Category F5

Twista | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 14, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gmg / Get Money Gang
• ASIN: B00284G2L2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,819 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

For 18 years Twista has been bringing his kinetic flows to the ears of millions of listeners, putting Chicago on the map in the music industry. Always relevant, Twista remains in the game despite a constantly shifting music industry and a new wave of rap artists. Deeming himself the Jason Voorhees of rap, Twista is resilient in the industry as he continues to slay tracks. Chi-town has a major influence on Twista - everything from K-town to downtown, his friends and family, as well as his fellow Chicago artists all play a part in establishing his intense yet mellow vibe.

Twista's quest to become Chicago's dominant MC began in the 80's. He recalls, "Around the Krush Groove days, that's when I knew I wanted to be a rapper to the fullest. Doing talent shows or trying to be part of things to where I could possibly get my foot in the door to become a rapper. Once I got that visual aspect that's when I went in harder." Twista would then compete in and win numerous talent shows around Chicago. Honing his skills through battle rapping, Twista proved to be a force to be reckoned with as he constantly won. He remembers, "I usually won the battles. The thing that got my foot in the door was having a different rap style."

Twista's journey to fame began in 1991, a DJ from a local radio station saw him perform at a talent show held at the Golden Dome on Chicago's west side. This DJ, who had a credible reputation for shopping Chicago artists and getting Chicago recognized by the music industry, became Twista's manager. Twista soon began to conquer the talent show circuit, and eventually his manager would give a demo tape to a Chicago promoter from Loud Records. The promoter was so impressed with what he heard that he took the demo to artist reps in Los Angeles. Amazed by the Twista's fresh and dynamic style, the artist reps contacted Twista immediately and asked him to demonstrate his lyrical ability. The reps were won over and flew Twista and the manager to LA. It was only a matter of time before Twista became the first artist signed to LOUD Records.

Twista explains his talent, "I was just trying to come up with something different besides the metaphors, at first it was different rhythms and rap styles, then I flipped the words. Once I heard somebody else doing my rap style, then it was over, I started going crazy with it; doing whole songs and tearing it up." He further elaborates, "People just think it's about how fast I can spit; it's about how clear I can spit and how beautiful the rhythm is."

Over the years, Twista refined his lyricism to become more structured and more funky. He incorporated melodic syncopations that added depth and complexity to his already unique style. It was on the Do or Die single "Po Pimp"(1996) that Twista introduced this style to the masses.

Twista is an artist who was respected from the start. His underground album Resurrection (1994) received three and a half mics in the Source magazine. He would then go on to release Adrenaline Rush (1997) on Atlantic Records. With the success of first singles "Get It Wet" and "Emotions"; the album would go on to be certified gold. Following that was the release Mobstabilty (1998). The next album for Twista would be the double platinum Kamikaze (2004), which topped the charts at number one. It featured the hit singles "Slow Jamz" with Kanye West and "Overnight Celebrity". The Day After (2005) released a year later peaked at number two and hit platinum status, producing the hits "So Lonely" featuring Mariah Carey, and "Girl Tonite" featuring Trey Songz. Adrenaline Rush 2007 (2007) was the last album he released for Atlantic. Twista has collaborated with some high profile artists in the business such as: Jay Z on "Is That Your Bitch", P. Diddy on "Is This the End", Ludacris on "Cut Up", Three 6 Mafia on "Smoked Out", and a new track with Sting.

Under his new record label GMG (Get Money Gang), a subsidiary of EMI/Capitol Records, Twista is now completely in control of his music while introducing some fresh faces in the process. New artists that Twista wants to put in the spotlight through GMG include: B-Hype, Skoota Choose, Liffy Stokes, Anya, and Mello Tha' Guddaman. With GMG, Twista works to make his acts brand name, so they can survive in the ever-changing music industry. "GMG is the bridge between the music industry and the mid-west." Twista explains.

Currently, Twista is finishing up his new album Category F5. The album is a statement of his newfound creative liberation. Twista explains that the title of the album is a natural evolution of the titles of his previous works - "Category F5 is the highest level of a twister. Once I came up with the title, I felt it was appropriate because coming from the standpoint of Adrenaline Rush, I was trying to stay within that whole zone, and Category F5 sounded like some cold shit." The power of an F5 "can throw cars through the air like bullets, while breaking houses and foundations", and Twista wants to convey that destructive force lyrically. The fierceness on display in Adrenaline Rush reaches a profound intensity on Category F5. As far as the music is concerned, Twista hopes that his music provides an escape for listeners. "My music is like a good movie, it's meant to take listeners away from their problems. It's meant to make people say Wow, that's a dope ass rap," says Twista. Through his verbal prowess, Twista wants his fans to hear him dismember his haters.

Twista does to rap what Coltrane did to saxophone solos. In a rhythmic rapid-fire succession, lyrics flow from one verse onto the next in a dazzling fashion. He has carved out a legacy for himself as a premiere Chicago artist. Though he is an artist with many accomplishments under his belt, he feels that his recognition for being an innovative pioneer will come in due time - "some artists put out the big records, some put out the best records, but Twista's legacy will be that of longevity; being a timeless artist."

Product Description

2009 release from the Grammy Award-winning Hip Hop star. Category F5 features guest appearances from Kanye West, R. Kelly, Busta Rhymes, Bobby V, Lil Boosie, Gucci Mane, OJ Da Juiceman and Static Major. Featured producers on the album include Kanye, Jim Jonsin, Legendary Traxster and others. On this album, Twista makes sure to cater to both the mainstream audience that embrace his Pop smashes as well as the underground that love his lyrical breakouts. Features the first single 'Wetter'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not As Big As Twista Hoped For, July 21, 2009

By 

M. Lindberg (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Category F5 (Audio CD)

Twista returns with his latest album "Category F5" and I must say, it exceeded my expectations. Then again, I didn't really have high expectations after I purchased his last album (the much hyped AR 2007).
This album is definitely a step up from the previous effort, but not as big of an improvement as the Chicago native needed. There isn't anything really memorable about this album, besides the I-Tunes bonus track "Alright" feat. Kanye West and the cut/leaked "Problems" with Tech N9ne.
Collaborations are weak too, as it seems Twista looks to find artists who won't out shine him on his own LP. The most notable collaboration comes from Akon, on the record "On Top." The beat is catchy, the lyrics are boring and he needed a song with Akon like he needs a whole in the head. I like Akon and T-Pain, but aren't these guys on too many records now? A song with Akon would have been cool on "The Day After," but these days Akon and T-Pain are a little tiring.
Overall, a Twista fan will appreciate this album. It isn't bad by any means, but it isn't a record you'll spin often. The album lacks lyrical content (I expect better from Twista), beats and just about everything. And it's disappointing, because I believe Twista is capable of making a solid album, but he's running out of time...

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Twista Dropped the Ball., July 29, 2009

By 

Patrick Mullin (Overland Park, KS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Category F5 (Audio CD)

I've listened to this album many times now and I can't really bring myself to recommend it as a whole. There are parts of it that serve as glimmers of hope that the Adrenaline Rush era Twista has made a return, but then those are squashed by too many filler tracks. There's the token Akon feature (vomit), which I'm sure will be the next single released, and a few others that just seem phoned in.

The first track on the album, Misunderstood, is awesome. Great production, fire from Twista, and a good feature from Buk of Psychodrama make this the highlight song on the album. However, just as you think the album is going to make up for some of Twista's recent stumbles, he sucks himself back into his habit of churning out poppy, radio-friendly (i.e. uninteresting, uncreative) tracks. A potentially superb collaboration with Do or Die is unfortunately dragged down by a complete garbage chorus, which is a shame because at first this song harkens back to the days of 'Legit Ballers' and other Speedknot Mobstaz tracks. And in another collaboration that could have been excellent, but wasn't, Lil Boosie is misused in a token weed song. The R. Kelly collaboration, Yellow Light, should have been renamed Red Light, because this forgettable song should have been left on the cutting room floor from the beginning.

It's not all bad..although quite a bit of it is. Some of the tracks that are promising or somewhat enjoyable include Talk To Me, Jump Off, and American Gangster. Interestingly enough, the tracks that are the most worthwhile are the ones where Twista isn't collaborating with other rappers (Misunderstood being the one exception).

Overall, I give this a 2.5 out of 5 (which I'll just round up to 3) because it seems like Twista is motivated to put together a quality record through half of the album, but the other half comes across as lazy and uninspired. If you are interested in checking this out, I would recommend trying to listen to the songs listed above rather than wasting your money on the entire album. It won't be worth it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Back to the Game!, July 20, 2009

By 

Frank Whright (Kuwait) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Category F5 (Audio CD)

AR97 was by far Twista's best album followed by Kamikaze and The Day After which commercially was his best album. Expecting this trend to continue, AR07 was a huge disapointment and this is coming from a career long Twista fan. Being from Detroit, we have a music style like no other (Bone THUGS, C.C., Da Brat, etc) so we expect certain sounds from our artist and Twista stepped far beyond that style on AR07, it felt very southern and overdone, nothing close to AR97. Well hes come a lot closer to AR97 with this offering in Cat F5. OK so the truth is he does too much with southern rappers that have no business being on his albums (Lil Boosie, Gucci Mane!?) Im not hating on the south but if hes going to go bar for bar with them, he needs someone on his level, maybe Andre 3000, Lil Wayne. "Wetter" is what I think Twista fans look for, "Misunderstood" for example when hes by himself or someone that compliments him, not just for the radio appeal. I hope Twista sticks to this formula for future CD's and I realize artist have to expand but AR07 was not it.