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Black Ink January 28, 1991 8 I C E U B E , hHISDIf: Album Review Mediocre marks for Ice Cube and Ralph Tresvant By Corey Brown Staff Ice Cube: Kill at Will In this world of non-talented, cold frontin’ pop sellouts such as Vanilla Ice, it’s good to have a total contradiction in Ice Cube. W ith the release of Kill at Will, his second solo project. Cube brings much of the same controversy and violence, but adds an unexpected twist This album contains a remix of two cuts that were on his AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted LP: “Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside)” featuring Chuck D from Public Enemy and “Get Off My D*** and Tell Yo B**** to Come Here.” I question why this was done due to the fact that there are only seven grooves on the album. Regardless of that mistake. Ice Cube makes up for it with “Jackin’ for Beats,” which is my favorite song on the album. Six different beats including samples from D-Nice, EPMD, Public Enemy, LJL. Cool J, Digi tal Underground and X-Clan are all molded into one and put on the serious gangsta tip when Cube raps over it The most evident difference in this album from most of Cube’s projects is that he finally shows he has half a heart and maybe even some social consciousness. “Dead Homiez ” is a tribute to some of his boys in the ‘hood that have met senseless deaths. He also makes At last, the final member of New Edition goes solo. In his al bum, Ralph T. surrounded himself with the production and direction of Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Timmy Gatlin, Kayo and Darryl Simmons, to name a few. These are all some of the better produc ers in the industry today, but they are to blame for making this rec ord too broad. Of course his first release, "Sensitivity," was a smash. But if you expect more of the same in the line of slow-tempo songs,this al bum isn’t very thorough. It seems as if Rizz was searching for a style to identify with. For instance, he gives rappin’ a try in “Rated R’ People, Arts the comment, “Something ain’t rightAvhen there’s a tragedy that’s the only time the family’s tight.” What ?!? Cube talkin’ about more than drive-by shootings and po lice on his jock? True, it’s hard to believe, but don’t expect him to soften and start making love songs or anything like that. In viewing it as a whole, I think most people will be satisfied by its quality but upset with the number of songs on this album. For this reason alone. Kill at Will can get no higher than a B. Ralph Tresevant: Ralph Tresevant but then tries to slow it down with “Do What I Gotta Do.” He just about attempts every type of mu sic. In “Girl I Can’t Control It,” he reverts to the old New Edition style of basic beats and simple melodies. It leaves the listener wondering what the true Ralph is. This is one of those albums that really has to grow on you before it can be appreciated. The lack of identity really hurts Ralph in his debut project Unless you are a diehard N.E. fan, I suggest you wait for his second album release. It should be better than the first— we hope. GRADE: C Express Yourself... In Black Ink Black Ink invites all students to showcase their talents in a special literary edition of Black Ink. We will accept poems, fiction, graphic art and other artistic forms. Think Black Ink! Entries will be accepted until: Monday, February 4, 1991 The Slam-A-Jam '91 Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest, Big Daddy Kane and K-Solo to be featured in upcoming concert By Tim Little Assistant Editor The new year is starting off right as far as concerts are con cerned. First the big Bell Biv DeVoe tour rolls through North Carolina, while St Augustine’s College presents its homecoming show,“Slam-A-Jam ‘91,”on Sat urday, Feb. 2. Featured on the bill are Big Daddy Kane, Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest and K-Solo. The concert comes right on the heels of the success of Kane ’ s third album. Taste Of Chocolate, and single "Cause I Can Do It Right" (1 don ’ t know anything about those rumors, and I have yet to hear anyone say that they officially were watching the program he was on!) Big Daddy first “stepped” on the scene in ‘88 with “Ain’t No Half-Steppin’” and “Raw” on his first album. Long Live The Kane. He has recently been a guest on several other artists’ albums in cluding Public Enemy’sFear 0/4 Black Planet and Quincy Jones’s Back On The Block. Queen Latifah is known for songs such as “Dance For Me,” “Ladies First” and “Come Into My House.” Latifah’s talents have been shown on brief appearances on The Arsenio Hall Show and In Living Color. A Tribe Called Quest recently performed at N.C. Central Uni versity and have had a good deal of success with their debut album. People 'sInstinctiveTravelsand the Paths of Rhythm. Singles from it include “I Left My Wallet In El Segundo,” “Bonita Applebaum” and “Can I Kick It?” “I’m really anxious to see the Questers,” says Randy Kincy, an avid Quest fan. “I think they might be the highlight of the show.” Show time is scheduled at 8 p.m. at the Dorton Arena on the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Tickets are $14 in advance and $16 at the door, and are available in Chapel Hill at Schoolkids Rec ords on Franklin Street. For more information, call (919) 755-0750.
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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