Customer Reviews

Whatcha Gonna Do

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's obvious this album was meant for the mainstream (not that there's anything wrong with that). Appearances by Method Man, Redman, DMX, and Ice Cube prove it. I don't think it'll really make that big of an impact on mainstram rap fans who listen to DMX and Ja Rule, and it might dissapoint some underground Jayo fans, but in my opinion this cd still holds ground. The beats ain't bad at all, and then lyrics are above average. The skits are woth skipping and there might be a cut or two that you'll find a little boring, but tracks like Watcha Gonna Do (and the remix), Easy To Get It In, Nitty Gritty, J.A.Y.O, and How Angry are really dope and the guest appearances on each come off nice.
The thing I thought was missing in this album, was the gangbanging element Jayo adds, but it's understandable since it's supposed to be a mainstream record, but oh well, it's still a good cd.

After the sucess of his debut Take a Ride back in 1995, San Diego's "Bullet Loco" comes with his sophomore LP Whatcha Gonna Do? three years later. This album has a different feel than his previous, as back then, Jayo had made songs about the gangsta life over funky beats, and told stories about jail life. He does it here, but a little more less, and goes a little more mainstream with his hit (and what I believe his most popular) single "Whatcha Gonna Do?" which features Method Man, and DMX. The idiots at Def Jam should have pushed that single much harder than what it was, seeing that everything else that hit the radio was mostly their singles (see everyone who was signed on that label from the east coast back in '98), but then again they really placed everyone on the left coast on the backburner for the longest (such artists as Warren G, SCC, and Richie Rich...just to name a few) causing thier hits to fade to obscurity.

Another bangin track is the remix to the title track which features Redman, Mack 10, and W.C. Again, the remix could have been promoted, but then again it's Def Jam were talking about. Other great tracks include "No Body On Dry Land", "How Mad" featuring Eightball and MJG, and "Nitty Gritty".

Everything else on the album is good, but it really drags between tracks 11-15, causing a great amount of filler. Then it pickes up again on "End Of The World", and "J.A.Y.O.". The latter features E-40 and Ice Cube. The overall album is dope from Jayo. This album could have sold more if he was a more popular and better productive label, and since it's out of print, you can tell how much they care about this here. Although he has kept a low profile for the longest since this album, more than likely he is going to be remembered for the single "Whatcha Gonna Do?" You be the judge here. Peace.

Lyrics: B+
Production: B+
Guest Appearances: B+
Musical Vibes: B-

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Whatcha Gonna Do? [Remix] (featuring Redman, Mack 10, and W.C.)
2. Whatcha Gonna Do? [Origonal] (featuring Method Man and DMX)
3. Nitty Gritty
4. J.A.Y.O. (featuring E-40 and Ice Cube)
5. Nobody On Dry Land

Honorable Mention:
1. Easy To Get In
2. How Angry (featuring Eightball and MJG)

Even though it has been 3 years since his last release and he went "mainstream" and put out the album on Def Jam, he makes his 2nd classic album in as many tries. I think "Take A Ride" is ever so slightly better but this is still a 5 star classic. His lyrics, as always, are tight and his style is different and unique but he leaves his gangbangin' element out of most of the album unlike his other 3 albums. Def Jam did not promote it how it should've (like they do with all there west coast arists - Richie Rich, Warren G, South Central Cartel to name a few). The beats are great and pure west coast - produced by DJ Silk (7 songs) E-A Ski & T-Phunk (3 songs each) and Jayo does 2 songs. The guests are from east, west, and south and they're on 7 songs. It has 5 classic tracks, 8 good/great songs and the other 2 are o.k (on Jayo isn't even on). None on here I skip other than the few skits. A must have album for all rap fans.

#2 - 10 (classic w/ great beat)
#3 - 8.5 (f/ eightball & MJG)
#4 - 10 (classic w/ great beat -- f/ Method Man & DMX)
#5 - 9
#6 - 10 (another classic w/ great beat -- same beat as #4 -- f/ Redman, WC, Mack 10)
#7 - 10 (Classic w/ great beat)
#8 - 8
#10 - 7(short "song" by Crook of the DuLow gang -- no Jayo rapping on it)
#11 - 8 (f/ Anthony (T-Phunk) Pearyer -- relaxing beat)
#12 - 8
#13 - 8 (f/ kokane)
#14 - 8.5 (f/ mack 10)
#15 - 10 (classic w/ great beat -- about hustin')
#16 - 9
#17 - 7.5 (f/ e-40 & ice cube)

James Savage ---- b. around 1973 ---- San Diego, CA
check all my reviews

I think that its sad that Jayo got shelved by Def Jam. The fact that they can sign Jeezy and all these other nonrappers speaks volumes of the type of record company they are. Jayo has a slew of guests on this album but make no mistakes, he can and does hold his own. Tracks like Nobody On Dry Land, Nitty Gritty(whick samples Whodini's Six Minutes Of Funk), Easy To Get In, Hustle In My Genes and End Of The World prove my point correct. DMX and Method Man join Jayo on Whatcha Gonna Do, Mack 10 and Jayo give a good perfomance on Finna S*** On Em and Eightball & MJG show up on the second best song on the album How Angry. The best track on the album is J.A.Y.O. which features E-40 and Ice Cube who rip the track in half right along with Jayo Felony. The album has flaws like the awful Bumpin Bullet Loco, the awkward sounding ode to a girl Lovely and the Gettin Loop Loop skit is just pointless. The Whatcha Gonna Do remix with Redman(whose verse was tight), Mack10 and WC sounds forced but thats about it. Bottom Line: Jayo Felony's Whatcha Gonna Do album is easily his best album and wins the award for most slept-on album by a westcoaster in 1998. Jayo Felony has potential that a stupid label like Deaf Jam could care less about. This album was one of those proofs of his potential. Standout Tracks: WHATHCHA GONNA DO, NOBODY ON DRY LAND, NITTY GRITTY, IM DEADLY, FINNA S*** ON EM, END OF THE WORLD,HUSTLE IN MY GENES AND J.A.Y.O.

Bullet Loco comes tight on his second album. He still brings that underground heat, while appealing to mainstream heads as well. "Whatcha Gonna Do" (w/ DMX and Method Man) and the remix (w/ Mack Dime, WC/ and Redman) are surefire hits with the bangin west coast foreground beat with some hints of east coast beats in the horns in the background (esp. on the remix). The track "I'm Deadly" has the mobb style beat, like something Sam Sneed, Dre, Ice Cube would have used in the early to mid 90's; it is hot. It is old fashioned gangsta rap, plain and simple, and it works. "Nobody On dry Land" is a neat, melodic, underground feeling track. There is some element of G-Funk on tracks like "Love Don't Love" (w/Kokane)and "Lovely." The South East San Diego element is evident on the beat "Easy To Get In" which slams in the trunk. The track with EightBall and MJG "How Angry" is also cool with a neat southern influenced beat. all in all, jayo and his production team have hit us with a late 90's powerhouse with all the well roundedness of the production of this album.

The album is definitely gangsta let's get that straight. Even with some eastcoast and down south guest appearances this still sounds like a straight up westcoast album. When I listen to Jayo I dont think San Diego but Los Angeles instead. But its whatever though. I think the Anita Baker remake is one of the hottest songs on the album as well as the last song on the album with Ice Cube and 40 water. But on side 2 (if you had the tape) there are like 3 songs in a row that is fast foward material. If you want to get some throw back Westcoast music then go get this album.

No doubts about Jayo Felony from West Coast. He's been blessed and sent to Planet Earth to make this all happen around him. You'll not regard any music from him. Support him.

After the sucess of his debut Take a Ride back in 1995, San Diego's "Bullet Loco" comes with his sophomore LP Whatcha Gonna Do? three years later. This album has a different feel than his previous, as back then, Jayo had made songs about the gangsta life over funky beats, and told stories about jail life. He does it here, but a little more less, and goes a little more mainstream with his hit (and what I believe his most popular) single "Whatcha Gonna Do?" which features Method Man, and DMX. The idiots at Def Jam should have pushed that single much harder than what it was, seeing that everything else that hit the radio was mostly their singles (see everyone who was signed on that label from the east coast back in '98), but then again they really placed everyone on the left coast on the backburner for the longest (such artists as Warren G, SCC, and Richie Rich...just to name a few) causing thier hits to fade to obscurity.

Another bangin track is the remix to the title track which features Redman, Mack 10, and W.C. Again, the remix could have been promoted, but then again it's Def Jam were talking about. Other great tracks include "No Body On Dry Land", "How Mad" featuring Eightball and MJG, and "Nitty Gritty".

Everything else on the album is good, but it really drags between tracks 11-15, causing a great amount of filler. Then it pickes up again on "End Of The World", and "J.A.Y.O.". The latter features E-40 and Ice Cube. The overall album is dope from Jayo. This album could have sold more if he was a more popular and better productive label, and since it's out of print, you can tell how much they care about this here. Although he has kept a low profile for the longest since this album, more than likely he is going to be remembered for the single "Whatcha Gonna Do?" You be the judge here. Peace.

Lyrics: B+
Production: B+
Guest Appearances: B+
Musical Vibes: B-

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Whatcha Gonna Do? [Remix] (featuring Redman, Mack 10, and W.C.)
2. Whatcha Gonna Do? [Origonal] (featuring Method Man and DMX)
3. Nitty Gritty
4. J.A.Y.O. (featuring E-40 and Ice Cube)
5. Nobody On Dry Land

Honorable Mention:
1. Easy To Get In
2. How Angry (featuring Eightball and MJG)

I bought this cd after I heard "Whatcha Gonna Do" w/Meth & DMX, that song has one of the tightest beats I've heard in a long time, and I knew Meth & X when I heard it, and i loved the third guy's rap style, and I figured out it was Jayo Felony so i picked up this album. Wow am i sure glad that I did, because this cd is some good smooth West Coast rap. Jayo's style never gets sickening, he just brings it tight on every cut. For Songs 2-7 This cd is on the verge of being a classic album without one slip-up at all, but after that it tapers off a bit, not making it bad or anything just making it really really good, not classic.

The best songs are "Whatcha Gonna Do" w/Meth & DMX "Nobody On Dry Land" "Nitty Gritty" "Easy To Get In" "Whatcha Gonna Do Remix" w/Redman, WC & Mack 10, "Bumpin' Bullet Loco" "Hustle In My Genes" and "How Angry" w/Eightball & MJG. This is a superb album, but it's not really maintream judging by the number of reviews i see here, a mere 2. But someday everyone will recognize the true skills of Jayo Felony!

I think what I like best about Jayo is his unique flow. His vocal style is just so unlike anybody else out there that you can't help but listen. When you combine that with the tight production on this album, you get one of the best hip hop CDs in years. For some reason, it was overlooked by both critics and heads alike.

Aside from the one song that got significant radio play, WHATCHA GONNA DO with Method Man and DMX, there are several other standout songs on the album. These are HOW ANGRY, NITTY GRITTY, FINNA SHIT ON 'EM, and J.A.Y.O. - JUSTICE AGAINST Y'ALL OPPRESSORS. Another thing that makes this album good is the guest stars: E-40, Ice Cube, Eightball and MJG, Redman, W.C., and Mack 10 to name a few. The mix of east coast and west coast vocalists make for an eclectic flavor among the songs and gives the album that little extra sumthin' sumthin'.

If you're a true hip hop head, you definitely need to peep this album. It's one of my favorites.