In all honesty, this album was real close to not being reviewed at all. We don’t have much information about K.A.R. (aka Kill All Rats). We know they are cosigned by Fat Joe and were featured on his “300 Brolic (remix)”. We know that, the guy who runs the label their signed to, Pistol Pete, has a reputation in the streets (He did a over a decade in jail and was on the Bronx’s “Most Wanted” list). And lastly, we know there are 4 members Mike Beck, Onez, Leader, & Rob Kash (See, I did SOME research). That’s really it. So why are we reviewing this knowing that it’s a great chance no one will care? The features. It features Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, Hell Rell, Fat Joe, Ace Hood, Sean Kingston, DJ Khaled, & Dre. That’s the main reason. We don’t even have proper production credits. Here goes…

1. Intro From Pistol Pete
The album starts of with Pistol Pete giving thanks to everyone from Fat Joe, his lawyer, his kids, and of course his haters. This is supposedly an album for people in the struggle

2. Girls Wanna Have Fun
Featuring Ace Hood
For a group that has street and jail ties, I’m surprised they started off with this song. The beat is generic and the rhymes are your standard “I got money, I’m making it rain” bullshit. The Ace Hood feature really didn’t matter.

3. Hustler
Featuring Hookmaster
Cue the auto-tune! I really don’t understand why new rappers feel that they can stand out by doing the same tired trends that have been done to death. Here’s another song about hustlin’ & grindin’ with a forgettable beat. I did hear one semi-good line that did catch my ear; “I keep that thing with me like the Fantastic Four”. I’m sure it’s been said before and don’t ask me who said it cause the K.A.R. members are kinda interchangeable (I think it was Leader though).

4. They Hate Me Man
Featuring DJ Khaled & Dre
I’m guessing that Cool & Dre produced this track. Don’t be quick to think that K.A.R. got the top notch shit. They got the, “I owe Fat Joe a favor but not a big favor” beat. The songs is about haters of course, and my skip button is broken.

5. Getting Money Money
Featuring Tony Sunshine
I can’t put this one on K.A.R. The boring beat and hook by Tony Sunshine here just kills this song from the get go. The crew shows some versatility and go to the fast flow. That hook is atrocious though.

6. Oh Baby
Featuring Fat Joe
This is the only song off this album I heard prior and the beat alone make this the best song off the album. They still don’t wow us with creative or lyrics but at this point you take what you get. Fat Joe appearance helps but also outshines the other on the track (Yea, you read that right). You can check out the video here.

7. You Could Tell I’m From New York
Featuring Jadakiss
Okay, here’s the Kiss feature. This song pays homage to the NY and it’s not terrible. It’s not gonna be the new New York anthem. The beat is generic and the hook is still subpar and even a unmotivated Jadakiss can’t save the song (He still outshines K.A.R.).

8. Guy Like Me
Featuring Sean Kingston
These guys are really going for the radio play! Mr. “Beautiful Girl” shows up to do the Jamaican themed hook and K.A.R. says almost the same shit they did on track 2. The beat isn’t that bad, but very forgettable.

9. From The City
Featuring Layzie Bone
Layzie Bone? Really? This track only has Layzie and Mike Beck on it (Who sounds a little like Cassidy). The two rappers really didn’t mesh well. I applaud trying to go outside the box, but it didn’t work.

10. This Is The X
Featuring Fat Joe & Hell Rell
I can’t front here; this track is okay. The production is dark on here gives room for all 3 Bronx representatives to rep their hometown. Even though Ruger Rell adds to the track, it’s too bad that only one K.A.R. member is featured here.

11. Serious
Featuring Sheek Louch
I do gotta admit that the production has gotten better over the past two tracks (Hooks are still bad though). The track is about how stuff in the streets gets serious. Sheek steals the show but the track isn’t spectacular.

12. What You Gonna Do To Me
Featuring Fat Joe
Here Joe Crack just does the hook and leaves the verses for the members of K.A.R. Actually the hook isn’t bad; it sounds like something 50 Cent would say sing. The production is much better here also.

13. Get Your Money Up
Featuring Jadakiss
Jadakiss has two features on this album? I’m not complaining just wondering. After listening to this verse, you can really tell Kiss wasn’t coming with his A game. The topic is kinda tired since they already did 4 songs about it. The beat is generic…again.

14. Rat Killa
Featuring Raekwon
This beat actually had a chance but they had to put that annoying bird chirping sound effect in. The Chef sounds good here though (OB4CL2 might not be that bad). And what’s the hell is up with the girl on the hook. Wack.

15. The Takeover
Original title huh? This track has K.A.R. members Leaders & Onez going back and forth to mediocre results (“My niggas dream about beef so they sleep with chrome”). The beats sounds just as amateurish with the heavy synth sound.

16. Growin’ Up In The Streets
This is the solo track by Rob Cash. I will give him props for talking about the ills of the hood (The second verse is about young girls turning into hoes). The track doesn’t grab you but I will give points for effort.

17. Get It Right
Featuring Figgaraw & Bully
This track has D-Block’s Bully and Figgaraw from K.A.R. South…wait theres a K.A.R. South? Okay. The track sequencing has me scratching my head. Nothing to write about here. It is the last track though and I’m happy to see it.

Bottom Line:
One problem that a lot of new rappers have these days is that they do not stand out. K.A.R. has this same problem. After listening to this album 4 times (You’re welcome), I can honestly say that it doesn’t leave a mark and may fall under the category of “disposable music”. If you wanna rap about the run of the mill shit that’s popular now, at least do it with some sort of creativity. The bright spots here are few and far between. This album is proof that street cred definitely doesn’t equal into good music. I do give props for anybody that has the courage to go out there and try to make music, but it’s not for everyone. UPS is hiring.

Download: K.A.R. feat. Hell Rell & Fat Joe – “This Is The X”

Every week I tell myself that I will not put Lil’ Wayne’s picture up for The Numbers Game, but almost every week I end up doing it. I’m not a hater or a dick rider; it just seems he can’t be stopped. Even the powerful Hannah Montana has to take notice. While Miley Cyrus did take the #1 spot this week, she didn’t sell half of what Weezy sold in his first week. If Hip-Hop is on top you know I’m all for it. Other than that: Nas is half way to Gold status, Plies is really close to Gold status, and Hell Rell & Skillz get wood status. Let’s look at the numbers…

#5 Lil’ Wayne/Tha Carter III (Last Week: #2) – 85,166; Total: 1,997,218 (Platinum) [7 Weeks]
#8 Nas/Untitled (Last Week: #1) – 63,279; Total: 250,357 [2 Weeks]
#11 Rhianna/Good Girl Gone Bad (Last Week: #10) – 33,708; Total: 1,516,282 (Platinum) [60 Weeks]
#18 Usher/Here I Stand (Last Week: #19) – 23,590; Total: 930,231 (Gold) [8 Weeks]
#20 David Banner/The Greatest Story Ever Told (Last Week: #8) – 21,212; Total: 73,114 [2 Weeks]
#27 Plies/Definition Of Real (Last Week: #26) – 17,194; Total: 417,983 [7 Weeks]
#33 Three 6 Mafia/Last 2 Walk (Last Week: #29) – 13,918; Total: 170,753 [5 Weeks]
#34 G-Unit/T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight) (Last Week: #24) – 13,881; Total: 173,250 [4 Weeks]
#131 Hell Rell/Black Mask Black Gloves (Last Week: NA) – 5,445; Total: NA [Debut]
#NA Skillz/The Million Dollar Backpack (Last Week: NA) – 2,900; Total: NA [Debut]

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”

When I reviewed Jim Jones’ Harlem’s American Gangster album in February, I honestly thought that I had filled my Jim Jones quota for the year. Not to say that I don’t like Jimmy; he a charismatic fellow. With all the flack the South gets for not having intricate lyrics, it’s funny that a guy who is currently in the fore front for New York is lacking in that category. With all that bullshit aside, I think everyone is waiting to see what Jimmy does next. Well, for one he’s bringing in his own crew that’s not called Diplomats; ByrdGang. Its members consist of Jim Jones, Mel Matrix, NOE, Freekey Zekey, Chink Santana, Sandman, as well as recently deceased Stack Bundles (R.I.P.). After being a capo in the Diplomats, can Jim Jones lead this team to a successful official debut? We’ll see…

1. I’m The Man
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Mel Matrix
The album starts off the album with an electric guitar laced track. Jones is first and gives you the standard ad-lib heavy verse. After him is NOE then Mel Matrix. If you haven’t heard or read about NOE, it’s they guy that sounds just like Jay-Z (In voice and flow). No lie. The song is average to me and does what it supposed to.

2. Mobbin’
Featuring NOE, Mel Matrix, Juelz Santana, & Sandman
The beat is hard on this one; the simple piano makes it sound menacing. Julez jumps on the hook and does his thing. And just to be clear, the Sandman here is not the same one down with The Clipse’s Re-Up Gang.

3. Only 17
Featuring Jim Jones, Stack Bundles & Mel Matrix
I really wasn’t feeling it at all when I heard how terrible the hook was. The beat has an annoying quality to it also. I will say this; Stack Bundles may have delivered the line of the album: “We don’t get breaks like 2 15’s and an hour/We sell 2 for 15 and move powder”. When you think about, it’s ironic to have Stack on a track about getting killed at a young age.

4. Blasphemy
Featuring Mel Matrix, Stack Bundles, Jim Jones, & Sen
The production on this isn’t really bad or anything; it’s actually good. It isn’t that the subject matter is old (Drugs, thugs, flossing, & sex is but I’m already over that). The problem I have is when you do something to death but don’t do it creatively. That’s the problem here.

5. Money Right
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Sen
NOE begins talking in the beginning of the song and I’m still having a problem getting past the Hova impersonation (“I got my money right!”). Jim Jones tries out a faster rapping style that surprisingly wasn’t half bad. Sen sings his verse and NOE does the hook.

6. Throwin’ Bg’s
Featuring NOE, Sandman, & Chink Santana
When I first saw the title of this album, I wondered; what the hell was “throwin’ bg’s”? Well, the answer to that question is…I guess it’s some sort of ByrdGang gang sign (Correct me if I wrong though). This is another track that I feel suffered from an annoying hook. As far as lyrics are concerned, nothing much more than banter about having bottom bitches and money. Eh…

7. She So Gangsta
Featuring Chink Santana, Jim Jones, NOE, Oshy
The sad thing about this song is that in the beginning, it tells you what the “ideal bitch” is. Besides using the word bitch, I actually agreed with most of it. Now, that’s the good part. The bad part is the hook, the generic and derivative ass lyrics, and the fake ass southern accents.

8. Splash
Featuring Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, NOE, & Chink Santana
This was the first single for the album and I’ll have to admit that at first when I heard it I hated it. But after you hear that hook a few times, that shit gets stuck in your head (Seeing the video adds to this). The beat is simple and is probably one of the best on the album. Juelz feels like he wasn’t even trying hard but still easily outshines everyone on this track by leaps and bounds.

9. Hustle
Featuring NOE & Jim Jones
I know I should let this go, but even NOE’s ad-libs sound like Jay-Z’s; it’s crazy! More to the point, Jim Jones does the hook in a higher pitch for some reason. It’s sad because the beat really wasn’t that bad.

10. Oopsy Daisy
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Mel Matrix
What’s up with Dipset members and funny words (You all remember “Holey moely”)? The song subject matter is actually more serious and deals with having an absente father; It’s like when you father threw you up in the air and didn’t catch you; that’s where the title comes from. The song has a deep message but it suffers from another silly hook and uninspired lyrics (And I feel like I’m repeating myself).

11. Heartbeat
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Hell Rell
After you looked past the common R&B singer on the hook, the beat is okay. The song deals with repping for your hood/crew. Hell Rell (probably my favorite Dipset member) turns in a good performance; “It don’t looked cool with you the coup/Riding around the hood your whole crew on the stoop.”

12. ByrdGang Money
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Mel Matrix
This song also appeared on Jim Jones’ Harlem’s American Gangster that was released earlier this year. I thought it was irritating then too. Skip!

13. Gizzang
Featuring Chink Santana & Jim Jones
Over a slow minimalist beat, Jones goes at it all alone (Chink Santana just does the hook). It works a little but then you realize that Jimmy really isn’t saying much. With a beat like this, it works better with a lyricist because all the attention is on his delivery and word play; you see why this might not work with Jim Jones.

14. We Flying
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Mel Matrix
The bass line as well as the whole production on this one is pretty good. At first I thought it was the sequel to “We Fly High” (I still don’t know if that would have been a good thing). It had something that made me not really want to get into it though.

15. So Cold
Featuring Chink Santana, Jim Jones, & Sandman
We close the album with an ode to a chick that “suck a bomb ass dick”? Okay. I just didn’t think they would end this album with a song about a “down ass chick”. Well, the beat is a better quality but nothing that stands out (This is true for the lyrics too).

Bottom Line:
After listening to this album a few times, I realize what’s wrong with this crew (As well as a lotta crews in Hip-Hop/Rap). No one really stands out. I didn’t see any star quality in NOE, Mel Matrix, Chink Santana, or Sandman. I know most rapper wanna put on their homies and become moguls, but come on, it’s just too much of that shit. At the end of the day, this is a side project for Jim Jones and Dipset fans to buy until a main or more popular Diplomat member releases an album (Juelz, Jim, and maybe Cam’rom). Back to the drawing board Jimmy.

nappyPicks: “Spalsh”

Download: ByrdGang featuring Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, NOE, & Chink Santana – “Splash”

Damn, this is the second straight week that I had to review a Dipset album. Why am I complaining? Because The Diplomats related albums we reviewed this year so far, in my opinion, weren’t that good (Well, King Jerm liked More Than Music Vol. 2 but sometimes he be tripping). But there is a silver lining to this story; it’s Hell Rell’s album. Like I said in the 40 Cal. review last week, Hell Rell is probably my favorite Dipset member. Why you ask? Well for one, unlike 40 and JR Writer, he isn’t a Cam’ron clone. Ruger Rell has a distinct voice and flow that I feel sets him apart from the rest of his brethren. I’ll be real though, him being my fav Dipset member isn’t saying much since I think 85% of the members are clowns. But I’ll push all that shit aside and see what Rell has on his debut For The Hell Of It. Oh yea, did I forget to mention that scary ass album cover? That shit will give me nightmares for sure.

Oh shit! “The Intro” of the album is actually hot. It sounds like Just Blaze which of course I know it’s not, but it’s better than most of the production that they give to the Dipset B-Team. Rell goes hard with lines like, “I come through in the drop Porsche, two tone colors, you and ya man y’all could be tombstone brothers.” Yea, it’s that same gangsta shit, but it’s well done same gangsta shit. “Do It For The Hustlers” is next and Hell Rell reiterates his love for the streets. Over a bouncy track Rell talks about his hood. The chorus on the song isn’t terrible, just not original. “Paperboy” is a solid song that generic thug subject matter takes away from it. The beats not bad though and the hook is kinda funny; “The only way you’ll be around this motherfucking paper boy, is you quit you job and go be a paperboy…” “Deep In Love” is a stand out track on the album and utilizes a good sample. Rell rides the well produced beat and goes into his loves. One of the good lines from the song is about his love for his daughter; “I’ll kill you if you between her Similac money, I never going broke I’m a Diplomat dummy.” The thing about this album that surprises me is that the production is more Jim Jones than Freekey Zekey, if you know what I mean. This continues with “You Can Count On Me”. Rell goes more into his childhood in the hood. It’s the regular story; I sold drugs, seen murder, terrible conditions. But Rell makes it his own. Okay, “Streets Gon’ Love Me” is starting to make me realize that even though the production is better than I suspected, the subject matter is starting to get really thin. The beat is good and has a New York feel; something a lot of New York rappers are missing these days. But he’s starting to sound the same as the songs before at this point. You can exchange the song title of the last song with “Life In The Ghetto”, and I don’t think it would make a difference. The only difference? The hook on this song is garbage! Styles P shows up on “The Hardest Out” which is good because most of these B-Team Dipset members are relegated to only having Diplomats members on their albums. The paring of Styles and Rell makes since I guess; both call themselves the hardest out. The song really doesn’t produce anything memorable; I guess it could be a up North mixtape banger or something. Ruger Rell hits the strip club on the Young Dro featured “You Know What It Is”. Young Dro gives a noteworthy performance but the chemistry between Dro and Rell is nonexistent so the song is awkward. The album’s first single, “Show Off” is next and it’s…uh okay. It’s you basic flossing song complete with the flossy hook; “It’s time to show it off, watch me show it off, her ass got bigger she can’t wait to show it off’ I don’t like it but you may find the accompanying video… Nah, you won’t like that either. Cam’ron makes the mandatory appearance on “I’m Da Shit” and it has that signature chopped up/Opera Cam style too. It sounds like you average Dipset song you might have heard a hundred times already and it further shows me that Cam may not be able to pull himself out of this slump he’s in. The JR Writer featured “Respect Me” is next and at this point in the album, I think I’ve heard about a hundred references to how hard Rell is. There’s nothing really that stands out on this song unless you like to hear JR do his Cassidy impression. “I Shall Proceed” has Rell trying to make a club song. Actually it’s not a bad song; the beat sounds like a poor man’s Neptunes. Good try though but not for me. “Always Wanted To Be A Gangsta” is yet another song about how hard Ruger Rell is and I just wish dude could change it up a little bit. Once again, it’s not a trash song, its just that after a while all this shit sounds like bad Trina song (Blah, blah, blah, blah… you know). Juelz Santana shows up on “Where You From“. Is it me or are Juelz and Jim Jones slowly separating themselves from Dipset? Maybe its me but on the last few releases it seems like they barely show up (Juelz does half a hook for this song). Otherwise the song is nothing special. The last track of the album is the Dame Grease produced mixtape banger “I Ain’t Playin Wit Em”. I heard this song a while back and it had me looking forward to this album. It showcases Rell’s flows well; too bad it didn’t reflect most of the album.

Bottom Line:
Was I disappointed in this album? Not really, I wasn’t really expecting much. The production on For The Hell Of It was still better than I thought it was gonna be. The thing that really wears this album down is Hell Rell’s subject matter. Yea, I know some of you out there love the “gangsta shoot ‘em up” stuff, but in today’s market you gotta show more than that. And if you do go that way you should do it the best. After the midway point in this album you start to realize that maybe Rell is a one trick pony who can only rap mainly about one subject. I still think Rell is talented, I just think he might have needed help making a better album.

nappy Picks: “Intro”, “Deep In Love”, & “I Ain’t Playin Wit Em”

Download: Hell Rell – “Intro”