Tag: Marley Marl

Roxanne Shanté or Tone Lōc : Whose Fatal Attraction song is better?

Roxanne Shanté or Tone Lōc : Whose Fatal Attraction song is better? Roxanne Shanté or Tone Lōc : Whose Fatal Attraction song is better?

These songs were inspired by Fatal Attraction; the 1987 movie starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close. Roxanne Shanté’s came two years later and Tone Lōc’s two years after that. Both are first-person accounts of romantic allure turned violent; the former playing the maddened mistress while the latter serves as a heartless casanova.

Roxanne Shanté tells her story in a more interesting way; her raps/verses are better composed and I prefer the vintage effect on her vocals; but her song gets rather lonely during the breaks. Tone Lōc’s (breaks) are enhanced by “baby” ad-libs and bits of said movie dialogue, which help make his (song) the more Attractive of the two.

my vote : Tone Lōc

audio review : Six Minutes Of Pleasure ( song ) … LL Cool J ( featuring The Flex )

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

audio review : Mama Said Knock You Out ( album ) ... LL Cool J

audio review : Hip Hop Lives ( album ) … KRS-One + Marley Marl

audio review : Hip Hop Lives ( album ) ... KRS-One + Marley Marl

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

Masta Ace’s Other Side Of Town or LL Cool J’s Cheesy Rat Blues : Which song is better?

Masta Ace's Other Side Of Town or LL Cool J's Cheesy Rat Blues : Which song is better? Masta Ace's Other Side Of Town or LL Cool J's Cheesy Rat Blues : Which song is better?

These are songs by, at least in the case of LL Cool J, rich men portraying the role of bums. LL plays himself gone broke; he has the Cheesy Rat Blues; while Masta Ace simply goes by the name of Joe; a student slash panhandler from The Other Side Of Town. Both songs were released in 1990. Both are produced by Marley Marl. That means he made the music.

The beats are damn funky, but Town’s, with its splendid bassline and organ breaks, sounds a little better to my ears. Masta Ace’s raps are also more poignant and better composed technically, but LL Cool J is funnier and thus more entertaining, especially during the second half. His “back of the bus”, “who this” and “know how to get busy” lines are classic.

my vote : ?

audio review : Bad Sister ( album ) … Roxanne Shanté

audio review : Bad Sister ( album ) ... Roxanne Shanté

Bad Sister isn’t a bad album, but it would be a lot better without all the filler, which come mostly in the form of overblown remixes. The Hip-Hop version of Live On Stage clocks in at damn-near seven minutes.

The best song is Feelin Kinda Horny, the only one not produced by Marley Marl, interestingly enough. Fatal Attraction and Knockin Hiney are also decent, though the latter includes a repeat (filler) verse.

my rating : 3 of 5

1989