FIEND - COOL IS IN SESSION

FIEND

COOL IS IN SESSION

2011

Even though it's another mixtape (4th this year alone, grrr,

i fuckin hate mixtapes), I am going to review this one.

Being my favourite rapper of all, I always look

forward for whatever new ish mr. whomp whomp is 

coming out with. Untill 2006 that was. It annoys me that all his

focus the last couple years was on putting out mixtapes instead 

of bringing us a follow-up to the awesome 2006 (!) 

album "The Addiction". Now going by

Fiend "International Jones", he's released 4 tapes

already this year alone. All good and all, but I don't

want to hear Fiend spit over known beats and not

actually have a hard copy release so I can purchase it.

None of his mixtapes did anything to me to be honest.

Not The Bail Out, Fiend 4 The Money, Tennis Shoes...

The Sweetest Hangover, Smokin' Champagne,

Life Behind Limo Glass...none of 'em...until now.

Cool Is in Session is much the same as the other 3

tapes this year, but this time is sounds more perfected

and more like an actual album (which pisses me it's not).

Basically, this album is a sweet and smooth ass ride with some 

jazzy lounge beats that compliment Fiend's vocals and raps.

1. The Amazing Race

This is straight up gumbo music and though i like

the track it thankfully doesn't set the mood for the 

rest of the album. Fiend is on fire though. 3.5/5

2. Take A Pull

And now we have lift off ladies and gentlemen.

What an awesome track! I love it when fiend sings

the hook on tracks like this. He is some' else.

Great verses and nice feature aswell. 5/5

3. Masterpiece

Took me a couple listens to get into this.

Still find the very start somewhat akward, but when

Fiend starts spittin the first verse and you start to

appreciate the music behind it all, this is classic,

however short it may be (as is the whole album). 4/5

4. UK Check In (interlude)

He did this on a previous tape. Pointless.

5. Ghost Town

Talk about something unique here. Props

to Fiend for rapping over this beat and making it

a fly track. Love the ending. 4.5/5

6. All Summer Long

Another dope sample and ill beat. The whole groove

is so smooth and Fiend is perfect. 5/5

7. We Get High

Loungy beat with some nice musical vibes.

Fiend again brings it and the hook is

sweet like saccharine. Wish both verses were 

Fiend's though, but it's all good. 5/5

8. Free Your Mind.

The one track that didn't do it for me that much
in the beginning, but it has grown on me big time. 

The ending is killer. And even Fiend just talking
is wasup! I kid you not...4/5

9. Hondura Sand

Not bad this one, but doesn't move me

as much as the other tracks. And what's with just

one verse for a 3 minute track? Though i must
say this instrumental is pretty smooth sick 4/5

10. Great Morning 2 Ya

Very similar to the previous track. 4/5

11. Wish I Could Fly

This is the track that made me do the review!

If the whole album was like this it would be a 

masterpiece!! This is why i love Fiend so much. 5/5

12. Under The Cajun Moon

Quite amazing again, to flow over this type of beat and 

make it all seem so easy. Damn, this is sick. 5/5

Overall, this is short as and i still hate the fact it's

a mixtape but i had to give props where due.

(Granted, it doesn't sound like a tape at all,

which is why i'm reviewing aswell)

By no means is this album of the year type

material, but it does hint at it with the concepts,

musical vibes and that one track "Wish I Could Fly".

And it's Fiend yo! However subjective this review is

(and really, all my reviews are mostly), everyone

should give this one a solid try and discover it.

It still is growing on me and one thing's for sure,

when you listen to this album, life is damn amazing!

Overall Score: 9.5/10

SAN QUINN - GUNS OIL & DRUGS (G.O.D.)

SAN QUINN

GUNS OIL & DRUGS: RECESSION PROOF

2011

Another amazing drop from the Quinn.

This might be one of his best ones to date!
Still bumping it front to back, but so far this
is definitely up there with his early classics.
After 7 (!!) straight 5/5 tracks he does have a
pretty different track with "two brazilians".
So doesn't suit the album, but after 7 doper
than dope songs in a row it's forgiven.
The following track "gunplay" is back to form
with the features stealing the show over that sick
bassline. Not quite a 5 but def 4.5/5. But then
it's all gravy all the way and again a straight
run of now 9 5/5 tracks (!!) starting with
"Diary Of A Dope Fiend". Fuck this track
is sweet and deep as. That hook is just
mesmerizing. Strange Quinn isn't on the track
at all, but Dirty Twig pulls it off all on his own.
Some of my favourite joints right there:
"Somethin Don't Seem Right", "Loved And Lost",
"Bottomless", "Kill That Noise", "Check Bread Nightly".
The album ends with another straight up killer track,
"Recession Proof" after a musical interlude that I'm
not sure why it's there. Overall this album scores big
and San Quinn done did it again after a so so previous
release " Cant take the ghetto..."
With his collabo alb with Tuf Luv (reviewed earlier),
San Quinn got top spot in the bay this year for me
(next to Shady Nate who keeps killin tracks)

Overall Score: 9.4/10

SAN QUINN & TUF LUV - A HUSTLER'S HOPE

SAN QUINN & TUF LUV

A HUSTLER'S HOPE

2011

1. Created A Monster

Hard beat with tight verses from both Quinn & Tuf

that make up for the lackluster hook. All in all it's

a nice track but lasting appeal is questionable. 4/5

2. Taliban Suicide

Not sure about this one. It's not bad but I would'nt

pick this song as a must-listen off the album plus

the kids chant throughout is annoying kinda. 3.5/5

3. Like me

First video of the alb, and it's a typical uplifting beat

with sone tight verses from both. 4/5

4. Rap Superstar

This is where the album truly starts and has found 

it's niche. Laidback beat with a smooth soulful hook.

What more do you want. And Tuf kills it. 4.5/5

5. Passion

More of the same. Tight hook/verse from Quinn 5/5

6. Guess Who

Uptempo club-type banga. Similar to 'Like Me' but

with less of a lasting punch. Not bad. 4/5

7. A Hustla's Hope ft. Big Rich

First great track with a nice feature from Big Rich. 5/5

8. On My G ft. Pep Love

Interesting beat and hook. The verses are tight. 5/5

9. Tryna Get Paid ft. TayDaTay

Favourite track of the album. This one is just killer.

The beat, hook, the verses, the flows...everything 5/5

10. Foolin Around

Awesome sample and great way of making it into a

track. Tuf's verse is just real. Love the beat's vibe. 5/5

11. Drunk In San Fransisco ft. B-Legit

First up big ups for B-Legit on here! Second,

i don't know how this sample works with the beat,

but somehow it does and it's crazy. Awesome! 5/5

12. Blade Runner

Very nice track to end the album. The beat is sick

and Quinn's hook is pretty dope, The verses from

Tuf and Quinn take it to another level. 5/5

Though somewhat short (2-3 more tracks maybe?)

this album does deliver and the combination of

San Quinn and Tuf Luv works extremely well.

Quinn has had a lot of collabo albs, but this one

is definitely up there as one of his better ones.

(nothing like his collabo with Messy Marv though)

The whole feel of the album is pretty mellow apart

from the two uptempo joints, but thats what i love here.

The raps shine through. Straight up street shit. 

Overall Score: 9.4/10

CURREN$Y presents JET LIFE - JET WORLD ORDER

CURREN$Y presents JET LIFE

JET WORLD ORDER

2011

Curren$y has got himself a nice gang going on here

and this album just flows so smoothly with

some really tight tracks where all artists just

compliment each other. Very solid release!
1. Excellent
Curren$y, Trademark Da Skydiver and Young Roddy

deliver some great lines over a truly awesome beat!

It's quite a sound they've got themselves here, and it's 

all over the album. This track sets it all off. 5/5

2. The Business

Another great beat with Trade & Roddy killing it. 4/5

3. Paper Habits

This is one of my fav cuts of the alb. The music and beat

just cut straight through you and hits ya hard. 

Roddy is a beast here. Dude is awesome. 5/5

4. Exhale

Not a fan of this beat at all and not even Spitta can

save this one for me...edit: it has grown. 3/5

5.  Lop-Sided

From Exhale to this is like a 180, this is another fav.

Love the drums and that piano loop is sick. 5/5

6. 1st Place

Nice lil sample over a smooth beat with tight kicks.

Roddy & Mickey take it away. 5/5

7. The Set

Not sure about the first verse, but when the hook

comes back this track is legit..and again Roddy 

kills it. But DZA brings it down, not a good feature. 4.5/5

8. Nothing Less

Gotta love a rhodes-laced beat. This is on some

Tribe Called Quest type shit. I like it. 4.5/5

9. Picture Perfect

Having my favourite rapper Fiend on here i wish

the track itself was a lot stronger. But it's not. Fiend

does lift it for me, and it grows in time. 3.5/5

10. Blow Up

This doesn't really fit on here. It's an ok track and

Roddy kills it again, but it feels out of place. 3/5

11. Money Piles

Kind of annoying synths that sometimes kill the whole

track...the nice verses do however salvage it. 3/5

12. Pilots

A track that grows on you as it goes along. Once 

again Young Roddy is that dude. 4.5/5

13. Outro

Basically redundant having the same beat as the

first track, they could've done a lot more knowing

the amount of mixtapes these dudes drop. 

All in all a very tight release from Curren$y's camp.

Even though Spitta is on only three tracks, 

Young Roddy totally stole the show... Not a total fan

of Trademark, but that's cuz he's outshined by the rest.

It's a short album, but when I bump this album, it's

a damn joy and having 7 amazing tracks spread out over

the album does boost the album. I'm impressed. Period.

Overall Score: 9/10

YELAWOLF - RADIOACTIVE

YELAWOLF

RADIOACTIVE

2011

1. Radioactive Introduction

Channeling Andre 3000 on a futuristic simple

beat like this works pretty well for Yelawolf.

Nice beginning to the album. 4/5

2. Get Away ft. Shawty Fatt & Mystikal

Nice chill beat with nice verses from all, but

for me Mystikal makes me rate this even higher.

Awesome feature. Great track overall. 4.5/5

3. Lets Roll ft. Kid Rock

Much better than the track title and feature

suggest. Yela could've maybe come stronger

on the verses but i'm not complaining. 4.5/5

4. Hard White ft. Lil Jon

At first glance this seems like such an "off" track,

but man this goes hard and Yela spits some 

dope shit and the beat is just bananas. 5/5

5. Growin Up In the Gutter ft. Ritz

Easy to dismiss, but this is a very unique

track that provides an interesting mood. 

Being able to flow on a dumbed-down-ugly beat

like this and lift it to something amazing

is top in my book and cudos to the creativity. 4.5/5

6. Throw It Up ft. Gangsta Boo & Eminem

As far as female emcee's go, there's only a handful

that truly deliver. Gangsta Boo is one of em and one

of my favourites. This track for me is crack thanks to

her feature, the beat, a crazy good Yelawolf and

I guess Eminem? I think he could've done better

but still killed it, regardless of the lyrics. 5/5

7. Good Girl ft. Poo Bear

Despite it being a song for the females, this is

my 2nd favourite track. Very nice laidback beat

and Yela brings it with his verses. Chilll. 5/5

8. Made In The U.S.A ft. Priscilla Renea

First up, thank you Yela for not having that bitch

Rihanna doing the hook. Thank god!

Anyway, as poppy as it is, this is a dope song.

Love the melody in the hook and verses and 

Yela's verses are nothin but fire. Love it.

Now let's hope this doesn't become a single

and it gets overplayed and murdered. 5/5

9. Animal ft. Fefe Dobson

Starts of real nice but than Fefe opens her mouth

and sings a god-aweful hook...yikes...i'm skipping

everytime at this point. Which is a shame cuz the 

verses and beat are actually not bad at all. 2/5

10. The Hardest Love Song In The World

Tight guitar-laced beat with great verses and a

nice lil hook. Nothing that stands out though. 4/5

11. Write Your Name ft. Mona Mona

Now this is more like it and more on Yela's

wavelenghts. Mona Mona is nice too. 4.5/5

12. Everything I Love The Most

Another favourite cut...love the guitar and Yela's

hook is pretty fly and hella catchy. 5/5

13. Radio

Ok, it took some time and though it has grown

on me a little thanks to the verses from Yela, 

the hook still kills this song. So soft man. 3/5

14. Slumerican Shitizen ft. Killer Mike

Another ugly beat that actually works and ends up

being dope, especially with Killer Mike's verse. 4.5/5 

15. The Last Song

I love it when an album ends with a dope track as is

the case here. Perfect ending and just 3:42 minutes

away from the repeat button. 4.5/5

I have a feeling this album is going to become only

stronger in time. For now as a whole it does come

off as pretty soft knowing who Yelwolf is and having

listened to Trunk Muzik on repeat back when...

With that said, I am glad he didn't go completely commercial. 

The album still has that Yelawolf

signature all over it. Just wish it was more dirty south

sounding (eg. Daddy's Lambo), but again...

No complaints cuz Yela pulled it all off. Props

Overall Score: 9/10

CAPPADONNA - THE PILGRIMAGE

CAPPADONNA

THE PILGRIMAGE

2011

1. A-Alike B-Alike C-Alike

Great opening track with an ill beat

and Cappa is back y'all! 5/5

2. Darts Imports

A raw and gritty Cappa over a nice lil beat. 4/5

3. Energy Guard

Love me some wu kung fu samples.

Keeping it all wu here. Repetitive beat

maybe but it's all good. 4/5

4. Hoody Hoodpecker ft. Matlock & Killa Black

Man, this is that shit fo real. It's like a

GZA intro followed by an insanely dope beat

with Matlock making it sound like a Killarmy track.

Cappa is awesome and KB is cool. 5/5

5. Good Wine ft. Chedda Bang

This sample is the best and greatly used, sick beat.

Fucking hell this is nice! Chedda aswell. 5/5

6. Put God First ft. Solomon Childs & Inspectah Deck

Familiar beat but still sweet as and Rebel INS?

Nuff said. Plus Cappa tops it off. 5/5

7. Hold On

Radio Friendly single like the good ol Ghost tracks.

Very nice and some nice lyrics. 5/5

8. Honey Look Good ft. Inspectah Deck

Starts off pretty fly but then it just switches gear

and i'm like.... Too commercial soundin

to be on this album. But once past this... 4/5

9. For You ft. Killa Black

Ill beat with Cappa making it even better. 

Just wish the hook was done by Tekitha. 

Would've been the cherry on top. 5/5

10. Friendemies ft. Chedda Bang

Another nice feature from Chedda Bang and

Cappa does his thing towards the end. 4/5

11. Can't Believe It's Him

This is one hell of a dope song. Love the 

simplicity of the hook and the beat is just

crazy good and it all just works. It just works. 5/5

12. Cuban Link Kings

Such a shame the beat drops  so late and is so short 

cuz this track is bananas! Cappa at his best! 5/5

13. Trial & Tribularions

But then this track?? Fuck this is my favourite cut

off the alb and wish i could rate higher. 

And doesn't KB sound like meth? 5/5

Cappadonna has always been one of my favourite 

and The Pillage was and is a whole bunch of

awesomness and still remains untopped.

Cappa's previous albs always lacked great

production so most fell somewhat short. Until now.

Hands down one of the best Wu solo albs of the

last decade and pretty damn close to The Pillage.

And best cover of the year? Yup. 

Overall Score: 9.8/10

WEBBIE - SAVAGE LIFE 3

WEBBIE

SAVAGE LIFE 3

2011

If anything, it did not expect to be reviewing a Webbie album.

I like dude and his previous albs were solid but nothing

really out there. 'right now' started playing and I

just got hooked on listening to the whole album when

really i was just peepin out some joints 

of the latest albums that just dropped. 

(favouring Slim The Mobster and The Monsta Squad so far)

Seriously though, this album got me bumpin front to back

and Webbie brings that Louisiana heat with some

real tight production that's undeniable.

The first track 'baddest in here' starts off just like that.

The softer tracks like 'momma', 'shawty know' are

just as nice and give the alb a nice change-up.

Really this album really has a nice flow through-out.

Definitely my favourite Savage Life.

Standout tracks are 'right now', 'shawty know',

'baddest in here', 'keep ya head up',

'made nigga' & 'trilla than a bitch'.
On a side note, i thought not having Boosie on the alb
might've hurt this one a little, but nah...

Overall Score: 8.5/10

TECH N9NE - WELCOME TO STRANGELAND

TECH N9NE

COLLABOS - WELCOME TO STRANGELAND

2011

1. Stars

Excellent opener. Sick beat

and Tech flows his ass off. 

The 2nd verse is sick.

Nice concept and hook. 5/5

2. Welcome to Strangeland

You'd expect this as first track

but having heard Stars you know

what's up and this speaks to the

creativity put into this. Dope as! 5/5

3. Unfair

Flows smoothly after the previous track

and yet another sick beat with crazy

melodies and a sinister Tech. 

Man this is good stuff right here. 5/5

4. Kocky

Knockin beat with tight features and

a catchy hook. Typical? Maybe, but it's

still a Tech N9ne joint. 5/5

5. Who Do I Catch

Tech used the first verse for his rap

on the 2011 BET Cypher. On this beat

i get it and it makes it even better. 

One of my favourite tracks of the alb. 5/5

6. My Favourite

You have to be really into it to capture

this track to it's full potential. When you do

it's pretty dope, otherwise it's a so so track.

Brotha Lynch is always nice though. 

Still not a fan of the hook. 3.5/5

7. Retrogression

Back to business, this track is tech sick.

Mayday adds to it and overall it's got a 

really tight flow and feel. 5/5

8. Bang Out

This kills your speakers, Dwam!

Nice club banga. 4.5/5

9. Beautiful Music

I would'nt call this beautiful per se, 

but it is greastness nonetheless. 

Love the kick play and tech goes off

all over it. What i'm talkin bout. 5/5

10. Won't You Come Dirty

Just like My Favourite, this one is out

there with a weird slow beat. It works

though and i'm hooked. Original. 

Nice to see Young Bleed feature. 

And Stevie Stone always pulls it off. 4.5/5

11. Sad Circus

My god, this is my favourite without a doubt.

Even better featuring Brotha Lynch Hung.

From the getgo the music pulls you in. 

Straight dope and creates such a mood 5/5

12. The Noose

Wow, just wow. Mayday is great once again.

This track makes you just sit there and listen.

Tech is just amazing on this slower than slow

beat and compliments in every way. 5/5

13. Slave

With a title like that and Krizz and Kutt featuring

you know it's that crack. Everything top notch. 5/5

14. Overwhelming

Not truly a fan of this one, but still nice overall  3.5/5

15. Gods

Omnipotent. That sums it up. Great closure to the alb.

Doesn't hold that much of a punch, but still... 4.5/5

Like I said before, this is more like a Tech solo album

and a follow-up to K.O.D. The whole album has a great

sound and flow throughout. Not sure this is for everyone,

but for the real fans, this is a must and heaps better than

The Gates Mixed Plate. I Love Tech. Period.

Overall Score: 9/10

GANGSTA BLAC - RETURN OF THE GANGSTA

GANGSTA BLAC

RETURN OF THE GANGSTA

2011

Finally some new Memphis ish and who

better then Gangsta Blac to satisfy my

Memphis Rap needs. But if ya don't know,

Manson Family just released their latest and it's also 
on par with some tight features from the likes of
 Kingpin Skinny Pimp, DJ Squeeky, Tommy Wright III,
 K-Rock, Lord Infamous& many more. Good shit!!
Anyway back to the album. It starts off real
tight with a dope beat from Montana Trax, who
never dissapoints and is one of my favourite
Memphis producers who is always consistent
(besides DJ Paul & Juicy j and of course DJ Squeeky).
After the great "Gangsta Gangsta" it continues with
an amazing Drumma Boi beat giving Blac the
basis to make one raw-ass track. Fuck i love it!
What follows is some hard songs that don't really
stand out, but they nevertheless provide. 
"I Be" got some fierce synth play.
"Wanna Be" goes straight back to the good 'ol
Memphis days. Damn this still goes hard and
Gangsta Blac is a beast. Another favourite.
And it continues to please with "Promise", a
smoother track but the production and feel
is top notch. And you know Blac killed this aswell.
A couple of okay tracks follow, but then 
"Head Nod" comes on and i swear I wanna
knuck and buck and get crunk like a mu'fucka.
Hard as hell and a definite favourite. Whoooo.
It doesn't stop there. "Who Am I" has got
some crazy sampling going on from Montana Trax.
"Stand Fo" got the island samples throughout and 
provides a nice beat for Gangsta who goes all in.
Another 5/5 for me. And speaking of perfect 5/5,
"7 Days"!! I'm hooked on this shit right here.
Gangsta Blac kills it with an ol'skool memphis flow
over one of the best beats of the alb.
If that's not enough for you, "Click Is Thick"
follows and it even tops "7 Days"...Oh lordy lord,
this is my favourite track bar none. 
I wish the album stopped at this point cuz
that would've been a perfect ending.
Of the last 4 tracks only "4 Da Town" pulls me in
though the last track "Shine" is really nice too.


Gangsta Blac has always been a personal favourite
in the Memphis scene and was one of the first that
truly got me hooked on it all. I'm glad he still got it
and can still put out quality music. He is definitely
underrated and though this album will fly
way below the radar, it is up there as one of the
better releases this year with nine 5/5 rated tracks.
Overall Score: 9/10