Mental Releases

Grits | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 1995)
• Label: Gotee Records
• ASIN: B0000031BW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,766 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Cataclysmic Circles

2. Weigh a Buck 50

3. Set Ya Mind

4. 10-A-Cee

5. Universal and Worldwide

6. Gettin' Ready

7. Screen Door

8. Jazz

9. Temptations

10. Kickin' Mo Rhymes

11. Get the Picture

12. Forgive Me

13. Why Battle Me

14. Everybody Wants On

15. The Outro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Genesis, April 4, 2003

By 

Omagus (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mental Releases (Audio CD)

This is Grits' debut album, and if you ask me, of all their albums it's the most indicative of what Bone and Cof would sound like if left to their own devices. The next album, FACTORS OF THE 7 is more of an east coast sound, while their last two albums have been more geared at drawing in a larger audience.

This album was released in early 1995, meaning that most of the material was written in 1994, arguably the greatest year in hip hop history. That was the year that ILLMATIC and SOUTHERNPLAYISTICADILLACMUZIK showcased the debuts of Nas and OutKast, respectively. This was still a time when hip hop albums were being created to say something, and not just to move units. Unfortuantely, this was also right around the end of the time that such albums could still sell. Not too long after this 2Pac and B.I.G. were killed and Pee Diddy rose to prominence. And you see what we have now.

MENTAL RELEASES fits right into the times. I see a lot of new fans who are all over Grits' new albums but no one pays attention to the one that started it all. At this time, Bone and Coffee had no reputation to help or to hurt and they collaborated with Otto, Ric Robbins (in his pre-DJ Form days) and Todd Collins (one of the most maddening producers around...one album sounds like a masterpieces, the next is horrible) to form a hip hop album based deeply in the jazz sound that preceded it.

While they've toyed around with their sound to remain relevent (and to feed their families) in terms of artistic credibility, I would have to say that MENTAL RELEASES is on par with the FACTORS album. And depending on how you like your hip hop, it may be their best album ever.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars this is really good stuff, May 26, 2006

By 

amtrax (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mental Releases (Audio CD)

I've recently discovered Grits and dig all their material. If you've only heard their post-2000 ("new school") CDs and are curious about their older material, I encourage you to buy this, with one caveat. Mental Releases was released in 1995, so it sounds more like A Tribe Called Quest, Lords of the Underground or early Common than Jay-Z and Eminem, therefore, Mental Releases might appeal more to fans of "old school" hip hop.

If there are any old-schoolers who haven't heard of Grits, buy it ... it's worth it. Grits is among the best hip hop groups, Christian or otherwise.

3.0 out of 5 stars Strange stuff, October 11, 2007

By 

Arthur J. Sluka "Gospel Rap Aficionado" (Tipton, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mental Releases (MP3 Download)

This is a very oddball album, but then again, which of Grits early offerings wasn't =]

It doesn't sound much like their later offerings, with most of the tracks seem to really pay homage to the jazz roots of hip-hop (one of songs is directly about this). The rapping style is a little more old-school than any of their other offerings...different, but solid. Any big Grits fan should enjoy this trip back in time.