Customer Reviews

True Indeed

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

 

 

Are you kidding me? Soulo and J Skills have done it again. I've been down with these cats since I copped "The Field/Dope Transmission" 12" back in '99 and they never disappoint. The beats on this album are so buttery slick and newcomer Surreal has a very nice flow with some dope verses. If you're already a fan of the SP's you know what you can expect from these cats. But if you've never heard them before, really any album is a good starting point. They have a simple equation to their songs, smooth jazzy beats with no gimmicks. This is just good music all around. After one listen I knew this would be a dope album, ...true indeed.

I give The Sound Providers 4 stars and Surreal 2. "An Evening with the Sound Providers" Is one of my favourite hip-hop albums, and the slick production that made it so awesome is present here as well, but I feel that their skills have taken a backseat to Surreal, who is nothing more than a mediocre rapper. His content is not varied enough, and he sticks to a pretty monotone delivery. Pretty much every rapper introduces himself and does a bit of macho posturing, but the best rappers DEMONSTRATE their skills, rather than just rapping about them. To me the whole album feels like an intro track, with Surreal going on about how he was going to take over, how he's this top mc, joining his skills with the established SPs. By the album I was thinking, "Ok, so...let's go then! Show me how good you are, dont just tell me." It is only track 4 when Surreal has a song that isnt entirely about himself.

The reason I didnt give the production 5 out of 5 (which I think the SOund Providers are capable of) is because they seem to have toned down their tracks to accomodate the rapper. "An Evening..." was clearly about the producers, the guest rappers were secondary, and thus the tracks spoke for themselves. These tracks are good, but feel like they have been held back to let the rapper fill up the song. Surreal fails to do this. I think of great producer/rapper relationships, like Kno and Deacon of the Cunninlynguists, Eminem and Dre, Kanye and Jay-Z, where a good track and a good mc work together to make magic, and here they arent doing that.

So, if youre into jazzy hiphop, theres no better producer than the Sound Providers, but get "An Evening...", its got their best stuff on it.

Peace

As I write this I'm listening to 'Push On', with its crazy Piano hook laid back toon, with Surreal doing his thing. I didn't think they made Hip hop like this anymore. Great Production, providing that Hip Hop is not dead, it's just gone underground. This CD is laced with Jazzy hooks, and surreal flowing smooth like butter. I'd love to see them live. My Fav tracks are, the fore mentioned' Push on',' Truth be Told' Just getting Started,, and the 'Rundown' but Truth be told I can let this CD flow without skipping tracks. Recommended.

this album is a must have for any fan of hip hop, in my opinion. since it dropped, i've been wishing that surreal and the SPs would get together for another album. if surreal, soulo, or j-skills is reading this review, please give us another album! the second one will sell tons after how dope this one was.

First heard one of these songs from Internet radio so I decided to look them up. Heard the this album on iTunes & bought it. Very nice album. Very smooth chilled relaxing beats with some nice real flows to compliment them. Def a must buy if your lookin for music to either just chill & listen on your iPod or whatever or bumpin it through your sterio system or even with your girl. Peace love & hip hop

The Sound Providers deliver with the beat production. The downside is that the music overshadows Surreal's vocals. I would say that Surreal is missing something I can't quite put my finger on, maybe missing a little funk...

In summary: I'm always on the hunt for good, soulful hip hop. If you are too then pick up this album.

It has been a long time since I've heard an album that hits the nail on the head. The beats are solid, the rhymes are phat and everything just flows. There are very few artists making music like this today but it's so refreshing from the horrid garbage the record industry seems to think we need to hear. Would highly recommend this album.