Overall, this is better than Breed's debut with DFC, released only 8 months prior. While still not reinventing the wheel, the production doesn't sound as dated and there is a bit more of an effort to write some hooks, that his debut lacked, although at times the beat still just rides here as well. There is also more of a darker/harder sound from Breed and the producers, Bernard Terry and Flash Technology. The title track sounds very Ice-T influenced. 'Whenever You Want Me' has a short riff in it that sounds like the Seinfeld theme. There aren't any bad moments, apart from the closer, 'Shout Out', that should have been kept to linear notes like all shout out songs, but it just needs some tracks closer to great for me to rate this higher.
Beats: ★★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆
Hooks: ★★★
Best Tracks: Ain't to Be Fucked With, Dis Mode, Flash's Groove, Ain't Too Much Worried, No Frontin' Allowed, Jealous Pimp
MC Breed had a decent career dropping albums until 2004 before passing in 2008. For an album nearly released in '92 though, the production sounds quite dated. It sounds more like an '87-'88 rap album most of the time. The production is fairly inconsistent. It changes from some high funk on 'Ain't No Future in Yo Frontin', and Public Enemy influence on 'Better Terms', to very dated basic production on songs like 'Underground Slang' (that sounds somewhat Ice-T influenced) and 'I Will Excell'. The hooks are more like what songs had in the aforementioned era as well, mostly being scratches/the beat riding with the title of the song repeated. The rapping is fine, it's a non-offensive album and one that be played through, and If this was released in the '80s I'd be a bit kinder with my rating, but I think for a '90s album the production should be of a higher quality. There's nothing worth saving for later.
Beats: ★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆
Hooks: ★★☆
Best Tracks: Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin, Better Terms
There are amazing action scenes each different from one another - in an elevator, a truck, Turkish baths, a mall, running through a market naked whilst Jackie hides his bits, etc, that earn this its decent rating from me. The acting though leaves something to be desired and the story is probably more elaborate than it needs to be in areas but there's no background on how Jackie's character, an exercise equipment salesman, has the skills that he does.
*Original version watched not the butchered international version.
I think this is Timbaland and Magoo's worst album together. The consistency is still decent but the highs aren't as frequent or as high as on their previous two collaborations. The bookend Intro and last song are the only quick skips. 'Don't Make Me Take It There' feels like it has an Eminem hook who seems to get dissed by Timbaland on 'Insane'. - "Handcuffs open my fists go up for Eminem/And when he's walking out his courtcase/I'll be walking in."
One of the three singles, 'Indian Flute', is the best known song from this album, and I give props to TImbaland/Magoo for some unique sounds and hooks throughout this project, but I'm not a fan and think behind the bookends it's one of the lower moments. 'Naughty Eye' feels like a sequel to 'Indian Flute and is the better song. I don't love the hook either but the rapping and production during the verses are engaging. He was never the most attention grabbing rapper, but I notice Magoo less on here as well, with TImbaland seemingly rapping more of the time.
A decent 3 out of 5.
Beats: ★★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★★
Hooks: ★★★☆
Best Tracks: Don't Make Me Take It There, Can We Do It Again, Naughty Eye
I appreciate some of the originality here, but 'B.I.B.L.E.' is the only track that caught my attention to any high level. I don't like enough of the production enough.
Best Tracks: B.I.B.L.E.