Breaking Combs

Dred Scott | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: M S Distributing Co.
• ASIN: B000008KHH
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,959 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Back in the Day

2. Duck Ya Head

3. Can't Hold It Back

4. Check the Vibe

5. Dirty Old Man Skit

6. The Story

7. To da Old School

8. Funky Rhythms

9. Swingin' from the Tree

10. Intro

11. Nutin' ta Lose

12. Liar

13. Rough E Nuff

14. My Mind Is Driftin'

15. They Don't Know

16. Frankie's Groove

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous...probably the best hip hop album you've never heard of, November 30, 2006

By 

ctrx ('bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks...) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Breaking Combs (Audio CD)

In my neverending quest to find great hip hop, I came across this long out of print album and am so thankful I did. Dred Scott's "Breakin' Combs" is about as close as a hip hop album can come to being perfect. From a musical standpoint, from an entertainment standpoint, it's just simply outstanding. Dred Scott is both an exceptional producer and rapper. On the mixing boards, he is partial to the horns and jazz instrumentation prominent in the early 90s east coast underground rap, but he is really talented. He uses all kinds of obscure instrumentals to create lush musical backgrounds with dense layers of beats. Seriously, you could get lost in some of these gorgeous beats. On the mic, Dred uses two distinct deliveries. One is a hard, boom bap style reminiscent of KRS-One. The other is a laidback, almost whisper reminiscent of Q-Tip or Doodlebug from Digable Planets. Dred tells stories, spits raw philosophy, and just puts lyrics over his amazing beats, all creating one heck of a great album. This album is one of the most slept-on, amazingly underrated albums ever.

The album starts with "Back in the Day," a bass and saxophone-heavy song where a nostalgic Dred reminisces over the days before he had a recording contract, even to the point where he admits he was a poor rapper but would still give anything to "go back." This is followed by "Duck Ya Head," a humorous and entertaining song dealing with the injustices of the police and ghetto life. "Can't Hold It Back" is upbeat and catchy. A true highlight and one of the greatest songs of a musical era is "Check the Vibe." Dred and his enormously talented singing wife Adriana Evans collaborate for a classic, one of most absolutely beautiful hip hop songs I've heard. Dred's lyrics are conscious, Adriana's singing is light as air, and the production is perfect, subtle vibes that totally match both. "The Story" tells an entertaining tale of a night gone wrong, and "Funky Rhythms" is a true highlight, providing just that. "Swingin' From the Tree" is hilarious, poking fun at racism and people embarrassed of their color (the Hillary Banks-like voice is hysterical). "Nutin' ta Lose" may be my favorite track on the album. It's fast, bass heavy, and awesome, Dred almost yells on this song, the chorus will have you singing along in seconds. "Liar" and "My Mind Is Drifting" are both subtle and laidback in contrast, but similarly great. The album ends with "Frankie's Groove," an awesome live instrumental jazz tune that anyone could enjoy on some level. The two skits here are both good and add to the element of the album (especially the funny "Dirty Old Man Skit").

It's truly amazing that an album this good can be this underrated and unknown, but if this album comes your way, I suggest you stop at nothing to pick it up. Fans of early-90s east coast hip hop like Tribe, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Digable Planets, Gang Starr and the like will become addicted to "Breakin' Combs." I think it's sad that a guy like Dred can only make one album and find himself unable to maintain a career, especially when it's an album like this one. It's beautifully musical, entertaining, and one of the finest hip hop works I've had the pleasure to enjoy.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE MOST SLEPT ON ALBUM IN '94, July 24, 2005

By 

O. KAKA (WOODBRIDGE, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking Combs (Audio CD)

Wow! this classic came out in 94. Big Big shout out to my man Dred Scott.

SYNOPSIS

LYRICS -------------- 10/10

ALBUM COVER ------------ 10/10

CONCEPT ----------- 10/10

PRODUCTION COURTESY OF DRED SCOTT ------- 10/10 TOP NOTCH

GUEST APPEARANCE --------- TRAGEDY & THIS CAT ON CAN'T HOLD IT BACK.

STANDOUT TRACKS --------- ALL TRACKS ARE ON FIRE

OVERALL ---------- GO COP THIS INERRANT ALBUM RIGHT NOW.

P.s BIG SHOUT TO CD NOW/AMAZON FOR KEEPING HIP HOP UNDERGROUND.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best hip-hop album of ever, June 9, 2006

By 

Bigo 4 Life (Bordighera, Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking Combs (Audio CD)

I spent a lot of months looking for this cd, and when I finally bought it, I couldn't believe something like this could be possible! Dred has entirely produced the whole album and he did it like no one: funky and jazzy influences on high quality beats and his soft voice are the main ingredients of this pearl of sound. When you here songs like "Back in the days, "Can't hold it back", "check the vibe" or "funky rhytms" your mind touches the heaven. I think Dred, of whom I don't know very much about (except the fact that another guy with his name lives in San Francisco) was inspired by some e.t. god who has gave him the talent to do what he has done. WONDERFUL.