House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Contemporary R&B House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Mixed

Advantages: Uplifting; thoughful; style-spanning and funky; lyrics printed in full
Disadvantages: The price of the album varies so shop around!

...it comes. I stumbled across Sign O' The Times at a bootsale marked up for £8 and it was still shrinkwrapped. This was an absolute bargain as I've seen it priced up for as much as £19.99 in stores, though recently the price has fallen, like a lot of the Bealtes albums. Shop around, but I believe every penny you spend will be worth it for this. I am going to review what I regard as the key tracks. Disc 1 Sign O' The Times - a social commentary about ...
...are still relevant today. Mid-tempo with a simple and yet so catchy bassline with very minimalistic arrangements. The lyrics are deep and to be honest I believe that for the lyrics alone this is one of the most under-rated hits of all time. Full with a dark message, melancholy but nevertheless still a great title track and album opener and arguably one of the best songs Prince has written. The video was just as minimalistic as the arrangement, but ... Read review

Advantages: prince at his best
Disadvantages: only 9 songs!

Purple Rain is an amazing cd. Its so uniqe and original, i have never heard anything like it! Its a mixture of 80s pop and rock, with princes unique sound. Every song on 'Purple Rain' has something different about it, like the emotional title track, amazing guitar solo on 'Computer blue', 'I Would Die 4 u' is a great sing along kind of song and then theres the daring 'Darling Nikki'. I have had 'Purple Rain' for quite a while and every time i listen ...
...never gets boring. The fact that there is only 9 songs on this album could actually be a good point, as every one of the songs are excellent and have a different quality and emotion to them. I think anyone could enjoy 'Purple Rain', i cant think of any bad points about it it is definitly Prince at his best. ... 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

Advantages: More varied than previous albums
Disadvantages: Concept seems to fade

"The Recession" is the third album from the hardcore Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy. The CTE leader Young Jeezy returns with yet another Gangsta Rap album, and follows on from hits such as "Go Getta", "My Hood" and "Soul Survivor" from previous records. To be honest, I have never liked Jeezy, however after hearing a couple of the tracks from this new release, I expected to hear him come with something less in-your-face than in previous ocassions. It ...
...of September 2008. 1. "The Recession" (Intro) 2. "Welcome Back" I don't really see why we need a track which has us welcome Jeezy back because his last album only came out in 2006, so it's not as if he's been away for that long. However, with this excuse to make a track, he is given a hard beat by DJ Squkey Clean, and has him perform some big raps to give you an idea as to why he is such a popular name on the hardcore rap scene. **Four Stars** ... Read review