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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tight -- a pioneering disc of hip-hop / live funk fusion, September 22, 2002
I heard this record as a promo cassette when it first came out in the early 90s -- I was in college and was pretty immersed in hip-hop, and I noticed how innovative it was at the time, putting respected MCs together with live funk instrumentation instead of samples. I believe the Heavies are/were a British combo; the MCs who appear on the record are a cross-section of mostly American lyrical heavy hitters. There's Guru of Gangstarr, the Pharcyde, Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, and others. What's really cool about this record is that it not only has a good concept, but the concept was actually executed with skills and integrity. The Heavies are crisp, tight funk players, and they construct good grooves. Many of the backing tracks would probably have gotten sampled by MCs if they had appeared in a non-rap context. Best cut is probably Kool G Rap's driving, rugged "Death Threat"; you'll be surprised how hard G Rap remains over the live band. "You think you're down with the murder guys? /...-- say hello to the dirt you're gonna fertilize." Also great are Main Source's "Bonafied Funk" (nice Large Professor involvement), and Guru's sinuous "It's Getting Hectic." The loose, celebratory Pharcyde track is also a lot of fun, and I have a weakness for "Jump and Move," by some Jamaican guy whose name escapes me, an agile dancehall/toasting track. Overall, this stood for me as the best "live" rap release that I knew of until Philadelphia's The Roots, an MCs-and-band unit, put out their landmark LP "Do You Want More?!???!!?" in '94. This album is well worth buying. One of the earlier reviewers was right to say that it might not totally grab you on first listen, but if you give it a few more listens, it opens up and proves to have serious legs.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funky, rhythmic, chillout (or party) music, January 6, 2002
This CD is one of my top 10 (perhaps five) out of a 400+ collection. If you're looking for "crisp" drum/bass/guitar work (tight, as another reviewer called it), it's here (much like CCR is crisp, and uncluttered -- although this is a different style, of course). The rapping is superb, with clever, often hilarious lyrics. You can HEAR how much the musicians and vocalists were enjoying themselves. I've looked for other live jazz rap collaborations, but they don't seem to be plentiful. Guru's Jazzmatazz is okay, but he overdoes it a bit. I'm not too crazy about other BNH stuff I've heard, but this is beautiful work by the trio (and their guest rappers).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
funky and beautiful, April 10, 2001
i got this cd some years ago as a present to myself for a small job i got working at work. i fell in love instantly, and really listened to this a lot. i'm a huge fan of the brand new heavies, who really bring such a soulful sound to everything they do. and i'm a big fan of old school rap and hip hop, including many of the artists featured on this cd. personally, i think this is a mix made in heaven. i expect that many of you who enjoy the good sounds of funky and old school hip hop will enjoy this, too. its not much like the rest of the BNH stuff, so don't go in expecting a typical sound from them. however, do go in expecting some of the best soul and funk based hip hop to hit you.
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