Luniz's debut album is structurally similar to that of Coolio released in the same year: just over fifteen tracks, over the listening hour, several guests joining the party, and everything revolves around a hit.
Like "Gangsta's Paradise", "I Got 5 on It" also anticipates the album by a few months. Luniz is a duo from Oakland, California, formed by school friends Jerold "Yukmouth" Ellis III and Garrick "Numskull" Husband. Production is handled by CMT, E-A-Ski, Terry T, DJ Daryl, Shock G, Gino Blackwell, DJ Fuze, Tone Capone and N.O. Joe. Guests are Dru Down, Richie Rich, Teddy, Nucklehead, Eclipse, Shock G, Nik Nack and Michael Marshall. The single becomes an international hit and often stops in second place in Europe, where "Gangsta's Paradise" is still a huge thing. "I Got 5 on It" becomes one of the best-selling songs of the season and gets certifications in many countries, including platinum in the US, UK and Germany.
This LP starts in a very similar way to that of Coolio: intro, good cut, on track three there's the hit, the best song on the album, then two other good tracks, so, the record drops in quality. "Put the Lead on Ya" is a good piece, I think Tone Capone did a good job in production, the guys bring out thug bars with a calm and relaxed style. "I Got 5 on It" is another thing. Just like some of the best hip-hop masterpieces, you understand it's a gem from the second number zero. Slowed down sample from Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad", which returns a fresh, relaxed, melodic, wonderful sound. Intro-hook, deep bass, drum midtempo, scarce, tough and lean, setting the background for Yukmouth & Numskull's relaxed calm velvety delivery, who create an anthem about buying weed by dividing the cost and then getting five on it. The production is flawless, the rap is flawless, Michael Marshall's hook is completely triumphant, and it elevates the track.
The rest of the album is good. It's not underrated, hidden or the West Coast album of the year that no one has seriously considered. And it's not bad, there are no really weak moments. You might expect it to drop vertically at any moment, but I anticipate that it doesn't, even if from track number eleven, the quality still slips down, without too much clamor. The rappers continue to do their own thing and make a product that is enjoyable in its entirety. The production is funky, melodic, relaxed, made up of midtempo and downtempo drums, dry and hard, and honest samples, the distorted synths are accessible and fresh, the synthesized pianos are great, everything seems to work. The lyrics focus on simple themes, materialism, gangsterism, women, thug, crime, alcohol, violence, braggadocio, while the execution is calm, relaxed, flowing. The disc is closed by a remix of the single which boasts a back n forth verse before the two original stanzas.
Released by C-Note Records and Noo Trybe, it's distributed by Virgin / EMI: it stops at box number twenty on the Billboard 200 and oust the King of Pop Michael Jackson from the top of the hip-hop / rnb record chart. Luniz debut is first, ahead of MJ, 2Pac drops sixth with his best album. The triumph is also celebrated by the group itself in the video for the single "Playa Hata". Received in a favorable way by critics, it's recommended for West Coast fans, 7/10.
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