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
“Plantains are high in fiber and resistant starch,” the bag reads, “which makes them a great crispy alternative to potato chips.” They also taste about as good, which is telling considering the fact that there are only two other ingredients; sunflower oil and salt. You may also be surprised to realize they’re not at all sweet but rather savory.
my rating : 4 of 5
It’s a fun concept, but this tastes like neither Skittles; my favorite candy; nor regular Cotton Candy. It’s more of the latter than the former, at least initially before the chemical aftertaste settles in, but either way it’s a blatant fraud. It also smells like something you shouldn’t be eating.
my rating : 2 of 5
With so many males pretending to be females, spotting what seems like a beautiful college girl in heavy makeup is cause for pause, especially when her lips are under a five-o’clock shadow. Scientific research suggests Mariah is, however, a real woman who, like most in the public spotlight, simply tries to fake perfection with cosmetics.
She’s naturally cute though with chipmunk cheeks that show dimples when she smiles. Her skin tone is light enough. Her body is basically flawless, at least on the outside. I’d like for her to sit on my face so I could study her inner anatomy. A taste test would be needed for chemical confirmation. Nothing sexual; strictly Science.
my rating : 5 of 5
2024
They shouldn’t have changed the style of the chorus at the end and Dres should’ve followed Posdnuos/Trugoy’s flow/echoes in his verse. Otherwise everything about this song, from host Mike G’s introduction to the random shoutouts at the end, is just right. Kudos to Prince Paul for the funky beat and quirky “ball” samples.
my rating : 4 of 5
1991
Angie (Bastian) says on the bag that this Popcorn “is made with real, simple ingredients”; “you know, ingredients you don’t have to scrunch up your face to say”. The list is indeed impressively modest, which wouldn’t mean much if it didn’t make for a “flavorful snack”. The taste holds up though, thanks mostly to the powdery White Cheddar coating.
my rating : 4 of 5
This French Ice Cream, a Van Leeuwen “limited edition” for the fall (“autumn”) season, would’ve been better as just Cinnamon Roll. The Pumpkin bit, while far from overwhelming, does its flavor no favors. Still it tastes good enough to eat and enjoy as you prepare for the cold of winter.
my rating : 4 of 5
This compilation, a DM Records album sampler of sorts, starts with two good songs. Bass 305’s Return, with its pretty pianos and Indian chants, brings about a sense of grace and placidity. Underground Bass Masters follow with a groove that sounds even better; the title cut from their newest album.
There are actually three UBM songs here and they’re all good. The set is mostly lackluster otherwise. I like Subsonic Love, but Operating System is nonfunctional and What Is A DJ should be removed from the playlist. Bass Alliance is missing in action, but their album title makes an odd appearance.
my rating : 3 of 5
1999
