Focused Daily

Defari

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
• Original Release Date: February 9, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tommy Boy
• ASIN: B00000HZPI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #205,747 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
After releasing a string of critically acclaimed independent 12-inch singles, Southern California-based Defari unleashes 17 solid blasts of hip-hop on his debut full-length album. A member of the Likwit Crew (Tha Alkaholiks, King Tee, Xzibit) as well as a history teacher at Inglewood High, Defari commands the microphone with a fluid flow of literate lyrics and tight rhymes. They ride high on a bevy of well-crafted beats, which cover a variety of sonic terrain: from low-and-slow to smooth, mellow soul, with even some opera-inclined orchestration popping up. "Never Lose Touch" rolls along to a minimalistic operatic groove of Pavarotti intonations, and "Yes Indeed" has a Ming Dynasty-era atonal vibe, while "Juggle Me (For the DJs)" is all rough-and-tumble bass-driven chug. Defari's Likwit Crew comrades pop up on several tunes, including "Likwit Connection," which features Tha Alkaholiks, and "Thunder & Lightning," on which Xzibit guests. As Defari exclaims on the title track, "Don't mistake this for no pop rap, pop / But that raw deal fell, that real hip-hop." This is straight underground hip-hop with mass appeal. --Spence Abbott

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars West/East Coast?? Neh!! Sounds mo!! bangin' than any coast, October 12, 2001

By	Xb Nkosi "Xb Nkosi" (Johannesburg, South Africa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

All I can say is "This album is from the unkown space. Even Madiba (Nelson Mandela) will definately bounce to this" I consider it one of the illest offerings of the decade. Both the lyrics and the beats are on point, and are also complemented by his voice. The man does not have to write any book, his voice is one of the commanding and illest since Rakim. He is also one of the most intelligent cats I have ever listened to. Him and Evidence almost sound the same in the second track. I would like to see him working with ELpppp!! (Company Flow) and Madlib in production, with Peanut Butter Wolf , DJ Revolution, or S. AMstrong on the brakes. We were hoping he will be part of our Black August in South Africa (this year). Fortunately Dead Prez, Talib, Jeru and Black Thought also represented to the fullest "Big Up". Hey!!!! this is a "MUST" for ALL MATURED HIP-HOP fans. YOU WON'T HAVE TO SKIP ANY TRACK UNTIL THE END. YOU JUST SIT BACK AND ENJOY DA RIDE TO HIS UNKOWN SPACE. PLEASE NOTIFY ME ABOUT HIS CURRENT WORK!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Southern Cali persuasion, December 1, 2007

By	acrid.one "acrid" (your mother's house) - See all my reviews

"Focused Daily" is definitely where you want to start if Defari's on your radar.This LP has a laid back approach with nonsense free hip-hop. Defari comes thru with a mellow delivery complimented by steady production from his peers the Alchemist, Dilated Peoples MC Evidence, and Tha Alkaholik's own E-Swift. You really cant go wrong with this selection, no regrets if you decide to purchase.& I'm out.Peace.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my Favorite West Coast MC's, September 18, 2006

By	Jimmy Garcia (SLC, UT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Defari's Focused Daily is the REAL DEAL. No filler what so-ever. His BEST record...so far. Lyrics & Beats complement, but I do wanna say that without the solid production found on here, I don't think his skills would've been able to carry this album. That's why I believe that this IS his BEST, but I am always open to think he will out do this one day.