Typically, when we think of Pro Black, prideful, conscious rap, KRS-One tends to triumphantly erupt from our souls as the poster child and is highly regarded as a top 5 emcee…probably more like top 3. It doesn’t take much effort or digging to get into a conversation about this man or his greatness. Buckshot’s name may not have the same resounding name recognition for someone who isn’t heavy into the game. It’s not because he’s not an ill emcee, but the byproduct of being a part of such lyrical assassin groups as Black Moon and the Boot Camp Clik. While grinding on the underground scene, those that are familiar with his work were ready to celebrate when they heard that these two verbal samurais were working on this project together.

1. Survival Skills
Featuring DJ Revolution; Produced by Illmind
If this is the tone for the album, I’m ready to be excited. This isn’t about glossy production and bounce, this is about returning to bass, beat, and intensity. Now, I’m sure we may get some polish and pretty effects later, but this one comes off like one of the hard hitting NY throwbacks. You also get a taste of what could be ahead with Blastmaster working this track and his flow to his advantage and Buckshot Shorty playing the Geeche Suede to his Sonny Cheeba with a smooth sound and style that works with KRS brash lyricism. The hook throws me a little, but the lyrics and track are too fly to ignore…shout out to some old school scratching.

2. Robot
Produced by Havoc
This is the lead single for the album and I can’t even pretend to like the melody of the hook. The message is one that I’m sure we will hear a lot more of in the near future (and I welcome that). Havoc keeps the theme feeling from the first track as our duo do a job of blending and not competing while both offering some of the illest commentary on the current state of the industry.

3. The Way I Live
Featuring Mary J. Blige; Produced by Black Milk
Anthem, period. The production on this joint is fantastic and Mary J. proves again that she’s one of the best to do this Hip-Hop hook thing. KRS literally destroys this song with his insightful lyrics and inspiring flow. Hell, this may be my new alarm in the morning. This is one of the best songs I’ve heard this year. If this one doesn’t make radio, all the execs need to be fired. Sometimes, things are ready for the radio because they NEED to be heard, not because they are designed to be played on the air.

4. Clean Up Crew
Featuring Rock (of Heltah Skeltah); Produced by Illmind
The track is cool, still hard hitting, but something about this one doesn’t really grab me. Lyrically, it’s ok. The concept is pretty straight forward, as you see the title, but it comes off overdone to me. Like, the analogy of cleaning, cleaning supplies, janitors, etc, gets a little boring to me after a while. It’s creative and I get it…but yeah. You’ve got to hear it, I guess the best way for me to say it is that it’s creative, but not as clever as I’d expect or hope for.

5. Oh Really
Featuring Talib Kweli & Geo (of Blue Scholars); Produced by Marco Polo
Talib! Oh shit, I’m ready…for him to only be on the chorus? Yeah, that’s all we get. Hey, I was hoping he was going to do his thing. Again, a tough track that plays the proper role and lays the foundation for offerings like this one from KRS, “I’m naughty by nature/raunchy by nature/forty by nature/y’all corny by nature/meanin’ all y’all naturally wack/and I’m naturally dope like coke before crack/but really, I’m more like the weed in this rap/and these new jacks are more like the seeds in this rap”.

6. Connection
Featuring Smif-n-Wessun; Produced by Moss
We still get grit on this one, but with a healthy dose of dark ominous chords in the background. This song is one of the missteps on the album for me. The song becomes boring and at 5:23 seconds, it’s too long to sound like this. The one thing I will mention is KRS line at the end of the song…damn…damn meaning GOOD!

7. Runnin’ Away
Featuring Immortal Technique; Produced by Black Milk
I hate to be lazy or come off like I’m on some bullshit, but Immortal Technique did some unmentionable shit to this song. Really, I don’t even want to cloud your this song review with talk about the other shit, Immortals offering wore the paint off my rewind. Just take a listen at the bottom.

8. Think Of All the Things
Featuring K’naan; Produced by DJ Mentplus
There are certain things you all know about me at that I need in albums. I don’t pretend to be the almighty scholar on all things Hip-Hop, and I Will Not Apologize for how I evaluate albums. You all know that I am a stickler for lyrics, beats, hooks, production and flow of an album. I LOVE this song…aside from KRS singing. The message is fantastic, but I have trouble with it on this album or at least hear. It just seems odd right here and now.

9. One Shot
Featuring Pharoahe Monche; Produced by Nottz
This beat drives me crazy, and not in a good way. It’s set on the down beat so you can’t really nod where you’re used to nodding…you’ll get it when you hear it. It’s not as jarring with further listens but it has yet to resonate with me. Monche is another of of those guys that doesn’t get the notoriety that he deserves in the business but unfortunately, I can’t say that he offered anything to change that. He’s only on the chorus. I do like the structure of this song and the lyrics offered as well.

10.Amazin‘
Featuring Sean Price & Loudsmouf Choir; Produced by Khrysis
Y’all know about the love the Fro’ has for the Justus League, so shout out to Khrysis right out the gate. I should probably listen to this again and count how many times they say amazing since that is the concept of the song…but oddly enough, it doesn’t get old. I’ve never heard one word sound like so many different words as I do with KRS stressing different portions of the word and the words before and after it. Buckshot continues to prove that this album is collaboration and not a competition as he lends a different sound but flow that is second to none.

11. Hear No Evil
Produced by Khrysis
Definitely a different sound on this track. Appropriately I feel like the resounding, rejoicing, triumphant horns are recruited to play at the name and theme of the song. This song is good, the track stands out on this one though.

12. Murder 1
Featuring Bounty Killer; Produced by Coptic
Another decent song, another song that doesn’t really flow with the album. Bounty is relegated to the hook and not intermingled enough to get this one over for me.

13. We Made It
Featuring Slug (of Atmosphere); Produced by Illmind
The thing that I think is most important to note about this song is how differently each emcee approaches the topic of “made it.” KRS comes with a story of life from seed to success, Slug speaks about his personal struggles and triumph in life, and Buck speaks about his motivation to be successful and make it. This is a really good song for any aspiring rappers to check out.

14. Past, Present, Future
Featuring Melanie Fiona & Naledge (of Kidz in the Hall) ; Produced by 9th Wonder
Miss Fiona will be dropping her album next week and if her vocals on this one are any indication, if you like the feel of Amel Larrieux silky voice, we need to be on the lookout. 9th Wonder is on his shit as usual, and just like most of the previous 13 tracks, lyrically, this song is really good. It’s good to see Naledge getting some shine as well.

Bottom Line:
This album is feature heavy, but that is a bit misleading. With three of the features just being on the chorus (when both of them should have been spitting) and the rest doing a pretty good job of blending with the album, it doesn’t come off as feature heavy as it is…if that makes sense. This album seems to get looser as it drones on and a lot of the grit and grime gets polished and cleaned up by track 14. There are hiccups which I attribute more to my own ideas and what I want rather than them being bad tracks. The lyricism on this album is really dope and inspiring as well is the structure of some of the songs. In a industry that tends to go with verse, hook, verse, hook format, this team offers some different set ups and interesting collaboration and subject matter throughout. All in all, this album is probably going to be a must have for those that love either KRS or Buck, but I don’t know that it will win any new fans or make a big commercial splash. To that matter, I haven’t decided if that’s more a commentary on the state of music or about our desire/disdain for hearing things that are different to what we like…or maybe just me.

nappyPicks: “The Way I Live”, “Survival Skills”, “Oh Really”, “Amazin”, “Runnin’ Away”

Download: KRS-One & Buckshot feat. Mary J. Blige – “The Way I Live”

Download: KRS-One & Buckshot feat. Immortal Technique – “Runnin’ Away”

I can still remember my ex-girlfriend calling me early in the morning and telling me about Biggie’s death. March 9th 1997. 12 years later, Iam glad to say that Christopher George Latore Wallace’s name is still alive and well. After seeing the trailer for this mixtape, I was definitely interested. Cookin Soul takes the original samples used on Ready To Die & Life After Death and flips them with original appearances from a whole range of rappers paying their respects to Frank White. DJ Drama hosts. Check out the tracklist and then download.

1 – “DJ Drama Intro”
2 – Tek (Smif-n-Wessun) – “Juicy”
3 – Grafh – “Things Done Changed”
4 – LA the Darkman & Willie the Kid – “World Is Filled”
5 – Freekey Zekey & 730 Dips – “Dreams”
6 – CL Smooth & Skyzoo – “Big Poppa”
7 – De La Ghetto – “Ready To Die”
8 – Styles P – “Kick In The Door”
9 – Emilio Rojas – “Young G’s”
10 – Nipsey Hussle – “Another”
11 – Shiest Bubz – “Going Back To Cali”
12 – “Miss Info interlude”
13 – Lil’ Cease & Cardan – “Ten Crack Commandments”
14 – Amanda Diva – “Get Money”
15 – “Dough Skit”
16 – LA the Darkman & Willie the Kid – “I Love The Dough”
17 – Jean Grae – “Hypnotize”
18 – Uncle Murda – “Long Kiss Goodnight”
19 – Chaundon – “Who Shot Ya It’s Over”
20 – “P. Diddy Outro”

Download: DJ Drama & Cookin’ Soul – The Notorious B.I.G. Tribute (Mixtape)

Yeah, I know the album cover is just fucking ridiculous. But name one Hip-Hop head who hasn’t been waiting for this album to drop. Forscore and 12 years ago, Heltah Skeltah released an equally goofy album cover, both rappers hanging from the sky… in Twista Kamikaze fashion. As goofy as that album cover was, the music inside was gritty as hell…if you haven’t yet heard Nocturnal, it should definitely be on your to-do list of Golden Age Hip-Hop. For those who have heard Nocturnal and Magnum Force, this is obviously an album you had your sights on for quite some time. It’s been ten years since Heltah Skeltah has released an album. Don’t get it twisted though, both Ruck and Rock have been grindin’ out street singles on a consistent basis for those 10 years. In fact, they joined a Hip-Hop supergroup known as Boot Camp Clik, which is them, Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun and O.G.C. It is kind of like the East Coast’s version of the Four Horsemen. Combined with the critically acclaimed first two albums and the huge underground of the Boot Camp Clik, this album has got crazy hype attached to it. I only wonder if it deserves the hype…

1. Intro
Featuring DonRocko, BummyFlyJab, & Alkatraz; Produced by D Dot
Imagine what’s happening on the album cover in song. It’s just a messy mix of death threats, bullet shot sounds, and random yells of “Heltah Skeltah” or “Boot Camp Clik”… and then Ruck (I think) decides to spit a few bars at the end. I guess it’s alright for an intro, but I would skip it.

2. Insane
Produced by Marco Polo
I wasn’t really ready for this track, but after about one minute I got really into this track. Marco Polo does a great job on the instrumental, especially with the dark, eerie mood he provides, and also with the “insane” sample. Heltah Skeltah rips this track a new asshole with their lyricism; I was really impressed.

3. Chipmunk 3000
Produced by Fatim
I don’t have much to say about this track. I wasn’t really feeling it at all.

4. Everything Is Heltah Skeltah
Produced by Ill Mind
Definitely feeling this track. “Fuck with Charlie Manson, tell you everything is Heltah Skletah”. This beat is very simple yet it fits almost perfectly to the rhymes. The lyrics are great, and it’s just a great song overall… I repeated this song 3 or 4 times.

5. D.I.R.T. (Another Boot Camp Clik Yeah Song)
Produced by Khrysis
“You so sub par/You subleasing/Subway sandwich eating, sucka type/Sucking your teeth in/Substitute the subliminal shots with some shit that sounds like the sub woofer when it go Rah Rah” Need I say more? This track fucking bangs! Also look for the same sample that Kanye West used on “Wouldn’t Get Far”.

6. So Damn Tough
Featuring Buckshot & Ruste Juxx; Produced by Ill Mind
Another raw-ass instrumental and some more grimy, gutter rhyming. The lyricism is amazing on this track… and watch Buckshot outshine everyone on this track.

7. WMD
Featuring Smif-N-Wessun; Produced by M-Phazes
Easily the best song so far. The Smif-N-Wessun verses are AIDS sick! Ain’t no fucking with this track.

8. That’s Incredible
Produced by Double Up
The beat is really boring, I was hoping for more from Double Up. And when Heltah Skeltah gets on the mic their verses are real weak. This is a skip for me.

9. Ape Muzik
Featuring The Representativz; Produced by M-Phazes
If this song was acapella it would sound like some 90’s lines. I liked The Representativz verse’s, but Ruck’s verse was ill as hell. The beat sounds like a Dipset freestyle instrumental (in the best way possible of course).

10. The Art Of Disrespekinazation
Produced by Khrysis
“Fuck rap riddles, get shells yo/I’m a beast, you a bitch like tickle me Elmo”…. You gotta check this song out, cuz it’s propane fire.

11. Hellz Kitchen
Produced by Evidence
This beat is straight fucking horrible. If it wasn’t for the track-saving lyricism I would have instantly skipped it. The lines on here are crazy, but the instrumental is what ties it all together, and it’s nearly non-existent.

12. Shmack Muzik
Produced by Sic Beats
This song is the opposite of the above one, you’ve got an appropriately sick beat… only the rhyming is boring and monotonous. The hook is terrible too (one of the very few times I can say that about a Heltah Skeltah track).

13. Twinz
Produced by Ken Ring
I’m not really a fan of slow beats and quick flow… but I guess if that’s your thing, you will like this track. Once again Ruck saves this track from obscurity with his great verse at the end. But it’s too little too late.

14. Ruck N Roll
Produced by Stu Bangas
Who hasn’t freestyled over this beat yet? Seems like it was only Heltah Skeltah, and now that they’ve done their freestyle on this track maybe we can get rid of this instrumental already. Not exactly the ideal way to conclude your return to form album…but it’s different strokes for different folks.

Bottom Line:
This album was everywhere, from great songs like “WMD” and “D.I.R.T.” to what were they thinking like the “Intro” and “Chipmunk 3000″. I found much more successes than failures, but at the same time I had no clue what the hell I was listening to way too often. I respect that Heltah Skeltah is trying to be “different”, but they sound like jackasses just like the album cover at times. I say this has about six or seven tracks that you should hear, about five or six that are average, and then two that nobody should waste their time on.

nappyPicks: “WMD”, “The Art Of Disrespekinazation”, “D.I.R.T”, & “Everything is Heltah Skeltah”

Download: Heltah Skeltah – “The Art Of Disrespekinazation”

Lemme say that I am biased. I LOVE underground Hip-Hop. Put me onto someone that no one really knows about, I’m game. When I can say that I was at the show they did where the seating capacity was 100, I’m hyped up. The only way to make me MORE hype is to talk about the Golden Age of Hip-Hop. Groups like, the Boot Camp Clik. Man, respect due. It wasn’t about copy cats or money rappers, it was about everyone having a group. There was no discussion about who was the best MC because there was an abundance of good music then. Man, them was the days.

Tek N Steele are back and ready to bring the fire from then, back to now. The Album opens up with “See the Light”, which is about staying encouraged and focused, keep ya head up. Nice positive song, mellow beat. Usually the type of song you would hear at the end of the cd, but it’s a nice way to open up.

“Gotta Say It” is the next track featuring our heroes and Chuckii Star. Definitely one of the few uptempo songs on the album and the return the reggae hook. Another really nice track.

“Trouble” is the follow up and we are hit with lyrics like ” December 18th the day that trouble begin / when momma push me out her womb into a world of sin. Lyrics aren’t bad, delivery kinda lacks the push that this song should have though. No emotion.

Loudmouf Chior shows up on “K.I.M 2000.” The intro lets you know this is a retrospective lesson and a look back on the history of Tek N Steele. Mellow track, simple beat, its not bad.

“P.N.C. 4 Life” is probably the worst song on the album. The delivery isn’t good, and the beat sounds like a rejected Celly Cell drop. SKIP

“Gangster’s Prayer” featuring Million Styles comes on next with a nice organ intro. Its not nearly as ominous as it could be. Million rides the hook nicely and this is a good chill jam as well.

“Stomp Thru” features Joell Ortiz and Rock of Heltah Skeltah. I was amped up cause I dig both artists and Joell ain’t playin either. Overall, this may be the best track on the album and provides some nice wordplay and lyrics like “Show me manuevahs I use a ruger to shootcha for snoozin I leave you loosahs inside a pool of manuer.” Track 7 strikes again!

“Who Gonna Save Us” is a really heavy track in all aspects. The beat is slow and drawn, the subject matter is depressing, and overall, it’s a downer. I admire and respect the subject matter and them addressing the issues, but when coupled with the beat, its a bit much to deal with.

“Still Fighting” features one of the worst beats I have heard in a long time. From what I heard, there is a good message, but I don’t rifle through trash to get a dollar at the bottom, SKIP.

“Yeah” brings back some tempo and bounce to the CD and our duo spits playfully and brings us back from the last two tracks, good recovery.

“Movie” features a beat that I am SURE I heard in some Nintendo game…not again. Anyway, we hear “Life’s like a movie, the action the drama / be all over the day after tomorrow / so, we on the chronic, guidelines we follow / Carlito’s way on a rise to power”. Get it, got it, good.

“Can’t Stop” … well, um, I will just link this one up. The beat…well…. I will let you hear it. Personally, I ain’t all on this one.

“I Can’t Fell My Face” features the Loudmouf Chior NOT Weezy F. Baby. It’s a chill groove, again, with a simple beat. This song probably features some of the most fun delivery and wordplay outside of “Stomp Thru”. Very nice cut.

We rap up with “Still Here”. Oddly, this song sounds like an intro song. Great tempo and imagery as we hear the crew addressing fans, haters, and all stops in between.

Bottom Line:
The Album is a decent album with dope subject matter throughout. Unfortunately, the production doesn’t support this largely as the beats are really uninspired for the most part. Lyrics alone will get this one a few more spins. It’s tough. I had to listen to it a few times and I STILL am on the fence. I even sent a few tracks out to friends to see what they thought, all had the same opinion, meh. Decent, not bad, not great, just middle of the road. Its aite, you may wanna holla at amazon.com and peep the snippets before you purchase this one.

nappy Picks: “Gangsters Prayer”, “Stomp Thru”, “I Can’t Feel My Face”, & “Gotta Say It”

Download: Smif-N-Wessun – “Can’t Stop”

Download: Smif-N-Wessun feat. Rock & Joell Ortiz – “Stomp Thru”