Customer Reviews

Villa Manifesto

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

 

 

If you don't know slum, then your slipping! Jay Dee aka J-Dilla, Baatin, and T3 reppin burst on the scene with one of the most heavily bootlegged album of all all time. The trio released fantastic Vol. 2 in 2000, containing dope rhymes, dope beats, and a bunch of features including pete rock, busta rhymes, kurupt, and q-tip. Vol 2 is their best work to date, and it is a classic album you need in your collection if don't already have it. J-Dilla left the group to persue a solo career, so the group added ELZHI. Ezhi was known for his potent rhymes and flow, which fit nicely with Baatin and T3 on their follow up album Trinity, spawing the hit "tainted". Baatin left shortley after due to heath issues. Elzhi and T3 carried the slum village flag on the next album Detroit Deli, which contained the hit selfish featuring kanye west and john legend. Although J Dilla left the group, he was still present on production on a few songs on the trinity album, and detroit deli. J Dilla died in 2006 from complications from lupus, leaving the remaing memebers pondering the group's fate. The group released a self titled album a year earlier, which was under the radar compared to their last couple of albums, but it was a dope album reguardless. The death of J Dilla caused the group to go on a hiatus, ultimately laying the ground work for a new ablum. In the process of creating Villa Manifesto, T3 wanted to bring Baatin back into the group, to carry the torch they started. Unfortunaely Baatin would pass away in the summer of 2009. Before he passed away he was album to supply the group with plentiful verses for the ablum. Villa manifesto is unique, because it is the first slum village album to feature vocals from all four members. Production on the album is handled by Hi Tek, Young RJ, J Dilla, and Khrysis. Production on the album is very good, remincent of Early J Dilla productions. Even though Unrealeased J Dilla verses from the vault were placed on the album, and they fit perfectly adding to the album's coheisiveness(my spelling is kinda bad i know). songs like scheming, set up, errol flinn, and bare witness showcase the group at their finest. The Single faster is simlar to classic slum village material. All in all the album is very dope, unfortunately this will be their last, leaving all the fans wondering how an album would have sounded if all members recored an album together while everyone was alive. Villa Manifesto is a solid album and pretty damn good for a last album. All of the proceeds from the album will be given to families of Baatin and J Dilla, so please, please support!

I will keep this short and simple. I've listened to SV ever since their first release. I understand their role as the spiritual successors of groups like Tribe Called Quest. This album is a must buy for any SV fan. The production is terrific, the themes and lyrics are tight, the album is focused. Like previous reviews have said this is a culmination of the group's evolution through the years and their last album. Any SV fan who doesn't have this album should get it right now. If you like hip hop, get this album right now. Alot of artists like Drake etc get top billing these days but this album is superior to anything like that.

I am one of the biggest Slum Village fans out here and I must congratulate them for putting together another staple album. After all the controversy (the passing of Baatin, the breakup of the group) it makes you wonder what this album would've sounded like if Dilla was on the boards for the entire project. The 3 main mc's (Baatin, T3 & Elzhi) sound as fresh as ever with the occasional cameos from original member Dilla and newcommer AB, but you get the sense that sometimes they were not paired with the right beats. For example the opening track "Bear Witness" sounded a little forced, while they sounded very comfortable on tracks like "Dont Fight The Feeling", Where Do We Go From Here" featuring Little Brother, and "We'll Show You" which had the classic Slum Village sound. Tracks like "Um Um", "2000", and "Dance" show their ability to still handle their MCing duties while sounding new and rocking over tracks SV fans are not totally used to hearing them rock on. Songs like "Faster", and "Scheming" (which features Posdnuos, Phife & Dilla) hits you in your sweet spot and at the same time shows off their versatile nature and ability to rock over a pretty beats without sounding corny.

So that leaves me with the question, is Villa Manifesto a classic album? My answer is no, and this isn't the type of SV album I would've wished for as their final album together. It is however a VERY enjoyable album, and one that I hope will continue to grow on me for years to come.

What a way to end things. Great album, especially Dance, Don't Fight The Feeling, and Lock It Down were my personal favorites. Too bad the group couldn't last, despite Dilla & 10's passing. All of them had madd talent. All of them have solo efforts that will stand the test of time. Hip Hop will pay for not having them around as a unit anymore.

MY 2 PENNIES

If this is the last Slum Village album that were ever going to be blessed with, it's a good thing they went out with a bang. Dilla is back, Baatin is back along with T3 and Elzhi as the whole SV crew both past and present form together one last time for Villa Manifesto. The production shines throughout as Young RJ, Khrysis, The late great J Dilla and Mr Porter among others all deliver in prime fashion with their contributions on the boards. From Bare Witness to the ReUnion pt.2 to the Little Brother assisted Where Do We Go From here, Villa Manifesto is filled with gems and catchy tracks throughout the listen. A 2010 top pick and a blast of an ending if this is indeed the final release of a great run by the group we know as Slum Village.

Album Hot to bad if it's they last one I wish J dilla was living the group hasn't been right since his passing.

Slum Village has always brought the heat, and this album is no exception. The beats are head bangers, the lyrics are on point, its just another classic by Detroit's finest!

i thought the last couple tracks were okay...........overall i think this album was kinda boring mediocre ..i like slum village last 3 albums but this one is okay ..nothing new