Wet Boys - Puttin Out The Fire Vol. 1

Wet Boys - Puttin Out The Fire Vol. 1

Wet Boys was a group that represented the murky bayous of New Orleans, LA.  The group was founded in the mid nineties by the pioneer, Sporty T. The main cause for the group with their opposite moniker was to continue the war on wax between Sporty T and the Hot Boy$ of Cash Money Records. The Wet Boys consisted of T-Bone, Sporty T and the Black John Gotti. Puttin Out The Fire is their debut album and it was released in 1998 on Sporty Records. The production is of superb quality and is entirely handled by T-Bone. His strong intent can be heard from the very first track. From the raw bass lines to the woozy hooks to the scintillating synths, all hit in the right place at the right time. The beats are composed with a sense of purpose and attention is given to the smallest detail. T-Bone may not be as flashy or even as gifted as the rest of his contemporaries but what he lacks in experience, he makes up in presentation. Lyrically the album is also pretty strong. The subject matter may be redundant due to all the tracks being directed as a shot towards the Hot Boy$ or Cash Money Records but there is never a dull moment in the rhymes. Sporty's flow is certainly in the upper echelon when compared to his counterparts. His change of pace, his firm vocabulary and even his occasional humorous tone are a sight to behold. Combine this with his veteran status in the Rap game and one has a commanding figure in the studio and a brute upon the microphone. Guest appearances are made by Ice Mike, Greg and Lyric. The album closes out with a commendable total of eighteen substantial tracks that certainly give some insight on the beef between the two parties. The record as a whole is a respectable one because of the quality production and the lyrical content. It is also an extraordinary piece when considering the history between the two camps. Sadly, Sporty T was murdered in 2008 which ended the feud once and for all. Rest in peace to one of New Orleans' finest.

Deadly Verses
Rope Round Ya Neck

Cash Money Millionaires - Platinum Instrumentals

Cash Money Millionaires - Platinum Instrumentals
Cash Money Millionaires was a super group that represented the muddy banks of New Orleans, LA. The group consisted of Mannie Fresh, Baby, Lil' Wayne, Juvenile, Turk and B.G. The collective was fabricated during the late nineties through the originally constructed Hot Boy$ and Big Tymers. As the name suggests, Platinum Instrumentals was a instrumental album which was released in 2000 on Cash Money Records. The album is basically compiled with the hottest singles ever released under the infamous label. As always, production is handled by the musical genius, Mannie Fresh. He brings his classic style to the table and certainly does not disappoint. A style that is often imitated but never duplicated. Even though he is very talented with various types of synthesizers and drum machines, it's his energetic approach and melodic arrangement that sets him apart from others. Not enough can be said about his profound production template that hasn't already been said before. One can only hope to bear witness and ultimately appreciate the sheer brilliance at hand. The record boasts a collection of thirteen tracks which were hand picked off of various releases by the group members. The tracks are not snippets or samples but instead are provided in their original and uncut nature. This release not only helped up and coming artists in their musical endeavors but also gave the Cash Money fan base a collector's item. An item that single-handedly displays the pure intellect and the genuine prowess of the man behind the chart topping music.

Deadly Tracks
Back That Azz Up

VooDoo Mob - 210 Soldiers

VooDoo Mob - 210 Soldiers
VooDoo Mob is a collective that represents from the dark alleys of San Antonio, TX. The crew consists of Voodoo King, 666 and Magik Man. 210 Soldiers is their debut EP and it was released in 1997 on 210 Records. Production is solely provided by the Magik Man, who is the group's devoted in-house producer. The rhythms are presented in a very grim and gloomy style. They are derived through heavy bass lines which incorporate a steady usage of samples and are finally finished off with some dark synths. The bass heavy pattern meshes beautifully with the horrorcore sound. It's a smooth transition and one that definitely pays homage to the early Bass culture of San Antonio's diverse Rap scene. Lyrically, the EP is quite hard to judge due to the fact that the vocals are only laid on two of the tracks. The rest of the cuts are just plain instrumentals. The group does show a limited amount of promise on the microphone but their rhymes give off a very simple vibe. The lyrics seem like freestyles that are coming fresh off the domes rather than something that is a bit more concrete. There is hardly any direction in the songs and it seems as if the verses were just cut and pasted together. As mentioned above, there are only two cuts with vocals so this assessment maybe a bit harsh but one can only imagine what the group members could have accomplished with the rest of the tracks or possibly even a full fledged album. The EP closes out with a meager total of seven tracks and since this is a tape only release, some sound quality issues are to be somewhat expected. Overall it's a decent effort by the SA Town natives and one that is as obscure as finding a needle in a haystack. While the release does carry a strange and intriguing vibe, sadly there is just not enough substance or core matter to keep the listener coming back for more.

Album Notes
* Also worth checking out is Michael Mixerr's review on this tape.