Customer Reviews

I Wish

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm convinced the reason this guy isn't selling triple platnum to this day is the fact that he has a sense of humor, and is willing to make fun of himself. Most rappers take themselves way too serious, and thus hip-hop fans often get suckered into that "my d**k is bigger than yours" game, buying into huge SUV's with 21" gold rims, pitbulls, guns, bling-bling, and loose women with 0.0% self respect.... So by dodging this stereotype, Skee-Lo earns credit for having class and being "real", not some juiced-up fool trying to sound tough.

It's refreshing to hear a hip-hop artist who's agenda does not include shooting anyone, and yet manages to not suck!

Skee-Lo lies somewhere between Coolio and Warren G, more towards the former. His lyrics are soft, his voice, softer. He makes fun of himself and rap in general. He never boasts about how many rims or women he has. And yet, "I Wish" works. The beats are tight. Skee-Lo produced my favorite g funk song of all time, Gaimboiz's "Money," and his production acumen shines here as well. On the other hand, the lyrics are sometimes hit or miss, but on the whole, they're funny, coherent and at times quite insightful. The single, "I Wish," may be a radio favorite, but it isn't even the best song on this album. Those who say Skee was a one-hit wonder don't know what they're talking about. The album is great throughout with has 2 classics, 4 near classics and the rest are decent.

The first classic is "Holdin' On," a romantic laid-back song with a smooth guitar backing. It is Skee-Lo's best lyrical effort by far with some really memorable lines: "Through the centuries of time heal the rhymes and unwind/Melodies flowin swift with the jazz fill/Kill the lights move in closer to your loved ones/ Baby hold em tight like tomorrow never comes..." Great stuff. The next classic and the best song on the album is "Crenshaw." Perfect for just rollin down the PCH, the 10 or whatever, it's a hit.

Other solid songs are, of course, the upbeat and hilarious "I Wish," where Skee-Lo admits his shortcomings (even when it comes to getting the ladies, a rarity for rap), the romantic "Come Back to Me," the jazzy east-coast sounding "This is How It Sounds," and the positive "Top of the Stairs." I'm not ashamed to say that in my opinion, this one's right up there with Regulate, Safe+Sound or any other mid 90s west coast album. All in all the beats stack up, and Skee-Lo's rapping approach, although very different, is a breath of fresh air. Highly recommended.

This CD was put together excellently. If you're looking for cool rap songs without all the cursing and putting down women, this is for you. Skee-Lo comes off well with songs like Superman, Burger Song, You Ain't Down, Crenshaw, & his top selling single, "I Wish". While many people may suggest he's not bad enough for the '90s/2000s, he still makes you want to shake your head to his beats with his old school style and that what makes this a great CD to get. Would give 10 stars if I could!

Skee-Lo's debut album "I Wish" was a great debut and in comparison like Ahmad had the skills to really have some longevity but Skee-Lo got caught in the changing of the trends from the g-funk to the dancing east coast movement or whatever you want to call it. Skee-Lo is very unorthodox in his rhyming especially on the title track "I Wish" where you see a lot of rappers perpetrating to be something that there not, Skee-Lo let's us know that we can dream about being a baller or havin' that cadillac. My favorite track is "Top Of The Stairs" in which Skee-Lo talks about how no one want to be at the bottom of the pole in anything and how everybody wants to be at the top in anything. "Come Back To Me" is cool little song with a great beat with Skee-Lo telling the woman to come back instead of other rappers telling her to get on(it's very funny) but cool. Some other dope tracks on this CD of note: "Never Crossed My Mind"(nice beat), "Holding On"(great interpolation of Simply Red's version), "Crenshaw"(showing us how the home roll down Crenshaw Blvd on sunday night on the westside), & "The Burger Song"(pretty cool). Overall a great performance on this CD in which did not get that much airplay here in the crappy "Lou".

People snicker when I mention skee-lo b/c they don't understand what an incredible complete and great album this is. This is one of the best albums I have ever bought.

I didn't buy this album right away because I heard from a friend that the title track "I Wish" was the only good song on the CD. That turned out to be completely untrue. I Wish is spectacular from start to finish and is definitely one of the 10 best rap/hip hop albums that I have heard. Skeelo's rap skills are amazingly smooth and his lyrics are down to earth. It is rare to find a rapper who doesn't swear but retains lyrical credibility. Another reason I am such a big fan of Skeelo is that he makes rap seem easy-the words just flow out of him. I'm suprised "I Wish" has been the only major hit for Skeelo. Whether you like the hardcore stylings of NWA or the kid-friendly songs by Will Smith, its safe to say you'll dig Skeelo.

More than just a one hit album, "I Wish" has enough pleasing and catchy tracks to merit a purchase. The production values are high, with some great backup vocals and instrumental work. In addition to "I Wish", "This Is How It Sounds" and "Crenshaw" are solid. Really, other than the last track, "I Wish (Street Mix Version)", this is an entertaining album across the board with some interesting turns of phrase. Skee Lo's lyrics move at a fast cadence but flow with the back tracks nicely and pause from time to time to permit room for the background singers to jump in smoothly.

Skee-Lo maybe not as rough-n-tough as other westcoast G's such as Ice Cube, MC Eiht, Spice 1, 40 Glocc, WC, B-Real, MC Ren, Cold 187um or Mack 10, though Skee-Lo is str8 off the streets of Crenshaw and has the potential to be a perfect rapper. Skee-Lo's I Wish album is tight, funny & has good G-funk to it! Superman & Crenshaw are tight songs, though I Wish has the coolest beat! This Is How It Sounds has a groovy G-funk, and a funny song is of course, The Hamburger Song.

Skee-Lo's best are *1, *2, 3, 4, 6, *9, *10, 11 & 12.

I recently bought this CD after a friend told me it was great. I have to admit, I am not a big fan of rap. But as soon as I popped this into my player I realized it was more than the normal cursing rap it has been a mainstay for quite some time. Before I tell you who I am, don't be quick to judge me. I am a lead singer in a metal band who has all rock CDs and this is the only music I have listened to in five years. Buy this, you won't regret it.

i love this c.d to death and when I die i will carry a copy down with me. I think that they should put it back in stores