Customer Reviews

Engage the Enzyme

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Since 1990, when he last had a hit, Young MC has released some really good material, and also some bad stuff -- particularly, his last album, the awful "Ain't Goin' Out Like That". But it's not that anyone has really noticed, given that Young MC has been off the pop-culture radar for many years now

So, with that in mind, I'm not sure if you could call this album a comeback, but it is definetly a huge rebound from his terrible last outing.

Much like his last two albums, "Engage The Enzyme" smacks of low-budget. But Young MC reaches several peaks in this album, delivering the most insightful, intelligent lyrics of his career. This is definetly his most thoughtful album, and the first time in his career where you can actually take him seriously when he gets serious. "Stress Test", the powerful opening song to the album, actually sees Young MC come somewhat hard, and deliver succesfully.

The beats are really unlike anything else you are hearing in hip-hop right now. Wether that is a good or bad thing is up to you, but they are far more varied, more complex, and ultimately better than what was "Ain't Goin' Out Like That".

I'm very, very impressed with this album. As someone who has remained a fan of Young MC for his entire career, I thought he had completely lost his abilities on his last album. But he comes back strong on "Engage The Enzyme", and I am impressed across the board -- lyrically, musically and artistically. And for those of you who lost track of Young many years ago, this is a definite must-buy album, because it's probably different from anything else you have heard.

This is easily one of the best rap albums from one of the best rappers ever. Every song on the album is unbelievably brilliant, with Young's energy and lyrical flow taking over. The best tracks are "Unsigned Diva" and "Stress Test," both of which talk about the state of the music industry. "Crucial" is one of the better 9/11 songs to be recorded, especially when you look at the lyrics. Other highlights include "One Time for Your Mind" and "Without Doubt," which showcase Young's ever-present skill as a rapper. "Babe" and "Ain't no Way in the World" both see Young trying out his singing voice, and he pulls it off well on both tracks. Other highlights include "Heatseeker" and its remix, and "Feel the Love." This is one truly great album.

Young MC all grown up, but maybe always a young man on the go, just like the rest of us still looking for the way back the top, as we're now all a little older, and a little bolder, like the man says. The humor, the life stories, the rhymes - he's still got it all.

He used to be "hotter than a candle, sloppy like Oscar, but neat like Tony Randall" and telling us stories about going to the principal's office, now he's got "Ari Fleischer rapping on the karaoke" and some great stories about his friend who spends himself naked just like a chicken when you pluck it, the wannabe unsigned divas, the ins and outs of trying to make it in the music business and trying to recoup your advance, and relationship problems of the famous but still famously nice guy, with maybe a few more pounds and a little less hair.

Stone Cold Rhymin' still takes me back to college, Engage the Enzyme is the music of thirtysomething. Life's still sweet, and we're all a little wiser. Still working on our dreams, but we know that Lady Luck has a big part, and the race is not always to the swift. We still have hope.

Poetry in motion - showing that rappers don't have to be from the ghetto, or rap about street crime fiction.

Oh - and a great song about 9/11 that gets it just right - especially for those of us who are naturalized citizens.