Big B – Random Stuff
Suburban Noize Records (released Oct. 10, 2006)
Rap/rock/reggae
(Editor’s note: This album is alternately referred to as Random Shit on certain sites, as well as by iTunes.)
When he’s not running errands for freestyle motocross rider Carey Hart, or being featuring on said motocross rider’s A&E tattoo-based reality series, Inked, Big B (not to be confused with the Bollywood actor/politician of the same moniker) is giving Suburban Noize fans more of what they like with the rap/rock style prevalent on the label. According to Suburban Noize, “The White Trash Renegade” is currently touring with the Insane Clown Posse, who I happen to hate, but not as much as their fans. Seriously, Juggalos are the scourge of the Earth and should be systematically removed from society and shipped off to their own remote island where they can wear their ridiculously oversized pants and spray each other with Faygo without the rest of us having to deal with their bullshit.
Oops… I forgot that this was supposed to be a review for Big B’s Random Stuff album, which is actually mostly a compilation of tracks from other albums featuring him. Like most of the rap appearing on the Suburban Noize imprint, most of these tracks are dependent on bass and synth-laden instrumentals, the best of which also have a decided reggae/dub feel to them àla Kottonmouth Kings (which is apropos since they happen to own the label).
“Hooligan” could get some heads nodding with its reminiscent-of-Truth-Hurts’-“Addictive” beat, and has some good rhymes, but I’m continuing to grow tired of rappers who think that singing out of tune on their choruses is not uncouth. It is. Period. So stop it. Now. The bass-heavy “Summertime” is thankfully not a DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince cover, but it does involve an aping of some lyrics from Ludacris’ “Southern Hospitality” (three guesses as to which ones…). “Last Daze” (with Daddy X of Kottonmouth Kings) is something that fans of poppy Southern rap could get into, with its more than likely Yamaha-manufactured beat, and we get more Southern-ish stuff in the aptly titled “White Boys”.
I really liked “The Crab Shack”, with the Tsunami Brothers (actually taken from their 2003 album, King’s Harbor), which has a f*cked up crazy awesome beat, and Big B works well in the mix. That track segues into “Representin’ (Sin City)”, with another beat from the Tsunami Brothers’ DJ Bobby B. I found these two tracks to be the best ones on the album, and one might deduce that DJ Bobby B should have produced the entire album. The album ends with a cover of “Hey Joe”, which is nothing special at all but also nothing offensive, I guess, unless you’re a really big fan of Jimi Hendrix. I am not, so I really could care less if he butchered it or not.
Again, DJ Bobby B needs to produce every track on every album to be released by Suburban Noize Records, and then I might start to rate their releases more than two machine guns. This one gets an extra half just because of those two tracks, and few others that could induce some dancing were one to have had a few to drink beforehand. There is also a DVD involved in this package, which includes videos of Big B songs, as well as footage of the Suburban Noize crew smoking pot and being dumb. I was not entertained, as anyone older than high school age has probably moved on from this type of behavior and I am much older than high school age. Then again, music videos more or less have to have some either groundbreaking or just crazy stuff going on in order to pique my interest. Maybe you just had to be there. For the sake of the CD’s rating, I’ll not include a review of the DVD, which was blah, but the core fans will probably enjoy it or at least not be as bored as I was.
Rating:
