The Fugees - The Score (1996)

 

*U.S. first pressing. 

Contains 3 bonus tracks. 

16 tracks total. 

A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: CK 67147
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1996 Ruffhouse/Columbia Records
AllMusic Review by Steve Huey
A breath of fresh air in the gangsta-dominated mid-'90s, the Fugees' breakthrough album, The Score, marked the beginning of a resurgence in alternative hip-hop. Its left-field, multi-platinum success proved there was a substantial untapped audience with an appreciation for rap music but little interest in thug life. The Score's eclecticism, social consciousness, and pop smarts drew millions of latent hip-hop listeners back into the fold, showing just how much the music had grown up. It not only catapulted the Fugees into stardom, but also launched the productive solo careers of Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill, the latter of whom already ranks as one of the top female MCs of all time based on her work here. Not just a collection of individual talents, the Fugees' three MCs all share a crackling chemistry and a wide-ranging taste in music. Their strong fondness for smooth soul and reggae is underscored by the two hit covers given slight hip-hop makeovers (Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry"). Even when they're not relying on easily recognizable tunes, their original material is powered by a raft of indelible hooks, especially the great "Fu-Gee-La"; there are also touches of blues and gospel, and the recognizable samples range from doo wop to Enya. Their protest tracks are often biting, yet tempered with pathos and humanity, whether they're attacking racial profiling among police ("The Beast"), the insecurity behind violent posturing ("Cowboys"), or the inability of many black people in the Western Hemisphere to trace their familial roots ("Family Business"). Yeah, the Chinese restaurant skit is a little dicey, but on the whole, The Score balances intelligence and accessibility with an easy assurance, and ranks as one of the most distinctive hip-hop albums of its era.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.

- Use this page to report a broken link in this post -

tags: the fugees, fugees, the score, 1996, flac,

More Info

Shyne - Godfather Buried Alive (2004)

 

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangsta Rap
Label Number: B0002962-02
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 2004 Gangland Record Corp.

Review by Allmusic.com

As much as rappers boast about keeping it real, hip-hop, like most music, is about creating a fictional world. When real life bleeds in, the results are often tragic, like the well-documented end of the feud between 2Pac and Biggie Smalls. In the late-1990s, Brooklyn, New York teenager Shyne (Jamal Barrow) was heralded by many as the latter's heir, but after drawing his gun and firing during an incident involving Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Shyne found himself behind bars until 2009 on an attempted murder.

With 2004's GODFATHER BURIED ALIVE, the gravel-voiced rapper's second record, Shyne finds his voice, rich, defiant, unrepentant, and powerful. On a self-titled track, Shyne boasts he's "gonna keep it gangsta 'til I die," and the rest of the disc backs up the claim. "Quasi O.G." tells his tale from a cleverly oblong perspective, relating the story with poetic panache and justifying the initial hype his rushed debut failed to capture. Shyne also finds a new angle to getting his digs in at his opponents on the enrapturing "For the Record." On GODFATHER BURIED ALIVE, Shyne proves that he owes his reputation to more than notoriety--he's a skilled lyricist capable of delivering powerful tracks.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.

- Use this page to report a broken link in this post -

tags: shyne, godfather buried alive, 2004, flac,

More Info

Red House Painters - Ocean Beach (1995)

 

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: 9 45859-2
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1995 4AD
AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Red House Painters has always been Mark Kozelek's project, but Ocean Beach represents the first record that is almost entirely a solo project. Not that that distinction has made a great change in the music -- Ocean Beach is a spare, gentle, nearly painfully introspective folk-rock album that draws more from Simon & Garfunkel than Bob Dylan. Kozelek reigns in the droning, experimental tendencies of the group's first full-length album, yet he is more generous with his melodies and arrangements than the band's second untitled record. While Red House Painters remains very arty and self-conscious, Ocean Beach shows the singer/songwriter breaking out of his shell ever so slightly, bringing more fully developed songs and melodies with him.

tags: red house painters, ocean beach, 1995, flac,

More Info

Red House Painters - Songs For a Blue Guitar (1996)

 

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: 162-531 061-2
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1996 Supreme/Island Independent
AllMusic Review by Heather Phares
Before Songs for a Blue Guitar could appear, the Red House Painters' singer/songwriter/guitarist Mark Kozelek had to leave his old label 4AD (allegedly over a Kozelek solo album 4AD rejected), split up the band, and find a new home for his music on Supreme Recordings. Fortunately for Kozelek and his audience, it's worth all the tumult. This is the solo album Kozelek wanted to make masquerading as the Red House Painters album; no other Painters are listed in the liner notes. The benefits that resulted from his freedom from the group setting are evident on Songs for a Blue Guitar. The album compiles a diverse group of styles, including gently hypnotic folk in "Have You Forgotten" and "Trailways," and country-rock, both slow ("Song for a Blue Guitar") and fast ("Make Like Paper"), as well as a various selection of covers. Mixed with Kozelek's traditionally beautiful and sad material, Yes' "Long Distance Runaround," Paul McCartney's "Silly Love Songs," and the Cars' "All Mixed Up" bring light to the Red House Painters' typically shadowy songs. The deep beauty and eclecticism on Songs for a Blue Guitar make it another artistic triumph for the Red House Painters.

tags: red house painters, songs for a blue guitar, 1996, flac,

More Info

Red House Painters - Old Ramon (2001)

 

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: SPCD 565
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 2001 Sub Pop
AllMusic Review by Heather Phares
After years on the shelf due to Mark Kozelek's drawn-out problems with Supreme and Island, the Red House Painters' long-awaited Old Ramon finally sees the light of day, thanks to Sub Pop. As it stands, the label needs Kozelek as much as he needs them -- after a few years' worth of disappointing releases from garage rock revivalists, Old Ramon breaks Sub Pop's losing streak. Ironically, the album's long-delayed release only makes its joyous sound that much more refreshing; its inviting mix of gentle and fuzzy guitars and Kozelek's empathetic vocals make it the Painters' most hopeful, accessible work. Though one of Old Ramon's finest songs, "Find Me, Reuben Olivares," ended up on the Shanti Project Collection, the remaining ten songs are first-rate expressions of Kozelek's thoughtful songcraft and guitar work. Beginning with "Wop-A-Din-Din," a chiming, charming tribute to Kozelek's cat, the album signals a lighter, freer approach than one might expect from the often-brooding Painters. Even slow, wistful numbers like "Smokey," "Cruiser," and "Void" -- whose title suggests a harrowing, soul-searching song like Down Colorful Hill's "24" -- sound downright sunny in comparison to Kozelek's early work. Though Old Ramon keeps the polish of later Red House Painters albums like Songs for a Blue Guitar, the album has an added immediacy and vitality, particularly on surprisingly poppy tracks like "Byrd Joel," a winning blend of folk and fuzz, and "Between Days," which features some of the most luscious-sounding guitars ever heard on a Red House Painters song. Kozelek's impressive, expressive guitar lines also get plenty of breathing room on the otherwise languid, 11-minute epic "River," while his rich, rounded vocals on the hypnotic "Golden" and countrified, slow-building "Michigan" reaffirm his place as one of alternative/indie rock's finest singers. The gently whimsical love song "Kavita" provides a happy ending to an album whose difficult story definitely deserves one. But in spite of the trouble surrounding it, Old Ramon is a surprisingly comfortable sounding album, as if its long delay was intended to let its songs mellow and ripen with time, making the long wait for it all the more worthwhile.

tags: red house painters, old ramon, 2001, flac,

More Info

Do or Die - Picture This (Promo Disc) (1996) ☠

 

*Promotional disc. 

Contains a sticker that reads 

"Licensed for promotional use. Not for sale." 

This CD features the album in it's entirety (11 tracks total)

A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Gangs Rap, G-Funk
Label Number: 7243 8 42058 2 9
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

☠: Selected by Lass

© 1996 Neighborhood Watch/R-A-L/NooTrybe Records, Inc.
AllMusic Review by Heather Phares
Do or Die's 1996 full-length debut Picture This followed the success of their single "Po Pimp" with more bass-heavy gangsta grooves and more of Tung Twista's smooth, rapid-fire rapping. Along with "Po Pimp," "Money Flow," "Kill or Be Killed," "Shut 'Em Down," and "Paperchase" are some of the album's best examples of the group's soul-inflected gangsta rap.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.

- Use this page to report a broken link in this post -

tags: do or die, picture this, 1996, flac,

More Info

Red House Painters - Red House Painters (1993)

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: 9 45256-2
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1993 4AD
AllMusic Review by Jason Ankeny
The first of the group's two eponymously titled 1993 efforts is a sprawling, remarkable set distinguished by Mark Kozelek's continuing maturation as a songwriter; far removed from the uniform darkness of Down Colorful Hill, Red House Painters offers an expansion of both emotional and musical possibilities. Working outward from the cutting "Mistress" -- included as both a Spartan piano ballad and as a gauzy rock number -- the record moves through a shifting, impressionistic backdrop of textures and sounds; from the luminous folk-pop of "Grace Cathedral Park" to the epic dissonance of the gut-wrenching "Strawberry Hill," the songs resonate with depth and poignancy, and rank as Kozelek's most fully realized collection of compositions.

tags: red house painters, red house painters album, 1993, flac,

More Info

Red House Painters - Red House Painters (1993)

*Also known as Red House Painters 2. 

Contains 8 tracks total.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: 9 45441-2
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1993 4AD
AllMusic Review by Jason Ankeny
The second of two self-titled 1993 efforts, this Red House Painters collects the remaining tracks from the remarkably fruitful sessions which also launched the earlier, superior album. Far more experimental in nature, it opens with "Evil," an almost painfully slow and withdrawn song which acutely sets the album's haunting, dark tone. While not everything works -- the electric version of "New Jersey" pales in comparison to the previous set's acoustic rendition, while the cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "I Am a Rock" is overripe -- both the unrequited love song "Bubble" and the dysfunctional "Uncle Joe" rank among Mark Kozelek's most perfectly realized compositions, and the closer, a marvelously downbeat reading of "The Star Spangled Banner," allows the group's often unsung black humor to seep to the surface.

tags: red house painters, red house painters 2, 1993, flac,

More Info

The New Pornographers - Mass Romantic (2000)

Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Indie Rock
Label Number: MRD-043
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 2000 Mint Records
AllMusic Review by Tim DiGravina
Mass Romantic is a barnstorming debut from the New Pornographers, a collection of Vancouver-based indie rockers. With chief songwriting duties falling into the hands of Destroyer's Dan Bejar and Zumpano's Carl Newman, the album displays a decidedly power pop form of indie rock. Guitars wail and ratchet as keyboards swirl toward every direction of the compass. The vocals, handled by Bejar, Newman, drummer Kurt Dahl, and alt-country star Neko Case, are sung in a style that delivers maximum catchiness. The band displays a keen sense of musical history, as the songs cover influences ranging from the Beatles ("The Mary Martin Show") to David Bowie ("The Slow Descent into Alcoholism") to T. Rex ("Mystery Hours") to Todd Rundgren ("The Fake Headlines"). Mass Romantic is noisy, fuzzy, crunchy, and hook-heavy. It's an album that reveals its charms through repeat listens, and makes a listener wonder how the band can master so many different musical styles via so many vocalists while still maintaining a fiercely cohesive sound. Case, who has previously proven herself a master of warped country crooning, proves herself equally accomplished in the world of rock swagger with her vocals on "Mass Romantic" and "Letter from an Occupant"; she provides background vocals on a number of other tracks as well. In some better alternate reality, Mass Romantic's bitter yet sugary staccato treats would have burnt up the charts with hit single after hit single.

tags: the new pornographers, mass romantic, 2000, flac,

More Info

Glueleg - Heroic Doses (1994)

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Funk Metal
Label Number: PE 2210-2
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1994-1995 Pure Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

tags: glueleg, heroic doses, 1994, flac,

More Info

XL Singleton - Righteous Vibe (1994)

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Freestyle, Hip-Hop
Label Number: 477236 2
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1994 Columbia
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

tags: xl singleton, righteous vibe, 1994, flac,

More Info

Abomination - Abomination (1990)

*First pressing. 

Contains 11 tracks total.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label Number: NB 028
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1990 Nuclear Blast
Review by Nick Webb for Metal-Temple.com
Throughout the 1980s Metal sped up and became more aggressive, turning into Thrash. From there it continued to increase in intensity and aggression, becoming Death Metal. Somewhere in that transition, ABOMINATION came out of Chicago. Straddling the line between Thrash Metal and Death Metal, this low-fi group has a certain underground following, and their early releases are quite sought-after.

Having no knowledge of ABOMINATION, all I can say about this reissue of their 1990 debut is that it still holds up as a heavy, high-speed slice of brutality. The tracks are not particularly melodic, but they have a raw grittiness to them. The lyrics are all hell bent on evil, blood, rape, torture and all the good stuff associated with Extreme Metal. The riffs are a rapid-fire buzz saw of noise and the drums pound all the way through. The songs avoid any sense of virtuosity and the only one to have much in the way of guitar solos is the almost 8-minute-long opening “The Choice”, which runs through loads of squealing solos, killer riffs and throat ripping screams.

Everything about this album is pure old-school Death Metal; from a time before the genre became corrupted with other influences. This group sounds like their only goal is to play harder, heavier and faster than anyone else who would have been around to compete with them.

As an underground debut, this could stand as a pillar for the earliest days of Death Metal and is definitely something for people who are a fans of unadulterated genres; or those who want to explore in depth the bands of a few decades ago without sticking to the standard half dozen or so that people generally associate with the genre.

Songwriting: 7
Originality: 7
Memorability: 7
Production: 5

tags: abomination, abomination album, 1990, flac,

More Info

Abomination - Tragedy Strikes (1991)

*First pressing. 

Contains 8 tracks total.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label Number: NB 050 CD
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1991 Nuclear Blast
Review by Nick Webb for Metal-Temple.com
Coming only a year after their debut, “Tragedy Strikes” is the second full-length from Chicago Death-Thrashers ABOMINATION. Originally released in 1991, this nine-track album has lost none of the heavy-hitting, anger-filled passion of their debut. The album does, however, show some development of sound. The tracks tend to be closer to five minutes long - as opposed the three-minute pieces of their debut - and there are a few more areas of variety throughout, with more pronounced solo passages and some slightly slowed-down, more groove-inspired sections.

“Will They Bleed” has a noticeably slower pace yet it does not lose any of the album’s fury (think more PANTERA as opposed to SLAYER). Lyrically, there is still a lot more death and destruction to be found here, however, there seems to be a much more militant and political vibes as opposed to the hell and demonic themes of ABOMINATION’s self-titled first album. “Tragedy Strikes” is more anti-industrial, anti-war in its leanings. The vocal style has lost some of the guttural, Proto-Death Metal sound, and is closer to the sounds of modern Thrash singers – applying more of a “throaty yell”.

The tacks all utilise their slightly increased length in order to have a bit more fun with the grooves. Yes, the full-throttle Thrash holds the majority of the time, pushing the tempo furious speeds for the majority of the time, but whilst also allowing the groovier sections to breathe. The solos are also slightly extended, with cascades of notes and high-pitched squeals tearing up the fretboard.

This is a great slice of classic Thrash and Death Metal crossover work; from a period of time when the two sub-genres were still separate. “Tragedy Strikes” avoids what have become satanic clichés, whilst remaining brutal, heavy and fast-paced. This is an album that doesn’t let go from start to finish.

Songwriting: 7
Originality: 7
Memorability: 7
Production: 7

tags: abomination, tragedy strikes, 1991, flac,

More Info

Various Artists - WWF Agression (2000)

 

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: V2 50120
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 2000 Priority Records
AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Besides being yet another in a seemingly endless series WWF album tie-ins, WWF: Aggression is a collection of entrance themes for wrestlers, as performed by such hardcore hip-hoppers as Method Man, Snoop Dogg, C-Murder, Ice-T, Mystikal and Ras Kass, Mack 10, and the priceless duo of Kool Keith and Ol' Dirty Bastard. The fact that the Kool Keith and ODB cut, which doesn't really live up to expectations, is still the best item here sort of illustrates the problem with Aggression: It's all straight-ahead hardcore rap, targeted at WWF's audience. And since it is targeted at the organization's male adolescent audience, it's just thuggish without being particularly inventive. Of course, if that's what you're looking for -- blunt hip-hop that isn't as brutal as it appears (more bluster than bite) -- this delivers. Really, though, it will only be of interest to wrestling fans, not to hip-hop fanatics.

tags: various artists, wwf aggression, 2000, flac,

More Info

Various Artists - Wild Wild West: Music Inspired By The Motion Picture (1999)

 

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop
Style: Pop Rap
Label Number: INTD-90344
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1999 Overbook/Interscope Records
AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
It's easy to complain about big-budget soundtracks to big-budget blockbusters, whining that they're as calculated as the film to reach a certain audience. That's always true -- as much as it is true of the film itself -- since whenever there's a lot of money involved, a certain amount of calculation is inevitable. The key is whether the artists behind the expensive machinations have enough charm and showbiz flair to make you forget the calculation and just smile, thrilled that you're being taken for a ride. That's the case with the soundtrack for the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed, Will Smith/Kevin Kline showcase Wild Wild West -- it's shiny and commercial, but it has enough craft and humor to keep it entertaining, even during the slow spots. Like in the film itself, Smith takes the center stage, once again proving that he's an entertainer of enormous charm. His title track -- which shamelessly borrows from Stevie Wonder and Kool Moe Dee (who also is on the cut, along with Dru Hill) -- is giddy, irresistable summer fun that sets the pace for a record that feels breezy even though it clocks in at an hour. Sure, there are some slow moments on the record, but not enough to bog down the momentum set by such highlights as BLACKstreet's seductive "Confused," Enrique Iglesias' appealingly lightweight "Bailamos," Dr. Dre and Eminem's cartoonishly menacing "Bad Guys Always Die," Faith Evans' smooth "Mailman," and Slick Rick's typically stunning "I Sparkle." These may not rank as major moments for any of these artists, but they're all entertaining and elevate Wild Wild West to a fine summer party album.

tags: various artists, wild wild west, music inspired by the motion picture, ost, soundtrack, 1999, flac,

More Info

Daisuke Ishiwatari - Guilty Gear XX: The Midnight Carnival (Original Soundtrack) (2002) ☠

 

*Japanese pressing. 

This is a 2 disc set. 

A photo of the 2 CD's and the OBI slip 

are in included in the RAR file.

Country: Japan

Label Number: KDSD-00170
Genre: Heavy Metal, Symphonic Metal
Style: Instrumental

.FLAC via Florenfile (Disc 1)
.FLAC via Florenfile (Disc 2)
             *****
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

☠: Selected by Sentinel

© 2002 Scitron Digital Content
*No professional reviews available for this release.

tags: daisuke ishiwatari, guilty gear xx original soundtrack, ost, the midnight carnival, 2002, flac,

More Info

Daisuke Ishiwatari - Guilty Gear 2: Overture (Original Soundtrack Vol. 2) ☠

*Japanese pressing. 
This pressing contains the BGM's 
for the characters in the video game. 
A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: Japan

Label Number: KDSD-00170
Genre: Heavy Metal, Symphonic Metal
Style: Instrumental

.FLAC via Florenfile

.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

☠: Selected by Sentinel

© 2008 Team Entertainment Inc.
*No professional reviews available for this release.

tags: daisuke ishiwatari, guilty gear 2 overture soundtrack, original soundtrack, vol 2, 2008, flac,

More Info

Black Sheep - A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing (1991)

 

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: 848 368-2
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1991 Mercury Records
AllMusic Review by John Bush
Playfully satirical, witty, and incredibly imaginative, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing introduced one of the freshest talents in early-'90s rap, a self-produced duo who caught the tail end of the Native Tongues family. Though Dres and Mista Lawnge didn't match the brilliant wordplay of A Tribe Called Quest or De La Soul, their topics were well-chosen, they were presented in a hilarious context, and every song was backed up by strong productions and great rapping. A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing wasn't a comedy record, but it was difficult to tell when the duo were half-serious or half-joking, especially since they were often the objects of their jokes. They poked fun at many aspects of black music and culture of the early '90s, everything from the persuasive gangster mentality ("U Mean I'm Not"), obsessions over the Afrocentric viewpoint ("Are You Mad?"), and lewd sex raps ("La Menage"), as well as an amusingly incorrect response to feminism ("L.A.S.M."). They also dropped a few of the best hip-hop club tracks of the era, the insanely catchy items "The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)," "Try Counting Sheep," and "Flavor of the Month." (Another smooth dance tune, "Strobelite Honey," was dreadfully honest about girls who look better under the lights than upon closer inspection.) Polar opposites to the ranks of somber political rappers, and deftly counteracting the indulgence and self-seriousness of many alternative groups, Black Sheep hit a height with their debut that few hip-hop acts would ever reach.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.

- Use this page to report a broken link in this post -

tags: black sheep, a wolf in sheeps clothing, 1991, flac,

More Info

Black Sheep - Non-Fiction (1994)

 

*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: P2 22685
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1994 Mercury Records
AllMusic Review by John Bush
Three years isn't an especially long time between albums, but in hip-hop an epoch separated 1991 from 1994. That made it especially difficult for Black Sheep to follow up their prescient debut, and unfortunately, it appeared they'd run out of significant ideas after just one LP. Non-Fiction is bland where A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing was exciting, stiff and rigid instead of dexterous, and most astonishing of all, unreflective and self-serious where their debut had been imaginative and playful. "Autobiographical" is an interesting opener, telling the story of Black Sheep's transition from New York to Carolina and back, but despite some smooth raps and interesting wordplay, nothing else here says anything. The smooth club single "Without a Doubt" is the only track catchy enough to rank with the first record, and Black Sheep's sharp social critiques were entirely missing. Similar to the Pharcyde, their stylistic brothers from the West Coast, the sophomore slump hit Black Sheep particularly hard, and practically destroyed them as creative artists.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.

- Use this page to report a broken link in this post -

tags: black sheep, non fiction, 1994, flac,

More Info

Special Ed - Youngest In Charge (1989)

 

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: PCD-1280
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1989 Profile Records
AllMusic Review by M.F. DiBella
In 1989, at the tender age of 16, Brooklynite Special Ed burst on the scene with enough talent and swagger to stake his claim among hip-hop's big boys. For Special Ed, MC stands for master of cleverness, and Youngest in Charge is replete with it. The gifted manchild boasts a versatile repertoire, using various lyrical styles and rhymes spiked with punchlines and metaphors that indicate wisdom beyond his 16 years. The meat of the album lies in its first three tracks. The opening cut, "Taxing," is Ed's coming-out party as he kicks entertaining verses over a slickly produced, squealing guitar-riff-laced track produced by Howie Tee. The following track is a masterpiece, Ed's claim to hip-hop immortality, "I Got It Made." It's four-plus minutes of artful arrogance, an instant hip-hop classic and anthem for all precocious hip-hop-heads of the era. To round out the trio comes "I'm the Magnificent," a continuation of Ed's bragging rights over a sample from "Shantytown" (off Jimmy Cliff's The Harder They Come soundtrack). Because the first three tracks are so stellar, the rest of the album seems to be something of an afterthought; however, the remainder of the album does contain a few jewels. "The Bush," Ed's ode to his stomping grounds of Flatbush, features a sample of Al Green's "Love and Happiness," while "Think About It" is Ed's warning to those who wish to test his supremacy on the mic. On "Heds and Dreds," Ed flips a dancehall cadence to show his West Indian heritage. Youngest in Charge is a delightful release from a young hip-hop pioneer, a demonstration of the Edenic age of hip-hop when youthful exuberance and expression were highly valued.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.

- Use this page to report a broken link in this post -

tags: special ed, youngest i  charge, 1989, flac,

More Info

Special Ed - Legal (1990)

 

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: PCD-1297
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1990 Profile Records
AllMusic Review by Alex Henderson
If you asked most hip-hoppers of the late '80s or early '90s what the main difference between East Coast and West Coast rappers was, they would have explained that while West Coast rappers were primarily concerned with beats and lyrics, the top priority of East Coast rappers was their rapping technique. Having interesting lyrics à la Ice-T and Ice Cube or impressive tracks à la Dr. Dre would get you respect in L.A., San Diego, or Oakland, but if you were an aspiring MC in Queens, Philadelphia, or Atlantic City, the best way to earn the respect of your homeboys and homegirls was showing off your flow or rhyming technique. Around 1989-1991, Special Ed was among the East Coast's most respected rappers, and the thing that earned him so much respect was the type of excellent technique he brought to his second album, Legal (so named because he had turned 18). Produced by Hitman Howie Tee, the main purpose of this CD is showing off Ed's rapping skills -- and, to be sure, they're quite solid. That said, the album's best moments come when he tells some type of story instead of simply boasting and displaying his technique. "Livin' Like a Star" and "The Mission" demonstrate that the Flatbush, Brooklyn native can be a funny and clever storyteller when he puts his mind to it; the problem is that he doesn't do nearly enough storytelling. This is a generally likable effort, although it certainly isn't without its limitations.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.

- Use this page to report a broken link in this post -

tags: special ed, legal, 1990, flac,

More Info

Special Ed - Revelations (1995)

 

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: PRO-1463-2
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1995 Profile Records
AllMusic Review by Alex Henderson
Five years passed between Special Ed's sophomore effort, Legal, and his third album, Revelations. The Brooklyn native was 23 when this CD came out, and the hip-hop landscape had gone through its share of changes since Ed's emergence as a teenager in the late 1980s. So the rapper adjusted his flow to appeal to 1995 tastes, but he was still quite recognizable as Special Ed -- and he was still a technique-oriented boasting rapper first and foremost. Boasting, in fact, is about all he does on Revelations. But as clever as many of his boasts are, hearing nothing but bragging can wear thin after awhile. A few songs into the album, you're admiring Ed's flow but wishing he would talk about something other than how great a rapper he is and how inferior rival MCs are. And after over an hour of hearing nothing but boasting and nothing but technique, you're painfully aware of how limited this approach can be. Revelations isn't a bad album by any means, but it could have used some variety.

* Due to past abuse, comments for the Hip-Hop section have been disabled.

- Use this page to report a broken link in this post -

tags: special ed, revelations. 1995, flac,

More Info