Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A surrealistic musical journey., August 13, 1999
By A Customer
Redman's Dare Iz A Dark Side is one of the most underrated albums I have ever heard. This album makes your dreams come to life. It doesn't sugar coat and it doesn't manipulate your emotions. What it does do is take you to a special place that is indescribeable. Yet the feeling never seems to wear off. It takes you there every time you listen to it. The reason many people have not heard this album is that the music just doesn't have mainstream appeal; it's strictly for hip-hop sophisticates to enjoy only. Another thing that is special about this album is that there are only a couple of guest appearances. The album is mostly Redman expressing himself, which is fine with me. I've always wanted to hear expression and this album certainly represents freedom of expression. The highlights on this album include the bouncing "Bobyahed2dis", which features a narration from Jeff Stewart and a great performance from Redman, "The Journey", a mind-blowing laid back song with dark melodies and harmonic loops, "A Million and One Boodah Spots", which has an original beat and lyrical choice, "Cosmic Slop", a track where Redman joins partners Eric Sermon and Keith Murray for an original and interesting jam, "Green Island", one of the most superb tracks on the album as it has that Hawaiian guitar loop and an amazing concept, "Can't Wait", an uplifting song with a gently bouncing beat, "Slide and Rock On", a well crafted track with a strange ending, "We Run New York", a swinging track that features the then obscure Hurricane G, who now, five years after this was recorded, is now well-known because of her small cameo on Puff Daddy's hit that took an obvious major jacking of Public Enemy's "Public Enemy Number One", and "Tonight's The Night(Remix)", a great remix of the original hit on Redman's first album. The best track on this album is, though, the intimate masterpiece "Sooperman Lover(Part II)", which is the best recording of the song Redman ever did. It is some of the best storytelling I have ever heard. All the tracks are really excellent though and they all shine in their own special ways. To conclude my review, I would like to say this is one of the most special and original albums of all time. I really loved it because it is good to just have an hour or so to just relax and blow your mind to an album like this. I found it original and thought-provoking. It filled me with many ideas and theories about life. It doesn't make you feel like you have to fit in and doesn't make you feel bad about yourself. It tells stories of all sorts of things ranging from boastfests to women to ghetto stories. I would recommend this to any true hip-hop fan, especially if they like the East Coast, Redman, or anyone else in that category.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Red's most under-appreciated album (4.5 Stars), July 12, 2005
Maybe it was the dark, murky sound-scape that turned some listeners off. Maybe Redman's off-the-wall humour was too over-the-top for some. After Red's 1992 classic debut "Whut? Thee Album," people must have expected more of that light, bouncy funk that made his debut def. Instead of sticking to a formula to try and avoid a sophomore curse, Red threw us all a big loop with Darkside, but the album is still bananas.
In fact -- by the time track 1 is over, you know this isn't Whut? Thee Album. Red brings back the Dr. Trevis character, and Trevis says to Red "Okay Redman, I want you to completely forget what you did on the first album." Forget he does. "Bobyahed2dis" doesn't hold a candle to "Time 4 Sum Aksion" as far as openers go, but let's stop comparing this album to Whut? for a sec. Red's voice seems to have changed just a bit from the last time we heard from him -- it's a bit higher, but no matter, he still spits fire. Out are the up-tempo James Brown loops -- in are short samples laid down over deep-ass basslines courtesy of Erick Sermon and the Funk Doc himself.
Also, Red's never been a more amusing emcee. There are at least 30 points within the album where Red's lines are "rewind-worthy." "Noorotic" is a gold-mine -- just check Red's second verse, and "Can't Wait" includes some of the most memorable closing lines ever (Switchin' speeds like Bruce Lee ridin' up Fuji in a movie). Red's goofy ability to switch roles ain't too shabby either; "Green Island" has Red rapping as himself, his alter-ego, and Uncle Quilly, your typical cranky old man. If you're not a fan of Redman's goofy-as-hell humour, it might turn you off, but if you're like me and you can't get enough of it, you'll be very happy to know that this album is basically 98% REDMAN. No one steals the spotlight off Red, except when fellow Def Squadians Erick Sermon and Keith Murray grab the mic on "Cosmic Slop." Not even the perpetually-annoying Hurricane G on "We Run N.Y." can grab any attention from the Funk Docta.
Only minor annoyances stop this album from getting 5 stars; one of them being that many of the beats sound somewhat alike (they do, however, all sound good), and the other annoyance simply being Hurricane G (WHY IS SHE ON HERE?!?!). This is definately a must-own album, especially for any self-respecting Reggie Noble fan. Highly recommended.
Best moments: Noorotic, Green Island (personal favourite), Can't Wait, Winicumuhround, Sooperman Luva 2 & Tonight's da Night [Remix].
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Favorite Redman Album (Rating: 10 out of 10- -5.0 stars), April 7, 2007
This is my favorite Redman LP compared to all the albums that he has released (with the exception of "Red Gone Wild" which I haven't heard yet because it came out recently). Given that "What Thee Album?" back in 1992 was his best LP, Redman consistantly switches up his style. Truthfully from all of the albums that I heard by him, he's never had a bad album. But on his sophomore album "Dare Iz A Darkside", I find it to be an awesome follow up album.
One thing people loved about Redman, was that he was always saying something funny in his rhymes, and it keeps peoples attention. And his sense of humor really play in his skills. Songs like "A Million And One Buddah Spots" and "Green Island" really show his sense of humor behind the mic. I would say that my most favorite song on this album would be "Can't Wait", because it has so much energy (and it's one of my favorite music videos as well). And the traditional "Soopaman Luva II" is a good song that has a twist in it's storyline.
Guest appearances are good as well. Erick Sermon and Keith Murray drop dope verses on "Cosmic Slop", another excellent track. And Hurricane G. appears in "We Run N.Y." that is okay as well. Her voice is sampled for the chorus of the song "Winicumuhround".
The production on this album is excellent as well. Erick Sermon and Redman really drop some nice beats for this album. The production really gives off a 1994 type flavor to this album.
This is another gem from the N.J. area. Around this time, a lot of artists from that area were starting or were already making a name for themselves (Artifacts, The Fugees, Lords Of The Underground), and Redman's second album would make a perfect addition to represent. This album really deserves a 9 on the 10 scale, but I said it as my favorite album from Redman, so I figured I would warrant a perfect score for this album. If you're a fan of East Coast rap from the 90's, I recommend that you listen to this album.
Lyrics: A
Production: A
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: A+
Overall: A
Top 5 Favorite Tracks:
1. Can't Wait
2. Cosmic Slop
3. Winicumuhround
4. Green Island
5. Tonite's The Nite (Remix)
Peace Everyone!!!!
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