February 1999 • 5
Jones, Total, and DMX makes way to the top
All reviews by $VEGAZ$
$ Put it back on the shelf
$$ Buy it used!
$$$ Good material with minor holes
$$$$ Find space on your shelf for it!
$$$$$ Magnum opus: Hip-hop
classic!
(0 -half a $ like half a mic)
Quincy Jones
From Q, With Love
QuestAVamer Bros.
Quincy Jones releases a double
album with 26 of the greatest songs ever
written and performed.
No boot knocking, lick-your-body-
freaking for this veteran
producer/arranger. With ‘Q’ at the helm,
the love will be sumptuous, the vocals on
point and the sound as deep and rich as
plush carpeting. Needless to say, it’s a
slightly old fashioned demo style, but not
without its merits. Jones always manages
to find great singers and coax great vocals
out of them. On this collection compiled
from over the past 32 years of his career,
the songs will be familiar to R&B fans
from Michael Jackson’s near perfect
“Human Nature,” James Ingram’s lovely
“100 Hundred Ways,” and the lip-
smacking “Secret Garden Suite” with
Barry White and others. Patti Austin and
James Ingram work their pillow talk
magic on “How Do You Keep The Music
Playing?” Sarah Vaughan and Take 6
serenades your ears with their “Septembro
(Brazilian Wedding Song).” The album
also has 4 new tracks that includes a duet
by Siedah Garrett and El Debarge on “I’m
Yours.” Rump shakers, beware. This is
grown up stuff. Luckily, grown up may
mean shimmering and seamless, but it
doesn’t always mean dull. $$$$
Total
Kima, Keisha & Pam
Bad Boy
The three sex-crazed bad girls of Bad
Boy Entertainment are back. Total return
with their sophomore album titled “Kima,
Keisha & Pam,” which are the group
member’s names. Total comes back
stronger and their singing skills are better
than ever. The album starts off with their
first single produced by Missy and co
produced by Timbaland titled “Trippin'.”
Everyone knows when Timbaland is
near a song.
The song will have a synthesized
sound with triple hip hop beats. 1 can
truly say that this song and others on the
album are a better improvement in beat
production than the last one.
On the second track on the album “I
Tried,” the beat could have been a slower
beat with piano playing instead of the
mass confusion of studio props. The
constant bickering of the woman talking
about her friend sleeping with her man
throws the entire mood of the song. Other
than that, Total does use some good
samples throughout the entire album.
“Sitting Home” uses a sample from
the Whitehead Brothers song “Forget 1
Was a G,” while “Press Rewind” features
Carl Thomas using beats from Curtis
Mayfield’s “Little Child Runnin’ Wild.”
One of the things that enhances the album
are the skits performed.
All together the album is better than
their first.
The lyrics are good and the beats
have improved, but Total still needs to
come farther in the singing world. $$$
DMX
Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My
Blood
Def Jam
DMX steps up, not even a year after
his debut album, “It’s Dark and Hell Is
Hot. ■ DMX is blowing up the radio spot
as well as on TV. Viewing the album
cover sets the tone for an hour's worth of
hardcore beats and grisly imagery.
“Bring Your Whole Crew” is a good
example of DMX's ruff rydin’ over a
track from PK.
The track opens with a blood
curdling scream by DMX. With this
opening salvo, we know he isn’t taking us
on a tour of Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood.
Instead, he lets us inside the horrifying
‘hood inside his head.’
“The Omen” is another bizarre track
that opens with a skit of a woman praying
for a dying friend.
Then, when the scary, skeletal beats
begin, DMX starts barking like a dog
(DMX’s trademark).
This time, despite the farcical
delivery, the production does a good job
of conveying a mood with its minimalist
drum track and spooky organ. Plus, on
this track, DMX teams up with one of the
most controversial rock stars of the 90’s,
Marilyn Manson.
As a whole package, “Flesh of My
Flesh...’’came out needing an extra few
months to fine tune everything. Since his
last album, DMX’s delivery has
improved, as well as the production. His
new album isn’t half bad, but he really
could have fine tuned this project and
waited another year to put this one out.
$$$0
SPRING, from page 1
Wanda) will be journeying with Burke on
the tour.
The hot spot for many freshmen and
sophomores seem to be at home and
visiting family. The key word here being
“home.” Freshmen Brandy Newton,
Lesna Hollback, Jamica Wilkerson, and
Willietta Gibson will be having a “good
'ole time.” They all plan on “going home,
spending time with the family, and
hanging with each other.” Their tentative
plans are to go to Carowinds and be with
each other meeting their “extended”
family.
Jason Smith, an out of state student
from Colorado and the entertainment
editor for The News Argus says, “ 1 will
either go home or go see my dad in
Florida.”
Some students, out-of-state, as well
as in-state, students say that if the school
is open they plan to stay on campus, if
not, they will have to find some way to
get home. They say that there is nothing
for them at home since they have done
everything there is to do and that most of
their friends are at school.
Of those interviewed, there were a
few who were so skeptical and
superstitious about their plans that they
didn’t want to share. “I would tell you,
but if I told someone, it probably
wouldn’t happen,” remarked one
“nameless” student who would wish to
remain anonymous. Better safe than
sorry.
As for most students, the consensus
are “to get drunk and find the best
parties.”
If you’re one of the few who are still
undecided or shaky in your vacation
decision, you’d better think fast. Spring
break begins March 5, only a few weeks
from now.
If you’re looking for a place that has
a sand and surf type of atmosphere, try
Daytona Beach, Fla., or Myrtle Beach.
These are great vacation spots for college
students because they have a variety of
attractions with our interests in mind. We
guess the sun and fun always beats hitting
the books.
Courtesy of Cortney Hill
Myrtle Beach is a popular spot for many students during spring break.