24 Hour Karate School

GLAD I BOUGHT THIS AND EVEN MORE GLAD THAT IT WAS ALL I HOPED FOR! PEOPLE ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW THEY ONLY LIKE 1 OR 2 TRACKS AND THE REST OF THE CD IS AVERAGE BUT TO BE A TRUE FAN YOU WOULDN'T DOWN YOUR ARTIST ANYWAY. RESPECT THE VERSATILITY AND KEEP JAMMING!

The president's plan is to ask the wealthy to pay a little more. Not to shabby. It is just a desperate attempt to be detailed and specific.

I was very disappointed by this record. First, because of politics, they took Mighty Mos Def off of the album completely. Prowler 2 is not the same without him, as much as I love Joel, Jean Grae, and Jay Electronica. The Camp Lo track is decent, but otherwise, the rest of these tracks are basically average. Nothing special at all about this album, it should've remained a free project. Definitely getting sent back to Amazon

Dude is slicker then a bar of soap and all the tracks are just as clean. Great beats, great artists, awesome cd!!! This is what Hip hop needs and these are the cats that are doing it right. Ahead of the curve and top of the class. Top 2 bottom GOOD music, no Kanye. Get this asap!

North Carolina producer Ski Beatz has been around for almost 20 years, but he is now starting to get recognition- thanks to the success of Curren$y's "Pilot Talk". In the early 90's, he was the producer and member of the group Original Flavor, which was managed by a then-unknown Damon Dash. Behind the scenes as a producer in the later half of the 90's, that's when he is best remembered. Behind the boards, he was responsible for songs by Jay-Z ("Can't Knock The Hustle", "Feelin' It", "Who U Wit", "Streets Is Watching"), Bahamadia ("Uknowhowwedu"), Camp Lo ("Coolie High", "Luchini (This Is It)"), and two controversial songs by the short-lived Sporty Thievz ("Cheapskate (You Ain't Gettin' Nada)", and "No Pigeons"). Now, he is in the driver's seat for his very own album, "24 Hour Karate School", a guest filled album that's as quirky as it is entertaining.

The album starts off with the horn heavy "Nothing But Us" featuring Curren$y and Smoke DZA. Jean Grae, Jay Electronica and Joell Ortiz drop by for "Prowler 2". He reunites with longtime collaborators Camp Lo on "Back Uptown" referring to the title of their debut album, the Ski Beatz produced "Uptown Saturday Night". Wiz Khalifa drops in for the uptempo "Scaling The Building" while The Cool Kids show up for "Do It Big". The Black Keys "BlackRoc" project had an effect on Ski Beatz, as he brings in a couple of blues rock numbers on the Jim Jones assisted "Go" and "I Got Mines" which features singing vocals from former Missy Elliott protege Nicole Wray, who also appeared on the "BlackRoc" project as well as The Black Keys recent album "Brothers". The album ends with two instrumental tracks- "Taxi" and "Cream Of The Planet" which sounds like a circa late 70's lost Herb Alpert song. Overall, this album is quite satisfying, but quite short, clocking in at a few seconds shy of 40 minutes.

Ski Beats has been one of the most popular producers for over some time now. His long track record stretches as far as the early 90's with production with his group Original Flavor's two albums, most notably Beyond Flavor with the single "Can I Get It Opin" that featured an early and young Jay-Z. Other notable production he has taken part in such albums as Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt and Camp Lo's Uptown Saturday Night. Until recently he has been resurfacing with his hand as much later Camp Lo albums, Pittsburgh Slim, and most recently Pilot Talk. Linking back up with Damon Dash, who managed Original Flavor, with his new label we finally we get an album from him with all work, with wide ranged production.

As we can tell here, Ski has no problem laying down production on here. Starting from the beginning with "Nothing But Us" featuring Curren$y and Smoke DZA rhyming over a smoked out beat that is quite simiar to what was on Pilot Talk. I've realized over time Curren$y, whos also signed to Dame Dash's label, sounds best over his beats, as shown on this album and all on his solo albums. Curren$y shows up again along side Jim Jones on "Go", which Ski lays down another funkdafied beat for them to rhyme to. "Prowler 2" is another strong beat that Ski lays down and Jean Grae, Joell Ortiz, and Jay Electronica each handles well. "Do It Big!!" features The Cool Kids and Stalley. The production is good, but the overall song is not impressive from any other point. "S.T.A.L.L.E.Y." is also produced great and features Stalley again who sounds better than the previous song he appeared on. "Not Like Me" features Tabi Bonney is one of Ski's weaker beats, and lyrically is unimpressive. The next song "Scaling The Building" featuring Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa picks things up production wise, making it one of the best songs on here. "Super Bad" featuring Rugz D Bewler is terrible completely. "I Got Mines" is another great track that features Tabi Bonney, Nikki Wray, Ras Kass & Stalley over an electric guitar beat done by Ski. Camp Lo makes a refreshing appearance on "Back Uptown". The last two tracks, "Cream Of The Planet" and "Taxi" are great instrumentals (the originally appeared on a Mos Def album).

The overall product is great. Its good to see Ski finally putting out an album that longtime fans can enjoy. Fans of his production and those who like Curren$y's first album will find enjoyment on here from the production. The album is slightly on the short side, less than 40 minutes. The features are not a huge problem on here, but mostly don't overshine Ski's works, nor weigh them down either. Peace.

Lyrics: N/A
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: B
Musical Vibes: B

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Nothing But Us (featuring Curren$y and Smoke DZA)
2. Scan The Building (featuring Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y)
3. Prowler 2 (featuring Jean Grae, Jay Electronica, and Joell Ortiz)
4. I Got Mines (features Tabi Bonney, Nikki Wray, Ras Kass and Stalley)
5. S.T.A.L.L.E.Y. (featuring Stalley)

This album is dope.
I only knew of Ski Beatz from Camp Lo, however, I now have an obsession with Ski Beatz beats.
All of the emcee's featured on this album straight up RHYME!!
While it is sad that "the powers that be" removed Mos Def from the album, 24 Hour Karate School is a DOPE album and you should definitely scoop it. I have had it on daily rotation for a few weeks now and I'm not getting tired of it.
I am eagerly waiting on part 2.

If more MCs dropped this type of stuff I would be a happier camper. Job well done......