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Don't Push Me

Advantages: Classic Hip Hop
Disadvantages: Ballards are weak

"The Message" is the debut EP from one of the legendary Hip Hop group (the first of this genre to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame), Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. The EP came as a result of the popularity of their single "The Message", which went out a very different message from what Hip Hop was about at the time, 1982. The group consists of Grandmaster Flash, the DJ, and the MCs: Melle Mel, Kid Creole, Cowboy (now deceased), ...
...the recording. These were some of the pionners in the genre and created staple phrases which were heard during most Hip Hop tracks of the time, and Cowboy of the group is known for inventing the term 'Hip Hop' after immitating the marching of soldiers in a scat style, and prior o this the genre of music was simply called 'Disco Rap'. Had it stayed like this, it wouldn't have allowed for tracks like "The Message", which go on a new angle to what the ...

XICripZ 31.07.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Message, The - Grandmaster Flash/Furious Five (The)

Emergency!!!

Advantages: Pure Hip Hop
Disadvantages: Some attempts at different styles which fail

...**Five Stars** 6. Code Red This is a head-bopper, the best type of Hip hop in my opinion, where you can just sit back and relax, yuo aren't forced into getting into any lyricicism as the Fresh Prince comes with his unique light-hearted comic lines which he is most known for. This one isn't just about Will though as DJ Jazzy Jeff has a little solo in the middle when he shows us his skills, apart from regular production, and how he uses the old ...
...**Three Stars** 7. Shadow Dreams This track track contains a sample of "A Date In The Rain" and this alonmg with the way, unlike usual the Fresh Prince comes with some rather hard lyrics with little emotion, which an ominous undertone. I didn't really like this, because it doesn't do much of what I like the duo for, in fact it's the opposite of this, as if they have heard some Harrdcore Hip Hop and attempted to recreate this, but without such ...

XICripZ 24.05.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Code Red - DJ Jazzy Jeff/The Fresh Prince

Take It To The Bridge: Flash In '09

Advantages: A couple of nice tunes
Disadvantages: Lots of average recordings

2009 marked the return of the Hip Hop legend, Grandmaster Flash, who found fame as the producer and DJ to the Furious Five MCs. It Is his eleventh official album, and the first charting release since 19888’s “On The Strength”. Flash produces to the best that today’s Hip Hop has to offer, as well as a couple of names from back in the day. 1. “Welcome” 2. “Shine All Day” (feat. Q-Tip, Jumz and Kel Spencer) To get things going you find yourself being ...
...and I think that most of this is down to the fact that you have great teamwork between Q-Tip and Flash, as the producer gives him the type of beats which you typically expect him to MC on top of, so the results of it are nice, and lead you into the album, well (giving you high hopes for the rest of it). **Four Stars** 3. “We Speak Hip Hop” (feat. Afasi, Kase O, Abass, and KRS-One) To show exactly how far the genre has come (30 years since its first ...

XICripZ 17.03.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Bridge, The - Grandmaster Flash

Kurtis Certainly Does Not Blow

Advantages: Classic material
Disadvantages: Inconsistent

The self-entitled 1980 release from Kurtis Blow came as the first full-length Hip Hop release and it comes from one of few to come from a pioneering MC. Kurtis Blow was an original as he performed with the founder of Hip Hop, DJ Kool Herc during the '70s (prior to when it was even labelled as an individual musical genre), and he performed freestyles along with Herc's Funk mixes. He also formed a group with the current Hip Hop mogul, Russell Simmons ...
...what it takes, cuz I'm Kurtis Blow and I want you to know that these are The Breaks". It is a classic for the genre and one which has been sampled so many times since. "The Breaks" which are given refer to many things, but for the purpose of many, these Breaks would signal when the breakbeat instruments would come into a Hip Hop track, allowing for breakers to do their thing on the floor. **Five Stars** 3. "Way Out West" I just found this one funny ...

XICripZ 16.06.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Kurtis Blow - Kurtis Blow

How Did We Get From Jamaica To Snowflakes One Song After The Nex?

Advantages: Lots of big tunes
Disadvantages: Nothing specific

“Snowflakes” was released as the first Christmas album from the R&B singer Toni Braxton. Released in 2001, it finds her mixing in a range of tunes which have her taking on familiar tunes that all know from this time as well as some original compositions. It is noted for being recorded at a time when she was newly married and was expecting her first child. 1.“Holiday Celebrate” The album opens up with a track that shows that in this album we are about ...
...lts of effort put into it in order to make it sound much more than your average, quickly-thrown-together Christmas album as we get thoughtful production that mixes in the contemporary R&B trends with the Christmas-y themes for a big opener that I can't find any faults with. **Five Stars** 2.“Christmas In Jamaica” As things move on, we see there here we get what was the second album from the record and a joint that has her linking up with the Dancehall ...

XICripZ 24.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Snowflakes - Toni Braxton