Adventures In Elysian Fields: 21 Reviews in 20 Minutes II

Posted by MSD on 07.11.2007

Stay up all night with MSD as he cuts 21 records down into pocket size bricks and burns the candle on both ends. July 4th fallout, A Taste of Chocolate and Jimmy Snuka the secret killer. All that and more inside the latest edition of ADVENTURES IN ELYSIAN FIELDS!

I guess you wonder where I've been
I searched to find the love within.
And I came back let you know
I got a thing for you, and I can't let go
* Bobby Caldwell - "Do For Love"

Back to basics, cuz face it - MSD can't be replaced, kid. To those on the belated greetings list "HAPPY 4th of JULY"!!! Dedicated to us Americans only as we wave our bloodstained flag in the face of every communist, terrorist, Liberace nazi on the planet and dare them to say something. WHAT! WHAT!

Normally I'd take this space to recap my holiday endeavors for your viewing pleasure, but since my vacation began on Friday June 29th and ended on Monday July 9th I don't have much to tell you. It's all been washed away. That's the beauty of an American bash: too much fun to remember. Just know that I love this country, I love fireworks, I love freedom and I LOVE ST. IDES SPECIAL BREWS! Bringing it back to '99 in this muthaphuckker! And is it just me or are the rolls getting weaker around these parts?


THE INTRO

Here's the rundown of MSDs Summer Reality TV viewing schedule…

• ON THE LOT - I've been hyped for this show since I first saw the ads. I have not been disappointed, although the season started slow. So far the realest director in my opinion is the Kentucky wigger Jason Epperson. I loved his story about the drug addict with healing qualities in his blood who gets splattered at movies end. I give Mateen Kemet his props for the horror movie twist last week (police brutality) but I still think my girl Shalini Kantayya is gonna win the whole thing. She's serious.

• AMERICA'S GOT TALENT - Everybody's talking about Chris Benoit ending his career, but don't forget about Brandy either. She didn't make Season One of this show any greater, but she's infinitely better than annoying Sharon Osbourne. One stuffy Brit judging an American show (Idol, Inventor or Talent) is enough, but two is overkill. Hasselhoff is the most annoying self-promoter on prime time, and I still can't figure out the point of this show. Half of the big hitters here should be on AMERICAN IDOL or SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, so I don't know what they're really looking for. Season Three is a possibility but I can't see the show lasting much longer than that.

• THE NEXT BEST THING - Commodity rap at its finest. Aiight and slightly entertaining, but not built for the long-haul. Young Elvis Presley was good but my favorite is Paris Hilton. I've seen her making the rounds before this show was even conceived and she's very realistic. Her "magic act" during the semi-Finals was absolutely hilarious. Great stuff.

• AMERICAN INVENTOR - I can't even remember who won last year (the guy with the baby seat in the bubble?) but I can tell you who WON'T win this year – BLACK COUGAR. Or the guy with the lame, ugly stuffed mutant that says "Everything will be all right". Reality shows always have weird auditions but this show seems to attract the weirdest psychos in the country. Like the wacko who "invented" stylized wheel covers for bicycles and wouldn't leave the stage when the judges shot him down. Bizarre. Plus their panel of judges is pretty weak (but what do I know - George Forman grills were the greatest invention of the last decade!)

• LAST COMIC STANDING - My all time favorite reality show. Nuff said.


MAIN EVENT:
21 Reviews in 20 minutes

Last week was my return to 411Music prominence, even though the actual article included very little musical content. So I'm here to remedy that. Resurrecting the microwave forum I created in years past comes a music review with Street Pharmaceutical qualities. So inhale, exhale. Let the ride peel out and fish-tail. MSD is the driver and Jesus is our spare tire. Lord watch over us while we move these packies across the wire.


LOW GRADE
Young Jeezy & USDA - Cold Summer
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Hip Hop Basics 101 (beats, rhymes and putting your homies on)
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Low budget blockbuster featuring a poor mans Fat Pat and a Kardinal Offishal impersonator.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Human crack in the flesh (worth a quick high but the buzz evaporates quickly). Rap is a hustle for that legal drug money.
MOST POTENT HITS – "White Girl", "Ride Tonight".


LOW GRADE
Mike Jones - The American Dream
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Texas leaning deep into a sophomore slump.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Flavorless cotton candy that's been exposed for too long.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – A heroin-induced coma. And where's the movie that's gonna make us all believe???
MOST POTENT HITS – "My 64".


LOW GRADE
Timbaland - Shock Value
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Timbaland's version of One Man Band.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Pop stew sprinkled with Hip Hop blandishments.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Being strapped to the couch at 106 & Park with your eyelids taped open.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Throw It On Me" (just cuz of the WWE Divas).


LOW GRADE
Rich Boy - Rich Boy
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Industry rap 101.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Thick southern gumbo.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Bacon grease popping flash in the pan. Rap is a fad.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Get to Poppin", "Throw Somes D's (remix)".


MID GRADE
T.I. – T.I. versus TIP
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE - T.I. entering his In My Lifetime Volume II era.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Assembly line hamburger.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – A leaky nitrous tank. 411Mania has a review up, but I don't know how confident I feel about a white trash West Virginian who never heard of T.I. before King touching it…
MOST POTENT HITS – "My Swag", "Tell em I Said That".


MID GRADE
Lil Wyte - The One & Only
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Pale-faced Memphis Crunk.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE –The OC of rap (oxy-contin).
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE - Playin video games in a dope house.
MOST POTENT HITS – "I Got Dat Candy", "Suicide".


MID GRADE
Insane Clown Posse - The Tempest
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Serial Juggalo killers back for another round of mind-bending illusions.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Stagnant pond water.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – A minor bump in the road (considering the spectacular Calm Before The Storm EP that set up the whole Tempest release). Rap is a hustle to feed the fad.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Growing Again", "News at 6 o'clock".


MID GRADE
8Ball & MJG - Ridin High
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Bad Boy Southern experiment Part II.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Syrupy southern soul and crunchy Memphis crunk.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE - Comin Out Hard square pegs mashed into We Invented the Remix round holes. Rap is a hustle.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Memphis", "Relax and Take Notes".


MID GRADE
Clockwerk - Due Yesterday
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Pacific Northwest Anticon.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Grunge rap. Mostly old stuff with a little new.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Tip of the iceberg that sank the Titanic. Rap is rock-n-roll.
MOST POTENT HITS - "The Price Isn't Right", "Timeless", "Just Like a Drug".


MID GRADE
Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Commodity rap.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Chino XL over DJ Premier beats.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – A 10:45 pm blunt ride to the club with your boys bumpin college radio. Rap is a revolution.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Pedigree", "Truth Is", "Letter from the Government"


MID GRADE
Devin the Dude - Waiting to Inhale
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Cheech & Chong meet Rick James.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Timeless stoner soul
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Blunt smoke in an opium den. Rap is legal drug money.
MOST POTENT HITS – "What A Job (w/ Andre 3000 and Snoop Dogg) and "Nothin To Roll With".


MID GRADE
Young Buck - Buck the World
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – G-Unit clean-up man being left with a lot of shit to clean up.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Shot gun pellets and gun powder residue.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – A shottas ride through Memphis Tennessee, and you're riding shotty. Rap is a zoo.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Say it to My Face", "Puff Puff Pass", "Haters".


MID GRADE
El P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Without Company Flow to keep him rooted, El-P drifts even further out left.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Industrial rap.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Sonic sandstorm blinding the unprepared.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Habeas Corpses", "Run The Numbers", "Up all Night".


MID GRADE
KRS-One & Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Hip Hop History book (with a 1996 expiration date)
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Old school flavor with all skool grit.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – A lunatics mad monologues that are simultaneously mind-altering and tediously grating. Rap is a sport for those who love the art.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Hip Hop Lives", "Kill a Rapper".


MID GRADE
Marco Polo - Port Authority
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Oh, those ‘ol crazy canucks.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Those crusty sticks of bubblegum you can still find in packs of Garbage Pail Kids at the flea market.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE - A DJ Premier compilation circa 1995 – but in 2007.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Nostalgia", "Wrong One".


HIGH GRADE
Pharoahe Monch - Desire
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Post 9-11 Hip Hop at its dangerous best.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Organized Konfusion – sonically and metaphorically.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Wielding a box cutter on a plane. Rap is the future for sure.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Desire", "When The Gun Draws", "Bar Tap".


HIGH GRADE
A Plus - My Last Good Deed
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – First solo record from renowned Hiero lyricist (who made his mark as part of the Souls of Mischief crew).
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Lyrically it's West Coast computer love, with a universal underground sound.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Sunny California skies with a hint of marijuana smoke. Rap is a sport.
MOST POTENT HITS – "A-P-L-U-S", "Beautiful Thing", "My Dub Song", "Good Time Charlie".


HIGH GRADE
Redman - Red Gone Wild
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – Your crazy uncle on a binge.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Sour Diesel.
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Roamin through the Brockton Fair with a pack of dogs just lookin for someone to step up. Rap is a muthaphuckkin zoo.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Put it Down", "Pimp Nutz", "Blow Treez" and "Merry Jane" (with Snoop and Nate Dogg).


HIGH GRADE
Sage Francis - Human the Death Dance
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – East Coast Buck 65 holds it down for intellectual Hip Hoppers
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Emo rap
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Hip Hop Dungeons & Dragons. Rap is a sport.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Hell of a Year", "Going Back To Rehab" and "Civil Obedience".


HIGH GRADE
Prodigy - Return of the Mac
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – 50's boy in the one place all rappers come to die (Koch).
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – G-Unit swagger over Dip Set soul (with bulletproof '95 East Coast credentials).
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Prodigy resurrects H.E.R. with gangsta morality that's part SOPRANOS part CRIMINAL MINDED (more Hip Hop references than a Game album but in a much more subdued manner). Rap is gang-related.
MOST POTENT HITS – "Return of the Mac", "Mac 10 Handle", "The Rotten Apple", "Nickel and a Nail".


HIGH GRADE
Styles P – The Ghost Sessions
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE – NY getting it's shit together and finally comin out hard.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE – Gangsta soul with a revolutionary spirit and Hip Hop spit (with a rock-n-roll remix).
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE – Blunted out in a '95 Chevy waiting for ngz to pop up.
MOST POTENT HITS – "The Hardest", "The Lessons", "Poor Folk", "Use Mad Clips".


ASHES to ASHES and DUST to DUST

The home of Afeni Shakur burned down on July 6 in Robeson County, North Carolina. According to authorities, the house caught on fire around 7:00 p.m. and was declared a "total loss." No one was home and no injuries were reported in the fire, which took three departments to bring under control.

Afeni Shakur is the mother of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. She spent a small portion of her childhood in Lumberton where the Shakur's family heritage started in the United States, as former slaves. The ranch home sat on a 56-acre farm where Shakur is growing USDA-certified crops and raising various animals. No other information has been given.


MSD's BOOTLEG MAGAZINE STAND
"I read ‘em so you don't have to!"
Never one to pass up on entertainment literature but one who's alwayz short on cash, I've got your cost-friendly alternative right here. MSD presents to you another Must See Deal. Basically, I figured out an ill scheme to come up on as many free magazines as you can count on your local newsstand. Email me for details. I'll be passing on the savings to you by reading them so you don't have to. This is the part of the show where I put my "Eric Bischoff broadcasting taped RAW results" toupee on. Enjoy.

BLENDER
It's old now, but still my favorite issue ever. So here goes - April 2007 flaunts a black-n-white cover shot of the Notorious B.I.G. for their "Ten Years Later" feature on his death. Indian (as in from India) rapper M.I.A. returns to her homeland from the UK 20 years later to film a music video for "Bird Flu". In 2004 this village was nearly destroyed by a tsunami. Also a bizarre account of a Lady Sovereign show in San Francisco where the diminutive rapper had a spitting contest with a man dressed as a jelly donut. Ghostface has relatively mundane answers for their "Do You Rock" list and still gets a positive verdict. Kid Rock will die in 2029 at the age of 58, "Get Ur Freak On" is one of their "Greatest Songs Ever" and please download Mike Jones' "Mr. Jones" right now. The main event Biggie Smalls article is both fun and just another rehash (just like the late great rappers current career as of late). Speaking of which, Rolling Stones just gave the new Biggie Greatest Hits record a one star for the same reason. Here author Jon Dolan pens a fine educational piece that will help younger readers catch up to the storyline, and learn why BIG is such a respected artist in the genre. They even throw in a few downloadable freestyles for this new generation of cell phone wielding internet geeks. Where "Thinking BIG" covers his rap career, "The Wonder Years" section traces Christopher Wallace's life story using paragraph soundbites from people who knew him best (his mother, friend Chico Delvec and P Diddy all appear, amongst others). Good stuff, but again we've seen or heard it all before on every DVD and CD since then. "Little Biggies" gives a page to his daughter T'Yanna and son Christopher Jr while Jon Coplon steps up to create their "Murder Is The Case" web of intrigue to close it. Great piece for length alone, I'm glad they honored BIG for real without any trademark Blender sarcastic barbs.

SCRATCH
Issue #18 is the July/August issue, and features Lil Wayne on the cover with DJ Khaled in the background (and Weezy is not crying). Inside, Noreaga sets it off by giving his new album a track-for-track breakdown. On "The Front Lines", new producers get their shine. This issue it's Drumma Boy, Pit, Don Vito, Freebass and The Bakery. The Fixxers are profiled making Boston's JAM'N 94.5 morning DJs look like complete idiots for not knowing who they are. For the record "The Fixxers" are DJ Quik and AMG. Mannie Fresh gets interviewed, as do coverboys DJ Khaled and Lil Wayne. True Songwriters get Hip Hop props in "It Was Written", Snoop Dogg's producing alter-ego "Niggarachi" gets shine in "Pet Sounds" and Koch Records general manager Alan Grunblatt gets an entire article to shine. DJ Jazzy Jeff gets the best review in this issue, clocking in at 4 out of 5 for Return of the Magnificent. Marley Marl wraps it all up by reminiscing on his favorite summertime parties in the NYC (presumably written before his non-fatal heart attack).

SUICIDAL WISHES

Rapper X1, brother of Onyx member Sticky Fingaz, was found dead in Los Angeles on July 5th. Details regarding his death are still sketchy but sources close to the rapper claim he committed suicide. X1 launched his career by appearing on various Onyx albums and his brother's solo projects, (Blacktrash) The Autobiography of Kirk Jones and Decade.

He was briefly signed to boxer Mike Tyson's now defunct record label Tyson Records in 2000, and was presently under contract with Las Vegas based Ball 'R Records, where he released his debut album Young, Rich & Gangsta in 2006. The set featured collaborations with E-40, Lil Flip, Suga Free and Too $hort.


TWISTED, PARANOID CONSPIRACY THEORIES
This is the part of the show where I mix Rap & Ravenloft (along with copious amounts of high-grade marijuana) to formulate some off-the-wall conspiracy theories concerning the industry. Remember, in no way are these stories factual, news-worthy or even particularly sane. It just gives me an excuse to puff more weed and wonder "What If?"...

Last week I touched a nerve when I exclaimed "I love this game!" in response to the Chris Benoit murder/suicide. Let me rephrase that. I wasn't saying it was wonderful, I was just saying Benoit's legacy is not irrevocably destroyed or ruined as many have surmised. In fact, reviewing his matches in hindsight will give them an even greater depth. His in-ring viciousness can now never be surpassed. In a world at war with a death toll rising by the minute, this is really the least of our concerns. Nor is it the first time something fishy has happened in wrestling. Which leads me to my offhand Superfly Jimmy Snuka/Hall of Fame remark. One kid asked me about that, so I've decided to take this space to elaborate. I include this story under my PARANOID TWISTED CONSPIRACY THEORIES ฎ banner because it could be just that. It's a story that's never been founded, but can't entirely be discredited. I can't even remember where I heard it, but it' stuck with me for years. And gives more credence to my statement "I love this game". Rap, rasslin, Ravenloft – to me it's all the same.

TO KILL A HOOKER
starring Superfly Jimmy Snuka and VKM Jr.

In the early ‘80s, "sports entertainment" had yet to be coined and the shadowy world of territorial wrestling still had it's tentacles deep in the game. Without question, one of the WWE's biggest stars at that time was "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. Surprisingly however, much like the JYD, Snuka never went on to win a title in the WWE despite his overwhelming popularity. Why? Cuz the muthaphuckker was a major binge artist who's probably done more blow than Keith Richardson and that kid from THE GOONIES combined. That's fine, cuz in that era practically everybody dabbled. But in addition to being ELYSIAN FIELDS-driven, unreliable, crazy, and an illiterate immigrant to boot, Snuka was a notorious woman beater. But that's not saying much either, considering Stone Cold Steve Austin's past reputation. But very few also know about Snuka's relation to the Great Khali. IE: accidental murderers.

Late one night Snuka was driving with his ring-rat girlfriend on some long, deserted highway with no rest stops in sight. They pulled over to the side of the road to piss, and his girlfriend slipped on wet concrete. Not much thought was given at the time, and the two proceeded on their way. At the show that night, Snuka returned to his hotel room to find his girl fucked up and not breathing. A few hours later she died at the hospital of head injuries. What really happened that night? With so many conflicting stories, it's hard to tell. But one thing is certain – Snuka was fligged the fuck out.

When the police, investigators and other pro wrestling "outsiders" started getting involved, WWE slid into it's defacto defensive stance – aka "keyfabe". All the sudden Jimmy Snuka can't speak English and VKM Jr is acting as his mouthpiece. To the first police officer responding to the hotel room call, Snuka said they were fooling around and his girl hit her head. Later, a nurse supposedly heard it was an accidental pushing in a heated argument between the couple. It was only during the official interrogation did Snuka come up with the "peeing on the side of the road" alibi, abstaining himself of ALL responsibility.

Ultimately the girl died, Snuka was never indicted, and I believe the case is still open without a formal ruling. But the facts remain – Snuka was a foam-at-the-mouth, frenzied barbarian on coke – something his own former wife could attest to (after he got her addicted too). He finally took it too far and killed someone, while the WWE was able to slip out of the picture by sticking to what they do best – pretend. Plus, like I said last week when discussing the Benoit story, wrestling is but a blip on the mainstream radar. Aside from us nerdy smarks, nobody really gives a fuck. So crazy shit like this will continue to transpire (although the WWE's public offerings will make it a little more difficult to sweep up). But the most chilling aspects you can gleam from these stories – and exactly what I was trying to say in last weeks Benoit monologues – comes from the esteemed WWE chairman himself. In reference to the Snuka case, Vince uttered these immortal words. Words I've never forgotten since hearing the story and words that could have came out of my own mouth last week…

"Look son, I'm in the garbage business. If you think I'm going to be hurt by the revelation that one of my wrestlers is really a violent individual, you're sadly mistaken."

Amen. Damn, I love this game.


LOST in the LAB
This is the part of our show where I dig into my archives and unearth some of rap's hidden jewels. These album or song choices may be shrouded in obscurity, or on the top of everybody's "Heard Of" list. They could be a few months young, or 25 years old. But one thing is sure - it's all HIP HOP MUSIC, and it's comin live and direct from Elysian Fields!



Big Daddy Kane
Taste of Chocolate
October 30th, 1990
Cold Chillin

Kane starts it off slow and low with a brief spoken word interlude for his "Taste of Chocolate Intro". "1990 begins a new decade since I got paid", he says before his self-produced instrumental bounces in. Kane samples "Was It Something I Said" by Sylvester, a slick beat that would show up again 6 years later as "Big Momma Thang" by Lil Kim. In the single verse intro, Kane is quoted as saying "I want to talk about peace, unity and love – not one, but all of the above". This sets the entire record off like a combination of Malcolm X and Marvin Gaye – something Kane says he aspires to be in the brief "Big Daddy Kane vs. The Media" interview that's printed in the album liner notes. "Cause I Can Do It Right" formally opens the album and is proto-typical rap fare circa 1990. Another self-produced Kane track complete with a New Jack swing chorus by Tuffy and braggadocios lines like "not even Anita Baker could get sweeter love".

Prince Paul steps in for "It's Hard Being The Kane" with a neck-snapping jazz piece that could've been included on 3 Feet High & Rising. Kane attacks the beat aggressively, defending his 5% principles of anti-swine and perfects his "style of rap kickin like Chuck Norris. Another Kane battle rap stretched out a little too thin over 4:58 minutes with practically no hooks. "Who Am I" keeps it heavy with more of Kane's strong pro-black teachings, reliving historical slavery from a 1st person perspective and evolving into the days of whitewashed rap ("but then Pop Goes The Weasel"). To keep the song firmly in the black, "Who Am I" features an appearance by Gamilah Shabazz - daughter to Malcolm X. She comes off really nice too.

"Dance With The Devil" continues the sermon with Kane warning "we're headed for self-destruction". "No Damn Good" is another Prince Paul up tempo track that falls a little flat around Kane's lackadaisical lines about hoes and gold diggers. Remember, pimpin ain't easy. The intro and chorus are all spoken word skits, between Prince Paul, Kane and later some random chicklets. Good story-telling, but we've heard better from him before. Going 180 degrees, Kane steps up next with "All of Me" featuring none other than Barry White himself – no samples. 5:45 minutes of mind sex for the ladies, Prince of Darkness style. "Keep ‘em On The Floor" livens things up a bit with Kane reminding us "I specialize in fun". Barbara Weathers brings the funk on the hook. "Mr. Pitiful" features a Cool V beat that was reused again for EPMD's "Richter Scale" 7 years later (off Back in Business). "Mr. Pitiful" is another battle rap disguised as a storyline, with Kane defending himself by saying "he loves everyone" and shouting out madd associates at the songs end.

"Put Your Weight On It" is 100% Hip Hop as Kane brings it back to the essence with his own hard rock boom bap track and sharp rhymes that cut like Ginsu knives. My only complaint is that it only clocks in at 2:47 – the second shortest song on the album. "Big Daddy verses Dolemite" was a big hit, featuring the comedic touch of Rudy Ray Moore as Dolemite. This is barely a rap song in the traditional sense. The two performers don't actually rap, it's spoken word over a fancy Shaft-like track with hardly any knock. "Down The Line" brings it back to the Hip Hop cipher with Mister Cee on the beat and his boys riding shotgun verse-for-verse. His usual backup dancers Scoob & Scrap Lover rap alongside him, and it's clear why they were only background dancers. Classic late ‘80s/ early 90's snaps ("you must know karate cuz your face is chopped"). Mister Cee, Lil Daddy Shane and Ant-Live also rap as the mic gets passed "Down The Line". Only makes Kane sound greater in comparison. "Taste of Chocolate Exit" picks up right where the "Intro" left off, with the same beat and Kane continuing to list his industry shout-outs.

Going back to the liner notes, Big Daddy Kane features a list of commonly asked questions and his scripted response in the "Big Daddy Kane versus The Media" section. It's kind of like a FAQ list for Kane fans. Overall, this record is entertaining to me just for the sentiment. It's rare to hear such positive, pro-Black messages extolling international tolerance and racial unity in rap these days. Granted some of the beats are kinda weak, but its Kane's tight-as-usual lyricism that carries most of the weight. My only criticism is that the two best all-around Hip Hop songs are also the shortest! ("Taste of Chocolate Intro" and "Put Your Weight On It"). Overall a nice, well-rounded effort that covers much of the rap spectrum circa 1990 (in the club, on the corner, pro-black and anti-bitch). 7.5 out of 10 grams. But I love the inflatable pink Cadillac float they bring to the beach on the inside jacket!