I'd like to read a thoroughly researched and well substantiated biography of 2Pac. While I'm pretty damn familiar with Biggie's story, (not the Hollywood story, as much as I did like Notorious, but the relatively ugly realities of Biggie's treatment of his wife and his partners; his general seediness as a human being, etc.) I feel like I would be really into an account of the period in 2pac's life to which you're referring.

I'm sure you can point me in the right direction on this, yes? I've thought about buying this FBI case notes on Tupac Shakur that's available in iBooks, but while I want realism, I'd also like it story-form. Or at the very least a consistent chronological account.

Whatever you do dont read the crap book by Michael Eric Dyson.. its a.fantastic premise for an acadmic analysis of tupac BUT while I usually enjoy Brotha Dyson's crucial work, in this instance his total ignorance of a HUGE part of tupac's biography causes him to reach and project so much so as to be totally inaccurate. Even worse,tyson's song selection is so limited so as to be ineffective. Just watch the two films it pretty much covers it all

I was pretty disappointed w/ Dyson's editing of Born To Hold Mics: Reading Nas' Illmatic.

also I remember liking Thug Angel but it's been so long since I've seen it. Will have to re-watch. But Resurrection is brilliant. Something I can rewatch over and over. And do.

Notorious was entertaining. But yeah. Biggie needs a real documentary, not some fun theater fluff.

been really loving the beverly kills ep recently. early icp is the shit.

Not you too derek..

Snoop's tenth proper studio album is an interesting one. It feels like he was really trying to make a comeback in the sense that he wanted to be respected (and perhaps get airplay) on the same level of aging rappers like Jay-Z. And as such, this album is actually really straight forward, with virtually none of the weird experiments that Snoop had dabbled with on many of his previous albums. It's also relatively short - which is a good thing when it comes to Snoop, as he's so often prone to filling up as much of an 80 minute disc has he can regardless of song quality. Here we've got just 11 songs. The record opens with "I Wanna Rock," a track that samples Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock's classic "It Takes Two." "I Wanna Rock" got Snoop a ton of radio time, and rightly so as it's a damn fine song. Much of the rest of the album is a lot more average though. There is certainly a consistency to the style of the tracks, which is always nice to hear focus on a Snoop album. But at the same time the Dogg really seemed to be rapping his ass off throughout most of the album, and unfortunately a lot of the beats just don't really come off as anything too standout. Although I've got to admit that the Romantics interpolation on "Secrets" is an odd and interesting choice of samples by producer Battlecat. That urge to prove himself relevant seems to show with some of the guests brought in here. The Lil Jon track is better than you'd guess, but also sounds pretty subdued by the Crunk Rocker's standards. Strangely that was maybe a missed opportunity. Similarly the Soulja Boy duet fares better than expected, but it's hard to really say that their voices mesh well together. Ultimately there's not a track here that I'd really call bad though. Which is of course a complement. There's just not enough here that I'd consider great to really be excited about. It's a good album, but one that I'd suggest only after you've digested enough of the better Snoop albums and start fiending for some fresh tracks.

The is a very underrated aspect of Snoop.. that almost all his records are like 70-90 plus minutes

Is that a good thing? I've always found hip hop in general to be too afraid of editing, just in case that one cut track could have/would have been the radio smash. Especially with albums that choose to pump in as many skits as possible.

Anyway, I've never heard this Sniop album but now I kinda want to.

I also saw something of Snoop's the other day online: a compilation of buried treasures released just after Death Row went totally under. It's called "the Lost Death Row Sessions vol.1" or something. I don't know...

It's under the name "Snoop Doggy Dogg" but it's clearly some kind of opportunistic parent label release put out by the company that bought up the rights to the DR archives.

I'm really interested in hearing it. If only for mobelty's sake.

Well, not me, I assure you.

that album got really good reviews. It seems like it was pretty untouched. Not all remixes and shit like Dead Man Walking or Pac's Nu Mix Classix albums. That Death Row Sessions actually has legit Doggystyle outtakes and Dre produced songs.

sev, I'm reading Questlove's autobiography right now - Mo Meta Blues. It's really good. On sale for $9 on the Google Play Store... though I think you're an Apple dood huh? Anyway so worth reading.

YES! I've always loved Snoop's records, and for them to be long enough to put on for an entire evening session is brilliant! We used to just kick it all night and go through all kinds of other records, but those Snoop records would last the duration..

When there is a good record, why stop it?

my thing is I'm always a fan of short and solid records. I like a really good 40 min record honestly. I mean Midnight Mauraders is 50 mins. Just so perfect. I don't need a full hour. I need just this solid burst of genius.

I was lagging on responding to this but thank you, I haven't heard Digable Planets in 15 years and I basically totally forgot about them until you posted it and then BAM an entire portion of my brain came back into focus and I totally remembered loving them.. They were probably the most "west coast" sounding of Brooklyn groups EVER... I just love that groove, that bass, those bad ass piano fills.. PERFECT record yo. This was the sound that gave birth to one of my favorite records, Fugees the Score.. I got to order this on Amazon mp3 TONIGHT



For rap I like looooooong records so I can either bump the continuously in my whip or we can put them on for extended kick back sessions into the evening..

notable lengthy records includes

Tribe Called Quest The Love Movement
Slick Rick Art of Story Tellin
E-40 The Element of Surprise
Bone Thugz N Harmony Art of War
Tupac All Eyez On Me
Snoop Dogg The Da Game Is To Be Sold Not To Be Told
The Game Doctor's Advocate

all these are at least 80 minutes though Bone, E-40, and Tupac are double disc

and the most lengthy and significant of them all

Killah Priest The Psychic World of Walter Reed

glad I could be of service! And really, this is exactly why I share these little reviews instead of keeping them to myself. On top of the potential for interesting conversation about records, it's awesome to discover/re-discover something you love.


nah, Masta Ace Incorporated is the most west coast Brooklyn group :D


Agree 100%. I made that same connection in my mind when I was re-listening to this. I feel like Blowout Comb was more of a blueprint for The Score than Blunted On Reality was.



see, this is one I feel like drags a bit once you get into the bonus tracks. Though I guess if those had been on a 2nd disc instead then it would feel like a pretty good length album to me.


This one was really 80 mins? I don't remember it being so long. Maybe cuz it's f'ing awesome and time flies when yr having fun haha.

+1

EARL is only 24 mins and it's perfect.

EARL is a great example. That record ends and I'm like "click... start over"

I love long albums and I love short ones. I shouldn't generalize.

I mean, I think my top 2 hip hop albums ever are MBDTF & Wu-Tang Forever.

But skits get old fast. I wish they'd die & that only the best would remain. What a way to steal focus from the music. Igh!

Yes, 99% of skits are skipppable garbage.