Customer Reviews

The County Hound EP

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

 

 

I bought this CD today just on a whim (along with KRS-One's Hip Hop Lives), and I have to say I was surprised. The Re-Up had some good material, but honestly, it let me down. I remember thinking "WOW. Between d12, Bobby Creek, Cashis and Stat Quo, Shady Records is NOT in good shape." But here's Cashis' debut EP, and there's not a weak song on it. Not to say any of it's classic, but they're all good. Also, I like that it was essentially just Eminem producing and Cashis rapping. This gives it a uniform sound. I don't know if Cashis was saving this kind of rapping for his major debut, or if he's just gotten better with time, but I don't remember Cashis' other sh-t sounding this good. That N---a a Gangsta is hot, so's Pistol Poppin, especially Em's verse, but I was not ready for a song like Ms. Jenkins at all. What a great song man. He's definitely gangsta with it, but he shows he's not just some heartless thug. He takes you through all sides of a situation and actually expresses remorse. That's refreshing in gangsta rap! Plus it was great hearing him rap about him and his kids and the example he sets for them. Good stuff here. I hope Shady Records keeps putting out material like this!

Orange County, CA rapper Cashis is the latest up-and-coming rapper to receive Eminem's mentorship, an honor previously bestowed upon Obie Trice and 50 Cent. After appearances on mixtapes and Em's Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, Cashis releases his own EP. I love the idea of the debut EP, in the 90s this was the way rappers always made a name for themselves once signed, and maybe with the RIAA crackdown on mixtapes the EP will return to hip hop. I also just love EPs in general, they have no skits, no filler, and they're straight to the point, a manageable length. Cashis is blessed with Eminem's production on four of the seven songs (track one is a short intro), and the production on the entire disc is very good, the type of dark, dense production that Shady has used his whole career. Lyrically Cashis doesn't really break any new ground, he's a hardcore streets rapper whose flow, voice, and content are pretty similar to a lot of rappers out right now. He sounds like someone who could be cut-and-pasted into G-Unit. He can be entertaining, especially on songs like "Ms. Jenkins," and if he can perform like that consistently he could have a successful career. "The County Hound EP" is a pretty enjoyable release that lots of today's rap fans are likely to enjoy.

After the intro, the EP starts with "That N... a Gangsta," where Cashis flosses and brags of his lifestyle, lyrically it's pretty average but the hard production and appealing chorus recalls something off Get Rich Or Die Tryin. "Gun Rule" follows similarly, it's a solid track. The true gem of "The County Hound EP" is the clever and provocative "Ms. Jenkins." The rolling and menacing production is instantly recognizable as the work of Eminem, but the samples in the chorus are creative too. Cashis's best performance is found here, he tells a story, drops some clever references, and shows his best charisma towards the end ("Dear Ms. Jenkins, I send you my love / Hi, I'm Cashis, I murdered your son"). Great song, he's dramatic and emotional like his mentor at his best. "Just Like Me" is upbeat and musically catchy, and Cashis entertains with some stories and conversational raps. Eminem also produces and raps on the frenetic "Pistol Poppin'," a highlight. "Thoughts of Suicide" is a strong track, and the closer bonus track "Lac Motion" is a nice finish, Em's production here is excellent even though the drawly lyrics and hook are sort of weak.

Only time will tell whether Cashis's career turns out like Obie's or 50's, but "The County Hound EP" is certainly a good start. He's not an original or especially exciting artist, but nearly any Eminem-produced material has quality to it, and I will be interested to watch his career's progression. This is hard, streets-oriented rap, and at $4.99 it's a great buy.

Fans of Eminem will really like this cd, of Eminem's new protege. Eminem will even co - star in the song "pistol poppin'".

If you like D12, King Gordy, The fat kllahz, or eminem, you must buy this cd. The downside is that there onl are like 7 songs on it, because it's just an EP.

This is an very good solid ep. from Cashis showin' his true talent and just on 8 track's. The Lac Motion was an true classic.

Cashis or (Ca$his), is an newer gangsta rapper from Orange County. He first appeared on Eminem's fifth studio/compilation album "Eminem Presents: The Re-Up". Eminem being the musical wizard that he is, made the album to mostly endorse and promote Cashis. Cashis made two solo songs, which both were very strong for a newcomer. He was so good, he finally dropped his debut album/EP: "The County Hound EP". Track Descriptions:

1. County Hound (Intro) - Not really a song just an intro, however a good story is told. Gang members try run Cashis of their block. They obviously will regret their decision! 3/5 stars.

2. That ***** A Gangsta - A great track, with one heck of a beat. Cashis does a good job of describing himself, and shows you just how raw he flow! 5/5 stars.

3. Gun Rule - Tight beat, and good rough-edged rapping. It tells about surviving in the streets and living by the power of gun rule. 5/5 stars.

4. Ms. Jenkins - An epic and emotional song that will really get to you! The more the track progesses the more intense and dramatic it gets! The Queen sample was a wise way to begin the song! This reminds me of "Kim" by Eminem. That's just how good it is! 5/5 stars.

5. Just Like Me - Awesome and quite catchy beat, good lyrics also help the song. Cashis is straight fire on this. 4/5 stars.

6. Pistol Poppin - This is a very well made song with a pulse pounding beat! It also features quest vocals from none other than Eminem himself! 5/5 stars.

7. Thoughts of Suicide - A very dark and compelling song. This is so raw, it's like listening to B.I.G.'s "Suicidal Thoughts". The backmasking, fast beat, sounds of puffing and Cashis's brutal lyrics are what give the song it's quality. 4/5 stars.

8. Bonus: Lac Motion - A nice bonus track, with a slinky and slow beat and devious lyrics. This should be the official anthem for Orange County!

It is a nice extra surpise and a tight way to end the album! 5/5 stars.

No doubt about it this is truly one of the most gangsta EP's ever made! A lot of newer rap is as good as old school, but this is really dope! It's very intense and raw for only eight songs. And when I saw this at only the price of $5, I could'nt resist and had to purchase it. It's worth your money, although their should have been more songs on here! This is also good comeback production from Eminem and is kinda like a sequel to The Re-Up. I can't till the new Cashis album "Loose Cannon" comes out. I sure hope it will be as good as this. I really feel Cashis on this, and you will too!

CA$HIS IS THE GREATEST RAPPER OF THE YEAR AND THE BEST IN SHADY RECORDS. HE IS VERY TALENTED AND CAN RAP GUD. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS ALBUM THEN GO GET IT RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I first heard about Cashis (or Ca$his, depending on how you feel like spelling it) on a few tracks off the Re-Up compilation. He sounded pretty good, so I decided to check out his EP, County Hound.

The only guest star on this whole album is Em himself on "Pistol Poppin'", which sounds good except for in the second verse when Cash says: "I'm the most hated n alive since Jesus". (Um...) But there are other notables, like "That N a Gangsta" and "Thoughts of Suicide". And although songs about cars are usually played out, the bonus track "`Lac Motion" actually fares pretty well (although I'm not sure why an EP would need a bonus track).

Although "Ms. Jenkins" does a good job of sampling Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", the idea of writing a letter to the mother of the man you shot dead is very hard to relate to. Cashis isn't exactly the most versatile rapper and he sounds a little too much like T.I. (but who DOESN'T nowadays?), but The County Hound EP is still worth bumping until his full-length album comes out.

Anthony Rupert

This cd is by far one of the best cd's I have ever bought for this lil' amount of money. Cashis rhymes with Em's beats are bangin. Finally a Shady/Aftermath cd without any of the week G-Unit fools. If you ain't got 3 or 4 bucks, burn the cd. If ya ain't got a burner. Steal It

I own a company called T. Chill Promo and represent the local Philly talent whether it be hip hop or rock or anything that is worthy of putting time into the studio for and this is where I make my huge mistake! About 4 years ago I was contacted by a person representing Cashis and he had relocated from Illinois to Cali, but his people wanted me to promote his music in Philly and do some Executive Producing. Executive Producing is just a fancy title for fronting the money for an album and also overseaing the complete production and engineering. Well, I figured with the far distance between Philly and Cali that I would not be able to give my all to him and his crew, therefore I declined with an offer that if they came to Philly I could get them into some shows here and in NYC. But he was set on making it on the West Coast, so I let it go. Then only months go by and he is signed to Shady/Aftermath and had just put out this EP- The County Hound. This EP is by far one of the best rap EP's I have heard. His hooks are smooth and to the point and the beats is FIRE!!! Then he does the Re-Up Album and I'm thinking to myself if only I had inked a contract. But it wasn't the money that made me wish I had done it even though money $$$$$ is always a good bonus, but I like to be a part of a great talent. So I must say that I find Cashis to be the real deal and spits it better than 90% of the artists out there! I recommend you buy this EP and listen to it once for the flavor and then go back and listen a couple more times to pick up the message. There is no doubt in my mind that if Cashis gets a nice million dollar budget for a full length 20 track album with some Dre and Em Production that he will swell up as quick if not quicker than 50! And I have much love for 50, but Cashis is a very marketable talent that if I ever get the chance to promote again I won't let it slip past. Enjoy this EP and get the Em Re-Up album if you don't have it because Cashis as well as others are pure FIRE on that album too. To Cashis my man, you can always hit T. Chill up anytime if you want some management or promotional work. We are as one in the game and to network is the key!

- and it's great.

Today, the gangsta rapper is, for the most part, an extinct species. G-Unit strayed from their gangsta rap roots, Dipset are a bit too corny for the hardcore image they portray, and most of these coke-rappers are too concerned hustlin' to be shooting people up. While those trap-rappers may make the occassional firearms comment, they're usually focused on the hard-boiled white, and brand of clothes they're wearing. Don't really wanna get those white tees tye-dyed red, ya know. The only gangsta rappers really prominent in the mainstream today are two proteges of Dr. Dre, Game and Snoop; and Game is slowly becoming more a lyricial beast than gangsta, and Snoop is a bit too laid back to convincingly tote pistols anymore, let alone be cocking them; at this point, he'd have his weed carriers do that for him.

Hence the reason why Ca$his' album is refreshing in the year 2007. Hailing from Orange County, California, the West Coast protege of Marshall Mathers delivers his debut in an unusual form; an LP, consisting of eight tracks, seven if you exclude the intro. While a few people maybe put off by the length of this release, the seven tracks found on this album are all incredibly tight, and Ca$his provides some of the best West Coast hip-hop we've heard all year.

The production on this album is surprisingly dope; I say surprisingly because Eminem, sadly one of the most monotonous producers to ever grace the boards, provides some dope backdrops for Ca$his to flow over here. The greatest examples of this are the Queen-sampling Ms. Jenkins(Bohemian Rhapsody in Chipmunk soul form!) and the Westside authentic soundings of Lac Motion. There two tracks are certainly the tightest on the album, although they've got some stiff competition. Thoughts of Suicide, produced by highly underrated Ron Browz, is a dope track where, as the title suggest, Ca$his contemplates suicide, while Pistol Poppin' features an angry Eminem, who finally addresses some of the problems he's faced in the last two years in rhyme; something he failed to do on the Re-Up. The two Rikanatti tracks are both pretty dope, although they're not as strong as the tracks already mentioned, and Gun Rule, another Eminem production, is a tight track for the gangsta rap genre.

Ca$his isn't the greatest emcee to ever grip a microphone. He isn't going to 'bring the West Coast back,' and there's not a very big chance he'll be able to revive the slightly faultered Shady Records, either; however, this EP is cohesive, consistent, and mostly dope. While Ca$his isn't bringing anything to the table that you haven't heard before, he and Eminem still manage to put together a hot EP that fans of Shady, the West Coast, and the Mid-West should have no problem appreciating, and even less bumping this until his debut full-length comes out. A little short, but on this release, it plays to the artist's advantage.