Intro
Produced by AZ & Lunatic Mind
Right off the back AZ provides a great Intro track that gives you a taste of what’s to come as the album proceeds. AZ and Lunatic Mind produce a dark, grimy sounding beat that serves as the perfect compliment to theme of the album.

Uncut Raw
Produced by Loose; Co-Produced by AZ
The following track continues in the mood that was set with the introductory track, as Loose and AZ handle the production side with great skill. AZ’s skills are in abundance as he displays his lyrical ability in rapping about the street/Mafioso life and the continual hustle that takes place in environments they reside in.

Gimme Your’s
Featuring Nas; Produced by Pete Rock
This track features some early classic production by the soul brother Pete Rock that fits well with AZ and the lyrics that he’s spiting. AZ rhymes about everything in this world that he wants and has his eyes set on acquiring. The chorus features some crooning from Nas that gives the track a unique style and feel.

Ho Happy Jackie
Produced by Buckwild
I remember when I first heard this track I was immediately an avid listener of it. Buckwild produces a classic beat with the sampled “Little Children” by Kool & The Gang. I went and searched for the original record by Kool & The Gang that featured this song and listening to it just gave me a complete appreciation for this track and for production/sampling in general. AZ drops some great rhymes that warn guys to be on the lookout for the gold digging chicks (“Ho Happy Jackies”) that lurk around every corner just waiting for a dude with ends and money in his pocket.

Rather Unique
Produced by Pete Rock
Earlier in speaking about how Nas’ inclusion on the chorus on “Gimme Your’s” gave that track a unique feel, AZ displays on this track why he is so unique as an artist for his lyrical dexterity and verbal presence. Pete Rock provides AZ with some more classic production on this track that showed why he was such a force to reckon with early in his career. The boom-bap of the kick and crisp snares and drum rolls display why Pete Rock has such a signature sound that has been so hard for other producers to match.

I Feel For You
Produced by Amar; Co-Produced by AZ
This track brings up the tempo and pace of the album as Amar and AZ provide a nicely produced beat that sits well with AZ’s lyrics. While this isn’t perceived in the same way as the previous classic tracks before this one, it is still able to hold up and match them in terms of lyrics and production.

Sugar Hill
Featuring Miss Jones; Produced by L.E.S.
The previous track gives way to this absolute classic track by AZ that features now Hot 97 radio personality Miss Jones singing on the hook. L.E.S. provides some great production on this track for AZ to flow effortlessly on while being compatible with Miss Jones’ singing. This is probably one of AZ’s most notable tracks and it’s easy to see why after listening to it.

Mo Money, Mo Murder (Homicide)
Featuring Nas; Produced by D.R. Period
For all you so-called “Hip-Hop Heads” that hear this beat and immediately think about The Diplomats song “Real Niggas” on Diplomatic Immunity…DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! This song by AZ featuring Nas is the song that made the beat classic as they picked up from their first collaboration and deliver yet another great performance together. When listening to this great song displaying their storytelling abilities, you can get an early feel for their Firm days and songs like “Phone Tap”. Even though B.I.G. was on point when he said “Mo Money, Mo Problems”, AZ was even more correct with his statement of “Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide”. In the Mafioso world according to movies like Scarface, Carlito’s Way, and American Gangster, the more money that you start to make leads to more murder and death occurring usually being your competition and rivals. This song, along with the music video that accompanied it, perfectly delivers this message to listeners. The hidden track “Born Alone, Die Alone” near the end of this track is a great addition and I wish it would have been a separate track on the album.

Doe Or Die
Produced by N.O. Joe
Now we come to the title track on the album and it is a great song. The funky sounding beat produced by N.O. Joe gives the album yet another feel as AZ rhymes about how it’s either money or death in this world. The concept of “Doe Or Die” is basically the same thing 50 Cent was conveying with his theme “Get Rich Or Die Trying”. They both are great themes to live by in this world as a means to staying motivated and on your grind to make things happen for you in life.

We Can’t Win
Featuring Amar; Produced by Amar & AZ
The dark, piano and bass driven beat produced by Amar and AZ is suitable as they both deliver lyrics speaking about how the world makes it hard for them to win at life and overcoming the difficulty is an everyday struggle. It’s ironic how some of the things that are spoken about in this track still apply to the world today 13 years later.

Your World Don’t Stop
Produced by Ski
Ski provides AZ with a nicely produced beat that fits well with his rhymes about your world can’t come to a halt just because of all the things happening around you that are designed to bring you down and make you stop. We need more songs like this nowadays that are talking about some different and keeping it real in being able to relate at the same time.

Sugar Hill (Remix)
Produced by L.E.S.
The album ends off with a remixed version of the classic “Sugar Hill” song that was heard earlier in the album. Once again L.E.S. provides the beat on the song as he did on the original, but the beat on this version doesn’t come close to how it was on the classic track. The rhymes by AZ are identical on this version as on the original, but there is an absence of Miss Jones on the chorus. This was a good idea as her singing wouldn’t have really fit well with the beat on this version like it did on the original. The classic original version of “Sugar Hill” had more of an R&B feel to it while this remixed version had more of a Hip-Hop/Rap feel. So in the end AZ gives listeners the best of both worlds as some listeners might prefer one version over the other.

Bottom Line:
AZ displayed on this album why he was to be known as one of the rap game’s premier lyricist and that his featured verse on “Life’s A Bitch” wasn’t a fluke. Much to the likes of Illmatic this album is kept short at 12 tracks total, which leaves the listener craving more at the end and anticipating the next offering (which would be Pieces Of A Man). AZ’s lyrics and choice of topics show that he truly was one of the early pioneers of East Coast Mafioso rap and how albums like Reasonable Doubt that proceeded this album built perfectly off the early foundations laid. With at least 5 classic Hip-Hop tracks provided on this album who could really ask for more. With Doe Or Die, AZ provided the blueprint for many rappers after him to build off of and expand even more. A lot of people nowadays don’t include AZ in their Top 5 emcees in the rap game or even consider him still as a premier lyricist, but I really beg to differ. As he displayed on this album back in 1995, AZ can still rap circles around your favorite emcee and is truly an originator in his own right. The album and AZ have been slept on heavily for too long now as should be recognized as the true Hip-Hop classic that is it. If you consider yourself a true “Hip-Hop Head” and don’t have this in your collection, it’s time to either include it or stop associating yourself with the term.

nappyPicks: “Sugar Hill”, “Rather Unique”, “Gimme Your’s”, “Ho Happy Jackie”, “Mo Money, Mo Murder (Homicide)”…The Entire Album.

It’s funny. I never particularly liked Dipset but for some reason it seems like I’m always the one who gets stuck reviewing their albums (And believe me, those dudes stay putting out albums). But hey, you do what you must right? Hey, at least it an album from my favorite Dipset member, Hell Rell. I actually reviewed his debut album, For The Hell Of It, last year and although it wasn’t all that good, it still showed flashes of promise. To me, the thing that makes Ruga Rell stand out for other 2nd tier Diplomat members (Like 40 Cal, JR Writer, etc.), is his voice. He may style like Cam, Juelz, and Jimmy, but he don’t sound just like them. It the last few years, he’s also has gained a reputation of being one of the hardest rappers out. With all that said, let’s take a look at Rell’s sophomore outing, Black Mask Black Gloves (The Ruga Edition).

1. Intro (Black Gloves)
Produced by A. Raab Muzik
“I ran through thousands, I need a couple millions”. Ruga Rell gives you more of that gangster style he’s known for. I’ll give him that; on his last album he started out with a good intro also. The beat is something is you’d expect from a Dipset member.

2. Get Ready
Produced by A. Raab Muzik
The feeling of the track reminds me of something you would of heard in the early 2000’s; that not a bad thing. Over a heavy electric bass heavy track, Rell talks about ways he’ll get money; “I’m living by the mafia rules like Gotti would/I go broke do a sex tape with Megan Good/And sell it to Hollywood”. Funny, I would too.

3. Take An Oath
Produced by Manti
I guess it’s good to hear Rell talk about how money is not everything. Don’t think he didn’t cut the flossing talk though; “My birth certificate is a hundred dollar bill! My social security card is an ATM card!” He goes on the rap the not snitching rule and putting family and friends over everything else.

4. Think Of A Problem
Produced by A. Raab Muzik
This is Ruga at his best. Over a grimy New York beat, Hell Rell is materialistic and misogynistic as ever. But it’s a well done materialistic and misogynistic song. The hook is hard, the lyrics are hard,  and so is the track.

5. Come On Baby Girl
Produced by Hassiditty
With a title like “Come On Baby Girl”, you know this is a song for the ladies. The production sounds like something 9th Wonder would do. I think for Rell’s voice may be too pverpowering for the sample they use here also. When we get to the weak hook thought, that’s where he lost me at.

6. Realest Nigga Doin’ It
Produced by MGI
I don’t wanna sound like a broken record, but this sounds like something straight from Killa Season. Nothing really stands out here. I know more rap dudes lie about there reputations, but when you talk about shooting cops in the head or riding through the hood in a “’08 armor truck”, it gets to be a little much.

7. True Colors
Produced by Kajmir Royale
Erase my last statement abut the last track, this track sounds like something straight from Killa Season. But, with all my hating (Your words not mine), I can’t hate on the sample. It’s on some Rocky Balboa shit. One question though: Is every brother from Dipset a blood now? “Me and cash are like the Blues Brothers, but we play on the red team”. Just a question.

8. I Luv Stuntin’
Featuring Sen; Produced by Kajmir Royale
It’s funny; this song is supposed to be about stuntin’, but most of the verse is about fucking somebody up. The carnival beat is okay, but the song just has something missing. I could of done without the Max B impersonation on the hook though.

9. What Up
Featuring JR Writer; Produced by Hell Rell & Hassiditty
With all the questions surrounding the Dipset’s unity, I guess it’s good to have a collaboration with a member. Too bad the song is boring. The beat has a generic feel and the lyrics aren’t anything we haven’t heard before.

10. Push ‘Em Back
Produced by Goodwill & MGI
I guess this is Rell’s attempt at a club track…or maybe it’s an attempt to get ringtone sales. I swear if you combine “Lip Gloss”, the Beastie Boy’s “Paul Revere”, and dumb down lyrics, you’ll have what Hell Rell tried here, Not a good look at all.

11. Rumors
Produced by A. Raab Muzik
Just like JR Writer did earlier this year, Rell tries to clear the air about his crew’s current status. I applaud him for actually admitting that there was a problem. But at the end of the song though, you realize he really didn’t put any rumors to rest. The beat and the lyrics sounded kinda thrown together too.

12. Million Dollar Plan
Produced by Kajmir Royale
Hey, at least Rell didn’t end the album with an obligatory “I know I just killed a 100 niggas on this album but thank God for helping me make it” track. He sticks with what works for him and at the end he has a solid track. The horns on this one and the loop work well.

Bottom Line:
Hey, I won’t shit you here. Most of the Diplomats affiliated albums released in the last 2 years have not been groundbreaking and the same can be said about this album. Not saying it wasn’t good. Ruga Rell definitely had some good parts. The one problem here is that Rell has yet understand that the outstanding rappers rhyme about more that just guns, sex, and money. Rell has style, reputation, and talent. But until he stretches outside his comfort zone, he’ll never get past where he is now.

nappyPicks: “Get Ready”, “Think Of A Problem”, True Colors”, & “Million Dollar Plan”

Download: Hell Rell – “Think Of A Problem”

Dipset has a fiercely loyal fan base. I can’t lie though, outside of Juelz, I don’t really dig most of them. They are pretty damn entertaining though. They rep hard for each other and that’s wassup. So, we have another offering from JR Writer who seems to never leave the studio. Is he making the most of his time, or wasting tracks? Let’s find out….

It’s Like A Jungle
Produced by Spectacular
Writer comes in riding a smooth ass laid back groove. The title pays homage to the classic “It’s Like A Jungle” but does little beyond the name to praise the song. Nothing more than a simile flip song over a decent groove. It gets boring by the end of the song and seems to set the tone for the album to stall out the gate.

Hate On Me
Produced by Mec-One Productions
A SICK rendition of the hook from The Who’s song, “Love, Reign O’er Me” is the backdrop to this track, only flipping it to say “Hate On Me”. This shit is dope as hell despite an odd change in the background chord. I can’t wait to hear the freestyles over this shit. Anyway JR does alright as he keeps it Dipset with the swagga splashin’ on this track that should have been the first song.

Come With Me (Freestyle)
Produced by Heatmakerz
The Heatmakerz have produced tracks for Weezy, Juelz, CL Smooth, N.O.R.E, and Cormega chime in and offer up a decent track. Lyrically, JR talks about everything and nothing and all points between including him saying “Once I shit on a nigga, he neva gonna smell the same”. Wow….overall, I’m not impressed with this one.

Change
Produced by IKD
We get a lot more melodic track that features some ill chords and a chior inspired “ah ah” chant in the background. The base of the track sounds like some 8-bit Nintendo music, but it works quite well. “Duck hunt with all these birds in the game”. A hint I guess.Ha! “If I was Superman the S would be a dollar sign.” Me too fam, me too.

Serious B.I.
Produced by Trackdealerz
I think it may be a Beatles or Monkeys sound bite (I’m pretty sure I’m way off) for the intro, but the track is fantastic. It is, however, a victim of the same bug that bites this entire album, it’s too damn short (see bottom line). This could very well be the best track on the album, and it is nothing more than a lyrical interlude. Damn shame.

Dimelo
produced by M.Dot Murda
M.Dot Murda, who most recently did some tracks on the Gangsa Grillz album, brings us this Latin influenced track complete with mariachi horns. “Dimelo” is a Dominican word that, loosely translated (ie I googled) means “tell me about it” or “What’s good”.  Now, with that understanding, this song makes no fucking sense. I think he just grabbed a dictionary and started to rhyme any word that made sense. “Blow me like a hankerchief?” That’s not gangsta. Dimelo with that?

Do Dat
Produced by GM Productions
Look, I try my best to be productive, but if you are producing a dance/club track and it’s not a banger, then it’s worthless. “Do Dat” does nothing for me. SKIP.

Let It Rain
Produced by Dame Grease
Goon Music got 1 star as Dame stepped in the booth and played rapper. However, on the boards, he has been a part of a 3 and 4 star rating (Sheek Louch & Freeway).  So, what does he give us on this track…from the boards? 4 STARS. The track is incessant with the “Let It Rain” chant and the anthemesque (new word) quality of the synth and bass.  Again, JR offers up some lazy ass lyrics; I let it rain, who gonna rain check me/I keep a bucketful, I ain’t talkin’ bout KFC. I could offer up more, but you get the point.

Uptown Girl
Produced by Spectacular
With his teeth in the Billy Joel classic by the same name, Spectacular produces a fun track infused with the bounce. This is a song for the ladies, it was about time right? Shout out to all the uptown girls. Clocking in at 1:52, there isn’t much to say, if I type much more it will be longer than the damn song.

Killer Crack
Produced by B-Rocc & Piff Perweiler
When it comes to this rap, I’m a Silverback/I got gorilla raps/Grab ya’self an ice cold drink and chill with that / ………these cats harmless/They look like shit/Look at me, I’m the shit. I’m starting to see right through JR Writers wordplay. I try not to expect lyricism from everyone, but damn, you gotta try harder than that.

How You Want It
Featuring Fred Money; Produced by Hood Ghanndi
No sooner than I ridicule him, he comes with some better lyrics. The track is…myspace-ish, but it’s not bad. The sound quality is great and it’s layered and busy, in a good way. It has a haunted house quality to it; Castelvania style. The hook is hard as hell though; How you want it bitch/Nigga/(4x) I be with the gutta clique/A hundred guns, a hundred clips/Sit you in a fuckin’ ditch/So tell me how you want it bitch … It’s hard to listen to this shit and not feel like punchin’ someone in the face. The beat is hard and hype and is a certified banger. He clearly knew it this time as this is the longest song on the entire album. Fred comes on and gives us a little more delivery quality with his flow, but the “I’m on your ass like hemorrhoids line “rendered the rest of his flow mute to me.  Song still will break necks.

You Know I’m Nice
Produced by YH
YH loves the keyboard. I am speculating but when you hear this track, you will agree. Chords…chords…and chords. Loop. Chords…loop. It’s really a simple track that has its most interesting moment around the 1:50 mark when JR ain’t rappin’. Sad part is that the track is only 2:07 long. By this point, I am very biased against JR’s style so you may want to stop reading this review right here. Just skip to the bottom line.

We Ride Or Die
Produced by Soul Professa
Soul lives up to his name on a very fly track. We get more blizzard, swagga, and Aston talk…oh, and talk of asparagus pockets. Decent…song?

On My Way 2 Space
Produced by Trackdealerz
The track, one word, Ominous. Hands down, the best song on the album. From track to lyrics, this shit is a winner. Soon as I’m finished forensics couldn’t make the trace (nope)/Who you kiddin’ you be singin’ like you Babyface /…I wash these lil’ monkeys up/Now these niggas Bathing Apes/…I step in the ring in reptiles like I’m Jake the Snake. By far some of his best wordplay the entire album. Did I mention the beat is Kah-razy? Cause it is.

Hands Up
Featuring Fred Money; Produced by GL Beats
The build up on this track is dramatic as hell…but then it never seems to cross the mark. It builds and builds and seems like they forgot the bass. On top of that, without something to ground it, the rappers seem to get lost in an orgy of sound…and no one is cumming. JR sounds even less inspired than he has on any other track. Fred’s’ vocals are way too high and lyrics are typical. I guess I’m one of the hatin’ ass bitches he talks about in the song, I’m sure some of you will agree.

Bottom Line:
JR is clearly influence by his label mates and has become a “Cam Santana” hybrid. For those of you who know how to write rhymes, he flips the same sound of each last bar too many times. Like, each song has ONE word to rhyme with. Car, far, bar, star, are, tar, etc. I think there are ways to do this that can come off clever and I realize that in certain settings, but when you only have 2 songs out of 15 that are longer than 3:10 and the average being 2:30-2:40, it starts to sound like a crutch…to me anyway. Speaking of the clock value, most of these songs are so short they don’t have a hook, not as a concept, but as a handicap considering the entire album clocks right at the 40minute mark. Essentially, this is an album that will be the background for a lot of mixtapes in the near future as the tracks are the clear stars on this album. I am POSITIVE I will be considered a hater for this review, so I put on my heat suit. Most Dipset lovers will love this, album as the innanets are a buzz with folks crowning HIM as the best rapper alive. Hey, not me, I’ve read it more than once. Anyway, the beats really do have the ability to carry the album and his funny and clever moments are scattered around just enough to keep you busy.

nappyPicks: “On My Way 2 Space”, “Hate On Me”, “Change”, (most any of these as instrumental are pretty solid)

Download: JR Writer – “On My Way 2 Space”

This topic sprung up in regards to King Jerm’s commentary on the beef between Jay-Z and new Dipset poster boy Jim Jones. In Jerm’s piece he gives detailed reasons why a Jay-Z response to Mr. Jones wasn’t a good political/strategic move for him. My opinion comes from the other end of the spectrum; I think that their little squabble is something that Hip-Hop needs right now… which is a breath of fresh air. In its’ current state Hip-Hop has become a little stale and stagnant. It seems as though every since Pac and Biggie had their beef fiasco Hip-Hop has become politically correct to the point that it hurts the original purpose of the music. The only other form of music that comes close to what rap music is supposed to be is punk rock. Rap is supposed to be rebellious and edgy. That’s why I am bestowing ass loads of praise upon Jim Jones for being a catalyst in bringing the edge back to the music. It’s only competition people and without competition we can’t improve. In regards to violence, there isn’t going to be any violence because Jay-Z is too smart/crafty to let things reach that level. New York definitely needs some much needed pop right now and the Dipset movement is definitely providing a much needed spark in the ignition.  In closing I’d like to give Jim Jones two thumbs way, way up. No, correction, I’d like to give the movement two hands intertwined making a fake Bloods gang symbol.