Searching for Jerry Garcia

Proof | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 9, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Iron Fist Records
• ASIN: B000A2H6KK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,360,967 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Knice

2. Clap Wit Me (Prod. By Emile)

3. Biboa's Theme (Prod. By Nick Speed)

4. When God Calls...

5. Forgive Me Feat. 50 Cent (Prod. By Sick Notes)

6. Purple Gang (Prod. By B.R. Gunna)

7. Nat Morris

8. Gurls Wit Da Boom (Prod. By B.R. Gunna)

9. High Rollers Feat. B-Real & Method Man (Prod. By B-Real)

10. Rondell Beene

11. Pimplikeness Feat. D12 (Prod. By Fredwreck)

12. Ali feat. MC Breed (Prod. By Essman)

13. No. T. Lose Feat. King Gordy (Prod. By Jewels)

14. Jump B***ch (Prod. By Ski)

15. M.A.D. Feat. Rude Jude (Prod. By Salam Wreck)

16. 72nd & Central Feat. Obie Trice & J-Hill (Prod. By Essman)

17. Sammy Da Bull Feat. Nate Dogg & Swifty McVay (Prod. By Dirty Bird)

18. Black Wrist Bro's Feat. 1st Born (Prod. By Jewels)

19. Slum Elementz Feat. T-3 of Slum Village & Mudd of 5ela (Prod. By Mr. Porter)

20. Kurt Kobain (Prod. By Emile)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Proof channels the spirit of Jerry Garcia on his debut, August 27, 2005

By 

MCHeadcase "Nick Napier" (Erwin, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Searching for Jerry Garcia (Bonus Dvd) (Audio CD)

If you were to take a look at the list of the most underrated Detroit emcees, one emcee who would be considerably close to the top of the list is Proof (a.k.a Derty Harry). Most people outside of the Detroit area should know who he is, if not as one half of the duo Promatic with fellow rapper Dogmatic, then as one sixth of D12, which also includes Kon Artis, Kuniva, Bizarre, Swifty McVeigh, and Eminem. Earlier in the year, it was announced every emcee in D12 would release a solo album, with Bizarre going first. Now, Proof finally releases his long awaited debut album, "Searching For Jerry Garcia", on his own label, Iron Fist Records. For those who don't know him, Jerry Garcia is a rock musician, known for various projects, but most famous as the guitarist and primary singer of the psychedelic rock band The Grateful Dead. Garcia's electric-guitar playing melded elements from the various kinds of music that had enthralled him, including bluegrass, early rock, contemporary blues, country/western, and jazz; his style varied somewhat according to the song or instrumental he was contributing to. Garcia died on August 9th, 1995, due to heart trouble. Released on the ten year anniversary of Garcia's death, the album deals with the concept of Proof's search for himself, which includes an introspective outlook on his life, as well as eclectic mix of styles and topics that could conform listeners from other genres, which is reminiscent of what Garcia himself would do.

The album contains exactly what you expect from Proof and MORE, such as braggadocio songs ("Clap Wit Me" and "Biboa's Theme"), dark humor songs ("M.A.D" and "Jump, Biatch"), songs about the things that go down on streets ("72nd and Central" and "Sammy Da Bull"), and commercially themed songs, such as club/pimp songs ("Girls Wit Da Boom", "Pimplikeness", "Purple Gang") and get high songs ("High Rollers"). However, Proof sounds the best when he paints a dark, introspective picture of his life, which is exactly what he does on "Forgive Me" and "Kurt Kobain". The second one, named after the lead singer of Nirvana who supposedly killed himself, is the album's best track. The dope production is based entirely around a sample of "Blue Sky and Silver Bird" by Lamont Dozier (which was also sampled by Atmosphere on "Woman with the Tattooed Hands"). As you could probably tell by the title, Proof is writing a suicide note, once again regretting his sins but now knowing it's too late to take them back. So, before he goes, he's sending his goodbyes to all the people he loves, including his fans, his parents, the other members of D12, and others. My personal favorite line in the whole song is when he reaches out to Eminem with his words of wisdom: "Don't let this money change us dawg!". The track ends with Proof shooting himself and then giving us his dying words, which sound like "Love... killed... me..." but honestly, its kinda hard to tell. This one can't be explained through words, you'd have to hear it on your own.

So what's the final verdict? From murder to encouraged suicide to drug use, "Searching for Jerry Garcia" is a dope album that finds a middle ground between underground Detroit sound and the mainstream radio sound. A lot of the subject matter wasn't anything new, but that doesn't make the album bad at all. While the first half did struggle a bit, with a four worthless skits and a few musical missteps (which included one God awful song, "Girls Wit Da Boom"), everything after "Pimplikeness" was outstanding. Unfortunately, I can't give this album a classic rating. I expected a lot from this album, and while it was an excellent effort and delivered in most aspects, it just barely misses classic status (I was seriously anticipating this to be album of the year). The one thing that disappointed me the most was that the original album concept was mostly scrapped. See, when Proof originally started this album, he was going to name each song on the album after an iconic person or place that he feels reflects the song's theme. Though he kept a few of those songs, such as "Kurt Kobain", "Sammy Da Bull" and "72 & Central" (named after the place where John Lennon was shot and killed), other reported songs, such as "Janis Joplin", "Ike Turner", and "Billie Holiday" are nowhere to be found. The album is dope as it is, but if he went through with the old plan completely, he was setting up for an immediate classic IMO. Still, when you get right down to it, Proof gives us a overly solid debut that's worthy of your purchase, as he builds a separate identity for himself away from D12 and gives us an album that is different and interesting enough to stand out from the rest of his peers.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Out Of Shady This Quarter, September 21, 2005

By 

Danielle Turchiano (Van Nuys, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Searching for Jerry Garcia (Bonus Dvd) (Audio CD)

My jaw hit the floor when I first heard Proof's solo debut. I never expected it to sound like this, and I love it. There was so much hype around Tony Yayo's first solo album and the re-release of 50's Sophomore album (the Collector's Edition with the DVD), that Proof and Bizarre got buried. I have to admit I didn't buy Bizarre's album because with the exception of "Rock Star," I wasn't thrilled with what I heard. However, I bought Proof's because I listened to samples on amazon.com and loved the sound. Somehow it's not as hard as I thought it would be-- coming out of Shady Records and following in the footsteps of G-Unit and all. Proof (for lack of better word) proves he has an emotional, intellectual, and pensive side with songs like "Forgive Me" and "Kurt Kobain." Like another reviewer before me, I was initially disappointed that Eminem didn't do a guest spot or even produce a track, but the CD stands up without him. Proof has lived as Em's hype man for so long, but this CD shows he can stand in the spotlight alone. More people need to check this one out!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Good Died Young, April 13, 2006

By 

YoungRoscoe "Miles" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Searching for Jerry Garcia (Bonus Dvd) (Audio CD)

For all you Hip-Hop fans who don't know the individual in the album's title, I'll give you a short biography of him. Jerry Garcia is a rock musician, known for various projects, but most famous as the guitarist and primary singer of the psychedelic rock band The Grateful Dead. Garcia's electric-guitar playing melded elements from the various kinds of music that had enthralled him, including bluegrass, early rock, contemporary blues, country/western, and jazz; his style varied somewhat according to the song or instrumental he was contributing to. Garcia died on August 9th, 1995, due to heart trouble. According to Proof, the reason he named the album after him is because Garcia's death was due to a combination of stress, drugs and poor diet, which are problems that everyone can relate to in one way or another. If you're expecting this album to sound like his work with D12, then you're in for a surprise. The album, released on the ten year anniversary of Garcia's death, deals with the concept of Proof's search for himself, which includes an introspective outlook on his life, as well as eclectic mix of styles and topics that could conform listeners from other genres, which is reminiscent of what Garcia himself would do. Though the album hasn't gotten as much hype as and Eminem record would get, "Searching For Jerry Garcia" has been greatly anticipated by many in the underground scene, including myself, as it sounded like it would be a groundbreaking record, not to mention it's release has been planned since 2002 (the original tentative release date was 2/18/03). They will be happy to know that he indeed delivers; this album is true to who Proof is and what he represents.

1. Knice (NOT RATED)
2. Clap Wit Me (4 1/2 Stars)
3. Biboa's Theme (5 Stars)
4. When God Calls (NOT RATED)
5. Forgive Me feat. 50 Cent (5 Stars)
6. Purple Gang feat. Killa Kaunn, Famous, and T Flame (3 1/2 Stars)
7. Nat Morris (NOT RATED)
8. Girls Wit Da Boom (1 1/2 Stars)
9. High Rollers feat. B-Real and Method Man (5 Stars)
10. Rondell Beene (NOT RATED)
11. Pimplikeness feat. D12 (4 Stars)
12. Ali feat MC Breed (5 Stars)
13. No. T. Lose feat King Gordy (5 Stars)
14. Jump Biatch (5 Stars)
15. Mom & Dad feat Rude Jude (5 Stars)
16. 72nd & Central feat. Obie Trice and J-Hill (5 Stars)
17. Sammy Da Bull feat. Nate Dogg and Swifty McVeigh (5 Stars)
18. Black Wrist Bro's feat. 1st Born (5 Stars)
19. Slum Elementz feat. Kon Artis, T-3 of Slum Village, and Mudd of 5 Ela (5 Stars)
20. Kurt Kobain (5 Stars)

R.I.P Derty Harry(Proof) We miss you