At around eighteen y/o, Ricky "Lord Infamous" Dunigan releases his first solo cassette, with the help of peers DJ Paul and Juicy J, in what is effectively one of the first records to present all the original Three 6 Mafia members.
DJ Paul creates a lean rhythm with lean drum and dark samples in the first cut, which boasts scattered scratches and single lines in the background, before welcoming Lord Infamous' flowing slow rapping. "South Memphis" features a minimal rhythm, with dark samples and good drum machine, scattered scratches, and a single looped line for the hook that also serves as a background vocal: the mood is raw as usual, while the MC spits bars with a style similar to that of the guys on the East Coast. On the third track, Scarecrow accelerates on a rhythmic boom bap, with skeletal drum and somber samples, delivering slowly and smoothly most of the time. There's an honest bridge around the hook, which is mesmerizing over mesmerizing rhythm. In the following song, DJ Paul finds the formula already used and tested previously: here the sample is sharp and close to annoyance, it penetrates your brain, while the bars of Lord Infamous cloud your mind, DJ Paul less good at rapping.
DJ Paul, Juicy J and Lord Infamous realize a skit to a somewhat generic, tense, dark, discreet rhythm. Juicy J stays in "9mm": boom bap lo-fi, good dark piano sample, slow drum, slow delivery of Lord Infamous, well the host, scratched hook. The following three choices are similar, DJ Paul produces minimal rhythms with tense and dark samples and a skeletal drum, while the MCs perform with a slow style, trying to keep the gloomy mood of the cassette: Lord Infamous kills "Murder on the Menu" and "Drag 'Em from the River" with performances at the level of his best moments. "Scarecrow" boasts a good dark sample and a smoother rapping of Lord Infamous, so thanks come on lo-fi rhythm, before the final choice. "Where Is da Bud?" is divided into two parts: in the first there's a beautiful elegant piano looped in the background to act as a backdrop to the rapping of the duo, while in the second, there's another elegant piano accompanied by a classic sample and stratified drum machines to support the bars of Lord Infamous.
The tape presents themes typical of the Memphis scene, stopping between gangsta and horrorcore and dealing mainly with topics such as violence, drugs, sex, crime, death and misogyny. It's an honest Lord Infamous tape, not the finest from him, but not too bad either.
Highlights: "Beat Down", "Lick My Nutts", "Murder on the Menu", "Drag 'Em from the River".
Rating: 7/10.
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