Customer Reviews

Blood & Ashes

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

 

 

OK, this album is GREAT...esp. tracks 8 and 9...all star guest appearances -- 7 w/Sadat X...King Syze...Immortal Technique and 7L&Esoteric..and the track produced by and featuring Celph-Titled (seriously, does anyone have a better sense of humor in rap than Celph-Titled? Every track he's on, it's like a Joe Pesci in Goodfellas-worthy supporting performance, Eric Gagne closing out the 9th in his Cy Young season, you get the idea... If you like Celph, get Apathy's "It's the Bootleg..." ASAP and be amazed by how his presence on the mic has progressed dramatically over time. Love Celph.)
Anyway, if you like high energy rap...the kind of stuff that makes you want to chug a Red Bull and run 5 miles (or maybe that's just me), get this now. If you like the "feel" of Jedi Mind Tricks but also feel Vinnie Paz's verses are starting to sound a bit repetetive, this is absolutely for you.
...Can't wait for the Demigodz album, whenever it comes it...

both of these rappers; Crypt the war child, and Planetary, are some of philly's best underground MCs right now. They both prove it on this cd "blood and ashes" you need to cop this cd if you think you are a real hip hop dude, this cd needs to find its way in your cd player some how, because this is raw, just listen to songs like "angels of death" and "blades of glory" also"the revolution" and many more. Take my word for it you need this album.

This album builds on a momentum of raw rhymes, ridiculously catchy hooks, thumping beats and a huge amount of energy to keep things going to the very last track -- like a few of the other reviews noted, there is not a weak song on here.

Crypt and Planetary complement each other perfectly as they go back and forth destroying every beat. The rhymes are thuggish and witty, both violent and aggressive without resorting to the cliches of mainstream hip hop. On "Gods and Generals": "You could stick Planetary in a circle of thieves, Imma still have the same $#!& I came with when I leave." On "Fire and Fire" Crypt describes his hunger: "I need one mic, one chance and one glance / one fight, one dance to become champ." The Jedi Mind influence is apparent -- on "Cutthroats," Planetary warns over a Spanish guitar beat: "To harm me exact, you're gonna need an army attack / then I'll wash away your soldiers like the laundry in fact / I'm raunchy on wax, you don't really want me to snap." Every guest appearance is on point, especially Celph Titled and Immortal Technique, who come through with blazing verses.

Even though I love Jedi Mind Tricks, to me this album is like a better version of JMT: the same energy and a similar rhyme style over beats that are almost as good as Stoupe's, without the frustrating repetition of Vinny Paz-style lyrical content. This is a case of proteges who have become just as good or better than their mentor, and that's a good surprise. If you like raw underground hip hop, the chances are very good you will like this album.

I've been with the whole Army of The Pharoahs (collectively referred to as AOTP) movement since '99 shortly after the Psycho-Social... LP was released. I think that they're slowing down with the exception of Eso. But that's beside the point, that's just a little insight to my position.

So, why three stars? Okay, the production isn't bad, it's not what you'd expect. It's like AOTP found a thug formula for production that worked with violent by design and visions of ghandi, Blitz Inc. just some hardcore drums, swift symphonic melodies, etc. And they're running with it, but the formula is getting tired. Like I said, it's not bad, but it doesn't have the same impact the freshness did back in 2000 when Violent By Design came out. I can't really knock outerspace's rhymes, they're better than most but nothing to write home about. If you're a huge fan (like I am), I'd buy it. But I have a feeling it's going to get shelved 'cause the replay value ain't so great to me... Oh yeauh, DON'T BUY the chief kamachi album... That is definitely a 15 dollar table coaster. Save your money for the next PBS pledge rally and get yourself a really nice t-shirt you can wear to the YMCA and get beat up, TOTALLY FOR FREE, this summer. That would be a better investment than the cult status album.

Great album; many bangin' beats that are worth a repeat or 5. Too many hot tracks to list them all. One noticable thing is that Outerspace keeps good company with alot of ill featuring artists on this album and it shows. My man Celph Titled tears up Track 5, possibly one of the best tracks all year.

Must have album...

I bought this along with the Blood Brothers album. I like this better though Blood Brothers is still pretty good. I can stay jamming to Blood and Ashes all day! So if you haven't got this album I suggest you do so.

outerspace has been one of my favorite hip hop duos for some time now, personally i think they're the hidden gem of jmt/aotp/babygrande and definately one of those artists that just make downright good music all around. If ur into hip hop or getting into hip hop or perhaps expanding out of being brainwashed by mainstream "gansta rap" check out all of jedi mind tricks and anything they support or put out and you wont be disappointed at all. "blood brothers" by outerspace has better production tho and some of the songs from this album are on blood brothers with better production.

First off, production wise the album is on point. Most songs have ill beats by shuko or other underground producers but then there are a couple tracks with horrible production. Lyricwise every song is amazing. If this album was more like torture papers or like visions of gandhi it would be an instant success. So, i'm looking forward to their third album.
Best songs are:

Fire and Ice

Top Shelf

Chapter of Thunder

Outerspace can rap, there is no question about this. Their first album is pure heat. It has some extremely hot lyrics combined with very dope beats. The guest appearances are all off the hook. I would recommend tracks 8, 12 and 14 to anyone who loves rap. Planet and Crypt spit straight fire on those tracks. They've evolved over the years and can rightfully be considered two of the dopest MC's in the underground. If there next album has some beats produced by Stoupe it will likely be worthy of five stars.

This album is nothing less than what you would expect from outerspace if you are familiar with them. The single that dropped is the Sadat X track, which was the first I heard. Outerspace outshines X on the mic and the beat is on point. All in all it is a solid babygrande release. (all the beats are sick) And to clear up some of the confusion... outerspace said in an interview they didn't want to bother Stoupe with making tracks for this albim because he was too busy makin the new Jedi Mind album Legacy of Blood. (which is due out in the end of September) One thing I am wonderin is whether Jus and Vinnie buried the hatchet cause Jus was on the Untitled track on the re-release of Violent by Design. Anyone know?.........

Anyways, a solid buy.