After Reggie Noble released Muddy Waters, which in my eyes was a perfect combination of irreverent themes and funky beats, he decided against sitting on his laurels (read: critical acclaim) and jump right back into the game. First up was a collaborative Def Squad album, El Nino, with his partners in crime Erick Sermon and Keith Murray (which I guess I should have reviewed before this album, but fuck it, I don't have to go in chronological order all the time, do I?), which sold a bunch of copies off of the strength of their cover of a Sugarhill Gang song. Then, Redman decided to drop his fourth disc, Doc's Da Name 2000, on the masses.
Reggie decided to mix his fun-loving rhymes with some substance; namely, stories from his past, tales from his hood, and general repurposing of the Redman brand, so that he could be recognized as a great all-around artist. In reward, Doc's Da Name 2000 is the only Redman solo album (to my knowledge) to sell over one million copies. I'm sure this made him one happy man, since he was responsible for the A&R and marketing of his own album for the first time (actually, how many rappers on major labels do their own marketing?).
It's been a while since I heard this one, so let's take a look-see.
1. WELCOME 2 DA BRICKS (INTRO)
This is the intro? Where's Dr. Trevis?? Is it possible I was wrong about the consistent factors on Reggie's albums? We'll find out soon. Otherwise, this intro is pretty funny, but that's only due to Redman's line readings.
2. LET DA MONKEY OUT
Oh, there's Dr. Trevis! Max is still right! The hook here is annoying, but the song itself is still good.
3. I'LL BEE DAT!
The song is okay, and the video is hilarious, but I always questioned the use of this song as the first advertisement for Doc's Da Name 2000. (That was probably due to Redman's marketing suggestions, now that I think about it.) Contains a pretty boring Rockwilder track; this song is truly saved by Redman's rhymes.
4. GET IT LIVE
Not bad, but not great.
5. WHO TOOK THE SATELLITE VAN? (SKIT)
Like all Redman skits, this is mildly amusing the first time around, but grows more and more annoying with subsequent listens.
6. JERSEY, YO!
A cover/homage of Ice Cube's "Once Upon A Time In The Projects". Can't say I saw this coming.
7. CLOZE YA DOORZ (FEAT DIEZZLE DON, GOV-MATTIC, DOUBLE O, ROZ, & YOUNG ZEE)
Tame One (of The Artifacts) is listed in the album credits, but doesn't actually appear on the album version. Redman's sister Roz is actually pretty good: whatever happened to her? And am I the only guy that thinks Diezzle Don sounds almost exactly like Reggie himself? One of the better posse cuts to appear on a Redman album, and Red's not even on this song!
8. I DON'T KARE
This beat is dull. The hook reminds me of that Kool Keith song "I Don't Believe You", off of Matthew, which, when you hear that song, isn't that far off of a comparison to make.
9. BOODAH BREAK
This is really just an interlude, but it's not a bad beat for Redman to flow over.
10. MILLION CHICKEN MARCH (2 HOT 4 TV) (SKIT)
...
11. KEEP ON '99 (FEAT ERICK SERMON)
A change of pace from the high-energy tracks we just heard. Not bad, but not very memorable.
12. WELL ALL RITE CHA (FEAT METHOD MAN)
This track also appeared on the Method Man/Redman project Blackout!, although it popped up on this album first. Still one of the best tag teams in hip hop history.
13. PAIN IN DA ASS STEWARDESS (SKIT)
I would bet money that one of Redman's influences is none other than Prince Paul. That has to be why he includes so many so-called 'comedy' skits on his solo albums. Too bad most of them aren't any good.
14. DA GOODNESS (FEAT BUSTA RHYMES)
I seem to remember this being the second single, and that Busta Rhymes wasn't in the video. Reggie's attempt at bringing the world an Erick Sermon-sounding club banger is pretty club-banging.
15. MY ZONE (FEAT MARKIE & SHOOGA BEAR)
Reggie can truly rhyme over any instrumental, regardless of how ridiculous. Luckily, he doesn't have "bad beats" as one of his 99 problems for the duration of this LP.
16. DA DA DAHHH
An autobiographical song? That's pretty rare coming from Reggie Noble. Even more surprising: this one's actually good! And the ending, where he shouts "I got hair on my chest! Look at it!" is pretty amusing.
17. G.P.N. (SKIT)
...
18. DOWN SOUTH FUNK (FEAT ERICK SERMON & KEITH MURRAY)
If not for Reggie's Def Squad obligation, this song could have been left off completely, it's that poor.
19. D.O.G.S.
Meh.
20. BEET DROP
A cover/homage of the second half of the Beastie Boys's "The New Style". I like that Redman actively shows his influences love, so I like this track, although it's nowhere near better than "The New Style".
21. WE GOT DA SATELLITE VAN! (SKIT)
...
22. BRICK CITY MASHIN'!
According to ego trip's Big Book Of Rap Lists, Method Man had recorded vocals for this track, which utilizes an overused "Genius Of Love" sample, but had them deleted from the final version. It says a lot about Redman when I say that Meth is not missed on here.
23. SOOPAMAN LOVE IV (FEAT DAVE HOLISTER)
Is water still wet? Then I suppose it's about time for another installment of the 'Soopaman Love' series, this time featuring Def Squad crooner Dave Hollister. Truth be told, I never paid much attention to this storyline, but I appreciated the Mr. Show reference.
24. I GOT A SECRET
Jungle Redman? Roni Size brings us a completely different instrumental for Reggie to spit over, and for what it is, I think it sounds fucking awesome, and I'm not a big fan of Roni Size or drum-and-bass tracks.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Doc's Da Name 2000 may turn off most readers of this blog solely because it went platinum, but honestly, this album is a good start-to-finish listen. It's no Muddy Waters (the gem of Reggie's catalog, at least for me), but it all works. Too bad this would be the last time Redman would give listeners an entertaining album. Erick Sermon's production still suits Redman well, and Reggie slowly but surely is starting to produce more of his own work, and not just the skits, either!
BUY OR BURN? Buy this album. You'll like it, unless you don't like Redman, in which case, I hate you.
BEST TRACKS: "I Got A Secret"; "Well All Rite Cha"; "Da Goodness"; "Da Da Dahhh"; "Cloze Ya Doorz"; "Beet Drop"
-Max
RELATED POSTS:
Redman - Whut?! Thee Album
Redman - Dare Iz A Dark Side
Redman - Muddy Waters
Method Man & Redman - Blackout!
Great review!
ReplyDeleteI looove this album, including the Def Squad track.
I used to have a tradition with new Redman albums where I would wait until after I got home from work/school so I could get really stoned for the first time I listened to it. Like, way beyond the point when you would normally put down the pipe. And his intros were always awesome and really stoner friendly - I remember rewinding that crazy chanting and dinosaur intro to "Muddy Waters" over and over because it sounded so cool. And this album's intro did not disappoint - I love how it goes from happy Disney sounds to a really evil vibe. "Doc's Da Name" might not be his best work, but it's probably the last great Redman solo album. Def Jam needs to put out a commerative deluxe box set of the first four Redman albums packaged with a quarter of superkind buds and about ten philly blunts. THAT shit would move serious units.
ReplyDeleteoldmajor, other than the fact that weed is still illegal in this country (which is a topic that I won't get started on here), I think you have a future in marketing. Hell, I'd buy ten of those deluxe packages, dole the CDs out, and keep the bud to muself. But that's just me. I'm greedy.
ReplyDelete"You'll like it, unless you don't like Redman, in which case, I hate you."
ReplyDeleteLMAO.. seriously tho i proclaim Redman as one of my favorite artists.. with a style so unique
Good review. I think this was the last good Redman album. That posse cut "Close Ya Doorz" is pretty damn good; with lyrics like "slip her some bon-bons she'll fuck twenty of us" how could you go wrong? I also liked the mario influenced cover. All around good album but not his best. The album that followed this was extremely disappointing.
ReplyDeleteDa Goodness wasnt produced by erick sermon, it was produced by redman himself, but besides that great fucking review
ReplyDelete