Dwayne Jackson was the brainchild behind the superhero concept of My Mama Name Me Batman. Bayou Crew member Mr. Freeze acts as the villain while D-Rock plays as the superhero.
Lead rapper D-Rock (Dwayne Jackson) raps talks about his mama named him Batman on the song My Mama Name Me Batman. The song uses a mixture of funk, rap, and dance. Not to mention a live horn selection. The whole song relies on a funky instrumentation backing. This is one of those ''wheelin and dealin'' songs that will make feel wiggly and want to dance. It’s one of them old school roller rink type of tracks. Talk about taking a trip down memory lane.
The intro of this song has members of the Bayou Crew confronting D-Rock about this fool named Batman. They think Batman is a fool because he wears a cape. They tell him to drop it.
There was a remix of this song called My Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some Of This Funk Pt. 2) which used more rapping and had featured Los Angeles rapper B.O.X. (Beyond Ordinary Xistence). This version was written in 1990. This version does not use the intro from the original version.
Their songs My Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some Of This Funk) and My Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some Of This Funk Pt. 2) had music videos that aired on The BOX on MTV.
Although both music videos had not received high viewership in numbers, D-Rock & The Bayou Crew had fun making the songs and music videos. Both songs and the music videos have a live outside feel to them. Both music videos were filmed with in the Nickerson Gardens projects in 1990 and 1991. Tweedy Bird Loc appeared in the music video for My Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some Of This Funk Pt. 2). This makes since because because that was right around the time he was recording his debut album with Ronnie Ron and Underworld Connection (UWC).
*My Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some Of This Funk) (Remix) is also known as My Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some Of This Funk Pt. 2).
*My Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some Of This Funk) was featured on the cassette version of Ronnie Ron’s Gangsta-Lation album. Only this version has D-Rock shouting out "Yeah! We're aware of the time!” at the very end which was about peace and unity.
*My Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some Of This Funk) and My Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some Of This Funk Pt. 2) appear on Ronnie Ron’s Gangsta-Lation album from 2000. Both songs have the same live outside sound and studio sound. Not to mention studio flavor.
*On the cassette version of Ronnie Ron’s Gangsta-Lation, the version of My Mama Named Me Batman has D-Rock shouting out "Yeah! We're aware of the time!" was about peace and unity.
Their first single was Mama Named Me Batman (Get Some of This Funk).
5/5*****!!
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Sextravaganza – Return Of Sextravaganza album review
Sextravaganza – Return Of Sextravaganza is another beautiful work of tribal house music performed by Frederick Jorio himself. His work is extravagant as always. The production on this album is very well produced and polished in an efficient manner. This album has a melodic dance sound which meets the polished sounds of electronic music. There is a lot of tribal madness on this album due to the tribal house sound. 90s house music can’t get any better than this. The sounds of 90s electronic music leaves much to be desired for the ears whether good or bad.
(All I Want Is) Sex is a sexy tribal house song perfect for the bedroom, night club, dance, or the dance floor. Orgasmic, sexy, and tribal are three words to describe this song. The song uses both tribal beats and jungle beats.
Come On Everyone is driven by a repetitive vocal sample, a jazzy saxophone, bass lines, short electric synths, and a kick drum. Come On Everyone is one of his more underrated works of music. The song is perfect for the dance floor. The song follows a melodic rhythm. Now the saxophone gives the song an ambient sound. Ambient house music meets the sounds of dance and electronic on the song Come On Everyone.
Theme From Sextravaganza uses a funky bassline which is accompanied by synths and dance beats. This song is a mixture of electronic and dance music. The song is basically a tribal house instrumental laced with electronic synths and sounds.
Sextra Break (Deep In Sodom) uses more delayed beats that are quite louder than some of the other songs. The song is the shortest in terms of length and duration. The song uses a repetitive vocal sample.
The song Montobi's Raindance is filled with tribal madness as it uses lot of tribal house elements. Montobi's Raindance uses an eclectic Afrocentric blend of drums such as congas, bongos, and timbales. The Afrocentric drums blend in perfectly with the tribal house sound on this song as well as this album. Relaxing is one word to describe the mood of this song. Montobi's Raindance follows a tempo of 125 BPM. This is tribal America. The bass blends in perfectly with the Afrocentric blend of drums.
5/5*****!!
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