February 18,1992
Features
15
For The Record
Mix-A-Lot is Back and Better, MAAD CIRCLE Has Arrived
Mack Daddy
%
On his new label, Def American, Mix-A-Lot is a bit more serious.
Curiously, fame has shunned the talented MAAD CIRCLE.
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Mack Daddy
Def American/Rhyme Cartel
Reviewed by T J. Stancil
Sir Mix-A-Lot has released his
third album, Mack Daddy, as well
nx)ved to a new rap label - Rick
Rubin’s Def American. Rick Rubin,
a former Def Jam Records producer
who helped bring to prominence
the likes of Public Enemy, Li.
Cool J., The Beastie Boys, and Run
D.M.C, collaborated with Sir Mix-
A-Lot to release a surprisingly
good album.
Mack Daddy, compared to
previous Mix-A-Lot releases like
Seminar, and his debutalbum^woys,
is definitely a change for the better.
His previous albums contained a
few good songs other than the hits,
but sounded amateurish. For those
unfamiliar with Sir Mix-A-Lot, the
Seattle-based rapper first graced the
rap map with his 1987 hit, “My
Posse’s on Broadway”. Later
releases were “Iron Man”,
“Beq)ers”, “I Got Game” and his
biggest hit to date, “My Hooptie”.
This album has more “real” cuts
than previous albums, but fw those
who crave Mix-A-Lot’s humwous
side he doesn’t disappoint. This
album contains songs like “One
Time’s Got no Case”, “Baby Got
Back”, “Swap Meet Louie”, and
“Sprung on the cat”, which are
nothing less than laughable.
Mix-A-Lot has definitely
improved his A-B-C rap style, and
his ab-eady impressive samples,
beats, and bass lines are more
streamlined on the Def American
label. Mix-A-Lot is what 1 would
call an “alternative” rapper, not well
known, little radio play, but
danceable music you can pump in
your room or in your ride.
Mack Daddy gets a B, which is
hard to give a perennial lower level
r^per like Sir Mix-A-Lot, but this
album is definitely a first rate
release. Promising cuts, which will
probably get little or no air play, are
“A Rapper’s Reputation”,
“Lockjaw”, ‘Testarossa” and “The
Jack Back”. If Sir Mix-A-Lot has
“seen the light” and become a true
artist, then he has only great things
ahead. If not, it’s back to stupid raps
we go!
WC and the MAAD CIRCLE
Ain't a Damn Thang Changed
Priority Records
Reviewed by: Stefan Tyson
It confuses me that a group such
as WC and the MAAD CIRCLE
could slip through the cracks of
popularity. Their second album
Ain't a Damn Thang Changed, is a
very high quality album. They hail
out of infamous South Central, Los
Angeles, and are produced primarily
by Sir Jinx from the Lench Mob.
Many rap fans know of the Lench
Mob from their most famous
member, Ice Cube, who also helped
the MAAD CIRCLE in this their
latest endeavor.
Like Ice Cube and the l/.'nch
Mob, this group brings out stx;ial
consciousness, and especially on
four of their tracks. “Behind Qo«xl
Doors” enlightens us on Uie non-
reportcdijnstiincesof police bniiality
and crooked cops. AiKuher “Caught
N A Futl” speaks on people who are
only are interesied in something
because it’s fad. They point out
specifically tliose who act as if they
are gang bangers and those who act
a.s if their following A1 Islam. In
“Dress Code" the MAAD CIRCLE
addresses the problem of
stereotyping African Americans
because ofthe clothes we wear. For
example, when you may be tiarassed
by the ptilice because yoi! havv* ort ?.
hix-itoi sweat baggy pant;;.
hfy per>;o5U«i C'ivortrc l!:Ough, ii- T--
• k My DiJtldy.” Ttih t-ack a
maiof probi;>ni ir; ihe oi
Auics.ii Articticaris, •'j.'f-jc!) is ihc
stece.nct; oio imk i Wh;U:er
shrough ti!C oX (i)c
in ra-sini- {iis children, or of hss
running ris,.' fe-nity,
I rcconinterid Airt'i t/
Damn I Jiny f'jin
ict Cube a;c1 the I. eucii Mob. T'm
niusic art;} bmlM-rc (yx)cu are very
btu tiiey riiso itave liicir
dope style and Migniture
largely unknown, ihis
albtirf! is }->clter thj-p, ot ihc
paniier albuois Uxni have beei;
)(• ?i)e yes-r.
Gn-ik',; .A
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