This post was supposed to go up either late last night or early in the morning on Saturday (between 1 AM -5 AM). Considering that the headliner of this review blog is an album I've been waiting to hear & review on this blog for almost the entire 2 year life of "What's New In Dart's iPod" (Che Grand's "Everything's Good Ugly") it's wack that it's late. On the other hand, it's even wacker that I've yet to write about the Patriots preseason game on Armchair Linebacker, either. Also, look for me on Nerd With Swag as well.
This week I'll be reviewing six new projects that recently hit the 'net/bloggerverse and/or will be landing on store shelves soon in the following order: Aspect One "Vibe Ready", Che Grand "Everything's Good Ugly", DJ Honda "IV", Fresh Daily "The Gorgeous Killer: In Crimes Of Passion", Joe Budden "Escape Route" and Nametag & Dub MD present "Classic Cadence Vol. 2". For those of you new to this blog, I don’t rate albums on a scale or assign them a numerical value out of 5 or 10, instead I merely answer the all important question of “Is it worth buying or not?”. Here's how my recently revised "Cop It Or Not" ratings system breaks down below:
Opinions be damned. This particular project has no redeeming qualities whatsoever and should come with a Surgeon General's warning and/or a biohazard sticker. It should only be handled by hazmat teams or bomb/demolitions squads. To quote Common & Canibus, this album is your worst nightmare squared.
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.
Opinions be damned. This particular project has no redeeming qualities whatsoever and should come with a Surgeon General's warning and/or a biohazard sticker. It should only be handled by hazmat teams or bomb/demolitions squads. To quote Common & Canibus, this album is your worst nightmare squared.
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.ZFTP still up in this muthafucka! © Che Grand
Best Joints: Night, SummerTime, Druglord, I'm Live, Wizard, You, Chaos, Warzone, Stop Sampling, Morning Glory, Baby, Fear No One, Mystic Brew, Savage, Gypsy Chant, Addams Family, Dance, Minefield & Let It Go
Hot Garbage: N/A
Dart's Take: Yet another ill producer that you'll be hearing a lot more from on this blog z(and several others) is Aspect One. His latest instrumental project "Vibe Ready" is a collection of head noddin' selections that are spit ready while at the same time being perfect riding or walking around music.
There isn't much drop off from beat to beat and nothing is fast forward fodder while most of it is rewind worthy. I played "Vibe Ready" back to back three times for three straight mornings before I wrote this review right now. I give it a no brainer mos def.
Best Joints: Bless'd, Gift Wrap, Swing, Walking Under Ladders, Gold Chains (Part Deux), Too Much Too Soon, City On Fire, Restart (Original), Celebrate We, People Bowling, Crash, Girls Talk, I Know You Still Want Me, Life's Grand, Large Hadron Collider, Chateau Gold (Interlude), Soraya's Jam and Across The Sky
Hot Garbage: N/A
Dart's Take: I've been waiting for this album to drop since 2007 and it lived up to all of the lofty expectations I had for it after hearing the lead singles ("Swing" & "Crash"). There was a short scare there for a minute where we thought the album wouldn't come out but after Khal @ Rock The Dub started a petition and Che Grand found out how many people were waiting on "Everything's Good Ugly". It was back on.
Che Grand's 2DopeBoyz sponsored 2008 mixtape "Breakfast At Wimbledon" raised anticipation even higher. Here we are just a few days from it's release on iTunes. Let's get into "Everything's Good Ugly".
The album opens with "Bless'd", leads into "Gift Wrap", then gets you right back into the head nodding "Swing". After "Walking Under Ladders", "Gold Chains (Part Deux)"and the Colin Munroe guested "Too Much Too Soon" you realize this potentially one of the best projects of the year so far. By the time you get to the Tanya Morgan jawn "People Bowling" your suspicions will be clinched.
Che Grand is nice on the mic and when you combine that with the kinetic production you end up with what is already guaranteed to be called one of the best albums of 2009. Lessondary Crew has done it again. I give Che Grand's "Everything's Good Ugly" a mos def. Cop it on August 18th!
Best Joints: Let It Out, Magnetic Arts, KGR & Honda, Never Defeat Em, Group Home Gangsta, D.R.E.A.M., Spinning (the hook is terrible), That Knock, Throw Your Hands Up, City Of Miami, Worldwide (the hook? Meh), 30 Some Odd and Underdog By Nature
Hot Garbage: The Incredible and Another Day (yawn)
Dart's Take: I copped the first 3 DJ Honda albums but this time around homie has assembled random group of guests on this project. He has some bangers from heavy hitters like Kool G Rap, EPMD, Mos Def, Ras Kass, Sean Price, Problemz & Rakaa Iriscience. In addition, there are OK efforts from Group Home, Butta from Rawcotiks, Lord Tariq, Garcia, P.M. Rsonist of The Heatmakers, The Kid Daytona, Juganot, & one epic failure of a track by Fred Durst (?).
Since it was hit or miss and most of the tracks were either under or barely over 3 minutes the best I can do is give it a maybe. You can listen to the previews on iTunes or check to see if it's streaming on imeem or MySpace to come to your own conclusion.
Best Joints: Wildlife, Break A Leg, Me First, Supaspectacular!, Bullet Tooth Tony, Videogamin', Starter Pistol, Tits (Two In The Shirt), Untucked Nunchuks, Trust, Gutterman, Love Breakdown and Crimes Of Passion (Life)
Hot Garbage: N/A
Dart's Take: Last month, High Water Music (DJ Spinna & Sucio Smash) hit us off with the ridiculous project "Sonic Smash". In August, they plan to smack us all in the mouth with Fresh Daily of the AOK Collective's new LP "The Gorgeous Killer In: Crimes Of Passion". Before you try to draw conclusions as to what the album will sound like based on the title...don't.
Fresh Daily spits raw bars over top notch production by Ski Beatz, DJ Spinna, 88 Keys, Illmind, Oh No, Exile, Cool Calm Pete & Analogic amongst others. There isn't a weak moment on this album and it's easily one of the best debut projects I've heard since Shawn Jackson's two projects in 2008 & Danny Brown's "Hot Soup" hit the internet. I give it a mos def and salute to High Water Music. I can't wait to see what y'all got on deck next. Cop it on August 18th!
Best Joints: Intro, Anti, Never Again, World Keeps Spinnin', Forgive Me, State Of You, Good Enough, No Comment, We Outta Here, Clothes On A Mannequin, Freight Train, Connect 4, Tito Santana & For You
Hot Garbage: N/A (Releasing it the same day "Slaughterhouse" dropped did raise more than a few eyebrows..mine included)
Dart's Take: I loved "Halfway House" and was disappointed by "Padded Room". Joey decided to capitalize off of the buzz generated by the "Slaughterhouse" album release (8/11) and dropped his final piece of his planned Amalgam Digital album trilogy "Escape Route" instead of waiting for September as he originally planned.
Not only that, but Joey could address recent issues between himself & Method Man, Busta Rhymes, Inspectah Deck and lately even Raekwon by releasing this album. One listen to the individual tracks explains it all. Standout tracks include "Anti", "State Of You", "No Comment", "We Outta Here", "Clothes On A Mannequin", "Connect 4", "Tito Santana" (previously featured on Wale's last mixtape) and "For You".
It's available for purchase on Amalgam Digital right now for $8.99. I give it a recommended maybe. Check it out here
Best Joints: A Million Rappers, Back On My Shit, The Beat Bang, Stylin' On 'Em, About You (Remix), Set It, Let The Beat Play, Chips, Crash Course, The Matic Track, Ain't I and Courtesy Of Ambition
Hot Garbage: Ask Around, Stylin' On 'Em (Remix) and Tag Surfin' (nice try tho!)
Dart's Take: Nametag is one of the many nice up & coming emcees from Detroit on the scene. You've probably heard him on mixtapes before or Black Milk's previous projects. He spits fire over production from Black Milk & Black Beethoven alongside Skyzoo, Quest M.C.C.O.D.Y, Moe Dirdee & Fred Knuxx. I suggest you download this jawn & rock it in your iPod or Zune (?). I give it a recommended maybe. Download "Classic Cadence Vol. 2" here
Late Passes (For Doz Dat Slept):
Projects I'm Looking Forward To Reviewing Once They Leak...I Mean Drop in 2009:
Best Joints: Night, SummerTime, Druglord, I'm Live, Wizard, You, Chaos, Warzone, Stop Sampling, Morning Glory, Baby, Fear No One, Mystic Brew, Savage, Gypsy Chant, Addams Family, Dance, Minefield & Let It GoHot Garbage: N/A
Dart's Take: Yet another ill producer that you'll be hearing a lot more from on this blog z(and several others) is Aspect One. His latest instrumental project "Vibe Ready" is a collection of head noddin' selections that are spit ready while at the same time being perfect riding or walking around music.
There isn't much drop off from beat to beat and nothing is fast forward fodder while most of it is rewind worthy. I played "Vibe Ready" back to back three times for three straight mornings before I wrote this review right now. I give it a no brainer mos def.
Best Joints: Bless'd, Gift Wrap, Swing, Walking Under Ladders, Gold Chains (Part Deux), Too Much Too Soon, City On Fire, Restart (Original), Celebrate We, People Bowling, Crash, Girls Talk, I Know You Still Want Me, Life's Grand, Large Hadron Collider, Chateau Gold (Interlude), Soraya's Jam and Across The SkyHot Garbage: N/A
Dart's Take: I've been waiting for this album to drop since 2007 and it lived up to all of the lofty expectations I had for it after hearing the lead singles ("Swing" & "Crash"). There was a short scare there for a minute where we thought the album wouldn't come out but after Khal @ Rock The Dub started a petition and Che Grand found out how many people were waiting on "Everything's Good Ugly". It was back on.
Che Grand's 2DopeBoyz sponsored 2008 mixtape "Breakfast At Wimbledon" raised anticipation even higher. Here we are just a few days from it's release on iTunes. Let's get into "Everything's Good Ugly".
The album opens with "Bless'd", leads into "Gift Wrap", then gets you right back into the head nodding "Swing". After "Walking Under Ladders", "Gold Chains (Part Deux)"and the Colin Munroe guested "Too Much Too Soon" you realize this potentially one of the best projects of the year so far. By the time you get to the Tanya Morgan jawn "People Bowling" your suspicions will be clinched.
Che Grand is nice on the mic and when you combine that with the kinetic production you end up with what is already guaranteed to be called one of the best albums of 2009. Lessondary Crew has done it again. I give Che Grand's "Everything's Good Ugly" a mos def. Cop it on August 18th!
Best Joints: Let It Out, Magnetic Arts, KGR & Honda, Never Defeat Em, Group Home Gangsta, D.R.E.A.M., Spinning (the hook is terrible), That Knock, Throw Your Hands Up, City Of Miami, Worldwide (the hook? Meh), 30 Some Odd and Underdog By NatureHot Garbage: The Incredible and Another Day (yawn)
Dart's Take: I copped the first 3 DJ Honda albums but this time around homie has assembled random group of guests on this project. He has some bangers from heavy hitters like Kool G Rap, EPMD, Mos Def, Ras Kass, Sean Price, Problemz & Rakaa Iriscience. In addition, there are OK efforts from Group Home, Butta from Rawcotiks, Lord Tariq, Garcia, P.M. Rsonist of The Heatmakers, The Kid Daytona, Juganot, & one epic failure of a track by Fred Durst (?).
Since it was hit or miss and most of the tracks were either under or barely over 3 minutes the best I can do is give it a maybe. You can listen to the previews on iTunes or check to see if it's streaming on imeem or MySpace to come to your own conclusion.
Best Joints: Wildlife, Break A Leg, Me First, Supaspectacular!, Bullet Tooth Tony, Videogamin', Starter Pistol, Tits (Two In The Shirt), Untucked Nunchuks, Trust, Gutterman, Love Breakdown and Crimes Of Passion (Life)Hot Garbage: N/A
Dart's Take: Last month, High Water Music (DJ Spinna & Sucio Smash) hit us off with the ridiculous project "Sonic Smash". In August, they plan to smack us all in the mouth with Fresh Daily of the AOK Collective's new LP "The Gorgeous Killer In: Crimes Of Passion". Before you try to draw conclusions as to what the album will sound like based on the title...don't.
Fresh Daily spits raw bars over top notch production by Ski Beatz, DJ Spinna, 88 Keys, Illmind, Oh No, Exile, Cool Calm Pete & Analogic amongst others. There isn't a weak moment on this album and it's easily one of the best debut projects I've heard since Shawn Jackson's two projects in 2008 & Danny Brown's "Hot Soup" hit the internet. I give it a mos def and salute to High Water Music. I can't wait to see what y'all got on deck next. Cop it on August 18th!
Best Joints: Intro, Anti, Never Again, World Keeps Spinnin', Forgive Me, State Of You, Good Enough, No Comment, We Outta Here, Clothes On A Mannequin, Freight Train, Connect 4, Tito Santana & For YouHot Garbage: N/A (Releasing it the same day "Slaughterhouse" dropped did raise more than a few eyebrows..mine included)
Dart's Take: I loved "Halfway House" and was disappointed by "Padded Room". Joey decided to capitalize off of the buzz generated by the "Slaughterhouse" album release (8/11) and dropped his final piece of his planned Amalgam Digital album trilogy "Escape Route" instead of waiting for September as he originally planned.
Not only that, but Joey could address recent issues between himself & Method Man, Busta Rhymes, Inspectah Deck and lately even Raekwon by releasing this album. One listen to the individual tracks explains it all. Standout tracks include "Anti", "State Of You", "No Comment", "We Outta Here", "Clothes On A Mannequin", "Connect 4", "Tito Santana" (previously featured on Wale's last mixtape) and "For You".
It's available for purchase on Amalgam Digital right now for $8.99. I give it a recommended maybe. Check it out here
Best Joints: A Million Rappers, Back On My Shit, The Beat Bang, Stylin' On 'Em, About You (Remix), Set It, Let The Beat Play, Chips, Crash Course, The Matic Track, Ain't I and Courtesy Of AmbitionHot Garbage: Ask Around, Stylin' On 'Em (Remix) and Tag Surfin' (nice try tho!)
Dart's Take: Nametag is one of the many nice up & coming emcees from Detroit on the scene. You've probably heard him on mixtapes before or Black Milk's previous projects. He spits fire over production from Black Milk & Black Beethoven alongside Skyzoo, Quest M.C.C.O.D.Y, Moe Dirdee & Fred Knuxx. I suggest you download this jawn & rock it in your iPod or Zune (?). I give it a recommended maybe. Download "Classic Cadence Vol. 2" here
Late Passes (For Doz Dat Slept):
Projects I'm Looking Forward To Reviewing Once They Leak...I Mean Drop in 2009:
Rhymefest-El Che
Jay Electronica-Act II: Patents Of Nobility
Jay Electronica-Abracadabra: Let There Be Light
Royce Da 5'9"-Street Hop
Big Boi-Sir Luscious Leftfoot, Son Of Chico Dusty
Pac Div-Grown Kid's Syndrome
Magnif & J Dilla-Detroit Royalty
Blu-God Is Good
Drake- Thank Me Later
Sean Price, Guilty Simpson & Black Milk-Random Axe
Alchemist & Oh No are Gangrene
Ghostface Killah-Wizard Of Poetry
Eternia & MoSS- At Last
B.O.B.-The Adventures Of B.O.B.
Billy Danze-Behind Gatez
Masta Ace & Ed O.G. (A&E)-Arts & Entertainment
AG & O.C.-Oasis: Together Brothers
Baatin-Titus
Phat Kat and Elzhi are Cold Steel
The Beatnuts-The Planet Of The Crates
Ski Beatz-Half Man, Half Amazing
Evidence-Cats & Dogs
Statik Selektah-The Hangover
Slum Village "Villa Manifesto" is still coming. R.I.P J Dilla & Baatin. Peace to T3, Elzhi, Young RJ, Black Milk & Karriem Riggins. Slum Village forever.
Jay Electronica-Abracadabra: Let There Be Light
Royce Da 5'9"-Street Hop
Big Boi-Sir Luscious Leftfoot, Son Of Chico Dusty
Pac Div-Grown Kid's Syndrome
Magnif & J Dilla-Detroit Royalty
Blu-God Is Good
Drake- Thank Me Later
Sean Price, Guilty Simpson & Black Milk-Random Axe
Alchemist & Oh No are Gangrene
Ghostface Killah-Wizard Of Poetry
Eternia & MoSS- At Last
B.O.B.-The Adventures Of B.O.B.
Billy Danze-Behind Gatez
Masta Ace & Ed O.G. (A&E)-Arts & Entertainment
AG & O.C.-Oasis: Together Brothers
Baatin-Titus
Phat Kat and Elzhi are Cold Steel
The Beatnuts-The Planet Of The Crates
Ski Beatz-Half Man, Half Amazing
Evidence-Cats & Dogs
Statik Selektah-The Hangover
Slum Village "Villa Manifesto" is still coming. R.I.P J Dilla & Baatin. Peace to T3, Elzhi, Young RJ, Black Milk & Karriem Riggins. Slum Village forever.One.
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