Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 358

Jill Tracy - Diabolic Streak album review

Jill Tracy - Diabolic Streak is a neo-cabaret album influenced by Edwardian steampunk sounds and dark jazz. A bit of offbeat freeform jazz is used on some of the songs. The Malcontent Orchestra acts as her backing ensemble. To be honest, this album is more of a dark cabaret album than a neo-cabaret album as many people would believe. One way to describe the tone and sound of this album is monotonous.


Evil Night Together is one of those malicious and mischievous songs about two people who commit evil at night together. In this song, Jill describes how she will stand by a killer even as he is being discovered.

Jill will hold the killer’s hand while they drag the river and cuddle the killer in the undertow. She’ll go through any great lengths to protect him. She takes him down where the train tracks go. They wile away the hours and spend an evil night together. The lyrics, “Let's wile away the hours/Let's spend an evil night together” means they will both lure and manipulate someone to do what they want.

They’ll drink a toast in the torture chamber and you'll go down on a bed of nails. They’ll rendezvous in cold blood. Jill will tie you up to the third rail.

Who's gonna make you a hero? Who's gonna blow you away? It's a multiple down in solitary and you'll uncover the evidence shanghaied by a fishnet stocking. Jill will hold you close while they dust for prints.


The Fine Art of Poisoning is a warped dark jazz song with quirky piano chords and keys overlapping a violin. The song explains the elaborate art of poisoning someone. The fine art of poisoning is quite an elaborate scheme. That’s what some people say at least. Now the song is quite dark, wicked, and mischievous. And is certainly not for the frail of heart.

The fine art of poisoning is quite an elaborate scheme. The dose to comatose is slightly administered. Not for the frail of heart. The vengeful must play their part. A friend to the bitter end. Or so they say. Administer the dose and nice and slow. And soon enough the misfortune will flow. What a dreadful fright. But who will know?

Periling the nursery. It seems a tainted pastry. One bite. What a dreadful fright. She was such a delicate little dish. Quicksilver concealed in a ruby ring. Two lumps or three? I have always adored bergamot tea.


Pulling Your Insides Out is about how people can be deceitful and fake. These are the messages of the song. The more the diamond glitters, the more it can deceive. The truth lays in the treasure of what we disbelieve. The song title alone is dark enough to make your skin crawl. Talk about cringeworthy. The song uses a fantastic melody and wonderful arrangements from The Malcontent Orchestra.

The song uses inspirational quotes in the lyrics such as “The more the diamond glitters, The more it can deceive” and “The truth lay in the treasure/Of what we disbelieve”. The more the diamond glitters, the more it can deceive. The truth lays in the treasure of what we disbelieve.

Watch Jill’s blood boil to an opalescent blue. Jill tells her man that he had better draw the curtain because the neighbors are trying to catch a glimpse of him naked. Slowly watching the fruit die that is till clinging to the vine. Redemption from a bottle that stays empty all the time. Her man drinks her problems away.

But it's worth the pain Jill is pulling his insides out. Jill tells her man that his best friend is posing as his nemesis and to know his nemesis. They roll out the red carpet just to pull it out from under you. She tells him not to believe the newspapers because they are telling lies again. That is what these lyrics mean.

Baby, know your nemesis
He's posing as your best friend
Don't believe the newspapers
They're telling lies again
The cold hand of the healers
Slices your soul in two
They roll out the red carpet
Just to pull it out
From under you

Mind the vultures because they are circling around above. Feeding from the idols. They think they can draw blood from a stone. The more the diamond glitters, the more it can deceive. The truth lays in the treasure of what we disbelieve.


Extraordinary explains how deep Jill’s love for her man truly is. She will go through great lengths to protect their extravagant love.

The cup of Jill’s man has runneth over with his cup of convoluted wares. The aftermath is sinking lower. The perfect pales beyond compare. His garden's rushing to her head now. His guise will leave no stone unturned. Jill is paralyzed by his concoction. His sleight of hand keeps all her fingers burned.

Jill searched the holy books and has dogeared every page. She has stolen secrets from the sorcerer's own sage although a connoisseur of fine legerdemain. She has just one word for him which is “extraordinary”. Her man is open to interpretation like the trap door underneath his tousled throne. Jill is both engaged, enraged, and enchanted with this little bit of magic she has been shown.


The Proof are tragic stories about the deaths of several people. Jill Tracy got a bit Alfred Hitchcock with this song. A majority of the song deals with suicide. Jill wants to believe in something. She is still searching for the truth. She has finally found the proof.

The first story explains the tragic about the death of a woman named Mattie Burton. Dear old Mattie Burton was always so uncertain about the moment that would end her life which came with her husband's hunting knife. The precocious Phineas Ray never felt the need to pray. He knelt with a bullet to his head. He had a note pinned to the bed that read, “I want to believe in something.I'm still searching for the truth. I want to believe in something. I've finally found the proof.”

The second story explains the tragic story about the death of an agoraphobic man named Walter Strauss. Agoraphobic Walter Strauss never ever left the house. Looking for salvation there, he threw himself down the cellar stair

The third story explains the tragic story about the death of a little girl named Little Anna. Little Anna would not eat. She was a skeleton from head to feet. Afflicted with society's ills sometimes it is only the mirror that kills. It hangs there still.


The third story explains the tragic story about the death of a man named Reginald. They thought Reginald was fine despite the voices inside his mind. He silenced them with the roar that came as he locked eyes with the northbound train. Edward saw tranquility far beneath the angry sea sweetly smothered by the waves. He submerged to his watery grave where he remains.

Jill wants to believe in something. She is still searching for the truth. She has finally found the proof.


Just the Other Side of Pain showcases the pain that plagues Jill’s life and why her life feels so monotonous.

Those blasted clocks have all run down. Does time stand still without him around? The birds don't sing their little song. The prophecies have all proved wrong. The Persian rugs have gone thread-bare. The waxy moon has lost its flair. The wishes drown beneath the well. The razor blades have all gone dull.

But this is confidential. Her man is the one to blame. And now the forecast calls perpetually for rain. And although it's rather late, Jill lies awake in vain because she is still waiting for what's wonderful. Just the other side of pain


Jill explains how she loves all the ways her man leaves her cold and quivering You Leave Me Cold.

Jill likes the way her man leaves her cold. Jill likes the way her man makes her shiver. Jill shivers like a stone underneath him. She even likes the way he shakes the shutters. That’s so pristine. Her lips are quivering and her teeth are chattering.

She also likes the way he can trick the tremble. That is so very porcelain and frozen heavenly. Clearly Jill is petrified. Her flesh turns to ice cream when she is tickled blue. Her lips quiver when that happens.


Doomsday Serenade was a serenade to her lover and partner in crime.

Jill will meet her lover again on Doomsday. Pigs will be flying through the sky on the 12th of Never at a quarter past Forever. Stricken with the Rapture, they’ll watch the world's demise.

A hint of Armageddon fills the air now that Hell has frozen over and the sun is growing colder. They will be drawing close cause there's no more time to spare.  But as bleak as it may be, this is an apocalyptic revelry. The air's too thin to breathe on Doomsday. At last they face The Reckoning and blood will fill the sea. Cobwebs will cover both of them as flames engulf the remnants of this grand catastrophe. It's Doomsday.


Precursor #7 (For a Levitation) is a short 32 second long muffled and treble reduced piano solo which is a piano instrumental playing dark major keys in B Major. The song uses 26 measures at a tempo of 78 BPM on a 3|4 time signature. Honestly this piano solo and instrumental should have been much longer than 32 seconds.

Diabolical Streak explains her man’s diabolical streak as well as her own diabolical streak. Her man is a slave to good intention. He is the great mastermind. A victim to the culprit of finding out too late. So Jill lingers in the hallway one story down below. Longing for a 45 revolver and a 62 Bordeaux. But he is the only one who can please Jill Tracy. Jill hears the creaks in the floorboards from a firmament above. She can chart the course of his star like a dirty hand in glove. And she is lurking in the holes and creeping across the corners.

5/5*****!!

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Jill Tracy - The Bittersweet Constrain album review

Jill Tracy - The Bittersweet Constrain is a neo-cabaret album influenced by Edwardian steampunk sounds and dark future jazz. A bit of offbeat freeform jazz is used on some of the songs.


Haunted By The Thought Of You is about how a former lover of Jill’s haunt her in a nightmare she has one night.

Jill locked the door and checked it twice. Before she climbs the stairs, she saw him lurking down below underneath the streetlight's glare. His footsteps are approaching. A shadow cloaks the room. She revels in this nightmare. But she keeps waking up too soon. Because Jill keeps imagining over and over again.

She fears it's true. Is she still haunted by the thought of her former lover? His dark eyes peering through the wallpaper's design. He live sin all the constellations. Or has she lost her mind? In the bottom of a bottle. Reflected in a spoon. Jill can feel him right behind her But did she just turn around too soon? Does he believe in Destiny? Or is he merely testing her?


Sell My Soul explained how she sold her soul to the man she loves.

He tricks Jill with his pretty things such as black horses with their silver wings. The halos in the sky are calling her again. He reigns under a broken crown. He is an archangel of the underground. The quicksand in his eyes is taking her down.

Could he be the one Jill sells her soul to? Could he be the one who falls from grace? Could he be the one whose got her falling apart again? Or is it falling into place? Glass snakes on the windowpane tremble in the pouring rain. Captivate the sweet machine. Under the rocks and stones she’ll find him. Beneath the bottom of below.


In Between Shades is about how Jill convinces a man named Mr. Blue to pretend everything is going right. This is her lighthearted attempt to take his pain away.

Jill tells a man named Mr. Blue, “Hey there, Mr. Blue. I know everything you need. Don’t have to scratch the skin to watch the colors bleed. It gets mangled in translation. Indigo aquamarine. And I’m scraping up the ashes just to hold on to the flame. Bending over backwards just to stay in the game. Let’s pretend it’s all okay now. Let’s pretend it still feels good. Let’s pretend we got this world on a string. Like they promised we would.” That is how Jill convinces a man named Mr. Blue to pretend everything is going right.

Jill knows everything Mr. Blue is. Jill knows everything Mr. Blue needs. There is no need to excavate again as they’ve already dug too far. Because Jill and Mr. Blue have been kicked around for so long lately.  Jill wears these wounds upon her sleeve. So does Mr. Blue.


Jill Tracy explains the agony she puts herself through as desire is the cruelest pain in her song called Torture. The song deals with the subjects of torture, pain, and agony.

Jill Tracy explains the agony she puts herself through as desire is the cruelest pain. Or so they say. This torture is getting close to you. The agony she puts herself through is torture which is the bittersweet constrain for desire is the cruelest pain.

Jill Tracy discusses the historical contexts and aspects of torture in her song called Torture by explaining how legal punishments were carried out during the Renaissance era and Middle Ages.

Here are some examples. Back in 1585, they’d impale a person alive by making the person who committed a heinous act wear a wooden collar and iron truss. The bittersweet constrains of the Iron Maiden and Little Ease were very painful when used on someone. The Garrote and the guillotine were inventions used for punishments during the Middle Ages, Dark Ages, and Renaissance era.

And on the pages in between inside of a book, they spoke of the Garrote and the Guillotine. Iron Maiden and Little Ease. So goes the tale of the Brazen Bull is a strange device designed to kill. Bound and broken on the Wheel.

5/5*****!!

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One Gud Cide - Look What The Streets Made album review

One Gud Cide - Look What The Streets Made was a product of a time when gang violence was higher than any city in the State of Texas next to Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston which was 1995. The album revolves around the theme of violence and deals with criminal activity. The album had that classic remarkable Funky Town production from the legendary producer Ernie G. Southern soul and G-Funk are blended in with the sounds of dark gangsta rap. Funky Town rap from Fort Worth, Texas always seems to fly under the radar which is truly a shame. One Gud Cide and Twisted Black put Funky Town on the map with this album.

The recording process time for their debut album lasted from 1991 to 1995. However the recording process of their debut album came to an abrupt halt when Twisted Black was shot in the face and lost half of his jaw in what was an assassination attempt.

Twisted Black’s jaw took 2 years to heal for a full recovery which lead him to stay in the hospital until 1993. Twisted Black was discharged from Fort Worth Harris Methodist HEB Hospital on the date of Sunday, March 14, 1993 as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Notice the date on the album cover which shows the date of 5/12/91 which was 5/12/1991. Twisted Black was shot in the face and lost half of his jaw in an assassination attempt on the date of May 12, 1991. The rate of homicide in Fort Worth in 1991 was 200 homicides. Forth Worth was the homicide capital of Texas next to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco.


Game Of Life is explains what happens when African American men get caught up in a life of crime when trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty. Game Of Life is a country rap song with which uses a bluesy harmonica over G-Funk beats and heavy bass.

Verse 3 is memorable for these lyrics.

2 time loser
Been to the pen twice
I'm back on the streets and I'm rolling the dice
But I can't let law catch me thrice

My chest so swole because you know I'm coming straight from the hole
And know I'm rolling in the night I got a attitude because u know if I'm caught I'm gone
Plus you know I'm dead to the wrong
So if the law get behind me hitting those lights the fool better know it's gonna be a gun fight because I ain't going back down
So the one left standing is the one that gets the crown

A geeker (drug fiend) sold Twisted Black half a bird ($2,000 dollars worth of drugs). Now Fort Worth Police Department is after him. So moves his family to Wichita, Kansas. A drug cartel is paying $26,000 for a kilo he’s getting them for  $18,500. That’s $7,000 for him just for the transport. However the drug transaction was a set up.



Time To Be A Man explains the difficulties for African American men (black men) in the United States of America such as mass incarceration which leads to a revolving door of recidivism. The song goes so deep.

Not many people know this but Mama Told Me is the gangsta rap version of Fourplay - Chant. The song uses a huge touch of smooth jazz in the background. The smooth jazz sample is what makes the song soothing. The song goes so deep.

5/5*****!!

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Top Authority - Somethin' To Blaze To album review

Top Authority - Somethin' To Blaze To is one of those timeless classics that is considered to be a masterpiece album of gangsta rap. This album was many people’s favorite albums from back in the day. The sound of and essence of hardcore gangsta rap can be heard on this album. Tight gangsta lyrics on top of heavy beats and loud thick synths are the sounds you can expect to hear this album. The themes on this album range from murder, drug selling, earning money, to political corruption.

This album captured the essence and atmosphere of Flint, Michigan, US back in 1993 as Top Authority rapped about what was going on in their city at that time. For instance, they rap about the high murder rate of Flint on Another Murda, inner city violence on 93 (Thangs Ain't How They Should Be), and prostitution on Pussy Ain’t Worth No Cash.

Now Top Authority - Somethin' To Blaze, The Dayton Family - What’s On My Mind, and The Dayton Family - Dope Dayton Ave set the tone for the city of Flint musically and climate wise. There was a lot of crime going on and drugs being sold during that time due to the social and political climate of the city. Unemployment was difficult to find as there were no jobs in the city.

The album was produced by Dalo and Steve Pitts. Dalo did a bulk of most of the production while Steve Pitts laid down and arranged the synths, beats, and bells. Top Authority released their debut album in 1993. A magical year in music. 1993 was the same year The Dayton Family dropped their full length demo album and their Dope Dayton Ave EP.

Top Authority is compromised of two great storytellers from the 5th Ward neighborhood of Flint, Michigan. These two great storytellers are Flex and Shotgun. Shotgun sounds very much similar to 2pac and Flex’s voice is similar to Scarface of Geto Boys. That is how Flex’s voice is reminiscent of Scarface. Now the sound of Top Authority is similar to Scarface, Geto Boys, and The Notorious BIG. Top Authority will remind you of Scarface as you listen to their debut album.

Their raps show self-awareness as they rap about socio-political issues that affect Flint. Their styles of rap consist of murder rap, sex rap, and hood tales. Their murder raps show self-awareness as they explain what goes on in the city streets of Flint, Michigan.

Somethin' To Blaze To sold very well in states such as Michigan, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and Texas. The album was well received in the Great Lakes region (the North) and the South. Their debut album was well received especially down South since that’s where some of gangsta rap was coming from. This album was bumped at red lights during traffic and house parties. You could hardly walk around a street corner in Flint and not hear their debut album being played back in 1993.

Their album was particularly popular with members from the local Gangsta Disciples gang (GD’s) during this time period especially since the 5th Ward neighborhood was Gangsta Disciples territory (GD territory) and that is where Top Authority originated. Top Authority’s origins go back to the corner of Mary Street & Donald Street in the 5th Ward neighborhood on the North Side of Flint.

Sadly this album got lost in the shuffle during the rise of gangsta rap. Fortunately their debut album did reach gold status and charted on the Billboard Charts. Something To Blaze To reached #21 on the Billboard Charts in 1994. Top Authority was slept on back despite have 2 music videos air on The BOX channel and BET. Somethin' To Blaze To is just as relevant in 2020 as it was in the 90s. Top Authority was slept on and always has been. They were the realest gangsta rap group from Flint next to The Dayton Family.

What’s amazing is that the Something to Blaze To album sold over 400,000 units with hardly any promotion which was unheard of in 1993. This was before the internet became publicly available. The group was on point when they released their debut album. Not only that, Top Authority was one of the first rap groups from Flint, Michigan to release albums with nationwide distribution next to DFC, The Dayton Family, and The Fharmacy.  



The album starts with the cold chilling yet eerie opener Another Murda. That makes sense because Another Murda is one of their murder rap. This song is a TA classic and is still relevant today.

Top Authority raps about the high murder rate of Flint, Michigan on Another Murda. Flint, Michigan had reached the highest peak of murders in the year of 1993. The rate for murder was the highest for that year. This song is just as relevant in 2020 as it was in 1993.

According to the FBI, Flint has one of the highest crime rates in Michigan with 5,538 incidents per 100,000 residents. In the 1980s and 1990s, Flint was known the murder capital of the US next to Detroit, Gary, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Baltimore.

The members of Top Authority rap and talk about committing murder during this song. It's another murder. A 187. Shotgun is the motherfucking Cap Peeler and Flex is Flex The Body Snatcher. Those are the character roles they play during this song.

We are first greeted by loud thunder and rain. Then beats start to kick in and begin playing. We are greeted by a female news report expelling to us details about a murder that took place inside of a Flint home. 2 of the 3 people were found shot to death inside the home. A man shot during an attempted robbery was reported to be in critical condition.

[Audio excerpt of news video clipping]

Turning to other news this Noon time. Police have identified two of the three people who were found shot to death inside a Flint home last night. And a man was shot during an attempted robbery in Flint yesterday is in critical condition.

Flex raps about how he thought he would never hurt or murder anyone in his verse.

Flex thought he would never ever hurt her. But once again it's a murder. Flex The Body Snatcher is snatching hoes like a bitch killer. Slicing niggas and hoes apart. He didn't want to go this far by going the killer route. He had to whip out the fucking chainsaw. There’s a lot of niggas that want to sac up. So he call his nigga Shotgun up in case he needs back up. It's another murder. A 187.

It's a murder once again. Shotgun is the motherfucking Cap Peeler killing all fucking punks with his shotgun. Leaving motherfuckers slain with a bullet in their brain.

Shotgun explains how he got his name during his verse. These lyrics here explain in short detail how Shotgun got his name.

[SHOTGUN]
It's a murder once again
Had you heard from The Body Snatcher
I'm glad you called
Cause I'm killing all fucking punks with you
With my shotgun
Cause that's how I got my name
Leaving motherfuckers slain
With a bullet in their brain

Flex starts dropping bodies like John Gotti and won’t stop until he’s finished. He put his gun barrel on to a person’s chest at point-blank range and put them to rest. Flex watch them die fast and bleed slow. Flex is a 110% percent straight up nigga from Flint. He’s the man you never heard of.  By now you should know it's him.

These lyrics explain how he makes his victims die a slow painful death.

Just in case that nigga have on a vest
I put my gun barrel on his chest
At point-blank range and put him to rest
And watch him die fast
And watch him bleed slow

It's a murder once again and he is looking for one more person to kill. He is looking for people to murder to stack on the top of the pack of people he robbed. He also robs people in the process of killing them. T.A. is Top Authority leaving them DOA in the plastic sack. Rolling with the nigga clan (FOD aka Faces Of Death from Pierson Hood). Listening to real gangsta rap. Once again Flex is going to commit another murder.

Fuck a driveby. Shotgun will walk through your hood and start shooting people. Dropping motherfuckers like flies. He wears a bullet proof vest on his chest so you can't harm him. So you better bring an army. Because Shotgun is a cold hearted killer out for blood. Leaving niggas in ditches. Even bitches catching slugs. So step with caution, motherfucker. You won't stand a chance in the ambulance. Two to the head and now you're dead, bitch.

One person got caught up at the wrong place at the wrong time. They got their skull split wide open like a cantaloupe. It was just another murder that Shotgun wrote. It's a murder once again and this shit just won't end.

That is until he get caught by the Feds. But how can he get caught when police and citizens keep finding the bodies without the fucking heads and no clue that leaves the evidence? No murder weapons. No fingerprints. Just the muddy, bloody pavement. In the city of Flint you're living in Hell. It's another 187 again.

Top Authority dissed DOA in these lyrics. “Steady yellin', calling Kevin/I grabbed my MAC-11, now he's 187/Dead on the spot/DOA found in the parking lot” That could have been because of the hate against the group DOA received that was going on behind closed doors from The Dayton Family and others. The Dayton Family and Top Authority were real close with each other. They grew up in the same area and ran in the same social  circles since Flint is a small town.

Flex The Problem Solver is once again on a murder hunt. To play to win you got to shoot a hunch to kill a bunch. Not like Jeffrey Dahmer. Bullets have no age limit once he squeezes the trigger. The victim was in pain as blood ran from his brain cord. He was in pain, steady running as Flex commits first degree murder.

Flex got to use the 16 rounds on his Glock plus he also had a .44 on him. Flex had police believe this premeditated killing was drug related. His family sure hated because it was premeditated. The news said he was barely bruised. And now prosecutors and law enforcement want to throw Flex in the penitentiary because they say they found him on the murder case once again.

Shotgun is bad for your health. Insane in the fucking brain is what he is. But who's to blame? Murder's what he’s living for. Got to make a murder ever day. What makes you think there won't be another murder once again?


Dalo produced the beats and synths on No Love (9mm Remix). Dalo used thick beats on this song is as that is what would grab listeners attention and get them to listen to the song. Top Authority felt Dalo when he used those beats on this song. The song is still pure fire today.

There is a maxi cassette single with a different version to this song that has a different mix. That single is extremely rare and hard to find. There is also a vinyl single for this song also.

These are the most memorable yet esoteric violent lyrics of this song. Read the lyrics below.

And I’ma tax that ass like the government
Niggas try to run from it
Get gunned from it
Cause death is the punishment
But you can't run if you can't hide
1 trigga plus the trigga happy nigga equals homicide
Niggas keep quiet or speak your muthafuckin mind
But whatever you tryin to say bitch you better tell it to my muthafuckin nine

Like a jack
You get your caps peeled back
fucking with an ace
Just thought I’d let you hoes know
I ain’t taking shit in 93


The production on Money is straight fire and is completely dope. What stands out is the bass line. The bass line constantly changes notes and pitch throughout this song. That is because Steve Pitts produced the bass line. Steve Pitts is known for his bass lines and synths.

There is a maxi cassette single with a different version to this song that has a different mix. That single is extremely rare and hard to find. There is also a vinyl single for this song also.

Flex was going dirty, selling 2 for 30 to get some clientele. 400 a quarter ounce is what he was pushing out of his house for sale making $5,000 a night. That was on an off day when everything wasn't clicking right because he usually clocks 3 to 4 Gs (grand) an hour. Flex was living happily with the money and the power.

He was paying police while they worked for him so he could remain low key and keep out of the public eye. Slangin' by the dozen with with cousin. His daily cocaine operation in and out of Flint kept Flex’s beeper buzzin’. Flex Riding in his Lexus with tinted windows through Flint. Wearing gear and suits that cost more than what you pay for rent. He was on a nice fat payroll. Cocaine bought him every motherfucking thing and kept his pockets swoll. He never did have a problem because money solved his problems. That was the lifestyle he chose. Don't shit move but that money.

Verse 1 explains how Flex made his money. He made money by selling an illegal substance called cocaine.
 
[VERSE 1: FLEX]
I was going dirty, selling 2 for 30
To get some clientele
400 a quarter ounce is what I was pushing out my house for sale
Making $5,000 a night
That was on a off day when everything wasn't clicking right
Because I usually clock 3 to 4 Gs an hour
And I was living happily (unintelligible) with the money and the power
I had so much I couldn't be touched by the C-O-P
I was paying them while they worked for me for I could be low key
Slangin' by the dozen with my cousin
My daily cocaine operation in and out of Flint kept my beeper buzzin'
Flex riding Lexus through Flint
Them windows tint
And wearing gear and suits that cost more than what you pay for rent
Cause I was on a nice fat payroll
Cocaine bought me every motherfucking thing and kept my pocket swoll
I never did have a problem
Cause if a deal was going down M-O-N-E-Y always solved 'em
That was the lifestyle I chose
They used to swear I was on my feet
But I told them hoes I'm on my tippy toes
And they thought that shit was funny
But I would tell them again to their face "don't shit move but that money"

Making that money in the fast lane. He’ll never go broke selling coke in the dope game. A paid ass nigga on his motherfucking feet. Making Gs, booming keys, keep the fucking 50s off his street. Power is money. Money is power.

Flex calls out the hypocrisy of the slogan “Say No To Drugs” in these lyrics.

Bitch what you make at Mickey Ds in two years, I make a fucking hour
So take your ass and stick a douche in it
Cause I don't hear you going to stop the sale of drugs
When the government is pushing it
Realizing life when I was younger
Made me wonder what can I do to keep my fucking head from going under
Seeing what my older brother used to do
Running around with his crew
I thought it was cool, I wanted to be down too
Age 16, I'm hanging, slanging on the block
We used to run but it done got to where we popped at the cops

That corner had him out cold. He done got stretched down by the hook with a $100 dollar rocks up his asshole. But now his cash flow is steady flowing. Flex is booming weight. They started off with double-up, ended up into a cake.

Life ain't shit but a big game. You either roll legit or you roll with the dope game.

Flint was headed for a drought. Colombians started moving out. Shipments stopped coming in. 5-0 started breaking in doing drug busts. Luckily Top Authority saw where Flint was headed and planned beforehand. He was booming so hard they stuck illegal drug signs in his front yard. But Flex is a real nigga. They couldn't stop him.

The city of Flint was sewed up. The police wanted him locked up cause I was rocking up cocaine and giving out double-ups. Money wasn't a problem. It was just the FBI was trying to stop him from booming nationwide Because he was on a mission to the road to the riches. Sitting back on the corner block of Mary collecting bank on them bitches.

8 o'clock was the time the deal was going down. Shotgun was going out to me a dealer on the South Side of town all alone. Grabbed the 9 with seventeen rounds just in case. Counted 28 for the cake and Shotgun was on my way. So the deal was made but before they headed out the door.

Shit! He heard a click of a .44 pointed to his head. Shotgun knew he was a dead man. The only thing on his mind was the $28 grand. And this punk motherfucker about to make a clean hit. But that stupid nigga didn't pull the trigger though. That gave Shot enough time to grab the 9 and let the trigger go. Caught him dead in the face before he got away.
 
Flex been on the block slanging rocks. Day and night. Up on Mary Street and Delia Street. Street life. You got to have a mind to play that game in order to survive. That's what’s call street knowledge. If you want that motherfucking money. They say it ain't a job but it's a motherfucking job, alright. You work day and night making that money fast and quick.


Top Authority explains to us that sometimes sex is not worth money on Pussy Ain't Worth No Cash. The prostitute could have a sexually transmitted disease. So you know what they say. Pussy ain't worth no cash. Take it from TA.

This song is just as relevant in 2020 as it was in 1993. Top Authority made a name for themselves with this particular song. This Top Authority song was slept on by the radio and mainstream media. The relevancy of this song has stood the test of time as this song would still be relevant if released or streamed today. Prostitution still goes on today.

Paying for sex is not always worth money. The prostitute could have a sexually transmitted disease or be acting as an undercover cop in a sting operation to arrest prostitutes or pimps. Or the prostitute could be so ugly or unloveable to point where the sex is not worth the money hence the title of this song. So it’s always to good to avoid prostitution in that case.

Top Authority also explains to us that sometimes getting vagina is not worth money. Sexually transmitted diseases are a reason why pussy ain't worth no cash.


Flex and Shotgun put the listeners on another level on the song On The Level. They take us to another level of the game with this song the best way they know how. That is how they take us on that other level. The rhymes on this song are a classic. They take you to the level of a gangster.

The most classic line from Flex’s lyrics is "You betta ask somebody/I’m deadly like James Cagney”. You don’t get lyrics like this in rap music anymore since the genre has been so corporatized and watered down.  The song is pure quality gangsta shit. The type of shit you won’t hear on the radio.


Pop Him is another one of their murder raps. The song is about committing murder. The song is based on a murder that took place in real life. This is that type of music that will make you want go out and kill people. This is music to plot a murder to.

Ootin cocaine isn’t his thing. That shit don’t phase Flex. Flex is a nigga behind the trigger that was born crazy. Brought up in Flint and making a living on the block. Slangin' rocks 'til his spot got hot. That’s when and why he had to pop a cop. Good as dead. A bulletproof vest might stop a wound to the chest but not to the head. He’s letting the bodies stack up. That’s what you get when you fuck with Flex. Now you understand why he had to kill someone.


Top Authority explained in rap how things aren’t how they should be and how things were how they should have been the year of 1993 on the song 93 (Thangs Ain't How They Should Be). This is also another one of their murder raps. The song deals with issues such as inner city violence, murder, gang activity, and politics of course.

This song is relevant in the current climate of today as it was in 1993. In fact this song is still relevant today. It’s now 2020 and things aren’t definitely how they should be. Things have gotten even worse now.  Things still ain't how they should be.

Flint, Michigan had reached the highest peak of murders in the year 1993. The rate for murder was the highest for that year. Inner city violence plagued the neighborhoods surrounding the downtown area including Carriage Town, Civic Park, and Doyle-Rider. Gang activity was at an all time high as it was from 1986 to 1991.

According to the FBI, Flint has one of the highest crime rates in Michigan with 5,538 incidents per 100,000 residents. In the 1980s and 1990s, Flint was known the murder capital of the US next to Detroit, Gary, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Baltimore. That’s why

The song was produced by Gerald Valentine and Dalo. 93 (Thangs Ain't How They Should Be) samples Bernard Wright - Music Is The Key and the beats sample Anotha Level - What's That Cha Say.


Dalo produced the beats and synths on the title track Somethin' To Blaze To. Somethin' To Blaze To is a song to blaze a bowl to and smoke weed to. A perfect song to smoke one to. This song is also the TA Anthem.

The origins of Top Authority are explained in this song. Top Authority’s origins go back to the corner of Mart Street & Donald Street in the 5th Ward neighborhood on the North Side of Flint. The two were just rapping for their homies way back in high school. However they were mainly into sports such as basketball and running at first before they got into rap. Most of their time was spent on the basketball courts of Flint.

While the two discuss and rap about the origins of Top Authority, the also rap about smoking weed. So get out your Newports, Swisher Sweets, and Philly blunts. Blaze one up.


How Much deals with the social and political problems African Americans face in the United States. Such as police brutality, black on black crime, jealousy, drugs, and murder. How much shit can a brother take? That’s the real question in this song.

Top Authority was on point when they recorded How Much because the song was relevant in the past and is still relevant in the present. The song is still relevant today. Black on black crime is something that still goes on today. That is very sad.

The sample used in this song is Patrice Rushen - Remind Me and the beats sample Anotha Level - What's That Cha Say. Dalo produced the beats and synths.


The song Voices was recorded back when gangsta rap was straight gangsta and not watered down like it is today. So expect them bells, whistles, and synths. The sound and stye is similar to 2Pac. This song is paranoid rap. The two rap about their stories of paranoia.

Flex is about ready to kill a motherfucker tonight. Some bitch just called his name waiting to get blasted on. Somebody's fucking with Flex again. He has no idea who’s fucking with him. What the fuck is going on? Flex is all alone hearing voice. He can hear them but can't see them. He is near them.

His mama told him he was paranoid. His mama lost all confidence in him. Flex was all mentally fucked up. She seen her one and only baby going crazy. Then she caught Flex talking to himself. Just in time before he grabbed the 9 millimeter off the shelf. Just as he was about to pull the trigger.

Ready to go to war with anybody, like Saddam. His heart kept clicking and ticking like a time bomb was about to explode. Life was certainly getting confusing. Something had to give. Flex keeps hearing voices when he sleeps saying he is not going to live. Now he is running out of choices. Flex is hearing voices. He’s hearing voices saying, "It's another murder”.

Shotgun is hearing voices when he is all alone at home. Could it be that nigga I checked for a key? Was it his so-called homie he killed last week? The bitch was a snitch. So Shotgun left him bleeding in the street. He never had that much trust for a friend. His one and only homie was his sawed off .410 pump. Leaving chumps in a dumpster.

Murdering motherfuckers ever since he was a youngster but now that shit's finally catching up with him. A dead man is what he hears every single night. He hears a dead man talking to him in his sleep. He's got him waking up in a cold sweat. Cold as fuck and shaking. Shotgun is shaken by all this while hearing voices. He is so deep in a dream.

But he ain't seen his face yet. So Shotgun goes inside the closet and grabs his gat. Asking, "Who the fuck is that?”. Ready to peel his cap back. When he creeped downstairs, he found nobody was there.

Shotgun is fed up with life all because he is hearing voices in his head. Shotgun is already having visions of suicide. That is what the lyrics “Having visions of a suicide/Going out with a bang/Fed up with life, I just can't hack it/That life for me it's penitentiary or a fucking straight jacket/Got me running out of choices/Hearing voices”

He’s hearing voices. The voices in his head tell him to kill and murder.  Those voices have got him grabbing for his steel.

Flex wakes up paranoid, soaked in sweat. He though he heard his brother, but when he got up to take a look, he saw nothing but the sheets and covers. Flex gets paranoid with the voices inside of his head. With no money and no food, he is in a bad mood.

He picks up the phone and thinks somebody is calling him. But it's the same old dial tone. Once again, he is hearing voices.

Shotgun is already on the edge of insanity. All because he is hearing voices in his head. It's like is living in a world of Hell. You can't see what he can see. Only a few can. Who's to blame for the brains of a sick man? Hearing voices in his head had him grabbing for that Uzi. Yeah he's bigger.

Shotgun goes out and commits homicide because he hears voices in his head telling him to kill someone. Now he has a murder case for shooting someone in the face. It’s no fun being on the run. 5-0 got him surrounded.

 
The song Never Leave Home Without It is similar to Street Military - Never Play With A Gun and Street Military - Aggravated Rasta. Top Authority tells us to never leave home without a gun. That is the lesson and moral of this song of theirs. This was the type of music that taught you how to survive in a cold cruel dirty world. Never leave home without that steel. That’s that 9 milli.


Outro (Half Deck) serves as the closing track for the album. Dalo produced the outro. “Playing with a half deck” is a colloquialism for someone who is not “all there” in their mind. This is often implied that someone is loosing their mind or has lost their mind. This also implies that the members of Top Authority are insane.

Niggas are getting bucked down for fucking around with them when it's time for putting in work. It's a Top Authority thing. So take two to your fucking brain and head. You couldn't fade it with a bulletproof. So who's next to get that ass checked and wrecked? The hook kind of says it all in terms of subject matter, mood, and vibe. It's self explanatory.

[HOOK]
Playing with a half deck
I'm playing with a half
I'm playing with a half, with a half deck
I'm playing with a half
(repeats)

So do these lyrics below.

Fucked like sex
Because I'm playing with a half deck

I'm insane so nigga back the fuck back
Lock me up with Jeffrey Dahmer and I'mma show your ass a maniac
Trapped into the system where motherfuckers don't give a fuck
I ain't giving a fuck, get that ass bucked and tough luck


5/5*****!!

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Top Authority - Rated G album review

Top Authority - Rated G is one of those timeless classics that is considered to be a masterpiece album of gangsta rap. This album was many people’s favorite albums from back in the day. The sound of and essence of hardcore gangsta rap can be heard on this album. Tight gangsta lyrics on top of heavy beats and loud thick synths are the sounds you can expect to hear this album. The themes on this album range from murder, drug selling, earning money, to political corruption. This album captured the essence and atmosphere of Flint, Michigan, US back in 1995 as Top Authority rapped about what was going on in their city at that time. Rated G is just as hard as their 1993 album.

Rated G set the tone for the city of Flint musically and climate wise. There was a lot of crime going on and drugs being sold during that time due to the social and political climate of the city. Unemployment was difficult to find as there were no jobs in the city.

Top Authority is compromised of two great storytellers from the 5th Ward neighborhood of Flint, Michigan. These two great storytellers are Flex and Shotgun. Shotgun sounds very much similar to 2pac and Flex’s voice is similar to Scarface of Geto Boys. That is how Flex’s voice is reminiscent of Scarface. Now the sound of Top Authority is similar to Scarface, Geto Boys, and The Notorious BIG. Top Authority will remind you of Scarface as you listen to their debut album.

Their raps show self-awareness as they rap about socio-political issues that affect Flint. Their styles of rap consist of murder rap, sex rap, and hood tales. Their murder raps show self-awareness as they explain what goes on in the city streets of Flint, Michigan.

Rated G sold very well in states such as Michigan, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and Texas. The album was well received in the Great Lakes region (the North) and the South. Their debut album was well received especially down South since that’s where some of gangsta rap was coming from. This album was bumped at red lights during traffic and house parties. You could hardly walk around a street corner in Flint and not hear their Rated G album being played back in 1995.

Their album was particularly popular with members from the local Gangsta Disciples gang (GD’s) during this time period especially since the 5th Ward neighborhood was Gangsta Disciples territory (GD territory) and that is where Top Authority originated. Top Authority’s origins go back to the corner of Mary Street & Donald Street in the 5th Ward neighborhood on the North Side of Flint.

Sadly this album got lost in the shuffle during the rise of gangsta rap. Fortunately their debut album did reach gold status and charted on the Billboard Charts. Top Authority was slept on back despite have 2 music videos air on The BOX channel and BET. Rated G is just as relevant today as it was in the 90s. Top Authority was slept on and always has been. They were the realest gangsta rap group from Flint next to The Dayton Family.

What’s amazing is that the Rated G album sold over 400,000 units with hardly any promotion which was unheard of in 1995. This was before the internet became publicly available. The group was on point when they released their debut album. Not only that, Top Authority was one of the first rap groups from Flint, Michigan to release albums with nationwide distribution next to DFC, The Dayton Family, and The Fharmacy.  


Livin’ 2 Die explains the difficulties for African American men (black men) in the United States of America such as mass incarceration and black on black violence. You're either dead or being it. That's why we're livin’ 2 die. Talk your game and see who's the tightest.

There was a mix-up Saturday night. Flex was walking by and heard a gunshot hook up down the
block. Hoping the shit was a dream when he seen his homey shot. The whole corner was blocked off.
His homey did a little dirt. That's why he got knocked off. Young G’s comin up slanging. Flex and his homie go back like 8 tracks.

And while Flex is steady drinking, he is thinking about retaliation. He is simply thinking of that payback
No time for laying back. Because it's time for him to go do these busters by murdering them.

His plan of retaliation is to run through these busters and work out back on through these busters as he creeps right behind them. Then he will bust them straight up. He ain't gonna sleep until he finds them. They took his homey away. So now Flex will take out their whole click. As a matter of fact, he knows where one of them busters live and there’s gonna be dramatic when he pulls him out of his momma's crib. When Flex arrives, he unload the gauges and the Tech 9's. Then he hits them right where it hurts. Straight chop em off in the dirt because the only way they’re going out is in a hearse. I guess the same world we was given got us livin 2 die.


Down For My Scratch explains how gangstas are on the corner every day making their scratch while being down for their scratch. This is that real gangsta shit. Who is else is down for their scratch? I know I’m down for my scratch. I’m still down for my scratch. Every day making that corner scratch. Every day on that corner making scratch.

The production on Down For My Scratch was top notch and clear quality. The song copied 3 strings from a Miles Davis song. Those violins and beats were arranged beautifully.


Murda revisited Anotha Murder from their debut album.Top Authority raps about the high murder rate of Flint, Michigan. Flint, Michigan had a high peak of murders in the year of 1995. The rate for murder was the highest for that year. The rate for homicide was the highest for that year. This song is just as relevant today as it was in 1995.

According to the FBI, Flint has one of the highest crime rates in Michigan with 5,538 incidents per 100,000 residents. In the 1980s and 1990s, Flint was known the murder capital of the US next to Detroit, Gary, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Baltimore.

The members of Top Authority rap and talk about committing murder during this song obviously. It's another murder. A 187. Shotgun is the motherfucking Cap Peeler and Flex is Flex The Body Snatcher. Those are the character roles they play during this song.

These lyrics represented the realness of the song. “Paramedics tried but he died from overdose of too many slugs”, “Only the real will survive the streets/I have no choice but to be a g”

5/5*****!!