We Live: The Black Sumurai

C-Rayz Walz | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 7, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Definitive Jux
• ASIN: B0002W4TS0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #455,336 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Some of the sharpest swords from this BLACK SAMURAI!!, August 24, 2006

By 

gavin redmond "phrase" (rep of ireland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: We Live: The Black Sumurai (Audio CD)

C-RAYZ is just one of those mc's thats just plain enjoyable to listen to. He lives+breathes hiphop so you know everytime he releases something he's put his heart+soul into it. (All you slacking rap artists out there, take note!!) This EP starts off smoothly with a japanese influenced intro instrumental then hits us off with "We Live [Belief Mix]", a slightly superior (in my opinion) version of this classic song. Next up is "Trudeau" and "Showgun", 2 of the tightest tracks, lyrically, on display. Then we bare witness to, in my opinion, the best beat on display "Crayzeebeat", and its used for a 30sec interlude??!!!! Why do so many artists do that?? Next up is the fantastic "Crayzeerock" where RAYZ goes wild on the mic coming up with some of the freshest ryhmes you'll hear. "Single Mothers" is an ode to the situation that is so common in every corner of the globe, backed up by "Amore" another soulful offering that allows the previous heat from tracks 3,4 and 6 to simmer down. "Metal Petals", an interlude is next followed by "Rainforever" (easily the best track on show here), where RAYZ tears it down big style. Finally we got another remix this time in the form of "3 Card Molly" and it ends with the same piece of music used for the intro. All in all an excellent EP, that if you can get on the cheap becomes an amazing EP.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars C-minus for C-Rayz!, October 21, 2004

By 

Jose Shaffernafferquez "Hulk Smash!!" (Washington DC - United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: We Live: The Black Sumurai (Audio CD)

Well well well,

Any fan of the Def Jux line up knows that C-Rayz could kill the mic at one point. Now 2+ years since proving his skills on various underground & early Def Jux releases... he's got 2 full lengths under his belt. I'll admit I was a doubter when I first heard 'Ravipops'. I felt that his style wasn't tight enough & he relies on too many nonsensical lines & verses to make his songs make sense. After multiple listens & a growin appreciation for the beats on 'Ravi', I warmed up to it... even came to really like it. Then came the track 'Jello' on DJXP3, which was new territory for C, to actually be doing a song w/ an entire point. The verses made sense, & related to the point of the song. I thought this was a pretty tight track for C, & was therefore excited more for his new releases 'We Live'. Well let me just say that i'm terribly disappointed. First off the album starts w/ a Belief remix of 'We Live' which was featured on 'Ravi', & a remix of '3 card molly' from 'Ravi' as well. These are good songs, but i just feel that he should've saved them as b-sides for 'Ravi' released them bt/w the 'Ravi' singles... instead he releases a new album w/ not one remix'd old song but 2! So then there's the actual new songs... some of which are still bangers, most of which have darn good beats, only a few horribly commercial sounding. But the clincher that really takes this album from a B+ to a C- is the hooks! The hooks are so "sing-Songy" as another reviewer put it, & just plame simple & annoying, plus C has a tendency to really let his voice go on this CD, letting himself hit these distorted, raspy, sometimes even whiny lines! It's really a shame b/c as we all know he's a tight MC, better than any of us could hack, & I really look forward to another effort from him reclaiming his freestyle glory days. I'm a huge supporter of underground hip-hop so if you're at all into it.. go pick this up, help them feed their habits & their seeds... but this is definitely not the best that C Rayz can do. Sorry C@!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His best work to date..., November 10, 2004

By 

Todd E. Jones "Music Journalist" (Edison, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We Live: The Black Sumurai (Audio CD)

"We Live: The Black Samurai EP" by C Rayz Walz is his best work to date. C Rayz Walz is truly amazing as an emcee... This EP is almost perfect. It has enough universal appeal for new listeners but also has some odd and creative sentiments for the true fans. The best songs are CRAZEEROCK , AMORE and RAINFOREVER. Even the songs that are re-visited from Ravipops (like 3 CARD MOLLY and WE LIVE) are incredible because they are RE-DONE... and dramatically improved. This is a modern hip-hop classic.