React [Explicit Lyrics]

Erick Sermon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: J-Records
• ASIN: B000071OX6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,894 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. Here I Iz

3. We Don't Care (Dirty Version) (featuring Free)

4. Party Right

5. React (Album Version) (Dirty Version) (featuring Redman)

6. Skit I (Dirty Version)

7. To Tha Girlz (Dirty Version)

8. Love Iz

9. Go Wit Me

10. Skit II

11. Hold Up Dub (Dirty Version) (featuring Keith Murray)

12. Tell Me (Dirty Version) (featuring MC Lyte & Rah Digga)

13. Skit III

14. S.O.D. (Dirty Version) (featuring Sy Scott, Icarus & Red Cafe)

15. Hip Hop Radio

16. Skit IV (Dirty Version)

17. Don't Give Up (Dirty Version) (featuring Lyric)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of hip-hop's unsung heroes returns to form, January 12, 2003

By 

Karl (Lansing, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: React (Audio CD)

One of hip-hop's unsung masterpieces is surely Erick Sermon's second solo release from '95, 'Double Or Nothing' on which his deep skunk-funk production attained ultimate heights and the extended Def Squad family (Redman, Keith Murray etc.) defined a sound that was to dominate their output for the remainder of the decade. Before this, of course, as one-half of EPMD, Erick drew up the blueprint for the laid-back P-Funk sampling sound that was to be so lucratively refined by Dre on the west coast.

Unfortunately, he was destined never to find that commercial formula that would, by rights, have seen Sermon immortalised on hip-hop's Mount Rushmore alongside Dre, the RZA, Premier and friends. After 'Double Or Nothing' and Redman's excellent 'Muddy Waters', he fell into something of a rut, turning out E-Funk-by-numbers, consistent but never quite spectacular. A hit came with the irresistible Marvin Gaye-sampling 'Music' but the ensuing album failed to deliver.

Now, with a hit from the Just Blaze-produced title-track, 'React' arrives in the nick of time to prove the doubters wrong. It is without doubt Sermon's best solo effort since 'Double Or Nothing' and certainly his best shot at the kind of historical impact as a solo artist that he enjoyed with EPMD. Part of the recipe appears to be his willingness to finally relinquish the production reigns, at least on a few tracks, which in turn seems to spur the in-house productions on to greater heights. It also throws up some fine beats from Just Blaze and Megahertz.

On the microphone, Sermon long ago perfected the art of simply flowing in his own monotone New York style, once memorably and accurately referred to as "cottonmouth". It's a flow that's the essence of the apparent effortlessness in all the greatest emcees. But its relaxed nature belies a nagging bitterness on Sermon's part when on tracks like 'Don't Give Up' he fixates on his struggle through the fickle whims of hip-hop fashion and record company favour. It's a shame that he can't just enjoy the success of this unshowy and refreshingly straightforward album. Overlong, of course, and tailing off towards the close, but a fine antidote from releases that feel they have to come pre-packaged with a gimmick to demand our attention.

Most people will buy this for 'React', hopefully some more will discover one of hip-hop's genuine 'slept on' stars and help him to ease that chip from his shoulder.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not that bad, January 25, 2003

By 

Fan o' Def Squad (Hartford CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: React (Audio CD)

This CD is not one of erick's best work, but its worth buying. It is an album with a lot of head bangers, but some of the songs are lacking that hard-core Erick Sermon flavor. also it sound like most of the songs were written in the summer of 2002, and the album was released in november, which might be the reason why this album is not the best work E has ever done, be cause he didnt spend a lot of time writting it.
but if you know what to buy for your hip hop collection this album should be on the top of your list. its worth the money

5.0 out of 5 stars Great buy, September 5, 2010

By 

MoLexxx - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: React (Audio CD)

Great buy, considering its hard to find Erick Sermon CD's in stores nowadays. Very happy with my purchase