Original

Sarai | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 29, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B00009ZYBM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,273 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sarai killing the Critics about white females rapping, August 11, 2003

By 

Jennifer (San Jose, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Original (Audio CD)

When i first heard about sarai i was like aiight lets see if you she could hold her own, and without a doubt she did just that, when you look at her and then listen to her rap, your just left in a daze. "The Original" is a great way to showcase just how well sarai can shut down all those types that say "shes white she cant rap" The CD starts off with a nice hit called "I know" which is a good song about how she looks shouldn't matter how well she can rap, and thus with the first line "im a bout to shock the world" and she did just that. Next is "Mind Ya Business" then the hit "Ladies" with is a nice summer song for us ladies. "What Mama Told me", and "It's not a fairytale" shows just how her stuggle was in life. "Pack Ya Bags" is a hit for us females that wanna get that cheating man outta our lifes. "Swear" is by far my fav. cause i can relate to it so much and it show ms. Sarai Singing a little. "you could never", and "L.I.F.E", which are two nice songs, but not a hit. "Its Offical" is nothing but a hit, cause this is her song about how she made it in the bussiness, and this song really showcase how well/fast sarai can rap. The next song gets you thinking BIG time its called "Mary Anna" its about a young person not fitting in whith their peers and having parents that hurt/beat them, and at the end kills themself. this song got he in a daze for a while after listening to it. "Black & White" is a good end to a great CD cause its shows the lines of Black & white and how it shouldn't matter, when some one has skills like Sarai. If you like Rap and wanna her someone that comes with raps like you never heard get "The Original" by Sarai you will not be disappointed

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sarai -- The Original, August 9, 2003

By 

"d_aro" (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Original (Audio CD)

Sarai Howard who has been dubbed - the female version of Eminem "Feminem". Proves she is no Eminem and intends to keep it that way. She's the first white female-rapper represented by a major record label.

Her debut album "The Original" released under Epic Records is a soft-core, hip-hop, dance album. From the very hip-hop/pop "Ladies". To a very guitar-flavored track titled "Mary Anne" about child abuse. To a very fire-flowing "It's Official" which proves that you don't have to be a certain color to through-out some hard-core rhymes.

Unlike other female-rapper predecessor before her (ie. Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, Charli Baltimore, Missy E) Sarai proves she can be original. Instead of lyrics about sex and money. Sarai writes about things that she sees. "You can't limit yourself to your own life story. Sometimes you have to put yourself in an-other person's place and think, how would she feel about this?" she says.

Is the world ready for a white-female rapper? Only time will tell. This albums will leave you wanting more. -- SaraiFans.com

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HATAZ READ THIS! I GOT QUESTIONZ 4 YALL..., January 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Original (Audio CD)

How many of deez hataz that are NOT saying nice things about Sarai, have a CD out on the record store shelves let alone a song that is tearin it up across the country? Thats what I thought... Who cares what color she is & since when was rap or any kind of music a black or white issue?

White female rappers don't have an exactly stellar track record in hip-hop music and culture. Remember Icy Blu? Or Tairrie B? Perhaps you are a fan of Princess Superstar, one of the few to gain a modicum of credibility, or you remember the pioneering old school rap of Debbie Harry on "Rapture." Still it's funny that when I Google searched the phrase "white female rappers" to refresh my own memory about this hip-hop minority, the phrase "Trivial Pursuit" kept coming up in every article - perhaps rightly so. Trying to name half-a-dozen of these rare MC's might stump even Ego Trip's vaunted "Book of Rap Lists."

Sarai hasn't been intimidated by these long odds, and she's worked her way up from unknown to nationally recognized artist with the release of "The Original." Looking at the strawberry blonde's piercing gaze staring out from the cover, one might think first of Shania Twain or Celine Dion; but when hearing the lead single "Ladies" you'll change that perception quickly. Produced by Ali Dee, the track has a horny horn Slip-N-Slide feel that gives white girl a distinctly Trina sound.

Sarai's got the lyrics, the flow, and the personality to connect with her audience. Among the already rarified air of female MC's, this places her at Mt. Everest like heights. And while her album is not blessed by names like Just Blaze and Kanye West, she does get some help from Scott Storch on the "I Know," the Dr. Dre like song "You Could Never," the sultry "L.I.F.E." featuring Jaguar Wright, and the hardcore "Black & White" where she challenges all her critics. Even if you don't recognize names like LJ 'Chocolate Starr' Sutton and Brandon 'B-Stylz' McKinney, they do a fine job on songs like the triple time style "It's Official" and the heartfelt reminiscing of "Mary Anne" featuring Black Coffey.

What's the bottom line on Sarai? Two things sum up this album: appearances can be and often ARE deceiving, and the perception of white female rappers automatically being whack should now be shut down for GOOD. Sarai's album arrived on store shelves quietly, but it makes a loud statement when listened to. You may not be ready for Sarai, but she's ready for the rap world and wins by not being intimidated by the challenge of getting over - she just intimidates it right back.