Hey ya! *Clap! Clap! Clap!* I’m back with another three joints to review this week, namely Amanda Diva’s “Life Experience” EP, the new Kidz In The Hall mixtape “Geniuses Need Love Too” and Fat Ray & Black Milk “The Set Up”. Since this is the final day of February, that means that the winter is about to end and we get to look forward to the weather breaking (and a gang of people getting sick). Before you know it, it’ll be short sleeves weather.Some of you were probably expecting me to review the Rakim joint, but since there were only 4 *cough!* new tracks on it and a bunch of other tracks I have ingrained in my memory it didn’t make much sense to do so (remember the "Half A Klip" fiasco from last month?). I was sent Amanda Diva’s new EP and that became the third project in this blog but the first one I’ll review. I don’t use a ratings system based on numerical value, strictly on if said album is good enough to warrant purchasing it. Here's how my "Cop It Or Not" ratings system breaks down below:
Oh No! This CD is a drink coaster/table balancer/doorstop/gerbil/hamster room divider/frisbee/discus/makeshift shield/last ditch choice for a visor/alternate shuriken choice. Sell this shit to whoever is dumb enough to buy it from you.
Maeby (Maybe)! Depending on your own set of personal preferences you might like this joint. Give it a listen first to see if it's in your lane or not.
Mos Def! Cop the album when it drops...'Nuff said.Dey done went and mixed gangsta with Gospel/That’s like sellin’ cocaine outta Costco! © Fat Ray
Amanda Diva is the kind of girl you’d want to meet your mother. She’s not likely to be that chick calling you up drunk and crying hysterically at 2:00 AM or starting shit in public because “some bitch” was looking at her wrong. She’s been a radio host, an MTV VJ, a commentator on VH1’s “Best Week Ever”, a member of Floetry (she’s a songstress AND a lyricist so that shit didn’t work outicist), an author, done spoken word, she blogs and she’s mad cute (I know it’s not an achievement but I’m a dude). Here’s my review of her EP “Life Experience”:Best Joints: “Life Experience Intro”, “Supa Woman”, “40 MC’s”, “Window Over Harlem”, “Brown Girl”, “New School, Old School”, “Better Way (I Know)”, “Life To Love” and “Crazy World”
Hot Garbage: “Bright Lights” (I don’t know who mixed this song or ProTooled it out of sequence over Amanda’s vocals or completely fucked up by making her overdubs louder than her slightly offbeat vocals but they screwed up royally. Then someone else made a major mistake by: a) putting this track on the EP at all when it’s the sole black eye on the project b) making it the very first track you hear on her debut project. To quote the legendary graf artist MIN One that’s a “never forgive action”.
Dart’s Take: This EP impressed me and I already knew that Amanda Diva was nice from “40 MC’s” and “Supa Woman”. I was really thrown by how horrible ‘Bright Lights” was and how fucked up it sounded. From then on, the EP was fine. Amanda’s flow is nice and she mixes it well with her vocals. Her lyrical content is extremely refreshing in an industry where the average female rapper would’ve rapped about the elasticity of their vaginas or how their head game would put you into a straitjacket or something else that would make your eyes roll (provided you have common sense, that is).
While all of the tracks are dope (the one glaring exception being “Bright Lights”), my favorites are “Supa Woman”, “40 MC’s”, “Brown Girl”, “Better Way (I Know)” (it’s the joint!) and “Crazy World” a bonus track that Ms. Diva spits a capella over someone banging out a beat. This EP is definitely worth the $7.99 that the iTunes store is asking for it and if you see a physical copy in a store you shouldn’t hesitate to cop it. I give “Life Experience” a mos def and bow at the feet of Ms. Amanda Diva.
Next up is the new mixtape by Naledge and Double O, professionally known as Kidz In The Hall. These conceited bastards have made a Valentine’s Day themed mixtape where they rhyme over some flipped R&B joints and toss in some joints from the upcoming Duck Down LP “The In Crowd”. These Ivy League dudes usually bring it regardless if it’s an album or a mixtape. Did I like the concept? Let’s find out:Best Joints: “Dreamin’ (Baby I’m The Shit)”, “What Up Wit Me (If It Isn’t Love)”, “Do What Grown Folks Do”, “Littlest Things”, “Sweet 16 (All My Ladies)”, ““Drivin’ Down The Block”, “Blackout” and “Work To Do (Obama 08)”
Hot Garbage: N/A (I wasn’t feeling “Mi Amor”...too damn long and “Make It Last” was just meh to me)
Dart’s Take: This was a nice mixtape with a cool concept but it did start to get old towards the end until it finally got to the new joints. The flips were well executed and pretty inventive, especially the flip of New Edition’s “If It Isn’t Love” and “Sweet 16 (All My Ladies)” flip of Kanye and Slum Village’s “Selfish”.
Only Naledge would think to turn the song into a Sweet 16 basketball tournament between all of his fantasy women (how’d Oprah get in there?) and the new track “Blackout” sounds ill. If you want to hear an inventive mixtape complete with Naledge spittin’ some nice bars then definitely give this a listen but in my opinion: Detention>>Geniuses Need Love Too. Download it here
Last, but not least is the new offering from newly signed Aftermath producer Black Milk and his B.R. Gunna comrade Fat Ray (where’s Young RJ at?). Black Milk is on such a hot streak right now that anything with his name on it is going to garner some major attention. I’m still killing “Popular Demand” and “Caltroit” as I type this. Will this project stand up to the high standard the Black Milk’s recent collabos/projects have set? Find out below:
Best Joints: “Flawless”, “Lookout”, “Bad Man”, “Take Control”, “Not U”, “When It Goes Down”, “Get Focus”, “Nothing To Hide”, “Get Up”, “Ugly” and the “Outro”
Hot Garbage: N/A (This album was too damned short)
Dart’s Take: This album bangs from beginning to end and Fat Ray’s flow and lyrics have definitely improved since the last time I heard him. He spit quite a few lines that made me rewind my iTunes player. Black Milk always brings it with the hard production and guest spots by AB, NameTag, Phat Kat, Guilty Simpson and Elzhi only help to heighten the experience. In my opinion, this joint should have had another two or three joints on it but I still give it a mos def.
Late Passes (For Doz Dat Slept):
Albums I'm Looking Forward To Reviewing Once They Leak...I Mean Drop:
I'm Also Looking Forward To Reviewing The Following Projects:
The Roots-Rising Down
Last, but not least is the new offering from newly signed Aftermath producer Black Milk and his B.R. Gunna comrade Fat Ray (where’s Young RJ at?). Black Milk is on such a hot streak right now that anything with his name on it is going to garner some major attention. I’m still killing “Popular Demand” and “Caltroit” as I type this. Will this project stand up to the high standard the Black Milk’s recent collabos/projects have set? Find out below:Best Joints: “Flawless”, “Lookout”, “Bad Man”, “Take Control”, “Not U”, “When It Goes Down”, “Get Focus”, “Nothing To Hide”, “Get Up”, “Ugly” and the “Outro”
Hot Garbage: N/A (This album was too damned short)
Dart’s Take: This album bangs from beginning to end and Fat Ray’s flow and lyrics have definitely improved since the last time I heard him. He spit quite a few lines that made me rewind my iTunes player. Black Milk always brings it with the hard production and guest spots by AB, NameTag, Phat Kat, Guilty Simpson and Elzhi only help to heighten the experience. In my opinion, this joint should have had another two or three joints on it but I still give it a mos def.
Late Passes (For Doz Dat Slept):
Albums I'm Looking Forward To Reviewing Once They Leak...I Mean Drop:
I'm Also Looking Forward To Reviewing The Following Projects:
Rhymefest-El Che
Skillz-Million Dollar Backpack
Joe Budden-Padded Room
Jay Electronica-Act II: Patents Of Nobility
Atmosphere-When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit GoldSkillz-Million Dollar Backpack
Joe Budden-Padded Room
Jay Electronica-Act II: Patents Of Nobility
The Roots-Rising Down
Dart's Fat Tape/CD-R (as of March 1st, 2008):
Get Focus-Fat Ray & Black Milk f/Phat Kat & Elzhi (prod. by Black Milk)
Keep Wishing (RMX)-Static & Messiah f/Skyzoo. Letia Larock & Leanne (prod. by WMS The Sultan)
Sweet 16 (All My Ladies)-Kidz In The Hall
Thank God For That White-Fat Joe (prod. by DJ Premier)
Attempted Murder-Rock (of Heltah Skeltah)
Word On The Street-Rakim
Better Way (I Know)-Amanda Diva
Savages-Billy Danze (prod. by Fizzy Womack)
Must Hate Money-Drake f/Rich Boy
Broken Language 2008-Redman & Method Man
Close-Tonedeff
Living Dead-Mickey Factz
Press Play-Snoop Dogg f/Dogg Pound
Where You Are-ST. Da Squad
I Never Loved Her-Zilla Rocca
Fever-Q-Tip (prod. by J Dilla)
Workin' It-Del The Funky Homosapien
Carnage-Chaundon f/Emilio Rojas & MAG
Sledgehammer-Invincible
Screamin'-Idle Warship (Talib Kweli & Res) f/MC Chris
That Hump-Erykah Badu
Rockabye-Jojo Pellegrino
Shadows Of Hell-Planet Asia (prod. by DJ Muggs)
I devour worlds AND Galactus © Jo Synstyr
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