Rap and Hip-Hop Music

Rarely do you hear such a mix of emotional candidness, artistic vision, skill, and ego. He delves into extremely personal territory, his albinism, but it never comes off as whiny or overly sappy, there is a genuine strength to every word. He kicks those braggin' raps with force, and he does it with the sense of a real battle rapper, not falling into the trap of overly complex wordplay as many underground rappers do. It's straightforward and hard hitting. He paints visions of the streets that his window looks out to, a la Nas, with understanding and empathy. He flexes his storytelling skills. He doesn't sound out of place in any of these modes, thanks to his careful writing, and nuanced delivery. And he does this all accompanied by the best and most immediate sound compositions Ant has ever put together. A true underground classic.

Brother Ali might be the most "slept on" M.C. alive. I saw him last night at N.Y.CS waterfront seaport for free. His flow was tight as usual; he had good stage presence as well. He might have been a little hoarse and the sytem wasn't the best. But he vibed well with the people. The venue contained some small children so he couldn't go all out as far as explicit lyrics is concerned, which was a good thing. I think the "undisputed truth" was slightly better than this C.D. However (4) Prince charming, (7) Blah blah, (10) Forrest Whitiker, (13) When the beat comes in, (?)Dorian, and the last two were pretty sharp. My favorite might be the "prelude" so reminiscint of the late J.B. don't know who it is but I listen to it over & over again. The baddest unknown and underated M.C. around. LoOking forward to that new material promised at the concert.

No other musician has ever received so much praise in my music library. I have my favorite artists and then I have Brother Ali. Ever since the first song I played from his album, his lyrics and beats surpassed my expectations. His lyrics are amazing and powerful. Makes me want to go further than I feel I've gotten in life. 'Shadows of The Sun' is definately worth purchasing. Some of my favorites from all his albums are 'Picket Fence', 'Dorian', 'Freedom Aint Free', 'Forest Whitaker', 'The Puzzle', 'Uncle Sam Goddamn'.

This guy is phenominal. I first heard him on "Champion", the track "Rain
Water" to be exact. I was floored. I could'nt get "Rain Water" out of my
head. I was like a crack fiend. I purchased "Shadows on the Sun" and my
respect for Ali only grew. He has crazy flow and some deep lyrics. If you
want to hear about spinners and bling you'll be dissappointed. Brother Ali is like nothing you've ever heard before. Buy the damn cd and give
props to the one and only, BROTHER ALI

Minneapolis is a hip hop hotbed of Talent and iam proud to say iam born and raised, SOUTHSIDE!!!!

We have the best rappers in the nation and its easy to see that with this CLASSIC release from "BIG..BAD" Brother Ali. This is one of the best debut albums ever. Every song on this album is full of feeling and emotion and pure skill.

Ali can spit with ferociousness and he can come soft on a serious tip. Its early to put him up there with Rakim and L but the man is on track to become one of the best rappers of all time. Ive actually met the man a few times now and all i can say is the man is humble as hell. I talked with him about his new album and he told me the "UNDISPUTED TRUTH" is completely done by ANT once again and it would come out soon( I gave him some crap about the long break in between LP's)

I could say a million words about this album but ill only say a few

BUY THIS ALBUM, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN

This could possibly be the best RUN-DMC album ever made. You can hear the hunger and freshness in both emcees voices in every song. I was 14 yrs. old when this record came out and I was hooked immediately. No skips needed for this album. I can still listen to this album today as if it was still 1984.

I'm white. I grew up in a small town out in the sticks. At one time in that town there was one gas station, one restaurant (actually, it was a Dairy Queen), one grocery store, one hardware, and THREE bait shops. We had an absolutely huge school district with some kids living 20 miles away from each other, yet there was only one black student in my graduating class and even that was unusual.

When I was probably a sophomore in high school, I was scanning through the radio stations late at night and ran across a black station broadcasting out of Cleveland. They were playing ten and fifteen minute long stretches of music put together by DJs from any number of rap records, to be played in clubs. This was the first time I'd ever heard rap music (yes, I'd heard "Rapture" by Blondie... doesn't count), and I was blown away by it. I started listening every night, taping the mixes and bringing them to school. I got to know some of the artists by their raps... Dr. Jeckyll and Mister Hyde, Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash. You couldn't buy the stuff anywhere near me, that I knew of.

It really opened up a new world to me... inner city youth culture, breakdancing, "bombing" trains, competing with each other. The Cleveland DJs who made the mixes that I listened to on the radio were also competing with each other, trying to come up with the best stuff and talking trash about each other in the studio. It was unlike anything I had heard before... and arrestingly creative. That's probably what I liked most about it.

The first complete rap album I ever got my hands on was Run D.M.C.'s debut, which I was partially familiar with from the club mixes... although the mixes played records over top of one another, shuffled with all kinds of other songs, sometimes repeating just a snippet of what was a great song. A friend had borrowed the cassette, and in turn let me borrow it. It was about this time that rap was really becoming popular, with artists like Whodini and the Fat Boys, but Run D.M.C. seemed a lot more developed. Their trademark trading off of the vocal parts made already strong songs even better.

My favorites to this day are "Hard Times" and "Wake Up", but virtually every track is great. "Rock Box" isn't one of my personal picks, but it's noteworthy for its use of hard rock guitar. "It's Like That" has fantastic lyrics ("You should've gone to school, you could've learned a trade, but you laid in bed where the bums have laid, now all the time you're crying that you're underpaid... It's like that and that's the way it is").

The thing that strikes me about the music now is that it was clever and funny, and the message was positive. Not because Congress passed a law saying it had to be, not because parents and parental advocates demanded it, but because it was made by sincerely positive people who wanted to make things better. A few years later the genre would get a lot more commercial, complex, and (sadly) profane. The music on this album is minimalist by comparison, but to me it seems far more authentic and purposeful.

"Run-DMC" was the first hip hop album. Other groups just had records of beats after one single. Run-DMC was the best rap group and also is widely considered the first because they revolutionized music with this one album. They were the hardest rappers yet, had a lot to say and their DJ Jam Master Jay provided them with simple drum kit beats and also tracks with a heavy rock influence. "Run-DMC" is the original, classic, essential album for anyone who wishes to understand hip hop.

Every song here is classic, right on point. "Hard Times" had a simple, catchy drum beat, and Joe and Darryl relieved some of their difficulties with hard times, warning everyone else to watch out for 'em. It was the first of its kind and the message was fresh in 1983. "Rock Box" is one of the greatest songs ever. The guitar is awesome, it just makes me want to bob my head, I could listen to it all day. The rhymes, as always, are sharp and this song is just amazing. "Jam Master Jay" allowed the MCs to shout out their loyal DJ (RIP) and let their DJ rip a great beat and scratch. Famous DJs today would have no career if it were not for this song and producer, and there would probably be no shout outs in rap songs without it either. "Sucker MCs" and "Hollis Crew" were two of the first most widespread rap songs and had similar beats, and D and Run rapped about their lives, experiences, and whatever else they really felt like. They are two of the most classic and groundbreaking songs ever. "It's Like That" has my favorite beat and shows once again the heavy and hard side of the Hollis Crew. The Deluxe edition has live recordings and extra features, it's a good buy. This is the most influential music album ever because it completely changed the industry forever.

Twenty years later, "Run-DMC" still sounds fresh and rappers are still using ideas and samples from it. Without this album, I don't believe hip hop would be where it is today. This is the most original and classic album of hip hop you'll find out there.

This is just Hip Hop Music in its pure form and at its best. I definitely recommend it to the average Hip Hop listener

Soundtrack to my suburban childhood.

Rock n' roll'd this 11 year old white girl.

Rock'd her silly.

Ok, seriously, I don't know why you haven't heard of them. I don't know why I hadn't either. But what I will say, is that in a time when music seems to have reached an all-time low, Orgone comes through with an album that instantly sets a new standard. Funky, soulful, and incredibly catchy, the musicians shine, but the singer is what brings the group to its highest peak. It will make you wonder why Amy WInehouse is famous, but she isn't. I was sold after one 30 second preview. After listening to this album the first time, you'll immediately replay it, wondering the entire time why you hadn't heard of Orgone, and who you're going to tell first about this band. And you'll want to take all the credit for the "discovery," but remember, I told you first! ENJOY!!!

They get compared to Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, Amy Winehouse and all that, but these guys got a lot more soul! Loving this record...

Man, these kids just tear it up. I don't know much about Orgone, but I do know that if they are anything like their music, they are raw, funky, behind-the-beat, and downright filthy (slang for 'good' folks).

Great bands like this hide in the shadows, waiting to be discovered, and when they are, they just shine that much brighter.

For those familiar with the Dap Kings, the band Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse use, Orgone will sound familiar, but more raw, more alive, more brassy. If you have this on your iPod, watch out, your head will be bopping back and forth.

Favorite cuts include Sophisticated Honky, Duck & Cover, I Get Lifted, Dialed Up, Said & Done.

Pick this up and be taken back to a time when it was all about the music, and bands recorded all their parts live - as a band - together. This tightness is what's missing today.

Orgone today, hopefully not Orgone tomorrow, or ever! Killing me softly with those beats! Bring the funk!

I'm the first one to review this CD and I'm gonna be the first one to sample it! HaHa Suckas! My beats will rule the world! This record is so dope! I got it first though see!

too short I know you once said you'll never stop rapping but a word of advice stop please quit trying to sound like luda, 36 mafia and ther south hook back up with shorty b, ant banks, and pee wee bring back the classic oakland funk there are plenty of p funk to use if you're out of beats hell george clinton has 1500 songs unreleased and george has always let otgher people borrow his music go to him and ask him for some tracks cause we ain't feelinmg you no more dog.

Too Short is the Ultimate PIMP - If you like this album check out Smoke Sessions, Vol. 1 - from his homie Devin the Dude another 5 Stars

I'm a big $hort fan but this cd can get pretty ugly. It had a nice single ("Blow The Whistle") and from that I assumed it was representing the product. Turns out that's basically the only good song on the album. It's not that I dislike Jazze Pha, he's worked with Too $hort in the past and they've made some great music, one that comes to mind is "Ain't No Bitc4es" back about 7 years ago. Jazze does however sound the same with a lot of the beats throughout this album and with him rapping and singing it only makes matters worse. A couple listenable songs are "Sophisticated" and "Playa". The other main producer, Lil Jon, happened to make every beat he's ever done over again on this album. I swear I've heard all those beats before, maybe I'm just crazy... I saw the tracklist with Daz and Kurupt and once I heard them and Too $hort rhyming very awfully over a recycled Lil Jon instrumental I knew the album was wrapped up. Anyway, Too $hort comes with some sloppy rhymes here and there but does show flashes of effort as well. It's obviously the worst album of his career, mainly because you can tell he wasn't TOO dedicated to this. It was received in a 50/50 way, lots of people who feel like I do and lots who just like to see old faces in the new light with the happening things around them. However you can't blame the guy, why not get in on some of the action, he is a pioneer after all, he's probably having a great time. But who cares how anyone really feels, the album sold about 80,000 in it's debut, not bad numbers for little nationwide promotion and for a time when music sales are so low.... I'd bet he got some nice change from this

Too $hort has had many high and low points in his long career, but none are as terrible as last year's 'Blow the Whistle'. This is just not up to the standard quality we've come to expect from Short Dogg, but he has fallen off a bit since his "retirement". 'Blow the Whistle' is as boring and predictable as it gets. Yawn-inducing production from producers such as will.i.am and Lil Jon can be found here, and of course there's the extremely annoying Jazze Pha. Numerous guests fill this album, and they have little to offer. Snoop Dogg still has it going elsewhere, but he sounds washed up here (on 'Keep Boucin'), and will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas provides bad rhymes and boring production. 'Blow the Whistle' and 'Baller' are pretty much the only decent or good tracks here, the rest is either boring or plain bad. Let's pretend Short Dogg retired with 'Gettin' It'.

Call Her A ***** 10/10
Blow The Whistle 7/10
Burn Rubber Pt.2 4/10
Keep Bouncin 4/10
Pimpin Forever 6/10
Money Maker 7/10
Strip Down 8/10
Nothing Feels Better 8/10
Sophisticated 7/10
Playa 3/10
16 **** 8/10
Baller 7/10
Sadity 6/10
I Want Your Girl 5/10
It's Time To Go 8/10
Shake It Baby 7/10

a near perfect album from start to finish few filler tracks but overall solid. personal favorite mr. lif album, best song=success

I recently dug this album out of my monster vault of music for some fresh spins years later. It still burns with the intellect and wit that I first adored it for. My only mild criticism w/ age is that the album is ENORMOUS in scope. Lif covers the [de] evolution of life, the family and society... taking us all the way to Doomsday with HEAVY social / political input every step of the way. I personally find Lif's honed in commentary on the working man's plight with conformity to be the most brilliant and ultimately enjoyable. Lif's passionate struggle to pursue his art over the working world drone life and then the adversity he encounters with parents, finances, patience, self doubt etc. is fascinating and beautifully described to the 9's.

Macroscopically I Phantom's massive range of targets overwhelms. I feel a masterpiece album here comes close to losing it's footing in the final 15 minutes. It's a shaky finish. The epic ending is a bit melodramatic; the way an imaginative school student will end his/her creative writing assignment with all out nuclear war.

I will savor the microscopic details and wit relative to my world. All criticisms aside, this album is amazing, if not already "classic" in status.

It's always exciting when an artist makes an ambitious concept album, because chances are it'll be an interesting mess, but if you're lucky then it'll be a cohesive masterpiece. I think "I Phantom" is absolutely on the right path, and right up through song 10 I am totally sold on it. Up to that point, each track has stellar production and the lyrics follow the story arc of a man who achieves success, loses everything and then works his way back, but at a price. Song 10 ("The Now") is a totally rocking-yet-chilling track from the point of view of two troubled children struggling to deal with their neglectful parents. But after that superb track, the last four songs are a letdown. The beats are suddenly a lot less interesting, and the lyrics turn to boilerplate apocalypse fantasies, culminating with the last song "Post Mortem" where the narrator looks back and wishes he'd done more with his life, including "murdered CEOs". Whatever. I know it's the thing these days to be all "Big Business is EVIL", but still, after an album that's been mostly serious and thoughtful, yet heartfelt and sometimes funny, that line always jumps out as a misguided attempt at anti-globalist cred.

If the last four songs were as captivating as the rest of the album, this would easily be a 5-star album for me. Instead, I'll try and be satisfied with about seven outstanding tracks that form a cohesive story line and most of a masterpiece concept album.

This may be the best overall rap album of the new millenium. The production (half of the songs by El Producto) is first rate. This is the type of production which could save even the wackest rapper. Fortunately, no saving is necessary since we have the most all around gifted rapper of the 21 century providing the vocals.

In Mr. Lif we have the combination of an outrageously killer flow, highly intelligent, relevant and interesting lyrics, and tremendous versatility. This cat can rap over any beat thrown at him. Plus, you have the unique vocal sound that makes him stand out even more. This guy is as it good as is out there right now.

Everyone knows that I Phantom is a concept album about life in modern day Western society. Not too many people won't relate to this, regardless if you are black or white or any other race or what gender, etc. etc... This stuff is topical and will be until there is some big event that changes things.

Lif has the backbone to discuss things that most other rappers are afraid of. Some just rap like an emo-metal idiot like Sage Francis, or tough guy battle rap like Vinnie Paz, with nothing real to say except whining or yelling about nothing important. These types of rappers lack rap skills and their lyrics make their music sound insipid. Lif raps about the negative effects of government on the Middle Class and Lower Class. How the workplace is the modern day plantation for underpaid blacks and how he is (as a character) the modern day sambo. This stuff is hard-hitting. He raps about fathers unintentionally ignoring their families as they continue to work longer and longer hours in order to provide for them, meanwhile missing out on the pleasures of family life. He raps about the suicide of a teenage girl with too much pressure put on her by her parents and society. He raps about real life. The overall message is one of extreme positivity, as Lif tries to inject knowledge into his listeners and promote self-awareness and keep them from being a part of the political/socio-economic marketing agenda that results in loss of self-esteem, lack of postive family life, debt, illness, violence and ultimately, a stagnant society steeped in negativism and hopelessness.

I Phantom is one of the few true must-have albums for the rap music fan out there. Unless, for some reason, you don't like Lif's style (hey, some people didn't like KRS-one), then you will love this. And if you love that tight, futuristic, dynamic Def Jux production, then you can't go wrong here. This is for those with backbone and brains!

Wow. Wow wow wow. If you haven't heard this, you haven't heard what real music can do. This is the last Mr. Lif CD I listened to, and on most of his older ones there are a few political raps here and there, especially Emergency Rations (also highly recommended) but no full commitment to exploring society and Lif's political views. But even when Lif spent just a verse on capitalism or George Bush, his ability to make you see the world in a whole new light was incredible. It made you wonder, what if Lif devotes a whole album to expressing his views? Well here it is, and it's just as incredible, deep, complex (not confusing), and rewarding as I could have ever imagined.
First let me just get any concerns on the sound of the music out of the way. El-P is a crazy producer, and the beats he creates her match Lif's lyrics perfectly (and sound fantastic on their own.) Check out the beat for "Success" as a perfect example. It's claustrophobic and gives the feeling of being trapped in a dark hole with no way out. Lif's one of the most charismatic MC's I've heard and his technical skills are so good you forget he's rapping and think he's talking to you personally. So forget any worries of the message coming before the music.
So what is the message Lif brings to the table here? Some of his themes are the dehumanization of the individual through capitalism, the effects of capitalism for those on the bottom, and wasting one's life in the pursuit of empty goals. Of course writing it here makes it sound like a college essay, but in the music you'll hear the pain and bitterness and you will understand. The best part is anyone can understand and relate to the music, from rich to the poor, as Lif doesn't just rap about life for the lower class but life for those chasing the almighty dollar and losing sight of the things that matter. Each track on this album is perfect, fits perfectly together and is likely to be Lif's masterpiece (Mo' Mega definietly didn't compare) Buy it and appreciate genius

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's standout member, Bizzy Bone, debut solo album Heaven'z Movie without any collaboration or assistance from his group stands alone to deliver a well rounded attempt. "Roll Call" is Heaven'z Movie introduction to a diverse subject, mentality and overall concept. Getting production assistance from Johnny J, who created the sound for 2 Pac, on one of three "Thugz Cry" with a mainstream gangster groove. Bizzy showcases his abilities and style while mentioning feelings towards Three 6 Mafia as this song is the highlight for the album. As "Marchin' On Washington" sounds like a political attempt, it is actually geared towards a Revolutionary War concluded as an interlude. The brief one verse "Yes Yes Y'all" leaves listeners with an ungratified feeling as this was only another interlude. "Menensky Mobbin'" is another highlight with the subject about street lifestyles in different cities complementing a mainstream swing. A conscious effort with a street wise art of social equality found on "Waitin' For Warfare" featuring H.I.T.L.A.H. Capo Confuscious with marching effects to intensify the subject. Without uttering a word, Bizzy left in all confidence with success of "Mr. Majesty II" in the hands of Mr. Majesty. The piano silohette laced interlude "Brain On Drugs" followed by the R&B instrumentation found on "On The Freeway" as he harmonizes as if it was a love song. Latching to the LP's title and overall goal, "Demons Surround Me" is a spiritual attempt where he is still able to finess the track with tones and inflections that's worth checking out. "...we don't need / nothing but the weed / and a lighter..." said on "On Fire" where this mediocre song didn't stand more than being just a filler, but the lyrical content did this song justice. "Nobody Can Stop Me" is another mainstream commercial attempt as he personalizes the track with truth and struggles of his life on the road to success. After submerging into Bizzy Bone's Heaven'z Movie, he takes us on a journey to where he aim's to be by tackling his past and present tribulations. Begining on a high note, there are multiple miscues that throw the flow of the album off into a near abyss. The highlights and B.B. Gambini's talents as an artist, a writer and co-producer of the entire album added a personal touch for any Bone fan to love.

This is a really really good album. I gave it four stars, even though it probably doesn't deserve it. Yes, I'm a huge Bone fan and specifically Bizzy fan (I endorse the entire Bizzy catalogue), BUT this album isn't perfect by any means. C'mon, there are two skits which do nothing, two songs that clock in at less than two minutes, and a song that has a seemingly eternal outro of silence which eventually closes out with a completely unfunny skit that really damages the album as a whole. Seriously, count how many REAL songs there are on this cd. 8, just in case you didn't feel like counting for your self. 8. $15 for 8 songs, slightly ridiculous. Okay, I could also mention the fact that there's a song on here that doesn't even FEATURE Bizzy at all (Mr. Majesty 2). Well, none-the-less, Bizzy is a tremendous rapper (and so is Majesty, I just wish he had his own album) and the beats are consistently dope and original. Bizzy is EXTREMELY talented, creative, and prolific. However, I would suggest buying one of his other albums before this one (like Thug's Revenge).

Bizzy Bone's debut solo album was released in 1998. If you can flash back that far, you'll recall that Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was at the height of their 90s popularity, and a Bizzy or any Bone solo project would be highly anticipated. Never again in his solo career would Bizzy have as large a budget for an album or a major record contract. So this album should have a lot of things going for it. And honestly, it does. Anyone who's ever listened to Bizzy solo or in the group knows what an incredible and unique artist he is. He has the ability to evoke unmatched emotion and feeling through his mournful laments, wondering prayer, and deeply personal stories. Listening to Bizzy Bone's music can be a very powerful experience, and I can count the number of rappers on one hand who can be as effectively moving as he. He is also capable of breeding severely disappointing music as well, and it can sometimes be frustrating trying to decipher his nonsensical verses. Bizzy has hip hop's most unique voice and flow, I think it's beautiful but others may not. "Heaven'z Movie" is a short album. There are two or three excellent songs and the rest are just pretty good. There are three songs that are only about a minute long, which is kind of disappointing, because they all have good verses and nice beats, so I don't know why they wouldn't just make a real song out of them; these are more like ideas for songs. He is at his best here on songs where he is the most personal and deep, and his worse when he raps about odd or even clichéd subjects. The production is good but not amazing, solid but not usually too imaginative, never taking the spotlight off the rapper for sure. "Heaven'z Movie" is a solid but an uneven album, one that I recommend to huge Bone fans such as myself.

After the intro "Roll Call," the album begins with one of my favorites, "Thugz Cry." Over a soulful yet understated production, Bizzy delivers deep lyrics, and this is an example of him in his finest style. His flows and vocals are on point, and he is not only great lyrically but also musically. "Marchin' on Washington" and "Yes Yes Y'all" are both under a minute long, and while they're both fine for listening purposes, they'd be so much better as actual songs. "Menesky Mobbin'" has a nice beat and Bizzy spits some nice lines on it, although it's fairly irrelevant to the whole "Heaven'z Movie" concept. "Waitin' for Warfare" is a nice cut of the war-obsessed Bizzy, who resurfaced on Bone's next group album BTNHResurrection. Bizzy doesn't appear on the next track, a solo for his protégé Mr. Majesty. It's a pretty nice cut, even though I wouldn't buy a Bizzy album to hear Mr. Majesty. Another one minute song "Brain on Drugs" precedes "On the Freeway." Bizzy's music can be cryptic and interesting, and sometimes one must be a seasoned listener to interpret it fully. This is one of those cases, and I just think this song is okay. "Demons Surround Me" is honest and heartfelt. "On Fire" is just a club track, but a pretty well done one at that. By far my favorite song is "Nobody Can Stop Me," among the finest solo works he has made to date. This shows his most effective side, deep, personal, and heartfelt, speaking of his struggles and life over a perfect beat for the song. The album ends with the disturbing "Social Studies," which speaks of age-old injustice with a crazy musical backing, ripe with wild chants and screams.

"Heaven'z Movie" is at times a compelling and beautiful album, at other times a fairly frustrating one. It's among the better of the Bone Thugs solo albums, but not quite on the level of the best like Krayzie Bone's Thug Mentality 1999 and the like. Bizzy is far from a conventional rapper, and while some may find him tough to get into, I think he's really a special artist. Die hard Bone fans like myself will find this album very interesting and well worth owning, so I certainly recommend it to them.

This is Bizzy's second best cd it has rapid fire style and a softer side to bizzy but you also need to cop speaking in Tounges to that album tight. Bizzy is faster than twista and all those other fake a** wanna be thuggish ruggish clones- three six mafia, do or die <-<- b**ches.

I'm picky when it comes to rap, basically if you're not a member of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony or your name isn't Nas, chances are I'm not gonna be a big fan of you. Bizzy Bone has always been my favorite member of Bone Thugs simply because I like his voice, intensity, and just how fast he can rap. He adds a certain amount of respectability to anything he does, and the fact that he has some great beats doesn't hurt.

There's two things that bother me most about rap and those are:

1.) The ballad style rapping (i.e., slow beat, some singing, etc.). Bizzy is just as guilty of that as anybody else but his rapping always has intensity to it, albeit different degrees of intensity, but intensity nonetheless.

2.) Too many guest appearances. A lot of rappers rely too heavily upon guest rappers, and more times than not, those rappers are quite horrible. That's a big reason as to why I like the Bone Thugs members so much, they hardly ever have an excessive amount of guests. If they do have guest rappers they're, more times than not, other members of Bone Thugs.

Bizzy is a rapper I have no problem liking. He always puts out quality music that tends to highlight his best aspects. Take the second song, Thugz Cry. He's got the trademark singing chorus but throughout the verses he puts most rappers to shame. But then there's also the dreaded ballad style song, On The Freeway. But, dare I say it, I really like this song. It's very soothing and Bizzy does some very good rapping, though the singing does, in a way, steal the song. Then there's also the classic "Roof is on fire" spinoff. Bizzy's version is one of the catchiest and is probably the second-best song featured on here.

My favorite songs are Thugz Cry, Menensky Mobbin', Waitin' For Warfare, On The Freeway, and On Fire. Next to Nas' classic Illmatic, this is my favorite rap CD of all time. I know that statement will be the death of this review but I'm a person who doesn't venture into the rap genre very much, so if you keep that in mind it all makes sense I'm sure. There is one thing that bothers me about this CD, a lot of the songs are very short, like maybe 2 minutes in length. Yet, Bizzy can do more in those two minutes than most rappers can in 4. So go figure.

With the late-2003 release of "The Black Album," Jay-Z announced his exit from the rap game and retirement. While we all know that he wouldn't hold true to this promise, "The Black Album" was a dramatic, stunning return to form for one of hip hop's top MCs. Following his 2001 classic The Blueprint, Jay-Z had put out multiple disappointing releases, most notably his follow-upBlueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse, a sprawling double album, and his first R. Kelly collabo Best of Both Worlds. "The Black Album" showed a Jay-Z that we had seen glimpses of on The Blueprint, a dramatic and epic rapper who prophesized, recounted his career, and celebrated his greatness. His boasts are not unfounded in the least, and the album is truly compelling. The production is part of what makes "The Black Album" so effective, though, because nearly each song is perfectly matched to his raps. The huge list of A-list producers does a great job. "The Black Album" is one of Jay-Z's finest works, and I highly recommend it.

Following the intro, the album begins with the horn fanfare of "December 4th." This song contains clips of an interview with his mother, speaking of his growing up. He raps dramatically about his upbringing, problems in school, at home, and how he struggled through to overcome his humble beginnings. I love this song. The absolutely epic "What More Can I Say" starts with the "Are you not entertained?!" clip from "Gladiator," and Jay-Z profiles his ultimate greatness with each line in each verse. This song is inspired and moving. Over a great trumpet solo, produced by Kanye West, Jay makes his official retirement statement on the classic "Encore." The first single, "Change Clothes," is an incredibly catchy ode to clothes and partying. This song has a very classy and luxurious vibe that shows a matured rapper, and The Neptunes' production is great. Timbaland laced the club banger "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," the repetitive, inescapable hit that inspired a dance move and clever punchlines for years to come. 9th Wonder's production "Threat" is a memorable piece showcasing an angry Hov, and "Moment of Clarity" is an emotional insight into Shawn Carter's mindstate. "99 Problems" is a classic single, perfect. Rick Rubin's banging guitars create a perfect backdrop for Jay's hilarious and entertaining rhymes and excellent hook. The classy "Justify My Thug" and the unique "Lucifer" are good tracks, and the album closes with the nice "Allure" and the phenomenal "My First Song," which closes his album, and supposedly his career, with a thought-provoking finish.

While "The Black Album" didn't turn out to be the wonderful retirement statement it was meant to be, the magnitude of the music and ideas on this album will always remain. This album captured the hearts of a hip hop audience for a long time because of all it offered, and it probably will continue to do so as it is remembered as one of Jay-Z's most effective works.

Jay Z has done 12 tight albums and usally when an artist gets to there last cd they get worse but not with Jay Z. Jay has proved that he can keep making tight records unlike many other artist. Jay Z is a important part of hip hop because he keeps it real. My Favorite sings on the Black Album are December 4th, Encore, 99 problems and Dirt Off your shoulders but every song on The Black Album is hot.
This is a must buy cd for any hip hop fan. Jay Z keep it real! Your the Greatest.

Jay Z has done 12 tight albums and usally when an artist gets to there last cd they get worse but not with Jay Z. Jay has proved that he can keep making tight records unlike many other artist. Jay Z is a important part of hip hop because he keeps it real. My Favorite sings on the Black Album are December 4th, Encore, 99 problems and Dirt Off your shoulders but every song on The Black Album is hot.
This is a must buy cd for any hip hop fan. Jay Z keep it real! Your the Greatest.

Oh Man, this album rocks! The tracks like "99 Problems" are true hits. Some songs that aren't heard of a lot will be hits. The whole concept of the album may not mean much, but it made all the difference, for real.

All the songs are so awesome! The best track, "99 Problems," is a song with incredible lyrics, nice beat, and really hardcore. "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," is an amazing song with the best lyrics, the best rhythm, and it's so good it is played at every party, it will make you brush your shoulders off! "Encore," makes you sing along, roar, and it will make you give it an encore. "Change Clothes," is really stupid, but that doesn't matter too much. Track 10's interlude, is incredible, it's just incredible! Other songs like, "Moment of Clarity," are un-known, but one of the best.

Overall, this album is sick. The proudcers are just as cool as the songs they made with guys like, Timbaland, Eminem, Kanye West, Lenny Kravitz, Pharell & The Neptunes, and more. This album is too good get while you have the chance.

I think Jay-Z album is a great cd and he's cd are all great but I think this is the best one.So every body out there this is my review and I hope you like the cd cas I think it's a great album.

I will do a song by song review, since there ain't no other good way.
1. Introduction-4/5 A good intro, and relly sets the tone for this album.
2. Karma-4.5/5 A good song with a very good chorus. The rhymes aren't anything spectacular, though.
3. Story of Our Lives-5/5 The chorus for this song will jump into your head and never ever come out. Monoxide has a really good verse in this one.
4. Wont Die-4/5 The only real problem with this track is the chorus. It is very simple and will get on your nerves by the time it's over. Monoxide is absolutely amazing on this one.
5. Get It Right-4.5/5 This song has a wicked awesome beat. It is just amazing. Madrox and Monoxide do a great job on this one.
6. So High-5/5 You thought Hydro was a good weed song? Meet the new king of smokin songs. This has a wicked beat, but the chorus is kinda weak. Both provide very good verses for this track.
7. Off the Chain- 4.5/5 The inevitable sex song. It's about how all girls look good when you smokin. It has lots of guitar, and it is a very catchy song
8. Controversy-5/5 A great song about all the bull**** the government has been feeding us and stuff like that. It has an excellent chorus.
9. Get Ready
10. F#%k U-3.5/5 More of an anthem than an actual song, it is very short and their aren't really any verses. It is just the chorus over and over for 56 seconds.
11. Feel This-4/5 At first I didn't like this song because it sounds really mainstream. It is very fast paced, and Twiztid are simply amazing. They put a whole lot of other rappers to shame here.
12. Entity- 4/5 Another good song thats got Shaggy on it. It's an average song with a great chorus.
13. The Argument-6/5 In my opinion, the best song on here. This is an extremely personal and very sad song about Paul and how his life has been kindaa f*cked up. It just makes you want to cry. It is very slow, and Madrox provides an excellent chorus.
14. Bonus Flavor-6/5 Another amazing track, but just a hint behind The Argument. Every psycopathic artist is on this song. It is really great and everyone does at least an okay job. ABK and Esham sound like they didn't give it everything they had on this one, but J,Shaggs,Monoxide, and Madrox definately make up for it. Levelle is also on this one, but he doesn't stand out. Blaze drops an average verse. The beat is excellent, and it is just a great song.

Before this album was released, I felt that Twiztid would never be able to duplicate the masterpiece that is Mostasteless, but Man's Myth is pretty close. I've never been a big fan of Twiztid trying to do rock music, and this album is almost all wicked rap. Most wicked rappers seem to be getting further and further away from their roots, so this album for me is a breath of fresh air. If you never liked all the guitars that Psychopathic is encorporating in their music,like me, then you will like this CD.

i went to the man's myth,vol. 1 concert in october. it was awesome just like the cd. all juggalos and juggalettes should have this cd!!!!!!!!

East Side Juggalette

i was totally amazed by twiztid's new Man's Myth (vol 1) all the tracks are excellent and not to mention the bonus flavor track that is i got five on it remix with the entire hatchet family.

This albums is awesome. It has a great, gloomy, dark feel to most of it. I think that Mutant (Vol. 2) is awesome aswell, but this is better, in my opinion. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to all juggalos worldwide.

MCL.
Jono

Another must have for all juggalos and juggalettes , it has tight beats , tight rhymes , and a killer track listing.

I originally bought this for my girlfriend, the juggalette. Now i personally am not part of this lifestyle of juggalos and no, im not down with the clown...and honestly, i've never really been a fan of any of the music either...But of course, my girlfriend would not stop listening to the album, and thus i was forced. But to my surprise, i fell in love with it. So i bought one for myself.

The lyrics are totally whack, in a manner of violence and graphic-ness. But for some reason, it turned me on to the music. I even started listening to ICP and other stuff like it-

So if this album can turn a total non-juggalo family member into someone who really loves it, then that clearly means something.

Great album, i really recommend it to 'family' members and non.

Explicit lyrics and foul language, so don't get this for your young kids. But, my 21 year old daughter loves this stuff. Go figure!

The First Dark Lotus Album is way better. only about 4 songs are good in this. still get it. ITS DARK LOTUS

When Dark Lotus was first conceived 8 years ago, they were advertised as the wickedest, darkest thing that Psychopathic has ever done. "Tales From the Lotus Pod" was pretty close to delivering that, but this doesn't even come close. The only good songs are "Pass the Axe" and "Jump Off" and the rest is pretty crappy. They should've let ROC produce the whole album, because he knows how to lay down some sick wicked beats.