HIP-HOP CORNERED

Rip It Up, Issue 210, 1 February 1995, Page 36

HIP-HOP CORNERED

THE NOTORIOUS BIG Ready To Die (Bad Boy)

By rights Biggie Smalls should be in jail for a long time. He is a criminal, turned father, turned rapper. Another install went on the Bad Boy roster. Produced by a host of producers including DJ Premiere, who makes the beat of the LP on a track called ‘Unbelievable’. Biggie has an exceptional ability to explain a situation, the words he chooses aren’t new but he twists them. The beginning of the CD starts with a musical history of his life. Funk while being born, MC Shan while he and his boys rob a train, and finally Snoopy Dogg when he leaves jail and tells the prison officer: ‘I got big plans nigga’. Mr Big is a sexist, pistol toting gangster, who makes no apologies and just tells it like he sees it. ‘My Bitch’ is actually a well written love song (once you get past the ‘me and my bitch’ chorus). Biggie has a classic fat rapper's voice. His lyrics are reality and unfancy, no gimmicks — not afraid to say muthafucka, but not afraid to cry. The single ‘Juicy’ is an in-tune remake with fatter drums.

On the whole the lyrics are full of struggle (‘Everyday Struggle’) and inbred depression and abandonment. Plenty are the ‘I don’t give a fuck’ kind (‘Ready to Die’). Wutang Clan’s method man makes an appearance on ‘The What’. Gangster rap from New York. High body count, high skill level. ‘I got techniques dripping out my arse cheeks, sleep on my stomach so I don’t fuck up my sheets’ — Biggie Smalls.

PARIS Guerrilla Funk (Scarface)

This album is a classic — classic comeback for a rapper who really never blew up. Paris has a lot of important things to say — if you can listen to some dude preaching at you, song after song. So I guess he figured his militant drums and sinister samples wouldn’t sell, so he came back with the ‘G Funk’ like every other wannabe New Jack. I swear the opening track ‘lt’s Real’ has the same bassline and hooks as ‘What’s My Name' by Snoopy Dogg. The CD just rolls along with Paris teaching me to put out my joint and leave the beer alone. He tells me things are fucked but, apart from ‘Give Each Other Love’, has no solutions. I like how Paris hasn’t let up with his staunch attitude but his beats are a mockery! Conscious Daughters guest on ‘Black and Blue’, but there is nothing redeeming at all about Guerrilla Funk. Stink beats.

DIGABLE PLANETS Blow Out Comb (Pendulum Records)

Blow Out Comb is the follow up to the cross over success Rebirth Of Slick. It’s a classic second album, twice as good. The jazz theme is used again, but the samples aren’t as sparse, more ‘looped’ with abstract drum sequences. Gone are the insect names they used to use and the lyrics about coming from other planets. Instead they talk about the basics: blocks, crew and beats. This is a mellow LP — my girlfriend likes it. The first single, ‘Ninth Wonder’, is indeed aptly named — the best drum pattern I’ve heard in a long time. ‘Borough Check’ is a homage to Brooklyn, with Guru from Gangstarr guesting, and ‘Graffiti’ features Jeru the Lamaja. I didn’t press skip on the CD once. If you are looking for a smooth, jazz fusion album for your dinner party, this is it, or, if you want an original rap record with refreshing rhymes for your walkman, this is also it. Classical.

OLI GREEN