Shortly after releasing his second studio album in three years, Tony D founded the hip-hop group Crusaders for Real Hip-Hop from Trenton, New Jersey, and signs with Profile. The group is composed by Anthony "Tony D" Depula aka Don Nots, Brooks "Mr. Law" Miller and David "Rahzii Hi-Power" Jones Jr. The tape is produced by Tony D. King Sun is the only guest credited.
In 1992 a hip-hop group made up of three boys tried to emerge with difficulty. The title of their only tape released is deceptive, as it seems to take the listener back to ten years earlier: the mood is that, the lyricism is centered on braggadocio and party, while the production is cheerful, but current, with good samples chosen by Tony D.
The LP is opened by one of the singles on the disc, "That's How It Is", fresh and simple rhythm, skinny syncopated drum machine, cheerful boom bap, jazzy funky beat, with smooth and syncopated, quick and hardcore cheerful positive delivery, and a simple chorus. An elementary pop hook follows that opens the second song, female sample, simple boom bap with lean and regular drum machine, slow syncopated smoothness delivery.
"Higher" is a simple and light-hearted cut, funky boom bap with smooth delivery, functional hook with simple bridge and vibrating drum machine. A funky groove follows, slow flowing delivery from this group. "Main Entree" is a wacky cut, lean sci-fi production, curious samples, smooth fast delivery that becomes ultra-fast in the second half of the track, following a wacky hook. "No Ballads" is a skit spoken over a Syl Johnson's annoying sample, then ballad rhythm.
The LP is back on track with the following piece, fast-paced, syncopated hardcore delivery on lean boom bap: the tape's first guest, Low-Key, is present. Subsequent choices are similar and pretty discreet, "Buggin' On Old TV" has a good simple slow beat with jazzy vibes and a smooth slow delivery, while the following track tackles the theme of police brutality on a light boom bap.
The track number ten features light jazzy vibes again, while "Real Rhymers" sees three guests, Low-Key, Marquise and King Sun: this latest guy does a good job, the other performers also get by with a smooth hardcore delivery on a good one. Tony D musical carpet is meager and funky. A tightly looped female soul sample in the background gives the tape some vitality, to a good jazzy rhythm; the last three songs retain light and sparse jazzy properties, the MCs drop bars with a flowing and slow style. It's a good album, quite consistent in its thematic and musical choice, but it never impresses.
Rating: 6/10.
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