stefanoneder Album Reviews

Venomous2000 x Trilian – Sounds Of The Great Ones (2017)

Artist: Venomous2000 & Trilian

Album: Sounds Of The Great Ones

Tracklisting:

  1. Introduction
  2. Know Things (ft. DJ TMB)
  3. Hot Damn (ft. The Artifacts, Tiye Phoenix, and DJ Trickalone
  4. Homecoming
  5. Rock The Bells (ft. Reks, C-Rayz Walz, and DJ TMB)
  6. My Grandma Used To Say
  7. Products Of The Environment (ft. Shabaam Sahdeeq and Cella Dwellas)
  8. Marvelous (Planet-ill)
  9. Make Ya Speakers Pop (ft. 9th Prince, Inspectah Deck, NLZ, and DJ TMB)
  10. Psalms 76
  11. It’s Over (ft. DJ TMB)

Note:

I am not going to start off this review by telling you how much I have been a fan of Venomous2000 over the years. That would be disingenuous. As a matter of fact, you won’t see too much music from him posted on this site since it’s inception. Honesty being the best policy, while I respected the man’s talent, I was never really “wowed” by his previous bodies of work, and I had purchased more than just a couple of projects.

Continue reading “Venomous2000 x Trilian – Sounds Of The Great Ones (2017)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

V-Zilla – Mosaic Musick (2016)

Artist: V-Zilla

Album: Mosaic Music

Tracklisting:

01. Mosaic Musick Intro
02. Stress
03. Bricks In My Back Pack
04. Juke Joint Stroll
05. Ski In The Desert
06. Not The Same
07. Vanilla Sky
08. Talk My Shit
09. The Story
10. Mosaic Musick Outro

Note:

I am always interested in new music from V-Zilla. He has put out a handful of albums and side projects over the years and all have been exceptional. This collaboration with fellow Texan, Zeke Lopez, is no different. Actually, in all honesty, it very well may be some of his best work.

Continue reading “V-Zilla – Mosaic Musick (2016)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Sleep – The H.W. Bush/Clinton Era (2015) (Review)

clinton

Name: Sleep

Album: The H.W. Bush/Clinton Era

Track listing:

1. Intro: Produced by The Gonz
2. Broad Daylight: Produced by Wonder Breed
3. Freak A Black: Produced by Wonder Breed
4. Watch This: Produced by Wonder Breed
5. Front Row Murder: Produced by Wonder Breed
6. One Saturday Morning (Interlude): Produced by Pbizzy
7. B.Y.O.G: Produced by Wonder Breed & The Gonz
8. My Brother: Produced by Wonder Breed & The Gonz
9. Mama Said: Produced by Wonder Breed
10. Government Assistance: Produced by Wonder Breed
11. Cannibilazation: Produced by The Gonz
12. Whateva We Get: Produced by Inkomen

Note:

Sleep from 2 Man Cypher dropped a new album last month, entitled The H.W. Bush/Clinton Era. And from my previous experience anything this man puts his hands on from an artistic standpoint is as good as gold. When I finished listening to this album, and thinking about his previous work, I couldn’t help but place this man in the ‘visionary’ category. There are traditional elements in his music, but there’s also something that’s unorthodox. He pushes the limits with his technique and bars. The rhyme patterns are certainly not elementary. His style is more thoughtful, intricate. and diverse.

Continue reading “Sleep – The H.W. Bush/Clinton Era (2015) (Review)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

William Cooper – God’s Will (2015)

7d68510c-b620-4985-846e-840550564471

 

Artist: William Cooper

Album: God’s Will

Tracklisting:

01. Yesterday (God Frequency)
02. God’s Will (feat. Pace Won)
03. Something Ain’t Right (feat. Nature)
04. Grym Reaper
05. Never Fall
06. Blue Dreaming
07. True-n-Livin’ Nightmares (feat. Reef The Lost Cauze & Sticky Fingaz)
08. Stairway to the Matrix
9. Morpheus Prophecies (feat. Planet Asia)
10. Verbal Checkmate (feat. Killah Priest)
11. Holy Mountain (feat. Sean Price & Stoneface)
12. Secrets of Oz
13. The Cycle (feat. Ill Bill & Trife Diesel)
14. Volcanic Winter (feat. 9th Prince)
15. 7th Odyssey (feat. Timbo King & Killah Priest)
16. Channel Z
17. Zombieland (feat. Diabolic)
18. Marvelous Minds (feat. Big Twins & Big Noyd)
19. Closer to God (feat. Rah Digga)
20. MC Supremacy
21. Second Chance (feat. Stoneface)
22. Tomorrow
23. The Sequel
24. My Brother’s Keeper (feat. Stoneface)
25. Ultimate Spit (feat. Young Zee)
26. Illustrious Vision

 

Note:

I can’t think of an album in recent memory that was this long that maintained this much consistency as does God’s Will from William Cooper.  When listening to this album you will notice a cohesiveness you typically don’t associate with a project of this length.  In my mind that’s just one of the things that makes this album special.    There are so many individual components that contribute to making this album a must listen so let’s take a look at some of those finer points.

Continue reading “William Cooper – God’s Will (2015)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

V-Zilla and Lawrence Arnell – The Monster And Mr. Arnell (2014)

V-ZIlla-400x400

 

Artist: V-Zilla and Lawrence Arnell

Album:  The Monster And Mr. Arnell

Tracklisting:

1. The Intro
2. Hold Steady
3. Rap Shit
4. World so Cold
5. Hometown Heroes
6. Clarity (feat. Helen Sciandra)
7. Fish Grease
8. Phoebe Cates
9. 12 O’clock
10. Step in My Direction (feat. Blacastan)
11. I Just Don’t Know
12. Lowdown
13. The Excellence (feat. DJ Tmb)
14. Stealth Move (feat. Des Devious)
15. Megatron Dons
16. Kill Everything (Bonus)

Note:

It’s more than just a Army Of The Pharaohs thing.  It’s more than just a Houston to Philadelphia thing.  The Monster And Mr. Arnell is a showcase of some of the most promising talent, not only on the AOTP team but currently in the game as a whole.  I have been showcasing V-Zilla for quite a while now as an emcee and Lawrence Arnell on his production credits.  Now the two have combined to deliver a compelling project for hip hop heads of all walks to appreciate.

Continue reading “V-Zilla and Lawrence Arnell – The Monster And Mr. Arnell (2014)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

The 17th – Inside Jokes With Complete Strangers (2014)

a1875410199_10

Artist: The 17th

Album: Inside Jokes With Complete Strangers

Tracklisting:

1. Intro (Prod by the 17th)
2. Look Away (Ft. Rock of Heltah Skeltah)(Prod by the 17th)
3. I Wreak Havoc (Ft. Havoc of Mobb Deep)(Prod by the 17th)
4. Thirsty (Ft. Spoke In Wordz)(Prod by Fantom of the Beat)
5. Don’t Care (Ft. Joell Ortiz & HollaAtcha Gwalla)(Prod by Louie Rock)
6. Used to Love U (Ft. Skyzoo)(Prod by Relavant Beats)
7. God’s Away on Business (Ft. Elise 5000)(Prod by the 17th)
8. Bundle @f St!cks (Prod by the 17th)
9. In My Mind (Prod by Anonymous)
10. Chest Tube (Ft. Seven)(Prod by the 17th)
11. Push (Prod by the 17th & Josh Johnson)
12. Hold My Own (Ft. Cortez, Livin Proof, HollaAtcha Gwalla, Zay G)(Prod by Anonymous)
13. Neglect (Ft. Rich Alomar)(Prod by the 17th)
14. My Drug (Prod by the 17th & Josh Johnson)
15. I Am God (Prod by the 17th)
16. New World Order (Prod by the 17th)

 

Note:

The 17th released his album, Inside Jokes With Complete Strangers, around a couple of months or so ago and I have taken my sweet time reviewing but it certainly deserves notice and recognition. The 17th is lauded on this site for his unorthodox wordplay and topic selection. He has a tendency to take the craft to higher limits with his conversational style and dynamic wordplay.

Continue reading “The 17th – Inside Jokes With Complete Strangers (2014)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

El Gant – Beast Academy (2014)

BeastAcademy_650

 

Artist: El Gant

Album: Beast Academy

Tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. Truth Hurts (feat. Torae)
3. Three Amigos (feat. Chris Webby & Ill Bill)
4. Bases Loaded (feat. Infinity Gauntlet)
5. JOAT Interlude
6. Energy (feat. J. Blanc)
7. Goldie Hawn (feat. El Da Sensei)
8. Five One Eight (feat. GGDT)
9. Mr. Miyagi
10. Three Amigos (Remix)

Note:

I first heard about El Gant when I saw him in the super group, Infinity Gauntlet.  I hears his verse on the track Anti-Angelz and wrote his name down on a piece of paper so as not to forget.  I then caught him in the group KAMALA and those songs were incredible.   He released a mixtape, and now we have arrived at the time he drops his album, Beast Academy.

Continue reading “El Gant – Beast Academy (2014)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Kue The Vandal – The Snuff Tape (2014)

a2003092256_10

Artist: Kue The Vandal

Album: The Snuff Tape

Tracklisting:

1. Eye For An Eye
2. My Brother’s Keeper
3. Filth
4. Runnin’
5. Affiliated (Ft. Cain & Sleep)
6. Pistolet
7. Black Mask
8. G.O.O.N

Note:

Kue The Vandal released his latest EP, The Snuff Tape, a couple of weeks ago and I have given it multiple listens not only for the purposes of this review, but also for my own personal enjoyment.   Kue The Vandal has that grimy delivery and he brings a certain tone of despair and depravity that is on display for all to see on this release.   But there’s also this sense that Kue, when his back is against the wall, is not going to just disappear quietly into the sunset.  He is more likely to come out with his guns blazing.

Continue reading “Kue The Vandal – The Snuff Tape (2014)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Shabaam Sahdeeq – Keepers Of The Lost Art (2014)

a1294998306_10

Artist: Shabaam Sahdeeq

Album: Keepers Of The Lost Art

Tracklisting:

1. Keepers Of The Lost Art
2. Conceited Confidence
3. Playing Games
4. Speak Truth (ft. Reks & Kamala)
5. Walk With The Light
6. That Dope (ft. Wais P & Sha Stimuli)
7. Hardbody & Heavy (ft. Half A Brick & EastKoast)
8. Tranquilo
9. Grown Man Hustle (ft. Eric Rico)
10. The Come Back Kid (ft. Skyzoo & F.T.)
11. Seasons Change
12. City Of Fame (ft. Mic Handz)
13. He Who Dares (ft. Lewis Parker)
14. Fall In Line
15. O.G Certified (ft. Tragedy Khadafi)
16. Done It All (ft. Bekay)
17. Relax [Remix]
18. Energon 2 (ft. Spit Gemz)
19. Honor Me Now [Remix]
20. U Don’t Want None (ft. General DV)
21. Cut From A Different Cloth (ft. Hakim) [Bonus Track]
22. Do You [Bonus Track]
23. Motion Picture [Bonus Track]

 

Note:

This is the first review of an album that we have done for Shabaam Sahdeeq.    That’s odd because we have posted a ton of singles for various other projects, but this is really his first viable album in a long while.  He has stayed busy with a bunch of mixtapes and guest features, all the while creating and crafting his own album,  Keepers Of The Lost Art.   The album has actually been a long time in the making, as I first heard this album titled a couple of years ago.

Continue reading “Shabaam Sahdeeq – Keepers Of The Lost Art (2014)” →

stefanoneder Album Reviews

Sleep – Branded (2014)

Branded

 

Artist: Sleep (2-Man Cypher)

Album: Branded

Tracklisting:

1. Question 1
2. Question 2
3. Question 3
4. Question 4
5. Question 5
6. Question 6
7. Question 7
8. Question 8

Note:

Sleep from 2-Man Cypher has never fallen short on creativity.   He has done songs narrating from the perspectives of different individuals.  He has even done tracks from the outlook of the devil.    And with his latest EP, Branded, he takes creativity to a whole new level.

On this EP, Sleep, takes on the persona of the tragic story of Damon Winton.   The story is real, making this EP biographical in context.    Branded is the tale of a troubled youth that is abandoned by the system and family that was supposed to protect him.  Each song is introduced by a question from a reporter to the social worker in charge.  After the social worker answers the reporter’s question in dubious fashion, Sleep narrates a tale from the perspective of Damon.   It is incredibly powerful, because this is real life.   These are things that happen to children on a daily basis.

Continue reading “Sleep – Branded (2014)” →