I wasn’t even going to check this album out, before last week. It’s not that I didn’t think it would be dope. I suspected it would be, but I just thought I’d save myself the time. Especially, with the amount of hours I used to spend doing reviews before.
I didn’t really want to end up becoming that absorbed again’ trying to review every rap/ hip hop album that came out. No disrespect to the artists on this project, but getting back into this gig again’ I wanted to focus on my favorite MC’s. Proper cut down on the amount of albums I write about.
Here i am though’ writing a new review, with only one man to thank – the 1&Only! – DJ Premier. I won’t go into why. Anyway - I suppose I could say I do know the artists involved with this project. 7L & ES from AOTP, and Rebel INS from Wu-Tang Clan. So perhaps this project might exceed expectations yet.
1.) Intro
The album begins, with a short one minute interlude. Nothing special just a little mix by 7L, with a bit of talking over. A little of what to expect from the album sample wise. Not Superman, Batman – None of those clowns, but.. You kind of get the picture as the album goes on.
2.) Air em’ out
A nice little M.O.P sample here on this one, and it’s kind of like a bombs just gone off. Straightaway you can hear – the rhymes running, and beats banging. It’s not too bad a start really. In fact it’s a great start! Maybe one of my favorite tracks on this album.
3.) Cement 3’s feat. Roc Marciano
I can’t really put my finger on it. I would say definitely’ this is the
Rebel INS I remember from
Triumph. Put with an
ODB sample’ this track has a real Wu-Tang aura about it. You also got to love the random Chewbacca sample, and
Roc Marci’s verse – what else can I say? Grrrrrrr!
4.) CZAR Refaeli feat. Oh No
Kind of like what you’d hear on the NY subway this one. You kind of get that feeling. Not particularly exciting this one, but it’s ok for an album filler. Maybe more to other peoples taste this one, but not really mine.
5.) Rock Beast
Now what does this sound like? I think it was one of the levels on Sonic 2 on the SEGA Genesis ‘Metropolis Zone’. It probably isn’t though – maybe the acid poured over my melted brain. I reckon the beat was probably made around the lyrics on this one though. More uplifting than the last. A funny word to use, but what the heck. Anyway – quote:
Can the super friends find the right super powers to subdue the unseen sceptre, that’s terrifying the metropolis. Watch as they meet the GHOST.
6.) Savegely Attack feat. Ghostface Killah
Been a while since I heard anything new from ol’ Tony Starks. Definitely one for the play list. I reckon tracks like this are what got
7L & ES in AOTP. One for the boom-bap heads most certainly.
Watch as they meet the GHOST.
7.) Marvel Team-UP
Just waiting for the Super Hero references on this one, but you’d be surprised. It’s more a fitting title for the beat than anything. Although there are a couple of Marvel character mentions:
They should be illegal’ like shooting down a bald eagle/
I got the ego of evil kenievel/ you reak of b.o/
I’m beanie sigel if he was one of the beatles,
and possesed with DNA of Magneto – So F**K F**K your people/
Probably my favorite lines so far, but as the title suggests the Marvel comics references don’t stop there, they stop here:
It’s Eddie Brock, or Peter Parker and, we can rock black until we make something darker…
Another one for the playlist I think, but I shan’t go on anymore about this track. I’ll leave that for the reader.
8.) It’s Raw feat. Action Bronson
The Legion of Doom! Now who remembers those with the spikey shoulder pads. The track starts, with a little WWF sample, and about it. Very street this one, and as I imagine’ most people will be checking this track for the greatest hero of them all –
Action….
Bronson.
A little laid back aside from
INS & ES, but apparently he’s done with all the suffering –
Like Succotash!
I do like the hook though than this one. Definately gives this track a bit of flavor.
9.) It’s On prod. by DJ Premier
The main reason why I got this album. Well obviously I wanted to stick a new review post on my blog, but I wikied
Preemo’s prod. discography, and found out about this track. A terrible reason when I should be checking out' an album as great as this anyway, but what can I say – salute me, or shoot me.
Does it match expectations though? hmm.. It isn’t really like the rest of the album. You kind of get used to
7L on the boards, but I’m going to give it a thumbs up. It’s
Preemo, and it’s like all his tracks really - Phenomenal. I give it about 10 secs before you start nodding your head.
10.) World War 4
Quite different from the track called
WW3 by
Ruff Ryders, Snoop & Jadakiss. It reminds me of something though. Can’t put my finger on what – but it’s a great track though. Got to love the beat, but it has to be the old schoolish sort of flows that does it for me. I said I liked track 2 probably most, but I’d say this has to be – right up there.
11.) Deadzone
Taken from the name of a comic, or was it a Zombie film. This track is quite complex to say in the least words possible. You have to properly listen to this one, and I mean if you blink you’ll miss it. A good bit of continuation from the last number. If you like fast rap, or quickfire flows’ this one has to be for you.
12.) Poisonous Thoughts feat. Mr MFN Exquire
Kind of like two tracks in one’ this one. It pretty much stop’s like halway through. The beat switches, and in comes
MR M’F’N Exquire. Not one you take to straightaway.
Esoteric probably has the best verse, but to describe I’d say the most dominant one on the tracks
7L
13.) Shoguns feat. Cappadonna & Vinnie Paz
Maybe one of the tracks people might be checking this album for, but I dunno. It kind of goes for that dark kind of
Wu-tang sound. Not quite like the
Wu sound that does it for me. I find it a bit dull. It maybe would have been better with
Method Man on it than ‘box cutter’ Pazi.
14.) Hazmat Rap
The last track on the album, and ‘electronic’ is the word. Also whispering. Perhaps not great for people with mental problems, but It isn’t very long, and to describe it – it is more than anything – a closing track/ outro.
Evaluation:
To describe this album you’d most definitely say’ it has it’s moments. Some great tracks for sure. I’d say there’s only a couple tracks I don’t like. Some tracks though - I really do like - & I’m sorry to keep going on about this, but
Watch Out For The Ghost! Some excellent samples thrown in the mix – which kind of with the cover gives it that real ‘comic booky’ sort of feel. It has exceeded expectations I reckon –
So I’m going to give it: 4/5 Stars.
