a DJ Klay Slay rap collaboration : Rolling 110 Deep

2021

audio review : Detroit Versus Everybody ( song ) … Royce Da 5-9 + Big Sean + Danny Brown + Eminem ( featuring Dej Loaf + Trick Trick )

The hook is structurally okay. What’s annoying is Dej Loaf’s kid voice and the way she mispronounces “Versus”. I hear other rappers say it this way, including Danny Brown, but that makes it no less annoying. It’s actually a bit of a shame because a winning chorus is all that’s holding this Motor City anthem; all six vocalists are from Detroit; from being a notable (GOOD-Fridays-like) collaboration.

That’s despite the fact that Eminem, the obvious MVP, disappoints with a stiff and frenzied vocal delivery. If it’s him “verse” everybody in a race, he wins. If, however, we’re referring to quality, well, at least he outshines Danny Brown. The best part of the song is the beat, produced by Statik Selektah, especially when it strips down to a solemn piano groove during the aforementioned (Eminem) verse.

my rating = 3 of 5

2014

audio review : Shady XV

audio review : From Death ( album ) … Goon Squad

audio review : From Death ( album ) ... Goon Squad

This Goon Squad, representing Detroit’s 7 Mile road, often rap about partaking in criminal activities. They’re thugs, after all. But, while several people are harmed over the course of the set, their biggest crime seems to be stealing (sampling) other people’s music. Marvin Gaye is the victim on No Place, about a man serving time in prison. It’s deep but doesn’t leave as much of an impact as No Trust, another prison story that deals with unfaithful “hoes” on the outside. It’s the best song. The chorus doesn’t really make sense; first he says he trusts nobody, then he says he only trusts a few people; plus it plays just once and lasts for only four bars, but it’s catchy and the echoed shout ends it on a perfect note.

The most entertaining song is Lick Lickin, about oral sex and dedicated to the “slut” who performs it. It’s sort of a mock ballad in that the guys are playing around instead of being serious while actually singing instead of rapping. The organ sounds pretty nice though and the Squad manages to stumble upon a few real melodies along the way. This particular form of comic relief is quite welcomed. It’s a funny song. What the album would do better without are the Luke-like dance tracks near the end, some of which are verse-free instrumentals. Their inclusion, all during the second half where they are, comes across as random and off-putting, basically killing any chance of this being a decent rap album.

my rating : 2 of 5

1995