Beatnuts "The Spot EP"- Relativity

Defintely a let down for me, especially since I'm the biggest Beatnuts fanatic out there. The ep consists of two types of remixes from mainly their first ep and lp. Those with "II" in their names are tracks that basically retain the same format in terms of production but includes new lyrics, while the remixes have new beats. Obviously, the Nuts aren't exactly dropping quotables in their rhymes, so new lyrics don't add much to the already classics. I would personally stick to the originals but there are a few bright moments, including "Let Off A Couple II", which lets A.L. rip new lyrics over a scratched up loop. Major weaknesses are the inclusion of "Get Funky rmx." and "Props Over Here rmx.", which were old material that came out in 94. The new track "Treats" isn't that dope either, it's okay, but that's about it. Grade: B-

Three cuts on a 12" is almost always a good deal, and this one doesn't dissapoint. Sportin crisp drumes/snares courtesy of the live band format, the BEP crew defintely have some nice beats. From the LA underground, this group has paid its dues under different monikers and was actually on another label back in 94 (the label escapes my mind). "Fallin Up" has been getting its fair share of play on BET, but my pic has to be "Que Deces", which sportes a realy funky organ loop. Plus the chanting chorus makes me kinda hype, although lyrics obessesive fiends might find them dissapointing.... Grade: B

Suprsingly quick, Universal has already put this hyped up sucka on promo wax. Overall, one of the more forced Canibus tracks I've heard. It sounds like he tried too hard to come out to anihilate LL, sort of like pushing really hard when you're constipated. Although there are some nice quotables on this one (99% of your fans wear high heels), overall, this track just wasn't that dope. Except for its novelty value, this record doesn't hold much substance. A pretty bland track in terms of beats, but that Mike Tyson hook does bring a smile to my face, especailly since he's in theWWF now.... Grade: C

This has to be better than "Spanish Harlem", actually banging two rocks together is better than that. But this minimalistic beat by Beatminerz (?) is pretty tight, but nothing spectacular. Raekwon drops another one of his undeciperhable verses. All in all, okay, but I doubt you'll remember this several yrs down the road. Grade:C

Honda's lp, already out in Japan, is about to make its way over to N. American soil. This little promo ditty kinda leaves me hanging. Two solid average tracks with an obligatory crossover mainstream track. "We Love To Party", feat. Beatnuts (all 3 members), Blackattack, and Problemz, sports the "Mary Jane" loop for the upteenth time. The musical familarity will move the crowd, but for me, it's just too tired. "Don't Sink" feat. De La and "Hot" feat. NO ID and Dug Info, are standard mixshow material, good enough to get played, but will anybody remember it two yrs down the road. This stuff ain't as dope as Honda's work on his first domestic lp, let's hope there's better stuff on the lp. Grade: C+

Off this new Warren Beatty movie soundtrack, this haunting track has a really dark and hallowing beat. Good stuff from Muggerude, but the verses are standard posse cut material. Especially with Meth, who seems to be like that kid with the afro who shows up in all these hiphop videos, but in this case, in terms of posse cuts. I dug Kam's and KRS' verses the most, since they dealt with some serious topics. Nice, but not revolutionary. Grade: B-

Off the Caught Up sdtrk, you're better off at finding the promo sampler of the sdtrk on wax since it includes the instrumental to this fine piece of work. Nothing else on this sdtrk is worth its weight in wax except for this buttalicious Premier concoction. Short but extremely sweet, this blows the dust off Royalty (which in restrospect, I gave too high a grade). Let's hope this track makes it to the GangStarr lp. Grade:B+

Worst promotion by a record company award goes to Blunt for their abysmal work on this project. Defintely one of the least heard of dope lps (tons of indies have had better promotion) of 97, you can probably blame Blunt using their entire budget on Mic Geronimo, a waste if you ask me. Beats of this project is coutesy of DJ Hi-Tek of Reflection Eternal fame. Karma has a nice errey beat with "aaaaahhhhh's" in the background. Very solid production, one of my favourite beats of this moment. Grade: B+

Arsonists "Blaze/Geembo's Theme/Flashback"- Fondle'Em

Okay 12", I personally prefer "Flashback", which is a striaght up loop with no drum kicks. Really relaxing track reminicing about the days of wayback, plus some nice scratching to boot. The other two tracks, I'm not too indifferent about them, nothing that I would pull out of the crate to listen to. Especially "Geembo's Theme", which is kinda too bugged out for my liking. Grade:B-

I likes, I likes, what more can I say. My hometown hero Sauks teams up with Heltah Skeltah on "Ultimate Rush". The beat just screams kinetic energy as it pound in my ear and shakes my neck like one of them spring-head dolls. HS' cameo is kinda short, but Sauks comes in and drops a nice appearance, including this off beat stutter step style. E-Rule, someone who I've been waiting on for new material since 94, shows up on the other two cuts along with ED OG and Self-Scientic. I can't wait till this joint comes out, the lineup looks really nice. Grade: B+

A white dude from Detroit who's been getting a lot of press as a result of his hot freestyles on teh Wake Up Show, he drops a 12" for us to enjoy. Lots of nice one liners, too bad I can't remember any at the moment since I've only heard this in RA. The beats are sparse but fit M&M perfecetly, although that "Just The Two..." is kinda too bugged in terms of its subject matter. You deranged mofos will kinda like that last track. Grade: B+

Same cat that laced Cage with beats, he's defintely on the same tip as Cage, maybe trying to be too much like Cage. His disgustingly demented lyrics are trying to make your jaws drop, but in essence, it comes off kinda corny. So why am I recommending this? Just ignore the vocals and check the instrumentals. This guy should stick to production because he has skills behind the boards, but on the mic.....:( DJ Riz cut it up on the chorus and there's a pic of a digustingly bloated corpse on the label of the 12". That sure sells the 12"..... Grade: C

I never really felt that Zoot or Fudge were that great of lyricists. The Rich Boogie produced "Collabo" didn't really move me, standard material that can be had anywhere. But the reason I picked this nugget up is because of Spinna's work on the b-side with Tru Persona. Again, the lryics are average, but the vibey, atomospheric beat (his trademark) chalks another one up to his production credit. Grade: C+

I don't know about Spinna, his beats always outmatch the vocals on whatever mc/group he's producing for. Maybe he should start looking for new mc's to work with because these guys did not leave an impression on me at all. Even Big L didn't drop anything particularly long lasting on this piece. However, the crispyness of Spinna's snares on the a-side hits so hard, albeit his echoy tracks are starting become too much of a trademark. The b-side is not too shabby either, with a more produced feel than the a-side. Let's hope this doesn't turn into the horns phenomenon of the 93 Pete Rock era. Albeit, I'm fiedning for some horny horns in hiphop right about now. Grade: C

Never really dug their previous 12", but this is quite nice. I like "Metaphysic" the most as it is the most mellow and relaxing track on this 12". Nice cuts on the chorus again but the other two cuts sound too dark for me. Especially the "Powers...rmx" , which sounds so dungy I could have sworn they used a 4-track that they got from Upstairs Records :) Grade: B-

Nice minimalistic Roots rmx on this one, plus the vocals of Black Thought and Malik B. These kids from Europe are okay, but not spectacular. Their clame to fame is the cameos they've had on their work, including Jeru and now the Roots. The keys of Kamal are nice an mellow, so it 's something that you can relax to. The mixdown of Black Thought's vocals sounded a little bit loud, but that's just me being picky. Overall, well worth the import price so pick it up, or you might never see it again. Grade: B

Adagio! "From NY to Philly ep"- EMO

Had this awhile back, but I forget to mention how crappy it is. Even compared to his earlier singles, which were okay, these tracks sound mad boring. Pass it up.

Nice beat, but Mad Skills sounds boring on this cut, nothing like some of his previous work (Extra Abstract Skills). Buy it on the strength of the instrumental, or maybe if you're a big fan.

"Knight Rider"??? C'mon, what's next? Sanford and Son? Oh forgot, Ready Rock Cee did that one already.

Yes, like we need another track using the "Dazz" break..

Maybe I'm just not "alternative" enough to get into this, but I ain't feeling their flows. "Weight" has an okay beat, it's hella weird but once you get used to it, it's kinda funky in a middle eastern way. But "Mucho Stereo" is just a little bit too left field for my tastes. I found the flows to be kinda irritating. "Please don't beat me up, Co-Flow fans." :)

"Understandbly Smooth" is in the same vein as "Anything Goes", albeit this time, the production is kinda weak. At least "Anything Goes" has a nice soulful Al B. Sure loop. "Music of Bus...." suffers from the same weaknesses as Ras' first lp did, weak production. I'm sure Ras' fans will jump all over this one like syrup on pancakes, but I'm gonna hold off until the lp, which is supposed to have beats by Primo.