Theme Music To Drug Dealins And Killins
Apartment 3/DNA Entertainent
Features: Young Noble, Cougnut, C-Fresh, Ray Luv, Guce, San Quinn, C-Lim, Young Droop, Nutt-so, Black C, Ad Capone, UDI, Cold World Hustlers, Big Mack, 11/5, Young Ed, Baldhead Rick, 2-Illeven, Chunk, ADR, Black Madness, Sco-Loc, Baby Menace, First Degree The DE, Louie Loc, Mr. Kee, Tre-8, 3rd Dagree, Nasty Nate, G-Macc, Charlie Manhattan, Fly Mar, Young "D" Boyz, Nutt-Kase, T-Smoove
Producers: DJ Mark 7, ADR, LaidBlack Productions, Excessive, Big Drawz, TC, Million Dollar Dream
The compilation craze began in the Bay Area and resulted in some classic releases such as the first two Herm comps, West Coast Bad Boyz 1, Boss Ballin’ and the Rompalation. Unfortunately, anything that is new and successful spawns cheap imitations. Our classic compilations have been far outnumbered by hastily put together, low quality compilations full of weak beats, mediocre lyrics and worst of all…recycled songs. It seems the drive to put out a quality collection of songs has been lost in the rush to put anything on the shelf with the hope of making a few quick bucks.
Luckily, Apartment 3/DNA Entertainment haven’t fallen into that mindset and with their latest release, Theme Music To Drug Dealins And Killins, have put together a compilation that reminds you how enjoyable a well put together compilation can be.
“Mr. Baller,” an incredible C-Fresh solo track produced by DJ Mark 7 opens the album on a very high note. After all these years Fresh is still one of the greatest and after hearing this track I’m crossing my fingers for a solo album very soon. RJ aka Lil Murda of Black Madness delivers the haunting ghetto tale, “Standin’ On The Corner” over an ADR beat. The more I hear from RJ, the more impressed I am. Louie Loc, Tayda Tay and Charlie Manhattan all drop solid verses over a LaidBlack beat on “Vacate The Room.” A big part of the song and what really ties it all together is the tongue twisting, rapid fire chorus by Young Droop.
Possibly the best song on the album is “The World’s A Cold Place.” Produced by Ghazi and featuring Young Noble, Nutt-so and Ray Luv, it has the feeling and emotion that is missing from way too many songs these days. There’s depression and desperation in the lyrics from all three rappers and Ghazi’s production perfectly compliments them. This is a major release sounding song. On “Ballin’ Now,” San Francisco vet Fly Mar does something that a lot of rappers have forgotten how to do…start, continue and end a complete story in song form. Most rappers do three verses that have nothing to do with each other. Fly Mar spins a heavy dope tale through three verses over another solid DJ Mark 7 beat.
ADR of Triple 6 brings his distinctive style to “King Of The Devil Block” featuring First Degree The DE on the chorus. A beat from Excessive rides nicely under ADR’s murderous, drug laden lyrics. “Tragedy” will definitely be a favorite for everyone since it features the late Cougnut along with Louie Loc. It’s a treat anytime you can hear something new from Nut and “Tragedy” is no exception. A killer combination of UDI, Big Vic of Cold World Hustlers, Big Mack and Charlie Manhattan comes together over a very impressive, major sounding LaidBlack Productions beat. With a nice female chorus, this could actually get some radio play if a cleaned up version is pressed. Louie Loc shows up again and delivers another vicious track along with Mickey Moe of Black Madness who more than holds his own alongside the very polished Louie. Both drop heated, high speed verses over a Big Drawz beat.
Kadoffi brings some of that classic Young “D” Boyz shit to “Killin’ & Dope Dealin’” along with T-Smoove. ADR provides a smooth beat that you wouldn’t expect from him and both rappers sound great over it. The “D” Boyz have always been favorites of mine so this song is easily one of my favorites on the comp. Another definite contender for best track is “Gangsta Shit Part 2” featuring the incredible San Francisco lineup of Black C, San Quinn, Young Ed, Maine-O, C-Fresh and Hennessy. Over a DJ Mark 7 beat, these San Francisco giants bring one of the best posse cuts heard in years. I especially liked the verses from Black C, Maine-O and Hennessy who has been one of my favorite Bay Area rappers since the first 11/5 album. Theme Music… is topped off with one more chance to hear the legend, Cougnut. If you let the CD play after “Gangsta Shit Part 2” ends, you’re treated to some lyrics and studio outtakes from Coug.
Other standout tracks on the album include “1-8-7” from Third Dagree, “Straight Up Thugs Part 2” from Guce, Mr. Kee, Baby Menace and Cougnut and “Cali Corners” from Baldhead Rick. I can honestly say that I only disliked three songs on the entire album and the only reason was the beats used, which I didn’t think complimented the rappers at all.
Aside from the great music, a lot of effort was put into the presentation of Theme Music… including a full color 12 panel insert full of quality pictures of the Apartment 3/DNA crew and a RIP panel for Cougnut with a few exclusive studio shots. I feel that Theme Music For Drug Dealins And Killins will be accepted as one of the great Bay Area compilations that I mentioned at the beginning of this review and hopefully the effort and quality that went into it will serve as a wake up call for all labels out there that the shiesty, thrown together comps are no longer acceptable.
Apartment 3/DNA Entertainent
Features: Young Noble, Cougnut, C-Fresh, Ray Luv, Guce, San Quinn, C-Lim, Young Droop, Nutt-so, Black C, Ad Capone, UDI, Cold World Hustlers, Big Mack, 11/5, Young Ed, Baldhead Rick, 2-Illeven, Chunk, ADR, Black Madness, Sco-Loc, Baby Menace, First Degree The DE, Louie Loc, Mr. Kee, Tre-8, 3rd Dagree, Nasty Nate, G-Macc, Charlie Manhattan, Fly Mar, Young "D" Boyz, Nutt-Kase, T-Smoove
Producers: DJ Mark 7, ADR, LaidBlack Productions, Excessive, Big Drawz, TC, Million Dollar Dream
The compilation craze began in the Bay Area and resulted in some classic releases such as the first two Herm comps, West Coast Bad Boyz 1, Boss Ballin’ and the Rompalation. Unfortunately, anything that is new and successful spawns cheap imitations. Our classic compilations have been far outnumbered by hastily put together, low quality compilations full of weak beats, mediocre lyrics and worst of all…recycled songs. It seems the drive to put out a quality collection of songs has been lost in the rush to put anything on the shelf with the hope of making a few quick bucks.
Luckily, Apartment 3/DNA Entertainment haven’t fallen into that mindset and with their latest release, Theme Music To Drug Dealins And Killins, have put together a compilation that reminds you how enjoyable a well put together compilation can be.
“Mr. Baller,” an incredible C-Fresh solo track produced by DJ Mark 7 opens the album on a very high note. After all these years Fresh is still one of the greatest and after hearing this track I’m crossing my fingers for a solo album very soon. RJ aka Lil Murda of Black Madness delivers the haunting ghetto tale, “Standin’ On The Corner” over an ADR beat. The more I hear from RJ, the more impressed I am. Louie Loc, Tayda Tay and Charlie Manhattan all drop solid verses over a LaidBlack beat on “Vacate The Room.” A big part of the song and what really ties it all together is the tongue twisting, rapid fire chorus by Young Droop.
Possibly the best song on the album is “The World’s A Cold Place.” Produced by Ghazi and featuring Young Noble, Nutt-so and Ray Luv, it has the feeling and emotion that is missing from way too many songs these days. There’s depression and desperation in the lyrics from all three rappers and Ghazi’s production perfectly compliments them. This is a major release sounding song. On “Ballin’ Now,” San Francisco vet Fly Mar does something that a lot of rappers have forgotten how to do…start, continue and end a complete story in song form. Most rappers do three verses that have nothing to do with each other. Fly Mar spins a heavy dope tale through three verses over another solid DJ Mark 7 beat.
ADR of Triple 6 brings his distinctive style to “King Of The Devil Block” featuring First Degree The DE on the chorus. A beat from Excessive rides nicely under ADR’s murderous, drug laden lyrics. “Tragedy” will definitely be a favorite for everyone since it features the late Cougnut along with Louie Loc. It’s a treat anytime you can hear something new from Nut and “Tragedy” is no exception. A killer combination of UDI, Big Vic of Cold World Hustlers, Big Mack and Charlie Manhattan comes together over a very impressive, major sounding LaidBlack Productions beat. With a nice female chorus, this could actually get some radio play if a cleaned up version is pressed. Louie Loc shows up again and delivers another vicious track along with Mickey Moe of Black Madness who more than holds his own alongside the very polished Louie. Both drop heated, high speed verses over a Big Drawz beat.
Kadoffi brings some of that classic Young “D” Boyz shit to “Killin’ & Dope Dealin’” along with T-Smoove. ADR provides a smooth beat that you wouldn’t expect from him and both rappers sound great over it. The “D” Boyz have always been favorites of mine so this song is easily one of my favorites on the comp. Another definite contender for best track is “Gangsta Shit Part 2” featuring the incredible San Francisco lineup of Black C, San Quinn, Young Ed, Maine-O, C-Fresh and Hennessy. Over a DJ Mark 7 beat, these San Francisco giants bring one of the best posse cuts heard in years. I especially liked the verses from Black C, Maine-O and Hennessy who has been one of my favorite Bay Area rappers since the first 11/5 album. Theme Music… is topped off with one more chance to hear the legend, Cougnut. If you let the CD play after “Gangsta Shit Part 2” ends, you’re treated to some lyrics and studio outtakes from Coug.
Other standout tracks on the album include “1-8-7” from Third Dagree, “Straight Up Thugs Part 2” from Guce, Mr. Kee, Baby Menace and Cougnut and “Cali Corners” from Baldhead Rick. I can honestly say that I only disliked three songs on the entire album and the only reason was the beats used, which I didn’t think complimented the rappers at all.
Aside from the great music, a lot of effort was put into the presentation of Theme Music… including a full color 12 panel insert full of quality pictures of the Apartment 3/DNA crew and a RIP panel for Cougnut with a few exclusive studio shots. I feel that Theme Music For Drug Dealins And Killins will be accepted as one of the great Bay Area compilations that I mentioned at the beginning of this review and hopefully the effort and quality that went into it will serve as a wake up call for all labels out there that the shiesty, thrown together comps are no longer acceptable.
