Redman - Dare Iz A Darkside (November 22, 1994)

I know, I know. I don't want to hear it.

Dare Iz A Darkside is the sophomore effort by Reggie Noble, who almost single-handedly handles the production duties. (Rockwilder and Erick Sermon provide the occasional support.) While it was commercially successful (in 1995 it went gold, which, using the 2007 equivalent, means he sold eleventy billion copies), it wasn't as critically favored as Whut? Thee Album. However, a lot of Redman stans claim this as their favorite of his albums, which, as you all know, means jack shit to me, so here we go.

1. DR. TREVIS
While this is just a glorified rap album intro, I do appreciate how it sounds as if it picks up right where the first album left off, and the ubiquitous Dr. Trevis instructs Redman to forget how he made the first album, so that number two can be an original creation.

2. BOBYAHED2DIS
First thing you notice is that Reggie's voice is now at a higher pitch, meaning that he sounds more like he does now than he did with those early EPMD appearances and Whut?

3. JOURNEY THROO DA DARKSIDE
Not great. That's all I got.

4. DA JOURNEE
This write-up is killing my spellchecker, seriously.

5. A MILLION AND 1 BUDDAH SPOTS
This beat fucking knocks.

6. NOOROTIC
This beat kinda gives me a headache. Rockwilder's beats definitely improved after this album. (I have to give him credit for the "Bobyahed2dis" instrumental, though.)

7. BOODAH SESSION
It's fucking hilarious that Redman spells "buddah", which is already misspelled to begin with, two different ways within three tracks.

8. COSMIC SLOP (FEAT ERICK SERMON & KEITH MURRAY)
Sounds exactly like you'd expect a Def Squad track to sound. They work so well together, they should do something crazy, like put out an entire album of collaborations or something. What do you mean, they already did that? Those motherfuckers owe me royalties, then.

9. ROCKAFELLA (R.I.P.) (FEAT ROCKAFELLA)
Short interlude featuring who I can only assume to be a late associate of Reggie's. (Sorry, rlstokey, I don't have any more info about this guy, but I tried. He passed on before the advent of Wikipedia.)

10. ROCKAFELLA
The first single. In 2007, a song like this would NEVER be selected to lead off the marketing of any album. Taken as is, it's not bad, but the second single was much better.

11. GREEN ISLAND
Meh.

12. BASICALLY
Redman is one of the best rappers out, period. Is that KRS-One's voice sampled throughout?

13. CAN'T WAIT
Single number 2. Probably the only song on here that sounds like it belongs on Whut? Another Album!!?? In a good way, of course.

14. WINICUMUHROUND
The people that don't claim that Darkside is Reggie's best effort often complain that all of the beats on here sound alike. I'm beginning to see their point.

15. WUDITLOOKLIKE
Meh, take two.

16. SLIDE AND ROCK ON
The riff on Dr. Dre's intro on The Chronic is appreciated. The song itself is frustrating to listen to.

17. SOOPERMAN LUVA II
The luva will (apparently) never die!

18. WE RUN N.Y. (FEAT HURRICANE G)
Erick Sermon must have seen a fine ass or something on Hurricane G when he knocked her up, because her voice is fucking annoying. (For the record, the only song I ever liked her on was Cocoa Brovaz' "Spanish Harlem", and even that was pushing it.)

19. DR. TREVIS (SIGNS OFF)
Glorified outro.

20. TONIGHT'S DA NIGHT (REMIX)
Sounds more fierce than the original, in a 'Blue Steel' kind of way.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Dare Iz A Darkside is a darker turn than you would expect from an established artist's second effort, even if Reggie samples "Atomic Dog" on multiple songs throughout. (Seriously. Check the liner notes.) By no means is this a bad album, but the fans who have heard Muddy Waters first will be disappointed, and fans of Red Gone Wild will just stare at you with a blank expression, like a wax figurine.

BUY OR BURN? Tough call. Redman fans should snatch it up immediately. Casual listeners should burn it and give it a trial run. Overall, it's not a bad addition to your collection, and the cover art alone should freak out some of your house guests.

BEST TRACKS: "Bobyahed2dis"; "Can't Wait"; "Cosmic Slop"

(Don't agree with the above review? Leave a comment below! Don't be shy!)

-Max

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