Customer Reviews

Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits 6

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

 

 

1. I Need a Girl (Part II) - Ginuwine (7/10)
2. #1 (10/10)
3. Down 4 U - Charli Baltimore (8/10)
4. Oh Boy - Cam'ron (10/10)
5. Guess Who's Back - Beanie Sigel (9.5/10)
6. Pass the Courvoisier [Remix] - Busta Rhymes (10/10)    
7. Roc the Mic - Beanie Sigel (9/10)    
8. Without Me - Eminem (8.5/10)    
9. Still Fly - Big Tymers (10/10)    
10. What's Luv? - Ja Rule (9/10)    
11. Boottee [Remix] - Fabolous (10/10)    
12. Nothin' (10/10)    
13. Stylin' (10/10)    
14. Good Times (9/10)    
15. Welcome to Atlanta [Remix] - Jermaine Dupri (10/10)    
16. Rollout (My Business) - Ludacris (10/10)    
17. Say I Yi Yi - Ying Yang Twins (10/10)    
18. Grindin' [Remix] - Clipse (10/10)    

If you are looking for an album with all the best rap songs, this is the one to buy. It has one hit after another! Your collection would not be complete without this album.

In 1997 The Source, magazine of Hip Hop, Politics and Culture, released its first essential rap compilation, The Source Presents Hip Hop Hits Volume 1. The album was bombarded by huge names and even bigger hits from the likes of Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, Wu-Tang Clan & more and its run away success of the album was undeniable. Every year following the release of the incomprable first edition, The Source has put out a Hip Hop Hits album, but the material presented in the Hip Hop market today is nothing like it used to be, and none of the collections since volume one has really fully pleased fans.

Volume Six, is no exception. While the album is slam packed with some of rap's biggest hits, its also got some tracks on there that make this an album you can't play directly through. For instance the album includes the most over played songs of the decade, Nelly's "#1", Noreaga's "Nothin", Busta Rhymes "Pass the Courvosier" (Remix), P. Diddy's "I Need a Girl Pt. 2", Fat Joe's "Whats Love", and so on and so forth. I know that these songs are all hits and that people may enjoy them, but I can't stand listening to them a second longer. Then there are tracks that don't deserve to be on here at all, for example, Benzino's "Boottee" (Remix) & Scarface "Guess Whos Back".

Though the album is watered down by these tracks, you still can find some songs that while dated, are still hot. Styles P's "Good Times", Foxy Brown's "Stylin", Big Tymers "Still Fly", Jermaine Dupri "Welcome to Atlanta" (Remix), Ludacris "Roll Out" & Ying Yang Twins "Say I Yi Yi" are all songs that I could see myself playing at my house, at a party or in my car. Maybe if this disc was released earlier in the year then it wouldn't be such a disappointment, but if you don't already have these songs downloaded onto your computer, then make sure you get them on this compilation.

"Hip Hop Hits Vol. 6" is supposed to be a summation of rap music in 2002, gathering BOTH the biggest AND the best hits. While the album does contain a number of huge, quality hits, there is also alot of lesser known songs as well. But a saving grace is that some of the those song are good and worth listening to. A song by song analysis:
(1) P. Diddy feat. Ginuwine, Loon, Mario Winans & Tammy Ruggieri "I Need A Girl Part II" A-. A terrific R&B/rap track with a positive tone to it. Five artists may seem like too many, but everyone is giving a good amount of time to create this blissful track off one of the few remix albums that doesn't suck.
(2) Nelly "#1" A-. The song was over a year old and "Hot In Herre" and "Dilemma" were MUCH bigger hits. That said, this is still a terrific rap song with alot of energy and some biting lyrics. Nelly makes some good points about himself and his life.
(3) Ja Rule, Ashanti, Charli Baltimore & Vita "Down 4 U" B. Feels more like a sampler for Murder Inc. than a song, yet still has some charm and an easing beat. As a sampler; Ashanti really shines through and everyone else does good with what they're given.
(4) Cam'ron feat. Juelz Santana "Oh Boy" B+. It's not that appealing the first time, it grows on you though. The material is a little standard, yet many parts, the chorus in particular, take onsome depth and strike inside.
(5) Scarface feat. Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel "Guess Who's Back" C. Again, Scarface thinks he is still on top when he is not. True he is a good rapper, but his work seems standard, plain and outdated in these inventive rap days.
(6) Busta Rhymes feat. P. Diddy & Pharrell "Pass Courvoisier" (REMIX) B+. There's no difference between Parts I & II. OK, this is a pretty good club track from some of the best rappers in the industry. It's fun to listen to and is a darn infectious track.
(7) Beanie Sigel & Freeway "Roc The Mic" C+. The song is kinda fun a has a memorable beat, but beyond that there is just nothing. A slick production can't make this song work alone.
(8) Eminem "Without Me" A. Easily Shady's most satirical, funniest and biting work yet. His "razor tounged lyrics" find the right targets, address a number of "issues" and make good point all to a hilarious entertaining results.
(9) Big Tymers "Still Fly" B-. A huge song in '02, not the best though. I really liked "#1 Stunna" and found this to be a disapointment by comparison. It doesn't offer much and I expected more from the duo.
(10) Fat Joe feat. Ja Rule & Ashanti "What's Luv?" A. A perfect club and dance track. Impossible not to enjoy and offers perfect collaboration for Fat Joe and Ashanti. The song captures interest right from the opening.
(11) Benzino feat. G. Dep & Fabolous "Bootie" (REMIX) C-. The song is absolutly nothing. By the time it actually starts to be going somewhere, it's over. Just another simplistic, self promotion track from Benzino.
(12) N.O.R.E "Nothin'" A-. So simple, yet so enjoyable at the same time. N.O.R.E. has a terrific voice and the "arabian style" background provides a very catchy tune. It just may run a little long, but still keeps the listener's interest.
(13) Foxy Brown "Stylin'" B+. Its definetly not the high point of her career, but it still remains an infectious, fast paced dance track. Pretty enjoyable entertainment.
(14) Styles P. "Good Times" B. The song is kinda good, it just lacks that special something. It contains a well used interpolation, but is rather sleep inducing and standard.
(15) Jermaine Dupri feat. P. Diddy, Snoop Dogg and Murphy Lee "Welcome To Atlanta" (REMIX) B+. Looses some of its meaning in the REMIX because the original version was just JD and Ludacris, who are both from Altanta. Still, the other artists do a nice job of representing NYC, LA and St. Louis as well.
(16) Ludacris "Rollout (My Business) A. The material seems standard, yet Luda finds a perfect vehicle with his southern style and some humorous lyrics. It's clearly one of his best and one of 2001/2's as well.
(17) Ying Yang Twins "Say I Yi Yi" D. A rap song with zero substance that is just degrating to the ears. There is no reason to spend anytime listening to this substandard work.
(18) Clipse feat. N.O.R.E., Baby and Lil' Wayne "Grindin'" (REMIX) C+. Catchy standard material that became a fairly big hit. Atleast the skill of the artists keep it from being a total waste and offer some talent.
Bottom Line: ***. It's a close call, but I recommend the album for the really good tracks and the overall flow of material. It's just insane that they passed on great hits like "Gangsta Lovin'", "Always On Time" and "One Mic" for lesser songs. It represents the start of Benzino's reign of terror over The Source. It's a mess that every rap fan should sample.

Does anyone know the track listing since it isn't on this site for the CD?

2.#1-Nelly does a Ok song but this his KRS Diss 8/10
3.Down 4U-Charlie Bimbomore has no talent what so ever 2/10
4.Oh'Boy-Not Killa Cams best but Ok 7/10
5.Guess who's back-Proboly worth and 8/10
6.Pass the Courvasier-Not recommended 3/10
7.Roc the Mic-unfortunately he really das not 7/10
8.Without Me-Quite enjoyable 10/10
9.Still Fly-I have heard better from them but this is good 8/10
12.Nothin-Hate this joint with passion 2/10
13.Stylin-Okay 5/10
14.Good Times-Afromen sucks this is OK 7/10
15.Welcome to Atlanta-Classic 10/10
16.Roll Out(My Bussiness) all the kids loved it I hate it he has
done much better 4/10
17.Say Yi Yi-Alright 6/10
18.Grindin-I liked this song for real 9/10

96/150=64% wich is worth 3.5 Mics ***^

This is one of the hottest ones of the series. Enough said.

1. P. diddy feat. Loon, Mario Winans and Ginuwine - I Need A Girl Part 2 - hot collabo, but should have had Usher on this one too. 9/10
2. Nelly - #1 - hot song; too bad it's a diss to KRS-One. Also on "Nellyville" and the "Training Day" soundtrack. 10/10
3. Ja Rule - Down 4 U - don't care at all for Ja. 0.5/10
4. Cam'ron feat. Juelz Santana - Oh Boy - extremely hot song; still one of my favorite collabos. Also on "Come Home With Me". 10/10
5. Scarface feat. Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel- Guess Who's Back - don't really care for thsi song; each have had much better songs. 5/10
6. Busta Rhymes feat. P. Diddy and Pharrell - Pass The Courvoisier Part 2 - hot collabo; greatest for Busta Rhymes yet. 9/10
7. Beanie Sigel - Roc The Mic - I could care much less about it. 3/10
8. Eminem - Without Me - good song, but ironic that Eminem would be on a Source album. Also on "The Eminem Show". 8/10
9. Big Tymers - Still Fly - back when Cash Money had a lot of glory; they losin' their shine at this point. Also on "Hood Rich". 9/10
10. Fat Joe feat. Ashanti and Ja Rule - What's Luv - Good song until I found out Ja Rule was on it too (didn't know because he is not in the video). Also on "Jealous Ones Still Envy". 2/10
11. Ray Benzino feat. G. Dep and Fabolous - Bootee (Remix) - I hate Fabolous and only give props to Benzino to the fact that Eminem is on this album. 3/10
12. N.O.R.E. - Nothin' - hot joint; his hottest in his career. Also on "God's Favorite". 8/10
13. Foxy Brown - Stylin' - I don't like Foxy Brown. 5/10
14. Styles P. - Good Times - hot joint about gettin high; and "teenage soul", Styles P did NOT ruin Akon's "Locked Up"; if it wasn't for P, it would have sucked. Also on "A Gangster and A Gentleman". 10/10
15. Jermaine Dupri feat. Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy - Welcome To Atlanta (Remix) - this song sucks and doesn't make any sense cuz only JD is from Atlanta. The version with only Ludacris is much better and actually is a collabo with ONLY ATL rappers. 2/10
16. Ludacris - Roll Out - speakig of Ludacris, this is a hot song. If Snoop or Diddy were to be on this song, it would suck. Also on "Word Of Mouf". 10/10
17. Ying Yang Twins - Say I Yi Yi - hot summer anthem; their greatest single to date. Also on "Return of the Ying Yang". 9/10
18. The Clipse feat. N.O.R.E., Baby and Lil Wayne - Grindin' (Remix) - The normal versiopn is better, but this is hot. Also on "Lord Willin'"8/10

Like every Source album, it has a couple fillers and could have used much better songs, but it was alright. It could have used:

1. Trick Daddy - Thug Holiday
2. Nas - Made You Look
3. Fat Joe feat. Ginuwine - Crush Tonight
4. Scarface - On My Block
5. Petey Pablo - Blow Your Whistle

(1) P. Diddy feat. Ginuwine, Loon, Mario Winans & Tammy Ruggieri "I Need A Girl Part II" B+ Good, but I liked part one better.

(2) Nelly "#1" C- Too old and annoying.

(3) Ja Rule, Ashanti, Charli Baltimore & Vita "Down 4 U" B+ Good, but have seen much better from Ashanti.

(4) Cam'ron feat. Juelz Santana "Oh Boy" F I hate this song!

(5) Scarface feat. Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel "Guess Who's Back" F I hate this song too!

(6) Busta Rhymes feat. P. Diddy & Pharrell "Pass Courvoisier" (REMIX) F Annoying! AAAAHHHH!

(7) Beanie Sigel & Freeway "Roc The Mic" F WILL IT EVER END?

(8) Eminem "Without Me" A+ It's about time for a good song! Actually, this one is groundbreaking.

(9) Big Tymers "Still Fly" D+ Very overrated and irritating.

(10) Fat Joe feat. Ja Rule & Ashanti "What's Luv?" A+ Back to the good stuff, and this is another groundbreaking one.

(11) Benzino feat. G. Dep & Fabolous "Bootie" (REMIX) F I hate Benzino when he's rapping.

(12) N.O.R.E "Nothin'" B+ Good, but kinda annoying after time.

(13) Foxy Brown "Stylin'" D+ I don't really like Foxy Brown.

(14) Styles P. "Good Times" F I hate Styles P! He ruined Akon's great song Locked Up!

(15) Jermaine Dupri feat. P. Diddy, Snoop Dogg and Murphy Lee "Welcome To Atlanta" (REMIX) D- This song has no point!

(16) Ludacris "Rollout (My Business) A Great song from Luda!

(17) Ying Yang Twins "Say I Yi Yi" F A rap song with no point that is just irritating.

(18) Clipse feat. N.O.R.E., Baby and Lil' Wayne "Grindin'" (REMIX) B- Good, but didn't like the remix much.

Overall Grade - D- Almost an F, this complication sucks. I'd get a better version of this series, because this is the weakest yet.

Yo, just wanted to give a big shoutout to my homeboy LZ for being the only "unknown" producer who got a track on Hip Hop Hits. Vol. 6. In case you ain't heard, he's reppin' Cincinnati and he produced Foxy Brown's Stylin'. Look out for more of his work with Lady Luck, Rah Digga, and Fabolous.

P.S. I didn't give the album a 5 star rating cuz Benzino should never make a hip hop hits CD whether or not he co-owns the Source.

Rendeazy

I THINK ITS AN AWSOME CD. ITS WAY BETTER THEN THE FIRST 5 .