Anthony Hamilton: The Point Of It All (Reviews)
December 21, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Jamie Foxx: Intuition (Reviews)
December 21, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Musiq Soulchild: On My Radio (Reviews)
December 17, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Keyshia Cole: A Different Me (Reviews)
December 15, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Plies: Da Realist (Reviews)
December 13, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
EPMD - We Mean Business (Reviews)
December 10, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Akon: Freedom (Reviews)
December 7, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Common: Universal Mind Control (Reviews)
December 7, 2008 by Carsten · 2 Comments
Scarface: Emeritus (Reviews)
December 4, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Ludacris: Theater Of The Mind (Reviews)
Kanye West: 808’s & Heartbreak (Reviews)
88-Keys: The Death of Adam (Review)
November 22, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Jay-Z x Coldplay x Mick Boogie x Terry Urban - Viva La Hova (Review)
Gym Class Heroes: The Quilt (Review)
October 30, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Album Review: Q-Tip - The Renaissance
October 28, 2008 by OGhiphop · Leave a Comment
via notrivia
“The Renaissance feels like a mix of all the rumors and half-completed projects that’ve bounced around Q-Tip’s career during the 2000s. It’s less electro, but similarly futuristic feeling in some way that makes sense when you hear it but can’t really be described. There’s also a clear flow and trajectory to the songs and their sequencing but because the songs also sound like odds and ends, it feels like a really well put-together mix CD from a friend, where the transitions are perfect but the tracks themselves don’t share a whole lot of commonality.
Nothing on the album sounds like it’s interacting with music being made in 2008–but that’s a compliment–and the best songs, like “Move” or “You” occupy a weird place between sounding from the 1990s and still ready for the radio right now. This becomes even more impressive when you compare the best moments to a bad moment like “Won’t Trade”, which besides being a mixed sports metaphor love song, has a beat by Mark Ronson who made his career sounding defiantly retro with Amy Winehouse last year. And so, you have this song that’s trying to sound old and retro but is so specific in its retro signifiers that it just sounds like it’s from 2007, which you know, is probably when the beat was sent Tip’s way. In contrast, a song like “Gettin Up” with echoing Black Ivory chords and Tip’s flow invokes Tribe like crazy but feels current too and not only because it mentions e-mail…”
Heltah Skeltah: D.I.R.T. (Da Incredible Rap Team) (Review)
October 27, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
via ThisIsHipHop
“After a stunning debut with Nocturnal, Rock and Ruck put out a rather mediocre sophomore album with Magnum Force. While Rock seemingly disappeared, Ruck aka Sean Price was busy in 2004-2008 becoming one of the premier rappers of the last 4 years. Punchline after punchline and smack after smack pretty much defines a Sean Price verse and it was hard not to find him on a track in that time frame, everyone wanted him as a feature. Rock is back and reunited with Ruck as “Da Incredible Rap Team” to commit verbal murder over some high impact boom bap beats provided from a variety of producers. Hopefully D.I.R.T can save the album from rather inconsistent production.
Lyrically you will get exactly what you expect; wit and comedy combined with verbal slaps to the face of the industry, people in the industry. Granted, the subject matter and content take back seats to the consistent jabs like “when I fucked Rihanna, ain’t wear no umbrella/if the bitch have twins we’re naming ‘em both Ella” or ”you niggaz are Jill Scott, in the way, gun clear the lane like Pro-active cleared Diddy’s face.” The latter line comes from the first single, “Everything is Heltah Skeltah”. Illmind produces a banger, but the same force isn’t delivered on his second track “So Damn Tuff.” Khrysis has a pair of joints that both knock the roof off and allow Rock and Ruck to damage the tracks including the Sean P gem: “Fuck rap riddles, get riddles with shells yo/ I’m a beast, you a bitch like Tickle Me Elmo” on “The Art of Disrespeckinazation.” Khrysis‘ second track, “D.I.R.T,” bangs so much that my lamp actually fell off the table. The flow of P and Rock are masterful over the retarded beat. It’s an eargasm of sound, flavour, and gritty NY lyricism.”
Overall Score: 74/100
Read the rest here
Album Review: The Knux - Remind Me In 3 Days
October 27, 2008 by OGhiphop · Leave a Comment
Reviews of The Knux’s debut Remind Me In 3 Days are starting to come in. I was pretty darn excited about this album after the last few things we posted about these guys here at OGHH (”Bang Bang” is dope). The best thing to do is decide for yourself but here are a few words from those in the know.
Nappyafro (3.0/5.0)
“The Knux’s debut definitely shows that they possess talent; they effortless use influences from other genres besides Hip-Hop. But they also remind me of those “All-in-one” copy/fax/scanners you get from Best Buy; they do a lot of things but not necessarily well. Remind Me In Three Days has a some strong spots but sometimes seems as if The Knux couldn’t decide their course. The album is still a different experience and if you’re in the mood for something different and off the beaten path; this might be for you (read more)…”
Developing…
Raphael Saadiq: The Way I See It (Review)
October 26, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
DJ Revolution: King of The Decks (Review)
October 22, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
Foreign Exchange: Leave It All Behind (Review)
October 15, 2008 by Carsten · Leave a Comment
