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albums : 1999
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FAT JACK Cater To The DJ
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Though both the Project Blowed and Beneath The Surface LPs introduced the world to the vibrantly innovative Los Angeles hip hop scene, Cater To The DJ tempers the raw creativity of those previous efforts and gives it considerably more accessibility and mass appeal. Give a jiggy beat a brain, drop it on dozens of L.A.'s dopest MCs, and you have a compilation that hip hop heads from coast to coast will look to as a forefront effort for years to come. Some of the names are quite familiar: Aceyalone makes several appearances including the A-Team feel-good anthem "We Like Breakbeats" (with Abstract Rude) and P.E.A.C.E. rocks the house with the classic "It's A Packed House". But many of the artists on Cater have never had this level of exposure before and stand a good chance of having their talent wasted in obscurity in the future. Witness stand-out tracks by Bus Driver, Minister Too Bad, Jayne Doe The Oracle, Puzoozoo Watt, Dutchman, St. Mark, and many more as they show just how diverse their styles and attitudes are. It's all here... the good, the bad... male and female... smooth and rough... fast and slow... and in case you didn't know... most of these cats had flows from the git go.
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TEMPLE OF HIPHOP Criminal Justice: From Darkness To Light
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The most slept on album of 1999 is a high-caliber compilation brought to you by KRS-One's Temple of Hiphop organization. This is not a mix, but a compilation of artists from many different labels (some rapping under different names). The highlights include live Big Daddy Kane, Mad Lion's self-produced "Yeh Yo", Thor-El's ode to career redemption known as "Patiently", Scaramanga's ego-altering "7 Eyes 7 Horns", The Chemist drops "Platform Rapform", and it don't stop! For real, this is the most solid album of 1999 because it delivers where others fail: on the vocal end. Great beats alone don't make great albums. Criminal Justice digs a little deeper than the rest and comes up with not only the criminal smoove beats, but also up-and-coming MCs such as I Born, Homeless Nation, Toofpick, Siahnide, and Tommy Gibbs. You can pass on the Temple's neo-Christian self-help, but if you pass up their latest album... Lord help you!
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M.F. DOOM Operation: Doomsday
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Most hip hop fans will overlook Doomsday because it does not follow any known formulas. There are no high profile appearances. The beats are lo-fi and subtle... never flashy. And Doom raps in a deft, subtle manner. It's the first double LP from New York's legendary independent, Fondle Em Records... what else would you expect?
"I'll bet you we won't see him until Doomsday... get it??... "Doom"... Doomsday!"
Metal Face Doom is a b-boy super villain who wreaks subconscious havoc with his steady delivery of lyrical chaos and redemption. From the lo-mix breaks, to warped tempos, to the intimate personal details, this is a rich narrative by the alter-ego of Zevlove X from KMD. And laced by some of New York's finest unsigned artists. Lounging in the cut is the order of business for most of this fearless microphone affair. Three of the strongest cuts, "Doomsday", "Operation: Greenbacks", and "?" all have a similar vibe and set the tone for most of this transcendant album...
"The unemotional, call me antisocial."
In spite of the chill pace, most will get to bouncing and headnodding when they hear Scooby on "Hey", or the wicked turbodynamics of "Go With The Flow", or the dynamic cameos on "Who You Think I Am?" featuring X-Ray, Rodan, Megalon, K.D., King Ghidra, and Kong. And to top it all off... Doom made all the beats himself! Doom's mastery of both production and vocals is rivaled only by former Fondle Em labelmate, Godfather Don. Dynamic productions and progressive, unconventional lyrics and delivery. Can we spell it out any more clearly? D-O-O-M!!!
"The greatest of all time... the devil even told me."
I hate to apply such a term as "maturity" to music. After all, music is all about constant change and evolution... right? Well, there really is no other word more apporpriate for this album. You might be thrown off by the nostalgic comic/cartoon references, or the Scooby Doo samples, but this album is nothing short of mature. Quite simply, it ignores all the usual, everyday bullshit and gives you dope rhymes straight off the mind.
In order to assist artists and labels in the future, I have made a list of all the things Doom (and Fondle Em) did right on this album...
1. M.F. Doom is down to earth
2. And he doesn't take himself too seriously
3. The album has a range of moods and styles
4. It's good to hear Kurious again
5. Scooby Doo and Isaac Hayes were meant to be together
6. The cover art is almost as good as the album
7. The mixture of new and old beats
8. Vamping the beats from "?" on several skits
9. And letting Bobbito do his thing!
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GROUP HOME A Tear For For The Ghetto, Vol. 1 & 2
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It is no coincidence that Group Home consistently hooks up with the best producers in hip hop. Living Proof was one of DJ Premier's most solid releases ever. And Tear builds on this tradition by utilizing "beat composers" Agallah (8-Off) and The Alchemist. But while Lil Dap has managed to keep his delivery fresh and relevant, Malachi -- sorry to say -- still struggles with an obvious lack of content. Nonetheless, this album contains some of the strongest productions of 1999, as well as showcasing Dap's unique voice. Don't shed a tear for the ghetto... go buy this album.
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SWOLLEN MEMBERS Balance
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Take a look at some of the subgenres of hip hop: pornocore, horrorcore, spacecore, etc. OK, I made up the last one, but you know what I'm talking about. Well, with these labels in mind, I would like to introduce another subgenre: "artcore". Just a silly label. As I see it, this artcore represents a new freedom for MCs and producers who seek to incorporate a wider array of sound schemes and move beyond conventional word fodder. Fittingly, the first and strongest track on this album is "Groundbreaking", produced by Kool DJ EQ, featuring rugged lyrics over an ethereal choir of monks. "Front Street" shows off the groups pop sensibilities with a well-syncopated chorus and catchy three-note flute melody. Ahead to "Lady Venom", and we find ourselves rocking out to a totally guitar-based track... complemented by another ethereal backing vocal, this time with a South Asian flavor. The last track on the A-Side, "Bless & Destroy" is your introduction to S&M's own Zodak... a big raucous jam revolving around a series of piano samples. And that's just the first of four sides! People talk a lot about how hip hop brings together disparate genres of music. But rarely do you hear such a unity of different styles, as on this album. And that's mostly because producers such as the Alchemist, DJ Kodak, Kool DJ E.Q., Kut Masta Kurt, and Evidence put their most unconventional tracks forward. While it is true that Madchild and Prevail shy away from the usual cliches, metaphors, and pop culture references... they do seem to go a little overboard on the Middle Earth metaphysics. Words such as "hobgoblins" and "chimeras" have been variously used in descriptions of their style. But at least it's something different.
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MOBB DEEP Murda Musik
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The "reality" of most rap artists who come from the street is that reality inevitably takes a back seat in the interest of selling records. Every hip hop fan is well familiar with the routine. And obviously, getting rich also leads to a dramatic change of lifestyle. For most groups, this change of lifestyle ultimately leads to creative stagnation. But for Mobb Deep, the change appears only to have reinforced their creativity as well as give them a more focused approach. The secret to the success of Murda Musik is Havoc's highly refined production style. The rhythms are pretty standard, but the sequencing is immaculate and the melodies sink deep into the psyche with the assistance of exquisite samples. Building on this killer tapestry, Havoc and Prodigy show that they have matured since the disappointing Hell On Earth. Of course, you stil get a full dosage of guns, drugs, and sex... but you also get some true rap jewels:
"I spent too many nights sniffin' coke, gettin right/
wastin' my life, now I'm tryin to make things right/
Grand open some gates, invest, in Iraq business/
Do things for the kids (the little Dunns)/
Build a jungle gym behind the crib,
so they can enjoy youth/
CBR's and VCR's/
ATV's and big screen TV's, nigga please/
Don't make me have to risk my freedom/
We worked our whole life for this,
You get your shit beat in"
...touching, right? Well let us not forget why they're called The Infamous. And it's easy to see that what makes Havoc and Prodigy special is that they won't forget where they came from... and the experiences that have shaped some of the finest thug music ever.
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HIGH & MIGHTY Home Field Advantage
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For those of you that have been following the activities of Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi over the last few years... this album won't tell you what you already know: that High & Mighty are a powerhouse team. But for all you dormant ones out there, this is a good chance to bring yourself up to speed with underground hip hop. Featuring the top-ranked production skills of Mighty Mi, Reef, and The Alchemist... my only complaint is that they put "B-Boy Document '99" on here, instead of the far superior original version of "B-Boy Document". Oh, and where is "Hands On Experience Pt.1"? Open Mic Night" has been remixed and now features Wordsworth and Thirstin Howl III. Two previous b-sides -- "The Meaning" and "Mind, Soul, & Body" -- are included in their original form. And a few standouts of the new material include "In-Outs" (feat. Cage), "The Last Hit" (feat. Eminem), and my personal favorite "Hot Spitable", with its super-smooth, funk beat and female backing vocals.
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BLACKALICIOUS A2G EP
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Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel, who first hooked up in Sacramento CA in 1991, are are a no-frills, hardcore hip hop duo that put out their last EP, Melodica, back in 1995. Take a listen to "Deception". And then get warmed up for "Alphabet Aerobics(The Cut Chemist 2 1/2 Minute Workout)" with "A to G". For more info on Blackalicious, go to St. Louis' Washington University radio station, KWUR.
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LOOTPACK Soundpieces: Da Antidote
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In the SIX YEARS between their first appearance ("Turn The Party Out" w/ Tha Alkaholiks, 1994) and their album debut (Soundpieces, 1999), Lootpack has cultivated an increasingly progressive sound, both lyrically and musically. First and foremost, Madlib embodies three important aspects of hip hop production: diversity, innovation, and great samples. By the way, did I mention that this triple vinyl release contains 24 tracks! Ask yourself a few "Questions", ponder what it's like
"Whenimondamic", put it all together in a
"Likwit Fusion" (feat.The Alkaholiks & Defari), and rest assured that you have the "Answers" (feat.Quasimoto) to hip hop stagnation.
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RAWKUS RECORDS Soundbombing II
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Leave it to Rawkus -- the NATO of hip hop -- to wait until just the right moment to show who's got the top notch troopers. While it's true that Rawkus recruited Los Angeles DJs, J-Rocc and Babu of the Beat Junkies, to handle the mix... nothing can overshadow the fact that this is an East Coast assault. The names alone are enough to scare the average civilian: R.A. The Rugged Man, Mos Def, Medina Green, Company Flow, Eminem, Reflection Eternal, Sir Menelik, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Common, Sadat X, and Mad Skillz. Strategic assaults include the revised B-Boy Document 99"" by High & Mighty (feat. Mos Def & Mad Skillz), Diamond "When It Pours It Rains"by Diamond, "Crosstown Beef" by Medina Green, and "Patriotism" by Company Flow. In spite of all the big names, it's actually R.A. The Rugged Man who hits the hardest on "Stanley Kubrick"... let's pray it comes out as a single.
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BLACK MOON War Zone
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With exception of the classic OGC track, "Fear", it seemed as if the Boot Camp folks were to forever to live out their status as hip hop underdogs. In contrast to many past efforts, though, War Zone finds Buckwild, Evil Dee, and 5 FT going the extra mile to bring fans a full album (well... almost) of quality material. As with most albums, there are tracks as bland and uninspired as cafeteria food (c'mon... "Throw Your Hands In The Air"??? "Two Turntables & A Mic"???). But what you will find between the shlop are grade-A cuts like "Freestyle", "Annihalation" (featuring M.O.P., Teflon), and the soulful "Duress". The entire album is anchored by the title track, which is highly reminiscent of "Fear". You know, now that I think about it... another track, "Weight Of The World", ALSO sounds similar to "War Zone". Hmmm.
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PEANUT BUTTER WOLF My Vinyl Weighs A Ton
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The only thing holding this album back, ironically, is PB Wolf's total commitment to the full specturm of hip hop music. From the obligatory phone messages, to the numerous DJ pieces, to the comic interludes (a la De La), to the cameos-only approach to the vocals... PBW can only be faulted for wedging so much hardcore DJing between a full album's worth of singles... like the epic "Tale Of Five Cities", which features the unprecedented DJ line-up of Rhettmatic, Kid Koala, Rob Swift, A-Trak, Hands, Z-Trip, Total Eclipse, Quest, J-Rocc, Shortkut and Cut Chemist. But don't skip too many tracks, or you might miss one of the thirteen songs featuring about ten different MCs. From the opening "In Your Area" with Planet Asia, to the transitionary "Styles, Crews, Flows, Beats" with Lootpack, to the stomping "Hold Up" with Rasco, to "Necromancin'" with Dave Dub, to "Breaks Em Down" with Kazi, to "Definition of Ill" with Planet Asia, to "Run The Line" with Rasco, to "Mobbin" with Perservere, and "Competition Gets None" with Grand The Vis... this is what happens when a producer/label owner gets to do whatever the fuck he wants. Not so surprisingly, it is the lesser known artists such as Dave Dub, Kazi, and Perservere who should be clueing you in, still deeper, to the depth of talent found in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.
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DEFARI Focused Daily
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My first introduction to Defari was the catchy hit People's Choice", a very aptly titled song that eventually lost its spunk after a few listens. My second introduction to Defari was "Bionic". Only then did I come to appreciate, not only the verbal skills of Defari, but also the production talent of Evidence. "Never Lose Touch", "Keep It On The Rise", and "These Dreams" (no sound file... go buy the album!) all go to show that Defari and Evidence are one of the best teams in the game.
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EMINEM Slim Shady
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First of all, no sound files on this one. If you've missed the total media bombardment emanating from Eminem and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records, you must neither listen to the radio, nor watch TV, nor browse the Internet. Shit, why pay to support this bastard when you can hear his shit for free all over the place? You've heard "Just Don't Give A Fuck" and "My Name Is" on the radio, his legendary freestyles can be pirated off the Net, and this new album... well, besides the fact that it's WACK, you might as well steal it... just to see if you can piss Em off (it might be hard). Better yet, fly over your local junior high and dump hundreds of stolen Slim Shadies onto the jubiliating pubescent masses. Proof that Armageddon is upon us.
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