Death Threatz

Mc Eiht | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0012GN116
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,553 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Def Wish IV (Tap That Azz)

2. Ain't Nuthin 2 It

3. Killin Nigguz

4. Run 4 Your Life

5. Endoness

6. Thuggin It Up

7. Love 4 the Hood

8. Fuc Em All

9. Late Nite Hype, Pt. 2

10. Set Trippin'

11. Collect My Stripez

12. Fuc Your Hood

13. You Can't See Me

14. Drugs & Killin

15. Killin Season

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Nine-six is the KILLIN' SEASON" (4.5/5), September 5, 2009

By 

ctrx ('bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks...) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Death Threatz (Audio CD)

Compton legend MC Eiht followed his most successful release, 1994's classic We Come Strapped, with 1996's worthy successor "Death Threatz." Eiht was certainly on a roll during this period, and "Death Threatz" is another excellent album. Like We Come Strapped, it's labeled MC Eiht featuring CMW (Compton's Most Wanted's DJ Slip contributes much of the production, and the just-released Tha Chill appears a few times as well), and structurally it's a logical progression from its seminal predecessors. While a little funkier, Eiht sticks to his unsentimental tales of everyday life in the CPT, which by this point are familiar but still powerful with his raw passion, great flow and style. He lends significant time to guests, which was rare on earlier efforts. While no A-list names appear, he employs a group of all Compton natives including South Central Cartel and his N.O.T.R. crew that lends consistency in that they're always on his page. Even if Eiht doesn't cover much new territory on the lyrical tip, he comes harder than before and brings a top performance.

The beats here are fantastic and among the best he's ever seen. In addition to DJ Slip, some production is handled by S.C.C.'s underrated Prodeje and the similarly slept-on Blackjack. The classic elements of the CMW sound are here, with the swirling violins, slow-rolling funk, and laidback vibe, but they've been updated with a funkier, more upbeat approach and some more electronic elements. The highlights are marked by rich, irresistible soundscapes. If consistency is one of Eiht's strength, it might also be his Achilles' heel; at 72 minutes, it's definitely a little too long and can be monotonous, but it's so consistent that it's tough to point to anything that should have been left off.

If you take a look at the album titles, you pretty much know what you're in for (and that's not a bad thing). "Death Threatz" includes some of the best individual tracks of Eiht's discography, but it's so consistent it feels like one idea. He opens with the fourth installment of his DJ Quik diss series, "Def Wish IV (Tap That Azz)," a funky and menacing opener that's the most personal "Def Wish" yet, talking about encounters in CPT. The bouncy, serious "Ain't Nuthin' 2 It" is a classic, catchy and lyrically strong and one of the best tracks here, showcasing MC Eiht's signature sound executed to perfection. Other early highlights include the sinister "Thuggin' It Up," where the infamous Willie Z contributes an invaluable keyboard performance, and the best song is "Late Night Hype Pt. 2," a sunny, silky smooth classic with swirling violins, upbeat percussion, and one of Eiht's finest performances. The well-arranged "Set Trippin'," horn-laden "F Your Hood," and superb "You Can't See Me" are late standouts.

Some maintain that this is Eiht's best album, and even if it's not, it's a tough point to argue. It's really on the level of some of his best output, and even though it does sound a little familiar, that certainly says a lot. In any event, this is another great release from Eiht and CMW and one of the West Coast's best LPs of 1996, boasting smooth, hardcore, quality gangsta rap. Eiht's a pioneer of West Coast hip hop, and as one of the men who brought the music into its golden age, it's a joy to listen to this LP in light of all the other brilliance coming from California in '96. I strongly recommend that L.A. rap fans check out "Death Threatz."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Musically Deep Gangsta Rap, October 5, 2007

By 

G Funkin (Land of Sunshine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death Threatz (Audio CD)

MC Eiht and DJ Quik are probably the most interesting cats out of the mid 90s west coast rap scene. A beat ain't just a beat for either of them...it's art, it's music. It needs complexity, melody. And then, they stack their beats with some of the hardest gangsta themes ever recorded. Four letter words roll of Eiht's tongue like hello and goodbye. And Quik, well, if you don't know about his exploits with the ladies by now, you must be deaf. Interestingly enough, Eiht and Quik had a rivalry going on (Dollaz + Sense, Def Wish IV etc). I don't know much about what was going on streetwise but up in the recording studio, I think it has something to do with the fact that these two rappers understand MUSIC better than anyone else in the game. G-funkwise, Quik's the king of p-funk (talkbox, electric guitars, drums etc), while Eiht rules with 70s r&b/soul (slow laid back tempo, deep bass, melodic violins and instrumental solos).

Death Threatz is just another example of Eiht's distinctive style throughout his long career. This is gangsta rap at its best folks. Featuring 2 real classics, 3 near classics and solid g-funk era rap throughout, Eiht turns out another hit.

The first classic is Late Night Pt 2 and man is this song smooth. A west coast anthem for sure, Eiht recounts a night out gangbanging: "Unloads my strap like a real g should," "Stick the gat behind my back with an extra clip." The lyrics, as I said, are real hard. And yet, when put together with the music, the super funky and smooth bassline, drums and random percussions, it doesn't seem hard at all. This amazing contrast and contradiction is seen in much of gangsta/g-funk era rap but Quik and Eiht push the contrast even further. The "gangsta" is amped up, but not at the expense of the "funk." Both are amped up and brought to a new and confounding level. The second classic and one of my favorite rap songs of all time is "You Can't See Me" featuring Chill. Even smoother than Late Night, the beat is something out of Shaft or Dead Presidents (an homage to 70s soul). Here, the syncopated bass comes together with a fantastic set of strings in the background. The best part about this song, however, is the rolling drums, which bring a bluesy element to the whole thing. The last minute or so is just a classic instrumental solo. I dare anyone to find a more melodic beat in any genre. The sound created is beautiful, and yet, the lyrics, with a full dose of Eiht's trademark "g'yeahs," is hard, boastful, violent and menacing, like most gangsta rap. However, peep out the music video and listen carefully to the lyrics again. It's more complicated than that.

The near-classics are "Def Wish IV" where the tempo is sped up a bit but the funk remains. It's Eiht's comeback to Quik's diss, "Dollaz & Sense." I'll admit that Quik came hard lyrically on his diss but Eiht not only brings the rhymes but has a hard beat behind him. He even got Rob "Funksta" Bacon, Quik's faithful guitarist, to help tear him up with some hard instrumentals! Another gem, musically. "Ain't Nothin 2 It" slows things down a little and "Run 4 Life" which has a similar tempo, is also good.

G-funk era gangsta rap is not all simple. It's not just about the gangsta themes. Musically, Eiht turns out some of the best tracks in rap history...no joke. Haters should open their eyes and minds a little more. Pac, Eiht, Quik and other real gangsta rappers are saying something, both in their lyrics and in their musicality on the boards...Classic 5/5

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eiht The Gangsta King, September 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Death Threatz (Audio CD)

"Death Threatz", "We Come Strapped" and "Music To Drive By" were Eiht's best albums. (Some of hiphop's best), you don't need super lyrics (not that his lyrics were bad) for a great gangster album, you just need to flow with incredible beats (found here), that's why I gave it 5 stars. Sadly this was and forever will be Eiht's last DOPE album. (unless he leaves hoo-banging)