The KRaZ Files

producers: kraz

guests: gemini, terrell skilz
year of release: 2002
contact: mp3.com/krazrhythm
 
One of the many problems that can trouble a self-made independent release is too many tracks with too little samples. And this lack of samples is compensated, not with great musicianship, but with cheesy keyboard sounds. KRaZ is doing music that has the potential to fail, simply due to the background music using instrumentation that unappeals more often than it appeals. And you don't have to look very far for the keyboard heavy production as tracks like "Queen Of The Pyramids" or "This Nursery Rhmye (Extended Mix)" give you that and everything like that, with the unwanted climax being reached on "Song Of The Nile".
That however is only half of the story, as there's a dope drum to "Queen Of The Pyramids" and "This Nursery Rhyme" starts out very well, to only then change to the cheesy stuff, that would be worse without the playful vibes. And thus we are not too happy with the overall sound that is defined by the equipment that was available. At the same time however, KRaZ shows a certain jones for details that doesn't get lost in the mix.

tracklisting
1. Intro
2. I Can
3. The KRaZ Files: Storytime
4. Queen Of The Pyramids
5. This Nursery Rhyme (Extended Mix)
6. Paprika On The Side
7. The KRaZ Files: The KRaZuman Returns
8. Interlude: Mystery Of KRaZolious
9. Return Of The KRaZuman feat. Gemini
10. If You Could Imagine
11. Song Of The Nile
12. True Love
13. Outro: Abourd The Liquid Train
14. Universal Beauty (Remix) feat. Terrell Skilz
15. Just One Chance (bellydancesafarimix)
Lyrically somewhat the same can be said, as he manages to make a braggadocios joint like "I Can" have positive elements too, when he keeps the list of his abilities down to earth. And KRaZ is both positive and wells settled on all his songs, hence also on "Paprika On The Side", that's with a detour telling you to 'put some spice in your life'. The beat then goes a good Arabic route what makes this song a good one. And on this project, much more than on "Universal Beauty: The Album" (reviewed here), KRaZ is incorporating a lot of different flavours that are working well. That's why there's suddenly a Latin big band on "The KRaZ Files: The KRaZuman Retruns" (while the Latin and Arabic, as well as all other elements then merge on the good "Outro: Aboard The Liquid Train"). That then turns into the inofficial part two called "Return Of The KRaZuman", here featuring Gemini. For this song KRaZ slows down his very sing song style, that is usually even more off beat and running down the rhythm of the beat, rather than to follow it's footsteps.
The speed is turned up on "If You Could Imagine" though, a creative song with changes and good samples, meaning this song is another good one on here. Amongst all the players and game m.v.p.'s, a "True Love" is an anti-thesis to the majority of their female relationship rhymes and it appears before we wrap this up with "Universal Beauty (Remix)" feat. Terrell Skilz and the dramatized "Just One Chance (bellydancesafarimix)", and this song is somewhat imprinting the finding on us that while KRaZ's flow is of a hard irregularity. And with his voice not being to his full benefit, there's much to hold him back. But KRaZ is obviously not ready to let this slow him down, as he's cranking out one record after the other. And while the first time around, the ills were too dominant, he tones them down on here, without actually changing that much. And that was definitely for the better.
review: tadah
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