Memphis Bleek - The Understanding, Canibus - Can-I-Bus, Common - Like Water for Chocolate, Dead Prez - Let's Get Free, Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP, Freddie Fox - Industry Shakedown, Ludacris - Back for the 1st Time, Afu Ra - Body of the Life Force, Black Rob - Life Story, Slum Village - Fantastic Vol.2, Wu-Tang Clan - The W

Memphis Bleek - The Understanding

Release Date: December 5th, 2000

And to think, a long time ago I used to think this guy had potential. The Understanding is predictable, repetitive, and creatively stagnant. 'Bleek' has an aiight delivery that is tight at times, but he is in serious need of some song concepts, besides the obvious issue of content. Every rhyme is a reference to a car he allegedly owns or drives, a chickenhead who gave him brains (Memphis Bleek has a child-like obsession with oral sex), or what type of weed he smokes (c'mon dog you have to do better than that). The production is also quite suspect, for example “We Get Low” has almost an identical beat and arrangement to “Mind Right”, and no it's not the remix! But I guess such bad music should be expected from a guy who raps with a bottle of Belvedre in hand instead of a Mic.

Canibus - Can-I-Bus

Release Date: July 18th, 2000

First things first, this album is not “club music” it's not “bounce music”, it's not “chic music” this is straight “b-boys, standing in a circle dropping their best verse with or without a beat music” so if your really into lyrics then this is a must have. This album is a lot better than Canibus's debut album, but if you heard the first album you know that, that is not saying much. Lyrically Canibus is truly on another level. He seems to say all the things that mediocre MCs wish they would have thought of, but overall, this album is lacking. Canibus needs some real friends because he seems to be falling victim to “Yes-Man-itus”, that syndrome where everybody around you is a “yes man” and fails to offer much needed constructive criticism. Some of the hooks and song concepts are just plain old bad. Also Canibus tends to be rather one-dimensional; being mad at the world and wanting to battle everybody will only get you so far in this industry and life.

Common - Like Water for Chocolate

Release Date: March 28th, 2000

If you've been following Common's career and you liked his first 3 offerings then there is a decent chance that you may be able to feel Like Water for Chocolate. Unfortunately, I don't expect many of the people who especially need to hear an album like this to be able to appreciate it. Most of those in need will probably have an allergic reaction to the live music and real instruments featured on the album. In fact I was a little put off by the some of the grooves. Most of the production was done by the Soulquarians (D'Angelo, ?estlove of the Roots, James Poyer) and some guy named Jay Dee (Hell no, Not Jermaine Dupree) but the first single and one of the best tracks on the album was produced by DJ Premier, which is more than a little misleading if you picked this album up expecting to hear more songs like that. Despite the difference in the beats though, this is the same Common much of the underground has grown to love and/or respect and this will probably be one of the few rap albums released this year, where our Mothers, Sisters, Aunts, nieces, and daughters are not all bitches and hoes as is illustrated by cuts like “The Light”, “Ghetto Heaven”, “Song for Assata”.

Dead Prez - Let's Get Free

Release Date: March 14th, 2000

Aaaaahhhhh, at last a breath of fresh air! This was one of the best hip-hop albums to drop in 2000 and it couldn't have come at a better time. Dead Prez is the complete opposite of the “Bling-Bling”, “pimp-player”, nonsense, currently dominating the rap music scene. Let's Get Free is more than an album title; it's a challenge and a call to arms, literally! What makes this stand out most is that DP delivers their powerful and militant message without sounding out of touch or corny, and while speaking in terms that everybody can understand. You may not agree with all of their message but you will hear it clearly. Also key is the production (beats) on the album which is unique, original, and varied, but no so jazz-influenced or foreign that the aspiring “thugs” and imaginary players won't be able to appreciate it. You can believe this album will be greeted by serious radio silence on major radio stations across the country, but as Dead Prez says, “It's Bigger than Hip-Hop!”

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

Release Date: May 23rd, 2000

Close your eyes tight and imagine Howard Stern with a rap album. If you do this then you may be imagining the Marshall Mathers LP. I don't particularly care for gimmick rappers, which is pretty much what I think Eminem is, but I can't front there is some good material on here; you just might have to turn your brain off to enjoy it. Much of the stuff Eminem says is so outlandish that it has to be for shock value. But shock value or no shock value some stuff just doesn't belong on a record, like “Kim” where he hunts down and kills his ex-girlfriend. There are a few cuts destined for hit status such as “Stan” (the video is off the hook), “The Way I Am”, and “Bitch Please” but overall I'm far from impressed.

Freddie Fox - Industry Shakedown

Release Date: June 27th, 2000

Big-Up Freddie Fox aka “Bumpy Knuckles” for this one. Gotta give him his due for starting his own label when the major labels were fronting on him and not allowing himself to be compromised by the industry. Despite the lack of major label push Fox still enlist some of the top production names on this album, including DJ Premier, Pete Rock, and Diamond D, but for the most part he produced the album himself and he didn't do a half bad job either. This album is for hardcore hip-hop heads and street kats who ain't wit all this imaginary player bullshit being pushed on the public. Freddie Fox even calls some kats out by name, possibly because as he says, “I ain't scared to dis an MC/but ASK HIM IF HE SCARED TO DIS ME!”. Although there are some definite lapses on this LP, most b-boys/b-girls should be able to find a number of songs to put on repeat.

Ludacris - Back for the 1st Time

Release Date: October 17th, 2000

Well I'll say this much, Ludacris has a little more talent than I guessed he did, judging by his 1st single, “What's Your Fantasy?”. I figured he would be another 1-hit wonder, and before it's all over he might be, but Ludacris actually has some rhyming skills. For the most part Back for the 1st Time is mostly skip material but there are a few decent cuts like, “U Got A Problem”, “Game Got Switched”, and “1st & 10”. There are also some solid tracks laid down by Shondrae for DTP Entertainment. The CD also contains that old Ludacris cut from a few months back, “Phat Rabbit” but the “What's Your Fantasy” remix featuring Foxy Brown, Trina, & Shawna is so lewd it should have you covering your daughter's ears...and hopefully your son too!

Afu Ra - Body of the Life Force

Release Date: October 24th, 2000

I know a lot of people are saying “who the hell if Afu-Ra”? Well for those of you wondering, Afu-Ra was featured on both of “Jeru Da Damajas” 1st two albums. First in 1994 on “Mental Stamina” & then again in 1997 on “Physical Stamina”. If you still don't know who I'm talking about.....oh well, I tried! Afu-Ra suffers from decent lyrics but, in my opinion, a weak delivery. However he is saved from wack album infamy by some well put together songs and some strong production from some less well known producers like DJ Roach, True Master, Mike Rone, and DJ Muggs. But by far the most important set of fingerprints on this album are those of DJ Premier! There are also some timely guest appearances by the GZA, Cocoa Brovas, M.O.P., and others. Overall Body of the Life Force is a pretty solid 1st offering.

Black Rob - Life Story

Release Date: March 7th, 2000

This kid has mad flow but its too bad he is stuck talking about the 'rah-rah' all the time. He has some hot beats which could get me amped up. Unfortunately, Since his flow is so tight I can hear rather clearly what he is saying and Black Rob has saturated his CD with some bullshit lyrics about more black on black genocide. Like Rob, I am from the hood also bit I know the difference between glorifying 'gangsterism' and keeping it gully. The only thing he and I have in common is we both want a ménage-a-trios. He got 21 joints on the album counting skits and maybe 3 are devoid of gratuitous violence. As talented as he is, you realize he can do better but he probably thinks this is what we want to hear. He says this is his Life Story but he needs to make up his mind if he was living crazy poor or 'bling blinging'. You cant have ya bling and welfare too. He even got a track called "Muscle Game" wit P-Diddy talking tough, like WHOA ... nuff said.

Slum Village - Fantastic Vol.2

Release Date: June 13th, 2000

Yo! I love real hip-hop! I hold it down for real hip-hop! But I'm sorry, this shit is just wack. Imagine a Tribe Called Quest minus the classic beats and solid rhymes, and you have Slum Village. I assumed that with a name like Slum Village that these guys might actually be talking about something at least a little deep or worthwhile but you know what happens when you ass-ume. For the most part their subject matter is boring and less than thought provoking as are the beats, and while they remark occasionally about the "bling-bling" syndrome their philosophy doesn't seem all that different. Mix that with mediocre lyrics and less than inspiring beats and you have a sure recipe for a bad album. I fell asleep twice reviewing this album! About the only thing positive I can say about this album is that they tried to do their own thing to some degree, and I always give points for originality, .... just not enough points to save these guys.

Wu-Tang Clan - The W

Release Date: November 21st, 2000

UNBELIEVABLE! I can't believe The Wu could come out with an album this Weak. Maybe that's what that W stands for. The Wu-Tang is made up of a 9 plus rappers who are all veterans of the game. I don't understand how they could put this album out. This sounds like something a group would put out who was trying to get out of a record deal. The Wu tries to hard to make this album sound underground and “Grimy” and it ends up just sounding bad! The beats are weak, the rhymes are suspect, and the concepts are boring. Despite all the garbage a few solid cuts manage to rise to the surface, like "Redbull" featuring Redman, “Do You Really?”, and “Gravel Pit” but I would definitely keep my money in my pocket! (In fact, I already did.)