Son of a Pimp - Mistah F.A.B.

The Real:
Honestly I put this disc in not expecting much. I'm familiar with F.A.B. from the Thizznation Mixtapes where his freestyles dominate; plus my people from the Bay are always talking him up. I knew he was a witty lyricist but I just wasn’t sure if he could hold his own (or my attention) through a full album. Well - he did. This is an excellent party album and representation of the hyphy movement with joints like “Super Sick Wit It” and “Kicked Out The Club”; counterbalanced with just enough life experience and spirituality from tracks like “Where’s My Daddy” and “Call Heaven” to call this a complete album.

The Rhymes:
Mistah F.A.B. has a simple yet effective style; stringing together multiple ending rhymes in a row. His word play and delivery are at par but I never caught myself touching the rewind button. Overall he really is good, just not great.

The First; The Last:
Metaphors and one liners saturate this club banger. “I’m the shit like gas and a turd” doesn’t seem like a clever line but he makes it work. "Big Time" is defiantly a hot track that I don’t hate. On the flipside, “U R my Angel” is a very religious RIP track to all those who have passed on. It supports the idea that everyone who dies goes to heaven and becomes an angel who watches over you. Overall it’s well written and worth listening to more than once.

The Grade: B-   |   Play: "Streets Of The Bay"   |   Skip: "Hey Little Mama"

Fear Of A Mixed Planet - Shock G

The Real:
I love Shock G and everything he's ever done. The man is so creative and talented, I mean, words could never do it justice. If you ever have the chance to see DU (Digital Underground) performing live don't sleep on it. That's where it all comes to light. Rappers talk about being versatile; how many have multiple alter ego's that were created so craftily people believed for years they were all really totally different people? Only Shock G, AKA Humpty Hump, AKA Piano Man, AKA (you get the idea). The man has always promoted positivity and this album is no different.

As a "Multi-blooded calico cat" himself, it would only make sense that Shock G would do a album tackling inter-racial dating and racism. The entire project is promoting unity and tolerance amongst all humans with phrases like, "Let it go, It's dated and it's backwards / When applications ask me for a color I put platinum / pimp-slappin 'em right back with they own wack crap / I be tellin 'em I'm an A-fo-rican-euro-asi-ack" REALLY?? Only Shock G.

The Rhymes:
Shoc G's style is usually smooth and laid back. Always on topic and always a good time. Heavy metaphors at times that are so cleverly constructed it's like listening in parallel. His lyrics are so creative and thought provoking; almost in a subliminal way because you can't help but agree with everything the man says. When you listen, pay attention.

The First; The Last:
The first and last formula is flipped on this album. (Which is typical of a man who typically doesn't do what's typical) "Keep it beautiful" is a 3:30 track with a single 18 bar verse sandwiched between the chorus. It's deep trance like bass line and simple synth keys accompanied by jazz horns are mesmerizing; Which is probably why the spot for the second verse is instrumental. Shock's words are deep, with a focus on healing the world through positivity in hiphop - because all the negativity is killing it. On the other end we have the upbeat "Your Sun Iza Pimp" which is one of the parallel's I mentioned earlier. If your not paying attention you'd think the song was about the neighborhood kingpin shining the light of the game on, and looking out for, the youngsters. If you pay attention you'd hear the real; that the sun (not son) is the source of all things good and we as humans are deeply connected to nature. Only Shock G.

The Grade: A+   |   Play: ""Who's Clean"   |   Skip: "Holmedown Up"

The Seventh Seal - Rakim

The Real:
As a life long fan of this man and I've been anxiously awaiting this album for years. After the fall out with Dr. Dre I was concerned it would never happen. But then it did; and OH, MY GOD was it worth the wait! On the song "Won't Be Long" he says, "Mic sick, lyrics is still locked in the brain / Like Mike Vick, sittin in jail watchin the game / I wait 'til the day I - can play my - position / Or should I say the day I - obey my - addiction / Then complete my legacy / - Without compromising my artistic integrity" And being a man of his word he did exactly that. It's the perfect album for me at this stage in my life. This is a grown man's album. An album about real life; about real struggles and how to overcome them; an album that's not about money, sex, drugs or guns. Rakim has grown a lot and it's reflected in his music. This album proves that HipHop is not dead. It's very much alive, and pumping threw the veins of The R.

The Rhymes:
It's Rakim; nuff said. At least it should be. For those who don't know Rakim is the originator of intricately crafted lyrics packed with metaphors. Before him it was 1985 and there was nothing but ending rhymes in HipHop. Need an example? One of the hottest HipHop joints in 1985 was RUN-DMC's King Of Rock. It went something like this "Now we're the baddest of the bad, the coolest of the cool / I'm DMC I rock and roll, I'm DJ Run I rock and rule / It's not a Trick or Treat, and it's not a April Fool / It's all brand new, never ever old school" Uh...yeah. Again - NUFF SAID.

The First; The Last:
What better way for the original God MC to open a comeback album then with a track teaching all the would-be-rappers "How To Emcee". This joint undoubtedly will be studied by all lyricists, current and aspiring, for tips and tricks of the trade; strait form the mind and mouth of a legend. The closing is respectfully a dedication to Rakim's mother who passed in 2005. The track is appropriately titled "Dedicated" and is an emotionally moving biography of his mother's life, placed over a sample of No Doubt's "Don't Speak". No better way to end an album.

The Grade: A+   |   Play: ""Man Above"   |   Skip: "Psychic Love"

Tha Mic Marlow Album - Mic Marlow

The Real:

Albums like this are the reason I primary listen to independent music. Mic Marlow had me grinning from ear to ear with the very first line - "I ain't shit and don't nobody know me". You have to respect the honesty of a line like that! Overall this is a great album. The man touches every life topic from relationships to politics, and just when your brain is getting tired from the thoughts that his words are provoking - BAM! He sprinkles in some club bangers. Over all this is one of the most complete albums I have ever heard.

The Rhymes:
Mic's lyrical style is calm and focused; his affectation and word choice demand your attention. His delivery is very consistent with the exception of "What I Look Like Now" where he flips his mouth piece to fully auto and spits some rapid fire hotness. I appreciate the fact that he didn't overdo it with his style changes. So many others have ruined a perfectly good album by trying TOO hard to be versatile. Besides, who needs flash and versatility when you've conquered your style so masterfully? This dude knows what hes good at and sticks to it. Gotta respect it.

The First; The Last:
"I Ain't Shit" was a good time and the perfect opener for this album. It's one of those songs that forces you to dance around in the driver seat while smashing on the gas pedal. Lines like, "I ain't got no game, just charismatic" kept me cheesing threw the whole track. It grabbed my attention from the start and left me eager to hear more. (The next track was no disappointment.) Jumping to the end, the last track is definitely a good finale. "I Can't Kick the Habit" is a five and a half minute laid back weed song with several guest features. Everybody's verse was on point; talking about the stresses of life and using marijuana to calm your nerves. "When life don't know how to treat ya - grab your reefer" Makes sense to me!

The Grade: B+  |   Play: ""Say Hi To 30"   |   Skip: "Outrageous"