Brings back the flow to rap
920489
I love this girls style.  Not only is she a talented rapper, but she's about feminism and not T&A shots.  None of her videos show her being slutty or super sexy... she's just focusing on her talented skills, which are amazing.  I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this #1 female rapper.

Google female rapper...
2424767
If you love rap, buy this.  Real lyricism, plus it's conscious and will have you consider making some maybe much needed changes in your life.  I had lost this CD years ago, and now I've finally got it back  :)
703722
This cd is on of the best i've heard come out of the rap world in a while. This cd has really nice beats with a sick flow from chamillionaire and catchy hooks. BUY IT!!!!!
3816368
Just listening to track 4 Ride this and all I will say in 2012 this still sounds fresh. One thing I've always said about unground hiphop of the past 10-15 years is alot of it has a sound that will stay relevant for years and this is proof of that. This is probably due to the fact that the jazzy underground hiphop sound hasn't changed much and is fairly basic to begin with. The beats are dope and as much as it's not all mind blowing on every track, 3/4 the album is fire. It has held up well and should be a partial blueprint for new producers of this genre if they want something to look toward when modelling their sound.
Now stand out tracks?
Lets talk let downs since most of it is awesome.
The only tracks I wasn't feeling are 5, 12 and 14.
The rest of the album is awesome and I this is in my top 10 hiphop compilations next to the In Ya Mellow Tone Series, Mushroom Jazz Series and Tres Presents Shipping and Handling. So if you dig that kinda stuff and the artists of the album. You must pick this up. Especially since there are copies for as low as 1c.

-DJ A.C.C.L.A.I.M
3545896
What can I say? This is a rap wonder. The Notorious was Gloriuous and he showed us why. For the past 3 years b4 this album came out the west dominated rap, with albums like The Chronic, Doggystyle and G Funk Era. This album singlehandedly brought the East Coast back in the game and paved the way for other East Coast MCs like Nas, Jay-Z and Lil Kim. The reason being that Biggie knew what he wanted, and got laced up with ill beats by Puff Daddy, sampled or not (I cant imagin hearing Juicy with any other beat). In some songs like Gimmie Da Loot he shows us why he wasn't Mr Nice Guy, where some of his lyrics had to be edited. But i think the gem of this album is without a doubt JUICY! HE takes from the start to the finish and tears the mic up with the best song of all time. Doesnt cuss, simply describes how his lifestyle had changed. ...
1441298
This album is a real testament to The Game's ability to switch up his flow for the mood of the song. For example on the track "Number One" he flows and puts his words together like Biggie. Also on the track "Compton Story" he raps like Slick Rick. Personally I thought the whole album was fire and if you are a true Game fan it is a must have.
554286
I believe that his whole CD is completely amazing.  As a fan I believe Mase has made an awesome improvement on his rap flow. His "breathe stretch shake" song is a big hit and it could teach u somethin if u really get some of the word same thing goes for "keep it on." His Cd has inspirated me to write flow's in a whole different way and for that i say Thanks Mase and "Welcome Back."
2437725
Don't get me wrong, I like this CD and gained mad respect for Obie Trice as an emcee after listening to "Second Round's On Me." Perhaps the most talented rapper in Eminem's camp gives a vivid tour of Detroit's 'hood, taking you along for a ride that lets you see & feel what it is to live there.

Like Chicago, New Orleans and Oakland, Detroit is str8 up gangsta (of course, I knew that) 4 real! Obie paints a picture on this album of his hometown as a place where haters and troublemakers roam seeking confrontation, making holding some heat more a necessity for protection & trying to keep the peace.

It's within the context of this great paradox that Obie Trice comes off as honest, cool, easy to relate to and more genuine than some super thug braggin' 'bout how hard he is. While the content of this LP is very real & very serious, listen closely and you'll realize he's a peaceful brotha not promoting violence or gunplay so much as recounting his own personal encounters with this kind of last resort self-defense. That's perhaps the redeeming quality that makes his rhymes artistic and his tales less cliche.

Obie is gritty on this album and for the most part he's on point as a rapper and storyteller. My main beef (why I gave this CD just 3-stars) is this album opens with 10 strong tracks (well, nine actually since I could give or take "Jamaican Girl") but gets brought down by an overkill of commercial songs that seem out of place.

He could've dropped tracks #11-17 off this CD and it'd still be worth the price if you ask me. (Instead, I'm picturing some record label exec with his eyes fixed on bottom line sales figures forcing these comparably weak collabos with 50, Trey Songz & Nate Dogg onto an already great album).

I have no doubt Obie Trice is real as hell unlike so many of these packaged, studio rappers. He has strong delivery mixed with fierce rhymes, wit, (some) humor and a sharply entertaining ability to switch up flows on this album.

I can't say anything bad about "Obie Story," "Cry Now," or "Wake Up" -- all solid tracks. But my favorites were as follows:

* "Ballad of Obie Trice" -- a catchy song with a tight flow telling the story of Obie's past street life, featuring a very profound verse I've just kept replaying over & over to appreciate: "The story of Urban Negroes/Created as equals/We wouldn't have to be so eager to mistreat you" ...FYI, he's talking about the police!

* "Kill Me a Mutha" -- a hot street self-defense track with Can-You-Feel-Me-type honesty, featuring another tight line mixed with subtle humor "I got a cause, a clause that I live by/ Keep the heater close because I don't want to die."

* "Snitch" -- a somewhat commercial ode to code of the streets (now) cliche with Akon singing the hook. Great collabo, great rhymes & a great hook.

* "Violent" -- another semiautobiographical I'm-Not-the-One anthem (Think TuPac's famous quote "I'm not a killer, but don't push me").

* "Lay Down" -- a too short but live Stand-Up-Like-a-Man anthem with arguably the best delivery on the album.

As an artist, you'll definitely be impressed by Obie Trice who probably doesn't get the marketing push & notoriety he deserves b/c he's more laid back & doesn't have that "superstar personality" of a Kanye West or 50 Cent.

But in my opinion, he is an above average emcee.

"Second Round's On Me" has some hot tracks & will have me lookin' for his next album.

Recommended.
4793418
Truely inspired work, that should definently make some ripples on the rap  charts.  A true classic from an underground group.  With four MC's and two  DJ's, the album features gifted rappers and instrumental masterpieces.  Chali 2na, Mark 7even, Zaakir, and Akil can flow and harmonize while having  individual roles.  DJ CutChemist is a genuis for his mixing.  With an  overall up-beat sound they defy most modern Hip-Hop, boring and repetitive.  The West Coast group has a sense of responsibilty, writing great lyrics.  It has an old-school feel, where the lyrics are more about battling on the  mike and less concentrated on women, cash and recognition.  It returns to  the roots of rap, house music and political issues.  I first heard the  single "Quality Control" and I knew if the rest of the album was  as good as the single I'd have to get it.  I did and I was impressed, a  great by for any underground fan or person who is tired of the same old  stuff.
3611599
Dope beat and dope rhymes. It's nothing deep or revolutionary but you know what? I think it's pretty original with the concept lol clever wordplay too. Modo rides the beat well too. The flow is on point.
693288
I always loved "Illmatic" and "it was written"....but "i am" and "nastradaumus" were not very good. east coast hip-hop has fallen off since the mid ninties, but this album is an enormous come-back for nas and New York.....First he brings back his classic illmatic ryme style on the intro....He destroys arch rival Jay-z on "Ether" finally ending the drawn out beef..."rewind" is a phenomenal track...where nas perfectly illustrates a story backwords. "One Mic" is a unique and extremly ill track where nas's flow and deep lyrics combine with an erratic yet smooth beat to make probably the best track on the album. "2nd childhood" brings back the old Jazz beat style with smooth yet "illmatic" style lyrics. he reunites with AZ for an acceptional track with "the flyest" and sends messages with "What Goes Around", "my country", "your da man","rule", and "destroy & rebuild". The beats are diversified nicley from the head bobbing "what goes around" to the tears for fears sample on "rule" to the violyn sample on "your da man" they are all perfect compliments to the lyrical supremecy of Nas.  I really like this album....it is deffinetly another rap classic...Most of all nas stayed real..he didn't buy into the latest fad rap has turned into...this Album is for the true rap fan, the ppl who still pump illmatic and it was written, and even for those just browsing for a good music cd. it has somthing for everybody..deffinetly the best rap cd of the year. my only advice is BUY IT!!
2243179
I love listening to his vocal dexterity on songs like "Friend or Foe."  Jigga's appeal has always been his casual, offhand delivery, which offsets the complexity of his rhymes on Reasonable Doubt.  This album belongs on your shelf next to "Illmatic" and other classics from the golden age of East Costra Nostra hip hop circa 1993-1996.  Fans of Hard Knock Life, Blueprint and other, more recent Jay-Z efforts probably should steer clear.  But poets, linguists, English majors, emcees, wordsmiths and other connoisseurs of street lexicon will find this album thoroughly entertaining.
2619123
Love this dude's flow!

MIMS does not disappoint on his sophomore set. Strong beats, stronger lyrics, and excellent overall production make this the best hip hop album yet in 2009. Let me reiterate this: Hip Hop. Not rap pop, none of that ignorant club shiite here, this one is for adults only. Oddly though, there are a couple of tracks on here that could be club hits, but they're not the kind that make me want to shoot myself.

If you don't know mims, then listen to some samples from this album, not Music is My Savior. Guilt is where is at folks, and I'm still trying to figure out what happened with his first album. He didn't even sound like he did when I heard him performing with the Lox a few years ago. In fact, that may be the best place to start. He's kind of like what we all thought JadaKiss would be when we were all sitting around waiting for his first album to drop back in 2001.

The only real knocks I have on this album are that I think he had one too many "love" songs stuffed in there, and that he used an auto-tune on a couple of tracks. Don't get me wrong, this was by no means heavy auto-tune a-la Kanye, just a little bit on a some of the chorus. It's just that after 808s and Heartbreaks, I want spike my drink with arsenic every time I hear someone using it. Personal preference, I guess.

And if nothing else, Rock n Rollin is really one of the coolest songs I've heard in awhile. Who would have thought to make a whole song sampling rock lyrics, rock band names, and rock song names? The idea may sound a little foolish, but trust me folks, the result is quite sweet indeed.

My advice? Support the artist; this one's worth buying.
1040339
Though i don't dabble in underground hip hop much i will say that i am well versed in almost all music and have been following jmt since the beginning.

This cd is a radical change over the old style of jmt, in the beat production and lyrical content. Ill discuss paz 1st then stoupe 2nd.

Paz has matured immensely, his lyrics are much more meaningful and not about mindlessly bashing homosexuality and mainstream religions. Though i personally enjoyed his previous lyrics, because i beleive hip hop is war music and paz's old lyrics cover that base perfectly, many people found it to hardcore (no such thing imo). Now his lyrics are more than just "fluff" in the music, they are something to listen to and make realization. The vietnam song is probably one of the most consise examples of this. RA's part is extremely emotional for hip hop, it was almost like he was reciting poetry, very beautiful. though the female voice was enjoyable, it seemed to "pop" for me, it didn't seem to belong, but don't get me wrong it was still great.

As for Stoupe, i have to say his style does match the new, mature style of Paz, it lacks. Its not horrible, and i still think hes the best out there, but those amazing beats he made in such songs like Me ne Sballo, blood in blood out, and philosophy of horror are no longer present. Though his beats are still good, the audio garnishes are no longer present, also much of the cd has a very high harmonic sound that gets old. I also wish he would let that damn high pitched asian/chipmunk voice that has been plagueing his beats die. If he can bring back the old style he used in his beats rather than this static crap, and meld it into Paz's new style, jmt will be perfected.

That said in previous cds, Stoupe really was the "meat" of the tracks, while Vinnie was the "fluff" while now the roles have been reversed. Though the cd is amazing, i wish stoupe would have stayed at his peak. Next cd they will have it, im sure it will be nothing less than a masterpiece.
2294296
Common takes this album back to the old school and adds a bit of new school hooks to it. I'm a huge early 90's Hip Hop fan and this is a banger.
2258751
Best. Eminmem.  He's baaaccckkk! I love how he went back to what works! He is great  at the type of rap he was known for..just drifted the last few albums but I like his style from the early 2000s.  Much anticipated and awesome
2926060
this is the best rap album to hit the shelves since the beginning of rap. unfortunately i missed this album when it was first released, but thanks to the gorillaz, i discovered this rare gem and hunted around for a month before copping it. i cant put it down. the beats and lyrics are amamzing. most say that del is too abstract, but that is because there is so much low-level rappers that people aren't used to really listening and thinking about what they are hearing. this record is old-school as well as too ahead of its time. ultimately its artistry can only be appreiciated by those who still long for some substance and not nursery rhymes. this is a must have album for all music lovers, so go get it!