Customer Reviews

R.A.W.

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In the year of 2000, most rappers could not come with good albums. But Daz Dillinger, one of the greatest all-around rap musicians, always seems to create classic album after classic album. R.A.W. is his second effort, though it isn't quite as good as his two previous efforts, it's an easy win for best album of the year. Daz's beats show they have become even better, along with his rapping which gets stronger with each album. R.A.W. was released on Daz's label, Dogg Pound Records. He originally recorded most of this album for Death Row Records, but financial problems with them led to Daz leaving them but taking the recordings for his own label. He even disses Death Row and his cousin Snoop Dogg on this album. Plus Kurupt, Mac-Shawn, Soopafly, Tray D, Lil' C-Style, Slip Capone, and others make nice guest appearances. One thing showing Daz matured here was that he did a lot more solo tracks, showing he could hold his own.

The album starts out with an interlude, but takes off with the classic Daz track "What You Talkin' Bout", which has his signature bumping bass beat, and Daz tears it up. "This Is Not Over Until We Say So" is a slower track, with a gangsta ballad feel to it. The keyboards are nice and Daz raps well as usual. "One-Nine-Nine-Nine" is a track that sounds like it was originally recorded for Death Row, it has a bumping beat perfect for the car, and Lil' C-Style joins Daz, both of them trading lines and making a great track. "Who's Knocking At My Door" is one of the album's best tracks, it has a beat reminiscent of "Let's Play House", and the Death Row feel to it, and door-knocking sound effects. Plus Daz puts in a great performance. "What It Is" is an amazing track, where Daz disses Death Row and his cousin Snoop Doggy Dogg. On this track, however, it's not a gangsta headbanger, or have any excessively violent lyrics (though Daz threatens Suge Knight a few times on the track). It's a nice, laid-back track, but a great beat, and Daz disses them nicely. "I'd Rather Lie To You" is a deep track as well, but Kurupt gets credited a guest appearance, and he only talks a little in the background. Daz takes on some extreme issues on this track, like affirmative action, gang life, and other ideas. "On The Grind" is my favorite track, it features Kurupt putting in a great appearance rapping with Daz and a nice laid-back beat, with a sort of late night feel, which is the best time to listen to it. "Your Girlfriend Part II" should've featured Kurupt, as he did the original, but the addition of Mac-Shawn and Soopafly is a lethal combination. The track is hilarious, though not as funny as the previous sex tracks from DPG, Soopafly's verse is a good laugh especially. "R.A.W." is also an amazing song, as Kurupt joins Daz. The beat has an Egyptian feel to it, and Kurupt and Daz rap together sounding great and reminding us again they are the best duo in rap. Kurupt disses DMX again on this track too. One of the lesser known tracks is "Moving Around", which has a great beat from Daz, and is bright and full of energy! Daz and Slip both rip up the mic, California Underground style! "You Ain't Knowing" is also a great West Coast track. Tray D joins Daz on an uncharacteristically dark sounding track, but it bumps, and both rap well on it. "Feels Good" is a potential single with Kurupt joining Daz again, this is actually a love song, but has great trumpets and a fast-paced beat, perfect for the radio. "My System", like the other reviewer said, has more bass than can be explained. Kurupt joins and raps with Daz for this track, and it's perfect for outside, the bass is amazing. "Backstabbers" as another nice track, featuring Tray D and English singer Marc Morrison. The beat has more soul than almost any other I've heard. They all put in a good performance and the beat has cool keyboards and the occaisional trumpet sounds.

Overall, this album is a classic. Everyone should support this album, because Daz is not selling well right now and needs the support. It bothers me he won't get much support because this is a release from an independant label, and because he won't get much promotion. Though this album isn't as good as Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back, it's almost as good. So I recommend it.

This is a great album. It is bangin from start to finish with Daz's amazing beats and tight rhymes. This album reminds me of the Dogg Pound days. This album has great guest appearances from who else but Kurupt and also Soopafly, Mac Shawn, Tray Deee, Big Pimpin and Mark Morrison. This album is how gangsta rap is supposed to sound, weve had a lot of wack albums out and people got confused as to what rap really is but this is for real. If you like Death Row rap, DPG rap, gangsta rap, any type of rap, or enjoy some good music with tight beats and ill lyrics than you need this album. It is a shame that Daz doesnt get the promotion that he deserves because if he did this album could easily go 5x platinum.

Daz, one of the rap's best rappers and producers is back with a new solo album. His last solo album was "Retaliation, Revenge and Get Back" (1998). After that he worked the "Chronic 2000" album, Kurupt's "Tha Streetz iz a mutha" and many other projects. Now he's off Death Row Records and he released "R.A.W." on his independent label DPG Records. And the truth is - the album is even better than his debut, which was also great! Daz's skills as a producer are unquestioned and his rapping is untouchable! He brings us Gangsta Rap on the highest level. The album is straight hardcore rap from the streets. No radio-friendly tracks on this album, just Daz putting it down with his hard-edged lyrics over his incrediby dope beats. Of course he's joined by other rappers such as Mac Shawn, Soopafly, Kurupt, Tray Dee and others. This is a West Coast album, I doubt it if an East Coast fan will feel it. A real rap fan will LOVE it, though from the beginning to the end. Daz is one of the most talented artists in the rap industry, period. Buy this LP and support Daz and his label. [Dogg Pound 4 Life...]

I love this album. Daz(half of Dogg Pound) delivers on the beats as usual. almost every track is bumping. Daz's rapping ability gets better every album he releases or is on. His rhyme schemes are better and you can tell. He still has his signature flow too. Daz is one of the best producer/rappers out.

My favorite songs are the narrative Super Gangs, which to me has one of the best beats on the album. Not Over til We Say So has a stellar beat, lyrics and chorus. One of those dark beats. Definitely one of the hardest songs on the album.

Who's Knoccin At My Door, like other reviewers said, is reminiscent of Lets Play House, and is definitely a return to the Death Row Days. "What it is" has a magnificent beat and some great lyrics and sounds like he takes a stab at his cousin Snoop on this one.

On Da Grind is just a classic song. It appeared on Kurupts Space Boogie Album and was the best song on that album. Well it is also the best song on this album too. I love it the only gripe is that it is too short and i have to rewind it too much. Your Girlfriend 2 is a nice follow up to the first one. RAW has a sorta emergency beat with DAZ and Kurupt rapping with urgency and passion. One of the best songs on the album.

My system is the best song I own to show off your system. It has bass undeniably even when you turn it on low it bumps and you can barely hear the words. Baccstabber is also a laid back sunny g funk style type of track and hits really well and is a great way to end the album.

Overall I would recommend this for sure. It has magnificent beats, ill lyrics and vibes and tight choruses. I like this one more than his first one to be honest. Pick it up Now!

HOW come noone has ever heard of this cat. Daz is tight! This is probably the best cd of 2000 easily. Every song on this album is worth listening to. The song What cha talkin bout is a classic song straight from the streets. One-Nine-99 is tight feat Lil c-style and Bigg pimpin. Whos knockin at my door is one of the albums tightest tracks. It sounds like Lets play house from the dogg pound. When ya lease exsepected is one of my favorite tracks. What is it is a song about dissen death row. Your girlfriend II is a really tight song. It is hilarious. It is not as good as Your Girlfriend with Kurupt but this song still is tight. R.A.W is an amazing track with Kurupt. Itz all about the money is a tight song about a robbery in the hood. Movin Around is a tight song with Slip Copone. U aint know'n with tray deee is you guessed it is hot. What could you expect a song feat Tray Deee. My system is the best song to blast in your car. There is enough bass in this song to give you a headache in about one minute. All the rest of the tracks are decent. There is no way if you like west-coast rap that you want love this cd. If you dont have this album go get it right away.

When you first look at this cd it looks like a low budget (...) cd. Don't let the case and leaflet inside fool you! This cd has some of the tightest beats I've heard from Daz in a while. His style has definitly matured from the old Death Row days, and he is just bangin' like off the hook! Once you skip the first two songs, and get into track three the cd just takes off. My favorite songs are #6 Knoccin at my door, #8 What it Iz, #10 On tha Grind, #13 R.A.W., #16 You aint knowin, and #18 Feels good. I do admit that #17 is pretty sorry and is the worst part of the cd. Beside that the cd is tight as (...) and if you a west coast gangsta fan or want to check out that West Coast/Long Beach/ Gangsta Boogie flava, get this cd!

One of the best CDs I ever bought. I'll admit track 17 is just sorry, but all the others are tight as hell. Daz raps with skill that no one can beat, and his production is as good as Dre, if not better. If you liked Kurupt's Tha Streetz iz a Mutha, then buy this CD.

If you're a fan of that underground west coast sound, y'all should check out the second solo album from one half of Tha Dogg Pound.

It may not be surprising, but after recently getting Tha Dogg Pound 2002, Space Boogie and DPG Dillinger and Young Gotti, this album was initially a big let down. I aleady had several of the best tracks from this album on the those albums listed. It is true that R.A.W. was out before any of those three, so it is totally unfair to accuse this album of stealing tracks. Highlights include a blues song by Latoiya Williams that sounds too good to be on a gangsta rap CD. She is one of the best singers I have heard and can't wait for her solo album. Hopefully Daz will produce more songs for Latoiya as he is one of the best producers around. Most of the songs on this album are pretty good, but U Aint Knowin with Tray Deee, Id rather lie 2 ya and What it iz really stand out, as well as those songs featured on other albums. I expected Daz to have more guest rappers but he doesn't need any. His rapping and production carry this album from start to finish.

This album not only should be bumped in your trunks but non stop radio play all day. It is one of his best works overall yet, DPG is all about what we is on the west. They define the meaning of ganstaology. The O'ver C'R is non stop when it comes to making hits it's to bad him and Dre can't get some money issues straight or else they would be unstopable in this rap game. This is just an upgrade of what he has shown what he can do producing from his early days on murder was the case sdtrk, gang related, doggystyle, dogg food, his and kurupt's cd's the best songs are by produced by him.