Tag Archives: Def Jam Records

CD Review, Entertainment, Music, Rap

CD Review: How I Got Over [2010]

Leave a comment

Band: The Roots
Release: 6/2010
Label: Def Jam

1. “A Peace of Light” – C-
2. “Walk Alone” – B+
3. “Dear God 2.0” – A
4. “Radio Daze” – A-
5. “Now Or Never” – B
6. “How I Got Over” – B
7. “DillaTUDE: The Flight of Titus” – C
8. “The Day” – B+
9. “Right On” – B+
10. “Doin’ It Again” – B
11. “The Fire” – B
12. “Tunnel Vision” – C-
13. “Web 20/20” – B-
14. “Hustla” – B+

Comments: I liked “Walk Alone” for the most part, but “Dear God” is where it’s at. The verses are top shelf hip-hop. My gripe with a lot of this album is the amount of half-ass tunes. What I mean is that The Roots seem to have a consistent focus on the way these songs are structured. That might appeal to a lot of folks who like a good amount of rap, but also don’t mind a soulful or R&B flavored chorus. I get bored with that. Also, does this record really need short interludes every five or six songs? OK so this isn’t that great in the whole scheme of hip hop records. It might be one of the best of its kind this year, though.

Grade: B- (83)

CD Review, Entertainment, Music, Rap

CD Review: Sir Lucious Left Foot [2010]

Leave a comment

Rapper: Big Boi
Release: 7/2010
Label: Def Jam

1. “Feel Me (Intro)” – N/A
2. “Daddy Fat Sax” – B
3. “Turns Me On” – C+
4. “Follow Us” – B-
5. “Shutterbugg” – A-
6. “General Patton” – C-
7. “Tangerine” – B-
8. “You Ain’t No DJ” – B-
9. “Hustle Blood” – C
10. “Be Still” – C+
11. “Fo Yo Sorrows” – B-
12. “Night Night” – B-
13. “Shine Blockas” – A-
14. “The Train Part II” – B
15. “Back Up Plan” – B-

Comments: This album is too confusing for a guy like me. The choruses on “Turns Me On” and “Follow Us” are pretty stale and generic. “General Patton” is just shy of terrible. “Shutterbugg” is the first song on here that flows wonderfully, a throwback to late ’90s hip-hop. Unfortunately, not one other song makes such an impact as that one. “Shine Blockas” reminds me of a song that I heard a while back (5+ years ago) that is just realistically chill and comforting. It’s not overdone at all. It’s real. Overall, I’d recommend this to people who are more into hip-hop than I am.

Grade: B- (80)