New album from Young MC off the hook
Gifted lyricist Young MC, he's been out there for a while, well, since the beginning now he drops with this album Engage the Enzymes.
1) Intro
2) Stress Test
Lyrically this song hits some notes, it has some genius moments at the beginning that make you realize why this guy get's props, but he waivers a bit, almost like he's tryin' to keep up wit the game, I'm not sayin' keep strictly with the party hip hop, but some of the lyrics is forced, the beat is nice, this song is an ok song.
3) Feel The Love
Yeah boy, an old school beat, he rhymes old school too. This song is hip hop, nothing more, that's why this song is genius, all of these rappers tryin' to change wit the times, and at least Young MC sticks to his own thang a bit. Check this jam out, it's 80's, but it's tight. Great beat.
4) Heatseeker
Old school. This is a lyrical high, he has some great lines, that hit up wit the beat. It used to be lyrics was the main thang, because a good beat wouldn't fix the song, nowadays, a lotta rappers rely on the beat, (Fabolous, Petey Pablo, Three Six Mafia) Gotta give props to the dudes that spend the time to write a song. This is the jam, check it out.
5) Whoop De Whoop
Actually the old school get's old, but it's almost like nostaliga, all of this reminder of what hip hop was isn't bad, but I guess the whole album ain't gotta be old school. The song is lyrically good, these songs take a simple topic, and follow it along with a song, and it works well, a lotta slang was coined with these songs. This song is genius. Check it, beat is simplistic, but the way the topic is handled, you gotta listen.
6) Flows
This song is too old school, it's where you take a drum machine, a little base, and you start yellin' a bunch of funky stuff. You don't really bump this in your car, the hook is garbage, and the lyrics is only decent. He starts goin' quick in the last verse, but you really start to understand these songs don't really have lyrical structure, mainly just a bunch of words that rhyme, hey like DMX! (That queer) Skip this track, unless you grew up on this type of stuff, and you really like it.
7) Unsigned Diva
Concept is real tight, it's old school, but the lyrics overtake once again. You gotta feel the lyrics rather you been a producer who had a chick wit a horrible voice or not. This song is funny as heck, I was rollin' when the hook came on. If you mainly about the beats, this ain't yo' albums, but if you like songs that don't get that deep, but stil got tight lyrics. This is yo' album. This is like the best jam on the album, check it out.
8) Babe
Young MC slows the album down a little bit to do a song for the ladies. The beat is real nice, I ain't tryin' to act hetero or nothin', but I don't want this dude singin' to me, that's the only reason I wasn't feelin' this song as much as the ladies would, I mean, it don't sound bad, but lyrically it ain't so hype, and it's a bunch of singin' wit some rappin', Young MC throws some old school that does ok, but this song is strictly for the ladies, maybe the club if you wanna turn from slow dancin' to freak dancin'. Check this jam out, it ain't bad, it shoots what it's aimin' fo'.
9) Crucial
A song about the World Trade bombin's. It's interesting, all the thoughts of everyone put into hip hop lyrics, old school at that. The beat is tight, and the hook is dead on. Lyrically the song is only decent, I say this because, anyone could have written this, it's not nessicarily the most creative jam, but it's still real good, check it out.
10) One Time For Your Mind
Hey, didn't Nas do this? Kiddin'. This jam starts out like some lame techno song, but Young MC hits a tight low, lyrically it ain't all that, but what rappers are perfect lyrically, I can't touch this guy, so really it's a good song. Except for the hook, it belongs in that Dirty Vegas video or somethin', but it's goofy, fast, but tight and all evened out. Check this out, it's real good.
11) Ain't No Way In This World
Man, they might as well have put some Beastie Boys, and Sugarhill Gang up on this track. This is like almost pre 80's. I'm feelin' it, the hook is crap, but that don't nessicarily ruin the song. Just a song about the ladies, but not for the ladies, it ain't bad, but Young MC keep singin', it ain't bad, he think he 50 Cent, of 50 Cent thinks he's Young MC. Lyrically decent, but the structure is what keeps the track above water, it goes from the flow to singin' in a smooth transition. This song is ok, check it out.
12) In Case
This song calls out all them Bling Bling and new style rappers, it needed to be done, a lyrically high song, you can't touch anything like this, because it's the innovators callin' out the young fools who think they run the game. Nice beat, check this jam out.
13) Without Doubt
Party jam. Doesn't really try to be nothin' else, it abandon's the exaggerated old school flow, but it keeps the vibe and feel, beat is old school, hook is decent. Lyrics is goofy enough. It all works together, check this jam out.
14) Easier
This is another singin' song, it ain't horrible, it don't nessicarily have to be a chick song either, I guess it's a nice break from the rappin'. It didn't need to be on the album, but it don't hurt it. The beat is nice, it kinda works. Check the song out.
15) Heatseeker (Remix)
Give it a new beat, some new sounds, this sounds alright, it's actually a little better, they give the hook to this synthesized voice, and it's goofy, but it ain't bad. Check it out.
16) Hidden Track-Can You Feel the Love (Remix)
Guitar, what is this doin' on the album? In this hidden track, the old school feel is retained, it's just made tighter with the guitar, definitley and improvement over the already tight Can You Feel the Love, a great way to close the CD. Check it out.
I started listenin' to rap when Kriss Kross came out, (shut up, I was like 7) so obviously I'm not the oldest hip hop listener. But I went to the roots, and I make sure I listen to the old school stuff, most of it's better then this new crap, but this CD is kinda iffy, if your strictly old school, this has some nice jams, great lyrics, but if you need the new stuff, this album won't do it for you. I think the CD works, I'd easily give it a five, especially lyrically, even though it has it's ups and downs.
Dope Tracks: 14
Whack Tracks: 1
OVERALL RATING: 5/5
REVIEWED BY: whitestain
ADDED: 2002-07-01
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