Customer Reviews

Stone Cold Rhymin

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's amazing to think anyone would not recognize Marvin Young (Young MC) as the pre-eminent technical rapper of his day. His rhymes flowed easier, but with more technical skill than any other rapper. And he created these masterworks of lyrical ability within the context of songs that DIDN'T fall prey to the "gangsta" mentality or the misogynistic tendencies of most rappers.

Make no mistake, there is a reason this CD is still in print, 10+ years after the fact. You'll be humming these songs for weeks. It's just a shame that "Brainstorm", his 2nd album, isn't still in print, as it is also a standout effort from that time period. Intelligence, ability, and integrity make this one a Hall-of-Fame rap album.

Young MC never quite received his props for his 1989 release of "Stone Cold Rhymin'". As far as pop-rap/crossover hits, nobody did it better than Young. He paved the way for many pop-rap acts to follow, but few possessed the skill that Young had to destroy their competition.

Although Young spends about 70% of the album boasting about his skills, there is plenty of traits that makes Young standout from the bunch. He combines some of the most clever, tongue twisting rhymes, backed by an incredible production. Producers Matt Dike, Michael Ross, the Dust Brothers, and engineer Mario Caldato Jr. make this album shine as a fantastic old school rap sensation.

"I Come Off" opens the album great. Then comes "Principal's Office"; everyone can relate to the subject matter there; great tune. This album also includes the hit "Bust a Move". "Non Stop", one of my favorites, changes it up with a slower beat. "Know How" (produced by the Dust Brothers) is definitely my favorite track on the album, everything about this song is top notch, from the production to the craziest tongue twisting rhymes.

If you are interested in one of the pioneers in the crossover/rap genre, look no further. Young MC will satisfy all.

In a time when rap was just beginning to crossover into the mainstream, Young MC came along and assisted in bridging that gap with Stone Cold Rhymin'. "Bust a Move" is the obvious choice for the best song here, but Young shows a lot of ability in his delivery and lyrical talent throughout the album. "Know How" and "I Come Off" show the extent of this ability. Young displays his humor on "Principal's Office" and the lighthearted "Roll With the Punches." The only reason for the 4 star rating comes at the end, with the decent yet surprisingly mediocre "Stone Cold Buggin" and "Just Say No." Yet, in the long run, all of the other tracks stand the test of time, whicxh makes this a truly great album.

To anyone out there who doesn't respect Young MC as an artist should throw away any rap/hip-hop/r&b cd they own. Because if it wasn't for pioneers like Marvin Young your cds would not exist in the same form. You may not like his music or whatever but please give him props and realize what he has done for the game(along with many others). Also do not try to put this cd in the same discussion as Vanilla Ice or Hammer or any other 5-Min fames. I will admit Bust a Move is just a party booty shaker. but Young MC is on a different level then that wack pack. It defines the parameters of classic hip hop. Stone Cold Rhymin was about music, beats & rhymes, not clothing lines and mindless gun toting jargon of today. Most rap videos and cds today are a basically commercials for other (...) like Cris, big rims, and other corporate money makers. (But I think most of us real listeners have been well aware of the downfall of hip hop for years, unfortunately.) I have listened to this album first in cassette form when i was 9, & still today in mp3 form at 22. Enough with my rant, most of the tracks are ill except one, the song "just say no" sounds like Ron Reagen payed him to make it, just ignore that track. The cut "Non Stop" is one of the dopest of all time,period. A sick beat goes with classic lyrics that have been cliched every day since the biters heard it first from Young. Don't play this at your next house party, skip those tracks and actually listen to the deeper cuts and you will be surprised. Whats the kicker is that this album has been around for at least 14 years, with little or no recognition except "bust a move" on a few tv party cds. Bottom-line, if your in to 50 Cent, Cash Money sisters, (...) Z, Lil John, etc you probably live in the suburbs and just wouldn't understand real music like Stone Cold Rhymin and probably don't deserve to. Buy this album and listen to these hidden classics.

that I'll listen to. This is as good as rap gets. The rhyming on this album is unbelievable and the lyrics are hilarious. An added bonus is that he doesn't even mention killing cops or raping women (which his highly unusual for a rap artist). I'm sure the hard core rap audience passes over this album but as a suburban whiteboy who was gleaned on heavy metal music from the 80's I can tell you that this is the absolute pinnacle of rap. It was all downhill from here.

Its a befuddling mix of shameless cheeziness, cool old-school production, and solid flow. What makes it so cool is that Young is eccentric for being such a mainstream pop rapper. Take for example is boast that "when I'm not on tour I'm at home watching cable". WHAT?!?!?? Are we supposed to be impressed by that!!?? He states this with such surety and bravado that you almost believe that its a notable accomplishment. Or how about this one: "If other rappers were hawaiian I would be Don Ho". There are too many clunky awkward boasts to count, but this is a great deal of the album's charm. Young isn't really ghetto, but he has skills and verbal cleverness in spades. Rolling every "R" is also a strange mannerism. With subject matter ranging from how many rhymes he has to the superiority of said rhymes, this one is a keeper.

Unlike the "gangsta rap" which was gaining popularity at the time, this is one of those albums that you can file under "fun", and I'm glad for that. Much like Tone Loc's "Loc-Ed After Dark", this is still a great album even after the big hit is played. Obviously that hit here is "Bust A Move", and it's one of the excellent early rap hits. I still think of Flea slappin' his bass on the hood of that truck whenever I hear it. Young Mc even refers to himself as a one-hit-wonder, but it's impossible not to also love "Principal's Office", "Non Stop", "Know How", and many others. Other sweet tracks are the quick "Fastest Rhyme", and the laid-back "Got More Rhymes". If anyone asks you if this album is wack, "Just Say No".

1. 4:05 I Come Off
2. 4:15 Principal's Office
3. 4:23 Bust a Move
4. 3:27 Non Stop
5. 0:49 Fastest Rhyme
6. 4:24 My Name Is Young
7. 4:02 Know How
8. 4:31 Roll With The Punches
9. 5:00 I Let 'Em Know
10. 3:17 Pick Up The Pace
11. 4:51 Got More Rhymes
12. 1:41 Stone Cold Buggin'
13. 2:54 Just Say No

I am quite partial to a bit of old school rap and Young MC, I believe, is one of the good ole boys. This album has a distinct feel and pulse to it, containing an excellent mix of smooth lyrical flow with a healthy dash of funk. In a way, I think this record was ahead of it's time with tracks like Bust a Move and Know How as righteous and cool today as they were back in the day.

I still like Young MC's debut. It's West Coast rap but has that East Coast feel with the breakbeats, samples and sound of early rap. It's surprisingly funky! Although Young has said that the album didn't come out the way he wanted it, this is still a solid first album from him. Strong way how he rhymes and flows in his lyrics--he's always on point! He won the Grammy for Bust A Move, which led me to listening to the album more. Got More Rhymes, Just Say No, much of the album's second half could rival any of today's artists that ride on a negative image. Matt Dike, and this Ross fellow did a fine job producing this album as well as Tone Loc's album on the same label of Delicious Vinyl. It's good to hear that Young still performs in some clubs today and wants to capture that gold again. Classic rap in the best way!