Logic — Young Sinatra: Undeniable [mixtape]

Third mixtape released by the Gaithersburg rapper Logic, second chapter of his "Young Sinatra" series. Among the tapes of his series, "Undeniable" is the most personal: almost entirely produced by 6ix, it doesn't accredit guests (C-Dot Castro is featured in "Disgusting") and maintains the winning formula of the previous mixtape, combining simple and direct raw lyricism performed with a smooth and effective dope flow over a captivating East Coast boom bap production.

Biz Markie — All Samples Cleared

This guy still wants to joke. Now I'll have to go and listen to that third Beastie Boys album again, incomparable to the previous one, to understand if it really sucks and this guy still wants to joke.

LL Cool J — 14 Shots to the Dome

Three years is a long time in hip-hop, a genre that was constantly evolving in the nineties. In 1990, LL Cool J returns stronger than ever and publishes his best work, a leading document on the East Coast circuit. Three years later, he's a mediocre and obscene West Coast copycat. The MC, one of the best in the game until a few years ago, hasn't stayed up to date and is no longer relevant: the top of the Billboard charts that he dominated are now frequented by artists who shout violent things all the time on hard funky beats. LL, tired of innovating, try to do the same, how difficult will it be?

Biz Markie — I Need a Haircut

This guy hasn't guessed one right thing in the last years. Aiiight, aight. "Just a Friend". All right. He got one right. On how many? Fifty? On this record, Biz watered down his previous songs in an attempt to lengthen them and create new ones, often on the theme of girls, with pretty boring, banal, lame results.

I.C.P. — Ringmaster

Second album for the Detroit duo Insane Clown Posse, who sign the document under the acronym ICP. The cover is great.

Logic — Young Sinatra [mixtape]

In 2011, Robert "Logic" Hall released his second mixtape, the one that launched his career. Before trap, before Bobby Tarantino, before supermarkets, before discount music, before Twitch, Robert Hall was also a rapper. A good rapper, perhaps not overly remarkable, but he was. The tape is made by his inner circle of friends, the production is mainly provided by 6ix and OB, while most of the guests are actually sampled from other songs.

King Sun — XL

This album is a waste, because there's a bit of talent in Rahmakhan Todd "King Sun" Turnbow's technique, but it's all wasted in songs that, if all goes well, are simply decent, composed of minimal and simple rhythms, funky, despite some good samples (Rakim, Run-DMC, Isaac Hayes, Marvin Gaye and James Brown) and simple rapping.

Slick Rick — Behind Bars

Third studio album for Richard Walters aka Slick Rick, British rapper who dominated the US hip-hop scene, being considered one of the most influential and capable guys for new East Coast artists. The production is handled by Prince Paul, Vance Wright, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Easy Mo Bee, Greg Nice, Pete Rock, Large Professor and Warren G, while guests are Doug E. Fresh, Nice & Smooth and Warren G.

Biz Markie — The Biz Never Sleeps

Typical sophomore jinx, unfortunately the clown of comedy rap also falls in it, deprived of his Juice Crew cape, here he appears cold, hard. Biz keeps his silly, funny and easy bars, this time no longer written by Big Daddy Kane and the quality is affected. The production turns its back on him, there's no more Marley Marl behind the keyboards, replaced by Cool V, and the samples mock him while he delivers light-heartedly on light and minimal funky rhythms that are all the same. Biz still has the strength to raise the ground and bring out the hit of life ("Just a Friend") which seems to be worth at least a point and a half here, because the rest is rough mediocrity even in this context. Released by Cold Chillin' and Warner Bros. Records, the album leaded by "Just a Friend" (#9 on the Hot 100, #5 among rap singles) is one of the best-selling of the 1990, peaking #66 on the Billboard 200 and in the top ten in the rnb chart, being certified gold by RIAA six months after the release. The effort represents the major commercial success in Biz Markie whole career.

Mr. Doctor — Setripn' Bloccstyle

Debut album by Mr. Doctor, rapper from Sacramento, California, affiliated with fellow citizen Brotha Lynch Hung, who produces the entire album (except for "No Bitch", made by Baloo) and is the main guest with six appearances.

 

Da Youngsta's — Somethin 4 da Youngsta's

In 1992 the Philadelphia group Da Youngsta's made its debut, made up of three teenage boys whose age is unknown at the time, it's assumed between 11 and 13 years old: they're the brothers Taji and Qu'ran Goodman, together with their cousin Tarik Dawson, and are assisted by their father Lawrence Goodman, who runs the local Pop Art label together with his brother Dana and who under the moniker LG the Teacher also provides the production for this kid rap album and supervises it.

Logic — Young, Broke & Infamous [mixtape]

After the mysterious object "Psychological", this is a new mixtape dropped by Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, also known as Logic, rapper of Gaithersburg, Maryland. For a good part of the time the rapper spits words over rhythms of other artists and songs already known to fans, so the production credits are unknown.

Almighty — The 2nd Coming

Five years after their first album, the group Almighty returns to release a second effort. The project is also known as "Canibus Presents Almighty: The 2nd Coming". Under the will of Canibus, only a guest on the other album, the group returns with a new lineup including Wu-Tang Clan member Cappadonna, Planet Asia, also a guest on the first edition, and Nino Graye. Only Bronze Nazareth and M-80, Canibus' manager, remain in the group since 2008. Bus himself comes from the infamous historic battle against Dizaster.

JP Beats is the main producer of the effort, Kevlaar 7 creates several rhythms, Bronze Nazareth and Domingo realize a beat each. DJ JS-1 is credited with most of the scratches, DJ Dyems is the author of those in the track "Blacktop Stock & Word Bond". The guests are Vinnie Paz, P. Dinero, Kurupt, KXNG Crooked, Chino XL, Killah Priest, Tragedy Khadafi, Kool G Rap, Masta Killa, Flawless MC, Busta Rhymes and Block McCloud.

Sonya C — Married to the Mob

I wouldn't go too hard on this album that comes from Sonya Cassandra Miller, at the time part of TRU and wife of Master P, later mother of Lil' Romeo. She's not credible, starting from the cover: Sonya C in evidence, she holds a cellphone in her right hand and a garter gun on her left one, questionable glasses, album title held up by a yellow tommy gun which is itself above the writing "Featuring: The Real Untouchables", so it's TRU here. Then, almost forgotten, a quote from a certain Miss Alcapone, who explains that this record is a proof that being "married to the mob" is not easy, but Sonya C can do it because she is tough. Yup.

Master P — 99 Ways to Die

Master P's fourth studio album. Production is provided by Lil Ric, Master P, K-Lou, CMT & E-A-Ski, Larry D and Al Eaton. Guests are C-Murder, Silk, King George, Big Ed, Lil Ric, EA Ski, Rally Rall and Simply Dre, uncredited in "Playa wit Game".

Almighty — Original S.I.N.

Almighty is the attempt to create a solid Wu Killa Beez group in response to the vacuum created by the temporary end of the activity of the two biggest groups affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan after the mid-2000s, the Killarmy, already stopped since years, and the Sunz of Man, in addition to the Royal Fam. Bronze Nazereth of Wisemen is the co-author of the project along with M-80, Wu affiliate, and leads the album producing most of it and participating in half of the tracks as a rapper. The other members of Almighty's early lineup are 5 Star, a Wisemen-affiliated rapper, Son One, another rapper close to the Wisemen, C-Rayz Walz, and Killah Priest of Sunz of Man, whose many collaborative projects over the years have not taken off.

The production is provided, in addition to Bronze and M-Eighty, also by Kevlaar 7 of Wisemen, Maja 7th, Purpose, Davey D, Krohme, Pro the Leader, Hala-X, Kap Thinking, M-Eighty, DJ Woool and Preservation. The guests are Canibus of The Four Horsemen, Keith Murray, Planet Asia, Kevlaar 7 of Wisemen, Warcloud of Black Knights, Timbo King of Royal Fam, Doe Boy, Born Sun, 60 Second Assassin of Sunz of Man and Solomon Childs of Theodore Unit.

Slick Rick — The Ruler's Back

Second effort for Slick Rick with Def Jam after the incredible classic debut of three years before. He's close to the prison for shooting his cousin, after being bailed out by Russell Simmons, the rapper records this disk in three weeks before starting a jail sentence.

Ghostface Killah — The Big Doe Rehab

Almost exactly a year after his last studio effort, Ghostface Killah releases his seventh CD. A third of the record is produced by Sean C & LV, with the remaining beats being done by Davey Chegwidden, Ant Live, Anthony Acid, Scram Jones, Frequency, Ghostface Killah, Baby Grand, Syience, Patrick Stump, and S*A*M & Sluggo. The guests include Theodore Unit members Solomon Childs, Trife da God, Sun God, Shawn Wigs, and Cappadonna, as well as Wu-Tang Clan rappers Method Man, Raekwon, U-God, and Masta Killa, and outsiders to the Wu universe Beanie Sigel of State Property, Kid Capri, Ox, Rhythm Roots Allstars, Chrisette Michele, Gym Class Heroes, and Tyga.

Tim Dog — Do or Die

Sophomore jinx for Tim Dog: after "Fuck Compton" and barking to every single MCs who spit bars in the West Side, this dude had the guts to tour California and, I don't know how, made it out alive.

Master P — The Ghettos Tryin to Kill Me!

Third studio album for New Orleans-born rapper Master P. Production is mainly done by Bigg Nate, along with Larry Henderson with three beats, Ski & CMT with two, JT the Bigga Figga and Master P provide a rhythm each. The guests on the album are TRU, Sonya C, Lil Ric, Big Ed, San Quinn, JT the Bigga Figga, Bigg Nate, Del Gilbeaux, Uhuru Wright, Bad Girls, while King George is the biggest guest on the album, providing the background. also not credited to the title track and the final cut.

Psychological — Psychological [mixtape]

First mixtape for Robert Bryson Hall II, a nearly 20-year-old boy homeless after running away from home a few years earlier, who will be launched in the rap game when he shortens his moniker from Psychological, which gives the title to this eponymous tape, to simple Logic. There's some healthy East Coast boom bap, some quotable lines, decent rapping technique by this MC, albeit still rough of course, and some decent tracks: "95' Tip" I think it stands among the others, thanks to a dry boom bap, dry, clean, glossy, with lean and syncopated drum machine, tightly looped sample in the background, vintage cut, good smoothness rapping. Most of the songs are mediocre, decent at first listen, but quite weak in the following ones, also due to the absence of the mixing: in any case, the mixtape is a success that allows him to open several concerts in Maryland for rappers of the caliber of EPMD, Redman and Method Man, some of his major sources of inspiration for making music, and convinces him to continue on the rap road by publishing his second tape the following year, a good springboard for his career. Not recommended, 4/10.

5th Ward Juvenilez — Deadly Groundz

 

First and last album released by hip-hop group 5th Ward Juvenilez (not to be confused with the near namesake and fellow citizens 5th Ward Boyz), coming from Houston, Texas. The trio consists of Daddy Lo, Mr. Slimm and Nickelboy. The production is credited to Rap-A-Lot producers, Mike Dean, N.O. Joe, Krazy C, Derek Grizz and Dewey Forker, while the guests are members of the aforementioned 5th Ward Boyz E-Rock and 007, and Kaos.

Top Quality — Magnus Opum

T. Robinson bka Top Quality appears in "The Source"'s Unsigned Hype in April 1991, comes under the wing of PMD, becomes a member of PMD's hip-hop collective Hit Squad and in the following years signs with RCA (via Smith's PMD Records, RCA's sublabel), becoming the first rapper from White Plans, New York, to get a major label recording deal.

Shawty Pimp — Still Comin Real

Malik "Shawty Pimp" Shannon leads the listener to discover Memphis rap from another perspective, that of pimping, rarely approached in Bluff City.

Master P — Mama's Bad Boy

Second studio album made by Master P, the production is worse than the debut, provided by (E-A-)Ski, CMT and the rapper himself, while the lyrics veer on horrorcore and violent, gangsta and braggadocio topics.

Red Dog — Comin Real Wit It [mixtape]

There's a beautiful tradition in the use of the sample in the mid-nineties Memphis rap scene: the loop accompanies a drum that, due to its raw and economic nature, it never hits too hard, it's minimal, rough, but often much more accessible than the mainstream productions of the late nineties and all the underground ones that imitated the commercial ones in the following three decades. Shawty Pimp, producer of the album that sells it through his Big Pimpin label, chooses fresh and melodic samples that give a funky flavor to the cassette of Red Dog, rapper you can hear on the tapes of Children of the Corn and Graveyard Productions. This type of sound, close to the best West Coast products, allows the project to stand out a little from the rest of the local cassettes: on this production, at times brilliant, the MC of Memphis chooses a calm, slow, velvety delivery style, creating a solid tape full of excellent moments ("Kickin Pimpin", "You Better Recognise", "Play No Playa"). 7/10.

Master 'P — Get Away Clean

Percy "Master P" Miller was born and raised in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. He moves in Oakland, California, then opens a record store in Richmond, California, called No Limit Records and Tapes, which later became the foundation of his own label No Limit Records.

Graveyard Productions — The Havoc

Cassette by Graveyard Productions aka Children of the Corn, produced entirely by Lil Grimm. The Memphis group is made up of eight interpreters, I can't tell you who does what here, in any case, they all do a sublime work.

Big L — 139 & Lenox

This disk is released under Flamboyant Entertainment and is composed by twelve tracks. Most of the producers are not credited. The guests are Shyheim, C-Town, Stan Spit and Herb McGruff. The whole effort is basically "The Archives 1996-2000" with another tracklist. There are the same songs with the same few gems and the same commercial errors. Removed the acapellas and "Hit It" that don't work, inside three cuts from "Harlem's Finest: A Freestyle History Vol. I & II": "Nigga Please", "Universal Freestyle" (both good) & "Devil's Son (Live in Amsterdam)", classic. But it doesn't change much. If you missed the "Archives", here the best is represented by "On the Mic", "Now or Never" and "Devil's Son". 6.5/10.

Rottin Razkals — Rottin Ta Da Core

Only album by East Orange, New Jersey hip-hop group Rottin Razkals. The group consists of Abdullah "Fam" Barr, Jeff "Diesel" Ray and Charles "Chap" Kelly. Diesel is the younger brother of Naughty by Nature leader Treach. Linked to the Treach group, Rottin Razkals made their debut on the Flavor Unit disk and participated in Naughty by Nature's albums. In 1994 the group signed with Motown and recorded its first and last studio album between New Jersey and New York, releasing it the following year.

Big L — The Archives 1996-2000 [bootleg]

This compilation / bootleg / remix album released under Corleone Recordings it's a weird mix of things. "Archives" to try to keep the memory of Big L alive. Maybe we don't need efforts so convoluted, in short, there's still no decent compilation of the best songs pulled out by Big L in his two official studio albums.

Q-Tip — Amplified

At the turn of the millennium, Q-Tip delivers your generic hip-hop album which also coincides with his debut as a solo artist following the dissolution of A Tribe Called Quest. A dozen tracks spread over three quarters of an hour in which the boy lies down in the club with his friends and chilled, he's not actually saying anything over colorless music, there's also the "UFO" by ESG sample, here used better than usual for one of the singles, amidst too many lame hooks and questionable choices. Towards the end, Busta Rhymes pulls out a hysterical hook, follows an attempt to create a rap rock hit with the nu metal band Korn.

Big L — Harlem's Finest: A Freestyle History Vol. I & II [bootleg]

Freestyle series and tracks not included in the previous Big L records. They all have an excellent production that helps the technical rapping of L to flow while the rapper kills the beats often impressing and even when the rhythm changes ("Rock N. Wills Audition").

Big L — The Big Picture

Originally scheduled to be released in 1999, the album is postponed to August 2000 due to Big L's murder. At the time of Big L's death, the project was incomplete and his manager decided to completed posthumously. The disk is produced by Lord Finesse, Showbiz, DJ Premier, Ron Brownz, Ron G, Pete Rock, Shomari, Mike Heron and Ysae. The guests are AG, Fat Joe, OC, 2Pac, Miss Jones, Stan Spit, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Guru, Remy Ma and Sadat X.

Children of the Corn — The Single

First tape of the Memphis group Children of the Corn (aka Westwood Click aka Graveyard Productions) entirely produced by Grimm. The crew is composed by Lil Grimm, Lil E, Mac B, Eli, Mike Mike aka Ms. Kra-Z, Mac E, Chi Chi, Red Dog, Malaki, Marco tha Don, Fly Mon and Kavious. The performers put the rap aside a bit, to leave plenty of room for dark loops, focusing on creating an atmosphere. The boys perform ultraviolent and horrorcore-related lyrics with a style of rapping that is not very engaging and that lets itself be carried away by the minimal rhythms chosen by Lil Grimm. The tape fails to maintain the same quality as "Deep Into the Woods" and "Wicked Ways (Remix)" for half an hour and drops in intensity after ten minutes: it's a good tape, but personally, not one of the best out there throughout the season. 6/10.

O.C. & Debonair P — Dive In EP

Collaborative project between New York rapper OC and Melbourne, Australia producer and DJ Debonair P, with the help of PF Cuttin. The record is released by the underground hip-hop label from Melbourne Gentleman's Relief Records with vinyl format in limited edition in Australia.

Ray West & O.C. — Ray's Café: The Afterhours EP

Second collaborative EP between Ray West, a producer long-time associate of the DITC veteran AG (executive producer of the project), and OC, one of the column in the rap side of one of the most-respected crew in hip-hop. Also this tape is released under Red Apples 45 and distributed by Fat Beats. 

Battlecat — Gumbo Roots

In 1995 Kevin "DJ Battlecat" Gilliam, historic producer from South Central Los Angeles linked to the g-funk sound, is expected to release his solo album on the Warner Bros. subsidiary Maverick label, Nonetheless, the album didn't come out until 1999. It's one of the slickest records of the period and one of my favorites of those released in the nineties under the g-funk genre.

Ray West & O.C. — Ray's Café EP

Collaborative extended play between Bronx-born DJ and producer Ray West and Brooklyn-born rapper OC. The record is released under Ray West own label Red Apples 45 and distributed by Fat Beats.

The Grouch — Don't Talk to Me

Debut album for Corey "The Grouch" Scoffern, rapper from Oakland, California, later a member of the Living Legend group. Released by local label Outhouse, the tape seems to come from one of the outlying districts of Memphis rather than Oaktown: The Grouch, unique author of the production, brings together haunting jazz loops on scarce and minimal drums, providing a slow, not very technical, a little too stiff rap. Musically, the tape is acceptable even if the rap doesn't impress, it's a listen that would be strong at 20 minutes and lose some of its reach totaling around three quarters of an hour. The disc features the debut of several future Living Legend boys, such as PSC aka Luckyiam.PSC, BFAP aka Sunspot Junz and Murs. 6/10.