II Nations - Trapped In The System

II Nations - Trapped In The System

II Nations is a duo that represents from the wild neighborhood of South Park in Houston, TX. It consists of Showtyme and K-Swift. One might remember Showtyme due to his later prominence in the H-Town rap scene but this release will remind the listeners of is his raw and humble beginnings. Trapped In The System is their debut album and it was released in 1994 on Suspect Records. Production is handled by the masterful John Swift, while being assisted by Don Honoree and Byron Hordge. The beats are a classic example of mid nineties Texas funk. Not only are the groovy on the ears but are also hard and edgy in composure. They display various construction properties such as sampling, scratching, and most importantly, proper mixing. Lyrics are also of worthy of praise. The two members bring upon a diverse force upon the microphone. For example, Showtyme is more blunt and strikes the listener with his powerful voice meanwhile K-Swift is a bit laid back in demeanor and his smooth delivery and overall tone is easy going. Also, the two rappers have great chemistry together and can feed off of each other with ease. Guest appearances are made by Grimm, Papa Reu, Endo, Pistol Grip, Gangsta Profile and Broken English. All in all, this was a decent release that closes out with eleven tracks. Subject matter progresses into various categories such as, the communal struggle, the overwhelming poverty and lastly, the judicial injustice. Overall, it's a strong release by the duo. It has plenty of quality content and timeless material. Even with some of these advantages, the release could not garner any type of meaningful attention. The duo ended up disappearing for a while before Showtyme reemerged in the late nineties and is still present in the music industry today. As for K-Swift, things were not so fortunate, aside from a couple guest spots, he ended up leaving the music scene altogether. In any way, what's important is what they accomplished together and that happens to be a fine work art, that not only oozes style but also gives a good sense of realism.

Deadly Verses
Sit Back Relax


Album Notes
* A big thanks goes out to save_undaground and syko187 for providing this one.
* Since this is a tape only release some sound quality issues are to be expected.

Profound, Ltd. - Possession With Intent To Distribute

Profound, Ltd. - Possession With Intent To Distribute
Profound, Ltd. are a duo from Houston, TX. It consists of Groove and Banoe. Possession With Intent To Distribute is their debut album and it was released in 2000 on Red Boy Records. Production on the record is done by DJ Dolby D, Damon Spencer, Game-Be-No and Ulta E. The beats fuse elements of that classic southern funk with new wave melodies. That approach is firmly effective so the rhythms end up being thoroughly captivating. The tracks also happen to include decent amounts of chopping and scratching which are all courtesy of DJ Dolby D. The lyrics carry a sturdy vibe all throughout. Both members yield distinct styles and have the ability to spit. Groove delivers his fair share with a deeper tone and dialect while Banoe conveys with word play and content schemes. Their rhymes substantially vary just as well as their subject matter. The album starts off a bit on the club savvy side but quickly takes a turn towards a much more serious direction. Guest appearances are made by Pimp C of UGK, Lil' Keke of the Screwed Up Click, Legal Substanz, Low Down, A-Wall, Dolby D, Showtyme, I.B.G. and Red Boy. Overall the album contains good quality material and it is unblemished inside and out. It is one of the many gems that get released nationally but go unnoticed entirely. The duo had plans for a follow up album but that idea was later dropped mainly due to the mediocre attention and the lack of notoriety the group received.

Deadly Verses
Remember ft. I.B.G., Legal Substanz, & Dolby D

G-Low - The Last Man Standing

G-Low - The Last Man Standing
G-Low is a rapper from the neighborhood of South Park in Houston, TX. He has been rapping since the age of 13. He was also part of a upcoming group but they separated over financial terms. This is his debut album and it was released in 2000 on Worldbound Entertainment. Production was skillfully done by the great Mike B while he is assisted by the likes of Rakesh "Roc" Jacob and Bruce "Eightball" Lattin. The beats are dope and very melodic. G-Low's flow is fast paced and he can catch the beats with ease. Featuring on the album is Legal Substanz, Z-Ro, Trae, GT, Rapsta, Kano, Hawk, South Park Mexican, Lil' O, Ace Deuce, Ms. Kitty, Kiotti, Choc Stilli, Ghetto Mob, Mr. O, Ms. Kitty, Pancho V, Semo Stylz, Showtyme Spanky D, Sweet P, Warren B and Wicked Crickett. A solid record overall that maintains its' commendable content all throughout. It also includes two bonus tracks, one of which is chopped & screwed.

Deadly Verses
Doin' It On the Weekend ft. Hawk, Kano & Rapsta