Customer Reviews

Child of the Ghetto [Vinyl]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

(Here's the short version: on most CDs, I only like maybe 6 or 7 songs out of like 15-20 total. On G-Dep's, I can honestly say that I like every one of them. That just doesn't happen everyday. And now for the long verson...)

I've been waiting for this to drop since August 7, and it was definitely worth it. Originally due at that date, Child Of The Ghetto was delayed to make room for P. Diddy's solo album The Saga Continues. G-Dep's first single, Let's Get It, now became the first single for Puff, with those two and contributer Black Rob assuming the group moniker "Three The Hard Way"--an excuse for Puff to put the song on his album. We still got a little taste of G-Dep on a few songs, but with the exception of Child Of The Ghetto, we weren't hearing his best. Then we were told to listen for Special Delivery on the radio, and after certain global events and a couple delays, the album finally debuted.

On Child Of The Ghetto, G-Dep really offers it all. The lead-off track, Everyday, is my favorite song and I think a find example of his lyrical and delivery skills. Yo Puff, if you're reading, you gotta make this the next single; I'm telling you, it's what we'll want to hear, and it showcases G-Dep's rapping prowess. I'm actually glad they kept Child Of The Ghetto, the title track, on the CD, despite it already being on Puff's, as it's also one of the hottest tracks. (Check out the third verse.) The "P. Diddy Remix" to Special Delivery follows, and having heard the song with and without Diddy's ad libs screaming in the background, it has greater energy with it. Here you'll also experience his unorthodox, but incredibly catchy, flow. Keep It Gangsta, perhaps one of the last times we'll hear Shyne, follows, with a hook that you'll either dig or dislike, but good verses by both rappers.

After that comes "Smash" On The First Night, which could definitely become a club hit and has great crossover appeal. Originally, the song had a different, rather unique beat to it (with the same lyrics and a title to match the hook), but I'm kind of glad they changed it to something upbeat and public-friendly because this could spell better exposure for G-Dep. This should be the third single if the title track isn't.

Also look out for Danger Zone, a few tracks down, in which G-Dep displays some of the tightest rhyming I've heard, especially the third verse. I Want The World To See has smoothly flowing production and the lyrics to match ("This ain't the old Lakers and nigga, you ain't Worthy"). One Way is an interesting song hidden towards the back of the album that puts a new, darker twist on Blondie's classic. The Let's Get It Remix turns the original into a posse cut featuring the up and coming from Bad Boy. Most of the other songs I left out are pretty hot, not my favorites but definitely songs I'd turn to if they were on the radio. I honestly dig them all.

Now, for those of you who have kept up with G-Dep over the months, maybe downloaded some of his songs, you'll find that a couple are missing from the final album. Most notably, For The Kids, a ghetto reinterpretation of nursery rhymes, is very unfortunately omitted. I encourage all of you to actually download that song because it's among G-Dep's best work, in my opinion. So Blazing It's Amazing, whose theme you can guess, also doesn't find its way on the album. And for those of you who are really paying attention, you'll notice that even a couple skits that were going to be on the CD originally were taken out. Lamentably, an interlude featuring G-Dep and some woman [...] in a parking lot (to precede F*** On The First Night) isn't there, nor is the original interlude before Danger Zone, a grim scene at a hospital. I would count what's not on the CD as my only disappointment. (And with only 71 minutes total, there's room for an extra track.)

G-Dep really can be the savior of Bad Boy. At this point, it's all on P. Diddy to promote him and make people know his name. So far, I fear that he's not doing his job, as I haven't heard Special Delivery in my area. (Note that it did debut at 17 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles Chart, so maybe some places like New York are hearing it more.) But G-Dep undisputably has what it takes to be the next great MC of our day.

Fledgling Bad Boy Records artist G Dep has far greater skills than those displayed on this very uneven disc; executive producer Sean Combs, rather than being part of the problem, should have been part of the solution, never allowing this to hit the streets as such. When one listens to a truly memorable song like "Everyday" (Had a cigarette for breakfast, just for beginners,/Had pride for my lunch and sleep for dinner/Tried to go to church, priest called me a sinner:/Called me everything, 'cept for a winner . . .)and the other better-than-average songs like "Child of the Ghetto", "I Am (featuring Kool G Rap and Rakim)", "Let's Get It", and "Keep it Gangsta (featuring [the now-incarcerated] Shyne)", one has to wonder why much of the rest of the album stinks so much. There's "Doe Fiend", a completely useless reworking of Eric B & Rakim's "Microphone Fiend" with vaguely different lyrics; "Special Delivery", which in addition to a dubious beat and woeful hook, is marred by P. Diddy's babbling in the background; and the doomed-from-the-moment-they-named it "F*** on the First Date (with May)".

It's apparent to the careful listener that this artist, introduced and prominently featured on P. Diddy's 2001 release, "The Saga Continues", has skill in spades. At his best, his oddly cadenced lyrical flow works well, telling stories with much of the same prowess that Rakim and Biggie have shown us. At his worst, with ponderous beats, pedantic hooks, pedestrian topics and lyrics, and shameful misuse of one of hip-hop's best known and most talented (if oft-maligned) producers, he is awful. Only his next release can confirm which G Dep will triumph.

This is one of those albums that I have a problem listening in-depth into at first. There are a lot of rap albums that I feel are trash, and later feel "that is a good record." This is one of those. Most critics will put down ANYTHING that comes from Bad Boy nowadays, mainly because P. Diddy is behind the mixing boards. But this is a good record! The beats are tight to def, the lyrics aren't anything special, but G-Dep's flow is perfect for the beats. It's different, but Dep seems to have to rhym everything. Some of the tracks that I am feelin are 'Child Of The Ghetto,' 'Special Delivery,' 'Smash On The First Night,' 'The Ride,' 'Danger Zone,' 'Lets Get It,' and 'One Way.' One track that is pretty tight and goes back to the old school Bad Boy beats is 'Doe Fiend.' It just reminds me of an old B.I.G. beat....definetly not BIG's lyric skills, far from it. But this is better than I thought it would be, considering its from the "new" Bad Boy. It's hard to recommend this record to the average rap listener. If you want something with more depth and real lyrics, this isn't for you. But if you want a head banger or something to roll out to the club to, this is a straight enough album with enough hits to roll out for a week. I got this album on a chance and found it was better than thought to be. Give it a chance, G-Dep is worth peepin.

G-Dep delivers a very solid debut. it's a shame he's on Bad Boy cause he probably won't get to drop again for years (look at Carl Thomas, Black Rob, Loon, etc.). The best Bad Boy album since Lox left (early 2000). He has a unique flow and delivers his lyrics good over some of the best beats I've heard in a while. A must have album.

#2 - 7.5
#3 - 10 (classic)
#4 - 9.5 (great beat, long intro with gay ass Puff yelling - check out the remix w/ Ghostface, Keith Murray & Craig Mack)
#6 - 6 (f/ Shyne)
#7 - 7.5 (f/ May)
#8 - 7.5
#10 - 10 (classic with a great beat)
#11 - 9 (good song f/ legends Kool G Rap & Rakim)
#12 - 10 (classic w/ great beat f/ Mark Curry & Loon)
#14 - 10 (classic remake of Rakim's "Microphone Fiend")
#15 - 7 (f/ Joe Hooker)
#16 - 9.5 (f/ Black Rob & Puff Daddy)
#17 - 7 (f/ Carl Thomas)
#18 - 8 (f/ Black Rob)
#20 - 5

T. Coleman -- Harlem, NY

check all my reviews

ITS A SHAME THIS ALBUM JUST DIDN'T BLOW UP THE WAY I THOUGHT IT SHOULD HAVE. I THINK BADBOY RECORDS IS TO BLAME FOR NOT PROMOTING IT WELL. THE PRODUCTION & THE LYRICS ARE AMAZING FROM START TO FINISH, LISTEN TO THE LYRICS AND PLAY THIS ALBUM LOUD ON A GOOD SOUND SYSTEM, TRUST ME, YOU WON'T BE SORRY. I HOPE G. DEP'S NEXT ALBUM WILL BRING THE SUCCESS HE RIGHTFULLY DESERVE, I'LL BE FIRST IN LINE TO GET IT.

This release is tight. Forget about the fact that a few of the tracks appear on The Saga Continues and get yourself a copy of this, cause the rest of the tracks are bangin. Must hear tracks include Keep it Gangsta (with Shyne), Smash on the First Night (with May), The Ride, Danger Zone, I Am (with Kool G Rap & Rakim) and It's All Over (with Carl Thomas). Awesome production by P. Diddy and Joe Hooker and G. Dep just shines on each and every track. The interludes are a little sub standard, but the music is what you get this one for, even if you got three tracks already if you have The Saga Continues.

I think that G-Dep's first project shows much promise but Bluff-Daddy needs to stay the hell out of the way. If he wants to put out his "flow" he should go bang out some of his own projects and leave these artists alone. I know that they are on the Bad Boy label but that doesn't give him the right to be in their songs. G-Dep has talent but will he ever get the chance to maximize it with Bluffy around. "Special Delivery" and "Let's Get It" are fat jams. G-Dep keep bangin'.

Like Black Rob's "Life Story", G-Dep pulls through on his first CD. G-Dep has an awkward but interesting flow that sounds really good with the production from the Hitmen. Some of the better tracks on the record are "Special Delivery", "Danger Zone", "Let's Get it", "I am", and "One Way". There is really no bad track on this record. Guest artist include Kool G Rap, Rakim, Bad Boy's Shyne, Kain, Loon, Black Rob, P. Diddy, Carl Thomas, and Joe Hooker. There is even "Let's Get it rmx" as a bonus track. The only reason this got 4 stars is because three tracks on the record were on P. Diddy's "The Saga Continues". In my opion, P. Diddy should have used these tracks on either his album or Dep's but not both. Other than hearing the same tracks this CD is a great start for G-Dep.

I FIRST HEARD G-DEP WHEN I WAS WATCHING MTV2, HIS SONG EVERYDAY. I GOTTA ADMIT, THE SONG WAS PRETTY DEEP AND HIS FLOW WAS INTERESTING. SO I BOUGHT THE CD...BAD MISTAKE!!!I GOTTA ADMIT, AFTER LISTENING TO THE FIRST FEW TRACKS (INTRO,EVERYDAY,CHILD OF THE GHETTO, AND SPECIAL DELIVERY), I WAS LIKE THIS ALBUM IS HOT!!! MAN, BUT LISTENING TO THE REST, THE ONLY OTHER TRACK I LIKED WAS LET'S GET IT...EVERYTHING ELSE WAS WACK!!!IF I RATED THE ALBUM BASED ON THOSE 5 TRACKS(4 SONGS), I WOULD GIVE IT 5 STARS!!! BUT THE REST OF THE ALBUM WAS PATHETICALLY MEDIOCRE...AS I SAID, THOSE 4 SONGS ARE RAW, I LOVE EM...BUT THE REST OF THE CD MAKES ME WANNA THROW-UP!!! DOWNLOAD THOSE 4 SONGS, DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS ALBUM..!!!

Real Talk..You can play this CD from start to finish with no problem. This is a well put together album. These new cats need to take notes! @MADE_MikeJ