Review Summary: Bad Boy Records starts here. Then Biggie came along. A Solid '94 album with future-funky beats. Chill on the violence and hyped the party vibe. Worth a Listen.
When you first hear Craig Mack your ears perk. You can hear an energy almost as captivating as Busta but that's where the comparisons end. As a Bad Boy affiliated, he was highly touted by Diddy (Then Puffy) as the futuristic rapper of '94. But then Biggie came along. Craig Mack made off with a couple singles, one remix with big and an album. A Good album at that. A good Bad Boy album at that too. Those come a dime in a dozen, especially with the current track record.
Like a lot of listeners, the first tastes may have been in Madlib samples, mostly over The Unseen, but Craig Mack deserves more than just a sampled rhyme. You can start with the album. Funk Da World Bumps. Easy Mo Bee, of alkaholiks and busta fame, lays down sexy beats all over this album. You can start with the KILLER single 'Flava In Ya Ear' (Try the remix for some B.I.G. too) which bumps with a simple groove, some solid drums, and a '1984' future-party digitized siren thrown over it for the tastiest flava in the ear. Another Easy Mo song 'Judgement Day' rides with the same future groove.
It all starts with the first track and rides perfect alll the way to 'Real Raw' where the album plateaus til the end. Craig Mack's flow has it's limits, but his lyrics can be cunning and smart sometimes. Mack didn't rep violence and unfortunately I think that's why his mass appeal didn't blow up with Biggie and the other Big Boy artists. Definitely worth a listen and a lot of the songs will end up on your party/chill playlists. peace Boiyeeeeeee
