This album is littered with brilliantly written lyrics, impeccable flow, and some pretty dope instrumentals to top it all off. You can obviously tell the previous rant that I am in love with this project, so look at these next few paragraphs as a business pitch. The pitch is that you give OC your money, and in return you get to listen to some sweet ass rhymes directly from one of the most underrated mcs in my opinion who is still in the game. Before I leave you bored senseless, or give you the wrong idea about my feelings toward OC, I'll get on with this track by track brought to you by the good folks at hiphopinionated.
1. Creative Control
So, it's the first track on a '94 hip-hop album. Unless are talking about Bring Da Ruckus, odds are we are going to get a boring ass rap intro. The run time is only over a minute and a half, so everything is pointing towards me not liking this track. On the contrary, this is an actual song. Granted it only contains one verse, but it is a song nonetheless. The one verse is pretty good, and this jazzy piano heavy beat is a nice indication of some of the production later in the album. So yeah, don't skip this one.
2. Word..Life
Ahhh back in the days when albums had a title track. Not only that, but they were usually pretty dope. This isn't necessarily a highlight of the album, but it gets the show rocking. Another very piano heavy instrumental that sounds almost Peanuts esque. The beat also includes some great jazzy bass, along with some nice bells, and the occasional jazz horn. All of these sounds create a nice beat over which OC delivers three dope verses, all very well written and well structured technically. Much like many hip-hop songs used to be, the hook on this track is insignificant and simple, so not much is to be put into it's execution.
3. O-Zone
First of all, it was definitely his plan from the beginning naming himself OC that he'd have a track called O-Zone, and it is just about the coolest track title ever. Challenging someone to, "step in your O-zone" just screams confidence and coolness. This track both instrumentally and vocally is more aggressive than the previous two. This is clearly evident in that it is the first beat to not include a cheery piano melody. This is a very brash boasting record that works on all accounts as OC rhymes very well over, once again, three full verses. The sample on the hook is from Shook Ones by Mobb Deep, which only further screams intimidation and confidence. Very well put together track.
4. Born To Live
For one reason or another, this track begins with a short interlude that involves nothing but piano, and the vocal styling of some gospel singing women. The song provides more of a message than the other tracks, and the theme probably connected with the streets well, as this was the lead single on the album. The beat is once again piano heavy, and the message is of the innocence and simplicity in the mind of a child. It talks about kids who die too early, and death in general, and how people have trouble dealing with loss in different situations. As much as I like the song, and approve of the message, the hook is undeniably corny as hell. The singing isn't bad, but just the tone it is sang in reminds me of an average elevator song. That isn't meant to take away too much from the rest of this track, but the hook was almost funny in contrast to the rest of the song.
5. Time's Up
This is probably my favorite beat on the album thus far, as it is centrally a bass and drum line hip-hop beat, which is what I prefer. The beat, like many on the album, is brought to us from Buckwild, so good job. The Slick Rick sample on the hook is awesome, from the song "Hey Young World". Considering all of the aforementioned aspects of the song, the real bright point here are the verses from OC which are just brilliant. A message of sorts to all wack mcs. OC flows with such impressive ease, and boasts while calling out most everyone else in the game during the process. This is one of those classic hip-hop tracks that everyone who is a fan should give a listen. A definite album highlight, and one of the more impressive lyrical displays you will ever hear from anyone. I promise I'm trying not to exaggerate.
6. Point O Views
Much like "Born 2 Live", the song begins with a brief, meaningless instrumental interlude, only this time something is a bit off. You may recognize this beat as the beat that Just Blaze made for Jay Z' s "Public Service Announcement" on the Black Album. I obviously understand how sampling works, but isn't there a law against just completely jacking an instrumental? I'm sure this was done with O's consent, but I still think a lot less of Just Blaze after hearing this. That tirade should not distract anyone from how dope this song was. The hook was probably the catchiest on the entire album, and the lyrics were just as good as ever. As much as I love this song, it will always be the, "Song that Just Blaze stole" in my mind. Sorry O.
7. Constables
This song is started off with a cool gritty beat, and the KRS-One sample sounds cool as hell. Chris may very well be the most sampled rapper of all time, and as he said in an interview with rap genius about a year back, he loves it. Don't quote me on this, but I don't think KRS requires his consent to use a sample, which I find admirable. The beat on this one, is once again very prominently piano, but it is a much deeper, menacing piano, and the occasional siren tops it off nicely. OC documents his life as police are always on him, as much of rap documented in this time period. OC manages to put on a superb enough lyrical performance to make this not so fresh subject matter still sound very good. Let's face it, you weren't respected in rap back in the day unless you made at least one track about how racist the police force was.
8. Ga Head
A much more lighthearted tone this time around, as we are taken through the tragic love life of OC. Apparently he was the perfect male, which I don't find hard to believe, he seems like a standup guy. This girl then cheated on him, and played him. The hook on this track is catchy as hell, and rather than a vulgar women hating track, or a sappy hip-hop love song, we get what is a seemingly real narrative from OC. Very well written song, and entertaining listen. Especially with the surprising twist ending in which OC's old girl was actually with the Hoe named Fran, interesting.
9. No Main Topic
This is one dope ass song. I'm no expert in counting bars, but OC goes on for a long ass time over a simple beat, just rhyming his absolute ass off. Nothing much is to be said about this track, other than that it was very impressive, and a good listen, and the format reminds me a lot of that on the Roots song Panic, if that helps make a connection. Prince Po comes in at the end to work more as a hype man than a featured artist, but all in all it works.
10. Let It Slide
This is a song of different situations in which O was prepared to kill a person, like it was nothing. Instead though, out of the kindness of his heart O just let it slide, and decides not to commit a murder for no reason. This is not a situation I can relate to, but it is extremely amusing how often OC apparently really wants to end another man's life. The thing that pisses me off about this song is that Pharoahe Monch was on the track, and all he did was sing along during the hook. He offered nothing really, which is a huge disappointment when considering how talented that guy is.
11. Ma Dukes
I read that the vocals on this track that runs as a constant sample on the beat are courtesy of OC's real life mom, and they sound awesome over this instrumental. This is a more positive song, especially considering the last track. The verses are all short, but very good, and talk about how O has worked very hard in his career. Nice little track.
12. Story
The title of this track is not at all deceiving. This is a story of a kid who robbed a store with no mask on, and had to go on the run, and all shit broke lose. Obviously I can't say this is as good as Slick Rick's "Children Story", or that it has become as iconic as that song, but it does remind me of a much darker version of that song. He talks about how the kid's family was tortured brutally for their lack of knowledge of his whereabouts. Rather than giving himself up, he allowed this treatment to his own family. Nice story, Omar.
13. Outtro
That is not a typo. Or an accidental one at least. If it is a typo, then the label that released this album is to blame, not me. This song just screams outro, and the album is slowly winding down as OC looks in retrospect where he has come from, and where he is now, and how. This smooth, chill outro ends the show terrifically.
14. Born 2 Live (remix)
I really hate when artists pull this bull shit. That was such a great way to end the album, the ideal outro I would say, and then we get this, at least what I would call, a pointless remix to one of the better songs on the album. It is the same song, with what I consider a better beat. Sure this was a nice little track, but was it worth compromising the flow of the album? I think not.
Rating: 4.5/5
I am very high on this album at this point in time. My mind is shifting between a solid four, and a four and a half, so my personal enjoyment tips the scales in the host's favor. Much like the Organized Konfusion album I wrote about not too long ago, this is a hidden gem amongst the incredible world that was hip-hop in the early '90s. It isn't Enter The Wutang but it does deserve to be recognized as an amazing album, that doesn't come off as dated to me in the slightest. Many of my readers may think I live in hip-hop's past, seeing as how old projects almost always receive better scores than new ones. This is for two simple reasons. The first is that when doing retrospective reviews, I tend to only pick out the ones that I love. There were plenty of bad albums in the 90s that I haven't spoken about because I see no need to review an old project I don't care for. This is in contrast to my obligation to review all of the new projects that garner any popularity at all, many of which I don't care for. The second reason is that at that time hip-hop was innovative. The music may not all have been better ( maybe it was) but it was largely different. As I am sitting here listening to the new Rick Ross and Jeezy single, it sounds much like every hip-hop song that came out in 2013. It is for those reasons that a part of me will always favor vintage hip-hop. When an artist comes with something new and fresh that actually sounds good, then maybe my ideas will shift in the other direction. Oh yeah, and buy this album.