During the eight years of the George W. Bush Administration, the world witnessed 9/11, bio-terrorist anthrax attacks, a Bin Laden manhunt, a crumbling American economy, and the U.S. invasion into more than one country. Meanwhile, Hip Hop witnessed quite a few artists, media figures, etc., using the culture to speak out against injustices and their political angst. And then along came the hope. Aside from dead prez, who openly voiced their skepticism of the Presidential hopeful, it seemed that most of Hip Hop was embracing Barack Obama with open arms. Fast forward a year, and some of the hope has worn away. And in case anyone has forgotten that there is still a lot of work to be done before we can get back to even a marginally satisfactory relationship between citizens and the government, General Steele of Smif N Wessun has released an LP that says all that needs to be said. Enter Amerikkka’s Nightmare part 2: Children of War, the latest release in Duck Down Records’ 15th anniversary season.
Steele wastes no time getting down to business, with the introductory track doubling as the title track. It’s filled with political commentary and questioning of authority, all over a gritty, high-energy beat. Also worth noting is that he brings the LP back around full-circle by including an approximately seven minute remix of “Amerikkka’s Nightmare” at the end that boasts a lineup of some underground heavyweights, including Ruste Juxx, Torae, Planet Asia, Shabaam Sahdeeq, St. Laz, Lin Que, and more. Although the posse cut really adds no more to the original than length and extra verses, some pro-Palestinian rhetoric, a verse entirely in Spanish, and an interesting female dynamic from veteran X-Clan affiliate Lin Que manage to give a slightly different perspective.
Singer Nicole Michelle shows up on two songs, namely “Pledge Allegiance,” where the General remixes the standard “Pledge of Allegiance” to suit his own tastes (and also manages to give “My Country Tis of Thee” a brief makeover in a verse as well), and on “We On the Move Now.” The latter is an undeniably dark, depressing track, and her vocals shine over the sinister musical backdrop. She sings, “this is the way I live my life, I’m on the move, everyday is a new struggle that we must fight, but I’m pushin through,” as Steele maintains the somber feel of the track with bars such as “live life day-to-night like I won’t make it to morn’, can’t sleep till it’s over, at my wake you can mourn, matter fact shed not one tear when I’m gone.”
Other notable guest appearances come in the form of “Cry Freedom” 
, featuring dead prez, and “I Had a Vision,” featuring Louis Skaggs (who also appears on the “Amerikkka’s Nightmare” remix), New Jersey emcee Hasan Salaam, Akir, and Hicoup. “Cry Freedom” boasts a dramatic beat that rock the Ennio Morricone sample many will recognize from Jay-Z’s Blueprint 2, and shares the name of the movie starring Denzel Washington that focuses on Steve Biko and South African apartheid. In true dp’z fashion, nothing is held back, as evidenced by rhymes like “the queens of our nation are strip club dancers, and the food and drug administration givin’ us cancer, too much radiation, cell phone preoccupation, no education, schools is just indoctrination.”
Low points on the album come when General Steele reaches a bit too far for creativity. A few tracks, including “Child of War” and “Home of the Brave (Jimmy’s Song)” are more Heavy Metal than they are Rap, and although the energy is high and they could prove to be a solid basis for a live performance, at times the concept just feels a bit confusing.
With almost all instrumentals featuring snare-heavy march-type percussion lines and raps that resemble an ongoing argument with a FOX news ticker, Amerikkka’s Nightmare part 2: Children of War could serve, from start to finish, as the soundtrack for a war movie. General Steele’s latest will appeal to those who are fiending for the next dead prez or Immortal Technique release, however for those who aren’t ready for the next revolution or prefer their music a little more light-hearted, the album’s content will likely feel overbearing.
Purchase Amerikkka’s Nightmare 2: Children of War by General Steele
C’mon HHDX, why do u always give 3.5?? so u really think this album deserves the same rating as a Gucci Mane album? Some say HipHop is in a bad shape and u re contributing to that by giving the same rating to every album.At least u’re not taking any risk by doing that, hopefully we can relate on user’s reviews which are more accurate. Maybe I didn’t hear the same lyrics cuz in my opinion this deserves at least 4. That’s real conscious HH right here!
i checkwrite that homie these fucks up here are just a bunch of degenerate biatches
If you look at the last 5 albums, we gave 1 (ONE) a 3.5.
To say this site is contributing to Hip Hop being in bad shape… think about that.
longest album title ever
actually
The Boy Bands Have Won, and All the Copyists and the Tribute Bands and the TV Talent Show Producers Have Won, If We Allow Our Culture to Be Shaped by Mimicry, Whether from Lack of Ideas or From Exaggerated Respect. You Should Never Try to Freeze Culture. What You Can Do Is Recycle That Culture. Take Your Older Brother’s Hand-Me-Down Jacket and Re-Style It, Re-Fashion It to the Point Where It Becomes Your Own. But Don’t Just Regurgitate Creative History, or Hold Art and Music and Literature as Fixed, Untouchable and Kept Under Glass. The People Who Try to ‘Guard’ Any Particular Form of Music Are, Like the Copyists and Manufactured Bands, Doing It the Worst Disservice, Because the Only Thing That You Can Do to Music That Will Damage It Is Not Change It, Not Make It Your Own. Because Then It Dies, Then It’s Over, Then It’s Done, and the Boy Bands Have Won.
is the longest album title by Chumbawamba
thanks to wikipedia
^ Wow the dumb ass above me took that statement about the longest title literally. Get your head out of your ass.
jeremia shut the fuck up…..yeaaa definitely not FTW
I won’t rate myself but i do appreciate the criticism.
The dialogue is open for all to express their opinions
I’m thankful for Hip Hop allowing me to express mines
Give Thanx
The fact that you would even come and speak here is big. Thanks fam! I’ll be copping that joint to support Duck Down as I always have since the inception.. and my boy Drawzilla.
General steele a beast BBC baby! steel keep doing you!
Huge BCC fan right here and I just wanna say what up to Steele …Dah Shinin’ got me through my High School years back in the 90’s. It was you guys and Wu-Tang that have always kept it real. Thanks for the memories.
def going to be grabbing this album. Since I started getting down with Duck Down in 95′ I have yet to hear an album from any member of the BCC that wasn’t on point. Steele is one of the most underrated lyricist in the game and always comes correct. Looking forward to this.
This album is dope. Revolutionary but Gangsta!Old Smiff N Wessun fans dont expect to get passed a chcocolate thai bliz-unt, instead get ready to chop it up about the issues facing all Amerikkkans: War, a pemanently damaged economy and a sheep-like mentality among the citizens and a wolf mindset among the police and politicians. This is real hiphop speakin real words, I love it!
cant rate it cause i havent heard it yet, but i will b coppin it today!!! but im sure it’ll go down as a classic in my books, to even to compare it wit di likings of Dead Prez got me sold already….Long Live BCC! this is so needed rite now!! 😉 Respect n nuff love to Steele!
Peace!
kinda sucks man
as always, fire. bucktown forever, this one is really dope.
checked it out based on your review….i know it’s late…but dope write-up. album is cool….I liked it! 🙂
dope write-up! I checked out the album based on your review….Im liking what Im hearing so far. props! 🙂
I gotta give props to him on this one, hes definitely grown as an artist.
WOW, Look at this black diamond chain for under $1600, you cant find that ANYWHERE else !!!!
http://ning.it/asY6YQ
Fine men’s and woman’s diamond jewelry at affordable prices
http://www.212diamondcity.com
There’s a science to how these reviewers give stars, mics, x’s, whatever.. The Source use to do it all the time and that’s how they lost credibility. Basically 3.5 is neutral. It means nothing, it’s neither good nor bad so it’s like you never reviewed it. You don’t want to go out on a limb. The emcees they are afraid will be at their door the next day on some drama, they give a 4 to. They’ll give a conscious emcee who most likely won’t be on some bullshit something like a 3, 3.5. An up and coming emcee that has no juice in the game will get ripped, straight 1 star, 2 star, at best 3. You will rarely see an unknown get a high mark no matter the album. A popular emcee will always get 4 and up for fear of popular backlash, unless the hate on said emcee has begun, then they will shortchange said emcee to avoid being labeled dickriders. Reviewers are worthless
Good album, would have like a couple change of pace tracks. Kind of a depressing type album, but good none the less.
I’ma ral soldier and I always love BCC…fo life.
http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/artist_videos/659615?sel_song_id=3407393&autoplay=1
full metal jacket blended with public enemy mixxed with a news debate ended with a car bomb……. great
ull metal jacket blended with public enemy mixxed with a news debate ended with a car bomb……. great
steele one of the most underrated emcees ever. dropped one of the greatest albums of the 90’s, and still nice as fuck today. big up steele, i copped the album, its fuckin fire, plus he saying something in his records. this review was wack, its like homie didnt even give it an honest listen. cats speed listen through albums to get that first review, i let the album marinate. last tek and steele album was fire. last BCC album was fire. steele new solo is fire. BCC dont fuck around, hiphopdx need to stop fucking around and show love. this at least is a 4 mic album. good beats, crazy rhymes, strong content. smif n wessun still shittin on your head.
boring nerd rap
Props!!!
Im with you, we will ride with you, believe that, we all down for he same cause…when you meet us us, you’ll probably remember, and if you don’t it’s ok, we still riding!!!