Customer Reviews

Poison Pen

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Chino XL is a beast on the mic. I was kind of worried that maybe this album would have Chino trying to get into the mainstream with some cheesy songs.... Nope. Chino XL returned back to his underground roots and dropped probably the best album to come out since Canibus's "Rip the Jacker". The tracks/beats are dope and original. Chino stepped up his already untouchable lyrics and ripped it. I did not skip a track. I can honestly say that this CD will be heralded as a classic. There is no way you will not love this cd if you purchase it. The special guests are very suprising. Killah Priest did his thing and held his own...but the suprise was Proof of D12...I did not know that he could rap like that. much props. buy this album. or hate yourself later for not buying it.

I read a review that said Chino Xl is too much like Eminem and he took his style? Eminem jacked chino's style and used it for himself there is no one out there with a style like Xl, once he signs to a major label, hes gonna rule the rap game

"Nelly dissing KRS-One, we got to stop him". There's no album this year that will compare to Poison Pen. Chino XL is one of the best lyricist alive. This is a definite banga. You won't be disappointed.

Chino XL is one of the most underrated MCs in the game. His debut album, Here To Save You All is one of the most slept-on albums in 1996. His style is sick and his punchlines are just as hilarious as they are sharp. And let's not even talk about the MC out of Detroit who bit his whole style(Hi, My Name Is...). I never heard his second release but I was able to hear this album and decided to write this review. At first and second listen, Chino's flow is still as potent as it was in 96. Poison Pen begins this album. Chino flows well over a slow and eerie beat. Even If It Kills Me, Messiah and Wordsmith are hip hop gems by themselves. Killah Priest shows up on the dynamite collabo Beastin. Beatnuts show up on the dope Dont Fail Me Now. Proof Of D12(RIP) rips Our Time right along with Chino XL. Skin is pretty deep. It consists of Chino having a conversation with a psychiatrist about his life. Cant Change Me is Chino explaining his problems with his ex. Talk To You is nice and I'm feeling Chino's rhymes over that nice beat. There is one song I'm not too fond of and that's B-Boy Gangsta. Chino's rhymes on the track was tight but the beat is boring and the hook is questionable. Bottom Line: Chino XL's Poison Pen is one of the best hip hop releases of 2005. Chino flows well from track to track, the guest appearances were hot and the production(with one exception) was tight. It's unfortunate that this album will get slept-on like his other albums. Dont sleep on this one, people. Standout Tracks: POISON PEN, EVEN IF IT KILLS ME, MESSIAH, WORDSMITH, BEASTIN, SKIN, OUR TIME, TALK TO YOU, and CANT CHANGE ME.

fivestars!!! your favorite gangsta tough guy rappers are b****es to him!

It's been 4 and a half years since we got to listen to Chino's 'I Told You So' and for Chino's fans this album is well over due. We've missed the Lyrical Fire that Chino Spits over tight beats, which can leave you mesmerized after the track ends, and leaves you wanting more. Well finally we get to hear "Poison Pen" which doesn't leave fans disappointed. The version I have is 14 tracks long and doesn't leave you skipping any tracks, The CD is mixed by The Beat Junkies Mr. Choc and interspersed with his own narrative, it is brilliant from start to end.

The album is basically a mixture of some tracks over the past few years, this album was originally meant to be released in 2003, but some label problems and other problems forced it to be pushed back and Chino decided it was too good to just throw away so he decided to Release it (Jan 2006) before he moves onto a larger project with Sway

Chino is one of the hottest lyricists ever. It's a shame that the major labels run in fear of him. Here To Save You All and I Told You So were incredible. Hopefully songs like Lyrical Jesus will appear on Poison Pen. Chino will change the game with this new CD and akk if the waiting will be worth it!

I was very excited to hear that CHINO XL is still deliverin the ill punchlines he's famous for. I thought the production was great on this however, I liked the beats on the others as well. He seems to have matured on the lyrical content and once again fans will be pleased with the flavor he kicks throughout the length of the LP. A+

This album really caught me off guard i have to say. After hearing the progression "production-wise" from album 1 to 2 i was interested to see which way Chino would go 3rd time out. For the most part i think he chose right but there's afew tracks that i just struggle to get into. Im not sure whether its because the beats are so slow or that because the rhymes on some of the tracks were so personal this time that i wasnt used to that side of Chino. Now personally i think its important for an artist to grow+i think thats exactly what Chino is doing by showing fans another, more mature side of him, im just used to him tearing tracks to shreads and prefer that from him. All that being said there are some truely magnificent moments here such as "Even If It Kills Me", "Messiah", "Beastin", "Don't Fail Me Now", "Our Time", "B-Boy/Gangsta (my favourite), "What You Lookin' At" and "All I Wanna Do". The perfect, if somewhat different, 3rd installment of Chino's repetoire.

I had never actually cared for Chino Xl in the past. I actually had never heard a single song from him. But after i bought this album i must say for i underestimated him big time. Man Chino can spit some game. Unlike most overrated rappers today like T.I., Young Jeezy, The Game. They can't even compare to Chino not even reach his heels in Lyrically. HE is the King of Methaphors. Actually Chino XL would need his own Cadegory he is more than rap today. I can't really describe him But i heard other rappers like Cannibus and Big L but theres something about Chino. Also he seems to recognize the real putting on some good guest apearances. Including Killah Priest (Which i actually never heard of...), Beatnutz, and the recently departed Proof(R.I.P. homie). I actually couldn't concentrate while i was putting one of his tracks for the fact that his lyrics where so powerful to the point i was i let the phone ring because i was listening to his music. I actually hadn't never bought or heard non of his past work but i will surely look into it.