Customer Reviews

Gangster & A Gentleman

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The solo effort from Styles of the Lox was one a CD I was really looking foward to listening to. With the blazing singles "Good Times" and "The Life" how couldn't you have high expectations for Holiday Styles? Especially with the let down of Jadakiss's solo debut, I was expecting a little more out of the Lox's resident gangsta.

Well, on to the CD. Styles P really does a good job of showing his versatility on this CD, with tracks like "Lick Shots", "I'm A Ruffryder", and "Black Magic", as he switches easily back and forth from the hardcore killer to the gentlemen. With great lyrics and dark beats, Styles gives you the dark gutter feeling all the Lox albums have. The title track, produced by Alchemist, who was also responsible for Jadakiss's "We Gonna Make It", is a perfect example of this.

What makes this CD so good is Style's distinct delivery and flow, as well as good guest appearances from Lil' Mo, Eve, Angie Stone, and the rest of the Lox. Unlike Jadakiss's debut, which had only a few solo cuts, Styles P leaves some tracks just for himself, like "My Brother", one of the better tribute songs out. Some of the only gripes I have with this CD is the running time, which is a bit long, and the absence of DMX, the lead Ruff Ryder. Other than that, I would say that Styles solo effort was a great success.

So, if you're a fan of hardcore East Coast rap or a fan of the Lox, then this CD won't let you down. This should be a sign of better things to come for the Ruff Ryders, as planned upcoming releases from Eve, Jadakiss, DMX, and a new Lox album look to make the Ruff Ryders emerge as the top record label in the game.

I always though Jada and Sheek were the top MCs of the LOX, but Styles himself to be a solid MC himself. The title of the album is on point because the tracks are balanced between gangsta rap and more social, "gentleman" rap. Nearly every track on the album is solid. The only songs I didn't like were And I Came To and Get Paid. Lick Shots, I'm a Ruffryder, We Thugs, and The Life are solid gangsta tracks. Noboby Believes Me is one of the most original songs I've ever heard. Y'all Know We in Here is a good up-tempo, club track. A Gangster and a Gentleman, Black Magic, Daddy Get That Cash, and My Brother are good introspective songs. Styles is a solid MC by himself, but he also gets help from his guests. Jada and Sheek stop by, as do Eve, J-Hood, Swizz Beatz, PK, Angie Stone, Lil Mo, Cross, and MOP. Production is also solid, provided by Swizz Beatz, Saint Denson, P Killer, The Alchemist, Rockwilder, DJ Twinz, Mr. Devine, DJ Shok, Clue and Duro, and Tank. This is a very impressive debut by Styles, featuring excellent tracks, lyrics, MCing, guests, and production. Much better than Jada's debut.

After blessin' us on 2 LOX CDs and 3 Ruff Ryders' Compilation CDs, David Styles finally gets a chance to shine on his own. The LOX are famous for their guest appearances on several CDs in the past few years. Everyone knew that Jadakiss would eventually have a solo release out, but the same people that were screamin' for a Jada CD were also calling for a Styles solo CD as well. "A Gangster And A Gentleman" gives Styles Paniro a chance for his fans to hear both sides of his rap personality. Most people have heard his gangsta side on several occasions, especially since the LOX left Bad Boy Records. On the first single "Good Times", Styles impresses me by showing me that he can carry a song on his own. 95% of people that have heard Styles, have only heard him on collaborations with his group. By using a sample of Freda Payne's "I Get High (On Your Memory)", Styles definitely has a thug national anthem for the Summer of 2002 that will atleast push "A Gangster And A Gentleman" to gold status. After listening to his CD, you can tell that Styles is trying to please both audiences. Everything isn't as grimey as you think. Songs like "Daddy Get That Cash" w/Lil Mo, "Y'all Know We In Here" w/Swizz Beatz and P.K. and "And I Came To" w/Eve & Sheek are clearly attempts to get Styles radio play and to show the ladies and the "sensitive thugs" that he can also display different rhyme styles. Styles is at his best when he keeps his grimey ways. "Lick Shots" is classic LOX. Jadakiss' verse is almost as good as any verse on his "Kiss The Game Goodbye" CD and Sheek and J-Hood represent something lovely. The best beat on the CD is clearly on my favorite song on this CD, "We Thugs (My N*****)" w/Jadakiss & Sheek. DJ Clue & Duro should have saved this hot beat for Fabolous, Paul Cain or Joe Buddens. When the LOX go back and forth line for line, there aren't many groups out that can top that. The production is on point for the whole CD with Swizz Beats, DJ Shok, The Alchemist, P Killer, Icepick and others contributing tracks. The only complaints that one could have about this CD is that 1) it sounds the same as any other LOX record, 2) some of Swizz' beats could use a little retooling. "...And I Came To" is just plain boring, even though Styles, Eve & Sheek have tight lyrics on the song and 3) there are too many skits on the CD. At 24 tracks and almost 80 minutes of material, everything would flow better without all of the skits in between songs. Other songs worth checkin' out are "Soul Clap", "Black Magic" w/Angie Stone, "I'm A Ruff Ryder" w/Jadakiss, "Y'all Don't Wanna F***" w/MOP, "Nobody Believes Me" w/Sheek & Cross and a heartfelt tribute to his murdered brother, "My Brother". As an added bonus track, you also get "The Life" w/Pharoahe Monch, that was included on the Soundbombing III Compilation CD. Overall, Styles shows that he has tremendous potential on his debut CD. Finally, he has been given a chance to shine outside of the LOX and believe me he shines very well.

James' Top 5

1. We Thugs (My N*****) w/Jadakiss & Styles
2. Good Times
3. I'm A Ruff Ryder w/Jadakiss
4. Lick Shots w/Jadakiss, Sheek & J-Hood
5. Soul Clap

Styles P., also known as "The Ghost" has long been lost in the shuffle and looked over amongst the arsenal of Ruff Ryders' potent record label. Styles, however, brings a new talent, sound, and ironically enough, a new style to the Ruff Ryders' family. The record label, once founded and headlined by DMX, has since crumbled with his retirement, falling from a glory that was never solidified to begin with. I mean, come on, there are only so many times you can listen to the word 'dawg' spit on one song, which was seemingly DMX's favorite word.
Styles, however, comes out carrying his mysterious, laid back "ghost"-like flow, holding a lyrical weapon in both hands and blazing.

His multi-faceted view on life (see title) and his versatile flow makes for a record filled with different messages, beats and flows, not to mention lyrical potential. I say potential, however, because when you compare Styles' raw lyrical warfare to his twin-spirit in music Jadakiss, I'm afraid Jada steals the spot-light. Not to be outdone, however, Styles makes up for this with strong choruses and production, molded to his unique flow to uphold and accent his talent.

Styles has a voice that calls to you through the wires and speakers of your music system. They carry a subdued passion in them, like a sleeping giant accustomed to a life of silence now experimenting with his voice. His fluent, passionate and thoughtful rhymes illuminate the life of a thug in a way you never really gave much thought to. I'm not saying that he doesn't glorify the violence, because in all honesty, he does, but even in his violence = glory rhymes, he comes off with a sombre ending and a sad sounding edge, closing his verse or song out with the reality of a thug life. It's not easy, it's not happy, and it's not the type of life you go out of your way to live. It's the type of life you're forced into. He teeters back and forth on this edge though, as though at times he's uncertain of what he's saying. He finds a delicate balance, earning himself street credit with lines like "I'm so ganster that just knowing myself makes me affiliated", without straying to often into the deep waters of straight out violence.

Congratulations Styles. His voice has already found it's way onto the air waves and will soon permeate every listening ear out there.

Styles Paniro kept us waiting for his solo LP, "A Gangster And A Gentelman", and after I've heard this album, it's was worth the wait. This is a great album, with damn near flawless production by Swizz Beatz, Alchemist, P. Killer Tracks, DJ Clue and others. Most listeners and critics thought that Stlyes would only rhyme about guns and drugs, but if you can really honestly say that you listened to the album from front to back, then that would be obviously not true. Especially on the soulful "Black Magic" featuring Angie Stone, the Al Green sampled "Listen" where he talks about socialistic problems, (We 'bout to be on some clever sh.. / I gotta think if the presdent is prejudice). He also makes the song cry about his deceased sibling he lost in a car accident entitled "My Brother". Now that he showed you the gentleman, he will also show you the gangster, especially in the P. Killer produced "Y'all Know We In Here", the M.O.P. featured "Y'all Don't Wanna F***", and there two LOX songs on the album (We Thugs My Ni**as, and Lick Shots). But on "Nobody Believes Me", Styles should have got an award for the most creative song of the year. There is only one flaw on the album, the chessy Swizz track "And I Came To...", but that does not stop this album from getting the 5 stars it deserves. This album is not one-dimensional, so even the most underground critics would enjoy this album, if not then you're a pure hater.

Hopefully he wont retire completely, he has skills and is one of the best out. Album was surprisingly heartfelt and meaningful. One of the best LOX solos.

A double G: gangster & gentleman. Before this debut album, Styles has mostly shown us the gangsta image of his. On this album Styles is, like I call him, a double G. On tracks like 'I'm A Ruff Ryder' and 'We Thugs (My N****s)' Styles comes out as a gangsta fo' sure. Then on songs like 'Black Magic' and 'Listen' Holiday Styles shows us that he's also a gentleman. This CD is all good, but it has some standout tracks like genious 'Nobody Believes Me' and a tribute song to his sibling 'My Brother'. 'A Gangster And A Gentleman' is definately this year's best album yet and all double R and LOX fans should have been cop it by now. D4L!

While I will try to demonstrate restraint in gushing about the remarkable, gem-like nature of Styles Paniro's solo debut, I cannot help but make a reasonable prediction: quite simply, in five years, this album will be mentioned in the same breath and held in the same regard as Reasonable Doubt, Black on Both Sides, Illmatic, Ready to Die, and All Eyez on Me. It is that good. Styles' lyrical ability is simply astonishing; a solid work of entertaining, thought-provoking wordsmithing is how I choose to describe A Gangster and a Gentleman. One of the illest lines I ever heard on a track was on track 6 where he goes, "I'm so gangsta/just knowing myself make me affiliated." That's right up there with Jay-z's famous parting line on the intro track of Dynasty: "This is food for thought/you do the dishes."
The singles, "I get high" and "The Life" are instant classics, just as Styles and Jadakiss' "We Gonna Make it" collaboration from a year ago was, but the very best tracks on this album have to be "Lick Shots" and "We ride " The former starts with this incredible bass-heavy beat that begs to be featured loudly in a low-rider with springy shocks, and Jadakiss kicks off the ritualistic libation with "Lick shots for the predicate felons and gangsta who know that doin' their time is better than tellin'/ don't tell dog." In the last verse, a characteristically witty Jadakiss finishes, "Lick shots for the little kids in the projects/ runnin' round unsupervised with sharp objects." In "We ride", set to a beat that elicits the tense anticipation of an olympic 100m final in the 1970s, Styles and Jada combine for a tight, thought-provoking rhyme: "I know a few kids doing life bids in jail/and they way smarter than the white kids in yale." Track 20 about his weapons is also very creative, although it borrows from an overused formula that Tupac created in the classic, "Me and My Girlfriend" from Makaveli. The title track (track 4) is also very interesting, with Styles telling about his upbringing and his philosphy on the incompatible identities as a gangster and a gentleman. Overall, every track on the album has something lyrically --which is quite crucial in the evaluation of any legitimately clasic hip-hop effort-- to offer. Buy this and put is where you put Reasonable Doubt, Illmatic, Black on Both Sides, and the aforementioned albums.

SP's debut album a gangsta and a gentleman deserves praise from every corner of the rap industry. It also shows the LOX are becoming elite members in rap in everyone's eyes. I'm a Ruff Ryder is clearly the best song. There are no weak songs and J Hood puts it down on lick shots. He may even be better than Kiss, Sheek, and SP. This album is not better or worse than 'Kiss the Game Goodbye' just different. Jadakiss is more balanced while Styles is a gangsta. What I mean is Kiss can flow about anything and Styles has pretty much stuck to the same topics. But he is one of the illest rappers out there though.

All the songs on this album are either good or great, so if you're looking for a hiphopgood album look no further...

Maybe too many skits but you can always skip them...

best songs: daddy gotta get that cash, lick a shot and that track dedicated to his dead brother... but really most songs are great...