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Old School Hip Hop, Vol. 2 by Various Artists (CD - 09/11/2001)
 

Old School Hip Hop, Vol. 2 by Various Ar...

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Old School Hip Hop, Vol. 2 by Various Artists (CD - 09/11/2001)
"Old School Hip Hop, Vol. 2" (09/11/2001) R&B Various Artists, Thump Records

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Tha Carter [PA] by Lil Wayne (CD - 06/29/2004)
 

Tha Carter [PA] by Lil Wayne (CD - 06/29...

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Tha Carter [PA] by Lil Wayne (CD - 06/29/2004)
"Tha Carter [PA]" (06/29/2004) R&B Lil Wayne, Universal DistributionPersonnel: Lil Wayne (rap vocals); Mannie Fresh, Baby (rap vocals). Lil' Wayne has been in the national spotlight since his days as the youngest member of the Dirty South's Hot Boys. On his fourth solo record, THA CARTER, Wayne is almost wholly on his own. There are no big-name guest stars (as with Petey Pablo's memorable turn on Wayne's previous album), only recurring shots from producer Mannie Fresh and Cash Money head Bryan "Baby" Williams. Lil' Wayne's easy flow speaks for itself; in a relaxed Southern manner, he waits for the rhyme to unfold before unleashing a torrent of lyrical lines, with consistent, understated beats pulling the tracks along. Not as "lil'" as his name implies, Wayne hits a peak with "This Is the Carter," a brash track that captures the essence of this potent hip-hop album.

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Old School Soul Party [Digipak] [3/1]
 

Old School Soul Party [Digipak] [3/1]

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Old School Soul Party [Digipak] [3/1]
"Old School Soul Party [Box]" (03/01/2005) R&B Various Artists, Shout! FactoryLiner Note Author: Steven Chean. Another entry in Shout! Factory's ongoing series of triple-CD box compilations promoted on PBS, this one is more cohesively presented. Sequenced to flow like a typical party, the discs of this predominantly '70s-era 58-track R&B collection are divided into three connected parts. Starting with the high-energy sounds of Wild Cherry's one-hit wonder "Play That Funky Music," disc one (subtitled "Kickin' It Off") continues with tough funk hits from Cameo, Rick James, Parliament, and James Brown. Mercifully dodging the disco bullet save for Donna Summer's "Last Dance," this nonstop funkathon platter is alone worth the price of admission. Adding different sounds such as the Undisputed Truth's slightly trippy "Smiling Faces Sometimes" and the Beginning of the End's tropical "Funky Nassau" successfully serves to shift the style but not the mood. Disc two ("Getting' into the Groove") lightens the groove moderately as melody and pop become more emphasized on Cheryl Lynn's "Got to Be Real," the Friends of Distinction's "Love or Let Me Be Lonely," Gene Chandler's "Groovy Situation," and Ashford & Simpson's "Solid." These are all well-chosen selections that were substantial hits, but not as ubiquitous as the Isley Brothers' "That Lady, Pts. 1-2," a tune that always seems to find its way onto '70s soul collections such as this. Disc three ("Dimmin' the Lights") moves into slow and sensual post-party fare with 19 quiet storm smooth jams from artists such as the Five Stairsteps ("O-o-h Child"), Minnie Riperton ("Lovin' You"),the Chi-Lites ("Have You Seen Her"), and Marvin Gaye ("Sexual Healing"). The schlock factor is obviously higher here, but all the songs are Top Ten R&B and/or pop hits and will spark instant recognition from those this box is intended for. The remastered sound is crisp and sparkling throughout, bringing out these oldies' subtleties -- especially with percussion -- that you might not have heard before. While not definitive, the set accomplishes its mission of replaying the soundtrack to a colorful late-'70s urban shindig. More than a haphazard collection of oldies, this conceptual box boasts a well-defined focus, a unique programming flow, and of course lots of soul. ~ Hal Horowitz

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Love Songs by The Manhattans (CD - 01/04/2000)
 

Love Songs by The Manhattans (CD - 01/04...

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Love Songs by The Manhattans (CD - 01/04/2000)
"Love Songs" (01/04/2000) R&B Manhattans (The), Legacy RecordingsThe Manhattans: Gerald (Smut) Alston, Winifred (Blue) Lovett, Kenneth (Wally) Kelly, Edward (sonny) (Dip) Bivins (vocals). Producers include: Leo Graham, James Mack, Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter, Teddy Randazzo. Compilation producers: Leo Sacks, Winfred (Blue) Lovett. Tracks recorded between 1976 and 1981. Includes liner notes by Elvis Mitchell. Digitially remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York). Like Sony's other Love Songs compilations, this one runs the risk of overlapping too much with greatest-hits discs for some consumers' tastes. Seven of the 13 tracks here are on The Best of the Manhattans: Kiss and Say Goodbye, which, like Love Songs, surveys their recordings from the 1970s and early 1980s for Columbia. Still, this collection does retrieve three R&B chart singles that eluded The Best of the Manhattans...: "We Never Danced to a Love Song," "Girl of My Dream," and "The Way We Were/Memories." The disc is filled out by a couple of album tracks and their 1972 single "A Million to One," which was actually on the Deluxe label. ~ Richie Unterberger

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Number Ones by Michael Jackson (CD - 11/18/2003)
 

Number Ones by Michael Jackson (CD - 11/...

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Number Ones by Michael Jackson (CD - 11/18/2003)
"Number Ones" (11/18/2003) R&B Jackson, Michael, Epic (USA)Personnel: Michael Jackson (vocals, background vocals); Siedah Garrett (vocals); Donnie Lyle (guitar). Audio Mixer: Serban Ghenea. Photographers: Stephen Harvey; Dick Zimmerman; Sam Emerson. The 1990s may not have been kind to Michael Jackson on a commercial level, due to fickle music tastes and assorted personal controversies, but NUMBER ONES reinforces Jackson's place in pop culture history. Unlike its preceding compilation, HIStory, this anthology trims the fat, although occasionally going overboard in leaving off certified chart-toppers like the Paul McCartney duet "Say Say Say" in lieu of lesser-known, latter-day fare like "Earth Song." That said, casual fans of the Gloved One will still feast on plenty, ranging from dance classics like "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You" from 1979's stellar OFF THE WALL to the singles that powered the industry-shifting THRILLER and BAD. Among the hits featured here are "Beat It," (with its tour de force Eddie Van Halen solo), the scathing "Dirty Diana" (with Steve Stevens substituting for Van Halen), and catchy title cuts from the aforementioned albums. Meanwhile, Alien Ant Farm fans get to reacquaint themselves with the original "Smooth Criminal," and R. Kelly fans get to experience Jacko croon "One More Chance," the single new song that was penned and produced by Kelly.

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Tom Joyner Presents: Old School Mix by Various Artists (CD - 03/16/1999)
 

Tom Joyner Presents: Old School Mix by V...

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Tom Joyner Presents: Old School Mix by Various Artists (CD - 03/16/1999)
"Tom Joyner Presents: Old School Mix" (03/16/1999) R&B Various Artists, Rhino Records (USA)Liner Note Author: Tom Joyner. Photographer: Michael Ochs. Around 1994, urban contemporary DJ Tom Joyner hired Steve "Silk" Hurley to provide "old school mixes" for his popular Tom Joyner Morning Show; and by old school, he meant the classic soul, funk, and disco of the late '70s and early '80s. To be sure, Hurley was perfect for the job; he had played an indispensable role in house music, and his credentials as a mixmaster were undeniable. The type of mixing that Hurley has done on his show is what he does for Old School Mix, which spans 1976-1982 and boasts a non-stop mix of 18 major hits from that period. One gem segues right into another; just as Gwen McCrae's "Funky Sensation" is starting to fade out, Hurley comes right in with One Way's "Cutie Pie." And just as Peter Brown's "Dance With Me" is starting to end, Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell" makes its presence felt. The CD is full of gems that defined the disco era, such as Chic's "Le Freak," Sister Sledge's "He's the Greatest Dancer," and Foxy's "Get Off." But Joyner's mix has as much to do with hardcore funk and soul as it does with disco; Funkadelic's "One Nation Under a Groove," Slave's "Slide," and Zapp's "More Bounce to the Ounce" soared to number one or two on the R&B charts, but didn't fare nearly as well on the pop charts. In fact, Old School Mix is pretty much the type of soul/funk/disco blend you could have expected to hear on the mix shows that graced black radio in the late '70s and early '80s. Even if you're not familiar with Joyner's show and Hurley's contributions to it, this is a CD to savor. ~ Alex Henderson

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Decade [PA]
 

Decade [PA]

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Decade [PA]
"Decade 1994-2004 [PA]" (09/28/2004) R&B Az, B.E.C. Records

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Tha Carter 2 [Edited] [12/6]
 

Tha Carter 2 [Edited] [12/6]

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Tha Carter 2 [Edited] [12/6]
"Tha Carter II [Edited]" (12/06/2005) R&B Lil Wayne, Universal DistributionA one-time member of New Orleans's Hot Boys, rapper Lil Wayne attained a new level of confidence and skill on 2004's THA CARTER. That album featured only a few guest shots (as opposed to typically star-studded hip-hop records), and this 2005 sequel once again keeps things focused on Wayne, with the MC flying solo on almost every track. This uncluttered scenario, which relies on a spare, yet distinctly Cash Money-style musical backdrop, gives Wayne the freedom to let his laid-back rhymes stretch out, as best revealed on the ominous "Fireman" and the boastful "Best Rapper Alive." Clearly Wayne knows how to work a winning concept, since THA CARTER II stays true to both its predecessor and the relentless, unapologetic spirit of Southern rap. Although his first studio album in three years has been long-awaited and repeatedly delayed, Lil Wayne has been anything but absent. Since THA CARTER II, Weezy has left an impressive mass of recordings--from mixtapes (authorized and otherwise) to guest appearances--in his wake as he blusters through the rap industry. In the third installment of the THA CARTER series, Wayne shows he's earned the right to ego-trip as he lets his off-kilter flow, freak-out lyrics, and vocal acrobatics run wild over 16 tracks. Scaling the heights of hubris on "Dr. Carter," he plays an MC/doctor treating a certain music genre diagnosed as lifeless and closes with a quintessential Weezy snarl: "Welcome back hip-hop/I saved your life." Wayne then shifts to alien-mode for the E.T.-inspired "Phone Home." Later on, he details his sexual conquest of a female cop on "Ms. Officer." As expected, THA CARTER III is rife with big name producers (The Alchemist, Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, David Banner, Swizz Beatz, will.i.am) and guest artists (Jay-Z, Babyface, Busta Rhymes, Juelz Santana, Fabolous, T-Pain) from all coasts.

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M.I.A.M.I. [PA] by Pitbull (CD - 08/24/2004)
 

M.I.A.M.I. [PA] by Pitbull (CD - 08/24/2...

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M.I.A.M.I. [PA] by Pitbull (CD - 08/24/2004)
"M.I.A.M.I. [PA]" (08/24/2004) R&B Pitbull, TVT Records (Dist.)Personnel: Pitbull (rap vocals); Fat Joe, Lil Jon, Mr. Vegas, Oobie, Piccalo, Trick Daddy, Cubo, Bun B (rap vocals). For a label that is based in New York City, TVT has certainly been a major supporter of Southern rap. Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, the Ying Yang Twins, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, and Jacki-O are among the Dirty South rappers who have recorded for TVT in the '90s or 2000s, and the name Pitbull can be added to that list. Armando Perez, aka Pitbull, brings a slight Latin flavor to hip-hop's Dirty South school on M.I.A.M.I., his first album for TVT. The Cuban-American MC doesn't inundate listeners with Latin influences; there are plenty of hip-hoppers in Latin America and Spain who rap in Spanish exclusively, but the vast majority of Pitbull's lyrics are in English. Nonetheless, Pitbull does throw in some Spanish lyrics here and there, and some of his grooves successfully unite crunk and the Dirty South with elements of the high-tech club music that has been coming out of Latin America. M.I.A.M.I. is, to a large degree, a party album; Pitbull is undeniably club-friendly on R-rated jams like "She's Freaky," "Get on the Floor," "Shake It Up," and "Culo" (which features Lil Jon and blends crunk with the Latin reggaeton style). But M.I.A.M.I. isn't just an endless ode to sex, tight skirts, and shapely booties; Pitbull tackles some social issues as well, especially on "Dirty" and "Hustler's Withdrawal" (which describes the dangers of drug dealing). By 2004 standards, Pitbull's lyrics aren't revolutionary; he is hardly the first MC to rap about drugs and thug life or sex and women. Even so, his willingness to combine Latin and Dirty South elements makes M.I.A.M.I. one of the more memorable and interesting Southern rap discs of 2004. ~ Alex Henderson

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Hard [PA] by Jagged Edge (CD - 10/14/2003)
 

Hard [PA] by Jagged Edge (CD - 10/14/200...

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Hard [PA] by Jagged Edge (CD - 10/14/2003)
"Hard [PA]" (10/14/2003) R&B Jagged Edge, Columbia (USA)This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Jagged Egde: Wingo, Brian, Brandon, Kyle (vocals). Additional personnel includes: Jermaine Dupri (vocals, drums); Major Damage, Big Boi, Street Katz, Woonie, Jazze Pha (rap vocals); Kevin Hicks, Ray Holton (guitar); Melvin Coleman (keyboards); LaMarquis Jefferson (bass); Tiffany Beaudoin (background vocals); Bryan M. Cox. Producers include: Jermaine Dupri, TK, Jagged Edge, Jazze Pha, Bryan M. Cox. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Personnel: Jagged Edge (vocals); Lee Dixon, Tatu "Joe Black" Hill, Major Damage, Rahj "Woonie" Rowe, Big Boi (rap vocals); Melvin Coleman (guitar, keyboards, vocoder, hand claps, drum programming); Joey P. (guitar, hand claps); Ray Holton, Kevin Hicks, Steve Wright, Rod Harris, Jr. (guitar); Dwayne Nesmith, Pierre Medor (keyboards); Jermaine Dupri (drums); Corey Presley (drum programming); Tiffany Beaudoin (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Jermaine Dupri; Alvin Speights; Phil Tan. Recording information: Brandon's Way, Hollywood, CA; Joi Studios, Decatur, GA; South Side Studios, Atlanta, GA. Photographer: Sacha Waldman. Arrangers: Bryan-Michael Cox; Lee Dixon; Dwayne Nesmith; Tatu "Joe Black" Hill; Kevin Hicks; Michael J. Henderson; Melvin Coleman; Phalon Alexander; Antwon Patton; Sick Cents Productions, Inc.; Hockefa Lamar; Vincent Brown; Jermaine Dupri; Keir Gist; Anthony Criss; Rahj "Woonie" Rowe; Pierre Medor; Brandon Casey; Brian Casey. Fresh off a 2002 GRAMMY nod for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Jagged Edge once again brings plenty of harmonies and attitude on its fourth outing, HARD. Working with a coterie of producers that include So So Def founder Jermaine Dupri, the men of JE continue down a path that's equal parts thug and lover. Making like Boyz II Men with swagger, these Atlanta natives easily shift gears from silk-sheet-and-champagne slow jams like "Walked Outta Heaven," "Visions," and the acoustic-guitar kissed "I Don't Wanna," to more up tempo fare, including the call-and-response "Girls Gone Wild" (featuring Major Damage) and the thumping "Tryna Be Your Man." As if all this singing about wooing the ladies wasn't enough, Jagged Edge take it up a notch with a pair of bonus cuts--"Car Show," (featuring a cameo by fellow Georgian and Outkast rapper Big Boi) and a remix of "They Ain't JE" that finds Street Katz and Woonie rapping in their two cents. Providing a musical bed for any type of romantic liaison, Jagged Edge prove the only thing HARD they bring to the table are the looks they're sporting on this collection's cover.

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Love Songs by Michael Jackson (CD - 01/15/2002)
 

Love Songs by Michael Jackson (CD - 01/1...

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Love Songs by Michael Jackson (CD - 01/15/2002)
"Love Songs" (01/15/2002) R&B Jackson, Michael, Motown RecordsPersonnel includes: Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5. Producers include: Bobby Taylor, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino, Hal Davis, Brian Holland. Compilation producers: Harry Weinger, Anthony Ellis. Recorded between 1969 and 1975. Includes liner notes by Brian Chin. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Liner Note Author: Brian Chin. Recording information: 02/1970. Arrangers: James Anthony Carmichael; David Blumberg; Fonce Mizell; Gene Page; David Van De Pitte; John Bahler; Bob West . Released in January of 2002, Motown's Love Songs contains 14 love songs and ballads Michael Jackson recorded, either by himself or with the Jackson 5, during his time on Motown in the early '70s. There are a few familiar songs here, such as "Who's Lovin' You," but the Love Songs series prides itself on mood, not hits, while providing just one or two tracks as collector's bait (a previously unreleased version of "I'll Be There" or the original mix of "Call on Me," for example). This means that it's the odd collection that sort of appeals to the dedicated, since it gives a different spin on the artist (but not really, since it recycles the catalog), and it sort of appeals to the casual fan, since it digs through albums to provide what they're looking for (but not really, since there aren't that many big hits here). So it fulfills the promise of the title quite well, but that doesn't necessarily mean that a lot of people will really need it (unless they're looking for mood music, of course). ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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