Customer Reviews

Breaking Combs

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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.

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.

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.

Breakin' Combs is a 1994 Hiphop Gem, now out-of print and hard to find Dred Scott never got the recognition he deserved for this. This album is for any hiphop fan of that NY sound for its typical early 90's feel with the horns and drums, and the general jazzy summer vibe it brings. This album has been slept on since the day it was dropped and probably explains why D scott is not about any more doing his thing. Do yourself a favour and peep this and you may find you have stumbled across a personal favourite. Peace!

Lyrics - 10/10

Beats - 10/10

Originality - 10/10

Replay Value - 9/10

Best Tracks - ALL OF 'EM, IT's TOO CONSISTENT!

If you found this helpful, check out my other reivews

This album came out in the magical year of '94 that included debuts from Biggie, Nas, Casual, Extra Prolific, and included great albums from Gang Starr to Scarface. The question is why is this album is so special? This album is special because this album is a collection of different styles that is performed at its best by one person and he even produces his own music. How many people can do that in hip hop?

The album contains nostalgic songs like "Back In the Day", takes on the "Uncle Toms" and contains a Hilary Banks parody on the song "Swinging From the Tree" and contains dope story telling raps on songs like "The Story" and incorporates rasta accent on "Duck Ya Head". The cd is funky for songs like "Funky Rhythm" features Tragedy(aka Intelligent Hoodlum go pick up his first 2 albums they are dope as well) and has the smoother jazzier tip on songs like "Check the Vibe" and "My Mind Is Driftin"(even includes a jazzy influenced instrumental at the end of the album called Frankie's Groove").

If your wondering if there is any complaints from me there is NONE. I can play this album from start to finish without any problems.

If your wondering if you should pick this up by all means pick it up(for a good price of course with all these people charging 70 bucks for this). If you enjoy golden age hip hop with some funk and jazz influences pick it up.

Standout Tracks: All of them but my current favorite is "My Mind Is Driftin"

Peace Ya'll....

I'm flippin' through CDs, right....and I came across this joint. It was almost like I'd just bought it for the first time. I've been bumpin' this album for the last 2 days and I'll probably have it in rotation for about 2 more months.

I remember checking out a Dred Scott video and immediately going to the store to get a few copies (one on wax and one on CD). I tell anyone that will listen that 1994 was probably the best year ever for hip hop releases. Common Sense, O.C., Nas, Outkast, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Biggie, Xzibit, Artifacts, Scarface, Organized Konfusion, Boogiemonsters, Gang Starr, Redman, Jeru The Damaja, and many many others were droppin' nothin' but classics. Breakin' Combs is easily one of the best albums to come out of '94. The production is the perfect blend of boom bap sprinkled over jazzy, laid back keyboards and horn loops. The guest spots from Adriana Evans and Tragedy are great also.

As far as flaws, forget about it. There are none. Every aspect of this album is flawless and dope. The album is kind of long (16 tracks at just under an hour), but you won't even notice because you'll be too busy bobbing your head.

Like I've already said a bunch of times already, Breakin' Combs is awesome. Dred Scott would go on to drop another album (Small Clubs Are Dead in '95), but then he just faded to black without making any kind of noise. I can't stress it enough, this album is great. I don't normally pump albums up like this, but I've just dusted this album off after ignoring it for almost 10 years and I'm falling in love with it all over again. If you buy this, you'll probably fall in love with it too. Highly recommended album here.

Standout Tracks: Every track on this album is undeniably tight.

I'm not really going to speak on this, cause everyone below me explained it so well, this guy produced all of his own music, he wrote some of my favourite songs of all times.. if you love hiphop, like i love hiphop.. don't even front on this album, its an instant classic! i feel sorry for the people who dont got this in their collection (yet)

Support Real hiphop, support Dred Scotts record.. !

breakin' combs is one my favourite hip-hop album ever. the entire cd is produced by dred himself and the beats and vibes are straight 94 vibes. i think 1994 was the best hip-hop year ever because the best album went out that year or by the way were prouced during that year.: well, this cd reppresents to the fullest what i've already said. jazz breaks, fresh west coast vibes (NOT g-funk), tight beats and dred's soft voice are the main ingredients of this masterpiece. all the trax are great but my favourites are Back In the days, Check The Vibe, Funky Rhytms and My Mind Is Driftin'. pay attention: the Dred Scott of Breakin' Combs isn't the same of person of the one who did Smalls Club Are Dead. they are not the same person and definetively the first is better than the second.

peace

I'm flippin' through CDs, right....and I came across this joint. It was almost like I'd just bought it for the first time. I've been bumpin' this album for the last 2 days and I'll probably have it in rotation for about 2 more months.

I remember checking out a Dred Scott video and immediately going to the store to get a few copies (one on wax and one on CD). I tell anyone that will listen that 1994 was probably the best year ever for hip hop releases. Common Sense, O.C., Nas, Outkast, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Biggie, Xzibit, Artifacts, Scarface, Organized Konfusion, Boogiemonsters, Gang Starr, Redman, Jeru The Damaja, and many many others were droppin' nothin' but classics. Breakin' Combs is easily one of the best albums to come out of '94. The production is the perfect blend of boom bap sprinkled over jazzy, laid back keyboards and horn loops. The guest spots from Adriana Evans and Tragedy are great also.

As far as flaws, forget about it. There are none. Every aspect of this album is flawless and dope. The album is kind of long (16 tracks at just under an hour), but you won't even notice because you'll be too busy bobbing your head.

Like I've already said a bunch of times already, Breakin' Combs is awesome. Dred Scott would go on to drop another album (Small Clubs Are Dead in '95), but then he just faded to black without making any kind of noise. I can't stress it enough, this album is great. I don't normally pump albums up like this, but I've just dusted this album off after ignoring it for almost 10 years and I'm falling in love with it all over again. If you buy this, you'll probably fall in love with it too. Highly recommended album here.

Standout Tracks: Every track on this album is undeniably tight.