Customer Reviews

Based on a True Story

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After hos solid self-titled debut album and the huge success of Westside Connection's "Bow Down" , it was the perfect timing for Mack 10 to release his second album. "Based on a True Story" continues what Bow Down had started - GREAT beats with nothing but West Coast gangsta rap on it. Although Mack 10 lacks Ice Cube and WC's carisma or lyrical abilities, he's still a talented rapper, with a unique voice and high street cred. "Based on a true story" is much beter than his debut, with much much better production and rapping. On this album, Mack 10 sounds the best he's ever sounded - nowdays his rapping is a bit to laid back, lacking emotion - but on this one, Mack One O raps with energy, sounding real hard on quite a few. Lyrically it's all about the streets on this one, drug dealing, killing, hustlin'. No sex songs, no cars songs, just gangsta sh** to the fullest. The production is very impressive. Ant Banks did 4 songs (some of the best are his), Young Tre, Soopafly, Bob Cat, Mack 10 and Ice Cube did the rest. It's West Coast rap at it's highest form and I feel it's a great follow-up to "Bow Down". Guest rappers are AllFrumThaI, Comrads, Ice Cube (on 2 songs and all over the album as well), Snoop Dogg (you can hardly hear his voice on that song, he almost whispers his verse)...I only wish WC was on it too, but it's all good... There's no attempt to go mainstream on this album: It was recorded when West Coast rap was at it's peak, in terms of quality and popularity, so rappers could go on and do their thing without fearing the album won't sell. You won't skip a track on this one, I give you my word, Mack 10's second album is his best solo release ever. Nothing he did after that can match "Based on a true story".

Msck 10's first album was a classic. Mack 10 is still on point on this release and he still showed no signs of slippin lyrically on this album. Chicken Hawk II is a good start off song. It's Mack 10 doing what he does best. Mack 10, Mack 10 feat AllFrumTha i and The Comrads samples UTFO's Roxanne, Roxxane and is one of the better cuts on the album. E-40 joins Mack 10 on Cant Stop. Ice Cube shows up on The Guppies as well as Only In California which also features Snoop Dogg. Dopeman is Mack 10 rendition of the NWA classic of the same title. The title track is the best song on here because it's Mack 10 doing an introspective track. The only song I cant get into is Backyard Boogie. Bottom Line: Based On A True Story is Mack 10's best work to date. Mack 10 still delivers over those funky west coast beats and the guest appearances were a nice touch. It's sad that he hasnt been the same after this album. Standout Tracks: MACK 10 MACK 10, CANT STOP, TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT, THE GUPPIES, INGLEWOOD SWANGIN, DOPEMAN and BASED ON A TRUE STORY.

With this album, Mack 10 starts to mature as a rapper. His lyrics are less "in your face" most of the time and a little more introspective. The last track on the album, BASED ON A TRUE STORY, is most reflective of this. BACKYARD BOOGIE is a bumpin' party track, INGLEWOOD SWANGIN' is a salute to his hometown, and THE GUPPIES is a mafia type gangsta tale.

The production on this album is very good...tight beats and slick interpolation. Mack's lyrics have matured and have acquired a unique flow. Overall, this is a very well rounded album. A definite gem in the rap game.

i like this release a lot, he improved on here lyrically and sound wise. he did it without a lot of features which is good. my favorite tracks are chicken hawk II and w/s fo life 2 classics along with dopeman remix.

Mack 10 drops his second album in late 1997, and it is an underrated classic with great G-Funk production and sick spits by Mack 10. Beat credits go to Ant Banks on 1/4th of the whole album (his beats simply bang here as usual!), Binky (of Allfrumthai), Tray, Soopafly, Ice Cube, Bob Cat, all do a song or two. I like the beats here better than on his self-titled debut, and those beats ranged from o.k. to a few classics. Mack 10 gets his brag on in the adrenaline paced "Mack 10, Mack 10." E-40 and Mack get they hustle on in the deep-groove Ant Banks laced banger "Can't Stop." They flow well, and even though they have different styles, they complement each other and have dope chemistry. "Only In California" f/ Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube is a simply bangin' lowrider classic with slick spits (especially Snoop's verse). Cruise to this on the palm lined avenues on 3-wheel motion. "W/S Foe Life" is a brief, more menacing banger with a loud whiny synth in the hook. "Backyard Boogie" is a certified classic with a sweet funky beat and imagery of chillin at the BBQ with hunnies and homies. I love the loopy, whiny synth that gives it a slight space boogie feel in the hook. Mack 10 and gets his mash on in "Tonight's The Night" with a unique and slumpin Ant Banks banger beat. Banks reworks the beat on the phat remake of NWA's "Dopeman," and Mack 10 does a good job interpolating it, and adds in a few of his own lyrics here and there. The beat on "The Guppies" is slightly awkward, but very original; it is fast and pulsating, and Ice Cube comes by to represent. I love "What You Need (Dopeman '97)." He pushes dope and shows his wide variety of "retail" on the laidback, sunny G-Funk banger, perhaps his own original version of "Dopeman." All in all, this album is full of bangers throughout, and the production is awesome and really gives him a good backdrop to spit. If you liked his debut, you may like this one better.

this album is mack 10 at his best.thys album is a banger from start 2 finish and tha outro song based on a true story seals tha greatness of thys album and takes it 2 classic westcoast status.PERFECTION AT ITS PEAK

I feel this isnt tha best CD Mack 10 has realesed but it comes pretty close. Backyard Boogie, one the hits from my home town wuz ALL THAT!! - NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, BABY!!!!-

The true west side comin thru with trax you have to bump! Backyard Boogie/Only in California/Mack 10 Mack 10---It ain't nuthin but a party. Keep it true for the MACK dime and let your silly beastie ish rest!

Mack 10 couldn't do it twice. His first album is tight, but this one lacks good beats. Also, his rapping style is too lame to carry the off beats. The only way could have saved the album is if he would have had alot of guest rappers and producers.

I like this CD by Mack 10. I cant say its his best, thats why I gave it a 4, but I still find myself bumbing this cd in my truck quite often. Backyard boogie has a tight beat, and the chicken hawk 2 is also a great hit. If you like Mack then grab this cd. Mack still keepin it GaNgStA!