HipHopDx Reviews
Oh No - Dr No's Oxperiment
You won't find it in da club, and these beats probably won't be rockin' your Jeep anytime soon. But for late-night headphone listening, when you're ready to take a heady, twisted trip around the world, this is just what the doctor ordered.
UGK - Underground Kingz
Truth is, if UGK had cut their output in half, they would have had the true definition of a 'classic' long player on their hands.
Sharkey & C-Rayz Walz Are... - Monster Maker
When you do a point-by-point breakdown, comparisons between Gnarls Barkley and Monster Maker seem inevitable.
Mr. J Medeiros - Of Gods & Girls
The guests and outside producers all make worthy contributions, it's evident that the LP is Mr. J's show. Combining the talent and sensibilities of indie staples with the versatility and charisma of major label acts, J brings the best of both worlds.
Bone Crusher - Free
It's been four years since AttenCHUN! put the boisterous Atlanta emcee formerly known as Wayne Hardnett on the Hip Hop map, and a lot has changed for Bone Crusher in that time.
Andre 3000 - Class of 3000: Music Volume 1
Now, Dre has the soundtrack to this series with Class of 3000. There are many songs on here for children. After all, it is a children's show. However, some unexpected magic appears throughout, which is naturally Andre style. He's quite a puzzle.
Keith Murray - Rapp-Murr-Phobia
If you ask anyone, Keith Murray is widely considered to be one of the best that never made it. Oddly enough, whenever it seems he is on the verge, the forces of nature instantly makes all such forward motion naught.
Common - Finding Forever
Album number seven puts Common's catalogue on a level that few can fuck with. If forever is immortality in this game, Common has found it.
Wise Intelligent - Talented Timothy Taylor
All that intellect, er, intelligence seems a bit wasted. For one, the lyrics are way tighter than the delivery. It's like eating a gourmet meal that's gotten cold. For two, he's pretty serious. I guess there's lots to think about.
Freekey Zekey - Book of Ezekiel
Still, it's cool to see some of that old 'Dipset swag' re-appear from time to time on this record, hopefully it's a sign of more exciting things to come.
Camp Lo - Black Hollywood
It's certainly not a loss, as Black Hollywood features several gems, but hardcore fans are unlikely to be satisfied by this offering.
MF DOOM - MM..Food (Re-release)
Despite releasing 2 or 3 albums a year, MF DOOM has not released an LP backed by his own production since 99's classic Operation: Doomsday. Coming under the Rhymesayers banner, MM..Food may be the most anticipated indy release of the year.
The Chapter - The Prewreck
The Chapter continues to muscle in and make noise in the game with The Prewreck, a collection of unreleased tracks from the various studio sessions that led to the creation of the first LP.
Yesterday's New Quintet - Yesterday's Universe
The LP is more tailored to fans of Sun Ra than Sa-Ra, encapsulating 100's years of African-American musical history. If fans of Weezy, Jeezy & their ilk don't get its relevance to Hip Hop, it's only because they haven't been paying fucking attention.
Big Shug - Street Champ
Street Champ only hints at what great NYC hip hop can be and it's far from being the street centered masterpiece Daily Operation or Lifestyles ov da Poor was. Let's hope that Big Shug continues to develop and maximize his potential for his third salvo.
Dyme Def - Space Music
When all is said and done, Space Music is a dope debut that should prove to be a landmark album for Northwestern Hip Hop.
Pastor Troy - Tool Musiq
In the end, Troy manages to please his supporters by not changing up his style too much. Can you blame him? That's what's gotten him here.
Guru - Jazzmatazz Vol. 4: Back To The Future
His partner in crime, the New York-based DJ Solar, is charged, along with Guru with the difficult task of finding a way to combine Hip Hop and jazz. Unfortunately, they fall flat on most of the album, giving plenty of "matazz," but not too much jazz.
T-Pain - Epiphany
While Epiphany has its moments, it is also its schizophrenic nature that bogs the album down. Had T-Pain delivered something more cohesive, perhaps he would stand out more in the R&B crowd. Instead, fans just get the same thing over and over again.
Poison Pen - Pick Your Poison: The Mark Of The East
The humor flows well with punch lines, making it an enjoyable mixture on the album. At one point, he brags to show off this skill. "I can't be incognito when everybody's on my dick."
