stefanoneder Album, Album Reviews

Rite Hook – Draw You In (2011)

Artist: Rite Hook

Album: Draw You In

Source: Bandcamp

Tracklisting:

01. Draw You In (Feat. Lisa Bello)
02. Now And Then
03. Walk This Town (Feat. Planet Asia And Copywrite)
04. Bear With Me
05. Chemical
06. Strange
07. She’s Crazy
08. Lock Eyes On The Enemy (Feat. Saigon And JoJo Pellegrino)
09. King Of The Throne
10. Cuttin Down (Feat. Stu Cat)
11. Waste
12. Take My Picture
13. Exposed
14. Lose Control (Feat. Action Bronson)
15. Nothing
16. Come Tommorrow
17. D.E.A.D End (Bonus Track)

Note:

I make no secrets on this blog about the artists I am feeling.  And usually, the pattern repeats, as consistency appeals to me.  This brings us to the latest work by Boston artist, Rite Hook.  I have spoken to his appeal before but to recap previous posts, Rite Hook has great song making ability.    He is able to put intelligent and emotional music together.  He also has become a master at being able to construct dope hooks.  His dark crooning really ties his songs together.

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stefanoneder Album Reviews

9DM & Lawz Spoken – You’ll Never Be Famous (2011)

Artist: 9DM x Lawz Spoken

Album:  You’ll Never Be Famous

Source: Itunes

Tracklisting:

  1. You’ll Never Be Famous (Mr. Hollywood)
  2. Everywhere I Go (ft. PC Platinum)
  3. Dangerous
  4. Red & Blue Lights (ft. Illmaculate)
  5. Lay Em Down
  6. Wire Tap
  7. Poison
  8. What’s New
  9. Walk Of Fame
  10. Any Risk
  11. Miss Me With That (ft. Only One x PC Platinum)
  12. Your Call
  13. If I Can’t Be With You
  14. Down For The Cause
  15. BLVD of Broken Dreams
Note:

I was sifting through Itunes a couple of Tuesdays ago and came across this release which was a pretty random find.  I knew Lawz Spoken had just worked with Only One on a project and I wanted to hear what this one sounded like.  I was really blown away with what was coming out of the speakers.  Lawz Spoken laced incredible beat after incredible beat and 9DM just laid them to rest. The phrase “This album goes hard!” is really overused but this album does indeed, go hard.

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Playdough – Hotdoggin (2011)

Artist: Playdough

Album: Hotdoggin

Source: Not Sure Where I First Heard This One

Tracklisting:

  1. Nunya
  2. Rhymer Reason
  3. No Angel
  4. Elizabeth Shue
  5. The Business
  6. Say Sumn
  7. My Cadillac
  8. Frank & Beans (ft. Gift Of Gab)
  9. 1 Day
  10. Hotdoggin
  11. Single Minded Female
  12. So What (ft. Freddie Bruno)
  13. I Got It Like
  14. Ya Heard With Mr. Dibbs vs. The Black Keys
  15. Follow It
  16. Sunset
Note:

When I caught wind of this album I didn’t really embrace the listening opportunity with open arms. It sat in my hard drive for quite a while but then I heard the lead single from the album, My Cadillac, and my disposition changed. That is a really fun hip hop song. Fun hip hop hasn’t been en vogue for quite sometime and this song is very distinct. From that launching point I started playing the album and from the jump I could tell that this artist was going to be a breath of fresh air for my Itunes.
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stefanoneder Album Reviews

The Aztext x XPL – Who Cares If We’re Dope? Vol. 3

Artist: The Aztext

Album: Who Cares If We’re Dope? Vol 3

Source: Itunes

Tracklisting:

  1. Ol’ Skool
  2. Down The Road
  3. Break It Down (ft. Skilltester Stabbone)
  4. Nothing I Say (ft. Memms)
  5. Down The Road II
Note:

The Aztext are an oft overlooked group in Independent Hip Hop. That may primarily be because of the fact they hail from ‘under-the-radar’ Burlington, VT. But we all now know that hip hop is not restricted to major metropolitan areas. Hip Hop has reached almost every corridor of the world, and certainly the nation. Once you hear the music The Aztext make, where they are from becomes a moot point.
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stefanoneder Album Reviews

K-Beta – Inglorious Beta (2011)

Artist: K-Beta

Album: Inglorious Beta

Source: I’ve Been Knowing!

Tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. Black Business (produced by Overok)
3. Surrender featuring Sketch (produced by Grussle)
4. That Black Man (produced by Soulful!)
5. Suicide featuring Sketch (produced by J-Scrilla)
6. Come Closer featuring Mina (produced by Grussle)
7. Another Day 2 featuring Illa Ghee (produced by J-Scrilla)
8. Soul Cry featuring B. Sheba (produced by Grussle)
9. DTLR (Down the Line Rhymes) featuring Diamond District (produced by Kev Brown)
10.0Burn Through the Journal (produced by J-Scrilla)
11. I’m Bleeding (produced by Team Demolition)
12. With the Family (produced by Kevlar)
13. Infinite Possibilities featuring Mina (produced by Judah)
14. Smoke With Me featuring Laelo Hood (produced by J-Scrilla)
15. Life of Crhyme (produced by J-Scrilla)
16. Outchea (produced by Kokayi)
17. I Do It (Bonus)
18. We On (ft. Tabi Bonney) (Bonus)
19. Live From The…(Bonus)
20. Niggas Be Cryin’ (Bonus)

Note:The clean/edited version of Inglorious Beta dropped last year, minus the bonus cuts that you see on this current version. It was worth reviewing back then but it didn’t feel complete with the censorship. Now on, April 26th 2011, K-Beta unleashes the project as it was originally intended to be listened to, four letter words and all. I put the date in the post so you can write it down. It is the day somebody released a rare, classic album. I feel like once a year you will see an album that embodies the word “classic”. Last year it was The Left for their product, Gas Mask. Now, K-Beta’s Inglorious Beta needs to be mentioned in the same category.

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stefanoneder Album Reviews

Ugly Tony – At Nightfall (2011)

Artist: Ugly Tony

Album: At Nightfall

Source: Ugly Tony Himself

Tracklisting:

01. Rep Thoroughly (Feat. Bambino TTT)
02. Get High (Feat. Jahi)
03. Who I Am (Feat. Wes Restless & Robust)
04. I Need U (Feat. Don K.Sen, Kwote1, IDE & Dj Spicher)
05. Alone (Feat. Fallen Angelz & L.E.G.A.C.Y.)
06. The Tower Of Babel (Feat. King Magnetic, Alucard, Respect Tha God & L.I.F.E. Long)
07. Father N Sun (Feat. The AbSouljah)
08. Polo Opuesto (Feat. Don K.Sen)
09. Ah Some (Feat. Tame One)
10. Dragon Punchlines (Feat. El Nucleo)
11. No One Can Save You (Feat. I Am Many, Pumpkinhead & HalfaBrick)
12. The Good, The Bad & The Angry (Feat. The AbSouljah, Spicco & Angry Man)
13. Untouchables (Feat. Copywrite, Rhyme Asylum & Dj Nix On)
14. At Nightfall (Feat. Tragic Allies, HalfaBrick & Bambino TTT)
15. In Between The Lines (Feat. The AbSouljah)
16. Watch It (Feat. Respect Tha God & Dj Nix On)
17. Real Shit (Feat. HalfaBrick)
18. Apply Pressure (Feat. Angry Man & The AbSouljah)
19. A Million Clocks Tickin’ (Feat. Ciph Barker)
20. Misunderstood (Feat. Tragic Allies)
21. Use Your Mind (Feat. Termanology, Don K.Sen & IDE)
22. Soul Quest (Feat. The AbSouljah)
23. U Didn’t Know (Feat. Kwote1 & Dj Nix On)

Note:

The AbSouljah hit me up one day a few weeks ago and mentioned that his friend, and producer, Ugly Tony, was going to have an album dropping in the next few weeks and invited me to check it out. For those that do not know, Ugly Tony, is a producer that is coming out of France. When learning this, whether intending to or not, when listening to the album, I began to compare him to his European contemporaries. Specifically coming to mind was another French producer, Al’Tarba, and the beatsmith’s from Germany, the Snowgoons and The Hitfarmers. What I first noticed was a bit of divergence from those contemporaries. At Nightfall is a bit more eclectic and less orchestral. He doesn’t rely on one particular type of production technique, but rather uses different sounds to establish  that boom bap appeal.

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stefanoneder Album Reviews

Moke and Tone – Shot Heard Around The World (2011)

Artist: Moke and Tone

Album: Shot Heard Around The World

Source: Itunes

Tracklisting:

01. F*ck Y’all (feat. DJ Theory)
02. Sh*t is a Trip
03. Shining (feat. DJ Theory)
04. Respect (feat. 1ne Man Sound, Black Buddha, Crooked I, Mr. Metaphor & DJ Theory)
05. False Flags (feat. Tools)
06. Emergency Broadcast
07. Destiny
08. Pitch Black
09. The Dark And The Light (feat. Catalyst)
10. This Thing of Ours (feat. Vorheez)
11. My Life (feat. Toussaint The Liberator)
12. Shining (Tone’s Dubstep Remix)

Note:

I am familiar with one half of the duo Moke and Tone. Tone is a member of the Problemaddicts. A group that I got into a couple of years ago. They are very creative and lyrical in their endeavors. Also, Tone had a song on the Ide (Creative Juices) and Skavenger release called Razor. And that joint was in my Top 5o last year. So with all that background, I definitely wanted to hear what this duo had to offer and I was not disappointed in the least.

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stefanoneder Album Reviews

Ill Bill x Vinnie Paz – Heavy Metal Kings (2011)

Artist: Ill Bill x Vinnie Paz

Album: Heavy Metal Kings

Source: Itunes

Tracklisting:

1. Keeper Of The Seven Keys (Produced by C-Lance)
2. Eye Is The King (Produced by Junior Makhno)
3. Impaled Nazarene (Produced by Grand Finale)
4. Children Of God (Produced by ILL Bill)
5. Blood Meridian (Produced by Gem Crates)
6. Oath Of The Goat (Produced by Vherbal)
7. King Diamond (Produced by ILL Bill)
8. The Vice Of Killing featuring Reef the Lost Cauze and Sabac Red (Produced by Sicknature)
9. Devil’s Rebels featuring Crypt the Warchild (Produced by Shuko)
10. Age Of Quarrel (Produced by Jack of all Trades)
11. Metal In Your Mouth featuring Q-Unique and Slaine (Produced by Jack of all Trades)
12. Terror Network (Produced by C-Lance)
13. Leviathan (The Spell Of Kingu) – (Produced by DJ Muggs)
14. The Crown Is Mine (Produced by C-Lance)
15. Splatterfest (Produced by C-Lance)
16. The Final Call (Produced by ILL Bill)

Note:

I have been waiting for something of this audible velocity to hit my ear drums.  Heavy Metal Kings is intelligent, sadistic, and raw.  Most of the songs found there within will hit you like a bullet train.  With that being said, I understand why this release may not be for everybody.  This is not the album that you are going to get good vibes from.  This is not something you are going to chill to.  You are not going to rock this at a party. This is something for your senses to devour.

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stefanoneder Album Reviews

Kaimbr x Kev Brown – The Alexander Green Project (2011)

Artist:  Kaimbr x Kev Brown

Album: The Alexander Green Project

Source: Itunes

Tracklisting:

1. Solid (Feat. Kenn Starr & Sean Born) (Prod. By Kev Brown)
2. Gritz (Prod. By Kev Brown)
3. Audio Background (Prod. By Kev Brown)
4. Firewater (Feat. Cy Young) (Prod. By Kev Brown)
5. Hook (Prod. By Kev Brown)
6. Rapping (Feat. Sean Born) (Prod. By Kev Brown)
7. Songs (Prod. By Kev Brown)
8. My Apology (Prod. By Kev Brown)
9. Three Sixty (Prod. By Kev Brown)
10. Army Fatigue Rap (Feat. DJ Roddy Rod & Hassan Mackey) (Prod. By Kev Brown)
11. The Combination (Feat. Sean Born, Kenn Starr, Dj Marshall Law, Quatermaine, IQ & Hassan Mackey) (Prod. By Kev Brown)
12. We Getting On (Prod. By Kev Brown)
13. More Gritz (Feat. Asher Roth & The Kid Daytona) (Prod. By Kev Brown)

Note:

I am not up on Kaimbr.  I saw him on the Rawkus 50 a few years ago but none of his music ever made it into my Ipod.  Not because I didn’t like him as an artist, but I just have to claim ignorance on this one. Well, for my ears, the wait is finally over.   The Alexander Green Project features the aforementioned Kaimbr flowing over Kev Brown production.  That same production is based upon Al Green’s music.   The project is very harmonious and proves to be a great listen by any standard of the imagination.

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stefanoneder Album Reviews

L*Roneous – Notes Of The Righteous Outlaw (2011)

Artist: L*Roneous

Album:  Notes Of The Righteous Outlaw

Source: Itunes

Tracklisting:

  1. The Notes (ft. DJ Cue) (Prod. By Gennessee)
  2. Outlaw (ft. Haze Of 40 Love) (Prod. By Miko)
  3. My Name (Prod. By Rick D)
  4. The Message (Prod. By Essence)
  5. Full Metal (ft. DJ Bizkid) ( Prod. By Russel Fong)
  6. Saks Piff Avenue (ft. Great Muta) (Prod. By Freshchuck)
  7. The Sound Of Color (ft. DJ Troubleman) (Prod. By Def-1)
  8. Happiness (ft. Gigio) (Prod. By Dren Doh)
  9. Gas (ft. Spank Pops) (Prod. By All_Key)
  10. Righteous (Prod. By Def-1)
  11. No Titulo (Prod. By Equal)
  12. Complexity (Prod. By Static Elastic)
  13. Ducking The Dogs (ft. Flight27) (Prod. By Static Elastic)
  14. Evrybody (ft. Subverse and Equipto) (Prod. By Cozmo)
  15. Beat Sing (Prod. By Scienz)
  16. Fade Away (Prod. By Russel Fong)

Note:

You need this in your life.  You need to listen to this release right now!  Is that direct enough?   This is one of those albums that has massive replay value.  I could listen to it again and again.  There are no weak tracks and there are certainly some bangers.  Lyrically, L*Roneous  has complex and sometimes abstract wordplay, with  a lot of message to back it up.

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