Link: Official DPGC Site
The Inside Pulse:
As he enters his 15th year in the rap game, there’s not much “young” about Kurupt, no matter what alias he’s going by this week. The cover art clearly reveals a little gray mixed in with his trademark whiskers, while Kurupt’s gangsta glare has given way to one of those blank, “middle-aged moment” stares. The set-up for yet another mediocre entry into the Dogg Pound portfolio almost writes itself at this point. It’s been awhile since Kurupt’s last good album (the daring, high-risk Space Boogie: Smoke Odyssey) and in the interim, his once-formidable lyrical skill has devolved into a parody of a sub-genre that, in itself, has become a cartoonish lampoon. So, without any major label backing and an obvious absence of any big names on the boards or behind the mic, Kurupt goes back to basics. Let’s call it a gangsta rap throwback.
Positives:
Kurupt’s best work has been with his longtime producer, Fred “Fredwreck” Nassar, but the next best thing is having Daz Dillinger on the boards and Daz produces almost every track here. The opener, Scrape Thru Tha Hood, snakes along at a mid-tempo pace and is elevated by a revitalized Kurupt who actually sounds interested in a project for the first time in years. Make That Azz Shake would be a certifiable club cut if released on a major label, even if the subject matter is”¦well, guess. The remix to Gangstaz is five minutes of Tha Pound over a beat that takes a lightning bolt to the unusually laconic and laid-back west coast sound. Meanwhile, Yes, I’m Quiccer is a reminder of Kurupt’s battle rap persona that played so well during Death Row’s salad days.
Negatives:
Despite possessing some fierce lyrical skill, Kurupt seems content to stick with the girl he first brought to the dance in 1992. And, that “girl” is unquestionably called a “bitch”, while he probably killed her on wax with his cache of automatic weaponry. The album isn’t even 50 minutes long, so it only just begins to overstay its welcome by the end. Still, even on a relatively abbreviated CD such as this, the syrupy grade-school stylings on What Can I Do should’ve been dropped like every other “thug in love” cut.
Cross-Breed:
This 1999-2001 Kurupt, a few steps slower, mixed with the sound of Daz’s recent indy work.
Reason to Buy:
If you’re still trying to get the taste of last year’s Against Tha Grain out of your mouth and still think Kurupt can bring it when he wants to”¦you should’ve bought this one yesterday. Same Day”¦ is Kurupt’s best work in five years and proof that he’s not dead yet”¦even if gangsta rap lingers on life support.
