Debut album for Darrell Johnson aka K-Dee (Kid Disaster), Los Angeles rapper linked to Ice Cube, with whom he was part of the Stereo Crew, The C.I.A. and Da Lench Mob groups. Ice Cube is the only accredited guest of the edition and the main producer, providing seven beats, the rest of the rhythms are made by D-Mac, Lay Law, Madness 4 Real, Shaquille, Vic C and 88 X Unit.
In addition to them, several live instrumentalists build some production: Emmanuel Dean, Clint Stokes, Bernie Worrell and Warryn Campbell on keyboards, Clint Sands, Bootsy and Mark Cross on bass, James Rabb and Dirty Mug on guitar. There are several uncredited artists as featuring or background vocalists: Natasha Walker, Nicole Chaney, The Unda Covers, D Style, Ayana Anderson, Cisco, Morris Day, Alysse Manning, Ferry Freeman, Nanci Fletcher, Bootsy, Dap and Snow.
Intro on a funky boom bap with boisterous samples and slow pounding drum, then comes a whimsical sound on the functional chorus of his first cut, replaced by a decent sample to support K-Dee's calm, slow and relaxed delivery. Shaquille realizes a good rhythm, placing midtempo drum and excellent relaxed and melodic mobb sample, the interpreter delivers relaxed, good piece.
"The Freshest MC in the World" is among his best songs: Ice Cube realizes a great funky boom bap, aided by several live instrumentalists and a couple of vocalists, finding an excellent relaxed sound, with a perfect, smoothness beat and effortless drum. The soundscape fits in with K-Dee's velvet flowing relaxed delivery, accompanied by a perfect rnb hook by uncredited girl, Ayana Anderson, doing a beautiful, brilliant job. Skit, then another great rhythm, performed by Vic C: relaxed and whiny sample mobb, light downtempo drum, the boy lets the rhythm breathe, then attacks with a calm and effortless style, he's having fun. From the central part onwards, the disc loses its freshness.
The seventh choice is still a good track, produced by Ice Cube: pounding drum downtempo, relaxed mobb sample, rnb chorus sung by Morris Day, here K-Dee approaches the ballad, providing bars with his usual style. "Neva Was a Baller" boasts a fast pounding drum and relaxed sample, the MC accelerates delivery, always effortless.
Skit, then comes the only credited guest, Ice Cube: I didn't understand Cube's contribution here, it seems that he only recites one line in the whole song. Boom bap funky, regular drum pounding, K-Dee quiet delivery, Bootsy's hook, uncredited girl. "K-Swinga" presents an annoying sample on a slow pounding drum machine, one of the less successful productions of the project, the work of Vic C.
Skit, then two consecutive rnb choices, produced by Ice Cube: boom bap funky, some live instrumentals, three backing vocals for each track, there are good g-funk synths in the backgroun, pounding drums and relaxed bars, but both cuts feel a little out of place on a rap record. After the last skit, the album is closed by the title track, produced by Ice Cube, with Ice Cube and Bootsy, both uncredited, over a good funky beat.
Distributed by Lench Mob Records, the album sells fairly well and hits the top 40 of rap records. Consisting of 18 songs, 6 skits and over an hour of listening, the LP is primarily focused on women and braggadocio, and is a fun listen, combining effortless honest funky production with light-hearted, relaxed and fresh rapping. Free of faint pieces or obvious bangers, it's recommended for West Coast and Bay Area fans.
Rating: 7/10.
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