Success-n-Effect — In Tha Hood

First LP by the Atlanta rap group Success-N-Effect. The group started out as part of Edward J & the J Team, a mixed tape crew composed by Edward J, Lady DJ, Dangerous D, MC Shy D, DJ Man, DJ Len and Professor Lazy Rock. These last two, with the add of Johne X Battle, get a recording contract with On Top Records and record "Roll It Up My Nigger", a track that has a extreme racial language with some messages and becomes a hit of the trio, leading some critics to consider it one of the first political rap acts. In the same year, the group release the first album.

It starts immediately with a simple, essential beat, frenetic and simplistic drum machine, typical miami bass rhythm, female sample looped in the background for the hook, flowing syncopated deliveries. Interesting bridge scratched for the hook with a single line endlessly looped. "For the Money" has a kind of simplistic ballad beat with minimal drum machine, miami bass sound with elegant piano in the background and jazzy vibes, light-hearted delivery, scratched hook. The third track is produced in a similar way to the previous ones, frantic and syncopated drum machine that gives life to a simple and decent rhythm, which is the background to the serious delivery of the performer; functional hook with unexpected tense-dark jazzy bridge.

The following song is quite generic in every respect, while "Len Pik Up the Needle" features another simplistic beat, skeletal and minimal drum machine, frenetic delivery, above a rhythm that soon becomes swollen with elements and confused, a scratched functional hook follows. The drum machine becomes heavy and skinny on the simplistic "N-2-Deep", prelude to "Crusin", which is the most interesting cut in this hidden hip hop album of the 1989 season.

The duo samples heavily from NWA, Eazy E, Clinton, Audio 2 and also "La Di Da Di", a dope rhythm comes out, that's pretty good; rap well-done, syncopated and minimal drum machine that do its job, delivery that flows well, scratched functional hook, good cut. "Roll It Up" isn't at the same level, it returns to be a quite simplistic and mediocre song, now we're at the end of the disc itself: it closes "In Tha Hood", yet another tribute to Eazy-E.

I hated it less than I thought, the album is pretty easy and made up of tracks all with the same formula: skinny-n-raw beat typical of miami bass, rounded to not make it seem too annoying, pronounced and skinny drum machine in the background, flowing delivery, functional hook scratched with a single banal line and some discreet samples. It's one of the rare hip hop groups that hasn't sampled James Brown, but has heavily relied on George Clinton. Enjoyable album if you like miami bass, otherwise leave it alone, there are similar albums made better. 6/10.