House, R&B, Soul & Rap > V House, R&B, Soul & Rap > West Coast Rap > Rap

Advantages: All your favourites
Disadvantages: No Nuthin but a G thang

This is the ultimate Hip Hop album and the way that I remember the history of the music went, all fom the West Coast. This double album complies all of the most critically acclaimed coming from out of Cali with the greatest in West Coast Hip Hop, G-Funk and Ganngsta Rap. With many of the tunes coming from Hip Hop's favourate albums, "Doggystyle", "All Eyez On Me" and "The Chronic" this compilation does not leave out a single track which you would ...
...Hip Hop History" gives the journey which the West Coast had to make in creating their own style of rapping with a much more laid-back approach, reflective of the climate in California, which also makes them all great summer tunes. Disc 1 1. California Love (Remix) - 2Pac & Dr. Dre **Five Stars** Everyone knows this one, its pure West Coast, no paying around, its just hardcore 2Pac in his prime alongside Dre, both showing their love for California. ... Read review

Advantages: great beats
Disadvantages: none

...on Lil John's King of Crunk album (One of the best albums I own I might add) This isn't the strongest track on the album but the beat is outstanding. Check out the remix with Busta Rhymes and Elephant Man. 3) Goodies - One of the two standout tracks on Ciara's album. Again, a fantastic beat - so good I could just listen to the instrumental. 4) Lean Back - Fat Joe comes good on this track. Not your typical Crunk beat but slow and laid back. There ...
...the original but it's still a good track. 5) Stand Up - One of the best Ludacris' tracks I've heard. Definitely one for the clubs. 6) Right Thurr - Can get annoying if you play it too many times! The Trina remix is absolutely outstanding. Listen to it if you can! 7) Culo - Spanish for a particular part of the body. Would sound strange english but in spanish it works! Not one to listen to in front of your parents! The other tracks are also generally ... 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