Raw Deal - XXV Years album review
Raw Deal comes with raw materials in their lyrics on their debut album XXV Years. The rawness in lyrics of this album is what makes XXV Years funky, hard, raw, and gangsta. Highlight tracks of the album are XXV Years of course, On That Other Level, and Livin' In The Dope Game. If you are looking for longevity in duration in his album, then you're out of luck. The XXV Years album only consists of 4 songs making resemblance to an EP. Your expectations will be let down if you are looking for that. The tracks are under 5 minutes at best making the album short and inconsistent in quality.
Raw Deal was a rap group from Flint, Michigan consisting of Kenny Miller (K-Mill) and Kimoni O. Jackson (Troubleman from Freaky Live) in the 1990s. K-Mill was the brains behind the Raw Deal group and Troubleman was the bread behind the group. Troubleman was responsible for the finances of Raw Deal and studio time for recording sessions on their albums. He took care and responsibility of the financial aspect for the group. Gangsta rap is what this group was about. The group only put out 2 EPs on cassette only.
XXV Years is the highest sought after album in Flint rap by music. The album XXV Years sells within the range of $400 to $700 on eBay and other online stores! With $400 being the lowest average price and $700 being the highest average selling price. Only a certain amount of copies were pressed which is why hardcore rap collectors want this album.
Livin' In The Dope Game describes the lurid criminal activity that details how K-Mill led his lifestyle. The whiny G-Funk sine gives away an eerie vibe of hauntedness at the very beginning of the track. G-Funk meets gangsta rap on this track. K-Mill and Troubleman are vocal on here.
Here we are with 6 homies getting locced out and shermed out in a dope house. They appear to be plotting their next move. Everything is going smooth as Raw Deal has block sowed up. The guns are safe in stash spots. But keep a gun on your person just in case something were to happen.
XXV Years (25 Years) is about a lifetime sentence K-Mill was facing for a murder he committed during his activity of crime when he had to murder a sucka in an act of self defense.
While out on these streets, K-Mill had to murder a sucka in an act of self defense. When someone is trying to kill you, you fight back. Various acts of self-defense are used on the assailant. Whether it was intentional or not is clearly unknown. What can you do when you're facing 25 years? Maintain your innocence and defend yourself. That's what people usually do. Some fight back with assault.
K-Mill and Troubleman put us as the listeners on another level on On That Other Level. They take us to another level of the game with this track the best way they know how. Raw Deal reflects as a duo on this track.
4/5****!
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Terraplane - Arrives EP EP review
The Terraplane - Arrives EP is an album where hard rock meets psychedelic rock. A few touches of progressive rock are added here and there. Terraplane seems to have been inspired by the sound of Blue Oyster Cult when they had recorded this EP. Some of the songs on this album sound very similar to Blue Oyster Cult such as Secret Treaties and Jack The Ripper. This album was released on vinyl in 1981. Their album on vinyl is difficult to find and has risen in monetary value as is the case with many indie rock bands from the 1980s.
Jack The Ripper begins with an instrumental driven by electronic synths from a keyboard. At the 15 second mark in the song, Johnnie G tells us, “My name is John but you can call me Jack The Ripper.” Johnnie G uses a faux British accent when talking and signing. The song is similar to what you would from the new wave of British heavy metal.
You won’t see him with your happy head. You won’t see Jack The Ripper on a sunny day. Jack The Ripper can only be seen at night. He’s got something you really oughta see. Screaming makes it much better for him. Hey, lady. He’s coming for you. So you better scream. Watch out!
Legs is a short instrumental skit which begins with finger snapping. The song has a bluesy feel although the upright bass gives off a jazz vibe. Terraplane pays home to the blues on Legs. The song has a soothing climax which does not throw the listeners under the bus as there is no elements of suspense or mystery. Legs does not end up in a cliffhanger leaving the listener(s) to wonder what happens next as the song has an upbeat but soothing mood.
Now the song Legs should have been placed at the end of this EP rather than being the second song after Jack The Ripper. The song Legs would have calmed down the mood for this album if it was placed as the very last song for Terrplane’s EP.
Secret Treaties is a Blue Oyster Cult inspired song driven with an edge of hard rock. The song is similar to what you would from the new wave of British heavy metal. Secret Treaties kicks off the song with an electric guitar playing some mean distorted musical notes which turn quickly into hard rock. A touch of electronic music is thrown into the mix.
Sexual Fantasy starts off with an upbeat drum solo which quickly turns into an ensemble of bass and electric guitars. Of course the tempo gets upbeat at a quick pace. The song is similar to something you would hear or expect from Van Halen.
4/5****!
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Tweet - Southern Hummingbird (standard version with no bonus tracks) album review
Tweet’s Southern Hummingbird (standard version with no bonus tracks) is a R&B/soul tinged album with love ballads and breakup songs. Tweet’s Southern Hummingbird is all based on the trials and tribulations of Tweet in what she had been through in life. Her album knocks down artistic boundaries. The production and her vocals are smooth and sultry in nature. The presence of Missy Elliott and Timbaland can be heard on this album as they made contributions to the production.
Tweet was in a 3 member group called Sugah in the 1990s and things didn't work out. Sugah’s album kept getting pushed back or the masters ended up missing. Only a few demoes of the group’s album were sent out. The group had only 5 songs such as Sugah and Spice, Fly Guy, and several other songs. So Tweet went back to live with parents having a number of relationships and jobs. She had tried to commit suicide because she was going through severe depression at the time.
Missy wanted to sing and also a back up singer to replace Lil Mo, Gina Thompson, and Nicole Wray. So she called Tweet back in 2000 and asked her to work on Aaliyah's track with her. So she called Tweet back in 2000 and asked her to work on Aaliyah's track with her. They knew each other since the early 1990s when they were in DeVante's Swing Mob collab at Da Bassment Studios in Rochester, New York. Missy's call was the thing that saved her life.
The intro of the album, So Much To Say (Intro), has Tweet reminiscing and remembering how dysfunctional her life was prior to 2000. Her life was in shambles.
She remembered when it all started and the exact time it ended. Her life was in shambles. There was so much commotion and no place to mend herself. A hand full of pills and a Plan B. She wanted nothing to do with life or what was to become of her. She loved no more. Suicide was the way out for her. She just wanted to sail away and float away to the sounds of a Southern hummingbird.
Tweet was in a 3 member group called Sugah in the 1990s and things didn't work out. Sugah’s album kept getting pushed back or the masters ended up missing. Only a few demoes of the group’s album were sent out. The group had only 5 songs such as Sugah and Spice, Fly Guy, and several other songs. So Tweet went back to live with parents having a number of relationships and jobs. She had tried to commit suicide because she was going through severe depression at the time.
Missy wanted to sing and also a back up singer to replace Lil Mo, Gina Thompson, and Nicole Wray. So she called Tweet back in 2000 and asked her to work on Aaliyah's track with her. So she called Tweet back in 2000 and asked her to work on Aaliyah's track with her. They knew each other since the early 1990s when they were in DeVante's Swing Mob collab at Da Bassment Studios in Rochester, New York. Missy's call was the thing that saved her life.
[Intro]
(Oh, what to say)
I remember when we started
(So much to say)
And the exact time it ended
(Oh, what to say)
My life was in shambles
(So much to say)
So much commotion and no place to mend it
(Oh, what to say)
A hand full of pills and a Plan B
(Oh, so much to say)
I wanted nothing to do with life
Or what was to become of me
(What to say)
I loved no more
(So much to say)
Every door shut, I felt, I heard
(What)
I just wanted to sail away, float away
To the sounds of a Southern hummingbird
A Southern hummingbird
The song My Place is about Tweet attempting to get a man to be with her in her life. She wants a man to be with her.
Her heart beats faster than the regular pace and she is not sure of what it is. So asks her mother for help and guidance. She tells her daughter "Daughter you've reached Love Jones. Now that's real loving. So carry on."
The man she is trying to get to come to her place of residence is the fruit she has been longing to taste. He is the fruit she has been longing for. Tweet can’t wait until he comes over to her place. She will be waiting for him. Just in case she starts before he reaches and gets to her first, she unlatched the door. He keeps her thirsty. Tweet is hungry and horny for him to please her hips. Tweet is clearly hot and bothered due to sexual arousal. Basically she is sexually aroused by this.
Tweet is clearly hot and bothered due to sexual arousal. Read these lyrics.
You keep me thirsty
Lickin my lips
I’m hungry for ya
To please my hips
But don't stop there
Prepare to sweat
I’m gettin hotter
And you ain't mad it here yet
So won't you hurry
Make no haste
Tweet made him wait so patiently. Now's the time for him to share with her. Tweet teased him. Those days are gone and over. He doesn't have to wait anymore. She tells him, “We can handle it real slow.”
Smoking Cigarettes shows how Tweet was in a relationship which she broke away from and the only way she could cope with the breakup was to smoke cigarettes. She used smoking as a coping mechanism. The song showcases how lyrically inclined she is.
Tweet gave her lover several years of her life and it just ain't right about the way he treated her while they were in a relationship. His perception of love was skewed and misconstrued. What's his perception of love? Now how many times did they say it was over? And how many times did we not leave? There's no sense in this love hangover. She wants him to come back to her.
She can't forget his ways. She still remembers their first kiss. Tweet is nervous and tremblin' while smoking cigarettes late at midnight. She uses smoking as a coping mechanism to deal with the breakup in their relationship. She can't cope with this. He is the one to help her quit smoking cigarettes at night. She is now wondering where he has been.
Seeing the edge of his face makes it hard for her to breathe. She wonders and contemplates about what she can do to change his decision. Sometimes her eyes won't close from weeping and sometimes she can't wake up from sleeping because he keeps calling her in her dreams. Newport, Winstons, Salems, Marlboro lights. Smoking out on him has got her puffing out a pack every night each night. She is aware this ain't healthy.
Opposites attract on Best Friend. The song explains how two people of different genders can both be in love with each other. This is the famous Tweet and Bilal duo song. The only downside to this song is Bilal’s falsetto is too off-putting. He raised the octaves in his vocal range a bit too high which makes their song a bit unbearable. But nevertheless Tweet killed the song.
This best friend of Tweet is closer than close. This is something very rare to find as they are both members of opposite sexes. The under issue comes to fruition here. They can talk about anything. That's why Tweet loves him. It's hard for Tweet to try to hide what she is confessing. She is so into him. She can’t help hiding these feelings of love. She wants to be more than this. He has given Tweet reason to fall in love again. But she’ll leave it as it is now for another day.
This best friend of Bilal knows what to say any time out of the day. That's why he call her. She turns him on. Tweet ain't afraid to show it either. Bilal is aware that Tweet wants to be in a loving relationship with him. Do Tweet even know that this lust is growing without her knowing? Tweet gives Bilal reason to live for another day.
However something won't let them be. What could this “something” be? Does anyone know? How can they go on? Both Tweet and Bilal want more from each other.
Always Will has her ex-husband explaining how he always will remember her.
Her ex-husband keeps telling Tweet that she is way too sure of her loving him for a long time. But Tweet bet he always will. Tweet has rubbed off her ex-husband in so many ways. That is what the lyrics “In so many ways/I’ve rubbed off on you” specifically mean and indicate. They are inseparable due to their fidelity. Also because her ex-husband’s soul is with her. He has been loving her a long time.
They could be on separate planets such as Mars and Venus which is an extremely lengthy far away distance. The Earth or the moon. No space is between them. Tweet could stay here inside in this here city and he could go sail clear across the ocean. But she bets he always will remember her. Somehow they both are still in tune.
He can't take away and can't forget that he has been loving Tweet for a long time. Because it's evident that he has been loving her for so long in an extensive period of time. Tweet does not even care if they are not together or if they were not together because that is the part that never lasts forever. You know hearts don't lie. No space is between them.
Boogie 2Nite is one of those funky pop songs to dance to and boogie on down with as it is an up in the club type of song for you to groove to and move your hips side to side to. This is one of those songs that makes want to get up and dance. The repetitive funky guitar riff is the driving force behind the song which keeps the beats on a rotating axis musically speaking. The song has a feel-good funky vibe. Boogie 2Nite is a dance track with pure old school funk and new school soul.
I love the production even if it seems a bit distorted and unbalanced. The beats and vocals were not up to par as the vocals were a bit too low which somehow unintentionally distorts this song a tinge. You will still love this song either way.
Are you ready? I hope you're ready. Because Tweet certainly is ready to party. Grab your coat and get your keys. Because whatever you're drinking is on Tweet. Stay here if you want to. Say what you want to. Tweet needs herself a party. She’s gotta party. She can't wait to grab herself a partner and cut a rug up tonight. She found us a place where we can boogie tonight.
Stand and if you want to. But Tweet has to party. You're glad that she got you to attend this party. You got yourself a partner. So cut a rug up tonight. Move your hips side to side. Go on and dance. Dance because you want to. Rock because you have to.
Oops (Oh My) knocks down artistic boundaries in ALL directions because it talks about masturbation, sex, and self-love. That is one cold track. Missy Elliott graces the song with her rap ad-libs. This was a new school track as it blew everything else out of the water back in 2002. The synopsis of the song revolves around about a woman who couldn’t resist herself and couldn’t resist touching herself if you know what I mean.
Tweet is a woman who couldn’t resist herself and couldn’t resist touching herself. She cannot fight this feeling which pertains to these urges of hers. So she explains herself about what exactly happened.
Tweet came home last night around a quarter to 3 AM which would be around 2:45 AM. She was still so high from whatever she was doing previously. She was hypnotized in a trance from this man’s body which was buttery brown and so tantalizing. You woulda thought she needed help from this feeling that she felt.
Clothing which Tweet is wearing comes of one piece at a time. Her shirt goes up over her head and she drops her skirt to her feet. Some kind of touch is caressing her legs which makes her blush red. Who could this be?
Tweet tried and tried to avoid being aroused. But this thing was happening which is masturbation and self-love. So she swallowed her, let it go, and partied. However she got worried. She looked over to the left to see a reflection of herself. That's why Tweet couldn't catch her breath. Tweet could not reject herself do to self-love which is why she cannot control touching herself. Tweet was feeling so good she had to touch herself. She was eyeing her butter pecan brown thighs.
Tweet explains to us what she did last night in Verse 1, Verse 2, the bridge, and chorus.
[Verse 1: Tweet]
Tell you what I did last night
I came home, say, around a quarter to three
Still so high, hypnotized
In a trance
From his body, so buttery brown and tantalizing
You woulda thought I needed help from this feeling that I felt
So shook, I had to catch my breath
[Verse 2: Tweet]
I tried and I tried to avoid
But this thing was happening
Swallowed my pride
Let it ride and partied
But this body felt just like mines
I got worried
I looked over to the left; a reflection of myself
That's why I couldn't catch my breath
[Chorus: Tweet]
Oops, there goes my shirt up over my head
Oh my (Oh my)
Oops, there goes my skirt droppin' to my feet
Oh my (Oh my)
Ooh, some kinda touch caressing my legs
Oh my (Oh my)
Ooh, I'm turning red
Who could this be?
[Bridge: Missy Elliott & (Tweet)]
(I looked over to the left)
Mmm, I was looking so good, I couldn't reject myself
(I looked over to the left)
Mmm, I was feeling so good, I had to touch myself
(I looked over to the left)
Mmm, I was eyeing my thighs, butter pecan brown
(I looked over to the left)
Mmm, comin' outta my shirt and then my skirt came down
[Chorus: Tweet]
Oops, there goes my shirt up over my head
Oh my (Oh my)
Oops, there goes my skirt droppin' to my feet
Oh my (Oh my)
Ooh, some kinda touch caressing my legs
Oh my (Oh my)
Ooh, I'm turning red
Who could this be?
Oops, there goes my shirt up over my head
Oh my (Oh my)
Oops, there goes my skirt droppin' to my feet
Oh my (Oh my)
Ooh, some kinda touch caressing my legs
Oh my (Oh my)
Ooh, I'm turning red
Who could this be?
Tweet asks a man to attempt to make a move on her to be with her on Make Ur Move.
The way his persona and character makes Tweet feel so good. She asks him for his name. She thinks he should be famous. Tweet can barely handle this feeling she is currently experiencing. Could this be what faith is? She has seen him more than twice. He is her delight. So Tweet makes her move on him by asking him for his cell phone number. Tweet whispers to him, “Satisfy my wonder, baby. Use what you got. Bring it. Baby, make your move. It's on you. It's alright. So baby use what you got.” Tweet tells this man to make a move on her so that he can with her.
Tweet asks him what is astrological sign is. That is specifically what the lyrics “Tell me what's your sign” mean. She won’t waste any of his time. She asks her to give him one night to satisfy he curiosity and use what he’s got. The way he is are and moves looks so good to her.
Motel sounds like it was based on a true story. Tweet showcases her guitar playing skills on this song. The acoustic guitar is used on this heartfelt love song. Tweet goes solo on this song with no guest appearances.
A sign read ‘vacancy’. In Tweet’s mind, how could this be? He showed his emotions just the previous night.
How could Tweet be witnessing such a sight to see tonight? Her thoughts begin to leak as she walks out the door. Does she want to blow the score or just relive him with this freak? As she turned and walked away, she tells her man four words, “Go to hell, baby.” That is because Tweet saw him at a motel with another woman.
Time stood close to Tweet and helped her unwind. A day or two to release. She kept her composure with the evidence that might have kept her from holding her peace and putting up a fight. She avoided his excuse. The proof was laying in his pants. She used to love him but now she does not.
Beautiful is about charming man Tweet can’t seem to keep her eyes off of. She gets caught up in his beauty, charm, charisma, and persona.
Her eyes have never seen someone so beautiful with so much class. Tweet’s eyes have never seen someone so beautiful. A man with so much charm and so much class. She thinks of him every day. He is so appealing to her. She feels such a natural feeling. She gets caught up whenever she sees him because he is so beautiful.
Tweet has received a love that is all divine. A love which is so innocent and so pure. He makes each moment stand still. He took care of her heart gently. Tweet can never repay him. Tweet is here to fulfill his desires in a willful manner. He is more than a dream come true to her.
Tweet talks about if she had her boyfriend back into her life that she wouldn't complain at all on Complain. Susan Weems and Tweet both play the guitar. They both showcase their guitar playing skills on this long song. It's a 5 minute long song.
Complain has a country meets gospel type of vibe and sound which is due to the steel pedal guitar and harmonious organ which is used. It has a very country bluegrass feel to it which stands out from all the other songs on Southern Hummingbird with a gospel sound and feel. Complain is a great driven love guitar ballad which many people can definitely enjoy.
Tweet can sing about love lost but what if there's no love to lose? If every day she saw sunshine and it never rained the blues. If her fear were tears I wonder if they could fall. If a smile could stretch a mile even if she had no money at all. Tweet is willing to take whatever life brings because her boyfriend is only one that seems to know her. Even if the bad times call. If Tweet had him back, she wouldn't complain at all.
Tweet could dream about tomorrow even if it's still today. She’s wear down my knees every night even if she had no hands to pray. If her friends were dead and gone leaving her here alone, could she depend on some spirit to ease her? But her soul's on its own. If her eyes were blind and she couldn't feel at all but see. Nothing in this world but him completes her. If Tweet had him back, she wouldn't complain at all.
Heaven is about Tweet gaining a breath of fresh air and relief after leaving a previous relationship with her ex-lover. She gains faith, substance, hope, and confidence after leaving her ex-lover due to infidelity.
Tweet has gained a breath of fresh air and confidence since leaving her relationship with her ex-lover. She feels a sense of enrichment. She wishes she had the words to describe rich it feels. A new life for love has come through. She has some another person to love. She wishes she had the words to describe rich it feels. She is so alive. The rain is gone. She feels the wind. The brightest stars are shining in. It feels just like heaven and a sunny day. She feels like she’s in heaven.
Tweet is not too sure of how she should act. So she will kiss herself and say a prayer. She fills fill the void he left when he was here by going out to look for another lover. She can remember the day and does not forget the hour he left. It feels like heaven.
[Verse 2]
No more breathin' down my back
Not too sure of how to act
Or even waitin' for you to say "I love you"
(I love you)
I'll kiss myself and say a prayer
And fill the void you left when you we're here
Lovin' me means more than losing you
Call Me has Tweet playing the role of an undercover lover who is a late night love in an attempt to seduce her man. This is a booty call.
To Tweet he is the man because he puts it on her. And every morning, she rolls over in bed she feels him touching on her. Tweet’s got herself another man but he ain't like him. She’d like to be his baby mama although that can’t happen.
When her man is asleep, she takes a red eye to the Westside of Panama City, Florida. She lets him feel what he’s been missing. That’s so bonafide. She asks him to call her real late at night so her other man does not find out about their affair.
Location does not matter. It don't matter where they’re at as long as Tweet gets to put it on him. They can slip and slide. They can take a ride. Tweet’s got herself another man but he ain't like him. She’d like to be his baby mama. However that can’t happen. So Tweet tells this man to call her at the break of dawn. Tweet will be sure to meet him with no panties on.
On the song Drunk, Tweet uses alcoholism as a coping mechanism because life is a struggle. She would rather be drunk because life is such a struggle.
Tweet has a $5 dollar bill in her pocket. She wants to buy herself some gin or gas for the tank of her car. Tweet thinks it over again because she needs t make decisions and prioritize correctly. Because she would rather be drunk and drive away from here than to be sober because life is such a struggle.
No friends of hers are coming through. She thinks she has lost all her friends. There is no man to take their place. She would rather be drunk on a cloud away from here. Clearly she does not want to be sober anymore. Tweet is broke and alone with nowhere to go. The loneliness is hurting her so deeply and badly. The loneliness is killing her slowly. So Tweet uses the alcoholic beverage of gin as a coping mechanism.
Tweet will smoke just a half a carton of cigarettes by the time she finishes her drink. She rolls the last of the grass because she would rather be pumped than to drown in her tears of sorrow. Tweet believes this will help her keel over and sleep the night over.
Tweet wonders if she drank too much gin because the road is all lopsided. She only drove a small way. Now her air's being pumped. All of a sudden she does not want to keel over and now she wants to be sober. Now she wishes she had listened to her conscience and not drunk that gin down. She wouldn't be here laying here in so many pieces with her life in shambles.
The Southern Hummingbird (Outro) served as the closer of the Southern Hummingbird. The instrumental music is so dope for an outro! The song is so climatic and hypnotizing. These lyrics of hers touch the heart. “And for those that said I wouldn't do it, I couldn't make it/I'm still praying for ya/There's still hope for ya” These lyrics leave room for a ray of hope and optimism.
5/5*****!!
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