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 Prodigy
H.N.I.C Pt. 2
Reviewed by: MJ
AKA Marissa J. Lonardo
Prodigy, one half of one of the
illest Hip-Hop groups in history
has cemented himself as an MC that
delivers hard hitting, relatable
rhymes every time he opens his mouth.
His latest project, "H.N.I.C.
2" hits stores with the force
of a forest fire scorching every
song on the 13 track CD including
a bonus song which has P rapping
in Spanish. Creative touches like
that really make the CD a break
from the party music that has currently
taken over Hip-Hop.
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 Hi-Tek
Hi-Teknology 3: Underground
Reviewed by: MJ
AKA Marissa J. Lonardo
It seems like only yesterday (actually
it’s almost been a year but whose
counting) Hi Tek killed it with
his Hi-Teknology series part two
and without wasting anytime at all
he’s back with his third studio
installment “Hi-Teknology 3.” The
cd has15 tracks including an intro,
an interlude, a Tektramental (aka
straight instrumental made by Hi-Tek),
and an outro. All of which sticks
to his time honor tradition and
what I like to call a proven formula
shall I say and gives us some notable
MC’s with sprinkles of a few un-known
MC’s rapping over his super laced,
highly eccentric, and of course
intricate beats.
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 Ghostface
Killah
The Big Doe Rehab
Reviewed by: MJ
AKA Marissa J. Lonardo
It might take you three tracks in
before Ghostface Killah’s “The Big
Doe Rehab” really gets started but
once Ghost’s party pops off its
sure not to end until 6 in the morning.
Like I have said before Ghostface
and Reakwon have been the most consistent
and viable Wu members that drop
gems with swagger on the mic that
many envy. Ghost’s latest work of
art doesn’t venture far from the
rhyme impresario we have all grown
to know and love.
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 Tracy
Randall
Sinners Have Souls Too
Review
by: Low
Lake Charles, Louisiana native Tracy
Randall has been involved in music
for over fifteen years. With influences
from such notable names as Glen Jones,
Donny Hathaway, Peabo Bryson and Stevie
Wonder, it is no mistake that this
talented singer delivers such a soulful
sound. His debut cd, "Sinners
Have Souls Too," is filled with
thirteen smooth contemporary gospel
tracks that I'm sure everyone can
relate to.
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 Lord
Infamous
The Man, The Myth, The Legacy
Reviewed by: Low
Lord Infamous a former member and
co-founder of the Grammy winning Memphis
rap group Three 6 Mafia is known for
glorifying drugs, horrific violence
and the pimp game within his music.
Over the years Lord Infamous has gained
underground success with his lyrical
style. Well, I really don't think
anything will change after his release
of "The Man, The Myth, The Legacy."
Due to the poor production and weak
lyrical content on this cd, Lord Infamous
will probably continue to remain an
household name within Memphis only.
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 N.O.R.E.
Noreality
Review by:
Marissa J.Lonardo AKA MJ
Hip-Hop fans of Nore’s pre-Reggeaton
works might be surprised that our
favorite LeFrek alum is back with
an only English Rap album that is
sure to please. NOREALITY has 13 tracks
of upbeat beats easy to follow flows
and calbos with Swizz Beats, Three
6 Mafia, Styles P and Kanye West just
to name a few. Nore even collaborates
with his long time Rap Partner Capone
something many Hip-Hop fans never
thought would happen after both parties
went on record saying they wouldn’t
work together ever again.
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 Reakwon
presents:Icewater
Polluted Water
Review
by: Marissa J.Lonardo AKA
MJ
We all have to admit Staten Island
has been M.I.A. from the rap game
for a minute now; especially with
ODB’s passing and Meth’s and RZA focusing
on movies/soundtracks and the rest
of the Wu Tang clan falling into obscurity.
Raekwon and Ghostface have been the
only viable force repping the Shaolin
Island.
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 AKIR
Legacy
Review by:
Marlow "Low" Scruggs
AKIR brings that raw street lyricism
that's hard to find within today's
hip-hop. With his poetical flows,
political and street storytelling
abilities I can’t help but notice
these qualities that are comparable
to a young Nasir Jones. The entire
album is loaded with nineteen official
street bangers that also includes
a bonus track "The Louisiana
Purchase" featuring Immortal
Technique, Poison Pen & Mojo.
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 Kelly
Rowland
Ms. Kelly
Review by:
Marlow "Low" Scruggs
Ms. Kelly told y'all she was gonna
bump like this and bumpin' is exactly
how she started off the album. The
first song on the album is the go-go
laced lead single "Like This"
which have had all of you rockin’
this summer. She followed up with
several up-tempo cuts that'll keep
it crunk in the clubs. One that I'm
actually feeling is "Work"
and that's because of Kelly's flow
on the hype track and I can’t
help but imagine how she'd perform
this song on stage.
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 FABOLOUS
From Nothin' to Somethin'
Review
by: Marlow "Low"
Scruggs
The Brooklyn-born John Jackson, aka
Fabolous is back with the release
of his long-awaited fourth and possible
street classic "From Nothin'
to Somethin'." Believe me when
I say, "This album is full of
hits." Stand out tracks include
the lead single "Diamonds"
featuring Young Jeezy, the smoothed-out
"Make Me Better" featuring
Ne-Yo and the street anthem "Brooklyn"
featuring Jay-Z and Uncle Murda.
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 Polyrhythm
Addicts
Break Glass
Review by
Marissa J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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When I first popped the Polyrhythm
Addicts album “Break Glass” into my
CD player I really didn’t know what
to expect. The cover already peeked
my interest because the group consists
of three men DJ Spinna, Shabaam Sahdeeq,
Mr. Complex and one woman Tiye Phoenix,
which has been a rare group dynamic
in Hip-Hop today. But as soon as track
one started playing the 31 second
interlude with a faint Poly Poly grumbling
through my speakers, I immediately
was hyped and that anticipation was
not to disappoint.
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 Redman
Red Gone Wild
Review by
Marissa J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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"Red Gone Wild" is truly
Redman's most top-notched effort since
his debut album almost 12 or so years
ago. And you know the saying, If it
ain’t broke don’t fix it, well Redman
has listened and is offering us 23
tracks including skits of the same
MC we have all grown to know and love.
Redman never ceases to amaze the listener
with his off the wall rhymes and his
most original freestyles.
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 Snowgoons
German Lugers
Review by
Marlow "Low" Scruggs
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German Lugers are pistols that are
extremely accurate due to precise
engineering. That being said this
album is titled appropriately because
bangers such as "Never"
featuring Reef The Lost Cauze, "Snowgoons
Sonata" featuring Pumpkinhead
and "Offensive Lineup" featuring
Craig G are among the barrage of hot
lead spitting from the chamber of
"German Lugers."
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 Bugsy
Black Sheep
Review
by Marissa J. Lonardo AKA
MJ
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This 12 track album is really an
enjoyable piece of Cali Hip-Hop art
at its finest. A fresh concise work
that is steady the whole way through.
Bugsy’s has a gritty voice that does
remind you a bit of Tupac, really
because of his flow. Every song on
the album does have a good beat with
a sped up sample or a nice flow, either
way this offering won’t disappoint.
Stand out songs include, “It’s Going
Down Tonight,” a charming track that
the ladies will definitely enjoy.
“The End” is a chilling fictional
story track of the demise of Bugsy,
which will have you tripping about
your own life.
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 Patriarch
Son of a Refugee
Review
by Marissa J. Lonardo AKA
MJ
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First of all, this 20 track album
is filled with many mixed messages.
Instead of gracefully moving through
tracks, the album is like a freight
train moving between the many politically
charged tracks and then into many
uneven commercial missteps. The vibe
of the album is somewhat hard to bare
because the beats are in a sense;
below par and also because of Patriarch
seems to be overly trying to be militant.
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 Hi
Tek
Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip
Review
by Marissa J. Lonardo AKA
MJ
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Hi-Tek, may be best known for being
a producer, but with the release of
his sophomore album “Hi-Teknology
2: The Chip” being a producer will
have to coincide with now being known
as an ill MC. The one thing that really
stands out from the first listen is
that Hi-Tek has been able to not only
hold his own, but also produce some
of his finest tracks to date. Highlights
on the album include “Music for Life”
featuring J Dilla (RIP), Nas, Common,
Busta Rhymes, and Marsha A of Floetry.
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 Oshy
Da Life of A Singer
Review by Marissa
J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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The 15 Track offering is definitely
a nice piece of work for all to enjoy.
For the men out there that want to
put their girl in the mood, Oshy has
helped you with this EP. And for the
ladies you will thoroughly enjoy Oshy,
in his entire splendor. With a range
that varies from song to song this
album will not leave you disappointed.
Some stand out tracks, “Enuff Love”
a nice slow jam that is definitely
satisfying and is like candy for the
ears.
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 Belo
The TRUTH
Review by
Marissa J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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The 12 track album is definitely
an eclectic sound that most Do or
Die fans will not be used to. You
will either love or hate the fact
that even though this album is a solo
effort it really should be called
a collaboration album, because every
track has a feature. With an evident
contrast between God and his always
present gangster mentality, the album
doesn’t come off as even tempered,
but very varied from song to song,
and without an intro, the album takes
flight right from jump.
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 Obie
Trice
Second Round's On Me
Review by Marissa
J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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Obie Trice is back with a very promising
sophomore effort, "Second Round's
On Me." By using the same drinking
theme as his first album, "Cheers",
Obie brings us back where he left
off with the 18 track offering of
pure Hip-Hop. Obie has enlisted many
guests, including his boss Eminem,
Nate Dogg, 50 Cent, Akon, and Trey
Songz, just to name a few, to raise
their glasses.
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 Outkast
Idlewild
Review by Marissa
J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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When your last CD is one of the
3 best selling Hip-Hop Albums in history
its hard to top that success. But
Andre 3000 and Big Boi really known
as super group Outkast; have made
a great effort with the latest Album,
the unofficial soundtrack to their
movie "Idelwild."
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 The
Don Bishop Agallah
You Already Know
Review by Marissa
J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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The Don Bishop Agallah is stepping
out of the safety net of his group
Purple City and venturing out on his
own with his solo offering 'You Already
know'. Agallah has had a Hip-Hop career
spanning nearly a decade including
multiple album deals and producing
credits for heavy hitters like the
late great Big Pun, Dip-Set, and Busta,
just to name a few, Agallah, really
takes us into his world with this
19 track EP.
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 India.Arie
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life &
Relationship
Review by
Marissa J. Lonardo AKA MJ
Ok, I am not gonna front, I haven’t
always been a fan of India Arie. I
mean she definitely has her own style
and that song that talked about buying
a piece of crystal instead of a pistol,
was cool, but now I have to admit
with her new album “Testimony:
Vol 1. Life and Relationships”,
I am not only a fan but I truly appreciate
her music and I know you will too.
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 Busta
Rhymes
Big Bang
Review by Marissa
J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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A more mature Busta Rhymes has risen
after lying dormant for almost 4 years,
our man Busta is finally ready to
give us “The Big Bang” an album that
has awoken a spirit that some have
said may have gone away after the
release of “Pass The Courvoisier.”
With seven albums now under his belt,
this one is not only different but
shows a side to Busta that we have
never heard.
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 Jedi
Mind Tricks Presents Army of the
Pharaohs
The Torture Papers
Review by Marissa
J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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Army of the Pharaohs debut album,
“The Torture Papers” is hands down
the best crew album I have heard in
a very long time. With 12 members
that can all actually rap, I have
to say this album is sick and not
because the beats and the production
are off the chain, but because the
words that these MC’s posses and flow
with are like intricate details that
your grandma would sew into one of
those old fashion pillows.
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 Partners-N-Crime
Club Bangers
Review by Marissa
J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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Partners-N-Crime, Meana and Kanga
the protégés of Cash Money’s Juvenile
have made a nice freshman effort with
“Club Bangers.” A CD dedicated to
having fun, smoking, sexing, and everything
else associated with having fun.
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 Lord
Jamar
The 5% Album
Review by Marissa
J. Lonardo AKA MJ
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Lord Jamar’s “The 5%
Album” is in one word; Religious.
And with that said anyone who is not
a 5 percenter or Muslim, will be turned
off by this 21 track album filled
with religious raps with guest apperences
by RZA, Raekwon, Grand Puba, Papa
Wu, Reality Allah, Prodigal Sunn,
and Sadat X, just to name a few.
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Nas 
Keak Da Sneak
They
can lock him down and try to knock him down
too, but they can’t quite stop the wrath
of Prodigy. With his blog being the topic
of discussions on the daily, P isn’t letting
anyone forget about him anytime soon. And
that was the theme at his album release
press party at Smash Studios in Manhattan
last week
