Fciituros
Octobor 1, 1991
For The Record
Naughty By Nature Slams; Williams Lacks the Right Stuff
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
Straight Outta Hell’s Kitchen
Columbia Records
Reviewed By Natalie Baucum
Straight Outta Hell’s Kitchen
by LisaLisaandCult Jam, isagreat
way to end your 1991 summer
album collection. The group so
wanted to produce a hit album, they
used two sets of producers. Tracks
one through six feature the produc
tion talents of Robert Clivilles and
David Cole (the same duo respon
sible for the sound of C + C Music
Factory), while tracks seven
through twelve are done by none
other than Full Force, the usual
producers for Lisa Lisa and Cult
Jam.
The collaboration of these pro
ducers has given the group a whole
new identity. Also, lead singer Lisa
Lisa has strengthened her voice
through intense lessons and has
said goodbye to the old scratchy-
throated version. What has re
mained the same are the funky
dance beats for which the Cult Jam
is well known. “Let the Beat Hit
‘Em” is already a bona fide radio
smash. It’sgotaslammin’ beat that
would make anyone dance. “Some
thing ‘Bout Love,” is another solid
LET T
dance tune. It lacks the finesse of
“the Beat,” but it’s certain to be a
another top 20 hit.
The ballads, four on this album,
really highlight Lisa Lisa’s new
found vocal ability. Personally, my
favorite is “Forever,” which con
tains the best vocal arrangement
ever rendered by the Cult Jam. The
other ballads are tolerable but lack
creativity.
Straight Outta Hell’s Kitchen,
is far and away the best album Lisa
Lisa and Cult Jam have released. Its
strong dance grooves take it far,
despite the unoriginal ballads which
nevertheless, hold their own. A
prediction: This album, the result of
about two years work in the studio,
will be one of the year’s top re
leases.
Rating: B
Naughty By Nature
Naughty By Nature
Tommy Boy Records
Reviewed By TJ. Stancil
Naughty By Nature’s self-titled
debut album was one of the hottest
rap releases of late summer. The
group, famous for its crossover hit,
“O.P.P.,” slams with hard hitting
cuts like: “Yoke the Joker,” “Every
euli jam
She has lost the old voice but retained the funky beats
Day All Day” and “Pin the Tail on
the Donkey.” Naughty By Nature,
comprised of Treach, the hard-core
lyricist, Vinnie, and KayGee, is the
latest addition to DJ Mark the 45
King’s ever-growing Havor Unit.
Other notables in the 45 King’s
camp include Lakim Shabazz and
the Unit’s producer Queen Latifah,
who is largely responsible for their
notoriety.
Naughty By Nature is appealing
because of the innovative style of
rap used by Treach, sort of a cross
between rap and reggae, with the
speed of a fast-talking auctioneer.
Themusic,hard-drivingdrum tracks
and well-placed samples, perfectly
complement this lyrical method. Be
sure to check out “Ghetto Bastard,”
Treach’s powerfully told life story;
“1,2,3”, featuring the Flavor Unit’s
Apache and Lakim Shabazz; and
“Wickedest Man Alive,” Naughty
By Nature’s next release, which has
a reggae feel and Queen Latifah on
the back-up vocals.
My only problem with the al
bum is the rapper’s tendency to
sound the same in every song.
Regardless, this is a first-rate album
because of its easy-listening quali
ties and its wide range of appeal.
Rating: A
Queen Latifah
Nature of a Sista
Tommy Boy Records
Reviewed By; Stefan Tyson
Queen Latifah is the most pro
lific product of a new line of female
rappers that have made their pres
ence felt in the hip hop industry.
Her second album, “Nature of a
Sista,” on Tommy Boy records
promises to be as large as her first
one, “All Hail the Queen.”
In “Nature” Latifah gives us a
good mixture of rap, reggae and
singing. This makes her album
rather original and more appealing
to the differing tastes of rap fans.
The Queen shows us a new side of
her talents when she makes a foray
into singing.
Two cuts in particular display
her pleasantly surprising singing
skills: “How Do I Love Thee,” in
which Latifah sings in a type of love
whisper; and “Sexy Fancy,” a reg
p
jnp li,
lUlltlT tlllll
Treach and company are another King and Queen creation
gae U’ack. This may lead some to
believe that Latifah has changed
styles, but on the conuary, she’s
just added to her already consider
able arsenal. Yet another aspect of
her music that works particularly
well are the piano mixes, the use of
which seems to be a growing trend
in the rap industry.
With its originality, continuous
lyrics and fitting music, Narure of a
Sista gets a top rating. You will not
be bored by this collection. The
music is wonderfully produced,
especially on the title U-ack, which
incorporates excellent jazz horns
that further prove the Queen Lati
fah reign to be legitimate.
Rating: A
Vanessa Williams
1 The Comfort Zone
j Polygram Records
I Reviewed By Lisa Lavelle
! VanessaWilliamsisbackonthe
record scene but this time she is
without “The Right Stuff.” Her
second album. The Contort Zone
on Polygram Records, attempts to
magnify the vocal talents of this
former Miss America but lacks the
necessary songs to do so. With the
help of producers Keith Thomas
and Trevor Gayle, Vanessa’s ven
ture into the album zone falls far
short of success.
The title uack, “The Comfort
Zone”, “Running Back to You” and
“Work To Do” are all funky dance
grooves, but three songs do not an
album make. “Running Back To
You,” the current hit single, is
quickly moving up thedance charts.
This contemporary beat with a blend
of hip hop mixes the right ingredi
ents for a smash that exemplifies
the type track of which Williams is
capable. Other .songs on the album,
such as “Better Off Now” lack en
tertaining rhythms and lyrics. And
to put it plain and simple, the bal
lads are boring. Love songs such as
“Goodbye” and “Just For Tonight”
offer little in regards to romance
and soothing beats.
With beuer song selections,
Vanessa Williams could have had a
platinum record on her hands - she
definitely has the vocal talent to
produce such a work. Instead, she’ 11
have to settle for a mediocre (at
best) album with three hit singles.
Oh well, better luck next time.
Rating: C-