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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Meat to the Shizake, June 20, 2003
Believe it or not, there was a time when hip-hop wasn't about how thugged out were. Or, how much Ice you rocked. As a long time Hip-Hop head, I remember those days well. It was fun, back then Biz was "Pickin' Buggers" The Fat Boys were "Crushin" Nobody was packing guns, 50-Cent would have been considered a "Wanksta" Between then, and now, a lot has changed. What's the last Hip-Hop album you remember buying that was free of foul langauge, and no, the "edited" version doesn't count sorry.
Ugly Duckling, take it back to those days, you won't like this album if you have to "keep it real" and want to hear about sex and voilence, there is simply none of that here. But if you want one of the truest, most original albums ever released, run out and pick this up. The album tells a story of a fast food chain "MeatShake" and their competition with the "Veggie Hut" which is across the street. It might sound, well dumb, but believe me it's not. This album is overflowing with personality and humor, and there are absolutly no curses.
The album starts on a high note, with Dizzy & Andy rappin about being an "Opening Act" and the crowd hating them, this is a funny track. And one point they call out "somebody say ho!" and get zero responce, repeated nothing, repeated, "you suck!" you can't help but smile at this track. Track #3 "MeatShake" you start to see how nutts this album is. Andy raps about the shake made from meat that their chain serves, the lyrics are original and witty, this is a hilarious track. They go on to "Dumb it Down" talking about how you gotta be extra simple to make it in todays market. This could be a diss to 50-Cent's (even tho it's not) UD's are anything but dumb. "The Drive-Thru" is possibly my favorite track, it has somebody in the "MeatShake" drive-thru, and Dizzy rapping the menu to the customer. And the dude is thrown off by everything "having meat in it" At one point
"(May a take your order?)/yeah my wife would like a shake/(ok, what flavor would you like, we got Chicken, Pork or Steak) huh?" You have to hear it to appericate it, because reading it just makes it sound stupid. I've listened to the album about 10 times since 4 days ago [when it came out] I still find myself smiling at the originality and humor packed thru it. The track ends with him insulting the customer because they don't want a meatshake and telling the "hippies" to go across the street to the "Veggie Hut" Which later leads into one of the funniest songs I've heard in a long time. "The Conferentation" Where Brianna from the "Veggie Hut" troops over to confront Dizzy about serving meat. "(What has an animal ever done to you?)/It filled me up... Hay save the attack/(I guess I just respect life)/I have it for a snack" Again, you must hear it to be able to appericate it. It's not stale, dumbed concepts here, it seems the humor works everywhere. Other standout tracks "Mr. Tough Guy" which calls out the people who act mean for no good reason (50-Cent's perhaps?) & "Potty Mouth" where they talk about people who cuss for no good reason.
The concept behind this album isn't good on it's own. It seems, well dumb. But, the lyrics are so original, and threw-out the album there are "skits" witn commericals and jingles for "MeatShake" But best of all, there's Young Einstien's production, which is beyond wonderful. It's so funky. A couple of the samples he uses sound like they were lifted straight from a 70's game show [a good thing] He ranks up there with Cut Chemist and Kut Masta Kurt when it comes to diggin in the crates and creating that classic sound.
I don't think I dislike any song on here, lyrics or production wise. And the throw back to classic hip-hop, without the cursing and voilence has me feeling like I was a kid again. Listening to a group who could be real, without fronting. It's nice to see a group that is comfortable enough to be themselves. They don't take themselves totally seriously, but they love Hip-Hop, and all 3 have immense talent. Shame that 50 will go on to be the biggest artist of the year. If there's some [any] justice in this world, the trio of Andy, Dizzy & Young Einstien will get some props for this incredible release. I'd love to see a Platinum Plack & a Grammy nod.bottom line, BY IT! it's a fun album that is overflowing with humor, and with no objectional songs or lyrics. Parents will have no problem letting the little one listen to it.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not their best, but...., November 15, 2004
In the annals of hip hop, plenty of different movements have come and gone. The message folks were replaced by the gangstas. The gangstas were replaced by the rappers who just want to have fun. The funsters were replaced by the deep thinkers, and the deep thinkers were replaced by the gangstas. Through it all, most of the movements have stayed around, they've merely moved out of the mainstream. Well, the fun rappers are alive in the underground, and, along with a handful of others (Pigeon John, LA Symphony, Dirtburg, etc.) Ugly Duckling is headlining the movement, even if they're not headlining the tours.
With Fresh Mode and Journey to Anywhere, Dizzy Dustin, Andy Cooper and Young Einstein showed us that they were students of old school hip hop. Throwing rhymes back and forth, finishing each other's sentences, upbeat rhymes about goin' out on Friday Night, scratchin' the dickens out of old vinyl, etc. were (and still are) a breath of fresh air. Taste the Secret takes the same style, and mixes it up with a quirky theme that provides one of the most disgusting (but funny) hip hop songs I've ever heard (MeatShake). There are some extremely high quality tracks on this album, my favorite of which is Turn It Up, a call to...well...turn it up. Opening Act is a fun track that explains UD's position in the hierarchy of touring hip-hop. Potty Mouth is an entertaining track that exposes the use of curse words as a crutch/marketing gimmick. The cd as a whole is pretty good, but these three tracks stand out in my mind. The picture is this, Taste the Secret is a step back for the group, but considering that they were already about 4 steps ahead of most hip-hop, so it's not a huge deal.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a Hip Hop Classic - Artists Please Take Note, September 5, 2003
Forget the Source, forget five mics, forget the bling, forget the jig, forget software synths , forget modern Hip Pop and just buy this Homage to all of Hip Hops Finest Moments.
This album represents the true essence and genuine ideology of everything that Hip Hop used to stand for and still could if it wasnt for wack money hungry artists ruining the culture we all love.
Firstly lets address the music -armed with just an MPC and a couple of crates of dusty vinyl , Einstein creates a sound that producers with a $100,000,000 set up can only dream of - if only they had firstly had creative talents to be able to do this.
Secondly the rhymes that Andy and Dizzy unleash on this album are of the highest quality and flow with a tight quality rarely heard these days on any release.
Thankyou Ugly Duckling for bringing Hip Hop back down to earth and for resurrecting that golden age sound.
Those idiots that say Hip Hop is dead need to go and get this album and take that Pop Idol CD to the dumpster.
Not since Three feet high and rising has a hip hop lp made me laugh so much.
Like Paris said lets 'Break the Grip of Shame' of modern music.
U.D. Deserve a Grammy, an Oscar and a walk of fame Star for this !!!
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