House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Rap House, R&B, Soul & Rap > East Coast Rap > 15 GBP to 20 GBP

Advantages: Great lyrics, top beats, real real deep
Disadvantages: Bit depressing, not very sociable music

Well I heard about this guy from a friend whos a big hip hop fan, said i'd love it. He couldn't have been more correct. This album is consistant fire! Every bar has had so much thought put into it, every verse is on point. This guy, Immortal Technique, is from Peru, lived in Harlem all his life and has got a lot of tension bagged up inside, mainly political, but a lot of the lyrics seem to be against the music industry/the people around him. In the ...
...deserves the attention. 1. Revolutionary- just an intro, nothing special 2. Point of Now Return-great start to an album, very heavy song, great beat 3. Peruvian Cocaine-brilliant tune about the cocaine industry and the life of those that harvest the stuff... 4. Harlem Streets-you think the run of two hot hot hot tunes must end, very deep lyrics and a very hot beat. Powerful messages and metaphors 5. Obnoxious-Really quite comical song, shows ... Read review

Advantages: Clips is BACK
Disadvantages: Not like the other released albums

...their refreshingly-unconventional debut, Lord Willin'. Hell Hath No Fury, their aptly titled sophomore effort -- delayed numerous times due to contract ambiguity at Jive Records -- marks the revival of hip-hop from its untimely death. Hell Hath No Fury like a Neptunes beat, so of course, the Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo-produced album is hotter than brimstone. The prominent producers use a unique unison of off-kilter instrumentation for Hell Hath ...
...on "Momma I'm Sorry," to West Indian steel drums on the Slim Thug featured "Wamp Wamp. The Clipse accentuate this stellar production by delivering their gripping narcotics-laced narratives with regal rhyme schemes, and hooks that are more addictive than the substance they slang throughout their raps. On the cow bell-carried "Hello New World," Pusha T quips, "Bagging up grams at the Hyatt though / The news called it crack, I called it diet coke," ... Read review

Advantages: --
Disadvantages: --

...all about bitchiness and a girl who doesn't like Ms Jade, one who spreads rumours, determined to make her life a misery. Ms. Jade's raps are a lot more laid back and less angry on this track; still full of attitude and her tone gives the impression that she doesn't really care, that she is better than all this. "Ching Ching - Part 2" this time minus Nelly Furtado, the mood is a lot more darker and argumentitive. The beats are heavy and a big bassline ...
...and so is Ms Jade; they argue with each other on this track and it makes for great listening. This time there are little hints of sampled Indian style singing and tribal style drumbeats, that funks it up a bit. This is another great track and Timbaland's chorus is rather catching as is Ms Jade's. "Step Up" is an average track, Timbaland resorts back to using his heavy hitting beats but this time the sampled vocals are just down right irritating; ... Read review

Advantages: A couple of good dance tunes
Disadvantages: Repetitive lines

"51/50 Ratchet" is the debut album from the Louisiana rapper Hurricane Chris. When this dropped, 2007, the musician was only eighteen years old, and to fit in with what is expected of young rappers, espcially ones from the Dirty South, he has come out with some 'ringtone rap' with his hit single "A Bay Bay and "The Hand Clap" which followed on from it. 1. "Getting Money" (feat. Nicole Wray) This track get the album off to a shaky start as it isn't ...
...have to say tha I expect it though because he basially summarises his life stroy to the lsitenr in order to make up a little introduction for you before getitng itno his music. This little contextual information can be overlooked though as it doesn't bring out anything out of the ordinary. **Two Stars** 2. "A Bay Bay" This is the big single from the album and as his debut, it manged to catapult him into fame at the start of 2007. From there the ... Read review

Advantages: street music!
Disadvantages: too much street music!

Having been a big fan of fifty cent when he first burst on to the scene, and also a big fan of G Unit, i have to be honest, my interest has waned of late thanks to a couple of mediocre releases and an attempted cross-over into more radio friendly music. With the release of G Unit's anticipated sophomore album, it gives us a chance to see whether they really have crossed over, or if they remain true to the streets which raised them. Starting with ...
...definitely get you to pick it up if you saw it in the store. The album opens with Straight Outta Southside - a supposed ode to Sean Bell who was shit by police, but it doesn't actually make any reference to him, apart from once! It seems to be a cover of straight outta compton by NWA, but is nowhere near as good, a definite miss to open the album! We then lurch into piano man and close to me, two decent songs but forgettable nonetheless. Finally ... Read review