Customer Reviews

Street Level

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After releasing their EP Intoxicated Demons in 1993, the Beatnuts' debut full length "Street Level" arrived at the height of east coast hip hop's golden era, 1994. While this album isn't spectacular as a piece of hip hop in its own right, "Street Level" works as a very consistent piece that mostly reflects what a great time 1994 was for hip hop. At this time, creative and appealing production was valued highly, and raw lyrics that stayed true to hip hop were embraced by a wider audience. "Street Level" is a product of all of these factors, and it's really a very fun album. While JuJu, Les, and Fashion aren't great rappers, they're tons of fun to listen to, again reflecting the best styles of the era. They rap about drugs, women, partying, and the classic boom-bap type of toasts. There's hooks ripe with yelling and chants, and lyrically it's fun without being deep. But the true draw for any Beatnuts album is obviously the production. The beats on this album are somewhere between Cypress Hill's claustrophobic funk and The Artifacts' upbeat old school style. The beats are quite simple, but they are clever and very appealing. Usually anchored by a nice bassline and some light instrumentals, they have a light, easy, and laidback feel for the most part. The album relies on consistency, no songs stand out and none would really be too memorable on their own, but as an album it's extremely fluid. The songs all sound fairly similar, and they flow seamlessly from one into the next. You can just put this album in the player and let it roll, without ever wanting to skip a track. Overall, "Street Level" is a really fun party album from a very underappreciated group.

Following the intro, the album begins with "Ya Don't Stop," a winding and solid opener. "Props Over Here" is the first great song, with a great laidback and catchy beat and nice hook. "Hellraiser" is also really nice, with a beat built around a cool keyboard line and the chorus here is awesome. After the appealingly uneasy Grand Puba collabo "Are You Ready" is the excellent "Superbad," both a musical and lyrical highlight. "Straight Jacket" is upbeat and vibesy, and it is followed by the short "Let Off a Couple." I really like this song, this track is only a minute and a half long, but at the end the full version is curiously included as a bonus track. "Rik's Joint" is a very smooth head-nodder, with some nice female vocals on the hook. The loopy "Fried Chicken" and okay "Yeah You Get Props," which is very similar to "Props Over Here," precede the nicely produced "Get Funky." "Hit Me With That" is another solid late-album track, as is "2-3 Break," which has multiple nice beats on it. I love the production on "Lick the P...," a laidback, slow-rolling sex song. The brief "Sandwiches" and funny, entertaining "Psycho Dwarf" close the tracklist.

Being the incredible year that 1994 was for hip hop, the Beatnuts' debut LP went a little under the radar, but it has definitely stood the test of time and remains a great album thirteen years later. This album is the kind of fun, light, and laidback hip hop that's perfect for the car or just chilling to. Fans of this early-90s east coast sound should definitely make this purchase. The Beatnuts have a huge discography that includes numerous quality and underrated albums, and this is certainly among the best, I would recommend it as a starting point for new Beatnuts listeners. I highly recommend "Street Level."

This is Beatnuts at their prime. The skills are there, and the beats are infectious. Fashion, JuJu, and Les form like Voltron on this LP. Tracks like "Straight Jacket", "2-3-Break", "Rik's Joint", "Hellraiser", "Get Funky", and "Are you Ready", with Grand Puba, are just some of the prime examples of why these cats are so highly regarded by their true fans. They are influenced and inspired by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian, Cypress Hill etc. Jazzy loops, breaks, and on point scratching and hooks are plentiful on this 1994 release. Highly recommended for the first time listener. The "Intoxicated Demons EP" will also do a fine job of getting you hooked on this crew. Get Funky. Peace.

...i done wore thru 2 cassette tapes and all of the silver from the cd playin this! this is a favorite and the best album they've put out. critics useta complain that their rhyme style was to simplistic, but they aint twista or bone-thugs...their delivery here was perfect for the sound and content they were creating. they done lost somethin now...i cant put my finger on it...but their two latest releases cant compare to this. the level of fun, atmosphere and braggadocio here is what true hip hop was all about.

The second album from this triple threat group is in one word genius. Not straying from their formula this album carry's on from where the first one left off, the usual sample looping still apply's here Psycho les and ju ju demonstrating yet again their passion for crate digging while keeping it straight up funky on the rhyming tip. Fashion returns again carrying the dope rhyme skills, It is a shame that he left the group after this but he left on a high.
Standout tracks for me are hellraiser superbad and get funky, all these tracks carry classic beatnut sounds. Released in 94 if you have any knowledge of mid ninties hip hop you will have a good idea of what to expect but if you don't, expect dark gritty dusty beats the classic new york hip hop, buy it.

I've listened to the Beatnuts ever since the EP dropped, and everytime I hear the LP it gets better. It has crept its way into my top 5 hip hop albums of all time(joining Wu-Tang, PE, BDP, and NWA). The beats are nuts and the lyrics are comical yet serious defining ju, les, and no-longer member of the crew fasions lifestyles. They dont brag about money and all that, its real hip hop from the streets and the underground. I look foward to seeing them live May 22nd in Cincinnati. And watch out for the new LP dropping in August.

With their first LP (Intoxicated Demons was an EP), entitled "Street Level", The Beatnuts (Psycho Les, Junkyard JuJu & Fashion) established themselves as a solid rap act. This whole album is dope, from begining to end.

They stay true to their name and bring funky, delicious beats accompanied with simple yet fun and catchy rhymes. This is the perfect album to listen to while loungin' by the pool or on your deck with some trees.

Don't hate and say that they can't rhyme, that's why they're THE BEATNUTS. They made no money just producing, so they threw some rhymes in the mix. This album is not to be taken seriously, it's just a fun, funky album that's a must for any Hip-Hop fan.

Bottom Line: A Great Album. 4 Stars. Peace.

The BeatNuts, intoxicated demons, the Beatnuts. Hardore comin w/ the beats and rhymes. <- says it all. Im shocked from the buzz. Now im more of a new school hip hop fan and i dig on the underground talent and shy away from the lame ghetto pop wack hardcore music, but this album being pretty hardcore is just hot, full of talent and intelligence. I find myself droppin lines from these joints all the time! Stone Crazy was a sad 2nd effort since the 3rd of the trio left and I got the new disc on order and from what ive heard the music never stops. so give it up ona phat 1 and guzzle some guiness stout.

This is one of the most well produced albums in Hip Hop period...I luv banging this cd in the ride with the windows down listening to the humorous rhymes of JuJu and Psycho Les. It's a str8 up east coast album but to me the production has a mass appeal to it. Lyrically both mc's are average but very entertaining but the production is the strong point of this album. Any hip hop junkie should enjoy this album no matter what coast you prefer. Hotep.

This is a perfect example of underground movie from Hip Hop's Golden Age; a timeless classic.

1st off if you've been sleepin on these cats its time to wake up. Every track on the CD is dope, no filler. Their lyrics are on point and every beat is fresh. If you're new to them this is a great place to start. A++++