Customer Reviews

Soundbombing 3

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

If you already heard how bad Soundbombing 3 is, those rumors are half-true. But be forwarned, underground fans: when you look at the track listing to this album, the mere fact that Missy Elliot and Kandi of Xscape are featured on this compliation should signal to you that this album is leaving the underground in hopes to gain mainstream appeal. And usually when that happens, the results are beyond disappointing.

It may be unfair, but it'll be hard not to compare the strictly underground sounds of 1999's Soundbombing 2 (with artists like Bahamadia, Medina Green, and Dialated Peoples) to the hip-hop/R&B sounds of the third installment (with Q-Tip, The Roots, and Noreaga). For example, Pharoahe Monch is singing when he should be rapping on "My Life" while Styles P. of The Lox rocks the mic. And Mos Def has a painfully weak song, I kid you not, which is the Rockwilder-produced "Freak Daddy". If Mos comes off wack, then you know there's something wrong with hip-hop. It gets worse: another underground champion, Mad Skillz, lazily raps through the Missy-assisted "Crew Deep", making it fail compared to past Supafriendz joints. Moreover, even the interludes and skits on Soundbombing 2 were dope. Here, they just take up time and Mr. Choc and Cipha Sounds aren't as good mixers as J-Rocc and Babu were on the last album.

But before you break your stop/eject button, there are okay songs ahead. Pharoahe and Skillz both redeem themselves with their freestyles on Jonell's "Round and Round" and "They Don't Flow", respectively. However, Monch's verse is the only thing new in "Round and Round": this isn't really a remix, it's Method Man's 2nd verse taken from the remix on the "How High" soundtrack pieced with Kool G Rap's 1st verse from another "Round and Round" remix, sandwiched between Monch's new verse and Jonell's vocals (but since her song is over a year old, why did they even bother?). And Skillz laments on why rappers sell out and not bring it on "They Don't Flow" (with Novel), even though he did that exact thing earlier on this album.

Things continue to go okay, as Q-Tip's "What Lies Beneath" and The Beatnuts' "The Trouble Is" both get B's for effort. The real treats come when Talib Kweli joins Common on "Yelling Away", DJ Quik on "Put It in the Air" and The Roots on "Rhymes and Ammo". Momentum is further gained when Cocoa Brovaz and R.A. the Rugged Man bring back that Soundbombing flava on "Spit Again" and "On the Block", respectively. Save the best for last, I guess.

At over 75 minutes, Soundbombing 2 left me satisfied, but at under 60 minutes, this album left me still hungry because I only had a snack of real hip-hop. While Soundbombing 3 isn't a total bomb, it is still disappointing to see even this album stoop to the levels of selling out. If Rawkus Records ever get a chance to make another Soundbombing (because their future is uncertain), they better go back underground and stay there.

I bought this album last Friday night. When I looked on the back of the cover to see the various artists who would perform, I was excited because I consider most of whom dope.

This album is the worst soundbombing in the history of Rawkus records! I was extremely disappointed in every emcee(whom I considered dope) on this album. If you really want to hear a classic soundboming album, then purchase the first one. The second soundbombing wasn't that bad either, but they are both more euphonius than soundbombing III.

Hip hop is getting to the stage where you can't trust but a select few emcees. After listening to this album, it was evident that these artists paralled Tyson's intentions against Lennox Lewis; they were all going through the motions exclusively for the payday and not for the hunger.

Nowadays, I find myself purchasing early 90's hip hop because many emcees today are wasting their god-given talent, and they are coming up with every lame excuse to justify their motives.

If I could give this album NO stars for a review, then I most certainly would do so.

Don't buy this album!! I'm warning you. You'll be wasting your money.

I was actually excited about this release, but now I greatly regret purchasing it. Hopefully, I can find someone who hasn't heard it who will buy it. Nah, I'm not even that mean. I don't want anyone to have any questions about buying this. Don't do it! If you love Rawkus- you'll hate it. If you love Fabolous and Lil kim- you'll hate it. No matter what you're into, you will NOT enjoy this... The worst part is hearing Kweli on a wack beat with...DJ Quik. That hurt my heart. Stay with Hi-Tek, Talib. Please.

With the past 2 Soundbombing albums, Rawkus Records, brought first, a well defined group of artists that were buried deep in Hip Hop's belly, and second a free will, that broke out of the mainstream shell, and disregarded the "glam" Rap Superstars. With the 3rd, they did just the opposite. They brought 2 very non gifted musicians(Cipha Sounds, and Mr.Choc), together to mix and narrate. There lack of originality and raw non-talent made them the worst possible choice. That was there first mistake. They brought many diffrent Mc's to the table, but a couple should have gone without an invitation. Instead of maintaining the barrier between the Underground and Mainstream, they willingly let them collide. That was there last mistake. Soundbombing 3 left a path of destruction, compiled of the remains of the Soundbombing series, and the fall of Rawkus Records. Rawkus has officially "sold out". Attention Everyone : The Underground has been tainted.

wow... when i got this album i almost cried.. no wonder rawkus is almost obselete now.. good job guys.. i think this compilation scared all of the artists away from your label.. for shame... i cant think of one good song on this... there are several mediocre tracks on here... but who wants to be mediocre? this has got to be one of the biggest let downs around 2002... if you want satisfaction minus the thugged out mainstream garbage, pick up any of the old soundbombing comps or independents finest vols 1 & 2

If you've heard Soundbombing Vol 2, and try to listen to this one, you'll find that this one isn't as good as the recent. Some of the guests come off very weak, and far below their standards compared to other albums.

This Soundbombing is mixed by Cypha Sounds and Mr. Choc. I don't know much about DJing but they do a decent job mixing in the songs through out the album. The first single, "The Life" featuring Styles and Pharohe Monch really was a strong track that I really enjoyed. Then the next track "Freak Daddy" by Mos Def, I just didn't have too much of a feel for. The second single "Crew Deep" by Mad Skillz had a nice beat that features a hook from Missy and Kandi. "My Life (Remix)" sounded out of place, probably because of the vocals from Norega and Capone. Jonell's "Round & Round (Remix)" comes off good because of the verses from Pharohe Monch and Kool G. Rap.(There are 3 versions of this song, this one, one appeared on Hi-Tek's Album, and one on the "How High" Soundtrack). The next song by Q-Tip is average for his standards because of his lyrics. The Beanuts joint "The Trouble Is", I just didn't like because of the weak production. Talib Kweli and DJ Quik's "Put It In The Air" is one of the best songs on this album as both of their lyrics carry throughout each verse. "They Don't Flow" by Novel and Skillz just was plain terrible along with the singging as the hook. "Rhymes and Ammo" is a dope track by The Roots and Talib Kweli. I was mad Malik B wasn't in this song, but Dice Raw takes his place. "Spit Again" sounds like a reggae joint with vocals from Cocoa Brovaz aka Smif-N-Wessun. It reminds me of their old Bucktown tracks as both Tek and Steele go hard on this track. The last vocal track is "On The Block" that has some beat boxing as R.A. the Rugged Man reminesses the old 80's and 90's hip-hop days.

This is one of the last projects released by Rawkus Records before the record company was discontinued. I thought it was a decent compilation, but it also suffered its flaws on the album. If you're a young hip-hop head, you'll like this, but if you are older or if you've heard the Soundbombing II, you will be dissapointed. Recommended for hard Rawkus fans, or people who are just curious whats on here.

Lyrics: B
Production: B
Guest Appearances: C+
Musical Vibes: C+

Standout Tracks: The Life, Crew Deep, Put It In The Air, Rhymes And Ammo, Spit Again, On The Block

Remember how the Rawkus Records' Lyricist Lounge album was underground and the second one was commercial? Same story for the transition from Soundbombing 2 to 3. There are so many problems with this album. First, what are Missy, Kandi of Xscape, and Noreaga doing on a Soundbombing record? And why is Jonell's "Round and Round" on here when it is more than a year old? And the tagged-on verse by Monch feels forced. The only good songs are from Kweli and Cocoa Brovas. I only downloaded this album and I'm mad that I even did that. So what's next for Soundbombing 4? Hey, how about songs from Ja Rule and Nelly, mixed by Puffy?

Sound bombing 2 was probably one of the best mix CD's ever made, composed of true hip hop artists. This cd is awful! How do you go from having a straight hip hop record to Missy Elliot on a track, this CD is definetley not fot the hip hop heads......Rawkus records has Officialy sold out!!!

And forget that this one was released? Why would I buy a CD with mainstream garbage on it - the reason we listen to Rawkus is to hear underground hip hop music. SB III is a travesty and everyone knows it. While there might be 1 or 2 songs that are listenable, 1 or 2 songs is a single, not an entire album. Don't waste your hard-earned [money] on this coaster. If you see a 5 star rating from anyone who reviews this album, they probably work in Marketing for the record company. Don't buy it!

Don't buy this CD, pick a few good ones and get the mp3s. Soundbombing turned into MTVbombing on this alblum, turn on the FM and hear half these tracks on heavy rotation.