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Ras Kass - "Rasassination"  Patchwerk

 West Coast Hip Hop

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If you heard the first album, you would have come to the realization that lyrically Ras Kass is one of the finest, but beat-wise, the album lacked imagination. This is the second coming, and I wondered if he would have overcome this problem.

The album's intro takes us into the future, where the New World Order, led by George Washington Lucifer, runs the world, and this sort of subject is also the end note for the album, featuring the Rza over an Easy Mo Bee production framework on "The End". The track ends with a TV/radio show discussion where the panel are discussing the Illuminati. This isn't the only subject matter of the album, the usual staples of an album being evident. The opus begins by pulling no punches on the Stu-B-Doo produced tracks, "Rasassination" and "Ghetto Fabulous", both of which feature classical music influences. The latter uses the intro from Dre's "Been There, Done That" video, while this song also features Dre and Mack 10 provides the hook. Another hype joint is "H2O Proof", produced by Big Jaz. Saafir joins the team as Ras Kass drops dimes about reality as well as the lines like "I tell it like Usher/Girl I'll let you wanna leave the clown you with/Start a new relationship/Make the bitch take the dick". He comes correct on "Ice Age" with Kurupt and El Drex over some jerky production that gave a nice feeling for the lines.

Remember "Nature of the Threat" ? The history lesson that had peeps going crazy.... I listened to that over and over, who gave a f*ck about the beat then ? Well, here we have a conversation with God and the Devil on "Interview With A Vampire" over a particularly Gothic (hell, even in that 'Batman' kinda dark way) feel such as Canibus' "2nd Round Knockout" possessed. The bells tolling, and the low choral vocals, as well as the violins while Ras lays down his lyrics is great, but I preferred "Nature of the Threat" this is still close, and a type of track that very few would try to tackle. The lyrics keep you interested throughout, and entice you to think.

"Wild Pitch" features Xzibit, Jah Skillz and Phil Da Agony over an energy-inducing track that is ok. Twista drops his speedy rhymes on "All Or Nothin'", which is also ok, but the beat just about fits it without being amazing. "Grindin'" is about women, Bad Azz supplying the support here, but the made-for-radio "Lapdance" and "It Is What It Is" just seem too familiar to be amazing, especially once you hear the R&B hook. They are ok (if you like the R&B-hip hop sound), but could've been so much better. Ras Kass continues to drop the dope rhymes that we have come to expect from him, but saying "I don't give a f*ck about a beat, I'm a lyricist" is all well and good, but the beats could have delivered him with a classic album. - Roni


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