With about two decades in the game since his debut release, Edo G is hitting supporters off in 2011 with A Face in the Crowd. As a 42-year old rapper, Edo G’s veteran skills are certainly on display here as he challenges new audiences to acquire a taste for ’80s-’90s nostalgia while giving others an interesting trip down memory lane.
Edo rides through that memory lane in smooth fashion. With DJ Premier’s Midas scratch, “Fast Lane” is actually a mellow throwback, a nearly perfect Premo product. A skit later, “I Was There” has Edo boasting about a young Common giving him his demo, seeing Gang Starr’s initial years, watching Yo! MTV Raps and more. “I was there,” he rhymes, “when emcees was leaders and achievers, believers. But nowadays, they’re all divas.” “Stop It” also shows his perspective while seeing younger people, advising young men to grow up and mothers to go home to their children, among other things. Later, “Speak Ur Mind” (featuring M1) and “Life” (featuring a show-stealing Chali 2na), serve as standout cuts. The soulful vibes are then highlighted on “Righteous Way,” a definite must-hear on the album. If only the entire album had that vibe.
Instead, there are times when Edo’s album takes steps back. Skits are abundant and they are great at times, but some take away from the flow of the album. In the same way, cohesion is lost when Edo strays from the sounds that make him great. While versatility is nice, it can be a detriment to play outside of your role. For Edo, “Drink Up” puts him out of place, making his flow sound as if someone layered his vocals over a different instrumental in a blend. “One, Two” has the same effect. Edo G’s flow may be a knock for some, as well, since it rarely changes. Yes, that’s what has given him such a lengthy career but over a lengthy album, it can be monotonous at times. Perhaps the album could have been better served as a shorter offering.
For a veteran who has seen it all come and go, longevity is to be applauded. With A Face in the Crowd, Edo G shows why he can still get in a mic booth and spit more worthy bars than many competitors who are more than a decade younger. However, this album will not draw him closer to newer fans or to household name status, leaving him to many, as another “Face in the Crowd.”
In the past, I let a few reviews slide; but this review is WAAYY OFF! The album is STRAIGHT FIRE and DOPE! You guys need to take another listen. Yes, “Speak Your Mind” and “Life” are standouts; but so are ‘Dummies” (the track, Dr. Dre should’ve produced) and “Like That”. What? Did you guys skip those tracks? Stop playin’ with these REAL MCs!!! Give ’em a respectable review…..
Wow, this gets 3 stars and Tyler gets 4…..this just doesn’t make sense
i guess i cant really question the reviewers rating because its all opinion but i definitely think the album is better than a 3. i would suggest checking a few tracks out for yourself. and then go out and support good hip hop.
Thanks! You said it!
OK THIS REVIEWER IS PROBABLY INTO OTHER ARTISTS LIKE LIL WAYNE, KHALIFA, RICK ROSS, WALE OR WHOEVER BECAUSE THIS ALBUM IS A GEM, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS ITS UNWANTED INTERLUDES WHICH REALLY JUST MAKE IT A BIT CONFUSING, THE ALBUM IS A CERIFIED 4.5 STARS OUT OF 5, THIS REVIEWER IS TRYING TO BURY HIP-HOP MORE DEEPER THEN IT ALREADY IS, HIP-HOP IS DEAD AS A WHOLE BUT ONCE EVERY NOW AND AGAIN ON A SMALLER SCALE YOU GOT STRONG ALBUMS, LISTEN TO THE TRACK, COMPLEX FLOW AND THEN REVIEW IT.
THE REVIEWER DOESN’T KNOW GOOD MUSIC, PROBABLY JUST SOME GEEKY GUY WHO WRITES ALBUMS OFF BY SKIMMING THROUGH THEM.
The reviewer lost me when he stated this “Yes, that’s what has given him such a lengthy career but over a lengthy album, it can be monotonous at times.” The album is just around 45 minutes so not lengthy at all. and although it has a handful of interludes they go by pretty fast and as a whole the album is good. I’ve played it quiet often and i never skip a song. Edo G, S.T.
The reviewer clearly doesn’t know what he is going off about brother, this album is heat, I think it crushes that Maybach Music Group or Khalifa anyday, plus this reviewer sounds very bias, I would assume he needs to know beats, rhymes and chemistry of an album instead of just write a bullshit review, shows me the reviewer is NOT good at what he does
Edo is the realest and coolest emcee I ever met. This album brings him back in the proper direction and focus.
Bullshit…and let me guess when they review the new Kool G Rap that is 3 stars also…bulshit
dope
Andres Vasquez doesn’t know how to rate a good hiphop album. 3 stars ?? C’mon on, when you listen to the album you can clearly hear that Edo really put effort into makin’ this album. It’s a quality album, which deserves a higher rating. I can’t believe this got the same rating as Tinie Tempah.
great album by a great vetran in the game
stop it is kinda smooth . the flow can be better though . edo g unknown old school vet .
dope album
this is a sick album
good
Boston Rap fans are the fucking worst.
Straight classic. Took me forever to find a hard copy but i did it. Best album of the year?
hard finding a copy in UK too! gonna check eBay!
i find it annoying that people WANT to support the artist and can’t
UK fan, use Amazon broski. Link’s right there.