Customer Reviews

In Thugz We Trust

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

 

 

I was waiting for this to drop since hearing "Thug Lordz" off the Godzilla LP. This LP is so raw, it's killin' G Units version of hardcore rap. The way Yuk and Bo Loco rhyme in tandem is fierce, though on this LP the vibe is not that same as one of their earlier cuts like "Spray Yourself". Yuks flow has gotten better since then and he has become a savage on the west coast and arguably the underground king of Cali. He still has an unmatched ability to rhyme the same line over and over for half of the verse. This is a style that is often imitated but is never exceuted as cleanly as him. The song "American Dream" is probably one of Yukmouth's top 5 raps ever, he is tearing it down on this cut.
Fans of the Bald Head Nut will be enjoy songs like "44 Mag Glock" "My Life" (a solo cut) and "Hard in the Paint". He has been putting it down for so long he is like the rap version of Ron Isley. I don't think I will ever stop supporting big Bo because he seems to always deliver a strong product. Spiceberg Slim (who shows out on "Killa Kali") was an original member of the Thug Lordz, but he could have ben easily replaced by Killa Tay, who makes a few strong appearances as well. The beats are dope, and I would watch out for that cat Raw Steel who makes a serious impression on production. This duo is more than the sum of its parts. This was a great project. Cop this album as soon as you have the chance

Rappers from the Bay haven't been getting much love from the industry since Pac died. In all honestly, they could probably care less. Yukmouth, who makes up one-half of The Luniz, could perhaps be the biggest and most talented artist out of Oakland (with the possible exception of E-40), and in his latest effort, a collaboration album with equally-underrated gangsta rapper, C-Bo, he's aiming to knock the haters straight on their back. Pulled from shelves due to legal objections from Yukmouth's label, Rap-A-Lot, "Thugz We Trust" took a minute to make it to the buying public but was it all worth it?

Yuk and Bo certainly aren't afraid to showcase their gangsta on this one. Opening with the vicious "Go Hard In The Paint" and closing with the equally-ruthless "21 Gun Salute", this album is a collection of 13 thugged-out joints. For the most part, anyone who is not a solid fan of gangsta rap might be bored quickly with this album's content but it does have some moments of crossover appeal. The catchy chorus on "She's A H**" keeps it from being just another predictable tale about "the homeboy's easy girl". The biggest standout however is "Bulletproof Love" featuring Death Row artist Eastwood. Not only does each artist come with a solid verse but the production from Rhythm D is bonkers. "Killa Cali" with guest star Spice 1 is also a pretty good addition. The standard issue diss record, "He Ain't A Thug" has Yuk & Bo going at 50 Cent with a little help from 50's old running mates, Bang 'Em Smurf and the Silverback Guerillaz. The chorus is hilarious though the disses themself are somewhat generic.

Depending on your taste, this album could either be a massive letdown or the album you've been waiting on. If you're a hardcore gangsta rap fan who is sick of the "commercial garbage" then this one should be your cup of tea. Anyone expecting Yukmouth to tackle subject matter similiar to his solo debut, "Thugged Out" may be a little dissapointed. "In Thugs We Trust" is nowhere near a classic album but it never tries to be. It wasn't made for the critics. It was made so that West Coast rap fans would have something loud to bump in their rides and on that level, you can't call it anything but a success.

THE BAY HAS ALWAYS HAD HEAT ITS JUST THE EAST RUN HIP-HOP B/C THE INDUSTRY IS OUTH THERE AND THEY OWN IT ALOT OF GARBAGE BUBBLE GUM RAP IS MESSING UP THE RAP GAME THATS COMING FROM THE EAST COAST

THUG LORDZ
IN THUGZ WE TRUST

For those who do not know, the Thug Lordz originally consisted of YUKMOUTH, C-BO, and SPICE 1. But Spice couldn't be there to record the album so Yuk and Bo had to do it on their own. The end product was this album full of West Coast bangers for your listening pleasure.

1.GO HARD IN THE PAINT-the first joint comes out hard like the title suggests. C-BO comes out first with the hook and opening verse, and has always Bo comes threw with a hard verse. YUKMOUTH is up next with that cocky flow he is known for, and KILLA TAY comes with the third verse to end the track. MO' BETTA laced the perfect beat for these three, it is the perfect opening song to introduce the album with.4.5/5

2.44 MAG GLOCC-RAW STEEL is up next on production, and he does not disappoint on this track, this is actually one of my favorite songs on the album. The same three from the previous track come back for a second round k.o. Bo is back on the hook again and also drops a hot verse. Yuk as usual drops heat as well, but Killa Tay kills this track.5/5

3.SHE'S A H**-this is the first track the two do together with just them two, and though it is not one of the strongest songs on the album it is alright. This song is basically about a homie that is going to marry a h**. Yuk and Bo spit about her sleazy ways over a laid back beat from Mo' Betta.3.5/5

4.HE AIN'T A THUG-now I think it is safe to say that anybody who listens to West Coast music has heard this song. This is the diss song from the album that is aimed a 50Cent and his G Unit click. So while I don't consider this a classic diss track it is worthy of some praise. For one this is the track that features 50 `s old running buddies BANG EM SMURF & DOMINATION. The SILVER BACK GURILLAZ do their thing on this track. Also this is the first production credit for MARK SPARKS, and while he has been around for a while most people [at least in my experience] know him from producing for Kurupt's "AGAINST THE GRAIN" album, and Canibus's "MIND CONTROL" album. Also noteworthy is the hard verses from C Bo and Yukmouth who kill it, also I always thought the hook was funny.4.5/5

5.AMERICAN DREAM-now this is the solo song from Yukmouth, and as usual this is killer track. the beat from NAN DOG is a haunting instrumental that is perfect for Yuk to spill game over. Yuk does his thing on this track, this is another great track.5/5

6.GET AWAY-J CLASSIC drops a bouncy beat for the Thug Lordz to ride to on the album, and ride they do. Bo starts things off with a great verse that only helps to show off his flow. Yuk hits the track up next with another great verse and an excellent flow. Bo takes the final verse and basically claims this track as his with another nice verse.4.5/5

7.KILLA CALI-next up is what I believe was the single for the album, and it is definitely worthy of that honor. What makes this track more special is the fact that it is the track has all three members of the Thug Lordz. SPICE 1 kicks things off with a hard verse and even laces the hook for the song. C Bo takes the third verse, as Yuk finishes the track off, but Spice took this track. Also E A SKI & CMT are the ones who laced this menacing beat.5/5

8.BULLETPROOF LOVE-now this track here should have been a single because if this would have had a video and radio play this album would have sold a lot more. The beat from RYTHEM D is excellent and is one of my favorites on the album, also the sample for the hook is nice. Yuk spits first followed by C Bo but it is surprisingly EASTWOOD that steals the show on this one.5/5

9.GET YA MONEY [BE A THUG LORD] -Mark Sparks returns for a production credit and does a pretty good job, but nothing like his work on Kurupt's album. Bo kicks it off with an ok verse, Yuk takes this one with his verse on this one. But when they share a verse at the end both shine much better.4/5

10.MADE MEN-the team of Yuk, Bo, Killa Tay, and producer Mo' Betta return for another banger. The beat is hard and nice to bump, and Killa's opening verse is amazing. Yuk takes the second verse with a nice verse, and Bo takes the finial verse and kills it. Over all another banger for the speakers.4.5/5

11.MY LIFE-now this BANGER right here is the C Bo solo track and Bo kills this track with and outstanding flow. Bo stepped it up on this track lyricaly and even speed up his flow, and even when the hook hits and it is slower than the verse it still fits. The BANGING beat is courtesy of the ever talented BOSKO, who also incorporates the Roger Troutman talk box. This is another that would have made noise as a single with push.5/5

12.LET'S FLIP HER-and now we are back two the Thug Lordz spitting together, and once again it is produced Raw Steel. Also this is another track about sex and girls, and like the last one this is one of the weaker tracks. It is an ok track though, and you might like it, or then I did.3.5/5

13.21 GUN SALUTE-we end things with another banger for all to enjoy, and once again this track is produced by E A Ski & CMT. They did an excellent job on this track, it is a very original beat and Yuk killed the first verse. Bo kills the second verse with his hardcore flow. They share the finial verse and kill that one as well and ensure that they end the album right.5/5

Over all this is very strong album and I think even the casual rap fan would enjoy this album. Sure it isn't a mainstream sounding album but that is what is great about it, I recommend the album to all.

You may wonder why I didn't rate this album as 5 stars if it's the best album to come out this year. 2004 was a weak year overall, and even this album had a couple of weaker tracks. But overall, this is West Coast gangsta rap at it's best!! It's a collaboration of two of the biggest names in the West - C-Bo and Yukmouth. The album is nothing but straight up gangsta rap to the fullest. The production is bangin, Yuk and Bo tear the songs up... Killa Tay drops some strong guest appearences, and so do the other (few) rappers featured... You also get a few vicious 50 Cent disses, which is also nice if you're tired of those no-skills-having, rappers-singing-hooks sell-outs!
Overall, like I said, 2004 was quite a dissapointing year, but this collaboration album did not dissapoint at all. It's a great project between two of the West's best rappers, a callobaration of two of the West Coast (REAL) bosses Yukmouth (repping his label Smoke-A-Lot) and C-Bo (West Coast Mafia). I think the best song is Yuk's solo "The American Dream" - it's one of his best songs ever - the beat will blow you away, and Yuk tears the track up. You'll love this album, since both spit nothing but the realest sh** out there!

This album is the Shizznit. It features Bang Em' Smurf the only real thug to ever be in G-Unit. The beats are original & bang'n. Buy this album....

this cd is very rare, due to the fact that most of the units were pulled from the shelves almost immediatly after the release.this is apparently due to some sort of lawsuit, possibly over the use of 50 cents' name(they really lay into him, he deserves it anyway).besides all that, this cd is easily the best of the year(so far), i never expected an album from 2004 to have such thumpin, original beats.

songs like "he aint a thug"(50 dissin), "killa kali"(feat. spice 1!), "bulletproof love"(catchy hook), and "my life"(cbo solo) make this cd worth much more than you'll end up paying for it(i paid 45....worth every cent)

long live CBO and the west coast! MOB

This cd is %100 pure gangsta, every track is a hit. This cd tops C-bo's last duo with Brotha Lynch on Blocc Movement. Yukmouth and C-bo's best work together on this one cd. This is a classic and a must have. If you aint got it, you need to!

thiz cd slaps hella hard wit nuttin but that oakland-sacramento mobb muzic. Yuk & C-bo work great together. Thiz collabo is better than C-Bo & Brotha Lynch CD. They go hard in every track and spit nuttin but gasoline on da mic. 50 has nuttin on them and i know he's scared cuz he can mention Joe Budden, Ja Rule, Jada, Fat Joe, Game, and whoever he has beef with on his cds but he won't mention no west coast cats specifically Yukmouth or C-BO. 50 snitch knows what da bay and sac have to bring to da roundtable so he rather stay quiet. Unless he wants to lyrically get murdered. He's scared of da bay, dude had so much security when he did a show in da bay that he ran off wit his tail between his legs when he tried to go INTO one of the hoods in Frisco. Check out Thug Lordz mix cd, it came out September 2005. U can get it online at RapBay. It's a follow up on thiz cd but it's not an official C-Bo & Yukmouth cd, BUT it still bringz that west coast cali mobb muzic. Oh BoY!!! Yadamean RIP MAC DRE!!!

can't figure out why heads have been sleeping on this album from Yuk and Bo-Loc! Every track is hard and they have heat! This album wasn't promoted to the extent it should have. Look out for track #4 where they rip 50 Cent apart. 50 is wack and is a disgrace to rap music and they tear him a new one.

50 is wack!

G Unit is wack!