Fly School Reunion

Giant Panda | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 8, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tres Records
• ASIN: B000BI1YBU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,136 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rap Attack Intro

2. One Time

3. With It

4. Super Fly

5. Just Cause

6. Diggin' in the Tapes

7. 90's

8. Sho' Improve

9. Chops

10. Grand Prix

11. Always Dope

12. 3rd Party

13. Racist

14. T.K.O.

15. Strings

16. Classic Rock

Editorial Reviews

Tres Records presents the debut album from Giant Panda, “Fly School Reunion”. Giant Panda is a group composed of the ethnically diverse Chikaramanga, Maanumental, and Newman (with DJ Superbrush 427 and Sir Kado). After the success of GP’s independently released 88 Remix (Ukenjam 12” 2003) and their critically acclaimed Tres debut, With It (Tres 12” 2004), the time has finally come for the crew to show their full colors to the listening public. Though “Fly School Reunion” might be perceived as a throw back to a simpler, and arguably better time in Hip-Hop, it is more than just a practice in old themes and techniques. “Fly School Reunion” is Giant Panda’s celebration of what made those times special and what they feel needs to be reclaimed in order to advance the art form they practice and love. With production by Giant Panda’s Chikaramanga, Newman, and Sir Kado, as well as outside help from the up and coming Milhouse Scoop and the legendary Thes One of People Under the Stairs (who mixed the entire album in his analog studio), “Fly School Reunion” is guaranteed to please the B-Boy preservationist and the forward thinking listener. The Thes One produced lead single, Superfly, exemplifies Giant Panda’s ability to balance the past and the future through music and rhymes. With Diggin in the Tapes, Racist, Classic Rock, and the tribute to GP’s favorite era (and a favorite group), 90’s, GP exhibits the sophistication of diligent students ready to evolve their medium while maintaining a healthy sense of humor Already gaining worldwide recognition from their past releases (XXL-Chairman’s Choice, HHC- Single of the Month, URB-Next 100 2005), the table is set for Giant Panda to serve their full-length platter. A cohesive 16-song journey, “Fly School Reunion” is Hip-Hop the way it is supposed to be done. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bringin' HipHop Back..., July 8, 2006

By 

? "UnspokenHeard ?" (United Kingdom!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fly School Reunion (Audio CD)

2005 saw many remarkable underground releases ; Oktober - The Art Of Raw, One Be Lo - Sonogram, O.C. - Starchild just to name a few, but it has to be Giant Panda's "Fly School Reunion" that reigns as the most hard-hitting, original & refreshing album to come out at a time when authentic & fun-loving music was missing. Maanumental (Black lead MC), Newman (White MC/Producer) & Chikaramanga (Japanese Producer/MC) are a trio that make up the group Giant Panda. Hailing from 2 different places ; Seattle (Newman, Maanumental) & L.A. (Chikaramanga), Giant Panda offer a very diverse listen on Fly School Reunion, in terms of both the artists' own personalities & indeed the music they make together. The most notable thing about this particular group is that they sound remarkably like their close LA affiliates, People Under The Stairs (Thes One & Double K). This mainly being down to the fact that for some odd reason both Maanumental & Newman are indeed very reminiscent of Thes One, in both delivery & charisma. However saying this, it has to be said that no matter how much of a massive fan I am of the P, both Maanumental & Newman are on a totally different level, lyrically, to both Thes & K, purely for their complex, flavorful & innovative word-play that both successfully demonstrate. Straight B-Boy's.

The production courtesy of Chikaramanga & Newman (the majority) is also very similar to that of PUTS, with the SP sounding funk, snares, hi-hats, pefectly flipped samples, cuts & alla the rest of that good stuff! that has made both Thes & K, two of my favourite producers, period. The production here is AMAZING...with Thes One actually dropping by for the tracks "Super Fly" & "Racist". The best part of FSR, is that not only does every single track have for 1) amazing production but also all provide flawless, charasmatic lyricism throughout, a combination that just begs for more spins. The highlights of the album have to be the fantasticly charming "With It", the hard-hitters "Just Cause" & "Sho' Improve", the laid-back "Always Dope", the thought-provoking "racist", the ridiculously funky "TKO" & the beautifully atmospheric "Strings".

A very original & fresh quality about GP is Chikaramanga, who is a Japanese MC/Producer who demonstrates his own flava & lyrical ability (in japanese mostly) over approx 1/3 of the tracks. Very different, and it works fantastically only adding to both Newman's & Maanumental's additional impact.
It is evident that Giant Panda stay true to their roots, but maintain both their originality & progression at the same time...resulting in an essential to those, fortunately, who have not subcumb to the brain-washing material being put out under the name of "hiphop" (and other genres). If they carry on in this direction, I believe that they may even become as successful, respected & indeed just as untouchable as the legendary P.

Bottom Line>> I can't say enough postive things about this album, it is quickly becoming one of my favourites & best-buy's for a long time. You have to listen to truly appreciate Giant Panda...cop this ish. PEACE

Lyrics - 10/10
Beats - 10/10
Originality - 9.5/10
Replay Value - 10/10

If you found this helpful, check my other reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Giant Panda kick things off in high gear, July 12, 2005

By 

Knackwurst "El House Of Wise Reviews" (Right Near The Beach, Boyeeee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fly School Reunion (Audio CD)

Dope stuff right here from the new Giant Panda crew. All the Jurassic 5 and People Under The Stairs fans will appreciate the fun lyricism, neck snappin production and love these cats put into it. The single "Racist" caught some attention and first got me to listen to this, and it does not disappoint for the true school b-boy heads. The flavor is all over with the black/white/japanese trio of emcees. A bit derivatvie some might complain, but these guys really show promise, and Fly School Reunion (can't even front on that name!) is one hell of a debut. Yeah, still some good hip hop happening these days.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars top to bottom dope album, September 17, 2007

By 

thunk (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fly School Reunion (Audio CD)

About a week after picking up this album I went to see these guys perform out at Slim's in San Francisco with PUTS and Time Machine. GP definitely knows how to rock a set. But that's not really the point is it? Fly School Reunion is one of those albums that I wish I could forget about just so I could discover it all over again. From the intro to the end, this album hits you with lush, varied beats that all manage to sound cohesive enough to fit together on the same album, but nowhere near repetive or boring. The production from Thes One (personally my favorite producer), Newman, and Chikaramanga keeps your foot tapping and head nodding in the nicest way. Plus, all three of these cats can not only rock a mic, but can come together to make a song with meaning and feeling, something that is seriously missing in todays mainstream hiphop scene. West Coast to East, America to Japan, This is quality music.

Favorite Track: "Racist"