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Mobb Deep - Murda Muzik "Industry Rule #4080 Q-Tip may never have spoken truer words. And that's one of the great things about hip-hop. What other music has artists telling you exactly how their record labels are fucking them. Through the music itself, we've learned that Def Jam and Jive Records haven't always been so "artist orientated." The Beasties, Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One, Public Enemy, Del and Hiero, have been a few of the many acts who were never fully compensated for sales, due to shady contract clauses. Loud Records doesn't appear to be guily of this. The only thing some of their artists have complained about is lack of marketing and promotion, and the fact that a couple years back The Wu-Tang Clan was treated like God compared to everyone else. But in all honesty, the people behind the scenes at Loud are idiots. Flat out. Their release dates NEVER stick. And they didn't even know it when their distribution deal was up. Mobb Deep was the group caught in the middle. Their album was due out next. February 23, 1999. Loud knew they'd be some problems, they told Mobb that April would be more realistic. What they didn't anticipate, is not having a distribution deal until July. But that didn't stop them from putting up signs everywhere that said May 18. Then May 25. Then June 15. All with no deal. Then they got a deal and said July 20, knowing they couldn't do it. Finally we got it, on August 17th. Some people may think big deal right? We got it few months late, so what? Because the album was done in April. And by late April, someone, either someone down with Mobb, or a Loud Records employee leaked the album. Bootlegs were everywhere. And as it kept getting delayed, more and more people were getting bootlegs. (I didn't buy mine until July 20, when it didn't come out for the 6th time) Mobb Deep got fucked. In late July, they headed back into the studio to drop 3 tracks from the bootleg, and add 5 new songs, 4 of which featuring special guests. Yes, that's 5 rushed songs, with other people having to fill time. Things were not looking up. So, the album's out. Now, everyone knows I'm not big on thug rap. It takes something extra for me to want to hear rap music about guns and murder. And Mobb Deep has that something. Put in a Mobb Deep CD. Put on your headphones. Close your eyes and sit back. All of a sudden, it's 40 degrees outside on a rainy fall afternoon in Queens. The 41st Side. The neighborhood "duns" are approaching. You shook? Seriously. And it's not done with words. It's done with the dark, eerie production and beats. They paint a picture. Granted, it's the same picture every time, but how many hip-hop beats can take you to a different place? Not many. So, can the Mobb return to the "classic" status they had with "The Infamous" in 1995 When the NYC thug scene was first blowing up, and Mobb Deep was forcing "Shook Ones" to "Give Up the Goods", all while avoiding an "Up North Trip"? Or would this be a lazier album, like the 1996 "Hell on Earth", which sounded like an exact copy of "The Infamous", to the point where it was boring? Let's see: Intro: Ronald Reagon talking about the mob, with a corny beat to follow. Pointless. Fast forward. Streets Raised Me: (featuring Big Noyd and Chinky) I'm turned off right away by the title and guest appearances. Being raised by the streets is a topic I've heard to much. I don't like Big Noyd. And who the fuck is Chinky? But it's surprisingly dope. 3 ill piano loops. Slamming beat. And Chinky is an R&B singer, and she has a beautiful voice. Never thought I'd dig an R&B singer on a Mobb Deep cut, but she adds to the flavor. Big Noyd doesn't hurt the song. And Havok outshines everyone:
"Wanna be a thug, now you got the thug look Stick em up, leave medicaid with a bill to boot God-Body, With a rubber grip black shotty Pump one in his ass make that nigga switch hobbies" All this over 3 well-put together piano loops from Havok. Dope song, speaking on how they can't beleive they're still alive after living in the evil area of Queens. What's Ya Poison (featuring Cormega) Another hot cut. I wish Nas and Cormega would squash beef, they would be ill together. Havok drops another dark bassline with an ill piano loop, all with a bouncy kickdrum. The subject matter is predictable, but it still somehow sounds dope. Cormega fits in well with Mobb Deep. The song is dope. Typical Mobb Deep material, yet nice enough to keep your attention. Spread Love: The first of the 5 new songs. And it's incredible. Starting out with an air horn, the pianos and drums come in banging. Don't think Mobb is on some spread love type shit though. This is just there way of saying your fucked if you go to war with them. I actually laughed during this, the last thing I expected to do while listening to this CD. Spread love not war, cuz my guns will blow you away:) lol Let a Ho be a Ho: We're really treading into territory that we've seen to much of in hip-hop. But regardless, the beat is dope, and they show some good storytelling ability. One guess about what the story is about though. Not bad, far from original. The song ends with a skit similar to Biggie's One More Chance voicemail skit. It's kind of funny. I'm Going Out: (featuring Lil Cease) Another new one. And once again, I'm amazed that this was a last second addition. The beat is sick. Has that southern "bounce" feel that NYC is all over lately. Picture if Swizz Beats made a dope beat: this would be it. Feeling it even though it's your average gun-talk. But then that wack clown from Jr. Mafia, Lil Cease grabs the mic. One of the worst rappers I've ever heard, drops a verse that totally changes my opinion. His flow is incredible. And check his lyrics:
"Yo, We do it well, Clip niggas like nails,
Catch cases skip bail, I'll lie before I tizzell, Die in the cizzell, Pop guns with the shizzells, fuck a bitch til she gets ill Rap style smoother than CL In the K on the DL, line for line you can detail, Choke more niggas than Sprewell" Probably the dopest verse on the CD, and this song is way more hyped than the previous. Allustrious: Another tight beat, a faster drum with organs and bells in the back. Another faster cut. Havok's beats are dope. Not much to say about the lyricsm. They just let you know how they'll fuck your shit up. Mad descriptive, but nothing new. Adreneline: Originally called "Guns, Money, Pussy" on the bootleg, many feared it was pulled when they saw the tracklisting. But it was just renamed, and it's dope as ever. Mobb keeps bringing the faster paced shit, not the slow sleepy stuff from the last album. More organs, and a fast paced kick drum that simply bangs. Subject matter: Guns, money, pussy, cars, drugs, NYC. Catchy, yes. Original, no. But I should point out, they are descriptive and lyrically nice despite the subject matter on every song. Picture somewhere between Nas and Raekwon. Where Ya From: (featuring Eightball) Not bad, just not Mobb Deep. The beat is done by Suave House, and it sounds out of place on the album. Eightball does too. Who's idea is it to keep pairing up these NYC rappers with Southern cats? It never works. Again, this is listenable, not necessarily fast-forward material. But it lacks anything special. Same old subjects. It's not where ya at, It's where ya from. Enlightening. Quiet Storm: I must have heard this like 100 times, but I'm still feeling it. Your average Mobb Deep beat Eerie piano's and a nice kick drum. The bassline makes the difference, it's all over the place. The first single. "The Real Hip-Hop" is chanted throughout like the beginning of Gang Starr's "You Know My Steez" Peep:
Ay-yo, The P rock 40 inch cables, Drinkin white label
My chain hang down to my dick, My peeps bang glass tables" Prodigy drops all 3 verses, mad nice. Where Ya Heart At? Dope violins and guitar loop. Dark production that occasionally changes up. Typical subject matter. Mobb remembers peeps that have passed away. Nothing special, still a nice beat. Noyd Interlude: 13 wasted seconds Can't Fuck Wit' (featuring Raekwon) Another new one, glad they added it. It wouldn't be a Mobb Deep album without a Raekwon appearance. Havok shows more range with his beats,this one sounds different than everyone else, almost like a RZA beat. "You niggas can't fuck with the nigga's I fuck with" Corny hook and theme, but Mobb and Raekwon ride the beat nicely. Thug Muzik: (featuring Infamous Mobb and Chinky) I was hoping this would get left off. It's got a nice piano loop, but it goes nowhere. Chinky is annoying now. The Infamous Mobb is wack. Nothing special, fast-forward material. Murda Muzik: The theme song. It sums up everything:
"Murda Muzik
Niggas on my block relate to it Murda Muzik My peoples in the cellblock use it Homicide Muzik Duns stand up on account/Wheather you involved with it or out" Nice bassline, but at this point, the Mobb Deep sound is only appealing to the hardcore fans. When I first listened, I loved nearly everything. I was thouroghly enjoying the beats and rhymes. But listening now and reviewing it, I can clearly see the too many similarities from one song to the next, it's getting tiresome. The Realest: (featuring Kool G Rap) The thugs bring in the original thug, Mr. Kool G Rap. The beat is slow, but the bassline is so deep you feel it in your chest. G Rap and Mobb feed off each other, and get hyped over a mellow beat. Unfortunately, the subject matter is mad repetitive. But again, the lyricism is on point:
"Yo when the gat spit, Some niggaz get blown off the atlas
It happens, unsolved mystery re-enactments" Again, close your eyes, they take you to Queens through the dark beats and the incredible detail. USA (Aiight Then) What the fuck? A club beat? Mobb Deep?? It works, mainly because it's a much needed change of pace. Contrasts well, and keeps you listening instead of ejecting late. But it's your usual stuff:
"This one goes to my M-O-B-B
And all my out of state niggas reppin' NYC To my duns up in the clink, stuck in the bing, For my dogs on the corner that cook they own weight" VERY catchy. And just because it's a "club" beat, that didn't stop Havok from adding a nice piano loop. It's Mine (featuring Nas) Another new one, nothing special. They rap over the beat of "The Boy is Mine", with a few changes. Nas sings the hook:
"You need to give it up
We don't give a fuck What'chall niggas want Thug Life is Mine" Again, same ol' same ol'. You can tell this was rushed onto the album. Quiet Storm (Remix) (featuring Lil Kim) Hit eject now. I thought the point of a remix was to make a song better. Wrong. The beat is idenical. Their verses are much weaker. Lil Kim adds nothing. Another new one that could have been left off. Overall, if you like Mobb Deep, you'll like this. It's not as dope as "The Infamous", but it's easily better than "Hell on Earth", which I liked also. If you're not a Mobb Deep fan, this will not change your mind. In fact, you'll hate them more after hearing this as they play into everything that people complain about them. Gun Talk and Murder threats. They say the word "dun" 3 times a verse. No originality whatsoever. So, why do I like Mobb Deep? They have 0 originality, but still manage to come up with some clever lyricism throughout. Mad descriptive and clever rhymes. Their flows are dope, they can both ride the beats. Both show some personality everytime they rock the mic too. If The Ruff Ryder's want to continue making thug raps, the least they should do is listen and learn from Mobb Deep. This is how that shit is supposed to sound. And by the way, for once, Havok stands up on the mic and is dope as Prodigy, maybe better. You either like Mobb Deep or you don't. If you like them, this album should get 4 out of 5. If you don't, this album will struggle to get 1 out of 5. | |