MATUilES i B
For the Record
‘Fugees Won’t be Refugees for Long’
Editor’s Note: The following
albums are reviewed by Eric
Polhill.
Thought Ya Knew
Cece Peniston
A&M Records
How many times have you
been disappointed by a great new
on tliis album from gospel (“I
Will Be Received”) to house/
dance(“Hit By Love”) to slow
jams (“If You Love Me, I WUl
Love You”).
CeCe’s first single “I’m In
the Mood” is currently climbing
the charts and I would check
“Searching” and the Brian
McKnight produced “Forever In
i
m
m
artist’s sophomore effort?
Too many times I’m sure. Well
then, count how many times you
were overjoyed to find that the
artists outdid themselves the
second time around and add CeCe
Peniston to the list
CeCe Peniston’s second
album. Thought Ya Knew, takes
her to the next level.This is the
type of album where you listen to
each cut and say, “oh, this is my
song” about fourteen times.
Thought Ya Knew is packed
with possible#! hits. But beyond
that, what makes this album stand
out is its diversity. I see songs
topping the R&B chart, the adult
contemporary chart and the dance
charts.
The use of many producers
ranging from Sir Jinx of Ice
Cube’s Lench Mob fame to
Steve “Silk” Hurley of Crystal
Waters fame (Crystal Who?) was
a wise choice and also an effective
ooe.CeCe gives a bit of everything
My Heart” as future hits for Ms.
Peniston. If you liked “Finally”
Roxbury 02119
Ed O. G and Da Bulldogs
Mercury Records
A few years back, these kids
blew up with “I Got To Have It.”
Since then, they have fallen into
the abyss of “one hit wonder”
obscurity. Yes, they did have
other releases off their debut
album, but none were hits by any
stretch of the imagination.
Ed O.G is back with the same
basic format but with quality
production on this go around. With
Diamond on the mixing board its
hard to go wrong. Musically this
album is great, but unfortunately
this is arap album. I’m not saying
Ed can’t rap. I’m just saying he
doesn’tleavealasting impression
on my ears lyrically. But, coupled
v^th carefully constructed tracks,
Ed can work wonders.
The first single, “Skinny Dip
(Got It Goin’ On)” was a wise
choice for the first release. This
cut truly showcases how the right
instrumentation can make all the
difference in the world. The deep
resonating bass and jazzy horn
snippets combined with Ed’s
bragging and boasting makes for
a very ear-friendly composition.
02119 should do OK because
most people don’t listen to lyrics
anyway.
For those who are into the
hip-hop jazzy sound (Giant
Steppers know what I mean) this
album is definitely worth
checking out. It’s not as
innovative as Digable Planets, but
it doesn’t struggle to be Jazzy
everything from straight hip-hop
to acoustic guitars.
While other artists in the past
have been just as diverse, the
Fugees seem quite comfortable
with each format they choose. So
now you ask, what about the
lyrics?
Well, all of the Fugees show
they have skills on the mic but the
TRANZLATOR
you should have bought Thought
Ya Knew yesterday. What? You
weren’t sure if CeCe could do it
again? I thought ya knew!
Rating: A
Ed O.G and Da Bulldogs will
never be known for any
innovative styles or mind
boggUng concepts, but they do
possess enough skills to rise above
the average rapper. Even with so
many technicalities Roxbury
hke Us3, but that’s another story.
Rating: B-/C+
Blunted on Reality
Fugees(Tranzlator Crew)
Ruffhouse/Columbia Records
The Fugees (as in refugees)
are a little different from the
average hip-hop crew. They’re
not hardrock gangstas, but
defmitely not mainsuieam pop rap.
These kids are on a more
grassroots vibe. The Fugees
consist of two proud Haitians and
a “yankee girl” from South
Orange, New Jersey. The
Caribbean influence on this album
is very strong but not
overpowering. The Fugees are
careful not to get caught up in
the very popular reggae chatting
over hip-hop beats that has
flooded the industry over the past
few years.Musically, Blunted on
Reality has a very diverse range.
TheTranzlator Crew hits you with
big surprise is the content of the
lyrics. Topics range from religion
to the situation in Haiti to selling
out in the hip-hop game. Being
that there are a wide variety of
sounds and styles, everyone will
undoubtedly have their own
personal favorites on the album.
1 would suggest “Some Seek
Stardom,” which samples Aretha
Franklin’s “Bridge Over
Troubled Water,” for definite
satisfaction. This track gives a
smooth, almost jazzy, feeling
complete with church style, well
black church style organs, and a
very deep baseline.
Add the conscious lyrics and
a little butter from “yankee girl”
Lauryn Hill and you have one
dope cut. “Boof Baf’, the first
single and “Refugees on the
Mic” are also noteworthy,
showcasing the lyrical attack of
Fugees members Wyclef and
Prakazrel.