Review Summary: Finding their optimal sound, standing in 96’—arguably the most contentious year in hip-hop, and making an album that every region, not just the east and west coast, would respect...and would inspire the South to try harder.
To make a proper hip-hip retro review, it’s important to understand two major things in determining when a music artist(s) released a solid album. This requires something of a history lesson to establish context. Sorry, but this sh-t is critical. The second iteration of the Ghetto Boys-turned-Geto Boys, and most popularly known one, was a movement started by J-Prince, the first independent rap label owner who blazed a trail for Southern Rap artists to sell national records and go platinum with no radio play. This inspired Atlanta and Memphis to make independent labels, No Limit, and so on. He created or encouraged the inception of three rap personas: Willie D, the kickass-type of country brawler who can’t wait to hurt you and clean up your girl, Scarface, the manic depressive dope dealer who singularly could describe the internal pain of the Dope game, and lastly; in J’s own words; Bushwick Bill, "the clown.” (Hence the Chucky references in the first albums).
To keep it 100, I was disappointed with the first albums, despite being impressive in their own right, for being over-the-top explicit in every way. I figured why be so repulsive if you want people to respect Texas? …but I guess the saying “you got to make 'em fear you before they feel you” holds true. In their follow ups, they made more spiritual, introspective songs, political songs at the caliber of Public Enemy scattered throughout their ultra violent and nuts-hanging machismo. Wellll, on to the Album. It’s 1996, Willie D finished his solo album run and is back, Bushwick Bill got shot in the eye and things were “ever so clear” for him now, all puns intended, and Scarface was being included in top 10 hip hop lyricists lists. Rather than a resurrection, this was a Culmination or J Prince’s experiment, it took a few albums but it is masterful.
My only gripe is the track listing for some songs, but that’s not the enough to keep it from a 5. The album deals with three moods. #1 is that “die mf die mf KILL” style that bugged me at first, but enjoy now. #2 are the songs about how the world is a ghetto and the individuals in it suffer in their own way. “I just want to die, ” and “time taker” and “Blind Leading the Blind” are confessional takes on why, as men, the artists didn’t make better decisions in life. Last is “First Light of the day,” the standout record and my favorite GB song of all time and is in my top 20 rap songs ever. All three rappers deliver and it’s fun arguing about which rapper had the best verse, when normally Scarface would win those decisively.
The production is handled mostly by the capable Mike Dean and Scarface on some cuts. They sound country, badass, and it’s perfect for this rap group.
I feel like it’s truly an honor to be the first person to review this, and if a few more people listen to this because of me, I’m happy. I know I tend to review albums I already like, but this one’s score is not inflated.
