Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 284

Avril Lavigne - Love Sux album review

Avril Lavigne returns to her 2002 self on her 2022 album Love Sux. Love Sux marked her long-awaited return to music. She uses a fusion of punk rock and pop with Love Sux. Her album has the expected themes of relationships, empowerment, and entertainment. She marks her return and comeback as the princess of punk pop. She proves to us that she was and still is the motherfuckin' princess. Highlights for the album include, Bite Me, F.U., Love Sux, Avalanche,


Cannonball was the upbeat energetic punk pop opener of the album. Avril Lavigne returns to her 2002 self on Cannonball with a brash no holds barred attitude. Avril is about to explode like a ticking time bomb. Motherfuckers, let's go!

Dancing With A Hurricane has such a great theme. The song is quite dark and epic given that the song is metaphoric. This was one of the songs Avril wrote while in elf-isolation.


"I don't give a fuck about you." is the message of F.U. summed up. The song is about not being heard and being ignored.

Avril would tell you that she is pissed but I know you won't hear her. There's no point in talkin' shit. Avrils says to you, “To you. Fuck you. I’m done with you. We're done here.” She also says, “You used to drive me crazy but I don't feel nothing lately. We're done here.”

She fells that ever time she talks to you that she wastes her breath on you because you're not listening. Every time she talks to you. She tries to tell you about it She yells, screams and shouts it. Hate it but it's true. Now she is over you. So fuck you.

All this time she thought one day you would listen. She was hoping you would change. All this time she spent wishing you would listen. All this time.


Avril Lavigne marked her long-awaited return with her new song and single Bite Me. A spicy, saucy, vindictive, and provocative punk pop song. Bite Me is a song about self worth and standing up for yourself. The song is about a man who wants a second chance to be in a relationship with Avril and she turns him down. You shoulda known better than to fuck with someone like Avril Lavigne. Forever and ever you're gonna wish Avril was your wife. Don't act so innocent. This was no accident.

Avril told her ex-lover, “You know what, you didn’t treat me right and that doesn’t work for me. So baby, you can bite me. You planned this in the end and now it's over. Say what you wanna say. You lied and I got played. You threw it all away and now it's over.”

Avril tells her ex-lover to face the facts by telling him, “Just face it. We didn't make it. You bit off more than you can chew. Can you taste it? You should've held on and treated me right. I gave you one chance. You don't get it twice. We'll never be together. So baby, you can bite me. You should've known better to fuck with someone like me.”

Her ex-lover didn’t treat Avril right. Of course Avril will not tolerate that sort of behavior. He lied to Avril and she got played. He threw all their memories away and now their relationship is over. Avril tells him to fuck off basically.

Avril proceeds to throw his clothing from the front yard. There are articles of his clothing strewn everywhere on the front yard. Suddenly Avril creates a plot twist by turning the sprinklers on so she can burn the rest of his clothing in the backyard. This situation is explained in lyrics to Verse 2.
 
[Verse 2]
Don't hold your breath 'cause you're still chokin' on your words
Those things you said might be the last ones that I heard
So come pick up your clothes from the front yard
Sprinklers on, burn the rest in the backyard
Shoulda had the guts just to say goodbye
Now you're gonna have regrets for the rest of your life

4/5****!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing album review

Avril Lavigne decided to take a different musical direction with The Best Damn Thing album. The whole album is more pop oriented than rock. By 2007, Avril Lavigne became an international pop sensation sellout across the globe by having decided to go the pop route. This album is more girly and cheery than her 2 previous albums prior to this one. The album tackles subjects such as dating and relationships which is what she did on her last album Under My Skin. The Best Damn Thing showcased the more feminine side of Avril.


The Best Damn Thing is the title track and lead single that is a cheerleader pop song about how Avril Lavigne is “the best damn thing” your eyes will have ever seen toward any man out there willing to be her boyfriend. It is a pop oriented song. Avril Lavigne definitely went all out with this song. It’s painfully obvious she went the sellout route here. Avril Lavigne can create a scene as she is a scene. She’s a drama queen. She’s the best damn thing that your eyes have ever seen! Like it or not.

The Best Damn Thing” was released as the final single on June 21, 2008. The song charted at #7 on the US Billboard Charts under the Hot 100 Singles chart. The song would later peaked at #95 on the Hot 100 Singles chart. However The Best Damn Thing didn’t perform as well commercially as some of her previous singles. Oh the irony.

Apparently a guy not getting the door for her really gets on her last nerves as evidenced in He Wasn’t from the Under My Skin album and on Verse 1 for this song.

[Verse 1]
I hate it when a guy doesn't get the door
Even though I told him yesterday and the day before
I hate it when a guy doesn't get the tab
And I have to pull my money out and that looks bad, yeah

Now Verse 2 is where Avril starts to get awkward and quite disturbing. Does this really need an explanation? She is talking about being on her period for fucks sake.

[Verse 2]
I hate it when a guy doesn't understand
Why a certain time of month I don't wanna hold his hand (uh-uh)

Now the bridge sung in a cheer the way cheerleaders performs their cheers and chants at pep rallies & sporting events. Now this is where the song becomes even more cheery. Oh joy.

[Bridge]
Give me an A (always give me what I want)
Give me a V (be very, very good to me)
R (are you gonna treat me right?)
I (I can put up a fight)
Give me an L (let me hear you scream loud)
(Let me hear you scream loud)
One, two, three, four!
You won’t get rid of her never.

Where are the hopes? Where are the dreams? Her Cinderella story scene? You’re not gonna get any better. You will never get rid of Avril ever.


I Can Do Better is someone getting over someone whether it be a friend, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, significant other, or a certain crush. Whatever the case, this song certainly is rubbing it in their faces you can and will find someone to treat you  the way you deserve to be treated. That you will find someone better. It’s basically that.

It is evident and painfully obvious that Avril is tired of this shit. So don’t ask why and don’t deny it.

[Pre-Chorus]
I'm sick of this shit, don't deny
You're a waste of time
I'm sick of this shit, don't ask why


Hot is a “burlesque” pop rock ballad where Avril sings away her feelings about her boyfriend. This boyfriend of hers makes her “hot”. It’s so ridiculous.

Avril wants to lock her boyfriend up in her closet where no one's around. She wants to drive him into the corner and kiss him without a sound. She wants things to stay this way forever. Avril tells her boyfriend, “You're so good to me, baby, baby.” Her boyfriend makes her so hot. It’s so ridiculous, She can barely stop and she can hardly breathe.

Avril plans to show her boyfriend all the places he has never been. She can truly make him feel all better. Ooh la la. Avril asks her boyfriend to kiss her gently. And to hold her and never let go. She can barely stop. They will do this again and again all night. She will let him do anything he wants.


Avril proved to us how she was the princess of punk pop in 2007 with her smash trailblazing hit Girlfriend. She used a fusion of punk rock and pop in the song. She proved to us that she was and is the motherfuckin' princess. The motherfuckin' punk pop princess.

Here is the synopsis of Girlfriend. Avril talks about liking a man who is in love with another woman who is an unworthy partner. Avril doesn’t not like his current girlfriend as Avril believes she is an unworthy partner. Avril things he needs a new girlfriend as she does not like his current girlfriend. She wants to be his girlfriend. Avril is aware that he likes her. You know it's not a secret.

Avril thinks about him all the time. He’s so addictive and delicious. He’s so fine. Don't pretend he’s not. And hell yeah, Avril Lavigne is the motherfuckin' princess. The motherfuckin' punk pop princess.

He could do so much better with Avril in her life. She's like so whatever. And that's what everyone's talkin' about. Avril sees the way he looks at her. She knows he talks about her all the time again and again. Avril is damn precious. Don’t deny it. He clearly thinks of her.


Everything Back But You is about how Avril is glad to have broken up and separated from her lover over a note left on a postcard. She wants everything back but him.

Today was the worst day. Avril went through hell. She wishes she could remove it from her mind. It’s been 2 months since she separated from her lover. Avril thought that everything was gonna be just fine. But that isn’t/wasn’t the case though.

Something wasn't quite right regarding/about the postcard that he wrote with a stupid little note. Something wasn't quite right about it at all. The scent which came from him smelt like cheap perfume and didn't smell like him There is no way he can get around it because he wrote, "I wish you were her" and left out the "E". He left without Avril.  And now he is  somewhere out there with a bitch who could display the personality of a psychopath or is a total slut. Who knows. Why are guys so lame? Avril hates him now. She wants everything she gave to him back. She wants everything back but him.

Her friends tried to tell her all along that he wasn’t the right boyfriend for her. They told her to be strong. Now he is losing Avril because he wrote, "I wish you were her" and left out the "E". Something wasn't quite right about it.

4/5****!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Lavigne - Goodbye Lullaby album review

Avril Lavigne decided to take a different musical direction with the Goodbye Lullaby album. Goodbye Lullaby showcased the more sensitive side of Avril. The whole album uses a balanced portion of pop rock and is girly and cheery as The Best Damn Thing was. Avril Lavigne marked herself again as an international pop sensation.


Black Star is one of those songs that should have been a full song but wasn’t. Which is truly a bummer. The ethereal song has a piano-driven chorus over high quality crystal clear production.

Black Star, black star
Forever you will be
A shining star, shining star
Be whatever you can be
A rock star, rock star
You will always be
A black star, black star, black star
Black star, black star, black star


What The Hell showcases the more popish and sassy side of Avril Lavigne. The song lightens up the mood for her album. The acoustic guitars are stripped down with pianos to an upbeat tempo. She’s tired of being a good girl and following the rules all the time. She’s not afraid of being reckless or the consequences that come along with being reckless.

Her boyfriend say that she has been messing with his head because she was making out with his friend. Love hurts whether it's right or wrong. Avril can't stop because she is having too much fun. But honestly Avril just needs to be a little crazy. Her boyfriend is on his knees begging Avril to stay with him. He is begging her, "Please, stay with me."

Avril has been good all her life, but now she’s thinking, "What the hell?" All Avril wants is to mess around, be sassy, and reckless. She really couldn’t care less about his feelings or your feelings. You can't save her.

So what if she go out on a million dates? Her boyfriend never calls or listens to her anyway.  She’d rather rage than sit around and wait all day for his ass. Don't get her wrong. Avril just needs some time to play because she has been good all her life. Avril could care less if you hate or love her.

Her boyfriend say that she has been messing with his head. She tells him, “Boy, I like messing in your bed.” She clearly just wants to fool around and have sex with him.

She also tells him, “I am messing with your head when I'm messing with you in bed.”


Avril shows her gratitude and expresses thanks on Smile. She expresses gratitude for that special person in her life.

You know that Avril is a crazy bitch. She does what she wants when she feels like it. All Avril wants to do is loose control. But you don't really give a shit. Avril is fuckin' crazy rock 'n' roll. He stole Avril’s heart and he’s the one to blame. And that’s why Avril has a smile. It's been a while since everyday and everything has felt this right for. And now he turns it all around. And suddenly he is all Avril needs.

Last night Avril blacked out. She asks him what he put in her drink. “What did you put in my drink?” She remembers makin' out and then waking up with a new tattoo. His name was on her and her name was on him. She would do it all over again.


Avril Lavigne explains what the true definition of love is on her song Push.

Avril has been seeing too much of this man she has had her eyes on lately. This man is starting to get on her nerves. This is exactly what happened last time.

And it's not what they deserve. It's a waste of her time lately. If it's really meant to be then he can find a way to see. Maybe he should just shut up even when it gets tough because this is love. This is the kind of love Avril is looking for. And you know when push comes to shove. It's gonna take the both of them. Baby, this is love.

It's really great to be with him. This is how Avril could spend her life. But Avril is capable of taking care of herself. She tells him, “So if you fuck this up, then go take a hike. It's a waste of my time. I'm not going out to search.” Avril is not not going out to search for any other kind of love that’s out there.


Wish You Were Here showcased the more vulnerable side of Avril. Even though Avril has this tough girl image, she also has a soft vulnerable side. The song is primarily driven by pianos and guitars with high quality production provided by modern technology.

Avril can be tough and strong. But with him, it's not like that at all. Avril has a vulnerable side too. A vulnerable side that she only shows nad displays when she is with him. There's a girl that gives a shit. Behind this wall. You just walk through it.

Avril remembers all those crazy things he said and all those crazy things they did together. They didn't think about it consequently or how what were doing would affect their future. They just went with whatever they were doing. He left all those crazy things he said runnin' through her head. He’s always there. He’s everywhere. But right now Avril wishes he was here. Avril loves the way he is. It's who she is. She doesn't have to try hard. The truth is that Avril really misses all those crazy things he said.

The bridge hits hard right in the feels.

[Bridge]
No, I don't wanna let go
I just wanna let you know
That I never wanna let go, let go, oh, oh
No, I don't wanna let go
I just wanna let you know
That I never wanna let go, let go, let go, let go, let go
Let go, let go, let go, let go
Let go, let go, let go, let go

4/5****! 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rhythm & Knowledge - The Rhythm & Knowledge Album album review

Rhythm & Knowledge - The Rhythm & Knowledge Album is one of the lesser known unreleased Death Row Records albums which hardly anyone knows about or is aware of. The Rhythm & Knowledge Album has that smooth sultry this 90’s R&B/soul sound. Their entire album has that 90’s vibe also. Death Row definitely had the game on lock back in 1994.

The Rhythm & Knowledge Album was produced by Sean "Barney Ruble" Thomas. The members of Rhythm & Knowledge were Jay Swift aka Swift Digg, Kedrick Johnson, and Sean "Barney Ruble" Thomas. Sean "Barney Ruble" Thomas was the person with the low voice singing ad-libs. Rhythm & Knowledge came from Dallas, Texas.

The Rhythm & Knowledge Album was supposed to be released in 1994 on Death Row Records. Sadly The Rhythm & Knowledge Album was never released and remains unreleased. Here are the reasons why this album was never released.

Rhythm & Knowledge having too much of a commercial sound is the reason why their debut album was never released. Suge Knight and Dr. Dre deemed the album too commercial sounding for Death Row Records which lead to their album being shelved. So the group ended up going their separate ways. Everyone has grown up and forgot about the past bullshit.

Branding was another reason. Suge Knight and Dr. Dre thought Rhythm & Knowledge would hurt their brand for having too much of that commercial sound. Death Row was too stuck in their formula to put and promote Rhythm & Knowledge out. In fact everybody at Death Row Records thought Rhythm & Knowledge was too commercial to come out on Death Row Records.

Business politics kept the album from being released. Dr. Dre wouldn’t release their album because it wasn’t "gangsta" enough for Death Row Records. This is ironic because even Dr. Dre had rapped on one of their songs on their album.


For those who don’t remember, U Bring The Dog Out was used from the Above The Rim soundtrack in 1994. This was one of the most slept on songs on the album. This song has a 90’s vibe due to the smooth vocals crispy thick beats and drums.

Da Dogg Madness (U Bring Da Dog Out Remix) is a remix of U Bring The Dog Out with a sample of Summer Madness by Kool & the Gang. The remix to this song with The Kool & the Gang sample is straight fire. Both the original version and remix version are produced by Sean "Barney Rubble" Thomas, who was one of the most talented and slept on in-house Death Row producers. However sample clearance issues prevented the remix from being released.

I Luv My People is a pro-black soul song about love for the black race and black people. The song is about giving love and respect to people also.

Other songs recorded for the album were Ask Somebody Dog, Black Queen, Don't Worry, Feels Good To Be Black, Givin' It Back, I Love My People, Live Show, Luv My People, Push Up, Show, and Side B. Subway.

5/5*****!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gina Longo album review

The Gina Longo album is a rap album surprisingly filled with a huge chunk of blue-eyed soul. She recorded 8 tracks for the album prior to 2Pac’s death on September 7, 1996. Out of those 8 tracks included a duet with Death Row's then-newcomer Danny Boy. One of the songs she wrote was a composition titled Caught Up. Other songs were included such as Caught Up, Ready, Love Comes, Back, and Finish What You Started. Gina had trained with a vocal coach hired by Death Row Records and recorded demo tracks at a studio rented by the company.

The Gina Longo album was another rap album and Death Row album that never was. This was another one of those albums that got archived in the Death Row Records vaults due to legal drama, business decisions, and other politics.

Some of you may remember that Gina Longo is/was the daughter of Deputy District Attorney Lawrence W. Longo handled an assault case against Suge Knight. Surprisingly the case was dropped and a probation agreement was worked out in February 1995, nearly a year before Gina Longo's contract was signed.

Lawrence W. Longo said in an interview, "Marion Knight is one of the few guys I have ever prosecuted who I actually believe can turn his life around and really change the community from where he came. I have never seen a guy transform as much as this guy has since he was first booked. It's remarkable."

It all started in June 1995 when Gina Longo’s brother, Frank Longo, gave her demo tape to Knight's chief defense lawyer, David Kenner, while talking about an unrelated music proposal. In July 1995, her brother, who is/was a lawyer, set up an audition for her with Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight. Suge Knight was impressed with her voice and look. She recorded a few test tracks before signing the deal on January 2, 1996.

She came on board to Death Row Records because of a favor her father did for Suge Knight. Gina Longo, was given a record deal by Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight. Gina Longo signed a multi-album deal with Death Row on January 2, 1996 that was worth an estimated $50,000. Under the contract with Death Row Records, Gina was to be paid a standard new artist royalty rate - 12% percent of the suggested retail record price, or about $1 per album. She also received a $25,000 advance upon signing and will receive an additional $25,000 after her first album is completed. Gina Longo told her father about the contract offer in December 1995 and received a $25,000 advance from the record company the following month.

She had never released a record or performed in concert prior to signing with Death Row Records. Gina's public performances were limited to appearances in neighborhood holiday shows, banquets and events at Malibu's Colin McEwen College Preparatory School, where she graduated as valedictorian in 1994, a year ahead of her class. Gina Longo had been trying to get into the music business for a long time and this was an opportunity that presented itself to her. She had been studying dance and music since the age of 6.

Gina Longo was a rapper who simply billed as “Gina”. Gina Longo was only white rapper signed to Death Row Records and was the only white artist on Death Row Records minus Michel’le. Her singing was similar to the style of Teena Marie and Celine Dion.



There are several reasons as to why the Gina Longo album never came out. Here are the reasons her album was never released.


Legal drama surrounding Suge Knight’s assault case was one of the reasons why Gina Longo’s album never was released. The legal drama created a conflict of interest.

Deputy District Attorney Lawrence W. Longo was supervising Suge Knight’s probation. That is why Gina's father, Lawrence W. Longo, was not able to manage her career. So he relied on Suge Knight to manage his daughter’s career. This meant Deputy District Attorney Lawrence W. Longo had to report to the courts that Suge Knight was not violating his parole.


Controversy was another reason why her album never came out. Gina Longo received instant notoriety when it was discovered that she had signed a record contract with Death Row Records.

According to to news article written in 1996 by Los Angeles Times writers Alan Abrahamson and Chuck Phillips for the Los Angeles Times newspaper, Gina Longo received instant notoriety when it was discovered that she had signed a record contract with Death Row Records while her father, Deputy District Attorney Lawrence W. Longo, was monitoring Suge Knight's probation stemming from a 1992 assault conviction. With her father under investigation for a potential conflict of interest and her boss in jail, the buzz in the entertainment industry is that Gina's record deal had more to do with whom she knew than how she sings a contention she vehemently rejected.

Gina Longo told The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin in 1996 she had been unfairly linked to a controversy involving Suge Knight and her father Lawrence W. Longo. Her father was pulled from the case and the District Attorney's Office was investigating a possible conflict of interest. It was also discovered that Knight's lawyer had leased a beachfront Malibu home owned by the Longo family and that Knight had been staying there.

She told the Hanford Sentenial, "I feel angry. But even more than that, I feel hurt. My dad is a great person. I am a talented singer. Why would the media want to take this and twist it into something that it's not?"

Los Angeles Times reported back in 1996 that Suge Knight's lawyer who was a DA had leased a beachfront Malibu home owned by the Longo family and that Suge Knight had been staying there. This created a conflict of interest with the public and private.

Los Angeles Times reported back in 1996 about a celebration dinner at an Encino restaurant was attended by Gina Longo, friends, family, Suge Knight, and several of the record executive's associates. Several people at the dinner told the Times that Knight said Longo had the voice of a black woman in a white woman’s body. However Gina Longo’s father apparently warned Suge Knight at one point during the dinner not to expect any special treatment in regards to the plea agreement that was worked out February 1995 in regards to his probation on an assault charge and not to expect any special treatment of any other kind just because his daughter was with Death Row Records, according to several people who were at the dinner.

According to an interview conducted in the Westwood office of her father's attorney firm with the Los Angeles Times from 1996, Gina Longo explained the following, "It's not like they just give you this money either. You have to pay it back. But that's the way the business works. You have to prove yourself when you first start out.Signing with the hottest rap label in the business was a dream come true." This probably implied Gina had notreceived any payments from Death Row Records.


Timing was one of the main reasons why the Gina Longo album was never released. That is that main reason why her album was never released.

She recorded 8 tracks for the album prior to 2Pac’s death on September 7, 1996. She had another song written down with lyrics on paper 6 days after 2 Pac’s death. However she was unable to get into their studio. This meant she was not able to complete the recording of her album. Her album was never completed and mastered. Plus her work has never been put out on a record. Now the Gina Longo album is never going to be released as Death Row Records, Hasbro, and E1 own the rights to that album.

When 2Pac died by reign of gunshots, business at Death Row came to a halt. Death Row Records stopped returning her calls after Knight was taken into police custody for violating his parole. 2Pac’s death halted the recording and release of her album also.

4/5****!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murder IV Hire - Murder IV Hire EP EP review

The Murder IV Hire - Murder IV Hire EP is one of the lesser known unreleased EPs from Death Row Records which of course not many people know about. Murder IV Hire had the most deadliest violent lyrics for a rap EP from 1994 on Hollow Point Records. The album is laced heavily with a funk influenced and is backed with explicit gangsta rap. The Murder IV Hire EP had 5 songs which were produced by Rod Norman and engineered by Bigger Dave for this EP which got into Suge Knight’s hands.

Murder IV Hire was another rap group signed to Death Row Records that faded into obscurity. Not much is known about this group except that Murder IV Hire is/were all Pueblo Bishop Bloods  from the Del Rio Projects in South Central Los Angeles. Murder IV Hire was managed by Jake Tha Violator Robles. Big Jake Robles was an executive with the label and close friend of Suge Knight.


Faces of Death is a dark haunting gangsta rap track with a spooky vibe due to those thick loud vibrant bells. Murder IV Hire shows no mercy for anyone even law enforcement. The song in a nutshell is Murder IV Hire going around killing people. The song is similar to Deuce 11 Gz - Reign of Terror.

Interestingly enough this song is filled with humor. One of the most hilarious lines in the song are, “A .38 slug might make both eyes bust/But I’ve something that will make your skull crumble like crust/So if you rusty, you can trust if you wearing a badge and then naked(?)/I’ll spin your ass like a record” and “True soldiers throughout the Low Bottoms/South Central LA/Niggaz be falling like autumn”


Like A G is a funk inspired gangsta rap song backed with Zapp samples. The Zapp samples used are Zapp - Make You Dance, Zapp - Dance Floor, and Roger - So Ruff, So Tuff. Like A G was produced by Rod Norman and engineered by Bigger Dave for an EP that got into Suge Knight’s hands.

4/5****!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murder IV Hire - Murder IV Hire album review

Murder IV Hire - Murder IV Hire is one of the lesser known unreleased albums from Death Row Records which of course not many people know about. Murder IV Hire had the most deadliest violent lyrics for a rap album from 1996. The album is laced heavily with a funk influenced and is backed with explicit gangsta rap. 5 other songs, including Like A G,  were produced by Rod Norman and engineered by Bigger Dave for an EP that got into Suge Knight’s hands.

Things were looking up for the group in 1994 when they got signed to Death Row Records by Suge Knight. However the recording process slowed down in 1995 when Big Jake was shot by a person with a semiautomatic weapon and died 2 weeks later in a hospital. The album was scheduled to be released in 1996 but was never released due to the death of 2Pac and label politics. Someone leaked a few of their songs from that album to the internet in 2008. However the entire album was never leaked fully.

Murder IV Hire was another rap group signed to Death Row Records that faded into obscurity. Not much is known about this group except that Murder IV Hire is/were all Pueblo Bishop Bloods from the Del Rio Projects in South Central Los Angeles. Murder IV Hire was managed by Jake Tha Violator Robles. Big Jake Robles was an executive with the label and close friend of Suge Knight.


Faces of Death is a dark haunting gangsta rap track with a spooky vibe due to those thick loud vibrant bells. Murder IV Hire shows no mercy for anyone even law enforcement. The song in a nutshell is Murder IV Hire going around killing people. The song is similar to Deuce 11 Gz - Reign of Terror.

Interestingly enough this song is filled with humor. One of the most hilarious lines in the song are, “A .38 slug might make both eyes bust/But I’ve something that will make your skull crumble like crust/So if you rusty, you can trust if you wearing a badge and then naked(?)/I’ll spin your ass like a record” and “True soldiers throughout the Low Bottoms/South Central LA/Niggaz be falling like autumn”


Like A G is a funk inspired gangsta rap song backed with Zapp samples. The Zapp samples used are Zapp - Make You Dance, Zapp - Dance Floor, and Roger - So Ruff, So Tuff. Like A G was produced by Rod Norman and engineered by Bigger Dave for an EP that got into Suge Knight’s hands.

Bottoms Up was a track dedicated to the Low Bottoms of South Central Los Angeles. Specifically to all the Blood sets in that area. Bottoms Up uses a fusion of funk and gangsta rap.

The Bonnie & Clyde Theme came from the original Murder IV Hire EP from 1994. However members of Murder IV Hire “claim” Ice Cube stole their stole to use on one of his albums sometime between the time span ranging from 1994 to 1997.

The songs and title track Murder IV Hire is notable for the dope line which contains the lyrics, “36 round clip and it make your chest hang”

Other songs recorded for the album included Act Like You Know, For Real Doe, Get Your A, Guilty As Charged, Hard Times In 95', Hired For Murder, Klosed Kasket, Memory Lane, Nothin' I Can Do, and Redrum.

4/5****!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gangsta Ern - 2 The Hard Way single review

One of the earliest examples of gangsta rap from San Diego, California is Gangsta Ern - 2 The Hard Way which is a “hood tape” which circulated on cassette around the Southcrest neighborhood in 1989. He represented the streets of Southeast San Diego to the fullest during that time. On this cassette were 3 songs which were Nation of Drugs, Dope Fiend, and Homicide Without Time.

All of the songs have a theme of drugs and crime. Songs such as Nation of Drugs and Dope Fiend warn listeners about the dangers of consuming and using drugs. Both songs serve as cautionary tales which tell listeners not to use drugs. Dope Fiend explains to the listeners to what the effects of using drugs can do to your health and personality. Drugs can change your personality completely. Homicide Without Time is an aggressive street savvy track about commit homicide without doing time. Homicide Without Time molds old school rap into a gangsta sound. You can expect to hear dope lyrics on this album. Old school rap meets gangsta rap on this album.

The whole album was basically a Gangsta Ern and Pokey album as Pokey rapped on all three songs on this cassette. Today he is viewed as a Daygo legend. R.I.P. Gangsta Ern.


Dope Fiend was a rap song written based on a true story about one of Gangsta Ern’s homeboys becoming hooked on drugs and turning into a dope fiend. The song is similar to Jazzie Redd - I’m A Dope Fiend in terms of subject matter. The song featured Gangsta Ern and Pokey (OG Poke Doke/Poke Doke).

Gangsta Ern asks his homeboy, “Why do you want to live like this? ” Gangsta Ern tells him, “You can’t answer this question because you’re high.” He sees that he is a dope fiend the broke with no money and has gone completely downhill.

Gangsta Ern asked his homeboy about his drug habit. He told him a lie. He told Gangsta Ern he would stop smoking way back in July. That was a lie because he had a base pipe to do freebase with. Gangsta Ern told him not to touch the pipe but he did that anyway. He tried to tell him what the dope would to him but he just kept smoking away. Now he’s run out of money. So he ends up working for a drug dealer and he ain’t making shit. All he really cares about doing that hit of cocaine.

He always talks about the things he never did and talks about all the record he broke when he was just a kid. The way he lost everything makes Gangsta Ern sad. He had cars, bitches, and a pushed out pad.

Now he is grown and on his own. Based out and spaced out. He lost his house. He used to earn money but now he robs. A weekly paycheck was something he used to ear but he lost his job. His rib cage is showing as he’s had nothing to eat. You can see that he is barefoot. Ain’t combed his hair or brushed his teeth.

Police captured him as he violated his probation. He was in a jail cell for a couple of weeks. His homeboy said he went to jail to rehabilitate. Every day while he was serving time, he was still thinking about smoking. All along he was laughing and smoking with his cellmates. He told his cellies he will never come back.

Now he is back on the streets doing the same thing again. He has a crack pipe in his socks and dope in his hands. Gangsta Ern will never understand how his homeboy does drugs. Fresh out of jail and going back to do the same things again. He had a second chance but he blew it. Cocaine has destroyed his brain. Insane is what his state is now. He’s now another dope fiend.

His homeboy got caught a second time for parole violation. Only this time he served more time in jail.  What was the crime? Drug possession.


Homicide Without Time is one of the more negative songs off the album. Homicide Without Time is an aggressive song about committing murder and doing a homicide without serving time. The song molds old school rap into a gangsta sound. The song uses a vocal sample from Slick Rick - The Ruler’s Back which says, “living in the South Side jam”. The song is an Early recording by the late Gangsta Ern. Now this song is known for the classic substantial lyrics “Murder’s the crime/Homicide without time/That’s the only thing that’s on my mind”.

The song was a duet which featured Gangsta Ern and Pokey (OG Poke Doke/Poke Doke). They frequently collaborated in the late 80s.

Homicide Without Time samples Slick Rick - The Ruler’s Back, James Brown - Sex Machine, and Boogie Down Productions - South Bronx.

The song starts off with a heavy drum beat and the vocal sample from Slick Rick - The Ruler’s Back which says, “living in the South Side jam” over vinyl cuts. A sampled guitar track plays afterwards.

Murder’s the crime. Homicide without time. That’s the only thing that’s Gangsta Ern’s mind. He doesn’t choke when goes to smoke. Either he blasts his ass or slices his throat. It’s no one else business but his. After handling his business, he goes to bust some cold rhymes.

Poke Doke keeps one eye open when he’s asleep. He stays strapped with a .9 millimeter in his lap 24/7. Police keep following him. Police say he committed a first degree murder. That shit is crazy as it’s all nonsense. Some fool got smoked (killed) in self-defense. Murder’s the crime. Homicide without time. That’s the only thing that’s his mind.

To kill somebody is not really hard. Pull the trigger in disregard. His life didn’t mean shit. He’s dead. Gangsta Ern is alive. That’s it. He would hate to have a bitch because if he touches her it would be all about murder. It’s 2 the hard way. If you fuck with the South, they’ll spray with an uzi.

You’ll go to jail if you do something wrong. Be sure to have money for bail. You don’t want to spend 10 years in a cell with a punk motherfucker straight roasting to hell. Poke Doke tells the listeners to stay away from jail as jail is not the place to be. He has money and bitches. He’s chillen. Murder’s the crime. Homicide without time. That’s the only thing that’s his mind.

Gangsta Ern only thinks about taking another persons life. Talk some shit and Gangsta Ern will blast your ass or kill you. Him and Poke Doke are straight out brazy. At the end of the song is where Poke Doke tells the listeners not to get caught up in crime and to stay home.


Nation of Drugs showcases their political awareness about the war on drugs and the crack epidemic of the 1980s. He calls out politicians and the governments for being hypocrites by not stopping the drug war. Nation of Drugs samples Zapp - More Bounce To The Ounce and Public Enemy - Night of the Living Baseheads.

The drug problem started overseas when the government started getting into the drug business. Then-president G. Bush said he needed billions of dollars to fight this drug crisis. Poke Doke tells listeners not to buy into the drug war or the president. The penalties are stiff for all drug addicts.

He calls out the government for favoring the rich in these lyrics, “Why do poor black addicts go to prison?/When rich white addicts go to clinic” He is calling out the government for being racist and classist at the same time as the government favors rich people. The government often locks black people up for crimes more than white people. Poke Doke calls out Nancy Reagan for her famous speech “Say no to drugs.” for being ineffective. We all know how that worked out. That didn’t work as things only got worse overtime. All we got is blood, death, and more people in jail.

Gangsta Ern says, “Little kids are selling drugs to stay alive while politicians are in the closet getting high.” All of the drugs are still getting through border checkpoints. Judges and lawyers are getting paid off too. They are dealing tons of drugs that come from overseas from the cartels.

Poke Doke asks how President G. Bush can stop this drug crisis as all his family members are on drugs. Bush kept on making all these speeches while denying the drug crisis. But Poke Doke is not fooled by this. He shows political consciousness and awareness on this song with Gangsta Ern.

5/5*****!!
 

No comments:

Post a Comment