Albums I listened to this week [6/22/08]

NYGz - Welcome To G-Dom [2007]
Nearly half of the album is produced by DJ Premier. As a result, much of the album feels like a Gang Starr or M.O.P. offering. Guest artists include Royal Flush, J.U.I.C.E., and Blaq Poet. Welcome 2 G-Dom includes "G'z and Hustlaz" which samples the same beat used in "Gs and Hustlaz" from Snoop Dogg's classic Doggystyle album.

Highlights: "3 Man Weave," "Welcome 2 G-Dom," "Raps 4 U," "Bow Down" and "Laundry Kings."
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EMC - The Show [2008]
EMC is Masta Ace, Punchline, Wordsworth and Strick. With that group of MCs, I knew the lyrics would be strong. All I needed was quality beats. I feel like I got them. The Show includes production by:

• Marco Polo (who has produced for Boot Camp Click, Masta Ace, Pumpkinhead)
  
• Ayatollah (Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Sadat X, Cormega)
  
• Nicolay (Little Brother, The Foreign Exchange, Moon Baker)
  

Highlights: "Who We Be" and "U Let Me Grow."
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Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill [1991]
The masters of high hip-hop. B-Real's nasally delivery was a perfect match for DJ Muggs' production efforts. In many ways, this album's significance was not realized until the album had aged. For example, in a 1991 edition of Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Kevin Powell (who was on season 1 of MTV's The Real World) gave the album 3 out of 5 stars. Eight years later (in 1999), Rolling Stone identified the album as one of the "Essential Recordings of the 90's." Go figure.

Highlights: "How I Could Just Kill A Man," "Real Estate" and "Hand On The Pump."
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NameTag - The Rhyme Royal Mixtape
NameTag...he's from Detroit. He appeared on at least one song by Black Milk ("Say Something"). He raps. That's all I know.

I consider this listening to be my introduction to NameTag. Fortunately, the album leaves a better impression than his MC moniker. Seriously? NameTag? He should find a DJ named PostItNote. (I bet there's a deep or emotional rationale behind the name, but I just don't know it.)

The mixtape includes production by Black Milk (who has produced for Canibus, Slum Village, Pharoahe Monch, Skyzoo and Guilty Simpson).

Highlights: "Red Alert," "MC Means...," "So Raw Part 2" and "I Applaud You."
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UMC's - Fruits Of Nature [1991]
I forgot that this album had some fun gems on it. Fruits Of Nature was released in a time when it was still okay to be a "fun" MC (such as Digital Underground, Kwame, Black Sheep, De La Soul, Chubb Rock, Kid N Play, Nice & Smooth, Tone Loc, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Leaders of the New School, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, and Heavy D). Everybody didn't insist on being hardcore. It was OK to be everyday people.

Apparently, both of the UMC's are still in the rap game. Hass G produced Magic Stick by 50 Cent and Lil' Kim. Meanwhile, Kool Kim now raps under the name NYOIL (who released a fairly controversial track called "Y'all Should All Get Lynched" which was banned from youtube.com (but you can see it here)).

Highlights: "One To Grow On" and "Blue Cheese."