Bling (A Dazzling Collection Of RNB, Hip Hop & Garage Gems) - Various Artists

Advantages: Fantastic Lyrics, Great Tunes.
Disadvantages: Not your average homogenous hip hop.

...I'm taken by surprise. Having done a great deal of music in my time, I was rapidly coming to the conclusion that there are no artists in the leftfield/oddball hip hop rap sector worthy of note. Then a friend of mine introduced me to this album. I bought it the next day, and it's become the staple of my daily listening ever since. Talkin' Honky Blues is an 18 track collection of snapshots and observations from the life of that rarest of gems, an open minded and clever rapper paying real attention to the craft of the written word. Swinging between stripped and hefty hip hop beats, and subtle live instrument soundscapes, Buck 65 has created what I am glad to say is the best album from the Western continent I've heard in ten years. In a nutshell, Buck 65 is a younger Tom Waits meeting UK hip hops finest Task Force at their most introspective... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: "people army for life"
Disadvantages: there are none

...Essential listening for anyone who has a free, open and honest mind. this is hip hop/rap at its best. forget all the bling bling and fake r'n'b / rap scenario bulls**t this is real life from the streets of america and the struggle of black youths in these communities. however, its about more than just racism in america and forces the listener to think about inequality, injustice and ruling elites/governments, focussing on giving power back to the people and thinkiing about your own destiny and how to achieve sucess/happiness in a world where the odds are stacked against you! these are modern day revolutionaries and deserve far more publicity for the cause and the savage beats that accompany the message than they currently receive. This is a classic album that will never lose its appeal. The beats are awesome and some real heavy tunes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Comprehensive, diverse, good songs
Disadvantages: Why was Nelly's "Hot in Herre" on this!?

...As a bboy, I pride myself on being a dignitary as well as a student of Hip Hop culture. This 3 CD set is comprised of some of the most influential artists and songs in the history of hip hop. Not all of the songs were Top 40 songs during their time (thus not many people in mainstream culture have heard them), but they were still VERY influential in the underground hip hop movement. Everything from Big Daddy Kane, A Tribe Called Quest, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and the Furious 5, Afrika Bambaataa, NaS, N.W.A., The 45 King, O.D.B., etc. are on here. This is an EXCELLENT collection of the songs that were an integral part of spreading the influence of hip hop, changing it's style, and bringing it to its present status. Hip Hop now has become too over-produced and has lost sight of its roots. No longer "dropping knowledge" to educate... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful