Customer Reviews

Genocide & Juice

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

but a name don't mean wealth - let me up you on this sh*t / if we was up in this just to get up out the ghetto - lemme tell you right now - we damn near done quit..." - The Name Game.

The Coup (Boots, E-Roc & DJ Pam the Funkstress) pull together an amazing 2nd album. I mean amazing...it took me at least 10 listens to fully appreciate this album and I still love it more everytime I listen to it. "Genocide & Juice" is laced w/ deep socially-concious & political lyricism, so deep it'll probably take most advanced Hip-Hop heads a while to touch the bottom (myself included).
They never shy away from speaking out against capitalists, corporations, pretty much any corrupt (literally, but more so socially) figures. Yeah, I know, we've all heard Hip-Hop like that before...but not like this. The Coup just have a ironic, non-violent (loosely used) approach to their messages that will never be duplicated.

Boots, for one thing, is one of Hip-Hop's 10 most under-rated MC's, w/o a doubt. He has tremendous presense, a great voice, an on-point flow and supremely intelligent & meaningful lyrics. E-Roc is also really dope, but unfortunately Boots always out-shines him. The beats are stellar, I love every one of them. The vibe of each beat fit the theme of the track perfectly...and guess who did all the main production...my man Boots.

The Coup definetly sparked the flame w/ their debut "Kill My Landlord" which is also an under-rated masterpiece, but in my eyes, they caught fire w/ this album. Every track is good, you can listen to the whole thing straight through, w/o even thinking of skipping a track. My favorites are: "Fat Cats...," "Hip 2 tha Skeme," & "The Name Game." There's also guest spots by Spice 1 & E-40 on track #11.

Be sure to check for all The Coup's albums (there's 4 in total).

Bottom Line: This album is a slept-on masterpiece and I love it. This is Hip-Hop that needs to be listened to, not just nodded to. I strongly reccommend this to any fan of real Hip-Hop. I DON'T reccommend this to beginning & average Hip-Hop heads...this is a truly advanced album. A 5 star masterpiece, Peace.

The Coup are the only overtly political rap crew that I know of that's not coming from the East Coast and still rapping. Hence, on any of their albums (all of which I recommend... especially "Please Steal this Album"... in reply to the reviewer who said that they should just GIVE AWAY their music....) you get a way different sound than lots of the people who consciousness-raising rap. They rail against capitalism a lot, rich people and the police. It's all been done before certainly: N.W.A. was really effective at it, as was Public Enemy and other groups like Da Lench Mob. The major difference between these groups is that The Coup takes on the world with a sort of bitter irony whereas the others just advocated violence. A few years ago a book came out by Jebidiah Purdy that discussed the problems with sarcasm in American society: he didn't like it because it didn't lead to a better world. The sarcasm here, combined with some pretty sophisticated beats and backing, can force change though, because it doesn't hint toward the unrealistic actions that were advocated by some other groups.

These rappers are really good; this album is really tight. It is a must buy, though, if on a limited budget, get their other album referenced above (it's slightly better....) On the same line, people who like what's SAID on this album might like a book by Darius James called "Negrophobia". THis is a huge recommendation....

the way 'fat cats', 'pimps' & 'takin these' flow one into the next, this provides hip-hop with some great story tellin not heard since ice cube's 'amerikkka's most wanted'...not hard-core or gangsta, just some classic material by one of the west's most slept on groups....

Back in the day my dude let me hear this album and I was blown away. The lyrics are so tight it's unbelievable. I used to smoke out and just vibe to this album, it's amazing. Rap just ain't the same anymore. What happened to all the real MC's? If you can find this album, get it, you owe it to yourself.

I can remember when this first came out my bro bumpin the repo man in the basement, and it was bangin then and I still play it all tha time now. Every song onhere is dope, and you canlisten to the whole thing all the way through.
Takin these, hard concrete, repo man, santa rita weekend w/ 40 wata, and everyother song are dope. Check thisone out.l

The Coup are among the greatest (and most slept on) of all underground bay area hip-hop acts. They broke on to the scene with their 1993 album Kill My Landlord on Wild Pitch, which featured hardcore political raps over a very raw live funk band, with scratching by Pam the Funkstress. This album is their follow-up to Kill My Landlord, also orignally issued on Wild Pitch (in '96, I believe). This album was a growth for them musically - the group plays in more of a smooth style in contrast to the rawness of the first album, but lyrically this just picks up where "Landlord" left off. Check the sample for "Pimps" - in this song Boots takes the role of a rich guy immitating a gansta rapper, but the song makes the point that very often the upper class are more thuggish than the thugs!

This is a great album for any fan of either "Kill My Landlord" or "Steal this Album" (the third album from 1998). If you have just one of those albums I recommend getting this one next, since it's musically their most different record. It's great that this finally got reissued, and I can't wait for their next album, which is supposed to be out by the end of 2001!

Some kids want to grow up to be like Mike. Some kids dream that they are Tiger Woods.

When I was a kid,I wanted to be the fourth member of the Coup. I listened to the common sense rhymes of Boots that were hardly common and certainly made more sense than anything else going on around me. This is not "one of the most politically enlightened hip-hop albums of all time", this is one of the most politically enlightened albums of all time.

That's why I was upset when I heard that Wild Pitch folded and I worried that the problems that the Coup teach about would outlast these crusaders' chances for expression.

The news of a new album is a God send, and it comes at a time when the social problems that they warn of are even more extremely than they were at the time of the album.

Specifically, "Fat Cats, Bigga Fish" paints a crystal clear image of the foolish arrogance of the street hustler who is winning a few battles but overwhelming losing the war.

It flows into "Pimps" which should be commended for the creativity of its concept before its message is even considered. The message is very clear: Those running the society have no desire to turn over that control and will lie, cheat, steal, and kill to keep it.

Next up is "Takin' These" which is loosely patterned on "Lady and the Tramp's "Siamese". It and "Gunsmoke" (probably a reference to the popular TV show) propose violent resistance to the inequities in the system. This inequities are once again addressed in "Hip 2 tha skeme" which I would say is the best joint on the album. It addresses the economic catch 22s that a poor, African American faces each day.

The second half of the album is more disjointed, but no less powerful in the messages it delivers. "The Name Game" mocks the treasure chasin' cuture of the hip hop industry; a concept that has been repeated hundreds of times by different artists, but this is the most intelligent analysis I have heard. "Repo Man" lends humor to the serious reality of African American's role in American materialistic culture. "Interrogation" vividly conveyes many minority groups' feelings toward the law enforcement; a revelation that most mainstream media groups have yet to recognize. "Hard Concrete" is a poignant explanation of the childhood in the inner city. "360 degrees" is a spoken word presentation.

From start to finish, the only full-length track that slip from the level is "Santa Rita Weekend" which discusses being shipped to prison, but I must say that E-40s guest rap doesn't measure up with the rest of the album.

This is track-for-track the greatest hip-hop album I've ever experienced. It possesses the vivid reality of Kool G. Rap and the political conscience of BDP, and raises them a notch further.

I received the item on time. The package was in great conition and I really enjoyed the CD. My expectations were met.

Boots, E-Roc, and Pam the Funkstress broke incredible new ground with this, their sophomore album. This collection combines astoundingly astute economic and political insight ("If everybody in the hood had a PhD, you'd say 'That doctor flipped that burger hella good for me'") with sublime funk (and even classical riffs on the best track of all, "Pimps"). It's a pleasure to listen to, and every time through you will notice another remarkable turn of phrase.

A loose concept album, it follows a cast of characters including a street hustler who recognizes how small-time he is compared to corporate bankers and corrupt politicians ("Fat Cats, Bigger Fish"); robber barons and "new money" billionaires ("Pimps"); themselves (the straight-laced and tragically analytical "Hip 2 Tha Skeme"); a young man sent to jail for the weekend in a police sweep to which he is woefully accustomed; and many others.

The variety of tracks, topics, and tunes on this album combine powerfully to make it essential listening. Not since Public Enemy's finest have we seen a mixture of aesthetics and commentary so potent and pleasing. Alas, it's as relevant today (if not more so) than when it was released in 1994.

When it comes to Bay Area rap, call The Coup one of the most underrated from the area. With their sophomore album on Wild Pitch Records, it was supposed to be their breakthrough album back in 1994, but unfortunately label issues caused it to be placed on the backburner when the company merged with EMI Records, which resulted in this album being pushed back (along with other albums on the same record label, such as Word...Life and F*ck What You Think). Luckly, The Coup were album to get their album out the same year that was projected, but when you're signed to a record label who makes bull [...] decisions, it's not the easiest thing to do. In fact, it's real stressful, not for the artist, but their fans as well.

Now that is out of the way, lets get to the album. As mentioned before, The Coup, who consisted of Boots Riley, E-Roc, and Pam "The Funkstress" comes more correct on their second album, then their previous Kill My Landlord. Boots rhymes are excellent on the majority of the tracks, such as their most popular single "Fat Cats, Bigga Fish". The next track "Pimps (Freestylin at the Fortune 500 Club)" has a concept behind it of high paid corporate workers trying to get the rap business. I'm not sure who does the reggae verse towards the end, but I do like the concept. "Taking These" is currently my favorite track from The Coup that I've ever heard, because it flows so well with the production, as Boots and E-Roc go back and forth about how they dislike being broke. Further down the album, the track "The Name Game" stands out with both Boots and E-Roc's lyrical abilities. E-Roc gets his solo track on "Hard Concrete". E-40 and Spice 1 drops dope verses on "Santa Rita Weekend". "Repo Man" is a decent track (I think thats Suga-T who sings the hook). And then the album closes off with a good posse track "Interrogation" which features Osagyefo and Point Blank Range. Pam scratches a few CL Smooth samples ("This one's a girl, lets name her Pam"), and a few Snoop Dogg samples on "This One's A Girl".

The only problem I have is the production. During the middle of the album, it sort of drags, and it is hard to keep the listener's attention when that happens, like on "Hip 2 The Skeme" for example. Some songs are well produced by Boots Riley, but there are some that float around this album that could have been better in my opinion.

Overall, Genocide & Juice is one of those albums that The Coup should have received heavy recognition for, but may never will, although this is their most popular album. They get their point across with no problem at all, like always, but at the same time I don't believe it's their best album. My favorite from this group is their next LP, Steal This Double Album. Seeing that they were marketed on Wild Pitch, of course you know it is out of print, and the prices are enormous for this album (hard to believe I got this for 4 bucks). I personally believe that Boots should find a way to get the rights to this album back and reissue it again (O.C. and Main Source managed to reissue their albums at twice). But this is one I recommend. Peace.

Lyrics: A
Production: B
Guest Appearances: B+
Musical Vibes: B

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Takin' These
2. Interrogation (featuring Osagyfo and Point Blank Range)
3. Fat Cats, Bigga Fish
4. Pimps
5. The Name Game


Honorable Mention:
1. Gunsmoke
2. Hard Concrete

Favorite Coup Albums in order:
1. Steal This [Double] Album
2. Party Music
3. Pick A Bigger Weapon
4. Genocide & Juice
5. Kill My Landlord