Customer Reviews

Institutionalized

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fresh out of jail one of the top MC's ever in the game is back. After some legal troubles and being on the run for a while (and in that time releasing a compilation and making a name for him on the east coast in the mixtape circuit) Ras Kass is back and fresher then ever! Everyone who knows of Ras knows he has tons of potential but his albums are always barely better then average and get no promotion (much like the horsemen crew he's affiliated with) (his "Rasassination" & "Soul On Ice" I'd give 3.5 stars and his "Re-Up compilation" barely gets 4). With 17 new songs on here, 1 is a classic, 3 are almost classics, 4 are ok, the other 9 are good or great songs. Guests are minimal, rapping on 3 songs and doing hooks on 3 others so after a drought from Ras you get a good deal of him here. Production is much more better then his other works and handled by a bunch of people. Da Riffs and Thayod each do 2 songs, J Classic, Scram Jones, Rick Rock, Heatmakerz and a bunch of cats I never heard of all do 1 song and do a good job for the most part. Not as deep or lyrical as his other works but he's on point here. A must have album from one of the top MC's ever on the mic.

#1 - 9.5 (tight beat)
#2 - 10 (CLASSIC -- Great beat)
#3 - 8 (f/ jelly Roll)
#4 - 6.5 (annoying hook and beat but tight lyrics)
#5 - 9.5 (tight beat)
#6 - 8.5
#7 - 9.5 (nice beat and killer lyrics)
#8 - 8
#10 - 7
#11 - 7 (f/ maria)
#12 - 7.5
#13 - 9 (disses Capitol records who F&*#$d him on his "Van Gogh" album -- nice beat too)
#14 - 8.5 (f/ Xzibit & Chamillionaire)
#15 - 8.5 (f/ Krondon, Younf Buck and Strong Arm Steady)
#17 - 8.5 (f/ Mystic -- anice positive song)
#18 - 9 (f/ Crooked I, El Dog, Spider Loc, 40 Glocc)
#19 - 8.5

John Austin -- Watts, CA
Check all my reviews

It's good to see that Ras Kass has the creative freedom to make the music that he's capable of. He is a true lyricist and matches himself well with his guests like Crooked I (who is also very slept on by the mainstream. Thanks Suge Knight!) Ras Kass might be the lyrical savior for hip hop for this year. His lyrics are conscious of the problems of the streets. He can be received by intelligent fans as well as those that only appreciate beats over rhymes. Much respect to Ras for beating his leagal battles.

Fresh out of jail... Ras Kass came back with amo in his lyrical skills... The Beats are hot.... The guess appearance are great... Doing all this on a mix tape....Can't wait for his new Album in 2006... He's aiming for a classic... East Coast go cop this album ya gon' realize who's the king of the west coast

my favorite mc of all time. lyrically its still on point, maybe not as deep as some of his past work, but better then 99% of the crap out there today. anyone that appeciates true skills needs to get this cd.

The Best Rapper Alive is Back and he kills this CD. Every track he is bringing us that raw flavor. You got to get this CD.

I dont know what to say, it have all been said below me.. but Ras Kass created a very creative album this time, the lyrics are on top, he always been one of my favourite lyricists of all times.. he shows alot of sides on this album, i asume he had alot on his heart since being in jail for a while.

anyways, good to have him back in the game.. 4,5/5 ..... since u can't give that.. 5/5

This was a solid effort by ras kass yet again. Ras is by far one of the top mc's in the world and gives us another good effort, recording it right after doing a few years in jail. The album is definatley heavily influenced by his stay in prison, and he delivers it quite well. My favorites were Shine, Write Where I Left Off, and Air'em Out. He has a few tracks with the likes of G-Unit who in my opinion should be bowing down to ras kass and end up screwing up already forgetable songs. The ones with spider loc and young buck are wack and they have no business being on the same track as ras kass. The production lacks (probably because it was rushed out) but his lyrcism saves the day. I would buy his first album Soul on Ice and Rasassination there better than this, but this is till great despite a few forgetable tracks and some funny yet useless dave chapelle skits.

it's good to see Ras home, I hope he can stay out of trouble and deliver more album. He's criminally underrated, this isn't his best album. I can safely say it nowhere near touches Soul On Ice, but, that album came out ages ago. It's a new day, and for 2005 standards Ras is KILLING IT still! The beats are lovely, the personal tracks are a refreshing change. Welcome Home & Unconditional Love are really mellow and show a more sensitive side of Ras. Mystic sounds especially buttery singing on the latter, makes me wonder where the hell she's been hiding. Sensitive songs aside, Ras still spits pure fire. These songs may not be his best work, but lyrically he is still top 5, I don't care what anyone says. There are too many sick lines to even try and quote them. If you know Ras you don't need any samples to understand, and if you're a new jack. Ras is a legend and you need to cop this album.

Ok ras kass has gone through jumpy times, his debut was an underground classic. The first album "soul on ice" was lyrically elite and the atmosphere created was tremendous. But was critised for racist songs such as nature of the threat. The album is ras kass's most famous and most talked about.But commercialy it faultered.

After soul on ice 1996 it was dre influenced rassasination in 1998.Fnas wanted an album like soul on ice , but the label wanted a commercial ja rule last temptation type of album ...which was not in ras's mind[thank god]. But we had a nature of the threat lyrical elite track which was interview with the vampire.Ghetto fab was released and so was it is what it is. But not a very successful album , both underground and commercial.

Ok ras had major problems with his labels at this point, they wouldnt release van gough 3rd album, and that later changed to golden chyld also never released . These album are available on the net. So bad times for ras.

Then ras goes to prison and 2005 straight after release , he makes institutionalized , independantly after capital and priority label.

And it sees the light of day . The reult is great , you have one great album . By one of the most elite mcs in the game.
Great tracks on the album , if you find it , then buy it.
soul on ice is out of print aswell.

Your favorite rapper is a Ras Kass Fan...!!! Need I say more... lol If anyone know how I can cop that Van gough now Golden Child... let me know...