Ghetto Pop Life
$9.39
Amazon.com
When DJ Danger Mouse (DM) blew up with his Jay-Z-meets-the-Beatles underground project, The Grey Album, the furor around DM’s illegal mix all but overshadowed the release of this full-length album with rapper Jemini. On Ghetto Pop Life you won’t find the Fab Four rubbing sonic shoulders with Hova, but you will find DM’s excellent production skills at play behind the adroitly flippant Jemini. The creative producer is willing to draw from everything from old ’50s pop tunes to … More >>
This is a great album. Not only are the beats hot, but the lyrics are tight. It makes you dance and it drops a little knowledge at the same time. BUY IT!!!
Rating: 5 / 5
There are records in the underground that create a certain buzz or anticipation through many reasons such as guests, producers, artists getting big game pre-release appearances, already reputed artists release an album after long period between albums and reputed labels new releases. The buzz on this particular album was because of label affiliation for the most part. It was released by a small London based label Lex Records, who has gained notoriety for putting out solid alternative creative indie hip hop. This time they have the pairing of west coast based Dj Dangermouse with Brooklyn-bred MC Jemini. Danger Mouse has recently made a name for himself by undergoing the ambitious task of creating “The Grey Album” which is melding accapella tracks from Jay-Z’s “Black Album” and new instrumental beats made from elements of the Beatles’ “White Album”. Now Jemini I knew nothing about really. I could see that he recorded at D&D Studios for this album, which is the premier studio for new york underground Hip Hop, so I figured he must have some talent. Dealing with the two and their shown abilities on this album, I say don’t believe the hype. While DM is an inventive producer that crafts ear captivating beats that make for interesting musical back drops in themselves. On the other hand you have Jemini who has the pluses of an enthusiastic flow and above average lyrics but only average subject matter and a pretty generic delivery. Thus we are confronted with an MC who is more interesting than 50 Cent who relies on his unique delivery or Baby who relies on style but is not up to snuff with the production of his Dj, phenomenon the rap world knows all too well. Time to speak on the music…
Ghetto Pop Life ~ The title track here is a decent enough cut. Jemini spits in his fairly anonymous voice about being ready to killing and other unimaginative Brooklyn thug ish, although to give him some merit he does occasionally find interesting ways to say things. The beat is very dense using hard percussion, quick guitar riffs, bell-like tinkles and choirish singing to round it out. Dangermouse really saves the song.
What U Sittin’ On? Ft/ Tha Liks ~ J-Ro & Tash come to liven things up a little bit. Starting off with the usual Alkaholik “hoot-Hoot” type hollas and then getting into their verses with each rhymer in question coming correct finding interesting things to use sittin’ on with. Tash comes off the best talking about shady record labels wasting talent by not using artists to their potential amongst other things. DM drops fresh production once again, this time a trippy dose of speedy high pitched keys and smoky bass for the likwit connection.
Yoo-Hoo! ~ Here comes the formuletic slow jam. In reality this song is a positive highlight the slight rasp in Jemini’s voice I detect makes him somewhat ideal to a sort of “thug lover” type sound that someone like LL Cool J or Ja Rule (but not as corny) is accustomed to being, with showing some intelligence which he usually only approaches using cleverness. The production is low key and sultry showing DM’s diversity in a different way, applying wobbly synth sounds and a distant horn-like sound to add depth and what appears to be kick-kick-kick-snare like drum pattern but it does change up to the rest of the production well.
Don’t Do Drugs ~ Jemini shines on this joint right here. He takes your average drug themed song and flips a slightly conscious but amusing spin on it. He raps from the perspective of a local snakey drug pusher, and as a commentator being approached by the drug pusher too. DM supplies him with another diverse beat using a big band swing brass loop. If Jemini stepped up his creativity like this on every truck it would add another star. He is also very funny with lines like this:
“/Whitney’s chillin’, Bobby’s chillin’/
/let’s get high cuz we love the feelin’/”
Medieval ft/ The Pharcyde ~ Being a big fan of the Pharcyde I was excited to see they had a track on here. Unfortunately I was disappointed. With Fatlip and more recently Slim Kid 3 leaving the group it’s left to Booty Brown & Imani to carry the torch. They sound a little tired at times to be honest but at others they have flashes of brilliance. Which is sad because with an interesting concept and producer I expected more, which is a bad thing to do. As a DM & Jemini song it wouldn’t have been disappointing, it makes me think of someone standing up and denouncing punk MC’s at the dinner table of medieval times. The beat is made up of choir singing again and medieval sounding keys and strings like a kings court would have playing.
Bush Boys ~ a thugs attempt at social consciousness. This is a half praise, half complaint. On the one hand Jem raises some valid points about the threat Bush poses to the world and DM provides a fitting yet surprisingly average snake charmer beat. On the other Jemini often ends up sounding frustrated and ignorant, the later of which he partly alludes to knowing in the song which is nice honesty. Still in the world of 20 inch rims, ice and whooores it’s better than nothing.
While I enjoyed this record because it’s a straight ahead Hip Hop album and it doesn’t try to get too complex. I also enjoyed the production a great deal that’s why I hate to see it waisted on this only above average emcee. Somewhat like Dj Spinna & Kriminul, the problems that surface with Krim surface here but not extensive. If Jemini were to take his finest moments on this album and multiply them about 3 times and tighten up the rather weak hooks this would almost be a classic underground album with Dj Dangermouse’s fresh beats and the top guest appearances. My advice is take a little more time to hone your skills Jem and then put out a second effort because without DM I can’t see much of a future for you. In the meantime DM hook up with Gift Of Gab! If you can get it at a good price pick it up for the production if anything cuz you probably won’t find it on the net. 3 stars! peace, love & soul…
Rating: 3 / 5
if he knew that people were dropping n-bombs in reference to his band and music. To the “music fan from Liverpool England,” you should be embarassed by your hypocrisy. For someone who proclaims to be such a big fan of Mr. Lennon, you sure carry a lot of hate. Lennon sang and spoke about the “brotherhood of man” and was as open to experimentation with music as any musician ever has been. Give DJ Dangermouse some credit for crossing genres in a creative and unexpected way. The same way in which the Beatles took sounds and beats from black blues musicians and incorporated it into their music to make something magical, DJ Dangermouse has simply flipped the sound back again.
Rating: 5 / 5
hot beats from Dangermouse (who also has impressed me with his ‘Grey Album’) and on point rhymes from Jemini the gifted one. Who cares that he’s not psycho-social all conscience about everything, eh’s a good emcee having fun, and slaughtering toys…
One of my favourite releases of 2003…
peace,
Rating: 5 / 5
fist off, let me say that this is one of the best hip-hop albums i’ve heard in a good long while. Danger Mouse’s beats make this album what it is. the lyrics aren’t as intelligent as reflection eternal or black star, but they deffinately flow with the smoothness. i strongly suggest that you buy this cd right now, you’ll be a better person for it.
Rating: 5 / 5