Customer Reviews

Domino

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

 

 

4.8 stars

Definitely the best hip-hop album I'd never heard. I've always loved Getto Jam off the Def Jam box and finally checked out Domino's album; what a funky revelation!

I listen to rap and hip-hop for two things: deeply heavy funky beats matched with smoooth flow. This album has both in full supply. GJ is maybe the best track, but it's not too far ahead of the absolutely slammin' Jam, one of the best straight-up dance rap tracks I've ever heard. What a fat fat beat! And D is well up to it; he can flow effortlessly, and in so many styles, with so many vocal tones. He's got it goin' on, period.

What really separates this album is the surprising amount of melody in the lines; if you look at most rap on a stave it's barely a few notes, whereas Domino lays down all sorts of nicely resolving little melodic fragments and even full, long phrases. That's very unusual for most rappers, and gives this cd a much more musical flow than most hiphop jams. D mentions on Diggedy D that he's more a singer than a rapper, which might explain his musical take on his raps; I wish he'd sung some of the choruses here so we could hear that side of his talent. There are some real vocal hooks on this slab, and that's part of why it's so listenable. The man behind the beats, DJ Battlecat, lays down non-stop winners here, and he very wisely includes that old school tube-compressed rhythm guitar that makes so many 70s funk tracks come alive. Lots of hiphop is missing that git edge, and keys will never have the elastic bounce that a great player like Jimmy Nolen can bring. And this cd is FUll o' bounce!

I was wondering how this album never hit huge, and then I read that Long Beach and West Coast locals accused him of stealing Snoop's style, as this came out just before Dogg in '93. But that's insane, as Domino has so many other feels and vibes besides Snoop's laid-back thang. Domino can mix it up far more than Snoop or almost any MC, in fact. Plus which, dang, most every MC is lifting all sorts of thangs from everyone else all the time; tough to say that anyone is straight up lifting a whole style, especially as Domino has a wide range of grooves and feels. It's a drag he got that rep, as I'd love to hear ten more albums from him just like this one: fat, funky, and musical.

By the way, this version of Getto Jam has uncensored lyrics, unlike the Def box version, and this track is ironically delivered with a more relaxed flow.

If you love hip-hop and have never heard this whole cd, prepare for the bomb diggedy. Getto Jam, Jam, Long Beach Thang, Sweet Potato Pie, That's Real, Diggedy D, AFD...they're all great tracks. In fact, this cd is very close to all killa no filla. Most of it ain't PC, but who listens to hip-hop for good wholesome family values TM? Domino's edgy but never in your face wit it; it's just how he flows. There are lots of entertaining stories here, not just the standard and so-boring "I'm the mack and you ain't sheet, I got monay and chains etc etc etc." Nothing creative 'bout that tired line. Plus Domino does a public service in almost half of these tunes by warning the homies about wearing a raincoat at all times, thus avoiding many diseases including alimony, one of the very worst in the bunch. The man cares! Who says rap ain't good for kids?

This is now easily one of my top ten hip-hop discs, as it brings truly funky dance grooves along with some of the crispest rapping I've ever heard. Domino could have been one of the greats judging from this cd. In fact, forget could have been: all he needed was this amazing collection. For sheer ear pleasure, I'm ranking him with Chuck D, LL, Cube, Yellowman, Del, and a very short list of other master MCs.

Here we go, here we go, as the tune starts to bloom, with the fatback track...

First off, I am givin all praises and credit due to snoop!!! If it wasn't for him, Domino would not have someone to chip his flow/sound off of. Having said that, most should remember him for his similar delivery and funky records. Even though I enjoyed this record and consider this a classic among my collection I have to say be cautious about his other material. I only recommend that for his die hard fans. PEACE!

I used to play the hell out of this CD! Sweet Potato Pie was my jam! Domino was talking some serious mess, and I was digging the beat. Glad to see it's still available....remembering early 90's funk!...."I'm all messed up and I don't know why".......Hey! Excuse me, I'm singing along! :)

This album took off with the hit singles Ghetto Jam and Sweet Potato Pie but this album had much more.Like Money is Everything,That's real and Long Beach Thang.Theres more.I didn't give it a 5 due to only havin 10 songs.Had it had 15 and all 15 stayed at the level of these 10 then its a 5 maybe more.If you dont have this album get it.

Now, there aint no one that didn't remember 'getto jam', when i first heard it in late 93 i didnt really like dominos flow too much, but after a couple of more times hearing it, having it stuck in my head, then hearing it in the 94 slam dunk competition I decided to get it. And I was glad I did. He is not the best at vocals, but his beats were tight and they just went ok together. Definately sh#t that brings back memories and a classic to me. Its quite a short album, but still worth getting if you are after the oldschool classic stuff or remember it. Anyway, peace. Later!

Domino is one of those artists that people just forgot. I find his self titled debut to be an excellent album. Back in '93 he had a hit called "Ghetto Jam", a slow type mixture of R&B and Rap. I heard that song not too long ago and bought this album about two months ago here on Amazon. His CD has a lot of swingin' beats laced by DJ Battlecat who produced most of this album. AMG and Domino produced one track each. Some of the tracks that vibe well are "Diggity Domino", "Jam", and "Sweet Potato Pie". Actually those tracks really push classic status. A lot of the songs he rhymes about females, like "Do You Qualify", a song about older guys hooking up with underage girls. The song "A** For Days" is basically self-explainitory. There is also a song called "Raincoat" (which appeared on the America Is Dying Slowly Compilation CD), about practicing safe sex.

There is only one song that has guest appearances. "Thats Real" features AMG and La Quan, another song about females. AMG lays down a dope beat and chops up The Ohio Players "Funky Worm".

Only track that was forgettable was "Money Is Everything". Everything else is okay. When listening to the album, I can hear the Snoop Dogg type flow from Domino, and you can easily compare the two (especially when he slows his voice down while rhyming). I was reading the review from The Source, that said that this was the album Snoop Dogg should have made (referring to "Doggystlye"). We all know the classic that Snoop's album was, but this album is almost forgotten. If you like something to groove to from the west coast, I recommend this album. Only 10 tracks long, the album doesn't get boring and can still maintain it's replay value.

Lyrics: A
Production: A+
Guest Appearances: A+
Musical Vibes: A
Overall: A

Favorite Tracks: Diggity Domino, Ghetto Jam, Do You Qualify, Jam, Sweet Potato Pie, Raincoat, Long Beach Thang, Thats Real

Peace!

HOT! HOT! HOT! I love this CD. I was lucky enough to pick up one of these hard-to-find cds used for under $40! It's well worth every penny. I have it on a constant spin in my iPod and my CD Changer at home!