Joe Budden "Joe Budden" (Spin Review, 9/03)

"There is no evidence to suggest that Joe Budden can bend spoons with his mind. But in the hip-hop mixtape underground, the New Jersey-bred rapper's rubbery voice, acerbic sense of humor (reminiscent of Garden State neighbor Redman), and slurred yet engaging delivery have earned him a rep as "The One." And when Budden held his own in a playful war of words versus Jay-Z this past spring - serving Hova with hoop-dream zingers like "Stand out like Yao Mong / I'm what's sparkling now / Like, 'Fall back, Shaq, I'm startin' now'" - people started to believe. Like Philadelphia's Freeway or Atlanta's Killer Mike, Budden seem poised to give the rap game a much-needed transfusion of youth, energy, and soul." Check the Just Blaze produced hit, "Pump It Up," and more, cont'd below...

"Of course, it's easier to spit slang over no-contest instrumentals like "Grindin'" and "In Da Club" than to craft an album that lives up to the mix-tape hype. But Budden's self-titled debut doesn't disappoint. The beat on the hit single "Pump It Up" should win producer Just Blaze a Nobel Prize, but the song is ultimately less floor filler than it is a showcase for Budden's tumbling flow. On the rest of the record, Budden applies the same gift of gab to material that's surprisingly confessional and often downright dark. On "10 Mins," Budden (whose past includes PCD abuse and stints in institutions) looks back on his troubled youth for - yup - ten minutes. This tension between bragging and insecurity, between the night and the morning after, gives Joe Budden a singular spark. If the album falters, it's when Budden guns for crossover appeal: cameos by Lil' Mo and 112 reek of boardroom tampering. But even a bit of lab-tested R&B can't ruin this bold debut." - Spin.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth "Mecca & The Soul Brother" (The Source)

"The album begins with an explanation of the 'Mecca' as a way of life, not a place or a state of mind. Now I'm not one to be breaking down the mathematics of the title, but I can tell you that this album is mega-fat! In the wake of his cameo on PE's "Shut 'Em Down" remix, Producer/DJ Pete Rock continues to establish himself as an MC. Whether he's sittin' "Skins" with Grand Puba, loungin' in the "Basement" with posse members Heavy D, Grap Luva and Rob-O Dingo or on the solo tip as "Soul Brother #1," Pete's catching wreck on the mic in '92. CL Smooth comes correct with inspired lyrical performances on cuts like "Straighten It Out," "Can't Front On Me," "On and On" and the moving ode to the late Trouble T-Roy (of Heavy D & The Boyz) - "They Reminisce Over You." Revisit it below...

"There's a flavor R&B joint called "Lots of Lovin'" that could really blow them up on radio. But with 18 cuts, almost all of which are close to five minutes, the album is a little long. CL has moments, but he lost me towards the end of a few cuts. Musically, there's never a full moment. The scratches blend in so smoothly that sometimes you don't notice them. Soulful horn loops are fast becoming Pete's trademark. The album is filled with unused samples. Kids looking for a true balance of fat new beats and solid rhymes should definitely make a pilgrimage to Mecca." - The Source, May 1992.

House Shoes "The King James Version" (Chapter 1)

"This is a lovingly and expertly constructed journey through the building blocks of Dilla’s beats – the dusty OG vinyl grooves that he sampled. From the basis of a Frank-N-Dank cult favorite, through that of a Fantastic SV moment, to Donuts’ irresistible ingredients, Shoes’ thorough work shines the light on his friend’s ear for a sneaky loop, his affection for perfectly imperfect chops and his knack for extracting the soul from a forgotten musical fragment and making it something altogether new, something his own. Long Live King James" - Chairman Mao. (Released last year.)

Amerigo Gazaway "Yasiin Gaye: The Return" (Album Stream)

"Amerigo Gazaway's "Soul Mates" series continues the theme of his previous work in creating collaborations that never were. On the series' latest installment, Amerigo unites Brooklyn rapper Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) and soul legend Marvin Gaye for a dream collaboration aptly titled "Yasiin Gaye". Building the album's foundation from deconstructed samples of Gaye's Motown classics, Gazaway re-purposes the instrumentation into new productions within a similar framework. Carefully weaving Bey's tangled raps and Gaye's soulful vocals over his new arrangements, the producer delivers a quality much closer to an authentic collaboration than a lukewarm "mashup" LP." 

Amerigo Gazaway · Yasiin Gaye: The Return (Side Two)

Troubleneck Brothers "Troubleneck Wreck" (12", 1993)

The Troubleneck Brothers were a 7-man posse from Harlem & Uptown consisting of: Soundwave, Prophet, Blunt, Stepchild, Moetown, Natural One, and Shaft. Their debut album was an unreleased project called "Fuck All Y'All" on Bill Stephney's StepSun Entertainment. Returning a year later in '93, they released a remixed version of "Troubleneck Brothers" that caught more attention as the climate of music had shifted to a more aggressive sound. There were obvious comparisons to Onyx and Wu-Tang, the latter mostly due the number of members in the crew. In 1994, they released an EP entitled "Release Me" and a more popular track in "Back To The Hip-Hop." With disagreements and legal issues mounting with StepSun, they changed names to 36Zero and released their "Maintain" EP. None of the releases stuck like "Troubleneck Brothers" and "Back To The Hip-Hop," and the group went separate ways in '95. Blunt (Steven Samuel) went on to create the popular hip-hop news site SOHH with his wife. In 2010, their debut release "Fuck All Y'All" was released on vinyl and CD with 20 tracks, plus a bonus CD of alternate mixes, demo tracks and instrumentals. More below...

As a bonus, The Source's Sure Shot Single review, September, 1993...

Digable Planets "Reachin'... Press Kit" (November, 1992)

"We try to make sounds that are nice to listen to," understates Digable Planets' lead poet and rapper, Butterfly... The Digable Planets' debut Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space) is a hip-hop dreamscape, weaving a space-travelin' groove with a lilting, peaceful vibe infused with everything from jazz to psychedelia. But the Digable Planets intentions go much further than that. Their seemingly lighthearted insect names reflect a fervent belief in the strength of community. Their ethereal, playful poetry reveals an unfailingly conscious and intelligent take on the ways of our world... We feel that every person individually is a planet. Being planets we each have the ability to set up our planet any way we want to, keeping in mind we have to co-exist in the solar system that is society. Digable is just the adjective that describes us as individuals, our music and sound. A lot of people would say this music is different, weird, not in the mainstream of hip-hop, because we're not. But we live and hang, we do the same things that any hardcore group might do - this music is for the kids in the streets first, because that's what we are. The difference is, we've had exposure to things have shaped the way we make our music... We want everyone to know that, no matter who you are and where you're from, you can reach new dimensions, not just in music but in your life... Education can change the world, and music is an offspring of education. If you really listen to the words and analyze what's said you can gain knowledge..." Listen to the album, cont'd below...

About "The Rebirth Of Slick," Butterfly shares: "The song parallels the jazz and hip-hop cultures. In its heyday, jazz had its vernacular and clothes; similarly, we have our own styles, art, attitude, plus a language that's almost incomprehensible if you're not part of it. Unless you come from a hip-hop background where you love and appreciate it, you may not even know that the cats in the Bronx that made up this music have never made any money off it. The pioneers aren't even being acknowledged. That's what "Rebirth of Slick" is about, it's in the poetry of the song." A copy of the full, original Press Kit are available below with lots more insight and inspiration from the album...

Jadakiss "The Champ Is Here" (Mixtape, 2004)

Jadakiss is one of the greatest and most revered lyricists in Hip-Hop, but he does not have a classic studio album. His albums have fallen in that gap between what fans want and expect, and what his label will accept and consider a success. Fans feel like he abandons what he's best at, but it's the price he pays for a major label deal vs. being independent. That's his choice but to his credit, he navigates it best he can, maintaining his top-tier spot through mixtapes, feature work and an occasional single that clicks (ie: "Why"). An example of this would be Jada's 2004 release: “The Champ Is Here.” It is arguably one of the greatest artist mixtapes ever to be released. From the best album cuts, freestyles and well-placed features, it packs everything you'd need and want from a mixtape. He may not have a classic album, but he has a classic mixtape and to that end, he feeds the streets, the corporations and his family all at the same time. For that, I salute him and think to myself, maybe his best effort is his next effort. It was released 10 years ago this month, listen and see if it's not as dope today as it was in 2004. Hosted by Green Lantern & Big Mike. (Updated link)

Scarface "The Diary" (The Source, 1995)

"They say you should never read someone's diary because you might find something you didn't want to know. That's not the case with this audio journal of "the world according to Scarface." The Diary takes you on a lyrical day-to-day trip that goes from inflicting pain ("Jesse James") and avenging a homie's death ("No Tears"), to sexing a new ho on the block ("Goin' Down"). For the production, Scarface has taken a more relaxed approach and shows he's not afraid to experiment. Smooth basslines and mellow keyboards create a sound that, on many tracks, is less aggressive than his previous works. While there are enough rugged tracks to please his fans, this new production helps hold the LP together and will appeal to those who may have believed Face's talent was limited."

"Scarface is business as usual lyrically, but like the production, there are tracks that are not done in his usual mode of operandum. The first single, "I Seen a Man Die," is one of those. This common tale of brothers getting caught up in the game is brought to life as Face, in a tone that is more solemn than usual, successfully utilizes his version of a sing-songish flow. Remaining serious, he teams up with Ice Cube on "Hand Of The Dead Body" to fight back at the organizations that have been trying to silence "reality rap." The sequel, "My Minds Playin Tricks On Me '94," brings back the classic, story-telling Scarface, as he carries the song without the help of Bushwick and Willie D. Overall, The Diary is a diverse piece of work that will appeal to a wider range of listeners. Some tracks may be too experimental for Scarface's core audience, but they will be pleased with the majority of his work. Others will see that this Geto Boy has tapped into something new and has laid the foundation for an even brighter future." - The Source, 1995. Listen to The Diary album above...