I don't know a huge amount about these guys, but I knew enough to just buy their album at ARS w/out listening to it (plus they have some nice production features from Seattle beatmakers like Vitamin-D and Jake One & Kuddie Mak). It is a very solid album, the best I've heard out of Seattle in 2008. I went down there excited about the Framework album, but this was the best one I left with.
Snippets
"Hoopopolisticfreshcoastchevymuzik" (Via YouSendIt)
"Seattle (Rather Be With You" (Via YouSendIt)
"Unda Tha Influence" (Via YouSendIt)[/COLOR]
Tracks
01. Intro
3 Stars : The vocals from a female on here dominate the 42 second intro, it's kind of a unique style note she's singing.
02. Hoopopolisticfreshcoastchevymuzik
5 Stars : A smooth, upbeat, play in the car on a sunny day type of track. They copy Outkast with the name, and they even try to emulate them a little bit w/ the way they deliver their lines, but you know what, they pull it off pretty well. Very good track, it reminds me a little bit of the old 90s song "City of the Tac" by The Enterprise, but this is a little more polished w/ the production.
03. Makin Moves
4 Stars : This is an organ dominated beat, another drive in the car on a sunny afternoon type of track, the beat just rolls along. I might've gone 5 stars if the guys singing the chorus were a little better, the rapping is better. Powerful bass on this one, but it is not overbearing.
04. Brand New
2 Stars : Shitty club hopping wannabe Southern style beat, track had no chance.
05. I'm a Star (Take My Picture)
1 Star : Shitty wannabe hyphy style beat, track had no chance (tip to NW artists, don't try to emulate other sounds, it doesn't work).
06. Unda tha Influence
5 Stars : Very smooth beat, Gromyko on the chorus is very solid, the rappers do a good job. This is perhaps the best beat on the album.
07. Leon Phelps
1 Star : Bad beat, track had no chance.
08. So Fresh Coast
4 Stars : The intro to the beat sounds like Kanye's "Diamonds Are Forever" song, but when the beat starts it is much different. It is an extremely fast track, but the rappers are able to keep up w/ the beat w/out losing their crisp annunciation. These guys shine lyrically on this one.
09. Insomnia
3 Stars : Sounds kind of like a Rick Ross beat, nothing really stands out on this track, but it's not bad.
10. Keisha
4 Stars : Vitamin D beat and a very good one.
11. Questions
3 Stars : Track for the girls, it's not bad but a little too feminine for my taste, but girls will like it.
12. Text Me
3 Stars : Another girl track.
13. Good Long While
4 Stars : A very unique beat, it starts out low and keeps getting higher in octaves, kind of like it's climbing a latter. Another fast beat but Parker Brothaz keep up and sound great on it.
14. Two Times
1 Star : Wannabe Pharrell / Neptunes beat, doesn't work.
15. Woman
3 Star : Chill track featuring heavy guitar, reminds me of a Dr. Dre track from Chronic 2001. It's solid.
16. How Good
4 Stars : Jake One beat is solid, Choklate is great on the chorus.
17. Give You a Bar
1 Star : Bad beat.
18. Seattle (Rather Be With You)
5 stars : Samples the same song as "Rather Be With You" by 2Pac, and I believe Tha Loco samples the same song on his latest album. It's a feel good Seattle anthem. It reminds me an awful lot of the song "Home" by Grynch in that most of it focuses on positive stuff all Seattleites can relate to (i.e. it's not a Seattle anthem in the vein of "Dirty South" by Lac of Respect). The Parker Brothaz really shine on this track, another wonderful anthem to add to the list. They are from Federal Way but clearly very familiar w/ the isthmus of land between 145th & SeaTac. The only stingers on this track are the numerous Sonics references (also, they're the first rap group I've heard allude to the Kingdome).
Overall this album gets 4 out of 5 stars. It was a very strong effort. The production is quality, the rappers are talented, it has some balance, and what more can you ask for. NW music fans should buy this one, they won't be disappointed.
Snippets
"Hoopopolisticfreshcoastchevymuzik" (Via YouSendIt)
"Seattle (Rather Be With You" (Via YouSendIt)
"Unda Tha Influence" (Via YouSendIt)[/COLOR]
Tracks
01. Intro
3 Stars : The vocals from a female on here dominate the 42 second intro, it's kind of a unique style note she's singing.
02. Hoopopolisticfreshcoastchevymuzik
5 Stars : A smooth, upbeat, play in the car on a sunny day type of track. They copy Outkast with the name, and they even try to emulate them a little bit w/ the way they deliver their lines, but you know what, they pull it off pretty well. Very good track, it reminds me a little bit of the old 90s song "City of the Tac" by The Enterprise, but this is a little more polished w/ the production.
03. Makin Moves
4 Stars : This is an organ dominated beat, another drive in the car on a sunny afternoon type of track, the beat just rolls along. I might've gone 5 stars if the guys singing the chorus were a little better, the rapping is better. Powerful bass on this one, but it is not overbearing.
04. Brand New
2 Stars : Shitty club hopping wannabe Southern style beat, track had no chance.
05. I'm a Star (Take My Picture)
1 Star : Shitty wannabe hyphy style beat, track had no chance (tip to NW artists, don't try to emulate other sounds, it doesn't work).
06. Unda tha Influence
5 Stars : Very smooth beat, Gromyko on the chorus is very solid, the rappers do a good job. This is perhaps the best beat on the album.
07. Leon Phelps
1 Star : Bad beat, track had no chance.
08. So Fresh Coast
4 Stars : The intro to the beat sounds like Kanye's "Diamonds Are Forever" song, but when the beat starts it is much different. It is an extremely fast track, but the rappers are able to keep up w/ the beat w/out losing their crisp annunciation. These guys shine lyrically on this one.
09. Insomnia
3 Stars : Sounds kind of like a Rick Ross beat, nothing really stands out on this track, but it's not bad.
10. Keisha
4 Stars : Vitamin D beat and a very good one.
11. Questions
3 Stars : Track for the girls, it's not bad but a little too feminine for my taste, but girls will like it.
12. Text Me
3 Stars : Another girl track.
13. Good Long While
4 Stars : A very unique beat, it starts out low and keeps getting higher in octaves, kind of like it's climbing a latter. Another fast beat but Parker Brothaz keep up and sound great on it.
14. Two Times
1 Star : Wannabe Pharrell / Neptunes beat, doesn't work.
15. Woman
3 Star : Chill track featuring heavy guitar, reminds me of a Dr. Dre track from Chronic 2001. It's solid.
16. How Good
4 Stars : Jake One beat is solid, Choklate is great on the chorus.
17. Give You a Bar
1 Star : Bad beat.
18. Seattle (Rather Be With You)
5 stars : Samples the same song as "Rather Be With You" by 2Pac, and I believe Tha Loco samples the same song on his latest album. It's a feel good Seattle anthem. It reminds me an awful lot of the song "Home" by Grynch in that most of it focuses on positive stuff all Seattleites can relate to (i.e. it's not a Seattle anthem in the vein of "Dirty South" by Lac of Respect). The Parker Brothaz really shine on this track, another wonderful anthem to add to the list. They are from Federal Way but clearly very familiar w/ the isthmus of land between 145th & SeaTac. The only stingers on this track are the numerous Sonics references (also, they're the first rap group I've heard allude to the Kingdome).
Overall this album gets 4 out of 5 stars. It was a very strong effort. The production is quality, the rappers are talented, it has some balance, and what more can you ask for. NW music fans should buy this one, they won't be disappointed.