Customer Reviews

Black N Dangerous

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

 

 

After producing Ray Luv's masterpiece "Forever Hustlin'" Khayree, the genius producer, produced Young Lay's debut album "Black 'n' Dangerous". It's a hell of an album, although it's not as perfect as Ray Luv's. The last 2 songs and the remix are the reason it didn't get a perfect 5 from me. But almost all the first 10 songs are flawless. Young Lay has a very unique voice and delivery and his lyrics are also something you can hear by noone else. Khayree's beats are unbeateble, so amazingly creative. The song "Got 2 Survive" is just breathtaking, plain and simple. It features Ray Luv, Mac Mall and the one and only 2Pac. Other standout songs are "Playah's Mode", "Black 'n' Dangerous", "Sic Set", and all the rest from 1-10.

It goes from one song to the next without the listener really noticing that it's the next song. One way to put it is....this album flows so smoothly that it seems like Young Lay tells one story. With the always untouchable beats Khayrhee sets up and the lyrical fluidness of Young Lay, Black 'n' Dangerous is a must have. In each song, Young Lay speaks of real-life situations from his own perspective tellin' one story to the next all the while keepin' it at a moralistic view for the whole world to know. Young Lay has a quick-witted style which almost sounds like as if he was freestylin'...and has a West Coast/Southern accent. But more importantly, this is the first album i ever heard that was bumpin' from the FIRST to the very LAST song. Peep this album to get a feel of the Lofas Side (Northern Vallejo).

Young Black Brotha Records was simply on a roll between 1995 and 1996. With the production of the amazing Khayree, the pioneering Vallejo label put out album after album of awesome Bay Area hip hop. Young Lay's debut "Black 'n Dangerous" is just one of numerous great albums from this period, similar in style and substance to Ray Luv's "Forever Hustlin'" and Dubee's "Dubee aka Sugawolf." As can be expected on a YBB release, the production is consistently outstanding. Like the other reviewers have accurately noted, Khayree is simply a great producer and the YBB product was mostly due to his awesome musicianship. Khayree makes upbeat and slower, deeper songs, using great instrumentation, being especially partial to live trombones. He always uses hard beats and funky bass, and often utilizes woozy synths as well. The hooks on each track are great and the songs are all very well polished. Young Lay is the typical YBB rapper, not an amazing lyricist but a good rapper nonetheless. He tells stories and has a nice flow, and the numerous guest appearances from the YBB crowd and most notably 2Pac in one of his last guest appearances are nice additions. Young Lay's life story is one of the saddest I've heard, and whereas his later material was shaped by his son's kidnapping and the tragic aftermath, this album is simple Bay Area hip hop at its simplest. It's a really slept-on album and I highly recommend it to fans of west coast hip hop.

The album begins with one of my favorites, the upbeat and catchy "Sic Set." The chorus is great, with a nice trombone solo and a fast bass heavy track. Lay performs well and it's a great opener. "On da Dick" is a slower song, addressing biters and sucker MCs. "Twisted" has a good bassline and chorus ("Stop, look, listen...learn!"), it's a more simple and upbeat song. I really like "Livin' 'n da Funk" too, it's funky and laidback, Lay raps about some of his struggles. The deep and well produced posse cut "Got 2 Survive" features Ray Luv, Mac Mall, and 2Pac, and it's a definite highlight. "Ruthless Adolescent" follows, another solid track with a nice hook. "Playah's Mode" is very catchy and has nice synths, Lay performs very well. The title track is next, where Lay tells about growing up black and urban. "Stickin' 2 da Grind" has funky guitars, and more "tales of triple-beams and ice cream," the YBB trademark. "All About My $fetti" was the single here, featured in a Spike Lee movie. It's got a nice laidback vibe and the organ sounds cool. All the rappers display great flows and chemistry. "Lawd Have Mercy" and "Puff Puff Pass" are both incredibly funky, closing out the album with a horn-inflicted "Playah's Mode" remix.

While I don't love it quite as much as Ray Luv's "Forever Hustlin'," "Black 'n Dangerous" is one of multiple great YBB albums released in a short time that I highly recommend. Musically these albums are all great and provide hours of head-nodding pleasure. Fans of gangsta rap will enjoy this immeasurably, and for those unfamiliar with Lay or YBB, I recommend it.

Khayree does it again. I keep tellin yall that he is a musical genius. His funky beats with lay's flow make a masterpiece. Young lay puts comes correct on his first album with some tight lyrics. Twisted, playahs mode, and stickin 2 da grind are my fav tracks, although I think the whole album is tight. You sould pick up this album along with any other ybb albums. If you love west coast music you wont be dissapointed.

This cd is one that you can play and enjoy ALL of the songs. This is obviously the best cd by young lay. my favorites are "ruthless adolescent" and "got to survive". i remember when "all about my fetti" came out, i was in middle school and my brother would always play that song. anyways, good cd, its worth buying.

Young lay had a distinct tone and flow. I think it sounded good and worked well with most of his tracks which were cool khayree beats. He is quite good with his lyrics too, for the time it held its weight. I don't think he is as good as mac mall, ray luv, dubee and a few others from the area. But still definately worth getting if you like this style or even khayree. Later!

I't was the one of the best song's i'v heard

If you like west coast rap this is a must have for you collection. The whole cd is the bomb.

Khayree's label Young Black Brotha Records was one of the many labels from the Bay Area such as Ray Luv, Mac Mall, Mac Dre, Dubee, and of course Young Lay back in the mid 90's. Albums each person has released has made much noise outside of the Bay Area and has caught a buzz from other regions, while maintaining it's quality. Young Lay (from what I read, was going though a tough time around this album was being recorded) his us with his debut Black 'n' Dangerous full of bass bumping beats mostly done by Khayree himself (Ferg helps him out with three tracks on the album).

If lyrical gymnastics isn't up your alley, the standouts are easy to find here. One of the biggest would be where he colabs with Ray Luv, Mac Mall, and Tupac on "Got 2 Survive". Ray Luv and Mac Mall drops more vocals on the single "All About My Fetti" (originally appeared on New Jersey Drive, Vol. 1: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Most of the production here bangs with real heavy basslines on tracks like "Black 'n' Dangerous" and "Ruthless Adolescent". Other standouts include the fun "Puff Puff Pass", an ode to smoking, and "Stickin' 2 Da Grind".

Lyrically, Young Lay was no different than many rappers in the Bay, let alone the west coast. He had enough to get by here on the album, plus the beats by Khayree helped picked up the slack. Not to mention his flow was great, and rode the beats on here well. Some of the hooks were just too boring sounding, such as the one on twisted "Twisted".

I recommend Young Lay's debut to those who are interested in the Young Black Brotha catalog back in the mid 90's when the Bay Area was popular. The album is consistent all throughout and will work great if you have a bass system while listening (seemed like most of Khayree beats had that huge bass sound). If you enjoyed this album here, you should check out similar YBB albums such as Ray Luv's Forever Hustlin', and Dubee's Dubee Aka Sugawolf. Both albums highly similar to Young Lay's debut. Peace.

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


Top 5 Tracks:
1. Got 2 Survive (featuring Ray Luv, Mac Mall, and Tupac)
2. Puff Puff Pass
3. Black 'n' Dangerous
4. All About My Fetti (featuring Mac Mall and Ray Luv)
5. Stickin' 2 Da Grind

It's 1996. Khayree creates pure magic over an immense array of raw and funky beats, while Young lay tears up the mic. These 2 elements create the masterpiece called Black 'N Dangerous. Lay holds nothing back and delivers an unapologetic and uncensored look at hood life. The tracks "Playah's Mode" and "Black 'N Dangerous" are bangin, his flow is unstoppable over hot lowrider G-Funk Beats. YBB creates another hot album; any West Coast rap fans needs to peep and add to their colletion.