lack Ink
People, Arts and Entertainment
4/b
Grooves: The New Monthly Look At Albums
Page 8
November 26
4/
By Corey Brown
Staff
Grooves
Sizing up new releases in the world of
hip-hop, rhythm and blues, gospel and
jazz.
Grooves
The rating system:
4 CD’s- Highly Recommended
3 CD’s- Recommended
2 CD’s- Find a friend and Dub It
1 CD -Listen To The Radio
Edutainment Boogie Down Productions-
KRS-ONE is back and larger than ever
with his forth and unarguably best album.
Talkaboutdroppin’ science,KRS addresses
evCTything from Blacks trying to identify
with our Caucasian counterparts in Ya
Strugglin’ to the Greek’s theft of Egyptian
philosophiesmBlackman sinEffect.KRS-
ONE also known as Kris Parker is defi
nitely one of the most respected rap artist
on the scene today and if you can appreci
ate music with a message, you’ll love this
album. 4 CD’s
Born to Sing En Vogue- En Vogue is one
of the most talented women groups on the
scene today. In their debut album, they
have every element for success including
the dance hits Hold On and Lies, the nice
slow jams like Waitin' on You and Just
Can’t Stay Away, and something to make
you think like Part of Me. Each of the
twelve cuts on Bom to Sing are well writ
ten and well produced that’s why this one
gets 4 CD’s.
The Revival Tony! Toni! Tone!- 3T is
back and as strong as before with their
return to the scene in The Revival. It con
tains the make ya’ move songs like Feels
Good and The Oakland Stroke and more.
Although notknown for making slow jams,
this record contains two in particular that
have hit marked all over them: Whatever
You Want, stnAIt Never Rains (In Southern
California). This fourteen song album was
well put together by the guy s from Oakland.
3 CD’s
I’ll Give All Mv Love To You Keith
Sweat- I’m sure everyone has heard of the
sophomore jinx, but I am glad to say Keith
Sweat does not suffer from it. This, his
second album, of course does not measure
up to the greatness of Make It Last Forever
but is good nevertheless. Sweat scores big
with the love songs Come Back, Just One of
themThangs, and the title track/’ II Give All
My Love to You. But falls short on the dance
grooves ’cause he didn’t make many. Re
gardless this is a deHnite top ten album and
merits 3 CD’s as long as you don ’ t compare
it to the first one.
Mama Said Knock You Out LL Cool J-
For the first time since the Radio LP, I
could actually listen to LL without getting
tired of his ego trippin’. Mr. James Todd
Smith may have found a social conscience
on this his fourth album. He combines hard
core tunes with serious bass ^^DaBoomin
System with sleek dance grooves as in
Milky Cereal. Then to top it off, he has a
song called The Power of God, which pays
tribute to the Almighty. I never thought that
I’d see the day when LL raps about some
one more than himself, but he ’ s had a slight
change in attitude. It deserves a solid 3
CD’s.
Pandemonium The Time- In their, if you
will, return album the Time attempts to
recapture past glory from the days of rec
ords like 777-9311, the Walk, Jungle Love,
and Cool. Of course their initial release,
Jerk Out, was an instant success but the hits
on this album will be few and far between.
It seemed to me like they were somewhat
out of touch with what the public wants to
hear. On cuts like Blonde and Skillet it
appeared as though members of Guns and
Roses helped with lead guitar. And being a
fan of the Time you can imagine the disap
pointment I felt. This deserves no better
than 2 CD’s.
Poison Bell Biv Devoe- When Poison (the
single) was first released I can remember
anticipating getting this album. I figured
the whole album would be filled with smash
dance tunes and smooth ballads. I was ter
ribly wrong. Aside from the fact that Ricky
Bell, Mike Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe flat
out cannot sing, they reinforce the negative
image of the black male. I should have
known, I mean what kind of intelligence do
you need to make a song like Do Me ?
Frankly, this album lacks in taste and shows
no artistic ability. 1 CD
Up and Coming Artist Preview: Kaos
and Mystro- A Shade of Grev
This Detroit based rap group has only been
on the scene one year but with their first
album show a lot of promise for the future.
Their style is somewhat like Pubic Enemy ’ s
in that they have deep meaning, but they
still make you dance in songs like Mystro
on the Flex and Move Your Body. It may
take a while for their sound to migrate south
but keep an eye out for these guys.
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BSM Central
Committee Meeting
Tues., Nov. 27
5:00 p.m.
Union 226
BSM Meeting
Wed., Nov. 28
5:00 p.m.
Upendo lounge
•An African-American Celebration*
A cultural, educational and social event that you won't want to miss
Dec. 3~ Maulana Karenga (8;(X) p.m.- Hamilton 100)
Dec. 4-- "The Three Nights of Kwanzaa" (6:30 p.m.- Toy Lounge)
Dec. 5- Candle Light Vigil (7:00 p.m.- Union Auditorium)
Dec. 6- African and African-American vendors (12-4 p.m.- Union 211&212)
Dec. 7- Story Telling Activity (5:30 p.m.- BCG; 12:30 p.m.- Great Hall)
Dec. 8" Talent Show (7:00 p.m.- Gerrard Hall)
Dec. 9- Kwanzaa Extravaganza (2:00 p.m.- Great Hall)
For more informaUon contact Donee Thomas (932-5495)