INTRODUCTION
When I started this blog way back when, I reviewed Redman's second album, Dare Iz a Darkside. That was probably a bad idea in retrospect, as I obviously should have tackled Red's debut, Whut? Thee Album, first. Now that I have taken more of a chronological approach on this blog, I might as well go back and right my wrongs.
I did provide some background information on Redman (a.k.a. Reggie Noble) in the Dare Iz a Darkside review, so I'll save myself (and you) some time by bypassing that this time around and instead just tell you a little bit about his first LP.
Whut? Thee Album was released during a time where the New York renaissance had not begun yet. The West Coast was dominating the rap scene, with Dr. Dre putting out The Chronic that same year and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle soon following. That's what makes Red's debut so special and important.
Produced almost entirely by EPMD's Erick Sermon (with Redman landing co-producer credits), Whut? Thee Album both revitalized and revolutionized the sound of New York hip-hop, taking elements from the 1980s and combining them with a new twist that would soon become prevalent on the East Coast.
Characterized by its witty raps and punchlines, Whut? Thee Album was only the beginning to what would become an illustrious career for Redman.
Let's get to it.
TRACK-BY-TRACK
1. Psycho Ward
An incredibly creepy intro.
2. Time 4 Sum Aksion
If this doesn't get you amped, nothing on this planet will. I really have no clue how this song, which was the album's second single, isn't still playing in clubs across the country. Then again, given the collective musical taste of human beings nowadays, I guess it really isn't that surprising. This is just awesome.
3. Da Funk
It takes nearly one minute for this track to actually drop, and it isn't really worth the wait. Fortunately, "Da Funk" is very short, so it's not like Redman extends the listener's disinterest anymore than he has to. It also ends very abruptly.
4. News Break
Skit.
5. So Ruff
Erick Sermon's beat here is similar in vein (not quality) to "Time 4 Sum Aksion," and that's always a good thing. That being said, the instrumental wasn't strong enough to truly grab my attention. "So Ruff" isn't a record I'll be coming back to anytime soon.
6. Rated R
You can't get much funkier of a production than this. Redman obviously feels very comfortable over E-Dub's beat, dropping rhymes that are simultaneously disturbing and hysterical. My feeling on the track as a song as a whole though? It's alright.
7. Watch Yo Nuggets
Erick Sermon hops on this cut with Red. The result? Decent, although it's clear as day that Reggie is miles ahead of E-Dub as a rapper. Also, man; the beats on this album are really, really dated.
8. Psycho Dub
Skit...
9. Jam 4 U
E-Dub really knew how to integrate multiple samples within his productions back then, huh? "Jam 4 U" contains a rather eclectic combination of such samples, and while they work well together on Redman's verses, they sound like an unnecessary consolidated mess on the hook.
10. Blow Your Mind
This was Whut? Thee Album's first single, and it bangs. "Blow Your Mind" will undoubtedly get your head bobbing. Props to Erick Sermon for implementing three Zapp samples into the same beat.
11. Hardcore
E-Dub's EPMP partner-in-crime Parrish Smith (a.k.a. PMD) assists on the production here, and the outcome is really, really freaking good, even if the instrumental is a tad repetitive. Unfortunately, this song runs less than two minutes.
12. Funky Uncles
Yet another skit. Redman albums tend to have a lot of those.
13. Redman Meets Reggie Noble
This is pretty damn awesome. The second Redman's (not Erick Sermon's) beat hits, you'll feel like you were teleported back in time. The good thing is, the instrumental isn't so obsolete that you can't thoroughly enjoy it today like some of the other songs on this album.
14. Tonight's Da Night
After a short break, Erick Sermon returns for this one, and he lays down a smooth, mellow production for Reggie to drop his boasts. "Tonight's Da Night" ended up being the third single, and it was a good choice. The second half of Whut? Thee Album has certainly taken a turn for the better.
15. Blow Your Mind (Remix)
The original really didn't need a remix version. That should tell you all you need to know about my feelings toward this song, which Redman produced himself. So much for that "turn for the better."
16. Sessed One Night
Including the album intro, this is the fifth skit, and there are more to come.
17. I'm a Bad
I really don't have an opinion one way or the other about this song.
18. How To Roll a Blunt
Pete Rock produced this joint (no pun intended), and what's hilarious about it is that the title isn't a metaphor or anything of the sort. Redman is seriously teaching you how to do exactly what the title says. The only thing I really came away with after hearing "How To Roll a Blunt," however, is that it definitely isn't one of Pete Rock's stronger productions.
19. Sooper Luver Interview
Told you there were more skits to come.
20. A Day of Sooperman Lover
The first of many "Sooperman Lover" tales that Redman would tell throughout his career. While this isn't bad, it isn't exactly great either, although the beat changeup in the second half of the track is pretty cool. If that instrumental was used for the entire thing, "A Day of Sooperman Lover" would have been considerably better.
21. Encore
Outro.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Listening to it today, Whut? Thee Album sounds incredibly dated. Sometimes, that's not necessarily a bad thing (see: Mecca and The Soul Brother), but in this case, the project just does not hold up and does not fully withstand the test of time.
It was obvious that Redman had ample talent on the mic even then, possessing the ability to tell a story in a hilarious and entertaining fashion while still maintaining a level of legitimate credibility. That boded well for the future, as Red was able to drop numerous good-to-classic albums after his debut. So, Reggie wasn't the problem here. Well, Reggie the rapper wasn't the problem, anyway.
The issue was Erick Sermon's beats, which Redman received co-production honors on throughout the album. E-Dub would soon change up his style and take on a more subdued production approach, something that would wholly complement Redman. Here, though, some of the instrumentals sound sloppy and are just not enjoyable in 2013.
All of that said, Whut? Thee Album certainly played a massive role in bringing East Coast hip-hop back to the forefront in the 90s, and that is something that can never be taken away from it.
Hey, this wasn't dated in 1992, and, for that moment in time, that was all that mattered.
TOP TRACKS
1. Time For Some Aksion
2. Tonight's Da Night
3. Blow Your Mind
4. Hardcore
5. Redman Meets Reggie Noble
INTRODUCTION
Dare Iz a Darkside was the second among a trio of albums Redman released during a five-year period between 1992 and 1996, the other two being his debut, Whut? Thee Album ('92), and Muddy Waters ('96). Those three projects cemented Redman's legacy as being one of the greatest rappers to ever do it, as few artists can match up with his incredible discography.
Redman, known for his comical raps and witty punchlines, is the type of rapper that you simply cannot hate. Outside of his most recent work, he has always put out quality material throughout the duration of his illustrious career, both in terms of his solo projects and his popular albums with Method Man, those albums being Blackout! and Blackout! 2. Of course, Redman is also part of the group Def Squad, a trio that also includes Keith Murray and Erick Sermon. The group released one album, El Niño, to both commercial and critical acclaim in 1998, adding yet another notch to Red's belt.
It says a lot about an artist (in a good way) when the masses cannot seem to come to an agreement on which album is their best work, and that is the case with Redman. Although I have noticed that the majority tends to lean toward Muddy Waters (Sean Price has labeled it as his favorite album of all-time, as a matter of fact), plenty of his fans swear by either his debut or Dare Iz a Darkside. Count me in as favoring Dare Iz a Darkside, as I have always felt that it is his most complete and consistent piece of work, although you cannot go wrong with any of this first three releases.
It should also be said that Redman produces a significant amount of his songs, making him one of hip-hop's few Renaissance men.
So, without further ado, I give you the review for Dare Iz a Darkside.
TRACK-BY-TRACK
1. Bobyahed2dis
Rockwilder utilizes a sample of George Clinton's famous song "Atomic Dog" (which is actually sampled multiple times on this album) on Dare Iz a Darkside's opening cut, and he makes a banger out of it. The actual rapping by Redman doesn't start until about the 1:20 mark, but, nevertheless, "Bobyahed2dis" has already built momentum for the rest of the album.
2. Journey Throo Da Darkside
And here I thought Boot Camp Clik was the worst at intentionally butchering its song titles. Anyway, I was never all that crazy about this track, as it really isn't anything more than ordinary, although I found Red's "Did I mention my lyrical format gets more ahs than a dentist?" line to be particularly amusing. This cut was co-produced by Redman and Erick Sermon.
3. Da Journee
Although it may not feel like it given the length is only two minutes and twelve seconds and Redman doesn't start rapping until a minute in, this is an actual song, and it's one that I dig, mainly because of Redman's head-nodder of a beat.
4. A Million and 1 Buddah Spots
This Erick Sermon/Redman-laced production sounds like something Smif-N-Wessun would rhyme over, and that is a damn good thing. While I have never been a big fan of smoking songs (as I have always felt they're, well, stupid), no one does them better than Red. The snare drum in this bangs.
5. Noorotic
Redman's beat and rhymes fit perfectly with one another on this track. That's all I've got.
6. Cosmic Slop
Redman's Def Squad buddies join him on this relatively short cut, as both Keith Murray and Erick Sermon (the latter of whom co-produced this record with Red) drop guest verses. Keith Murray steals the show, rapping: "With amazing manifestations, I'll dictate to nations, more Cosmic Funk innovations in my creation." Rockwilder's instrumental does leave something to be desired, though.
7. Rockafella
Even the casual listener will immediately recognize "Rockafella" (produced by Red himself) as containing the same sample as Dr. Dre's famous track "Nuthin' But a G Thang," making it rather hard to listen to this cut without thinking you're listening to The Chronic. However, Redman, who sounds great over this, is obviously a superior rapper to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, so you'll promptly learn to treat the two songs as separate entities. This is one of the best records on the album, the annoying, high-pitched chipmunk voices that surface over the final minute-and-change notwithstanding. It was also Dare Iz a Darkside's first single.
8. Green Island
Redman's production on this is extremely simple and laid-back, but it works. The snare is sick, and Red kills the track. However, "Green Island" runs a bit too long for its own good (five minutes and forty-two seconds), as the beat, as nice as it is, does grow tiresome after a while.
9. Basically
A very short song, spanning two minutes and three seconds, but it knocks, as Redman lays down an instrumental that contains some banging drums. Also, you've gotta love the part where Red says "woooord" at the end of every line for a span of four bars.
10. Can't Wait
This was the album's second single, and what a choice it was, as "Can't Wait" is, without a doubt, the best song on Dare Iz a Darkside. The track is co-produced by Erick Sermon and Red, and they use two great samples: Bob James' "Caribbean Nights" (hey, would you look at that; a Bob James-sampled song that isn't "Nautilus"!) and the Mary Jane Girls' "All Night Long." Also, I'm not one to get into music videos, but the video for this cut is grimy as hell, as it features Redman rapping outside in freezing temperatures, as evident by the steam coming out of his mouth. This is probably my favorite Redman track, period.
11. Winicumuhround
I don't like this one too much. Erick Sermon and Redman's beat just seems a bit too busy for my taste. P.S.: "Winicumuharound" is the second of three songs on this album to sample "Atomic Dog."
12. Wuditlooklike
Remember when I said "A Million and 1 Buddah Spots" sounded like something Smif-N-Wessun would rap over, and I said that was a damn good thing? Well, "Wuditlooklike," produced by Redman, sounds like something Heltah Skeltah would rap over, and if you've been following this blog at all, you'd know I'd think that's even better.
13. Slide and Rock On
Sorry, but this one was really, really boring. Oh, and this marks the third and final time that "Atomic Dog" is sampled on Dare Iz a Darkside.
14. Sooperman Luva II
Just like he did on "A Day Of Sooperman Lover" on Whut? Thee Album, Redman flashes his incredible storytelling ability here, even if the story is somewhat twisted. His beat is also pretty solid.
15. We Run N.Y.
Redman's beat bangs and he sounds great on this, but Hurricane G's guest appearance really ruins what could be a brilliant song. Plain and simply, she sucks, and her voice is nearly as annoying as Nicki Minaj's. No; seriously.
16. Tonight's Da Night (Remix)
The original (off of Whut? Thee Album) was good, but the remix is even better, featuring some bouncy production from Red instead of a laid-back beat. Like "Can't Wait," it also samples the Mary Jane Girls' "All Night Long," although the sample is not nearly as pronounced on this record. This is just a phenomenal song overall.
FINAL THOUGHTS
One common criticism of Dare Iz a Darkside is that the beats all sound the same, and while that may be a valid concern for stretches of this album, who gives a damn if all of the beats knock? This is simply a great record by Redman from start-to-finish, as the production is great, Red's rhymes and punchlines are in prime form, and it maintains a steady feel throughout.
Of Redman's first three albums (and, let's not kid ourselves; his three best albums), I would probably say that Dare Iz a Darkside would be the best place to start for someone who may be new to Redman, as it combines the sounds from Whut? Thee Album and Muddy Waters into one whole project. That way, you get a taste of both worlds.
Just like any of Redman's albums, Dare Iz a Darkside makes for an incredibly entertaining listen. The subject matter is generally upbeat and funny, and Red doesn't delve into anything that will make you think and potentially cause your head to explode. He is very up front, forthright, and simple, making him easily accessible for all audiences.
Redman's consistency in the rap game is certainly something to marvel at, as he put out three classics to begin his career, and then released the very solid Doc's Da Name 2000, that along with his aforementioned very impressive collaborative efforts. At this point, it's fairly clear that Red is past his prime (just listen to his latest work, Reggie, if you need verification), but his fantastic early work (all of which will be reviewed on this blog at some point) cannot be ignored.
TOP FIVE TRACKS
1. Can't Wait
2. Basically
3. Tonight's Da Night (Remix)
4. Bobyahed2dis
5. Rockafella
SKIPPABLE TRACKS
None.
