Customer Reviews

In Full Gear

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Stet Troop '88 and We're the Band are my twin faves here. After months of happy listening, I have decided that the twin live drums Stetsa used give all the tunes real oomph in the beats. Obviously, you can always use drum machines and turn them up loud, but this album demonstrates on track after track that nothing substitutes for the earthy sound of live drumming.

It's a happy record, an old-school record. It will get you moving.

True Story!!! This Album Is Better Than About, Oh......99% Of Music Out Today. It's Sad No One Listens To Them Anymore...They're Really Missin' Out On REAL Hip Hop..


Buy It!!!!!!

That's An Order!!!!!!!

As you may have heard, Stetsasonic was the original hip-hop band. The members include Daddy O, the devastating Prince Paul, Wise, Delite, Frukwan, & DBC (the Devastating Beat Creator). The live band certainly made this one of the fullest sounding hip-hop records of 1988. The stunning live formula gave way to other up and coming alternative rap groups, such as Arrested Development & The Roots. They definitely recall the visceral energy of Run-D.M.C., but also lean towards jazz and funk, and even touching on R&B. The production is loaded with instruments, beat-boxing, excellent turntablism, vicious rhymes and plenty of soul.

This record has a lot to offer in the way of variety. "In Full Gear" & "DBC Let the Music Play" open the record with an action-packed 1-2 punch. "Freedom or Death" touches on some sociopolitical topics...an excellent protest track from Daddy-O. Then comes perhaps the most beautiful crossover ballad to ever grace a rap record - "Float On". And excellent jazz-filled, astrology flavored tune. Tremendous from every angle. My favorite joint here is "Stet Troop '88!" It just pounds with energy, and Daddy-O is rhyming in FIERCE fashion. The mix never lets up, which contains consistently alluring production on tracks like "We're the Band" & "Rollin' Wit Rush". A few of my favorites pop up in the middle. "This Is It, Ya'll (Go Stetsa II)" is an excellent track, with some dope turntable work from Prince Paul. The next tracks "Sally" & "Talkin' All That Jazz" were substantial hits. "Talkin' All That Jazz" topped out on the charts at #22, and it's easy to see why. The reissue boats a remix, instrumental, and radio edit of this dope tune. "It's in My Song" brings back some of that high energy. "The Odad" boasts a dancehall/reggae vibe, which is probably my least favorite track here. The album is thankfully closed out with a set of straight bangers - "Miami Bass" & "Showtime".

Overall, if you haven't peeped out Stetsasonic, you are missing a seminal slice of old school hip-hop at it's finest. These guys were pioneers since day one, and this crowning masterpiece will live on and stand the test of time. The original hip-hop band cannot be missed.

We'll walk the shores of rap everymore with Daddy-O and crew, definitely one of the hottest LPs ever: 'If I gotta die to be free then I guess it gotta be cuz I never been a sucker, see. I can't stand for a man tryin to hold me down, then again I've never been a clown. Countdown. '88 and everything ain't well, prepare for a war, and war is hell, and if ya think about copping a plea don't even waste your breath, cuz right now it's freedom or death.' Still true. Ride the waves of life's better days.

Back in 1988, Stetsasonic was one of the best groups to hit the stage. I remember there performance in Gary, IN bac in Dec. '88 and they put on a show. I finally picked up the "In Full Gear" on CD (remastered) and it sounds great!!

If you are a true Hip Hop fan, you gotta have this one in your collection.

...one of my favorite rap groups, they had many different voices, styles and attitudes and set the template for posse' groups like wu-tang, cash money and the roots...prince paul was beginning to feel his own on here and the entire group made a national name for themselves with this. stetsa epitomized the b-boy philosophy...they were straight up hip-hop and i wish more emcees fashioned themselves after them than what passes for being a microphone fiend today....

a huge fukin idiot....STOP TALKIN ALL THAT JAZZ!!!!!

hiphop started from sampling records but when the labels started signin the very first hiphop acts (see sugar hill gang), the labels realized it would be easier and cheaper to use a band already signed to the label rather then also pay the djs...notice how theres no cuts on rappers delight??

stesasonic is mad ill, tho....he got that right. if you havent heard this ish and you like non-thuggish hiphop peep this...u wont be dissapointed

This album is a who's who of late 80's hip hop. It's hilarious and after 20 years (!?!?) it still holds it's weight. Try not to enjoy the song "Miami Bass" and you'll be wasting your time.

W to the O to the W. How did these guys get overlooked? Similar albums include Tribe Called Quest, The Jungle Brothers, De La Soul and BDP.

stetsasonic in full gear is there best album and its real hiphop,dopeshit