Customer Reviews

Built From Scratch

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It isn't easy being a team of battle DJ's. Working all day to perfect sophisticated scratch routines, travelling to competitions, then winning a bunch of slipmatts for all of your trouble. The X-ecutioners have paid their dues, with DMC battle titles and one independeant album under their belts, this major label debut is thier attempt at taking over the rap game. No easy task fo 4 guys that just scratch records.

DJ albums have never been succesfull. While underground heads easily recognize deck skills, an average hip-hop fan will not enjoy listening to just scratching for an hour. Here, the X-ecutioners enlist a small army of collaborators, big and small. The results are varied.

The M.O.P. and Linkin Park collaborations are both heavy metal and rap hybrids that work well. Thug-rap favorites Big Pun and Kool G Rap bring the noise on "Dramacide". The best track is the possie cut "Y'all Know the Name", with Xzibit and others giving the guys behind the wheels some credit. Other songs fall flat. Biz Markie nearly ruins the remake of Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love",the remake of "Marley Marl Scratch" has a lot of static, and the skits are not funny at all.

The X-ecutioners invite some other dj's along for the ride as well. The Triple Threat Dj's remix the intro from Vinroc's '99 mixtape "Reconstruction",(the first reunion of Rob Swift and Shortkut since that Gap commercial),and The Bumrush Brothers show up as well. This album lacks focus, only half of the track can be listened to repeatedly. The production, from the X-ecutioners, Dj Premier, and Large Proffessor, is quality. Its a good rap album put out by dj's, don't expect everyone to get it.

This album is great! It is definitely a CD worth listening to if you love hip-hop and great hip hop DJs like Mix Master Mike or the DJ Shadow. Now, I am not much into the hip hop DJ scene at all, but this CD certainly made my head turn. The rap/rock songs on here(the most obvious example being 'It's Going Down' with Mr. Hahn and Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park) work really well...This cd does have a mostly hip hop/rap vibe to it though, with heavy break beats, song cuts and scratches. Even a strange little ditty with Biz Markie works quite well.(With Biz Markie's trademark comedic style of rapping).
So if you want something to listen to while working the weights, grinding the skate park, or any kind of high energy work, pop this CD in and it will get you hyped up...because these workers of the wheels of steel deliver a solid, high energy cd...

to tell you the truth, the only reason why I bought this CD was because I'm a big Linkin Park fan and I loved the "It's Goin Down" track and I wasn't expecting this to be that good of a CD, but boy was I wrong! I'm not really into hip-hop and rap (I like rock, but some rap is okay) but this CD really was very very good. The only other DJ CD I have is Freestylers "We Rock Hard" which I don't know if its even a DJ CD but it sure sounded like it, and I really loved that CD! anyway, I really recommend this CD to everyone who likes underground hip-hop/rap, and to anyone who actually enjoyed Linkin Park's my opinion kick [behind] "Reanimation" because "Built From Scratch" kind of sounds like some of the rap remixes! Get this album only if you like underground rap!

Upon my initial listen I really didn't know what to expect from this album. I had never heard of the X-ecutioners until I saw there video for the song "It's going down". The song was primarily rock driven and featured members of the group Linkin Park. The scratching in that song was unbelievable which prompted me to buy the album. The opening intro just blew me away. The way 4 d.j.'s could combine their separate styles on one album and have it not sound like a jumbled mess was incredible to me. This X-ecutioners album epitomizes the true creativity of hip hop in its purest form. The track production is tight and coincides perfectly with the groups cuts and mixes. There are a few guest m.c. appearances which do the album justice(except for the Biz Markie track)but the highlights of this album is when the d.j.'s let loose on a track. It is truly a beautiful thing. Give love to the d.j. or d.j.'s in this case and pick this one up. You will not regret it.

this is a breath of fresh air for mainstream hip hop, this is a superior album in all aspects, my only beef with it is that the skits should have been removed, they are useless and i know everyone will skip them. If this album was a continuous dj mix, scratching and all, then this would be flawless. Pick up the dirtchamber sessions by dj liam howlett for a flawless unique hip hop dj mix. Buy this album, skip the skits, and buy "dirtchamber sessions"

Congrats to the x-men for showing their craft,to those that do not comprehend this music who cares,This cd was well produced,tight beat juggling,scratches,killer sound munipulation.Turntablism is here to stay period,If you want to hear electronic jazz on turntables buy this cd as a starter kit,Beside bopping the head, it also listening music.Sic!!!

Man, I remember back in the early 90's listening to these kats when they were called the X-Men in New York city underground radio stations. Showcasing their turntable skills which were damn near amazing!!! It was great to hear the art of DJing hasn't been lost and and it also great to hear the art of Djing is still alive and well on this new LP !!! This LP is what the mainstream Hip-Hop listeners need to hear, on the real!!! A part of what real hip-hip is all about. Production is top notch, the artists they have ranging from Pharoahe Monch, Large Professor good to hear him), DJ Premier, M.O.P. Everlast, Biz Markie, and even rockers Linkin Park and 80's Talking Heads splinter group, Tom Tom Club. The X-ecutioners skills on the 1 and 2's are without a doubt superior!! They are one of the best group DJ's in the world! If you love DJing, and hearing (in mainstream terms)a lost art form, with great emceeing. This is the LP for you..I even love the LP cover...Emulating the classic Public Enemy Yo, Bumrush the Show album cover.

This is one of da MUST HAVE album if you're into DJ Scratchin' stuff! X-Ecutioners is one of the most talent DJ group! Their Scratchin' turntable skills is Grand fo' sho'! Plus they can produce some really Tight Beat!

With some really Nice Guest appearance, like da rap legendary Large Professor, some famous Rap Star like Big Pun, Xzibit, Inspectah Deck from WU TANG, even include two member of Mainstream Rap/Metal group Linkin Park!

Some of my Favorite is:
XL Featuring Large Professor

X-ecutioners Scratch
A Journey Into Sound
X-ecutioners (Theme) Song
Feel The Bass
B-boy Punk Rock 2001
It's Goin' Down featuring Linkin Park
Dramacyde featurin' Big Pun and Kool G Rap
and Genius Of Love 2002

Great Production, many great song, Many Great Guest Appearance,
even those Skit is really funny too!
[check out Hip Hop Awards and Muthfu*kin' Millionaire, really kicks!]

A Really Great album, Worth to Purchase!

The heavy metal/rock on a hip hop album is shameful. If this was in the early 90's they would be labeled CROSSOVERS. Also most of the skits are whack! But they do have NASTY turntable skill and I recommend underground mixes by their individual members such as Roc Raida, Mista Sinista and Rob Swift. Ive heard some really good ones. Still tho this CD is worth checkin out.

This is a tite CD. Great scratching, great hip-hop, and great beats. If you're expecting something like their hit song with Linkin Park, "It's Goin Down", the whole CD isn't like that. There are about 2 songs like that. The other songs are either hip-hop, or just scratching. If you're a fan of hip hop or scratching, definetly get this CD. One of my favs.