State of the Arts

Afu-Ra | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (June 14, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decon Inc
• ASIN: B0009AM6PI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,278 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. God of Rap

3. Power Skit #1

4. Pusha

5. Prankster

6. Livin Like Dat

7. Rumble

8. Power Skit #2

9. Why Cry

10. Ghetto Hell

11. Cry Baby

12. Dynamite

13. Sucka Free

14. Deal Wit It

15. BK Dance

16. Only U

17. Poisonous Taoist

18. Power Skit #3

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Buying, June 19, 2005

By 

Savitri Mulpuri "BlAmBlAm" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: State of the Arts (Vinyl)

Not many people recognize the true talent of Afu-Ra. he deserves just as much recognition in the rap game as any other rapper. State of the Arts, his fourth effort, was excellent. Although, not as great as much of a success as his sophmore effort, Life Force Radio, this album shows Afu-Ra at his best. With guest MCs like Royce da 5'9", Masta Killa, and Kardinal Offishall, the album expressed Afu-Ra's true talent. Although he didn't recieve as much production from DJ Premier than on his last album, the beats are the nonetheless fresh. I especially enjoyed "Pusha" and "Deal Wit It."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Listen to the brother who gets rugged and raw", July 28, 2005

By 

DukeOfEarl (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: State of the Arts (Vinyl)

I was suprised at how much I enjoyed this cd. Afu Ra hits you with an impeccable variety of music, which is hard to turn down. He makes underground music that *GASP* actually has rhythm and you can sometimes sing along with! I was actually singing with tracks like "Rumble" and "Ghetto Hell" (standout tracks) the VERY FIRST time I listened to them. While his lyrics may be flawed for some of the tracks, other tracks he is right on point.

"God of Rap" kicks it off, and is nothing noteworthy. Just a fun track, not too serious on the lyrics...but it doesn't make a strong claim to that title. Next, Afu and Royce the 5'9" rock heads on "Pusha" over an APOCALYPTIC beat. The track is very nice, and the beat rang in my head for days. Then he and Masta Killa slay you on "Livin' Like That," which is a standout song. I love Masta Killa. After that is the rock-fueled "Rumble," which is exhilirating and my favorite song here. I'll say it again: "Rumble"=best song on this album! I played that for my Death Metal-head friend, and he was like, "Whoa! That's from a Judas Priest song."

Like another reviewer, I was suprised how there were three serious songs in a row in the middle of this album. If you look at it though, they are all GREAT songs (#9-11)! Plus, they all have different flavors. #9 has reggae (and it's not often that Hiphop and reggae sound so good together), #10 has a bluesy/soft-rock feel, and #11 is melodic Hiphop with a little R&B/soul on a song about the state of Hiphop (a la Common "I Used To Love HER"). #12 is upbeat, and propelled by a jazzy chorus and good even though the lyrics aren't too serious. "Sucka Free" is a nice battle track helmed by none other than DJ Premier. The song after is light on the lyrics, but kinda fun and fueled by some reggae as well. #15 is okay, but unmemorable, and #16 *eyes roll* is melodic, yet a "tired"(PUN) concept and doesn't sound like he's trying to hard lyrically. Afu finishes it off with the sharp "Poisonous Taoist," which is old-school, and can be considered a standout.

Overall, this album has too many styles of music to be contained! Although he fails AT TIMES in the lyric department, I still enjoy it when each song sounds different than the other. He's gotta watch out for rhyming lines with the same words...nothing bugs me more than that! However, I'm not saying that he can't bring the knowledge and skills when needed, because he definitely can. And unlike Mos Def, he doesn't have to completely dilute his game when adjusting to a track of a different genre. Rock, blues, Hip Hip, soul, jazz, REGGAE!, it's all here, and most importantly it doesn't seem forced. Some obvious filler and a few lapses in the lyrics make this a four-star album, but songs like #4,6,7-11(maybe 7-13), and 17 are reason enough to make the purchace. The dude's been around for awhile, but I don't see signs of him fading any time soon...

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the young buck from 93' brings his 3rd Lp to a new level of music!, June 23, 2005

By 

M. Mcgill "CrateDigga" (CANADA (BTOWN)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: State of the Arts (Vinyl)

Afu-Ra's 3rd album in his career "State Of The Arts"\

IS QUITE the adventure production wise , rock , reggae , But hey if you dont already know about afu you woulnt be readin this and everyone knows afu is one of the only True Hip-Hop artists that can mess with rock and make a sick cut! His 3rd album comes with more consistency musicly than his second Lp but his lyrical content has dropped in some tracks but others he brings it right back up! All in all a VERY GOOD ALBUM with SO MANY DIFFERENT STYLES OF TRACKS TO ATTRACT ANY MUSIC FAN TO THIS LP. Many standout tracks but where this album faulters is in its track arrangement there are 3 slow thoughtful tracks right in the middle of the lp! That would have been far better if they were spread out so you dont get congestion on the lp most will end up skipping the tracks because of similarity! Only 2 tracks that I would hold off this Lp and thats BK dance and Deal Wit It both very unlyrical and lack in substance!

Great 3rd lp by Afu-Ra!!! Looks like he has dropped 3 solid lp's unlike his once master jeru the damaja who fell off the map once he lost premo! afu only has 1 premo track on this Lp and its still pure heat and only 2 tracks on his previous Lp aswell!!!! This shows Afu's persistance and knowledge of beats to use and those not to! CHECK THIS ALBUM OUT!!!

2.God of Rap - awsome intro track crazy beat not afu lyrics 7.5/10

4.Pusha - Dope collabo better lyrics needed by afu at the start of the cut royce kills it 7.5/10

5.Prankster - mid range beat decent flow 7.5/10

6.livin like dat - amazing beat by new WU affiliate Bronze nazarath masta killa and afu ra a combo that cant be reconned with 10/10 KILLER TRACK

7.Rumble - hype beat like hiphop from his second lp if your about to fight play a sport or just get rejuvinated this cut is crazy 8/10

8. Why Cry - decent beat good chorus decent lyrics 7/10

10.ghetto hell - alright beat great lyrics just stuck in a rut in the lp as to many of the same type of tracks are side by side it hurts the listenin experiance but the track lyrically is dope 7.5/10

11.cry baby - the rut continues cant get into the track unless i listen to it by itself and dont listen to the other 2 previous tracks before 6.5/10

12.Dynamite - Horns are crazy lyrical party real hiphop party music 8/10

13.sucka free - vintage premo vintage afu just tooo sick 10/10

14.deal wit it - cool beat weak guests weak verse 6/10

15. Bk dance - weak period 5.5/10

16. only you - grass heads stand up crazy cut 9.5/10

17.Poisonous taoist - crazy beat afu kills it 10/10