Customer Reviews

Eye for an Eye

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since last year (2004), it's been hard for me to pull out my RBL discs, simply because nothing but tragedy has hit this group: first, the murder of fellow rapper Mr. Cee, and last year, the muder of the EXTREMELY talented Hitman, who was killed at an intersection (he was in his late teens/early 20s). His crazy similies, really good rapping voice, cool flow, and nice cadence will definitely be missed, especially by his fans (like me).

For anyone that's been following RBL know they gangbang (Bloods), and it's really just been really hard to enjoy this album since Hitman's death (maybe it's because like he was, I'm young and it troubles me that so many young black men are losing their lives over ignorant silliness and nonsense). Needless to say, leader of the group, Black C is a truly gifted brother - he handles a lot of RBL's production and offers two beats on this joint: "Straight Lacin," the fifth track and "You Can't Hang" (track 11). Black C's most recent effort (a solo album) is aptly, as well as unfortunately, titled "Last Man Standing." Although it's almost futile to say this (which in itself is bad to say), I hope the remaining members of RBL find some positivity outside of gangbangin, because it'd be terrible for all of the members to be killed...

Aside from the tragic aura surrounding this group, I'd say this album is not on par with their previous effort, the excellent "Ruthless By Law" (which is what RBL stands for), but this is still a VERY strong third release. The excellent "More Game" (with a phat beat by the always on point west coast beatsmith, Mike Mosley) features a heartfelt ode to fallen homies by Oakland veteran Richie Rich.

Other dope tracks are the first song "The Individual" (although I think the nearly minute long a capella intro to the song was a bit much, as well as annoying - just play the song, guys!), "How We Comin (Southern Fried Mix)," "Straight Lacin," "An Eye For An Eye," one of my RBL favorites of all time, the AWESOME "Til the End," and the insanely vicious "Gotta Git Mine" (featuring rap veteran MC Eiht of the classic group CMW, and the south's Tela - see my review of his "Piece of Mind" debut - and a pre-Cash Money TQ crooning the chorus).

An interesting tidbit: I read in a magazine a few months ago an explosive bit of news about Big Lurch (the tall, deep-voiced dude featured on "How We Comin," as well as C-BO's song "Hard Labor" on his "Til My Casket Drops" album). According to producer Rick Rock (who used to be in a group with Big Lurch and a cat named Doonie Baby back in '96 called the Cosmic Slop Shop, and now currently heads up the group, 'The Federation'), Lurch murdered his 21-year old girlfriend, was found naked in an alley with blood all over him, opened her chest, and had eaten one of her lungs...wow. I don't even know what to say to that. (Copy the following address into your browser search bar to read more: http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=1775)

WARNING: RBL Posse is west coast rap, so you know it's hardcore gangsta rap...for real. I'm more of a hip hop head but I still bump RBL because they're dope and always jam hard. Of course I don't judge them, but although I love RBL, I get a semi-nauseous feeling just knowing that we've been robbed of two of their most talented members...and there's the possibility of them all dying to senseless street violence. Definitely, they provide us with good music, but our entertainment is their reality. All sorrows aside, this is definitely hardcore gangsta rap at its finest...and ROUGHEST. For those in the west coast, your southern brethren down here got RBL knockin the speakers in the trunk - we're not sleeping! HAPPY SPENDING!

I found RBL's latest effort to be a masterpiece. This sound reflects the trials, tribulations, and successes of all its members. Black C has channeled all his hurt and anger into one CD, that proves that from disaster comes artwork. From the intro to the final word, this CD contains strong beats that all can enjoy."An Eye For An Eye" is the sound of the Bay, the sound of the future, and the sound to measure up to.

San Francisco's RBL Posse releases its 3rd album in fall 1997. These guys are known for their dark, mobb sound over hard beats. Anyone reading this who has heard the first 2, esp. Ruthless By Law from 1994 will agree. Ruthless... had a horror-core mobb music overture with loud, piercing whiny synths and violent imagery. This album can be gangsta too, but there is a more laidback, sunnier G-Funk feel to it. Richie Rich stops by on the playa and hustlin' "More Game" over a smooth guitar ridden beat. Another game spitter is the Mtume "Juicy" beat sampled "Straight Lacin'" which is str8 fire. The beat is sunny and has a good rider vibe to it. "You Can't Hang" has a One Way "Cutie Pie" beat pattern, and is a bit darker and more gangsta. "Concrete Jungle" has another laidback funk feel and has a contemplative feel. RBL wonder what could've happened if they did not have rap to go forward. They drop street philosophy over the sweet keyboard ridden beat. RBL get positive on the smooth "Strictly This Game" and look at staying true and trying to stay on top of the rap game without selling out. This joint is so cool to relax to or ride to on a sunny day, kinda like a Warren G joint it's so chill. "How We Comin" features Mystikal and Bigg Lurch. There are 2 mixes, the Southern which has an odd beat, and the West Side mix which is talkbox ridden G-Funk, and they all get their mobb on. "Gone Away" is a reflective joint over another sunny, relaxed keyboard G-Funk beat. They also drop some lines about unity how many do not think about consequences in hood life, and how they don't want to see their homies fall victim to the cycle of gang life. All in all, this album is another classic in their discog. It is chock full of great G-Funk beats, an interesting alternative to their harsh Ruthless By Law, which is also a classic gangsta rap milestone from the bay.

This CD is depressing! The thoughless murder of Mr.C is a tragedy and oh so typical of people in the ghetto. It's all good in the ghetto until a neighbor has some success, then it aint all good. WAKE UP and PEEP GAME people. The social issues RBL is known for spittin' are REAL not fake. This CD is not as good as the previous, but RBL is on the rebound(hopefully). Its hard to fill the shoes of someone who had a god gifted talent. Oh by the way, I hope the interlude to an eye for an eye is correct.

RBL POSSE IS TIGHT, I THINK BLACK C AND THE POSSE SHOULD MAKE ANOTHER CD ATLEAST THE LAST ONE FOR THE MILLENIUM ITS TIME TO GET OUR SERV-ON

the best cut on this effort is most likely the last track, "Til' The End (featuring The P-O-S-S-E)" just my humble opinion though, as I had to repeat-play it several times because of the groovy flow 8^)
bottom line...if you do pick up this CD for your collection make sure to play the LAST TRACK FIRST!!!

LIKE FIRST REVIEWER SAID IT'S A MASTERPIECE! & I AGREE TOTALLY! TIGHT FEATURES TELA FROM RAP A LOT (PICK UP HIS RAP A LOT LPS CUZ HE'S DOPE), BIG LURCH, RICHIE RICH, MC EIHT, MYSTIKAL, ETC. & LIKE ANOTHER REVIEWER IT'S DEFINITELY DEPRESSING TOO TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PASSING OF THE GROUP MEMBERS! KRAZY WORLD HUH? R.I.P TO ALL FALLEN SOLDIERS FROM PAC TO COUGNUT & EVERYBODY WE DONE LOST! I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THEM FOR THE LONGEST SINCE HIGH SCHOOL & BROUGHT LESSON TO BE LEARNED TO MINNESOTA WHEN I MOVED THERE & THEM FOOLS LOVED IT & EAT IT UP! ALWAYS HARD & KNOCKS HARD ON YO SYSTEM LOL. ANYWAYS PICK IT UP! NEVER WACK & NEVER A DISSAPOINTMENT! BAY LOVE BOY!

MR.CEE AND BLACK CHRIS WERE HELLA TIGHT TOGETHER WHO SHOT MR.CEE? RBL POSSE IS TIGHT I LIKE LESSON TO BE LEARNED AND RUTHLESS BY LAW I WISH IHAD RUTHLESS BY LAW THE CD CUZ I ALREADY HAVE THE OTHER ONE ON TAPE. ONE LAST THING RBL IS TIGHT AND PASS ME THE ZIG ZAGS.