isbell@athena.mit.edu (Charles L Isbell) (06/20/91)
[Whew! Well rmr is all caught up with the Catch Up Reviews, now only
7 more New Jacks (all from this past month and this week) to go.]
What up, G?
Well, here comes my review-fest-from-hell. I'm goin' be a reviewin'
motherf*cker for the next three days. Sit back and relax:
This time: _One For All_ by Brand Nubian
Next time: _De La Soul is Dead_ by De La Soul
_Breaking Atoms_ by Main Source
_OG Original Gangster_ by Ice-T
_The Valley of the Jeep Beets_ by Terminator X
Catch Ups: _Seminar_ by Sir MixALot
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Distinctiveness: Muchness.
Dopeness Rating: I am happy to report that a popular group can also be dope.
Rap Part: Dope+. The lyrics are nicely dope.
Sounds: Dope+. Think of them as a bouncy De La Soul.
Message: They are vaguely 5%-erish but it's fairly subtle. Mostly
fun.
Tracks: 17 tracks at 73 and a half minutes.
Profanity: Not much. Maybe not any. Mom can listen to it.
There are four people on the cover of the CD. I assume that they are:
Grand Puba Maxwell, Lord Jammer, Derrick X and the DJ, Allamode. If I had to
try to pigeon-hole this group, I'd describe them as rappers in the mold
of De La Soul, Jungle Brothers and those like that. Think of them as
bouncy, not quite as off the wall, versions of Nation of Islam De La Soul.
In other words, they are nicely creative, don't go in for hardcore
beats and rhythms, and are sometimes serious. In any case, they're very,
very good. The public seems to agree, as the album is doing pretty
well (at least according to Jet--take that as you will).
I was somewhat surprised to find myself liking the CD. While I
am truly a De La fan, I haven't found myself enjoying other
groups along similar lines, like JB or Quest. But this is good stuff.
Perhaps I'll give the JB's another chance.
Let's get to the tracks--I have five more of these things to do.
We open with a sort-of title track: "All for One." Grand Puba
Maxwell begins the track. His fast-speak-all-words-roll goes very
well with the bouncy backsounds. No heavy scratching here, just
nice repeated beep, some drums, and lots of other stuff. How could
anyone not like this? The chorus is interesting. I can't place the
singer, but I can place the static from the record.
"I'm outta here--don't front on my brothers
I take care of them before I take of others"
In the final analysis, I suppose all they're doing is bragging on themselves.
But like De La's "The Magic Number" this is subtle.
The next track, "Feels So Good" is a bonus track, so you LP'ers are outta
luck. I'm surprised that this is "just" a bonus track. It's hardly
throwaway material, easily holding its own with the other jams on the CD.
It's just as... bouncy... as the other stuff. Each of the lyricist
spins a fun verse and they all sound good with this type of music.
"I knew this girl and her name was Tina
she rested in medina--never saw eyes greener
than hers. But there was just one little flaw
the green eyes I hadda penalize
'cause they were bought in the store.
Synthetic cosmetic, it was pathetic
they were real, then yo, she'd get the credit
But they wasn't so she doesn't
I like the natural look, so I kicked it to her cousin."
Clearly, any group that can get away with "la-la"ing in the song has to
have talent.
Onward to track three. "Concerto in X Minor" is another bouncy, but serious
effort featuring Derrick X.
"We have a rilly good shew, a rilly big shew....
We have the brother, Derrick X.
His theme tonight will be on racism in New York...."
It's one of my favorite tracks on the CD, being one the best examples of the
bouncy sounds and quick words that typify Brand Nubian. This track also
uses sampled speech very effectively
"I was mad at this news and so was my Brothers
and I wanted to get violent, but I'm a lover of Black mothers
and Black mothers need sons.
Not children that have been killed by guns."
Luckily, the Brand Nubians continue with more dopeness. "Ragtime" is
another sure winner. The tempo is a bit faster on this one and they
manage to keep up. This track is a good example of how well they mix
serious fun and a few words of wisdom (as they see it).
"Last longer than a duracell or an energizer
I got a little older and a whole lot wiser."
Next, we move "To the Right." This is a bit funkier than the tracks
so far, being a bit thumpier (but that's only in a relative sense)
and a bit more liberal with the samples. Eventually, I'm going to
have to find a track I don't like.
"Don't eat spam or no types of ham
Polite to all women, so I say 'yes maam'
Sniffin' a gram ain't flam
it's kinda weak.
Jamaal'll keep you open thru the jams I speak
Not down with a frat, no I ain't no greek
A message from a Black man is what you seek."
"Dance to My Ministry" sports a more pervasive musical sound. There
are a few scratches here, but I'd still label it as bouncy. This
is also somewhat true of "Drop The Bomb." Both tracks are good
efforts, just a slight departure from most of the tracks on the CD,
at least musically. Not in any major way, you understand. Lyrically,
they are a bit more obviously 5%erish here.
"This time Black man, we're taking no shorts."
I might mention here that these guys are a reviewer's nightmare, much
like De La Soul. I try to write down good lyrics and there are plenty
of good lines here, but these guys go so fast and they don't have a
lyrics sheet. Aggggggh. When I can recite this album, I'll buy myself a
cookie.
Anyway, "Wake Up" continues the dopeness.
"'Can the Devil[tm] fool a Muslim?'
'Not nowadays, bro.'
'Do you mean to say the Devil[tm] fooled us 400 years ago?'"
"We gotta move on Black man, move on."
I really like "Step to The Rear." The sounds are very catchy and the
vocals are vocalizziablishous, if you know what I'm sayin'. I especially
like the chorus.
"Never in a scandal, and I'm never caught schemin'.
Knew Poo was dope ever since I was semen
Swimin' in my daddy's big nuts
but now I scoopin' girls with the big ole butts."
"Slow Down" is the message of the next track. The sounds are, as if you
don't already know, very bouncy, but they are nicely relaxed and R&Bish
on this one. They cover everyone from crack-heads to sex-givers/money-takers.
Hmmmmmm. This may be a bit one-sided, but it's well done.
"You used to walk with a swagger
now you just stagger."
"Try To Do Me" sounds like one of those R&B/rap mixed things except
that the rappers take precedent. I often hate these things, but this
is very well done.
"I think the best thing for you and me
is to play John Lennon and just let it be."
"Who Can Get Busy Like This Man..." starts off like it's going to be a
really bad reggae-rap thing. Thankfully, it isn't. Instead, it's
just another dope offering. This one is another Puba effort, laden
with his obession with skins.
"I'm that type of brother and I like to have fun
She said '69?' I said '68 and I'll owe you one.'"
"Grand Puba, Positive and L.G." doesn't appear to be saying anything,
but it is a very good jam. Clean fun and danceable, too.
"Now of myself, I say I'm a big fan
Got more rhymes and words than Letter Man
Positive K, you can say he's low-key
You might know my name but, now look, you don't me.
I could be nice or flip like the Son of Sam
Nobody knows exactly how I am."
"Brand Nubian" is another bonus track. Too bad, 'cause this
is truly kickin jaministics. It's P-funk all the way.
"Stand tall or don't stand at all."
We return to "Wake Up." This time it's a "Reprise in the Sunshine"
mix instead of the previous "Stimulated Dummies Mix." I think this is
their first release. Interestingly, this is probably the worst track
on the CD. Of course that doesn't say anything, since we have almost come
to the end of the CD and I haven't found anything I don't like. I will
say this, tho', the other mix is better done.
The last track is "Dedication." It's well done, tho', and it really is
more than just a dedication. It has some good rhymes and is worth
listening to. They do start and end it with a few minutes of name
recitin'.
Okay. What's left? I recommend the album. It's very good. This is
not hardcore stuff, so if that's all you like you won't want this.
But if you like bouncy music and some original stylin', check this out.
But that's just one Black man's opinion--what's yours?
Peace.
"California bugs the hell out of me. An entire state, the largest
state in the Union, consisting of people who are oblivious to the
fact that they live in hell."
-Kyle Baker, Why I Hate Saturn
--
Don't just adopt opinions, | \ / | Charles Lee Isbell
develop them. | \/ | Homeboy from hell, living axiom and
------------------------------| /\ | anonymous absolute ruler of the cosmos
MIT has no opinions to adopt. | / \ | isbell@athena.mit.edu, isbell@ai.mit.edu