My only gripe with this song is that it isn’t Six Minutes long. Still it’s one of LL Cool J’s best thanks not only to Marley Marl who provides a sweet groove but The Flex singing on the hook. Their vocals alone turn what would’ve been a mediocre “love” song into a Pleasurable one. It; inviting singers to backdrop your plain hook; is an artistic technique more rappers should utilize.
my rating : 4 of 5
A KRS-One and Marley Marl MC/DJ collaboration would’ve been a wonderful thing in 1989 or 1990 when they were at their artistic peaks. This album comes nearly two decades late. Actually Marley still has skills when it comes to making vintage rap beats. It’s KRS-One who’s fallen off a cliff with a bombardment of wack hooks and lazy rhymes. Hip Hop Lives, but The Blastmaster seems to be doing his best to kill it.
my rating : 2 of 5
2007
I don’t know whose Passion this is, but it certainly isn’t mine. Peach is generally one of my favorite artificial fruit flavors, but this is a major exception. It tastes less like peaches and more like a weird chemical imitation. The flavor is okay at first sip, but it gets worse the more you drink.
my rating : 2 of 5
This Ghost is based on those Orange Cream bars you probably enjoyed as a kid. It also tastes like one. It’s not as good though because it’s hard, probably impossible, to match the texture of ice cream; the best part; in an Energy drink. The can claims “no artificial flavors”, suspiciously enough, yet it’s listed on the ingredients list.
my rating : 3 of 5
Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood; a parody of Menace To Society, South Central, Juice and Boyz N The Hood; is as ridiculous as its title, but that’s the point. It’s more of a ninety-minute In Living Color skit than a real movie, but, unlike most comedies, it’s actually funny most of the time and occasionally hilarious. It helps to have watched the flicks it spoofs to be fully amused.
my rating : 4 of 5
1996
If you thought they’d leave the new Planet Of The Apes franchise; a nearly two-billion-dollar success for Hollywood; a tidy trilogy, you’re a stupid “human”. Kingdom, as superfluous as its existence may be, is a worthy successor. It’s also a new beginning as Caesar, now replaced with lead chimp Noa, becomes legend. The dialogue is mostly stodgy and pretentious, but the plot, which also evolves around a supergirl named Mae, is engaging enough.
my rating : 4 of 5
2024
That’s Shit is more like it. Not to say this Fruit Bar isn’t edible, but the flavor is more like something that came out of someone’s rear end than anything delicious. There are “just three ingredients”; Blueberries, dates and active cultures; which is impressively healthy, but there’s a reason other snack products add more. A cookie coating à la Fig Newtons could really help with the taste.
my rating : 2 of 5
The title should be spelled right; Strawberries And Cream; and the High T verse should come after both of MC Eiht’s. Those are the only two major flaws on this otherwise palatable song. The best part is the beat; a jazzy groove with a delicious bassline; which isn’t fully appreciated till Bam and Chill start talking (drugs) over it near the end.
my rating : 4 of 5
1999
This is a traditional duet on which a man and a woman sing sweet nothings to each other if not under moonlight then the streetlights shining in thru the bedroom windows. It’s Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright, but it may as well be Nat King Cole and Lena Horne as their melodies embrace over a graceful orchestral score.
my rating : 4 of 5
1979
This song should end at about the 3:41 mark before Shaquille O’Neal enters the court. His verse is decent enough, aside from the faddish “95” reference, but the song would be better without him. Michael Jackson holds his own (“crotch”) vocally; there are some funky harmonies happening here; especially during the peaks when he starts doing his signature ad-libs.
my rating : 4 of 5
1995
“The magic of cereal is that you’re eating and drinking at the same time with one hand,” a Kellogg’s employee proclaims. It’s one of the rare occasions in which the constant barrage of food jokes actually work. Most simply aren’t funny, especially during the imbecilic first half, which leaves one wondering why what might’ve worked as a short comedy skit; about the invention of Pop Tarts; is being served as a full-length movie.
my rating : 2 of 5
2024
I don’t know what made Spice 1 think his Platinum OG album warranted a sequel, but the title is the least of its oddities. More baffling is the decision to put a random photo of 2Pac on the cover and invite a slew of guest rappers; every song has at least one; when the concept is about his own legacy.
That last bit is the worst thing about this project as Sway Calloway interrupts the playlist with a total of five Talks. He commemorates Spice 1 as if attending his funeral, but the interludes are out of place and only serve to annoy. The best songs include Come Out With Me, Not Easy and Real G’s.
my rating : 3 of 5
2024