Papa Chuk - The Badlands (NOW! Recording Systems, Inc. version) album review
The Badlands album covers all topics in Hip Hop/Rap such as isolation, poverty, racism, police brutality, sex, drugs, prostitution, revolution, and just having a good time. No filler tracks! Every track knocks. The Badlands is a much forgotten album that is a Hip Hop/Rap classic and was one of the most underrated albums of 1994. I don't know how this album didn't hit the BillBoard! It's a shame it didn't. Unfortunately this is his only album to date. This album is a must have!
The production was done by the locally known DJ Cassanova from the ATX. Production was also done by Kevin Moore, Amelia Moore, Double D of Wreckshop Records, Tony Dofat, Doug Lazy, O.C. Rodriguez, Scratch God, Shetero Henderson, and Bernie Bismark. There are a few guest emcee appearances from Champ MC, Butch Cassidy, Neil Young, and the local cats from The Texas Posse.
Papa Chuk has that Rudeboy & Reggae Jamaican accent that KRS-One, Biz Markie, Mad Lion, Redman, Lady Apache, and Little Indian had. It's really cool! Maybe that was one of the reasons the album didn't sell so well in the market. He sounded like he was from Jamaica or New York instead of Texas as the Geto Boys, Scarface, Nemesis, Ron C, Choice, and Point Blank did.
Show Me Some ID deals with the issue of underage prostitution. Show Me Some ID samples Down By The River by Buddy Miles. The track has both a bluesy and jazz feel to it. Overall it has a jazzy touch.
Down N' Dirty is a party track which features Champ MC. East Coast hip hop and rap meets southern rap. It’s a Papa Chuk and Champ MC collabo.
Trunk of Funk is trunk music. Trunk of Funk was the buzz single for this album which was a classic. People from Austin and Houston were bumping this joint heavily back in the 90s. Radio stations across Texas played this song heavily in rotation. This song is great trunk music!
Flip The Shit is a posse cut that features members from Section A Movement (Chuk & Quince) and local cats from The Texas Posse outta Austin, Texas. Flip The Shit is ATX hip hop at its finest.
Desolate One tackles the issues of social problems such as violence, poverty, and isolation. Papa Chuk goes mad reggae on Desolate One. In The Badlands, people carry guns and often resort to violence. Those are their tactics. Papa Chuk carries a gun for protection. Blacks are easy to resort to gun violence. Violence is very common amongst African Americans as Papa Chuk describes. This again is one of the problems African Americans face today.
IAB deals with how soldiers are treated in the military by the higher-ups in the government. Papa Chuk drops mad political science on the track IAB. Papa Chuk lets the United States Army that he is not their soldier toy. He now debates on the US Estate about how they run the world because they’re racist. The Foreign Affairs department of the US bombs Iraq for thrills. Papa Chuk establishes distrust towards the US Government. IAB is a very revolutionary track in its own way and its own right.
Lord Have Mercy deals with child abuse, sexual assault on minors, violence against such children, bodily harm towards minors, and plain outright abuse. The children that were mentioned in this track were used as tools for underage prostitution. The morals went away all at the children’s expense for that bliss sexual gratification. A heartless effort to earn a buck. People are under the false impression that children can’t get AIDS. Lord Have Mercy deals with the issue of underage prostitution.
Now the NOW! Recording Systems, Inc. version of The Badlands album on cassette has an unreleased track called Freak It Crazy. Freak It Crazy can only be found on this cassette and nowhere else. For some reason this was removed from the retail album. The song has a dope beat over heavy bass. Freak It Crazy has that East Coast hip hop sound.
Papa Chuk deals with the social problems African Americans face today Niggahs Will Be Niggahs. For example the black on black disrespect in the black community. Mainly Niggahs Will Be Niggahs deals with the problems of African Americans of which they have.
Blacks are easy to resort to gun violence. Violence is very common amongst African Americans as Papa Chuk describes. Gun violence is what kills African Americans faster than AIDS. This again is one of the problems African Americans face today.
Papa Chuk looses his mind about how there is so much madness, pandemonium, and insanity going on in the world on the track Runaway. Papa Chuk combats many issues that plague the American way of life and lifestyle as he does on many other tracks on this album. This is which he is known for doing for. Runaway samples Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay. Runaway heavily relies on the sample of Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay which is played throughout the entirtey of the song.
Papa Chuk vents out his frustration on this track. It’s quite hectic. It’s feels like Dr. Strange. You can feel that Dr. Strange vibe. Anyway, Papa Chuk shows no compassion for the country (US) he was born and raised in. Democracy in retrospect is another word for hypocrisy. Papa Chuk combats many issues that plague the American way of life.
Black people are often pimped out of the American lifestyle. They have AIDS injected into their blood track and drugs moved into their neighborhoods. Papa Chuk discusses how black people in America are played and pimped by the government.
Clearly Papa Chuk supports the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is better than that alcohol. How many people do you hear about or know that have died from the high effects of marijuana? Legalize it and everybody will advertise it.
There’s nothing for Papa Chuk here. Mentally or spiritually speaking. If it weren’t for Islam, he would be virtually cloned, dum, deaf, and blind. A desolate mind of the American kind. Living off greed and welfare like everyone else. Mainly living off greed. He just wants to runaway. Runaway from all his problems and insanity.
For those who don't know, Papa Chuk (born Charles Roberts), was born in Oakland and moved to Houston at age 9. From that point, he went back and forth to his mom's house in Houston while he went to school in Austin. That's how he was regionally known in both Austin and Houston. He was popular there from 1992 to 1995.
Papa Chuk is one of the founders of what was called the Sector A Movement (some were members of Texas Posse) with Big, Quince One, and X-Man who went on to work with Dallas Austin of TLC. You might remember his raw and gritty flows on the Funky Science/Texas Roughneck single/EP in 1992 with DJ Cassanova that came of Houston/Austin in the Early 90s. In the mid 90s he got shot when it wasn't cool to get shot. When 2Pac got shot, people started thinking it was cool to get shot. Now we have all these wanna-be studio gangsters. (That's another story. Look it up.)
5/5*****!!
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Lil Band O Gold - Plays Fats! (2014) album review
This record was dedicated to blues musician Fats Domino. So Lil Band O Gold turned this album into a tribute album for Fats Domino which is why the album obviously has a Fats Domino meets Lil Band O Gold type of feel. All 14 tracks on this album are covers of Fats Domino songs. Several classic songs from Fats Domino are covered on this album by Lil Band O Gold. Lil Band O Gold has graced their fans with such great Fats Domino Songs. The outfit was arranged by their guitarist C.C. Adcock.
4/5****!
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Jeru - The Sun Rises In The East album review
Jeru’s The Sun Rises In The East album has to be the most underrated album in Hip Hop/Rap history! DJ Premiere's dope production skills on the album from start to finish. He is nearly all over the album. DJ Premiere was at high point in the 90s and early 00s. It has that dope 90s sound to it because nearly all the tracks are sample crazy as a lot Hip Hop/Rap albums were in the 80s and 90s. No filler tracks. No filler material. You don't get albums like this anymore! I can't believe this fell off the radar! This is a must have!
5/5*****!!
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Lil Mo - P.S. iLoveMe Reloaded Diva album review
Lil Mo - P.S. iLoveMe Reloaded Diva that came out on her independent label HoneyChild Entertainment back in 2014. P.S. iLoveMe Reloaded Diva is iLoveMe revisited with additional tracks that did not make to the iLoveMe album. The songs that were not included on iLoveMe were Rock Star, Secret Lovers, Anotha One, and Be Sure. P.S. iLoveMe came out on CD from on her independent label HoneyChild Entertainment back in 2011.
This album's production is a lot better and louder volume-wise than the Pain & Paper album was. Lil Mo is back to her 4 star self on this album! Songs like Take Me Away, Love Song, Movie, Higher, and iLoveMe with songstress/soul vocalist Tweet are highlight tracks. Every song on here is a banger!
iLoveMe features songstress and soul vocalist Tweet. Tweet lays down the smooth slow melody with her smooth soulful voice. iLoveMe is a Lil Mo and Tweet duet. The song iLoveMe raises awareness in self-love. The song iLoveMe is about self-love. Loving yourself for who you are. Lil Mo and Tweet take it to church on this one! iLoveMe is a love song of course.
The uprising of dawn begins with a piano solo at the beginning of iLoveMe. Beautiful job on the viola chorus in the background. The violins help accompany the viola. Lil Mo incorporates elements of rock laced into soul music on iLoveMe.
Lil Mo doesn’t know what self-love feels like. Lil Mo doesn’t where to begin. So she’ll start right here. Just when Lil Mo was about to give up, he pulled up to her heart. The man wants a bond with her. Something about him seemed so different to Lil Mo. Something that she never felt. It feels like she lost herself trying to find him. It feels like she’s living a lie just for him. So now it’s time to tell the truth. iLoveMe more than iLoveYou. Lil Mo finds out that she loves herself more than she loves you.
Tweet is next up. Tweet lays down the smooth slow melody with her smooth soulful voice. She tired of walking the thin line and hitting walls of regret & sorrow. It’s better that they call it quits. Just when Tweet was about to give up, he pulled up to her heart. Sharing love with him is so innocent and heaven sent. (It feels like she forced herself trying to love him.) It feels like she’s living a lie just for him. So now it’s time to tell the truth. iLoveMe more than iLoveYou.
Because you have changed. Tweet no longer gives to you pain. Love remains here with Tweet. (Love remains here with me.) She made it through the pain and she finally sees clearly. So clearly. Tweet finds out that she loves herself more than she loves you.
On The Floor has that Baltimore go-go dance sound to it with usage of the new school soul. On The Floor is dedicated to ladies up in the club. The beats are quite hyphy. One can wonder if Lil Mo or the producer was influenced by the Bay Area hyphy sound when it came to music production. Lil Mo’s lyrics and ad-libbing is super superb. Fatman Scoop does his usual annoying chanting in the background which ruins the whole song of course. But that’s what he does best and what he is internationally know for. Take Missy Elliott - Loose Control (feat. Batman Scoop and Ciara) for instance.
On The Floor is an ode to ladies in the club and to the dancers outside. Dancers will love dancing to the track as the bpm is perfect for such dancing to. On The Floor is a song that makes you want to move and groove. The go-go dance sound from Baltimore is perfect for this track.
Love Song has that nostalgic childhood memories/playful mood feeling to it. It feels as if you are taking a walk down memory lane when listening to Love Song. The beats are on point and the production is extremely loud as the volume for some reason has been turned up very high. Love Song is, well, obviously a love song of course.
Perfect Man is about how Lil Mo is looking for the perfect man to be her wife. Lil Mo is looking for “the one” exactly for her. She is addicted to a man’s love. Lil Mo is looking for someone to love and hold on to. She’s looking for someone she can trust. But she has not someone for herself truly for her. She wonders if she’ll ever be complete.
One for the Road is revisits the same One for the Road song from her Pain & Paper album from 2007. This version is comepltey different from the 2007 version. This version uses autotune and is more upbeat. Much more than the mid tempo version.
4/5****!!
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Astray - Hungry album review
Astray - Hungry was released from Self-Made Recordings in 2001. Astray demonstrates that he is young, savvy, and hungry on the Hungry album. Demeanor for his hunger and songwriters skill are their present.
His development is clearly visible. There is a difference inside the production for this Astray album. Club music meets a serious vibe on this Astray album hence the difference in sound. Although most of this album has that club music sound of the 2000s era.
With the album Hungry, Astray brings a new feel to Midwest hip hop and creates one of the best underground albums from Saginaw, Michigan for the year 2001! Fans of Saginaw rap music will not be disappointed when listening to this album.
This album features the production of Mr. Smooth (Charles Pleasure Sparks), Ennix, and Wuntwo. The album is 13 tracks deep and features guest appearances from Dream of First Degree along with Self-Made Recordings label mates Agony of the rap duo “Pain and Agony” and M-SEE.
Make the Spot Hot was a hot song in the clubs of Saginaw. It was in rotation at Hollywood Nights, The Watering Trough, and The Mirage. The song was also getting heavy request at the Pirate Station 100.5! Make the Spot Hot is filled with club music of course. It was the first single off the album. In fact, First Degree member Dream the Sniper put down two hot verses on "Make the Spot Hot" which was featured on Astray’s debut album from 2001.
Up The One with Saginaw rapper Day One is a prime example of club music with that club music sound to it.
Around Here describes a typical day in Saginaw, Michigan. It describes a day in life living in Saginaw.
5/5*****!
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BOSS NIGGAZ - Cloud Nine single review
Ever think about rap/soul with gangsta rhymes? This single was similar to Flint rap and Flint soul in a lot of ways with gangsta rap, soul, lots of drums, heavy sampling usage, some rock, and a little bit of Blues. (U BE U Studios was known for their quality production after all.) Think DFC, Top Authority, MC Breed, Dirty Jerk, Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Young, Baby T, Madame Dane, Bone Skanless, Mack Tha Jack'a, and all that good shit! It has that Sag Nasty sound. All that good shit!
Cloud Nine is a song to get high to and reminisce on past memories. This shit was mad sick then and is still sick now! Cloud Nine is one of the hardest joints to come out of Saginaw among several others. G Snipes and Ed Bass (R.I.P) rap through most of this track.
The chorus has best most memorable words. Read below.
[Chorus]
I STAY HIGH ON CLOUD 9 UP WITH THE BIRDS!
I STAY HIGH ON CLOUD 9 UP WITH THE BIRDS!
I STAY HIGH ON CLOUD 9 UP WITH THE BIRDS!
Break 'Em Off will remind you of an Esham track with that horrorcore and heavy bass. The track is a representation of 90s gangsta rap at its finest. BOSS NIGGAZ breaks us off something on this track. Q of U BE U Studios produced the songs. G Snipes and Ed Bass (R.I.P) rap through most of this track.
You can tell by listening to the lyrics that this song has a rough and rugged sound with a fowl atmosphere. The lyrics portray gruesome violence and chaotic mayhem. Much of the first verse and second verse are about murder. Read below.
[Chorus: Repeat]
I’m breaking them off
I’m breaking them off
I’m breaking them off a lil something
[Verse 1]
I’m breaking them off a lil something from my .38
I shot him up once, cutted him up, and made him into fish bait.
Two years later I pulled his foot out the river
[Verse 2]
I’m breaking them off a lil something from my Mac-10
This nigga fucked around and fired on my girlfriend
I pulled my Mac-10 and fired through his fuckin heart
And now his legs aren’t attached to his stomach part
My girl was crying, she was reaching for the telephone
She called the 5-0, Now what the fuck if going on?
I cocked my Mac back and put it to her fuckin back
That shit was foul what I did to her after that
I’m breaking them off a lil something from my 4-5
Hit him in the head and the sorry son of a bitch died
I’m breaking them off a lil something from my .9 ya’ll
They must don't know deez niggaz rough up here in Saginaw!
5/5*****!!
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North Side Nation - Pimpin' The Nation album review
North Side Nation was a rap group from Flint in 1994 and is from the same hood that Freaky Live is from on Jamieson Street in Dewey Park (Dewey Hood). They had produced their own music. Kenny "K-Mill" Miller of Raw Deal was in North Side Nation.
This album is filled with gangsta rap similar to Top Authority and acid rap similar to Mastamind.Each track is filled with grim reality.
That Back Against The Wall track was absolutely bananas! The bass was super heavy speaker rattling bass and he beats were quite indeed quirky. I love the quirkiness of G-Funk on this track. Back Up Against The Wall was the best track on the Pimpin' The Nation album! This is one dope ass gangsta rap freestyle! This track is filled with grim reality. Yeah some of the beats were wack, but at least it's not Freaky Live or Took N Bone. I mean I've heard worse coming out of the murder capital called Flint, Michigan.
K-Mill and C-Dubb really showcased their real lyrical talents. That's the type of shit I'm talking about! Tales of killing, pimping, drug dealing on a daily basis, and just driving are a way of life on this track and in the city of Flint, Michigan. Back Up Against The Wall is track to listen to while your bouncin' on Dayton rims down Saginaw Street.
Life in the Ghetto is a dark themed, deep bass at the very beginning, acid rap track. Note the heavy bassline I mentioned at the very beginning. K-Mill and the rest of the other members spit game to us and tell us how the ghetto really is. The realities of the ghetto are quite filled with such hardness.
North Side Nation should have dropped a second album. Yeah some of the beats were wack, but at least it's not Freaky Live or Took N Bone. I mean I've heard worse coming out of the murder capital called Flint, Michigan. But this album is much better than Freaky Live, Grip Manson, or Took N Bone
5/5*****!
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