Lyricist Lounge, Vol. 2 [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 28, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 28, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Priority Records
• ASIN: B000050XI0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #115,193 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Biggie is back again--freestyling like only a dead man can on the intro to this second volume culled from the archives of NYC's Lyricist Lounge. You have to wonder why hip-hop can't let the man rest in peace? Must be something to do with the papers. Same could be said of this record's transparent attempt to keep a franchise alive and help push the Rawkus label further into mainstream consciousness. Aside from the aforementioned intro and Q-Tip's "live" outro, there's precious little evidence that the Lyricist Lounge is, in actuality, a freestyle forum with a monthly live event in New York City. The pairings of established and lesser MCs are suitably uninspired: Big Noyd and Prodigy's "The Grimy Way" and Royce Da 5'9"s "Let's Grow" even sound as if they're retreading 1980s retro-synth soundtracks. And, predictably, Mos Def (Rawkus's would-be prophet and biggest seller) is all over the record. He pairs up first with Ghostface Killah (on the previously released "Ms Fat Booty" remix), then with Pharoahe Monch and Nate Dogg (on "Oh No"), and cameos on the Gang Starr remix of Macy Gray's "I've Committed Murder." It seems that the only people that really get it are Last Emperor and RZA, whose resurrected creature-feature "He Lives" performs radical psychic surgery on this comp's rotting corpse. --Chris Campion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This was not the Lyricist Lounge, January 11, 2002

By	Kevin Patterson (Chester, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Immediately, you have to notice the change in the lineup from the original L.L. 2-disc set. Not just the individual artists, but the type of artists. The Lyricist Lounge started as a haven for underground and unsigned artists. When it was compiled into album form the label that released it, Rawkus, was also a haven for the underground set. The L.L. album was a landmark release for underground hip-hop. This second volume is not that. A quick look at the lineup (Pastor Troy, J.T. Money, Beanie Siegel, etc.) will tell you that Rawkus was trying to make a more commercially viable change and the Lyricist Lounge went right along with it. While that isn't good for the underground heads, there were certain tracks you just can't front on. The lead single "Oh No" is one of the strongest songs of the year. Does Nate Dogg belong on the Lyricist Lounge? Hell no. But does he add personality and a dope hook to compliment two of the best MCs in the game (Mos Def, Pharoah Monch)? Hell yes. Similarly, Redman shouldn't be here, but "W.K.Y.A." is still a great song. The album does have lots of downpoints, though and shouldn't be recognized as a great compilation. It is an "pretty decent" compilation, that becomes a bad compilation if compared to it's predecessor. Commerical rap heads will enjoy this if they forget its supposed to be an underground release and underground heads might like it if they look past the lineup to find the small handful of songs that are just damn good.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sophomore Jinx, December 2, 2000

By	Ghosty "ghostyfreeze" (Northcoast - Ohio) - See all my reviews

The 2nd installment of the Lyricist Lounge volumes strays completely off track from the first. The volumes, named after a NY club for underground lyricists and emcees, choose to go commercial this time, which has it's advantages and disadvantages. It is ironic that Mos Def be all over this cd, because it is a Rawkus release; it is obvious they are trying to showcase him over all the rest. One of the best tracks, He Lives, was taken off the cd in later pressings because Rza's record company did not want him on this cd. Overall, Lyricist Lounge 2 proves to be a run of the mill, usual collaboration. Nothing on this cd can be looked down upon but the cd could have been much more creative and inspiring.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars underground trying to surface (don't worry we can see you), November 15, 2003

By	Adrian - See all my reviews

First of all i would like to point out there are two versions of this album. Nothing major, but the copy i own, has a track with big L & C-town (called Still Here) in the place of The Last emporer. Both tracks are worthy of the cd yet the big l is doper.

With that being said the album itself is bangin, some commercial heads are featured which is okay since we all got to make money, but this is dope hip hop and you should buy it, not only is it mad cheap used, the album is worth every cent of that four dollars.