You know, sometimes I read the album reviews that other so-called Hip-Hop journalists write about a set that I’m about to give the once over. I do it, not to purposefully influence myself one way or another. With “Grit & Grind,” the 8th album by Bay Area bounce master and Independent label entrepreneur E-40, I see that folks are not feeling it the same way I am. Once a reviewer gave it a low grade because he said, “there were not enough hooks!” What? Fuck a hook!
On cuts like “Rep Yo’ City,” featuring Lil’ Jon and The Eastside Boys and Petey Pablo, E an”nem get you so hyped you wanna tear up the club, car, library or where ever you may be upon listening to it. With “Why They Don’t Fuck With Us” E-40 seems to be talking directly to the formula-minded rap media that always dissed the big man. On the album he rhymes “I don’t know whyyy, the don’t fuck wit’ us.” Truthfully, I’m wondering the same thing. Once again I say “Hooks? We don’t need no stinkin’ hooks!”
My most favorite cut on the album is “Fallin’ Ran.” I can’t honestly say why. Perhaps it’s the beat, maybe the mournful HOOK, or… hey, I know what it is. It’s the fact that I love those emotional, rags to riches tales that rappers sometimes put near the end of their LPs. On the song he time travels back to the times where he was not doing so well. Hell, who can’t relate to that. All in all, while “Grit & Grind” is not a perfect album, this set, and E-40, should get waaaaay more love than most will give.
