Customer Reviews

F*ck the Dumb

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

 

 

Many Grouch fans will cite this album as his best work. Personally, while I find it to be a decent album, it's definately not my favorite Grouch product. It does have excellent joints such as the lush production of "Nothing's Changing", to the autobiographical "Once Upon A Rhyme". As always, Grouch conveys genuine rhymes from the heart and soul (a la present day Common). Production-wise, Grouch is one of the underground's best kept secrets. He doesn't sound like Primo imitator #9,999, as he'd rather create lush backdrops over laid back drums and bass, with a predominately west coast vibe. While this definately is a solid album, I will say that Grouch has done better in the past, and present. His latest album, "Making Perfect Sense", is a step up in the production category, with truly fresh beats throughout. I'd recommend that album over this one, on the strength of production alone (and it's lyrically dope as well). If this is your first Grouch album, then I'd suggest you to pick up "Making Perfect Sense" if you want to see his true production talent, or "Nothing Changes" for his best set of rhymes. Either way, "F__k The Dumb" will make an excellent addition to anyone's CD library regardless; it's just not my favorite Grouch album.

The only real detractor from this album is the various interludes in which Grouch manipulates a studio enhanced, psudeo-Tupac voice. After the first interlude, it just becomes annoying to hear him ramble on with the extra deep voice.

*Side note: These editor clippings on Living Legend albums are ridiculously off mark. Grouch is NOT a member of Mystik Journeymen!

The Grouch is one of the best mcs to ever have existed. If you are already a fan of his you need this cd. If your not familiar with him then you need to be. This CD is one of his best, although every CD that he makes I feel is "his best"- that fact alone should be enough for anyone who loves GOOD, REAL music to go out and get all his CDs.

I can say, pretty confidently, that this is the Grouch's best album. His rhyming is exactly what you'd expect- honest, unpredictable, badass and subtly funky. The lyrics/delivery are so dope on each of his albums, though, that it's hard to name the masterpiece by that criteria alone. I've got his first five albums (so not Crusader for Justice), and primarily the beats make this album the one I turn to most often. It's without a doubt his most memorable production, as he turns away from some of the more obscure/dark samples, and gives you some more catchy beats, that range from raw and funky to shimmering and pretty. The tracks Congestion (with Eligh), Nothing's Changing, Endathis, Drain Me and Once Upon A Rhyme (by sequence on the album) are my top 5, but there's no filler to be found. I would recommend this first when it comes to Grouch, then his debut Don't Talk To Me. Nothing Changes, Success is Destiny and Making Perfect Sense are basically tied in my mind, though Making Perfect Sense has a more bright, happy, hi-fi sound than the other two. So, basically, if you want to get into the Grouch, or just make your hip hop collection a little better, I'd try F^ck The Dumb. Download Endathis and you'll see what I mean.

PS: I'm not a decidedly underground fan or anything like that. This album should be up there with my Outkast or Snoop Dogg sales wise. It's not alternative for the sake of being alternative. It just takes a more open mind than the majority of the public seems to have.

with the other cat that interviewed this, first off...cop it for less dough from the grouch himself... my man is CRAZY DIY...he sells his records basically out his backpocket, which should garner hims a certain amount of respect from backpacker types... this record is amazing...heartfelt, but not over complicated rhymes- the grouch comes across intelligent without saying things like 'indelible' etc... once upon a rhyme may be in my top ten hip hop songs ever...along with slug- god's bathroom floor and T.R.O.Y... you need this.

This is one of the best hip hop albums I have ever heard, along with Talib Kweli's Train of Thought and Dead Prez's Let's Get Free. Although not as political as the above references, this album is mind expanding and relaxing. Smooth, unique beats and the Grouch's distinctive flow make this album a must for any true hip hop fan. If you don't have this album I recommend picking it up, and supporting the art of true hip hop. You won't find any bling bling or slap a [girl] songs here, this is not Jay-Z or the hot Boys. This is an incredible work of art that anyone can appreciate, even if you are not a hip hop fan. Pick it up.

Peace

well, Its impossible for me to pick a favorite grouch album but this is one i rock at least 1 time every 3 days. its got the intelligent grouch rhymes and nice beats. peep it and support my brother GROUCH.....AND ELIGH,SUNSPOT,MURS,SCARUB,BICASSO,PSC and the one and only ARATA.. who is dropping an album this year.

...

They re-released this album back in '04, so I was finally able to delve deeper into this voice that graces the Living Legends albums I have. Some Legends diehards consider this his best album, although it's highly debatable. The Grouch is quite the artist, yet judging by this I wouldn't consider everything he touches as a sure-shot.
As one of the best if not the premier Legend, the Grouch knows how to approach the music and prove his worth. His "everyday" man raps definitely relate to almost every listener, as we enjoy it when he gets profound and flexes his vocab. While his flow and rhyming scheme ain't nothing to have an organism over, his laid-back style is usually intriguing. I also like how he doesn't try to try to act hard or speak ebonically since that's obviously not what he's about. He's not a white guy that trys to be "down" to fit in with the Blacks, he just is who he is.
That being said, "F*ck The Dumb" takes mellowness to the extreme. The album starts out really well. The first track, "All Natural," and "Congestion" w/Eligh definitely get the ball rolling. Sure, there are a couple upbeat tracks, like "Bangers," but this is one of the most laid-back albums I've heard, which is obviously what he aimed for. At 20 tracks and with the mellowness, it reminds me a lot of Aceyalone's "A Book of Human Language." However, The Grouch's raps are easier to descipher, while Aceyalone's abstract wordplay require repeated listens which made that album a success. "F#ck The Dumb," released the same year or the year after, can't claim those same characteristics. While no song is wack, and the beats are all pretty nice (for mellow beats), the album gets dreadfully boring in the middle. Through the first eight songs, the album is coasting fine, yet it will drop your attention somewhere in between #9 and #15. "A Matter A Fact"(#16) stands out thanks to Bicasso's much-needed appearance, and then "Drain Me" is a poignant song about whether to keep smoking weed or not, and "Once Upon A Rhyme" is arguably the best off this album.
The interludes (whether a whole track or part of a song) are completely useless, and when he talks in the deep, distorted voice it's very bothersome...especailly track 9. He has a few good songs on his own, but there's obviously something a tad wrong when the sparse collaborations are among the standouts on a cd that's largely his own work. The tracks with Eligh and Bicasso, as I previously mentioned, as well as "Symbolism" w/Luckyiam.PSC are among the standouts. My favorite of those three being "A Matter A Fact." The standout solo cuts are "Nothing's Changing," "Once Upon A Rhyme," "All Natural," "Til The Endathis," and possibly "Bangers." So there definitely are some downloadable tracks from here, but as an album, "F*ck The Dumb" was somewhat dissappointing.
This just reiterates that the Grouch is great to hear from on collaborations with fellow Living Legends or any other underground artist out there, but his magic appears to run short on his solo endeavors. A decent album this is, and something that should work in your headphones or in the quiet confines of your home. Beware of playing this in the car though, it could put you to sleep at the wheel. I don't wanna be harsh, and I got love for the Grouch, but I gotta keep it real too. I may pick up "Crusader For Justice" or "Making Perfect Sense" somewhere in the future, but I won't be rushing out to spend my coin on a Grouch solo cd anytime soon. You can always count on him on a Legends album though, and if there's one point I want to emphasize, it's that.

Grouch is all heart. this guy raps with such emotion- you feel his feelings thru his words on every track. although i have to admit that the beats are not top quality- they are good enough to match the deep, intelligent, thought provoking wordplay. its not that Power 106 would play this- or at a club- maybe not bumping it in your car- but at home where noone one who is radiofriendly will tell you to take that wack sh.. off. He is truly an emcee's emcee.
a perfect example that not all rap is bad. 99% percent of LL crew's messages are positive.
anyways- grouch gets off on this cd. and if you are used to the "ll crew sound" the beats are great. simple beats made to perfection.

my picks for best mc:
1. canibus
2. grouch

I must say grouch came through with this one! No dought Headz wont appreciate this , with out a dought. Grouch to me is a favorite Mc because he tries real hard to bring both his beatz and lyrics to play and this really helps when sleeping on an album! Werd life , preview the cd and buy it , check out the others too
_murs
_living legends
_scarub
_eligh
_cma
peace yo,

WARNING!!!! If you like Nelly, Ja Rule, DMX this is not going to satisfy you and your "follow the leader" tastes. The Grouch is the greatest and most original hip-hop artist to ever live. He is not some fake rapper who talks about his women, he talks about his life and the trying times and his rythmes are so skilled yet sound so natural. He has so much talent that it seems that he is not even trying yet his verses are so true. And the beats are so mellow and sound like real instruments. On this CD, all the tracks are dope but my personal favorites are Nothing's Changing(#6), Once Upon A Rythme(#18), and Congestion(#4). every track is legendary and you'll find his rythmes stuck in your head.

Oh and by the way...the Grouch is white.

Dont let that sway you. give the Grouch (and all the Living Legends) a listen and you'll be hooked the way I am.