Customer Reviews

Wild & Loose

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

 

 

Say what you want about this trio of proteges of the once omnipresent MC Hammer, Oaktown's 357 had the potential to be as big as the Hammer man himself with fierce lyrical delivery, hyperkenetic dance moves, flashy videos backed by catchy pop beats (in an interview it was said the group chose "357" as numbers symbolizing strength and power). This album was originally released in 1989, a year before Hammer's own career peaked. Unfortunately by the beginning of the '90s both acts failed to keep up with the changing pop landscape and the advent of "gangsta" rap. The inevitable backlash came against Hammer, Oaktown's 357 and other "cheesy" rap acts. Most female rappers with the exception of Salt N' Pepa were already forgotten by the time 357 (now a duo) released their far inferior sophomore disc "Fully Loaded." And even today with the world wide web there is little information about this enigmatic and short-lived group. Therefore it is great to see this "guilty pleasure" get re-released and remastered WITH an awesome DVD that includes not only all the videos from "Wild and Loose:"
357 Straight At You
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Juicy Gotcha Krazy
We Like It (Get Loose)

...but also the videos from "Fully Loaded:"
Honey
It's Not Your Money
Turn It Up

I had not seen a couple of these ever, and had not seen the others in many years so this was really a treat and reminded me how irresistably watchable the videos were (thanks no doubt to MC Hammer and his handlers). I did have to wince at seeing "Straight at You" again, where "Terrible T" and "Sweet LD" lip-synched the parts of "Little P," who for some reason was gone by the time the video was shot (random trivia: Little P was the keyboard player in Bobby Brown's "My Perogative" video with the high top fade LOL). It's a shame the DVD nor its track listing were even mentioned on the jewel box label; also a shame that I was able to find a "cutout" copy only 5 months after its release. Still, props to Bungalo records for giving it a try and doing a halfway decent job unlike so many re-released, supposedly remastered recordings these days. You can definitely hear the improved sound quality on the one listen I've had so far. My only other complaint is the listed "remix" of Juicy Gotcha Krazy that replaced the original album mix. This remix consists only of the original with an annoying hollow background beat. I was surprised they didn't use the bass-heavy single/video version with B Angie B or another mix I've heard that cleverly combines the album and single mixes. But the DVD more than makes up for that.

I hope this review will provoke others to write in on their likes (or dislikes) of this underrated group and album, and maybe the word can be spread and others will get to hear fun "vintage" rap/hip hop.

***********BUYER BEWARE************************. If you buy this CD for the song Juicy gotcha crazy Ft. B angie B you will be disappointed. Because she is not on the version that is on this album. And futher more the version on the album has some kind of rock sound with guys singing juicy in the background and the ladies rapping don't even sound like 357. This song and Yeah, Yeah, Yeah were the only reason I bought the CD. Yeah...song is cool it still sounds the same. But this messed up juicy version made me angry. I wish I had knew this before I bought it.

in answer to Norfeest....Oaktown's 3.5.7 has undergone more musical chairs in their brief 4 year career then Destiny's Child...starting out as a trio in 88 as MC Hammer's back up dancers the 3 original memebers Terrible T.,Sweet LD,and Lil'P.(seen in Hammer's "Pump it up" video),went on to record their debut "Wild & loose" to be released in 89...before the shooting and release of their 1st single "Yeah,yeah,Yeah" Lil'P left the group to get married...Hammer recruits 2 new girls Sweet P.(a former Raider Cheerleader) and VC(Bobby Brown's "My perogitive" video) joining Terrible T & Sweet LD turning 357 into a quartet,and the reason you see 4 women in the video...however the 2 new girls lipsynched Lil'P's voice in the "Yeah..." video...as the story goes VC broke her leg and never returned and Sweet P. left to becaome a temporary member of JJ Fad replacing Sassy C. briefly and changing her name to Classy P....now they are a duo once again...and you see that in their 2nd video "357 straight at u"...well going into 90's Hammer decided release a 3rd single "Juicy gotcha crazy" remixing & rerecording the song and adding the sultry vocals of B.Angie B....Angie was actually never a part of 357 just a guest vocalist...their 4th single "We Like it" was also rerecorded and remixed.


Now onto my review...these ladies remind me of a time when hip hop wasn't so mean and hateful...sure they dissed JJ Fad,S&P,and Shante...but it wasn't anything in the vein of what going on these days...they were not the best MC's, they still were nonetheless entertaining...all the spandex and cheerleader dance moves were cute.

Oaktown's 357 started out background dancing for MC HAMMER. Their debut was produced by him as well. The lead single "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" was a club banger in '88 and "Juicy Gotcha Krazy" (featuring B Angie B was a popular video hit for them). This release has HAMMER written all over it. It really didnt show any of their own personalities. Their follow-up "Fully Loaded" was much more rounded and the girls had more input.

This album doesn't seem to get the respect it deserved. It didn't get the respect it deserved when it was released back in 89, and it's pretty much forgotten now. This is a shame.

Why do the other reviews slack this album for being produced by MC HAMMER? Yes, everyone knows that MC HAMMER brought these girls up, and did most of the work for their album, including promotion and production. However, slow down for a second before you critisize them for this, and ponder this questions: Do you realize that now, in the year 2006, EVERY SINGLE HIP HOP "ARTIST" IS PRODUCED BY SOMEBODY ELSE? Let's face it - nobody writes their own lyrics. I hate to break it to you. Yes, MC HAMMER wrote lyrics on this album. What is your point?! Yeah, now I see you nervously glancing at your CD collection...

Each song on this album is well done. "357 Straight at You" is a gem. These ballsy girls called out every single female rap group that existed alongside them. Added to the hit list was SHANTE, SALT-N-PEPPA, and most obviously, JJ FAD. What rap group these days can actually start beef like that, much less a female group? These days, all you will get is a bunch of lousy r'n b, or some neo-hoochied-out Top 40 garbage.

There are club bangers on this album (Yeah Yeah Yeah, Juicy). The last song is a moody, dark song, "I Betcha Wanna Take It", which is definitely one of the standouts.

Get this album if you can, especially if you are interested in having a well-developed sense of what hip-hop was, and is.

This group came out strong in 89' after performing with Hammer since 87'. As part of the Oaktown Posse these ladies were more than just some of the best hip-hop dancers of that time they had skills on the mic as well. After shooting the music video for Yeah,Yeah,Yeah the group had a little drama that led to Lil'P leaving the group. Another reviewer said that she was the keyboard player in Bobby Brown's video but that is incorrect. That girl was a back up dancer for 357 known as Vicious C not part of the group. Lil'P was the other girl in the video aside from Terrible T and Sweet LD and she can also be seen in the Hammer video for Pump It Up. Anyway this cd was remastered very well and sounds great. I wish the B Angie B version of Juicy was included as well as the remix for We Like It with only TT and Sweet LD. But the videos are great anyway.

I agree with j arce (puertorocreppin) the ladies of oaktown's 357 never truly got the respect they deserved. I was and still am a huge fan of this group and was very excited when i found out they finally released all their hit videos (along with their remastered hit cds) They come from an era when hip hop wasn't all about violence/hate. (which few people under 30 will understand) you see back then it was all about the party. True they didn't have the tightest lyrics but at the same time they still held their own and definetely put on a show. There are a more than a few club bangers on this dics and this cd is a must buy to add to any old school hip hop head's list.

Chad one of the other reviewers is half wrong about the DVD.
The Turn It Up video is not on it.
That's why I'm giving it 4 stars.

I am sorry but this album was not what I was hoping it would be. I purchased it as a child and own it now as an adult. However, the only reason I do own it was because they attached their videos on DVD. We like it (Wild & Loose) and Juicy Gothca Krazy are great songs but only in there video forms. If you are looking for those sames songs as released on video on CD you aren't going to find it. Sad to say but I feel the only reason this album really sold was because many saw the videos first and then purchased the album hoping to hear the same thing.

I previously had seen Oaktown's 3.5.7 "3-5-7 straight at you" on Vh1 soul and it was a great video.The dances, The girl's and the rhymes were great!. As a young black old-school hip hop fan I LOVED THESE GIRLS and their song was a hit.

If anyone out there has any info on these girl's ...please keep me posted.
Until Then...peace!