DRAKE DEVILLE'S JACKTOWN UNDERGROUND - Kamikaze's "2 BROKE 2 BALL"

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Dec 31, 2009, 2:17pm

DRAKE DEVILLE'S JACKTOWN UNDERGROUND :: GENERAL :: Record Reviews :: Kamikaze's "2 BROKE 2 BALL"

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Topic: Kamikaze's "2 BROKE 2 BALL" (Read 130 times)

illist cat
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Kamikaze's "2 BROKE 2 BALL"
« Thread Started on Aug 9, 2004, 4:41pm »

illist cat review: Kamizaze's "2 BROKE 2 BALL"

Kamikaze's 2 BROKE 2 BALL is a record that chronicles struggle, but never gets weighed down with negative sentiment. In fact, the album is an energetic release from it. 2 BROKE 2 BALL shows Kamikaze at ease in a number of different styles, fueled by work with a variety of different producers. It doesn't take long to get into your head, either -- front-end loaded with three radio-ready singles in "U Ain't Hard", "Same Old Clothes", and "Round Here". If you had the occasion to hear the Godson Royal produced "Same Old Clothes", a funky Jacktown block-burner, on Hot 97.7 this afternoon, it was mixed with ease into the company of top hip-hop singles nationwide.

Opening up with dialogue from the 1985 Berry Gordy produced movie "The Last Dragon" (note: if Vanity was in it, I've seen it), Kamikaze handily swerves 2 BROKE 2 BALL between everything from cop-drama bounce ("Dope") to spaghetti Western-inspired smoke tracks ("Get 'Em Back").

Dirty South nirvana is realized in the track "U Ain't Hard", when Kaze upshifts into the frantic:

CROOKED LETTA, CROOKED LETTA I//
CROOKED LETTA, CROOKED LETTA I//
HUMPBACK, HUMPBACK I//
LOOK AT THAT SH1T DAT GON' FLY//

and brings "the country to the city" in the urgent swing of "Round Here".

An unexpected highlight of the album is the track "Loser", a track firmly rooted in the Mississippi blues and soul traditions, in which Kamikaze stretches out over a Mayhem & Carlisle produced jazz stack -- with lounge singer intro and outro to boot. Kaze laments:

THAT'S WHY I GOTS TO PUT MY CREDIT IN MY MOMMA NAME//
LAST ONE CHOSEN EVERY SUNDAY AT THE PICKUP GAME//

And yes, two tracks produced by David Banner are included, "Bonafied Pros" and "I Apologize", with the latter shining as one of the most lyrically affecting tracks on the album. "Hustlin" finds Mr. Sho-Nuff spitting a blue collar anthem with confidence:

'CAUSE I DONE WORKED TOO HARD//
FOR ALL YOU GROUPIES AND LEECHES//
AND I'M TOO FRESH TO MAKE AN ALBUM//
WITH 'BOUT 22 FEATURES//

Kaze's lyrics ring true, as there are not a lot of guest vocalists on 2 BROKE 2 BALL. The result is a refreshing change and demonstrates Kamikaze's ability to keep over 77 minutes of music engaging. There are turns into old school beats (the RUN DMC throwback "So Cool") and explorations in funk (the chic, pimperish "Too Much"). And an album that opens up with a brawler's determination:

'CAUSE I AIN'T TRYING TO OUTRAP YA, MANE//
I'M TRYING TO OUTLAST YA//

ends with like purpose:

I'M TOO GOOD, I'M TOO REAL//
I'M TOO RAW TO BE DENIED//
BUT IF FAITH STOP ME SHORT//
THEN AT LEAST THEY'LL SAY I TRIED//
AT LEAST THEY'LL SAY I REPRESENTED//
RIPPED A MIC UNTIL I DIE//
AND IF IT HAS TO END TODAY//
THEN SAY I DID ENJOY THE RIDE//

Most listeners will find 2 BROKE 2 BALL an extremely solid showing well worth the wait. For many hip-hop fans, it is already arguably one of the most important records ever from a Southern hip-hop artist. Over three years in the making, 2 BROKE 2 BALL finds "Banner's former bandmate" standing quite steadily on his own talents. A Mississippi man out here hustlin'.

$9.99 at Bebop Maywood. Scoop up Drake DeVille "CONNECTS" for free while you're out there.

AND WE DON'T STOP//

DRAKE 8-)

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