Customer Reviews

I Do What I Do

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kev Brown is probably a name few are familiar with, and rightly so. Being pretty much an underground artist, the only thing that most of us know about Kev Brown is his remix version of Jay-Z's Black Album (even though there were countless versions out there at the time). Sounding almost nothing like anyone else in the underground, Kev Brown infuses mellow beats and jazzy chords into his music. He's worked with everybody from Dj Jazzy Jeff to De La Soul to R&B newcomer Raheem Devaughn. Being both a producer and rapper at the same time is something that most have a hard time accomplishing (except the likes of Kanye West, Dr. Dre, and Jermaine Dupri). I Do What I Do is the perfect title to what Kev Brown is all about.

From the start of the album, Kev proclaims he's not trying to change the game or be profound by any means. He's literally doing what he does best and hoping everybody takes his music for what it's worth. "Work In Progress" is a good all-around representation of Kev Brown's signature sound and lyrics. "Beats N Rhymes" features him holding his own alongside Oddisee and Little Brother's Phonte. "Say Sumthin" featuring Quartermaine and Kenn Starr (not the guy from Bill Clinton's impeachment) is much like other underground songs, but the props hailed to Dj Premier, JayDee, and Pete Rock from Kev Brown are where it's at. "Outside Lookin In" featuring Cy Young utilizes an ongoing bass riff that would fit any open mic night. "Struggla's Theme" featuring Grap Luva is another polished cut any underground fan could appreciate.

"Hennessey Pt 1 & 2" are both smooth grooves in their own rights. The first part features the rapping styles of Kev Brown and Kenn Starr, while the second part consists of a playfully drawn out R&B bridge featuring Eric Roberson, Chronkite, and Wanya. "Keep On" features Kev Brown trading clever verses with Cy Young. "Alone Again" is an introspective piece featuring Kev giving us his outlook on how his life is. "Hold Fast," "Albany," and "Life A Gamble" are the well-crafted solo tracks from the end of the album. Kev Brown does a superb job of defining his sound, both lyrically and creatively. Although some could compare I Do What I Do with albums by Little Brother or Slum Village, Kev Brown does enough to differentiate himself from the pack.

I just received my Kev Brown CD in the mail today. It is refreshing to hear real hip hop beats, rhymes and cuts. No fast high pitch singing hooks, no laser sounds, no fake corny gangsta/pimp references and NO Cursing. I can actually bump this in the car with the fella's and play it around the wife and kidos with out keeping my hand on the mute button.

If you like Erick Sermon, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, real hip hop, or just quality music that someone actually put some real effort into making.. You'll like Kev Brown.

Yo Kev, if you ever read this review keep up the good work. Don't change that recipe!

Kev Brown has made an impact producing the majority of DJ Jazzy Jeff's "The Magnificent" LP and EP, as well as the acclaimed remix project "The Brown Album" in which he flipped his own soulful production to Jay Z's "Black Album" acapellas. Bearing the torch for the Golden Age sound, Kev Brown has the hip-hop world's attention as the up & coming producer/MC. With accolades from hip-hop luminaries such as Pete Rock and DJ Spinna, Kev Brown's work with De La Soul, Freddie Foxx, Jewel, and numerous respected hip-hop and R&B acts has garnished this MD artist's respect and buzz.

Kev's offical debut studio album "I Do What I Do" is one of the most refreshing releases to date, indie or major in 2005. Signed by Visionaries member/co-owner of Up Above Records, KeyKool...let's you know just how seriously potent this album really is...

Guest appearances by fellow Low Budget crew members Grap Luva, DJ Roddy Rod of Maspyke, CY Young, Kenn Starr, Oddisee, and Little Brother's Phonte, makes this album a must get/borderline classic.

Trust me, if you like hip-hop, you'll love this album...it's a taste of what hip-hop music is all about: heart, soul, and especially skills.

After beaing a massive pete rock and premo fan for so many years, i recently have been looking out for new sounds reminiscent but yet evolved. 9th wonder has crossed my path with other more underground artists such as madlib, peanut butter wolf and jazzy jeff to name a jus a handful.

This album oozes pete rock and jazzy jeff, in its base lines and kicks.., but the good thing is its not. Kev has spawned his own sound using influences from the kings. If you like 9th wonder or nicolay's contemporary beats, you should love this too.

I'm happy that some cats can come out with material as good as this, and with the likes of phonte making an apearience (huge little brother/ Just Us league fan)it really sets it apart. Kev aint a bad m.c at all either.

You should definately get this if you like more chilled/melodic/jazzy beats with hittin base line, rather then the over used, poorly produced gangsta rap these days. Fed up of all that sh*t, so am I.....

*****

From

I saw Kev Brown open up for Little Brother just this past September in DC. I never really knew who he was, but I was immediately impressed by his performance. Unlike many emcees who perform live, he actually knew how to hold the mic and he didn't yell all of his lyrics like so many emcees do when they get excited performing live. I also liked the fact that he was a local cat. I copped the cd like two weeks ago and I can't stop listening to it. Production wise he does so much with so little. You can definitely sense the Pete Rock and Premo influences, but at the same time he puts his own stamp on it. Has a great old school-soul-jazz influenced sound to it. His emcee skills are solid and his rhymes are nice. He makes it clear that he's a pretty low profile guy who loves making music as opposed to a loud baller/player/thug and whatever stuff MTV plays in heavy rotation that white kids love. I am really pulling for him to have success on some level. I could have had a burned copy of this cd, but I chose to shell out the money, because I want to see dudes who put out good music get paid. Especially if they're local.

Man I love this album! The production is on point with a jazzy soulful feel to it. Though not flashy, Kev's voice and message just sucks you in. Kev rhymes about real life stuff that we all can feel. None of that macho, bling, phoniness I know many people are sick of. If you grew up listening to Gangstar's early stuff or Pete Rock you'll enjoy Kev Brown. Especially like the hidden tracks after Life's a Gamble... it was nice surprise when I accidentally left my CD playing.
This album is highly recommended.

I never thought I'd see the day any rap music came out of Landover, MD let alone an album this good. Usually the music coming out of the DC area tends to be thugged out/pimp/playa music. I bought this to support talent in my area and expected to hear more of the same, but I wound up being totally surprised. Lyrically, Kev could use some tightening up because he lets the many guests outshine him on the mic. I think his stronger suit is his production. You can hear the influences of Pete Rock, Jazzy Jeff, and J Dilla. He definitely has a future in the rap game as a producer on the rise.

My only beef is that a lot of the beats sound alike (bass heavy, soulful, laid back joints). The production isn't bad, in fact it's damn good, but Kev doesn't switch it up much, so a lot of the album sounds like one really long song. Don't let that sway you though, this is a dope album.

I Do What I Do is going to satisfy the ears of any rap fan. Even though the sound doesn't chage gears often, the album is still strong enough to warrant a purchase if you don't have this already. Kev Brown definitely has a sound that needs to be heard. I recommend checking this one out.

Standout Tracks: Hennessey Pt. 1 feat. Kenn Starr, Work In Progress, Say Sumthin' feat. Kenn Starr & Quartermaine, Hennessey Pt. 2 feat. Chronkite, Eric Roberson, & Wayna, Beats 'N Rhymes feat. Phonte & Oddisee (My Favorite), Hold Fast, and Alone Again

You can get a good vibe on a dude and the tone of their album from their intro, some hit hard and start the album off with a bang others yell and scream about how much game, money or skills they've got, some make you think they are destroying the entire contents of their house (you destroy that tv bus-a-bus)... what ever they think works I guess. On the intro of I Do What I Do, Kev Brown gets out the vibe that the next hour is going to be relaxed, quietly confident and not without it's bangers.

Not only is his production nice he can flip some good rhymes, he doesn't hog his beats though and gets a couple of Mc's such as Phonte, Oddisee, Kenn Starr and Cy Young up in the booth and the results are certainly satisfying. The album finishes off with some hidden tracks such as a remix by 9th Wonder of a Kev Brown track titled always. I find the hidden track concept frustrating at the best of times and even more so when it's as laid back and nice as this number.

When it comes down to it the album is a must if you really feel the production of cats like Ali Shaheed Muhummed (ATCQ), Pete Rock and 9th Wonder as Kev Brown has certainly mastered that jazzy sound interlaced with nice cuts and scratches and his rhymes sit nicely within the mellow soundscape he's created just giving the whole sound a real nice warmth. After listening to this album there is no doubt that Kev Brown has an amazing career ahead of him and I for one am keen to see him keep doing what he's doing.
****1/2

One.
Pj

So many classics have dropped this year it's hard to keep up.First you have quasimoto's"the further adventure....",Common's"BE",9th wonder&Buckshot's"Chemistry",Little Brother's"The Minstrel Show",Kanye West's"Late Registration"and many others.Now you can add yet another classic to the mix and that cd my fellow hip-hoppas is KEV BROWN'S"I DO WHAT I DO".No need to talk about the album,just "GO COP DAT PIECE,SON".Hip-Hop is back in the building(sorry rocafella)don't it feel good!!??

I haven't been disappointed with anything Low Budget (Grap Luva, Kev Brown, Oddissee, Kenn Starr, etc.) has put out. This is Hip-Hop to it's core and something you can play around young/old. This album represents everything that's right with the Genre/Culture.