Major League Entertainment is fairly new to the indy scene and “Home Run Hitters” is an effort to showcase the labels talent and show just what they are all about. Label compilations can be a difficult project to tackle properly. Not only is the aim to showcase the label artists’ talents but to establish a sound and persona for the label. 2002 has seen a couple other label compilations, namely “Def Jux Presents II” and “Battle Axe Warriors II.” Both albums can be looked at as prototypes as to what a label comp should be. So how does “Home Run Hitters” match up?
Well, it is really hard to put them in the same league. The difference in talents in the rosters make it very hard to compare. There is no doubt that Tribeca is the crown jewel of the label, while Cash Brown plays a good second banana. Unfortunately, outside of those two, there isn’t much coming off the bench, so to speak. RK has a solid showing on one of the albums tightest tracks, “Let Me Rise.” The beat is really nice but the chorus really makes the song. The track has a very similar feel to the albums premier cut “Last Man Standing.” Cash Brown blesses an incredible beat that is laced with a great female vocal sample. Can’t forget the classic Prodigy sample in the chorus. Therein lies the biggest problem with the album, these two tracks are really the only two with any sort of cohesion. “True Lies” has a latin feel to it and it strikes out badly, “The Big Bang” is dope with it’s quasi spaced-out beat, but it really illustrates the lack of unity.
That doesn’t necessarily mean poor results if you let the songs stand on their own, “Leave It Alone” is pretty fresh and “Life In The Barrio” has a nice feel to it. The album also features “Double Homicide” by Cash Brown and Royce Da 5’9 which has popped up on other compilations, I have never been a big fan of that song. All in all, this is certainly not a bad album, even when it is held in comparison to the previously mention Def Jux and Battle Axe compilations. However, it is very average and they do very little to stand out in today’s crowded hip hop. They didn’t knock this one out of the park, it is really more like a double.
