A listen through the Uno Mas & Cookbook tape

This was inspired by Suds who read the blog the other day and didn't get it. I don't know that this will make it any easier but I thought I'd listen through the Uno Mas and Cookbook mixtape I posted on Monday and write up some stuff to explain how I hear it. It's probably best read while listening to the mixtape.

Track 1: Championship Ring ft. Vice Versa
Nice use of the sample. The piano line that kicks in at about 36 seconds provides a cute highlight.
The beat gets flipped for the second verse (Vice Versa). It's a more classic, head-nodding hip hop beat. It reminds me of the Naughty by Nature video for Holiday where they flip another beat partway through (@ 1:52). Awesome.
Uno Mas has an understated, relaxed flow. I think it works here but it can be boring. Method Man can be a bit of an offender in that regard.
Golf metaphors, not commonplace for hip hop but I like the change-up. There's heaps of references, golf, NFL, Legends of the Fall...
The last verse has that same, flipped beat from the 2nd verse. Uno Mas closes it out strong. A good last verse can make a song. I don't know anyone who closes out a song better than GZA like on Protect Ya Neck.
"Because for me victory is when I move the crowd" is a reference to the classic 'Eric B. is President' by Eric B and Rakim where Rakim raps "To me MC means move the crowd".

Track 2: The Reason Why ft. Raquel
Synth, boppy beat not so cool. A bit far down the Kanye Flashing Lights/The Good Life sort of path.
"Tell me what the heck am I supposed to do?" (@ 1:41) is a reference to KRS One and his song 'Hip Hop Knowledge' off The Sneak Attack where he's justifying himself for responding to disses after campaigning for peace in hip hop.
The reason why they keep rapping even though they don't have heaps of fame and money - the fans. I guess if I was a local and saw their shows I'd appreciate it but for-the-fans songs don't quite hit the spot for me.

Track 3: Showtime ft. DJ Wise
A bit more upbeat which I like, a bit more of an old school flavour. The guitar hit isn't my thing really.
I like a good sampled chorus, I always try to pick where samples come from. I don't recognise much from this one except Pigeon John (once from LA Symphony) saying "and my man Uno Mas" which is from an old song by LA Symphony called 'San Diego'.
"Time for some action" (@ 1:59) is a reference to 'Time 4 Sum Aksion' off Redman's first album Whut? Thee Album or to the Cypress Hill song 'How I Could Just Kill a Man' which Redman samples.
A song that closes with scratching is a rarity these days. I like it.

Track 4: Monie Love ft. Joey the Jerk
I like a good singing sample as a hip hop chorus. The Hilltop Hoods exploited that with the Nosebleed Section a few years ago but there are heaps. I posted one by RZA earlier this week.
It's a concept song. Money is personified as a girl and the song is about the troubled relationship they have with her.
"Make money make money" and "Take money, take money" in the chorus might be a reference to an Outsidaz song unsurprisingly called "Money, Money, Money" from their album The Bricks. I think there's another song (by Nas?) which might be a more direct link but can't think of it now.
The next chorus has "The real...hip hop" which might be from a particular song but I think is just a comment on the relationship between hip hop and money. It is pretty odd for a rapper to talk about how loving money might not be the best thing.
"You and me go back like Adam and Eve" and "I'm giving you love and you're giving me pain, and a tainted way of looking at every situation" stand out from the last verse.

Track 5: In 'n' Out
I don't usually dig the synth stuff but this is pretty upbeat and I like that rolling synth hit on the off beats.
"Hit the ground running
Hit your town gunning
Give you soundbombing
You never seen us coming"
These intro lines work. They lyrics aren't amazing but the sound just works.
Uno Mas and Cookbook trade lines which I dig. It can be great when crews do that sort of thing. The two best examples of this for my money involve the Outsidaz. One on a song called 'Cowboys' by the Fugees and another on The Last Word on Rah Digga's album Dirty Harriet.

Track 6: Throwback
There's something about this track that I'm not totally into. I think it's too laid back for me.
The "Yiggidy yes, knocker
The shiggedy show stopper
I riggedy rock the mic
and choke you out like Chewbacca" (@ 0:51) is a reference to DAS EFX who had that unique flow (see their song 'Mic Checka').
"Like a hippopotamus this beat is prosperous" wtf? That's an awful line.
Definitely the weakest song on the tape.

Track 7: Let it Go
More upbeat again, more synth, still, I like.
"Ready or not" @ 54 seconds is a reference to Ready or Not by the Fugees.
"Brother beleeeeeeeive me" the delivery not the words @ 1:22 and 1:26 is referencing something but I can't quite remember what.
Chorus uses a pretty classic pattern. Busta uses it on the hook of a song called 'I.C. Y'all' by De La Soul and also Body Rock off Busta's When Disaster Strikes album.
Nice to hear some scratching. They obviously like djing and I like that. It's generally pretty neglected these days.