Customer Reviews

21 & Over

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before I purchased this album, I always had listened to rap or hip-hop primarily for the beats. I would buy CD's that had one single on MTV, thinking that the beat was hot. I would wonder why these albums would get old after several listenings. I needed something that was more fulfilling. When I first bought this album, I have to admit that I didn't think much of it at first. I loved the beat for "Make Room," but that was about it. As I was determined to not let my [money] go to waste, I kept the album on heavy rotation. It sounded better and better every time that I listened to it, and taught me that hip-hop or any true art, is never appreciated at first glance. This album epitomizes everything that is real in hip-hop: dope lyrics, fluid beats, and intellectual creativity. Tha Liks prove that they are true to hip-hop by not pursuing any false, trendy ideals and just representing themselves with their music. Some ill shit by some down-to-earth, funny, drunk muthafuckas.

This album is 10 tracks of pure, funky Hip-Hop. J-Ro (who dominates the album), Tash & producer E-Swift launch a very under-rated carrer with their debut LP, 21 & Over. This album guest features mentor King Tee & homies from The Lootpack.

Back in 1993, 10 tracks was all you needed. Nowadays, albums contain 16+ tracks, the only problem is well over half of them are garbage filler. Back when Hip-Hop was an art, it was a straight to the point 10 tracks - all of them great.

This LP is perfect for parties, with almost all the tracks promoting and prasing drinking and getting drunk (#2 "Only When I'm Drunk" w/ EPMD's "It's My Thing" beat. & #3 "Last Call", just to name a couple). There's even one track for the potheads (#9 "Mary Jane").

The ryhmes are well on point in every track, equipped with witty and hilarious lyrics, paired with bumping beats from E-Swift, The Lootpack & King Tee. This album is everything a Hip-Hop LP should be.

Bottom Line: This is an excellent album, every song is great. If you've never heard Tha Alkaholiks (AKA Tha Liks), buy this LP and see what all the buzz is about. 4 stars. Peace.

This is the best Liks album, and I can't figure out why. Like most people, I like the Liks because of Tash. BUT, J-Ro gets WAY more time on this album than does Tash. So, why do I like this one better than the later Liks albums and even better than Tash's solo joint? I don't know, but DON'T SLEEP. This is one of my favorite albums ever. The rhymes, beats, and guest spots (esp. King-Tee) are great. Besides, like other great debuts, this album has this wild sense of fun and excitement (like Pharcyde's first). Whenever Tash grabs the mic, it's on....but, J-Ro really seems like the "star" of this album. For example, one of the best jams is "Make Room"...and Tash doesn't even rap on it. Still, for classic Tash flows, check out his verse on "Only When I'm Drunk"...a great song. Also, the 1st track is so amazing that for 1 month after buying this I never heard another song on the album. Beware, most songs have a heavy emphasis on God's Great Liquid...check out the sweet cover art!

I got into Tha Alkaholiks (E-Swift, Tash, and J-Ro) when I was 16 when "X.O. Experience" came out. Around that same time, I heard "Make Room", from this album, playing on the Music Choice Channel and thought that was the jam. I always thought that Tha Alkaholiks were all about making party jams and getting drunk, and it was all fun. What really made me go out and buy this album was the song "Only When I'm Drunk" where Tash rips his verse ("Type of rapper that'll get you out your seat quicker than a car jacker"). In fact that whole entire song was dope. As I said, these songs are all about partying and getting drunk, but at the same time rocking the mic straight from the first track "Likwit". "Turn Tha Party Out" featuring Madlib and Wildchild is also another dope track.

As for anything bad, there are a few missteps. I believe "B.S." with King T and "Soda Pop" is less appealing to me and sometimes makes me want to skip those two tracks. Thats all I can think of. Ten tracks is not a problem for me, because there those ten can rock the party hardly without any filler. "21 & Over" is an excellent debut from Tha Alkaholiks. If you're into 90's hip hop with a lot of lyrics, then this album is what you might look into. They followed up with, what remains my favorite album from them, "Coast II Coast" back in 1995. But this LP is an excellent start if you're new to Tha Likwit Fam.

Lyrics: B+
Production: A-
Musical Vibes: A-
Guest Appearances: B+
Overall: B+

Favorite Tracks: Likwit, Only When I'm Drunk, Can't Tell Me Sh.., Make Room, Who Dem ******

Peace Everyone!!

An excellent representation of good underground hip hop. I am amazed this album did not sell as well as it did. Proof that people aren't ready for quality hip hop? No skipping tracks on this one.

We need to toast to this West coast classic. Coming from NY this one banged to the west coast. It also enhanced my drinking habit during my high school days but damn it was worth every last drop. Just remember to keep the brown bag over your 40 oz. (remember that?)

J-Ro , Tash and E-Swift rip tha mic! CLASSIC! If you a real hip hop head you must have it!

This album was the start of the alkaholiks who had a different style to most other west coast artists of that time. Their sound was more like an east coast flavour but with their own style of flows. They had some nice rhymes that had a lot put into them and could flow really well together (j-ro & tash). The production and mixing is excellent, not one thing wrong. Its shorter than a lot of other albums that were around that time, but it doesn't matter because the whole album is good and you won't think about the money you spent after. I would advise anyone who wants to know about the real hip hop to get this, or if you slept on it in the past to get it. These were the days of real creative, original hip hop. peace for now!

21 & Over is one of the illest rap albums released. It's been dreadfully slept on, mostly becuz these lyrical cats hail from the west coast. All the tracks are laced with some of the rawest, and funniest lyrics ever dropped. The production is also straight up bangin'. No west coast G-funk beats here, just raw hip-hop. MC's haven't combined hardcore, yet comedic lyrics like this since Redman. Not many heads have this album, and let this be a wake up call: GET THIS ALBUM, IT'S FRESH! I'll even go as far to say that "21 & Over" is the most lyrically strong album to ever come out of the west coast!

The Alkaholiks are amazing on the mic! If you like lyrical real hip hop then this cd should be in your stereo.