Ooh My Soul (The Very Best Of The Vee Jay Years) - Little Richard

Advantages: Top quality hip hop, full of flair and skill,
Disadvantages: Some weaker tracks, adult language

...for you most of the time. The start of this track is very well-known now and has become somewhat of a trademark of the album. -7/10- [Track 11 - Justify My Thug] This song has kind of cushioned drum beat on it with a slightly aggressive verse where Jay-Z, now HOV, attempts to Justify his style and his way of business and pleasure. This song is a little dull in the long run, the beat a bit repetetive. Once again, still bearable but not as remarkable as some other tracks. This beat was made by Kanye West, one of Jay-Z's many affiliated artists. -6/10- [Track 12 - Lucifer] A cool, and classy piano score opens the song with a nicely used sample from 'Max Romeo' chorusing the tile of the song every so often when it is needed. The beat is clinical and the bass is subtle yet pivotal to its style. The song has enough soul to bring it to fore... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Surprisingly Great Lyrics, Some Production, Introspective Songs, No Guest Appearances
Disadvantages: Overhyped, Awful Production, Commercialism, Overrated Lyricism, Too Much Bragging, Filler

...his brow for the past eight years. Little Brother's unbelievable producer 9th Wonder drops a beat for the Jiggaman on "Threat". After a pretty worthless spoken word opening, Jay-Z decides to get aggressive against the critics who always decide to take Jay-Z and hip-hop down, which reflects the song's actual subject matter. Jay-Z paints himself as being some sort of invincible hero for hip-hop (which Nas quickly smacked out of him) who wants to get rid of politicians who try to go against hip-hop. Jay-Z establishes a pretty good lyrical showcase, but on the third verse quickly drops it and sounds absolutely whack on the final lines of the song for some bizarre reason. My best guess is that he did it on purpose. Jay-Z isn't exactly the best at being aggressive, but his bragging is what gives him the backbone to do it. As for the beat, 9th... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: good mix of established and up-and-coming artists
Disadvantages: maybe adapted for a club crowd?

...on a compilation! But if you are a stranger to the work of this pair, then this album and their other Soul Heaven compilations are great ways to start listening and getting involved in soulful house, and always make great summer listening at barbecues and house parties etc. But what i respect the most is just the effortless mixing this duo have, and they never fail to impress me with their sound. However i don't think this is best mix they have done, but it certainly goes into my favourites bag! This record comprises of 3 CDs, the third being a bonus album with some classic MAW remixes of tunes such as Incognito's "Always There" and the floor thriller Luther Vandross' "Are You Using Me?" CD1 has got some absolute corkers with my favourite from Louis Vega "Mozalounge" - the female vocals of "pah pah dah dah" is incredibly infectious, Kenny Bobien... Read review

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