isbell@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (06/17/91)
What up, G? Oooooooh, controversy in a review! Isn't this better than
Enertainment Tonight?
This time: _Young Black Teenagers_ by Young Black Teenagers
Next time: _Breaking Atoms_ by Main Source
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Distinctiveness: Middlin. It depends on what you're asking about.
Dopeness Rating: I had to listen to it three times, before I could make
a decision, but then I always do. I have to give it a
Dope-. Worth buying.
Rap Part: Some real good stuff here, but they're uneven.
Sounds: The Bomb Squad has done it again. These guys (the same
ones who brought you the sounds of PE and Ice Cube) are
soooooo dope, they save the few weak spots.
Message: In an interview, they said that they had to be silly to be
taken seriously. I think I understand. Anyway, to answer
the question, not usually. They are a message in and of
themselves, I suppose. They offer an interesting
cultural question.
Tracks: 13 tracks, 45 minutes total.
Profanity: Sporadically. Just enough to make you play it low around
your mom.
Young Black Teenagers is Kamron (vocalist/dj), ATA (dj/vocalist), FIRSTBORN
(vocalist/percussion), D.J. Skribble (dj), and Tommy Never (vocalist). Oh,
yeah, and they're White. "What?" I hear you say? Then why the name?
They consider themselves Black, culturally. That's why. Got it? Good.
There are some interesting worms in this can, but that's another chapter
in another book.
Anyway, the album begins with "Punks, Lies and Videotape." The Bomb
Squad signature is all here. The Teenagers do something here that they
repeat throughout the album. They chant some hook in the background
while a member raps. It usually works well. At times, two of them are
rapping different lines at the same time. Not often enough to be an
overused gimmick. It works when they use it.
Anyway, this is track is a dis on the radio stations that won't play
their stuff ("Ain't with the program"). It's pretty nice lyrically,
the chants work (almost like percussion), and of course, the Bomb Squad
is just dope. I haven't learned all the names and voices yet, but some
of the voices don't quite work with the groove. Overall, it's nice.
"Let it rock, let it roll--it's time to pay the toll
to the so-called devil that stole the soul
I'm not a mold or a sculpture, swoopin' down like a vulture
on those who try to doubt me concernin' my culture."
"Korner Groove" has a pretty good backbeat, but here the chorus-chant doesn't
work, although they do a nice overlapping rap in this one. Furthermore, I
don't think the tempo of the lines feel right with the tempo
of the backbeat. Lyrically, there isn't too much here, but they never go
so far as weak (except when they chant-sing).
"As the epitome, it'll be hard to get rid of me"
"Traci" is about what you think: some woman named Traci. Other than
his sexual adventures with her, Kamron tells a few other stories revolving
around her. I think he has the best style of all the YBT's.
"Drivin' around town on a Friday night,
drinkin' Red Bull and feelin' aww-right.
Saw this <zip!> her pants were tight.
Pull up on the side, Traci's smokin' the pipe.
She ran up to the car and asked for a light.
I said 'yo baby, you're not my type.'"
It's an enjoyable tune. All naughty words are replaced by various sounds
and the backgroove is really nice for Kamron's style.
I also like the next track "First Stage of a Rampage Called the Rap Rage."
"I got a question--it's kind of outrageous
about stages of Blackness.
Are you kickin' Black from the heart
or 'cause you want to be a part
of a fad? or a trend?
When I pick up a pen the message I send is to bend
the train of thought that brought
artist in this sport to a state of ego trippin
about Black and White and who's really flippin'."
This is hard enough for my tastes and the lyrics flow well, most of the
time, with Kamron doing nicely, as usual. The overlapping style
goes with the Bomb Squad dopeness perfectly here.
Then there's "Nobody Knows Kelli," probably the song you've heard
if you've heard any stuff from them. It's about Kelli Bundy. I like
the sounds, but this track isn't particularly representative of
their stuff, lyrically. I think it's just for commerical play. It's
also an example of their "have to be silly to be taken seriously"
view of life.
Now contrast _that_ with the *BOOM* of "Daddy Kalled Me Niga Cause I
Likeded to Rhyme." This sounds very good. The lyrics are also
tight and well executed. Almost worth the price of admission alone.
"Daddy called me nigger 'cause'a the clothes that I wear
because I walk with a limp and got some curls in my hair.
And if he comes in my room and my friends are all there
'You're a wannabe, tryin' be Black'
and I swear...."
Then there's "Chillin' Wit Me Posse" a reggae-wannabe track. It's
really, really horrible, I think. Reggae fans may want to skip this
altogether.
"If you didn't know my color, you wouldn't know I was White."
"Mack Daddy Don of the Underworld" saves the day. It's standard-rap
(as it were). Nothing special, but hardly weak. "Loud and Hard To Hit" is a
somewhat better track. While not earth-shaking, it's very
competently done. The beat is, as always, nice and they do a good
job of producing a jam.
"This is not a test, but the real thing."
"My TV Went Black and White On Me" is the next offering. It's probably
the best example of their overlapping style of rhyme. It sounds like
everyone is dropping their rhyme at the same time, but only one of three
has the volume all the way up at any given time. Anyway, whatever it
is, it sounds nice. It's probably the best of the tracks.
"I'm a rebel, I'm Black and I feel the wrath
The road I travel is a dark and crooked path
Cops wanna kill me, the boss wants to fire me"
"Proud To Be Black" follows. It's pretty dope, lyrically. Bomb Squad
brings another live jam to back them up.
"Why does my family feel that they're cursed?
Cause my jeans are sagged and my hats in reverse?"
Then they ruin it with "To My Donna." Ick. Oh, and the Bomb Squad ends
with "My Color TV," an instrumental--fodder for Dj's.
So, what do we have? Thirteen tracks. Two just suck outright,
four are really dope, two of which are very good, and five of
which are above average.
It's hard to make a firm decision here. They're uneven, but often quite good.
And the Bomb Squad does a really dope job. I'll say this,
I look forward to a second album by them. They should be better settled in
another try or so. Right now you might do best to find a copy to listen
to first and decide whether the overall package is worth the price.
I think it is.
Well, that's one Black man's opinion. What's yours?
Peace.
"If something is yours by right,
then fight for it or shut up."