Mr. Hard is a malicious rapper from the streets of Dallas, TX. He is known for his vile tone and rough delivery. Strap 4 Life is his sophomore album and it was released in 1998 on Strapped 4 Life Records. The wicked production is done by Ice Kold and Mr. Hard himself. The tracks have a distinct dark theme to them and that tone is presented throughout. The use of multiple instruments keep the beats fresh along with a minor dose of sampling that is quite commendable. Mr. Hard is certainly an audible lyricist. His tone is very raspy and his rough delivery is filled with explicit word play. The rhymes are equally roguish and they end up matching the beats perfectly. Features are made by Kottonmouth, B-Dawg, Misery, Big Solo-S, G-Related and Uptight of Da Buddha Klan. A good amount of core content is displayed over sixteen quality cuts. Although there is a large cloud of mystery hovering over the artist and the album, the tangible is still quite impressive. In the end, this record remains as a true relic and as a musical testament to the never ending abyss of the underground.
Yusef Cross, better known as Fesu, is a rapper who hails from the prominent district of Greenspoint in Houston, TX. He is a talented lyricist and also a well known activist for the honorable, Nation Of Islam. War With No Mercy is his debut album and it was released in 1994 on Continuum Records. The record in its entirety is produced by Ronald "T.K." Mims and is arranged by the local activist, Quanell X. The beats are an intricate display of funky guitars, groovy bass lines and emphatic drums. Also the samples are wisely chosen and the end result definitely exceed expectations. On the other hand, Fesu is an absolute brute on the microphone. His rhymes are a direct portrayal of a young man facing adversity in day to day life. Whether its the racial tensions in the city or the ever growing drug epidemic, Fesu takes the listener through a rough and rugged ride with his assault on the microphone. Guest appearances are made by Mr. Loc, Bobby Womack and Minister Robert Muhammad. Overall this release is held in high regards, mainly due to the genuine core content that is presented over fourteen solid tracks. Not only did it put young Fesu in the national limelight but it also help solidify him as an artist. An artist that is not easily swayed by material possessions or belongings but one that is adept at speaking the truth, regardless of Billboard charts or record sales.
Mad Flava is four man crew from Dallas, TX. It consists of Cold Chris, Erich "Hype Dawg" Krause, DJ Baby G and Don Kassan. It is a group that focuses specifically on rhyming technique and lyrical flow. They tend to give off that east coast hip-hop vibe with their style of production and even the delivery of their lyrics. From Tha Ground Unda is their debut album and it was released in 1994 on Priority Records. All the production duties are assigned to Erich Krause while DJ Baby G provides the mixing and scratching. Since the beats are mostly derived through the process of sampling, the producers make sure they put the keyboards and the drum machines to good use. In the end, the beats turn out to be very crisp and completely entertaining. Lyrically the record is solid and all four members contribute. They show a lot of emphasis toward their flows and project them with clever word play. Cold Chris seems to be the more dominant member but the rest of them are not too far behind. Featuring on the album is Docta Ling and Goldie "The Mack Mother." All in all the record delivers a good product and shows great poise. Although the group seemed to be headed in the right direction, Priority Records somehow ended up mismanaging them. Everything from licensing the samples to distribution issues and lack luster promotional marketing all led to the group fading into the depths of the underground. Also, with no follow up release in sight, the members became disgruntled and eventually fell apart. To their credit though, what they did release as a group was something far more astonishing and rewarding.
Cash Money Millionaires was a super group from the notorious city of New Orleans, LA. It was formed in the late nineties and composed with the two existing groups, the Hot Boy$ and the Big Tymers. It consists of Baby, Mannie Fresh, Juvenile, Turk, Lil' Wayne and last but not least, B.G. The six men transformed into a very formidable force that spread like wild fire through the entire southern region of the United States. Baller Blockin is actually a soundtrack to the action and comedy film by the same name. It was released in 2000 on Cash Money Records. The production is mainly handled by Mannie Fresh along with a few other producers chipping in on some tracks like Pimp C of UGK, Livin' Proof, Stormy Day and Massive. As always, Fresh does not disappoint with what he brings to the table. He laces the beats with his signature style and makes sure they are worthy of carrying his name. The tracks contain numerous instruments and are very well put together. Different variations of the group are used for each song for this compilation type album so lyrically the album is acceptable. Juvenile, Wayne and B.G. being the standouts ofcourse. Aside from those three, there really is nothing more for the listener except for a couple of one liners from Fresh and Baby. Now there are some very good guest spots on here that belong to UGK, Nas, Mac 10, E-40, Eightball & MJG, Rappin'-4-Tay, The Bravehearts and Unplugged. The Millionaires eventually disbanded over monetary issues around the year 2002. One by one everyone left the label except Lil' Wayne. This was known as the rise and fall of the second generation of artists from Cash Money Records. Although it is now a thing of the past but one will always remember Cash Money by the masterful production of the great Mannie Fresh, who's superb style is still being imitated but can never be duplicated. A fierce flame spitting Juve who always brought the heat to the mic with his unorthodox flow pattern. A ruthless and fearless B.G. who's aggressive delivery was unmatched. A young and raw but extremely cold blooded Lil' Wayne who's lyrical dexterity is a direct result of mentoring by Bun B of UGK. Whether it was their solo recordings or group efforts, there was a point in time when Cash Money Records seemed damn near unstoppable.
I.B.G., which stands for Innocent But Guilty, is a group that represents from Franklin, LA. It consists of Eddie Bo, Rocky and B-Dub. The group debuted with We Ballin in 1999 on Red Boy Records and quickly gained some notoriety for their effort. The album in its entirety is produced by the in-house producer, Choklate Chip. The beats are quite crafty and are assembled with a wide range of instruments. Some are assisted through the process of sampling, such as the notable title track "We Ballin," which heavily samples the song "Jamming" by Bob Marley & The Wailers. The track ends up being a wonderful take on the original reggae song that is completed with a southern fried twist. All three members are more than capable on the microphone. Their rhymes tend to be somewhat fast paced and are delivered precisely. Also the word play used is quite commendable. Guest appearances are made by DJ Dolby D, Papa Reu, Red Boy and the 4-5 Click. Even though this project was a respectable release by the trio and is very sought after by their fans, there are times when it becomes a little bland. The one area this album is lacking in is originality but since this record can be classified under "baller" or "bling" rap from the late nineties, it hardly matters. That being said it still should not discourage the listener because this was truly a valiant effort by the group and that is why they are still remembered as home town heroes by the small city of Franklin, Louisiana.
Tha Darkside is a notorious group from Baton Rouge, LA. It consists of K.E., Color Wheel, DJ Cross Fader, The Night Prince and R-Mack. Tales From Tha Darkside is their debut album and it was released in 1993 on E.K.S. Records. The record is produced by the funky Sharntii Baheth with some assistance from Ernest "The Night Prince" Smith as well as DJ Cross Fader who provides the mixing and scratching. The beats are assembled with some pure yet simple melodies. They tend to be very harmonic and really compliment the group well. Although a couple of them are sample assisted, they still somehow manage to give off a fresh vibe. The group's persona can be best described as somewhat street savvy. Their rhymes are certainly prolific and contain feelings depicted straight from harsh realities. The lyrics veer off just a tad bit on a few tracks but are pretty much legit for the most part. All members are quite capable on the mic and the two standouts being Color Wheel & K.E. Overall the album keeps itself afloat by presenting the core content in an unorthodox manner all the while displaying a unique sense of style. Although this happens to be an obscure record from the grisly swamps of Baton Rouge, it still has the ability to compete with any mainstream release from that time period. Also, rest in peace to the one and only K.E. of Tha Darkside.
Livin' Illegal is a duo from the south side of Houston, TX. It consists of two members whom are under the aliases, G-Down and Gangsta Slim. The two met at a local high school and quickly became fond of each others rapping ability. They ended up being discovered by Anthony Johnson and Married To The Game was released in 1997 on Hollow Point Records. It is produced mainly by Bruce "Grim Reaper" Rhodes and Will-B-Fresh while Icey Hott and G-Lee help out on a couple of tracks. The production is top notch southern funk to say the least. Groovy guitar licks meshed with edgy synths and a good dose of bass are incorporated into each track. The cuts flow very smoothly and also blend effortlessly with each other. The duo take full advantage of what is laid out for them and take turns displaying their vocal arsenal. Rhymes are filled with word play and certainly come off with an aggressive nature. The tone is definitely set at rough and it helps to steer the project. The two members make sure they give it their all on the microphone and leave the studio booth with no regrets. Guest appearances are made by MC Thick, Icey Hott and K.B. Da Kidnappa of Street Military. All in all this record tends to be a prime example of where the label held the producers and the artists accountable for the final output. It exemplifies a genuine product which is delivered through hard work and determination. Although this release dwells in the depths of the underground it still deserves a listen and a honorable mention.
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