After one listen:

So when I see that Murs and 9th have made a new album, I get really excited. Similar to the excitement that comes from breaking a monthly dry spell. With that said, this is their fourth album together and the previous three have been very good. Once I pop the album in, the first track starts and its banging. Then Kurupt shows up. Are you kidding me? West coast legend and a great guest cameo. I love it when rappers use artists who they admire, to make tracks with, as opposed to creating a song with some “flavor of the minute” rapper. Track two sounds great on my first listen as well. The next track is called Asian Girl and I’m laughing so hard at this track the first time through. Any song which refers to eating Pho is amazing and a must listen. The next standout track is Cigarettes and Liquor, and it’s a banger. From one listen I make the hasty statement, “BEST RAP SONG I’VE HEARD IN 2010 SO FAR.” Crazy hey? I pick up my friend and fellow hip hop head B-Fresh, only to break my “only listen once through rule” to play her Cigarettes and Liquor. She agrees on how dope it is and the album continues on. We get to the seventh track where I’m only paying minor attention to the lyrics and enjoying the beat when B-fresh realizes it’s a cover of I used to love H.E.R. Low and behold, she’s right (which doesn’t happen very often). I restart the song for a second listen, and I also realize it’s a cover with a few new twists on the old lyrics. Pretty soon we’re debating about rappers doing cover songs. It’s not something that normally happens in hip hop. Sure rap artists remix, redo beats and riff on previous lines from other rappers all the time, but a straight up cover doesn’t happen very often, especially on an album release. After the argument digresses into being very petty (I think we actually argued about our own arguing styles!), I realize this is an interesting subject to talk about. How come rock bands can record a cover, put it on an album and it’s no big thing, but when a rap artist does it, for whatever reason, it seems taboo? The argument actually derailed the listening of the rest of the album. But from what I could tell, the last three tracks will be good.

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After multiple listens:

I’ve only had this album for two days and I’ve listened to it all the way through, at least twenty times. It’s short but sweet, a formula that Murs and 9th always follow to a T. I really like short albums. I think a lot of bands have a hard time self-editing their work, but anything that leaves you wanting more is a good thing in my books. So a running time of just under a half an hour is great! I think I can honestly say I’m into every song on this album. In fact, when I listen to Cigarettes and Liquor in my car, people probably think something very weird is going on because the song always makes me do rap arm. Speaking of Cigarettes and Liquor, it’s still what I consider the best rap song of 2010 so far. It’s just so amazing, catchy, and full of really intelligent, hilarious lyrics. Another stand out track is Vikki Veil. A song in which Murs laments about his break-up with a porn star. The subject matter is very intriguing and shows Murs stepping up his storytelling game in a huge way. As rap has been around for almost three decades now, we are reaching the first era of rap where grown-ass men make grown-ass rap songs, and this album has a few of them which is very appreciated. West Coast Cinderella is another example of great rap storytelling by Murs. I Love the G-Funkiness (Attention Oxford, I’ve made a new word!) of the song, from the feeling of the beat to the voice effect used on the chorus. I kept waiting for Warren G to cameo and rip a verse. The main thing I really love about this album is that the songs have subject matters in which I can relate too. On The Lick, the way they rap back and forth about who wants what from the candy store is hilarious and I swear it is exactly the same as when my own friends hang out. Let Me Talk is another example of a subject matter that a lot of people can relate to. It’s all about dealing with your girlfriend for the one week a month when Aunt Flo comes to visit (she never does bring presents does she?). All and all the only track I don’t love is The problem is…. It’s still a good song and I appreciate that 9th has really branched out with his production style. Actually, many of the songs on this album appear as if 9th is sampling less and using a lot more live vocalists to get his hooks. So basically what I’m saying is that this album bangs top to bottom and is a perfect addition to the Murs and 9th collection. It will definitely be on my top ten of the year list. And in case I still haven’t sold you, it features two tracks with Kurupt. So if you’re an old school west coast guy like me, then you’re in for a treat!

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