Customer Reviews

God Giveth God Taketh Away

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

 

 

After Bang 'Em Smurf & Domination got dropped from G-Unit they made a name dissin 50 and the crew on mixtapes and other people's albums, now with Bang Em Smurf in jail, Domination holds down the fort for a strong debut album. No Smurf on here at all, he talks a little dissin G-Unit on track #11, Domination handles all the rapping. Of the 16 songs on here guests only are on 2 songs so you get a lot of Domination to satisfy you on here. It has 1 classic, 3 almost classics, 5 ok songs, and the other 7 are solid. Production is pretty good as well. Vinny Idol & Supa Mario do 3 songs, Shatek King, Get Large Productions, J Waxx Garfield, and Mr. Devine all do 2 songs, and Da Kidz, Fatz Belvedere, Heatmakerz, DR PEriod and Peter Ellis all do 1 song. For fans of real gangsta rap and not the radio/MTV bull$&!+ this is for you.

#1 - 8.5 (a message to Smurf while he's locked up)
#2 - 9 (tight beat)
#3 - 9.5 (nice beat)
#4 - 9.5 (deeper song about his ties to the hood -- tight beat)
#5 - 9 (f/ Kurupt & Young Tone -- also on Kurupts "Against Tha Grain" album from August, 2005 -- tight beat)
#6 - 6.5
#7 - 8 (a song to his mom)
#8 - 6.5 (f/ Young Dice)
#9 - 9.5 (nice beat -- deeper song)
#10 - 9 (a good fight song)
#11 - 10 (CLASSIC -- nice beat -- has Bang Em Smurf talking dissin G-Unit)
#12 - 7 (about different kinds of chicks)
#13 - 7.5
#14 - 7 (about a girl is an abusive relationship)
#15 - 8 (dedicated to some fallen soldiers)
#16 - 8.5

QUEENS!!!

check all my reviews

I have been following Domo since the first Groundwork. This album was supposed to come out at this time last year. All I can say is that wait was it. To me, this has to be one of the best albums all year.

1. I'll Be Around 4/5 (Good start. Talks about Smurf being locked up and how Domo can handle everything on this own.)

2. I Can't Lose 5/5 (What a great song. CRAZY beat. Just the type of song that gets you pumped up.)

3. Ghetto 4/5 (This is like the single of the album. Good song overall. Hook is a little weak.)

4. Misery 4/5 ( Good song but not much I can say about it.)

5. Stay Down 2/5 (Weakest song on the album. This song was on the fourth Groundwork. There are alot of better songs they could have put on the album. Example : Stamia Feat. Royce Da' 5'9)

6. We Just Friends 4/5 (Good song for telling a girl we nothing more than friends.

7. Mamma 5/5 (Great song. Reminds of Tupac and "Dear Mamma.")

8. We Got Those 3/5 (Ok song. This is a pretty commerical song. Young Dice wasn't strong as he could be. Over time, he will be a problem.)

9. On My Side 5/5 (GREAT political song. Very powerful.)

10. Rowdy 5/5 (CRAZY!! Makes you want to just destory something.)

11. When You Was Down 3/5 (A song just telling the 50 problem. Heard it a million times. This track could have been skipped.)

12. Love Triangle 5/5 (Love the beat. Nice to see Domo not being a thug 24/7.)

13. Struggle 4/5 (Good song, nothing really speacial.)

14. It Won't Stop 5/5 (Great song. This has to be one of the best Domo songs of all time. Very powerful lyrics. The end is amazing. What a twist.)

15. What Does It Take 5/5 (Talks about all his dead friends and his cousin. Good beat and lyrics.)

16. Holla My Name 5/5 (Another great song. Just plain gangsta.)

Overall, this album was amasing. Even without Bang Em' (who doesn't even rap, but he did once and it was pretty good, just he didn't rap on this album.) Trust me, go buy this and support the underground.

After being dropped from G-Unit many years ago, Bang 'Em Smurf and Domination formed Gangsta Flip Records. Dissing G-Unit right and left on mixtapes, that's all we ever seemed to hear from these guys. Even though Domination did all of the rapping, Bang 'Em made sure the business side of everything was right. Now with him being in jail, Domination releases his first album to prove to everyone that he's one of the tighest new rappers out of New York!

1. I'll Be Around - 4.5/5

2. I Can't Lose - 4/5

3. Ghetto - 3.5/5

4. Misery - 4/5

5. Stay Down (F***** Wit the Best) (Featuring Kurupt & Tone) - 3/5

6. We Just Friends - 3/5

7. Mamma - 4/5

8. We Got Those (Featuring Young Dice) - 2/5

9. On My Side (Featuring D.V. Alias Khrist) - 3/5

10. Rowdy - 4.5/5

11. Love Triangle - 4/5

12. Struggle - 4/5

13. It Won't Stop - 5/5

14. What Does It Take - 4.5/5

15. Holla My Name - 4/5

Overall: 57/75

3.5 Stars

Domination shined throughout most of this album. His voice and lyrics are tight as hell but some of his hooks are weak and that's why most of his songs aren't top notch. But besides that, this album isn't one to be slept on if you're a fan of real underground hip hop.

Domo Ripped it. Great Album man, is what NYC is missing. Waking the Game up cause ni99as is falling asleep.

EXELLENCE ALL OVER *****+++ RECOMMENDED.

The album is complete. Authentic NY hip-hop. Most the tracks are bangers and a couple are only average. Either way Domo always comes correct with the lyrics and flow. Some of the realest music I've heard. My fav's would be Ghetto, Misery, Mamma, I Can't Lose, It Won't Stop, pretty much the whole album. 50 can only blackball for so long.

Bang em Up is a sick rapper he has a good a flow and is a real shame 50 forgot where he came from and just ignored his homies. He could have signed him to g-unit and make some banging music. But this is a great album and is worth a purchase. Bang em up and domination are a good group and i look forward to future albums maybe even patch things up with 50 and g-unit. Because g-unit is hurting right now and they need a gangsta in their label to revive g-unit

I've been following the silverback guerrilas since their fallout with Fiddy. Domination has and exellent flow and shows and proves on this album. Standout tracks: I cant lose, on my side, it wont stop, rowdy, holla my name, momma etc. Filler: We got those is a commercial blunder that should've never made it to disc and the tinkerbell production on love triangle is horrible! When you was down is a dope diss record against 50 and the g-eunuchs but it is not as harsh as he aint a thug or stunt211 (both featuring yukmouth) or whats beef. Records like on my side and it wont stop show that domination has more depth to his character than his mega dumb archrivals (g-unot). Its sad that not many people have this album. This is a classic that was worth the price. Thanks a lot 50 you ruined it for all the up north rappers that have talent

didn't know what to expect, and I def did not expect it to be the best album of 2005 but it was... If you like Tupac you prolly ll like this too... they mix hard hood songs with soulful raps about struggle...
Rating Lyrics: 100/100 , Beats: 85/100

I don't wanna go into who these cats are because you should already know. I would like to say that this is one of the iller street records I've listened to in a long time. Quality material straight through- No Filler. They remind me of when duos and groups were coming out in the 90's with that hardcore sound. Heads should get what I'm sayin. Anyway, if they continue w/ dope records like this, their fan base should grow huge. It was a great listen, A++

Domination--Keep holdin it down for Bang'Em when yall get makin records together again it'll be HUGE!!! PEACE

Bang`Em & Domination debut with "God Giveth God Taketh Away" (2005). Although they are a duo, Domination is the MC while Bang'Em Smurf is the man who had the connects that made it happen forming "Gangster Flip Records" and setting up a distribution deal. Unfortunately Queen's Bang'Em is incarcerated until 2007, so Domination is left to hold things down and he has providing a great album. The album opens with the outstanding "Ill Be Around", Domination provides a powerful dedication to Smurf, which has the makings of a Hip Hop anthem, Domo delivers exceptional rhymes and a chorus to remember while recalling what led to Bang'Em's incarceration. The follow up track is "I Can't Lose", a hungry Domination rips up this cut backed by a pounding beat. Domination then lays down what life in the "Ghetto" is like, which is followed up by "Misery" a track about the struggle to make it. Kurupt makes the album's first guest appearance for an East - West collaboration "Stay Down". "We Just Friends" is a smooth standout; Domo shows love for a shorty who is down. Domination then gets introspective while talking to and about his "Mamma". The banging "We Got Those" follows; Domo shows his dislike for gold digging women while giving Young Dice a shot in the spotlight. Domination talks about politics and dirty cops on the deep "On My Side" feat. V. Alias Khrist. Domo then reps his squad the Silverback Guerillas with the thugged out "Rowdy". On "When You Was Down", original G-Unit member Bang'Em's vocals are used while recalling what happened with his former friend and business partner 50 Cent who left him out in the cold when he caught a case. Domo talks about a variety of ladies on "Love Triangle" and continues to rep for the streets with the "Struggle". Domination then takes a minute to tell a heartfelt story of a woman caught in abusive relationship with "It Won't Stop". Domination dedicates the next track to his fallen comrades including his cousin Lost Boyz member Freaky Tah with the deep "What Does It Take". The final track "Holla My Name" is an outstanding banger where Domination lets it be known that they are ready to take on all competition. Domination delivers an impressive release with "God Giveth God Taketh Away" providing a variety of tracks to enjoy that range from joints that you can bang in the ride, to those substantial ones that make you reflect on the struggles that everyday people face. That said Domination still has room to grow, look forward to seeing that growth and while production was solid it could be better hopefully more producers will step up for future albums. I wouldn't be surprised if this album is slept on, due to underexposure, blackballing etc, it is definitely one of my favorites of this year though highly recommend adding it to the collection and supporting quality music.