Spice 1 1992 Album

Spice 1

My first impressions of this weren't great. I've heard his later '90s albums that I enjoy, but the production and hook game isn't on the same level here. There are more storytelling raps from Spice than he went on to do on future albums. Being an early '90s album, it still feels a tad too '80s in the production for me to love. 'Young Nigga' is one that does feel more like golden '90s production with the jazz rap influenced production and the scratched out chorus. E-A-Ski is on the boards there. Ant Banks produces most of the album though, and I will say that I do feel like he was a bit behind the times. You could never say his production felt ahead of its time. Aside from 'Young Nigga', other better moments are the more conscious 'Welcome to the Ghetto', 'Money Gone' where Spice does this stutter style of rapping that makes it standout over the funky instrumentation, and 'Money or Murder' that transitions enjoyably from the hook to the verses. The poorer moments are '1-800 Spice' where Spice does a Jamaican accent with boring production and '1-900 Spice' that begins with a belch, that is off putting enough, but the short 90 second tale doesn't do enough. Overall, his later albums from the '90s are better, with some more memorable catchy songwriting and better production as well. I feel like Spice's voice became a bit more menacing as well as he aged. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Money Gone, Peace to My Nine, Young Nigga, Welcome to the Ghetto, Money or Murder 1. In My Neighborhood 70/100 2. 187 Proof 62 3. East Bay Gangster (Reggae) 76 4. Money Gone 79 5. 1-800 Spice 57 6. Peace to My Nine 84 7. Young Nigga 93 8. Welcome to the Ghetto 80 9. Fucked in the Game 74 10. Money or Murder 90 11. City Streets 64 12. 1-900 Spice 60 13. Break Yourself 73 14. 187 Pure 64