Customer Reviews

Against the Grain

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

i didn't like this album that much when i first got it but i gave it a chance and i grew to love it. it's almost all good. great combination of old-school-gangsta-death-row-sound, unexpected lyrics, easy-listening-2pac-type flows. give it a try.

i wish they promoted it. i wanted to see this do well. death row could have had a classic with a little promotion.

Man, man, man.. what can i say, with the current state of hip-hip and rap being dominated by over-commercialism, over-produced, mass marketed and over formulaic fakesters, this latest Kurupt release is an absolute BANGER!!

Yeah, it may not be the same quality and calibre of Tha Streetz is a Mutha or Space Boogey or Dogg Food, but those albums captured that era in WC gangsta rap.

We're now entering a new era, call it a resurrection of some sort, and this new album has just blasted the f****ing gloss of the current batch of trash that permeates hard core rap music.

Go cop this album, KURUPT is BACK!

The WEST COAST is back!

Cant wait for the whole mf DoggPound reunion album.

WestSiiiiide!!

The last time Kurupt was in dire straits, Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha surfaced as a brilliant, vengeful album packed with melodic Fred Wreck and Dr. Dre production, and Young Gotti's verbal piss and vinegar. Four years later, Kurupt's stranded on Death Row, and his rare interviews have alluded to another chapter of inner-turmoil. This album has been toted and pushed back for three of those years. As Kurupt's future seems brighter through a Dogg Pound reunion, the solo - Against Tha Grain (Death Row) arrives unexpected, unannounced, and clearly under-dressed for Hip-Hop's better MCs in 2005.

"Deep Dishes" reveals a new bottom in Kurupt's lyrics. "You ain't got weapons of mass destruction on you / And I'm gonna make sure you leak like barrels of oil," is not only a awkward rhyme, but one of many analogies to terrorism and the Holocaust for street-success. The attitude is polarized between death-threatening lyrics of pained animosity ("Speak On It" and "Jealousy") to olive-branch offerings of peace, "Tha Past." Perhaps this reveals either Kurupt's own uncertainty of his friends, or a poorly thought-out compilation from four years of masters. Whichever, Kurupt's sincerity on either side is lost, leaving only the weaker party songs to be taken seriously.

Without any of his former associates willing to support this effort, Kurupt's production falters greatly. Sir Jinx, the man who helped Ice Cube so greatly, can't do the same for Kurupt. "Stalkin'" uses a cliche drum sample to build momentum, but the effort fails due to lack of purpose. Mark Sparks does the bulk of the album, without any stand out surprises. The most refreshing backdrop comes on "Calico," with the Dayton Family, produced by The Screwface Music Group. Here, Kurupt isn't given watered down and bastardized G-Funk, but hard drums and well-structured keys. Another collaborative highlight is the promised junction of Kurupt and Domination. "You F**kin' With the Best" does reveal positive chemistry with another, as the Eastwood, Spider Locc, and M.O.P. bonds failed to. Still, Baby C-Style's production isn't as edgy as the collaboration. Like the inconsistent messages in the words, the music on this album feels as though radio play was never a consideration of the project.

Against Tha Grain defies all of the promises of a Kurupt lyrical revival. The first artist-album on Death Row in over five years continues to rely on recycled Tupac material ("My Homeboys"). The mix of anonymous threats and peace offerings fall on deaf ears, as does music contributed by unenthused, uninspired no-names. With a Dogg Pound reunion album already in utero, Kurupt must consider his now higher wall to climb back to mainstream consciousness and present-day respect. The grains got the best of him.

Standout tracks: ANARCHY 87, THROW BACK MUZIC 86, DEEP DISHES, SLIDE N SLIDE OUT(where's Kurupt?), MY HOMEBOYS, BULLS**T AND NONSENSE(again where's Kurupt?), CALICO and YOU F****N WITH THE BEST. Filler: Im back(sucked on Dysfunktional Family Soundtrack and it sucks now), Jealousy(wack plus MOP's verses were off big time), Hustlin(wack cipher), Can you feel it(wack club record that falls short) etc. Bottom Line: We are going to have to come to grips with the fact that Kurupt hasnt been the same since he left Deathrow and changed his style around. He went back to Deathrow but he still has the same schlocky rap style he had out of the record company. Songs like Speak on it and Tha Past would be good but its ruined by his retarded flow. Beware of any album that comes out of Deathrow nowadays! One last note: You f****n with the best is also on Bang Em and Domination's album God Giveth and God Taketh Away. Pick that album up its not a disappointment like this one.

Kurupt's first studio release in four years seems sort of unpolished and rushed. The fact that this album was pushed back for three of those years comes through on some of the songs as they sound outdated with their generic rhythms and dated topics. The production is distinctly west coast and allows Kurupt to spew his trademark venom in vintage west coast fashion. Some of the songs start to sound the same toward the middle of the album and other songs tackle generic topics like "beef". That can make things seem dry and boring. Guest appearances include Eastwood, Young Tone, Roscoe, The Dayton Family, Spider Loc, Big Tri, Domination, and Tupac.

Took me a couple of listens to get into some of the tracks, but worth 4 stars just for the heat Kurupt brings to "Speak On It", "I'm Back", "You ******* With the West," and especially "Jealousy." Kurupt absolutely flames that track out over some crazy beats.

For more of a G-Coast West Coast sound check out Kurupt and CJ Genevice's 2004 album "Originals." if you can find it. Features excelleng production and appearances from Kokane and Suga Free.

Finally, a solid record from Death Row. Makes you wonder what took them so long. Crooked I anyone?

Legendary & tight tracks

true lyrics

above average rhymes

HARDCORE......

ACHIEVING

STREETFUL

....AND OVERCOMING.

Kurupt has come across many odds and ends to deliver this album to the shelves- arguably, a typical Death Row Records trademark. However, after finally doing so, Kurupt brings a much needed album and brings his game status with him.

It's obvious. Alot on his mind... Regrouping to his old label, reclusiveness to industry, hostility amongst former artists...

Moreover, "Against the Grain" album wasn't even to be released under Kurupt's approval! ....... Distribution handling the final tracks wasn't to his tastefulness.

With all of this on the line, I'd have to say that Kurupt has overcome many odds to bring out a delayed album that spits fire left and right. An aggressive, subfound Kurupt has answered some of his own vengeance overall and even aknowledges his status with a new, decayed Death Row Records.

Highlights:

03. ANARCHY '87- A strong and feelful track! Non-the-less far from being a typical rap track. Pace is up and down with unpredictable production from Mark Sparks.

04. THROWBACK BACK MUZIC '86- Calmed track but the street talk is dominating! Old school meets new school. If Death Row was to ever have kept its jem with the original line up, a new age Death Row sound would be just this...

07. CAN U FEEL IT- Glam and style was always the indredient for Tha Row. Kurupt fulfills that here and some. Radio chorus with the mean flows.

08. SLIDE N SLIDE OUT- Overwhelming! Blacthoven pushes the limits with crisp beats while Kurupt follows up with mic shredding! Fastpaced and executed nicely here as Eastwood, Big Tri & Young Tone assists on 3 pointers. Album highlight!

09. I'M BACK- Forceful delivery from Kurupt. Taken from the Dysfuntional Family sessions, this one is a different take on matters but done well. Impressive and a growing track.

A few more songs speak volumes for this recording. With all the odds in mind, I'd say that this is a great album for the archives. I feared how Death Row would personally adjust to Kurupt... - sound old school production or bring in some new while demanding the old fire from Big K?

Of course, Dat Nigga Daz would sound quite nice accomidating Kurupt Young Gotti. And so would Snoop, Nate, Warren G and so on. But it still holds nice on it's own. My personal mindput is really a 3 1/2 stars on this but a plain 3 would underappreciate it's worth. Speaking of lineup, there were some hits and misses on the featured artists. However, there weren't that many to begin with. That's impressive enough for this day in age where 20 tracks feature 60 artists....

Overall, a bold album from Kurupt. A good step for Death Row, finally- whom can only release soundtracks and compilations lately. The ingredients are still flowing in the West. For "Against the Grain" we get a Kurupt from "Dogg Pound Gangstaz" track of Above the Rim days. Strong effort but still needing Kurupt the Kingpin back!

As Kurupt re-signed to Death Row a beef came about between him and Daz, who released this Agaisnt The Grain album on his own label right when Kurupt was supposed to release an album under the same name on Death Row (it didn't come about until 2 years later). With 13 sogns, about half are from other albums or are remixes, but of the 13, 1 is a classic, 1 I skip, 3 are ok and the other 8 are good or real good songs. Guests are on all but 2 songs. Production credits aren't given, but Daz, Mike Dean and Ivan Johnson did the majority, if not all the songs. A nice album to have for his fans to get to hear some of his unreleased songs.

#2 - 9 (another version features Daz on his "This is the Life I Lead" album -- tight beat)

#3 - 7.5 (f/ Roscoe)

#4 - 9 (Roscoe f/ Kurupt -- another version is on Roscoe's "Philaphornia" album -- good beat)

#6 - 8 (f/ Roscoe & Tristar -- nice beat)

#7 - 8.5 (deeper song)

#8 - 7 (f/ Snoop Dogg -- a version with Bad Azz is on his "Personal Business" album)

#9 - 8 (f/ Daz Dillinger)

#10 - 5.5 (f/ Everlast)

#11 - 8.5 (f/ Daz Dillinger -- also on Daz "This is the Life I Lead" album)

#12 - 8 (f/ Daz Dillinger & Too $hort --a version with no Kurupt is on Daz "Retaliation..." album)

#13 - 10 (CLASSIC -- f/ Warren G, Hershey Locc, Daz Dillinger, Bad Azz --- another version is on Warren's "Take A Look..." album w/o the Dogg Pound on it -- great beat)

#14 - 8.5 (f/ Deon of the Twinz)

#15 - 8.5 (f/ Daz Dillinger -- "This is the Life I Lead" album)

#16 - 7.5 (f/ Daz Dillinger & 2Pac -- also on the "Makaveli & Dillinger" album)

Ricardo Jones -- b. 11/23/72 -- b. Philadelphia, PA moved to Hawthorne, CA

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Kurupt finally drops the official Death Row version of "Against the Grain" as his "4th" solo (actually Daz released a Kurupt album under the same name in Jan. 2003 on Daz' record label but it's all mid to late 90's material). Really the first new music from the lyrical half of the Dogg Pound (he was on about 8 or 9 songs on an album called "The Originals" from March 2004 w/ CJ Genevece, D Dump & Keita Rock). How it ranks up to his other albums, not near his classic "Tha Streetz iz a Mutha" about equal with "Kuruption!" and slightly under "Space Boogie Smoke Oddessey" and slightly better then the other "Against the Grain". After signing to Suge Knight & Death Row again (about 3 and half 4 years ago) this was slated to be released in 2003 and finally did. It has 16 songs, 1 Kurupt isn't on and 1 is an old song, so 14 new Kurupt tracks. Guest rap on 7 songs and are on 3 others so for a long wait you don't get a great deal of Young Gotti. It ahs no classics, 1 I skip, 5 are ok and the other 10 are good. Production is pretty good. Mark Sparks does 6 songs, Doug Mayhem & Sir Jinx each do 2, and Rick Rude, Blaqthoven, Josh Andrews, Screwface Music, C-Style, and Darren Vegas all do 1. A good album to have for his fans but not his best.

#2 - 9 (he speaks his mind and gets alot off his chest on wack rappers now and the media -- f/ Mark Sparks)

#3 - 8.5

#4 - 8.5 (talkin bout the 80's -- f/ Mark Sparks)

#5 - 8.5 (gets some more off his chest)

#6 - 4.5 (bad upbeat song)

#7 - 7.5

#8 - 7.5 (f/ Eastwood, Tristar & Young Tone of Young Assassins)

#9 - 7 (off "Dysfunktional Family" soundtrack)

#10 - 8 (f/ M.O.P. & Roscoe (of Young Assassins)

#11 - 8 (f/ Dave Hollister -- slower song)

#12 - 7.5 (f/ 2Pac (an old verse) & Eastwood (of Young Assassins)

#13 - 7 (f/ Spider & Eastwood (of Young Assassins)

#14 - 8 (f/ Dayton Family)

#15 - 8 (f/ Tristar & Young Tone (of Young Assassins)

#16 - 8.5

#17 - 9 (f/ Domination & Young Tone -- also on Bang Em & Domination's "God Giveth God Taketh Away" album -- tight beat)

Ricardo Jones -- b. 11/23/72 -- b. Philadelphia, PA moved to Hawthorne, CA

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