Termanology – Hood Politics IV: Show & Prove

     “I like Termanology because
    he dedicates his rhyming ability with the beats and these rappers nowadays have
    no clue, or respect for this culture…
    ” – DJ Premier

    I could end the review with
    just that BUT I’ll continue on my way. Reppin’ the Puerto Rican community proudly,
    Termanology has been practicing his
    craft since he was 15 years old (eight years in the making. If you’re asking
    how old Term is, get back in
    school!). The emcee out of the 978 (just north of Boston) has spent the past
    two years grinding, collabing with acts ranging from  DJ
    Premier
    and Royce Da 5’9″
    to Mobb Deep and Guru, as well as performing with the
    likes of Kool G. Rap, Wu-Tang, Fabolous, 50 Cent, Saigon and more. Dude’s putting in work
    to say the least.

    On top of his indie album
    with producer DC (Out the Gate), which was released
    January 2006, Hood Politics IV: Show and
    Prove
    marks Term‘s fourth
    mixtape in the past year and a half. It’s 25 tracks deep with features from Papoose, Royce Da 5’9″, Lil Fame
    (of M.O.P.), Trife Da God, as well as members from his ST crew, and production coming from the legendary DJ Premier, Roc Raida, MoSS, J. Cardim, Mr. Attic, Statik Selektah and
    DC. The fourth edition in Term‘s Hood Politics series remains dope in terms of beats and lyricism,
    but it lacks in structure and an overall sense of congruity. It leaves the
    listener lost and wishing the tape was stripped of a few tracks so it would be
    more fluid.

    If you’re reading this
    review, it either means you’ve been a fan of Term‘s for a while or you probably heard the Premo-produced street
    banger “Watch How It Go Down” and thought, “damn,
    now THIS cat has got talent
    .” And yes, that thought is correct – good job.
    Just one listen to the aforementioned track and you can’t front Termanology. He has the potential to be
    someone very special in this game. Staying on the positive side of things: you
    have the clouded, mysterious Roc Raida-produced
    “100 Jewels” as well as the Mighty Sam
    McClain-
    assisted “Far Away” that has Term
    acknowledging all of his people that are locked up. The soulful, old school meets
    new school on the Wu-Tang-influenced
    “Think It Over,” which has Term and Trife Da God displaying their street
    knowledge on this very impressive joint. J.
    Cardim
    produces his ass off on “H.U.S.T.L.E.R.” and “That’s Life,” The
    latter being one of the best tracks off the mixtape. The positive message, the
    melodic vocals and the realness all tie in so well.

    Term lets a few things known that so many people seem to forget with his
    statement at the end, “Shit is real man,
    I’m on commercial radio every week nigga, I’m on B.E.T. I got CD’s in the store. Guess what? I’m still fuckin broke!
    So don’t think you gon get up in this rap shit and start making millions
    overnight. It takes a lot of hard work. Shit is real … that’s life.

    Too many times while
    listening to the mixtape, I couldn’t help but feel stuck and unaware of which
    direction the next track is going to lead. One second, Termanology‘s rapping about the dull subjects of gangbanging and
    gun use (“Got Em,” “79 Murders”) and the next he’s speaking to his daughter about
    how he wants her to grow up and be just like daddy (“Just Like Me”).  The
    horrible E3 -featured “Winter” could
    have easily been left off, as well as the typical, bland “Blow The Horns.” “Watch
    Your Back” is just a rehashed Classified
    joint (“Unexplainable Hunger”). It even has Royce Da 5’9” spitting the exact same verse. But then again, I
    guess it is just a mixtape and not an album.

    Featured in the XXL’s
    “Show and Prove” (Sept. 2006) and The Source‘s “Unsigned Hype” column
    (Oct. 2005), Term has turned some
    heads, and for good reason. You might not see the full potential with this
    mixtape alone, but be sure to pick up all his previous material and keep your
    ear to the streets as Term ain’t
    going nowhere anytime soon. He might not be the “holy resurrection of Pun” but then again, who could be? One
    thing is for sure, the man has the talent to be whatever he wants to be.

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