Customer Reviews

In the Ruff

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

 

 

I bought this album a couple weeks ago and am blown away by it. Oddisee's beats are amazing, his sample selection and sequencing are superb. The emcees, X.O. and yU, sound perfect over the beats. They have dope styles and lyrics. I encourage everyone to cop it, I guarantee you will like it if you enjoy quality hip hop that knocks with lyrics that resonate. This is my new favorite album of the year, just a bit above Tanya Morgan- Brooklynati. DC represent!

This album is solid. Oddisee production is on point. Lyrics are good as well. If you are looking to hear some new and fresh music definitely check out this album. There are definitely some tracks that can go on loop for a good 2 months.

i was listening to this album last night and i got so bothered by the lyricism that it prompted me to write this review. i would love it if these beats could be given to a decent MC. oddisee is the best of the three, and he does the production; it doesn't even make sense that the other two guys just rap, because they're terrible at it. oddisee needs to find a new group. DC rappers can't all be as bad as these guys.

with that said, the production on this album is really, really good. "oddisee" should be a household name.

Dope dope dope --- for fans of the 90's boom bap era -- dope beats / dope lyrics. One of the best joints of this year for sure...

Disclaimer*
There is a difference between rap and hip hop. It is crucial to understand this to appreciate the two genres. Rap has its purpose but its not hip hop even though mainstream media likes to classify them as the same. Sometimes there is a mesh of the two i.e.( Talib Kweli and Bun B on Talib's album Eardrum). For ex. Lil Wayne is not hip hop even though I like some of his stuff we need to separate the two. Hip hop music is made for people on the street and is made to be timeless. Rap is made like a factory product. Its makes music for the moment and stays relevant for a short time most of the time. Once again, I like some rap but hip hop is where its at for me, has more substance and speaks to my soul. Listen to Mos Def, Talib, Common, Little Brother, Slum Village, Skyzoo,Raekwon, Ghostface, Nas etc. to understand what hip hop is. You will hear a distinct difference in the music and message from the likes of Lil Wayne, Lil Boosie, Drake, Young Money, etc. Rap plays up stereotypes, Hip Hop critiques those stereotypes.

Have to agree with all the reviews. Beats are nicer than 9th wonders (even though it is hard for me to say that). He is the most under rated producer / mc in the game. Oddisee is the most versatile mc/producer to date. Kanye West is nice but this guy is out shining him now ( Kanye needs to stick to making dope albums and stop slapping up camera men or throwing tantrums). I also love the flow of the album and the themes. The interlude beat that everyone raps on throughout the album is nice. The most slept on album of 2009 and 2010 will be exactly what the album title expresses, this exactly is a diamond "In the Ruff"

This is one of those albums you can play all the way through over and over again and not get tired of. Dope beats, samples, lyrics, everything. Real Hip Hop. Why can't the radio play music like this? Diamond in the Ruff indeed.