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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sun-splashed Bay Area rap classic! E-40 got style!, September 7, 2001
After dropping two underground albums, E-40 came out with In A Major Way, which is an instant classic. E-40 is from Vallejo, and after dropping this album he proved he had everything it took to be the next West Coast rap star. His crazy, comical, hip style is a pleasure to listen to. Also, the beats on this album are some of the best I've heard in a while. They have a richness to them, which is real good. Production comes from very accomplished producers like Sam Bostic and Mike Mosely, Studio Tone (who produced some tracks for Kurupt), Funk Daddy, and a few others. Also, E-40 raps extremely fast on some tracks, and it took me a couple listens to get it when I first started listening to him a long time ago. However, after a listen, everything sounds clear as a bell! He's also got an amazing guest list: Tupac, Suga T, Mac Mall, Spice 1, B-Legit, Mac-Shawn, and Celly Cel to name a few. But most of the tracks have E-40 going solo, which is good too, because it's good to see he's not just relying on others to guest on his album. Overall the tracks sound "Hipper than a hippopotamous".The album starts off with this introduction over a slower beat, but then moves into the crazy funked out "The Bumble". E-40 rips this track to shreds, and the beat is bananas! Definitely one of the most original beats I've heard in a while. "Sideways" also has a tight bouncy beat, and E-40 and B-Legit trade lines on it with class. Mac-Shawn does the chorus, clever lyricism on here too. "Spittin'" has a heavy, sunny funk beat. E-40 comes with a real nice intro at the beginning, but sounds nice throughout. "Sprinkle Me" is a classic single, with a fun, sunny beat and Suga T (E-40's sister) guests on it. They make a nice sibling team. Sprinkle me mayne! "Dusted And Disgusted" like everyone else says, is a CLASSIC posse cut. It features Tupac, Spice 1 and Mac Mall. The way the beat changes is so dope. E-40 holds his own against three other great emcees. Part of the beat is a nice, laid-back one, and the other is a rough gangsta beat. "One Love" is a nice light-hearted track where 40 gets personal. Great line: "This ain't no happy Shirley Temple talleistic crap/This here is serious, more realistic than radio-shack". Actually sounds like it could've been a huge hit even today. "Smoke And Drink" has more of a Zapp sound to it. E-40 raps really fast on it, but nicely, and the beat has this cool groove to it, and I love the refrain! "They Ain't Know" is a slower song about street life and gettin' money. The lyrics are worth listening to. "Fed" has a GREAT bouncing bass beat, and E-40 rips it, the tune sounds kind of familiar from something else, it's catchy. "H-i-Double-L" is a classic ode to Vallejo featuring B-Legit and Celly Cel who both tear it up along with 40. The beat is nice and sounds like the kind of thing for the car. "Bootsee" is a tight funky track about a busta named "Bootsee". I'm sure you're familiar with someone in real life who fakes and claims to be tough when they're really just fakin' it. "It's All Bad" is a darker track where 40 speaks on various subjects in life. He knows the game well. Overall if you like Bay Area rap, you probably have this, but if you don't try it. E-40 tears it up everytime he's on the mic on this record, and the beats are amazing.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
E-40's Quintessential Masterpiece - A Bay Area CLASSIC!, July 11, 2007
E-40 was a long-time veteran in the rap game when his seminal album "In a Major Way" was released in 1995. It's really the album that got E-40 noticed by a mainstream audience, and pushed Jive to ultimately stuff more money into his forthcoming albums (the next being "Hall Of Game" [1996]). This album rides the line between independent and mainstream lines ridiculously well. As far as rapping goes, E-40 is at the very top of his game, boasting his slang-filled flow with a cunning wit, that is arguably in peak form. Most notably, some of the best west coast rappers came to support Forty's untouchable style - 2Pac, Mac Mall & Spice 1 - who all perform flawlessly on the classic posse track "Dusted 'n' Disgusted".
"Da Bumble" kicks off the album right after a solid intro. From this point on, we catch a glimpse of what the production will sound like throughout, although minimal, it bangs nicely. The production is mainly kept in-house, and is handled by Mike Mosley, Studio Ton & Funk Daddy among others. There are some stellar tracks here! "Sideways" featuring The Click's B-Legit & Mac Shawn is probably my favorite. The beat is tight, and is one of my favorite appearances from B-Legit. "Spittin'" is also one of my favorites. The album's front half burns brightly with bangers like these...it almost feels front-loaded with the goods, but truly boasts quality through and through. Then comes perhaps E-40's greatest single - "Sprinkle Me". The Click's Suga-T performs immaculately alongside Forty Water. The beat is tight and the lyrics are true to form. Other standouts are the aforementioned "Dusted 'n' Disgusted", and the breakthrough single "1-Luv". The quality of album tracks in the mix leaves the album free of filler.
Consistent quality has always been part of E-40's repertoire. Consistently enjoyable full albums are another thing. "In a Major Way" is definitely his most consistent effort to date. Although the beat-makers will prove to hit harder on later albums, there has never been a set of beats/collaborators that E-40 has worked better with. This is one of the albums that defines the Bay Area in the rap world.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
something i can pop my collar to, March 27, 2000
E-40 is a true genius. This album hit all the right spots in the "hood".I can't honestley say this is his best album bto me All his albums was Good but this is the one.
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