Love Never Felt So Good ★★★ Remix ★★★☆ The original is just Michael with a piano and his own percussion sounds. I think the remix is better. It gives it more funk and the breakdown/bridge improves it too. Chicago ★★★☆ Remix ★★★ The original is better, it feels eerier and suits the lyrics better. I don't like some of the production changes they made. I don't love either version though. Loving You ★★★★ Remix ★★★★ I'd say this has the least difference between the original and remix so far. Both are great. A Place With No Name ★★★★ Remix ★★★☆ The sample is more of a feature in the original, whereas, with the remix, it is mainly noticeable on the chorus. The original wins this. Slave to the Rhythm ★★★★☆ Remix ★★★☆ The original sounds fairly fresh for a Dangerous era song. Like the aforementioned album, it goes hard. I love some of Michael's vocals here and they are the best part of the song. Great energy (See 2:54)! The original wins comfortably. Do You Know Where Your Children Are ★★★★ Remix ★★★ Where the previous songs sounded fresh, this is very '80s. As with the previous remix, it sounds more like a dance song. Again, the original wins. Blue Gangsta ★★★☆ Remix ★★★☆ The remix offers something fairly different and doesn't sound overproduced like the previous remixes almost do. The breakdown at about 2:50 is better in the remix. A close call... Xscape ★★★★ Remix ★★★★ Both are dope. The original sounds more reserved, but still bangs, but the remix amps it up. I'm choosing the remix here. Great at times, but you can understand why most of these didn't see the light of day as the quality is a touch below most of the tracks that made his albums. While 'Slave to the Rhythm' is the best thing here, I still don't think it's knocking any of the upbeat songs off 'Dangerous'. If you have only listened to the version with the remixes, make sure you check out the original versions as they are more often than not the better songs.

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This had been on my to listen to list for a minute. However, the negative reception it has received, due to The D.O.C.'s voice, had made me stay away. For those who don't know, The D.O.C. released an outstanding debut album, but he was then in a car accident and his vocal cords were severely damaged. From there, subsequent rushed surgeries, in an effort to get back on stage, only made it worse. He ghostwrote a lot for Dr Dre / NWA and claims that he was never compensated for his work. He was apparently working on the Cube/Dre album, 'Heltah Skeltah', and used some of that for this album. So this album is somewhat of a "fuck you" to Dre and his previous labels. Knowing what Dre is like with releasing records, maybe it would have never happened anyway, but damn, I would've loved a mid-90s Dre and Cube album! The album kicks off with 'Return of the Livin' Dead' which basically uses the same instrumental as his hit 'It's Funky Enough' and the following song samples 'For the Love of You' by The Isley Brothers, so the production, handled by The D.O.C. and Erotic D, isn't an issue at the beginning of the album as it isn't throughout. It's funky, dark and hard. There are some nice production touches and some of the transitions from the verses to hooks are dope. Forgetting about his raspy voice, which I don't really have too much of an issue with, (you could say that it almost fits some of the dark lyrically themes), the problem is that at times it has been mixed too low making it a challenge to hear the lyrics. The worst and only close to boring song is 'Erotix Shit' with its monotonous production and uninspired rapping by the rappers featured on it. Some of the interludes and stuff at the beginning and end of songs is also something I loath that brings the album down a notch. I don't think The D.O.C.'s damaged voice ruins the album like many other listeners would have you believe. This is a lot better than I expected. Even with the damaged voice, he flows and rhymes well, and the production is well above average, but I'm a sucker for mid-'90s west coast beats. Best Tracks: Return of da Livin' Dead, Secret Plan, .45 Automatic, Brand New Formula

This band would have to have the most diverse songs. There are some I love such as, Aerials, and then they can make songs I loath. This LP is a mixture also. Best Tracks: Violent Pornography, Old School Hollywood, Lost in Hollywood

Cormega returns for his first album in three years. The topics probably haven't altered a lot from before, being mostly about the state of hip hop, the culture and race issues, but Mega does it in more detail than most and it's different enough to catch the ear. He also flows brilliantly on some songs such as 'Rap Basquiat'. The beats, by the legendary Large Pro, aren't as great as the ones on his most recent solo album, Professor @ Large, but he doesn't disappoint too much. The only real negative is Cormega's voice. While it's a helluva lot better than being annoying or bad, it just doesn't have that distinctiveness or power to it which is something I have felt with other Cormega projects I've checked as well. A good album though. The vets are still doing it. Best Tracks: MARS, Industry, Rap Basquiat.