Setting this off just right. Dope production with quite a unique feel that gets even better with Havoc's superb flow and bravado. 5/5 2. Favorite Rap Stars ft. Styles P & Raekwon Fuckin awesome beat and having Styles P & Raekwon steal the show equally, this is nothing short of top notch hip hop. We're in for a treat! 5/5 3. Life We Choose. I'm a big fan of Lloyd Banks and his affiliation with G-Unit really doesn't do him justice. He is grand on here as usual. Another stand out track (though a lesser hook) 5/5 4. Colder Days ft. Masspike Miles Man, this track is COLD! Prolly my fav! 5/5 5. Get Busy Another sick beat with a perfect Havoc. This shit is getting better and better! 5/5 6. Eyes Open Maybe i've spoken too soon. This starts really annoying with that sound and shitty hook. Luckily the verses are better and Twista is always on point. But i can't get past that one sound. It serves no purpose whatsoever other than to annoy. Maybe in time it will grow? Doubt it. 3.5/5 7. Tell Me To My Face ft. Royce Da 5'9" I hate these type of snares. Should not be used in hip-hop at all. Keep that shit for futuristic faggotory. (we all know who i'm talkin bout...yuk). Despite that the track itself is not bad with an ok Royce, but seriously, with a more Mobb Deep-ish sound this would've been much better. Or at least keep the snare consistent and like the one used towards the end. It makes such a big difference, snare selection. 2.5/5 8. This World ft. Masspike Miles Much better, despite the mellow touch. Havoc could've come harder on here perhaps, but it's all good. 4.5/5 9. Already Tomorrow Again, this type of production should not be on a Havoc alb. Dude, you produced Shook Ones, get yo shit together! Overall it's an ok track though, but call me spoiled. I want that hardcore NY rap shit son! 5/5 Edit: this grew on me big time!! 10. Hear Dat Starts off annoying once again with that chant choir (ugh, how fuckin ugly is that) but if you can get past it, the track is pretty solid, but still...why?? Who produced this and what were you thinking?? 3/5 11. Gettin Mines Back to form somewhat. Still has this overall sound that just doesn't feel right, but this is a nice cut. 4/5 12. Long Road (Outro) Seems more like a Childish Gambino track, so can't hate on it at all. Shouldn't have been an interlude. 3/5 13. Can't Sleep By this time i've had it with the snare choices. It's pussy, it's ass, and it's not Mobb Deep. Dope track, but i've had it. 4.5/5 Ok, so my initial excitement was obviously based on the first five tracks. That was a great start to the album. But the production started to get away from hip hop after that and though the tracks itself are still good, for me, it's not what i want to hear from Havoc. N.O.R.E. came through, Papoose came through... So a little disappointed in the end but Havoc still killed it. So it depends on your preference.
Album been out a couple months, but i just had to review it.
It is that frickin good but didn't really come as a surprise, since i was equally blown away with "Fishscale" and "Quiet Storm".
Once again with this one, it's crack front to back! More on this release later though...
Lemme first bring it back to Fishscale:
Seriously, when i finally got my hands on this album i was through the roof. It's a pretty rare album to get your hands and it's filled with killer tracks and superb production. Just check out this one:
And the album is just laced with smooth ass cuts like this throughout, one after another. This is definitley one of my favourite Bay albs of the last couple years. But shit, that was 2010 and since then there's been similar releases that were equally great and set a trend in motion for me that made me love this bay shit even more. Ampichino & Young Bossi released two albs together:
The first one was dope as fuck with the second one a little lesser.
But still, this is another great collabo just like Ampichino & The Jacka, Berner & The Jacka, Ampichino & Berner, etc. You know what's up! More greatness came with this superb album:
The second instalment of City Of Gz. Man, these cats are just so fuckin sick and they got the best production behind them. I love this shit to death!
Before i get to The Town, have a listen to this track from Young Bossi, V12 and Bird Money: This track is FUCKIN ILL AS FUCK!! This is on Bird Money's solo album that was just released earlier this year and is yet another dope release on Double F Records.
If you don't know you need to check all this shit out and prepare to listen to some real ass rap! It just can't get any better than what these dudes have to offer. The Bay got shit on lock son! Anyway, back to The Town. After Fishscale & Quiet Storm, Bossi comes out with The Town, which again is a pretty hard to find album (if it wasn't for rapbay.com, that site is a blessing). It's fairly obvious that from the get go this is on the same dope shit as previously mentioned releases! 1. Intro 2. Young Grittaz feat. Bird Money & V12 10 seconds in and i'm already on cloud 9. This is so fuckin tight. Again with Bird Money and V12, these dudes are quite the combo. The amazing beat helps of course, but seriously i should stop here because i'll prolly get sick from all the praising myself. But damnit, this is that crack! Tyrome Biggums, smoke it! 5/5 3. Hoodstars feat. Ampichino & Smiggz Classic sample done perfectly. And Ampichino is a beast! He is so underrated! 5/5 4. Pure Dope ft. Yukmouth & Joe Blow No stopping with the ill shit. More top notch features with Blow & Yuk. 5/5 5. To The Top ft. J.Stalin, Ron Fetti & L.Jay What more can i say? Too damn good. Fetti is another regular that kills his features. And i love J. Stalin on here. 5/5 6. Feelin Like A Boss ft. Boi Big & Bird Money Another great sample and smooth drums with the same smoothness as previous cuts. 5/5 7. Pourin Out Champagne Interesting use of a Jigga sample from The Blueprint. But these dudes know what they're doing and i fuckin love it. It's so damn unique. 5/5 8. Mind Of A Killa ft. Jacka & Ampichino A little change up and a harder beat but you know when you get Jacka & Amp on your shit, it don't matter how hard or soft the beat go, them dudes don't play. Sick. 5/5 9. Chances ft. Boi Big & Rich The Factor Typical use of 80's samples and drums that make the Bay Area unique in yet another way. Rich The Factor makes this even better. 5/5 10. Showtime ft. Young Rell & J. Stalin First of two tracks i'm not feelin too much. The beat doesn't lift me and though halfway through it gets better, its the hook that brings it down a little. Still allright and wouldn't skip. 3/5 11. No Other Option ft. Ampichino & Bird Money Back to form, Another superb cut with Amp setting the tone just right. 5/5 12. The Ghetto Now this is that jam! Awesome sample and perfect smoothness. One of my favs. 5/5 13. Third Degree ft. Ike Dola This is that second cut that's not cutting it. Ike Dola sucks and the beat is not helping. 3/5 14. Get That Dough 80's rnb type feel witht the hook and i love it. 4/5 15. Tattoo ft. Gap, King Locust & Smiggz Nice little joint here with a great hook. Woulda been better with other features but still... 4.5/5 16. Ape Shit ft. Ampichino Possible my favourite joint. Amp & Bossi kill it and you gotta love that hook. Dear lord. 5/5 17. Change ft. Draper Not much happening here to be honest and i wanted more for the end of the album, but still pretty smooth. 4/5 18. My Heart Same for this track but prefer it over Change. And it does grow on you more and more. 4.5/5 I think The Town managed to outshine Fishscale. Knowing how much i love that album, that sums it up right there. This album is superb and i'm letting two lesser tracks not getting in the way of anything. Get your hands on this and treasure it! Young Bossi has surely become one of my favourites. His style is flat out amazing with the right bravado and with production like this, what more do you want? Overall Score: 9.8/10
