Dance

Rip It Up, Issue 214, 1 June 1995, Page 28

Dance

(: OC Word Life /. ' <<. ) L (Wild Pitch) ■<' ■ ' '7 J . 7 Word Life is a very strong, very well produced LP. Production credits go to Organised Konfusion, and it has an overall , intelligence that is seldom seen. On. songs like ‘Time’s Up', where' OC states: ‘Non-conceptual, nonexceptional, everyone’s either crime related or sexual,’ he speaks honestly and uses effective language. A great ' story teller, on ‘Go Ahead Wit Yourself’, ‘Story’ and ‘Cops’, he tells. stories about his girlfriend leaving him for another women, police deviancy, and a gruesome tale of a thief whose family gets tortured by drug dealers. His style is straight up and basic — effective positivity without sound preachy or like a woosi. ' This is a great release, well worth buying if you like good beats and better lyrics. Small body count, however,.-for you gangsta rap freaks. Word Life. ' ■ \ OLI GREEN GOATS No Goats, No Glory \. (Ruff House) «"■’ ;: . j,. . J The Goats’ second effort is once again produced by Joe ‘the Butcher’: Nicolo, and once again about weed and pseudo revolution. There are additions of live drums and guitars, and I’m not sure if I’d really consider it hiphop. The rappers share, styles and don't really impress. - ‘Wake ’n’ Bake’ is the first song-about getting stoned. The second song, ‘Philly Blunts', is about... getting stoned. Maybe they forgot the first song or something. The Goats miss the target, and the best thing about this is the great cover art. Really pretty average. No Goats, there is no glory. OLI GREEN r MASTA ACE INC. Sittin’ On Chrome | I (Delicious Vinyl) I C NONCE World Ultimate . ; A I (American) J You just know it’s going to be a good summer when you get not one, but two rap albums this fine. First up, Masta Ace has expanded out a little to becaome an Inc., and I have no problems with that, as Sittin’ On Chrome is probably . his finest output yet.; The whole album seems to be progression from last year’s hit ‘Jeep Ass Niguh’ (a rap concept album?) — same kicked back vibe anchored by solid beats and some very cool raps. Sittin’ On Chrome flows along nicely.'All the Inc. members get a moment or two in the spotlight, and they all acquit themselves very well, with some of the best rap lyrics I’ve heard in a long while. The Nonce work in a similar vein — the same laconic but tough sound is all over World Ultimate. The raps are of a more smart ass, boasting style, but the smooth and funky vibe is definitely still there, along with a more hook orientated approach. It’s a cool mix. There’s definitely a strong old school feel in the raps and the pacing of the record, but the beats and loops have a heavy and slightly nasty element. With rap music as stylistically delineated as it is nowadays, both these albums are a good deal — rap that’s just plain good.

KIRK GEE