Customer Reviews

Rbg: Revolutionary But Gangsta

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Social (and, in some ideological fashions, extreme socialist) statements are something I appreciate when it comes to music, and something I consume and keep consuming because I figure it encourages people to express their angst with the way things are and to demand change. In a way it's a form of social rebel, giving money to promote a message of "each one, teach one," and what could be better than spitting in the face of the mainstream media and saying that they can keep the doggy treats they call music to themselves? That's why I still buy specific types of rap despite the lull it's had in creativity, and its one of the reasons I keep consuming Dead Prez.

With Let's Get Free, Dead Prez expressed the situational violence that's promoted by judicial blindness and economic disparity, and their later releases they've continued to spit in the face of "the system." That makes them something interesting in the "rap game," and one that doesn't suffer from all the archetypal degeneration that constantly pulls rap down and makes it a beast without a pulse. I like the fact that its rather violent in the structure of its themes, saying that it won't promote a flag that enslaved its people, and that it has a point to becoming a "soldier." I like the talks about the social imperatives birthed by not having money, what working for minimum wage is and how being a number on a W-4 form and spending your life in someone's uniform is slavery redefined, and how society needs to be refashioned. The methods prescribed are hard, too, and a type of radical self-expression that tries to call attention to the things this type of system can breed. "If you'll gonna ball, play the game like it should be played. Can you dribble a grenade to save your life? Then you'll never be free." That's extreme remodeling of an oppressive machine, to be sure, and one that says that freedom is severely lacking.

I have to note that this album is an acquired taste and isn't as easily accessible as Let's Get Free was, but it still has something to say. The message herein is more radical than earlier ones that were promoted, and I have to say that I like that trend. Songs like "D.O.W.N" and "Hell Yeah (Pimp the System)" got me right off the bat, with messages about making money by using any system available and spitting in the face of the same system that promoted slavery. Its rare to find such blatant messages talking about ripping the system with theft and violence that isn't citizen-on-citizen, but that's a lot of the theme herein. And I like what "W-4" had to say on institutional organization, "Walk Like a Warrior" because it spoke bluntly about what change really means, and "I Have a Dream, Too" because of its message about the police and how the tables can be turned really quickly if rights continue to be trotted upon.

I honestly hope the words in works like these aren't wasted within the "bumpin," and that people actually listen to what's being said because the message is a powerful one. It says that society can be horror depending on where you live in the social strata, and that we own and aren't owned.
Know yourself and know your enemy.

I've read all the reviews and I can relate to everything that has been said. When I first bought the CD, I was so excited to hear it because, like every other DP fan, I had obviously been waiting for it to drop. I was disappointed at first because it wasn't on the same level as Let's Get Free and even Get Free or Die Trying. I let it sit for about a month and a half and came back for it. This time, I was ready and this CD really touched me. I find this to be a beautiful release. It had to grow on me, but when it did, I was near tears listening to it. I got the privilege of seeing them on Memorial Day and the concert was too live!! They explained the difference in the content of this CD from their previous albums. They were trying to reach a different crowd, not just the "conscious" hip hop crowd, but the rest of the hood like the "gangbangers" and those who would not normally be educated on the political issues of today. They wanted those people who may not naturally be drawn to buy a DP album to try something new. This CD wasn't necessarily for those who already know what's, but for those in desperate need of having their eyes opened. Please try this album again with a more open mind. I know the songs are short and that it is censored, but try to see what they are trying to achieve through this album. Love.

I love this album. It definitely makes me think about the state of our nation and what we might need to do if the situation doesn't improve. I recommend this album only to those who are willing to hear the harshness of the truth and who are willing to truly hear the music and not take everything they say at face value.

Dead Prez released their 2nd Full length album earlier this year entitled RBG (Red Black & Green), and to me it's just as good as Let's Get Free. On here it's a lot of crying about how it's different from Let's Get Free but fail to understand that that album was released 4 or 5 years ago. Of course they have changed. But anyway this album bumps well. The lyrics are on point and the production is RBG. Walk Like A Warrior feat. Erykah Badu & Krayzie Bone is a straight up classic, a song about having to hold your own in the streets and not being afraid to die for what you believe in. Standing your ground on your beliefs. I Have a Dream Too, a song about overthrowing the crooked police departments and stopping Police Brutalilty. DOWN is a song about being loyal to whoever you love whether it be a friend, family member, wife etc. Giving ya folk ya last dollars so they can eat, sacrificing your health to help them is DOWN. W-4 is in my opinion the best song on the album. No matter who you are you have experienced filling out that application, having to go to work at a bs job and not getting the proper pay, or getting destroyed by taxes being taken outta that check. You already know what it is. Nearly every song is top caliber. 50 In The Clip is a song about getting strong enough to survive the revolution...just like the army...ain't no weaklings around in body, heart, or soul...whoever has the biggest guns wins the war. And that's The Truth. Don't Forget Where U Goin is an inspirational track to the youngsters. Twenty is a story about how a twenty sack gets into the USA and compares being sold as a slave with being sold as a twenty sack. IT's actually pretty interesting. Overall this a pretty great album. If you don't understand this album then you aren't yet ready for the revolution. 4.5 stars.

I saw DPZ in September at Harvard University and they were bangin. They a capella'd verses from their forthcoming album and I was stoked. But in truth, I've been perplexed by recent releases. The rundown:

Let's Get Free: dynamite, straight up hiphop with mild rock/soul influences.
Turn off the Radio: this was a fun mixtape release, had some dope beats and foreshadowed their RBG phase.
Get Free or Die Trying: Even for a mixtape, this was seriously lacking. Hardly any straight up hip hop, lots of really wack beats.

And that's what RBG: The Album is. Lacking. This album has been awaited since their debut in 2000. Checking their website periodically, I learned that their "new album" would have a plethora of guests, such as Eryka Badu. Where the hell is she on this album? My point is, this LP sounds like it was rushed, perhaps by DPZ or perhaps by their label. "Hell Yeah" appears three times, each time being virutally identical to the last, and "Radio Freq" is the exact same song that appeared on "Turn off the Radio"

This is pretty much just a gangster rap album that takes advantage of DPZ's political past to justify its gangsterness. While "Let's Get Free" was all about political theory, RBG is very primitive in its content and delivery. RBG is written everywhere, and its meaning is butchered by putting all sorts of acronyms in the liner notes (RAPPERS BE GASSED, REAL BIG GUNS). Way to make the revolutionary ideas a big corporate novelty.

I don't know where they're going. I am still down with DPZ but I think a lot of factors made this record weak. It's still a "3 star" record but I was expecting something fantastic.

This band just flats out blows my mind with everything that they do. They truly make me proud to be a black man. This album is very simple but great!

For an album that supposedly took so long (since Turn Off the Radio and Get Free or Die Trying weren't real studio albums), this album is a little lacking. Definatly some quality stuff here, but doesn't measure up to Let's Get Free. Not sure why they switched from the mesmerizing, layered production style of Let's Get Free to the current club banging, heavy beat stuff they are doing on RBG; it doesn't seem have as great of an impact. Without a doubt still better then most everything out there, and still definitively DP, but not on the level of LGF.

1. Don't Forget Where U Came From - This is the intro to the album, no rapping but a description of what you're about to hear over a really nice beat. Just an intro I'm not gonna rank it.

2. Walk Like A Warrior (feat. Krayzie Bone) - This song is about being a modern day warrior and how to survive in the ghetto. The beat is dope, and Krayzie Bone brings that classic Bone Thugs vibe to the track. 5/5

3. I Have A Dream, Too - This song is about seeking revenge for all the people the police have killed in cold blood. Although I don't agree with shooting cops this is a good song with a good beat and some slick rhymes "Look at em run, too scared to pull they guns, outta shape from them coffees and them cinnimon buns". 4/5

4. D.O.W.N. - An ode to being down, I mean really being down no questions asked, if you're in you're in all the way "We gotta have a lotta discipline to win, and it comes from within not somethin you pretend homie". The beat is sick, and it has a really catchy hook. 4/5

5. Hell Yeah (Pimp the System) - The first of many times you'll hear this song on this album. This is a song about getting paid in some unordinary ways. Wheather it be from credit card scams or sticking up the pizza delivery boy these guys need to pay the rent "You know what this is, this is a stick-up gimmie the doe from ya pick-ups, you ran into the wrong n****". the beat is dope and the rhymes are really descriptive. 5/5

6. W-4 - A song about working your tail off and not having anything to show for it. They tell you about what they've been through to try to get a job, and how the government takes most of the money back anyway "Make a n**** wanna wild out, run up in the white house with the gage out, click-clack, gimmie my s*** back". This is probobly the most emotional song on the album. 5/5

7. Radio Freq - This song is about how the radio only plays played-out bling-bling garbage. This is one of the few songs I actually agree with, but the beat isn't that great, and the hook is kinda annoying. 3/5

8. F***ed Up - After a long night of drinking you feel like crap the next morning. That's what this song is about, how they stuggle with wanting to give up the alcohol, but it keeps callin their names "They say alcoholism is in my DNA, cause my pops like ta get f***ed up the same way". The beat is pretty nice, it's a good song. 4/5

9. 50 in the Clip - This is a song about doing push-ups. I was sorta confused the first time I heard it. Push-ups just isn't something I wanna here a song about, but they do a decent job with it. 3/5

10. Way of Life - The title pretty much says it all, all the things they deal with in their lives. However, this is probobly the most forgettable song on the album, it's really short and kinda boring. 2.5/5

11. Don't Forget Where U Goin' - For this track they bring back the beat that was in the intro, which I said was really nice. This time they do some rhyming though. Not really full out rapping, but kind of a singing rap it's tight though. 4/5

12. Hell Yeah (Pimp the System) (Remix feat. Jay-Z) - I told you this song would come back. the remix is the exact same thing as the original, except Jay-Z takes over the 3rd verse. Of cousre Jay rips the track, he raps about how he hustles his music into the suburbs and know all the middle class kids love rap "Little Joey got his do-rag on, drivin down the street blastin 2pac's song, But Billy like Snoop got his blue rag on, know before you know it you backin em". I should give this a lower ranking but it's Jay-Z so I gotta give this a 5/5

Now there are 7 blank tracks each of them about 4 seconds long.

20. They don't give you the name of this song but I'm pretty sure it's called "Twenty" (that's probobly why they made it track 20). This song is about how a dub sack gets to America. It's actually a really cool song with a dope beat, there's also a reggae verse at the end. 4/5

21. Another "Hell Yeah" remix, once again it's the same as the original, but this time there's a rock beat that's pretty cool. But I'm tired of these same raps by know. 3/5

This is the first Dead Prez album I got, everyone says their first album is 100 times better, but I think this one is really good. There are some flaws, but not every album can be a classic.

I coped this album back in 04 basically because "letsgetfree" was so dope. At the time, I was bumping this in my college dorm room and thought I was pretty damn cool because of it. Given that many moons have passed and a lot has changed in my outlook since then, I'd like to share my thoughts on an album that I listened quite a bit back in my younger days.

The good: the beats are still solid as I remember them...heavy, funky, and good as any other rap album to get you pumped. The flows of course, couldn't ride those beats any better.

The bad: the cartoonish lyrics that aren't so much socially aware this time around as they are both horrifying and laughable at the same time. When I was 18, anything that had a dope beat and a hot flow was enough get me on board. Now 24, and actually having to take responsibilities in life, I pay a lot more attention to what I put in my head. The lyrics promote murdering "the police", and include a really SILLY scheme for committing credit card fraud on Hell Yea, among other really STUPID crimes. They glorify their "gats" (made by the "white man"), while ironically banging out on the "white man" (as if the police are the true architects of the oppressive system they depict).

In short, this record is almost like a revolutionist parody that promotes misguided hate, dependency, and violence. It's essentially self-defeatist masturbation that leads no where and leaves you angry when its done.

If these lyrics are taken seriously, which I have a hard time believing anybody will, this album will then have successfully taken the civil rights movement, which REAL leaders such as MLK and Malcolm X struggled for, back a 1000+ years.

If you're looking for REAL conscious hip hop that actually expands your awareness on relevant issues and empowers you to educate yourself, check out artists like KRS One. Or if you want this album strictly for the instrumentals or you don't understand English and therefore can't get brainwashed by the silliest of all silly lyrics, then cop this CD like I embarrassingly did back in college.

Standout tracks: WALK LIKE A WARRIOR(excellent match up with Krayzie Bone), I HAVE A DREAM TOO, D.O.W.N., HELL YEAH(original, remix with Jay-z and rock and roll remix are all cool with me), W-4, RADIO FREQ and WAY OF LIFE. Filler: 20(WTF?), F***ed up and 50 in the clip(dope beat but a song about pushups?). Bottom Line: Dead Prez's sophomore effort is inferior to their first album(Lets Get Free)which now enjoys classic status. The songs have some good gems in them but it seems kind of incomplete. It almost feels like a rush job album. Im not saying you shouldnt buy this album. Im saying you should get Lets get free first and buy this one as a good companion piece.