7. Top Of The World feat. Barrington Levy & K-Os

Their last album was called "Cash Crop". And now the Rascalz have decided to plant some of that too. What is surprising, as they have been famous for repping hip hop to the fullest, always incorporating the elements in their art, really being authentic. But it's hard to ignore the tendencies that intend to make this album a little more accessible for the unexposed. Things are still hip hop enough, and the albums walkman will include the north- and south- and west- and eastside of the boarder.

Things start on a bad foot, with "High Noon", that is hopefully meant in metaphorical or ironical way. Red 1 is on some "yo, the Red reaper, bust back your street sweeper / call Mr. Martin and the preacher / to the saloon, the showdown high noon / men dressed all black, yo pon cock platoon / outlaws, shedding blood by the liter / saddle up, ride into the sun, done defeat ya / ride out and scout a safe hideout / with a bounty on my head, that's the word of the mouth / Misfit and Red, wanted alive or dead / but Billy bad on the draw, cowboy ninja dread / retreat to the bush where the Indians live / to survive off the land, recuperating". As a concept possibly interesting, but Misfit doesn't follow this up, and his beat is pretty boring too. The beat is also weak on "Priceless", although the horn is a dope ingredient, but Kemo does not utilize it sufficiently. The topic of the track, pulled off properly, is best expressed by the chorus: "they say that everybody got a price / through material lust, for the things nice / better think twice / not everything can be bought or sold / certain things in this life money don't control".

The collabo with the Beatnuts "Can't Relate" then showcases how uncomfortable the Rascalz must have felt mingling in the Beatnuts homefield, as Red 1 kicks "nymphoes ready to blow from head to toe / get handled, dismantled from all angles / let it tango because I dangle / don one, I don't hit if it don't wear thongs / and I don't smoke shit if it ain't that Chron", what compared to "I could lick them but can't stick them / with no condom, so where the hats at? / so I could smack that, back fat / flip it and then tip it, take a nap nap / and that's that / and call it a night, the alcoholics is like / still drinking, the pussy on the mind like Bill Clinton / I'm still killing...", as spit by Psycho Les, sounds a little forced.

On "Gametime", the Kemo beat is finally getting props. It's a hectic and manic composition, with tons of strange acidic basses. "Population Control" also comes nice, with a melodic Jay-Rome production, while Choclair drops by to lend some additional vocals. "Top Of The World" also drops nicely out the speaker, with a gripping very fitting Barrington Levy contributed chorus and guest rhymes by K-Os. Kemo then hooks up Red 1 and Kardinal Offishall with a nice beat for their "Gunnfinga", but Red 1 is using it strangely enough with spitting "cause my glock's not enough, sometimes a man fi get cuffed / handled ruff, we're minded too dangerous / ain't no messin with nobody less they puff with us / cause we keep to ourselves and the pounds we puff". The second Misfit beat "For The Rhyme" on here is also fresh. Choclair then shows up again for "As It Is", and again Misfit is providing the background element. Associate K-Os then gets the chance to lace the Rascalz with his composition on "Fallen", that bubble gums a little too much, then again is fitting to the melancholy thoughts expressed in rhyme.

Kemo returns with "C-IV", a hard, but very much fitting platform for Misfit and Red 1 to go after slow prey. On a America / Canada connects tip, the Rascalz team up with KRS-One on "Where You At", who is contributing the first beat on here, that's beyond any doubts. However, it's still surprising that a Red 1 goes "bald head and dreads locks yo / strictly hip hop / we blow the shots and / and then Escape from the cops / cause we criminal minded". How did such weak rhyming with such content get passed the well rooted ear of the Rascalz crew? However, the solo cut by Misfit "Area 51", is giving us more of what we hoped for, both lyrically and on the beat tip. The Alchemist blessed "On The Run" is finally giving the qualities we expected, with a dope beat and serious spitting. It also gives a reason, why there's so much violence on here, as Red 1 says: "I'm an intellect occupied with collecting / used to be a nice guy, now feel no affection". But he also says: "heartless artist move stealth and cautious / nauseous when rhyme, strive to be flawless". Well, strive on....

The next beat, done by Kemo for "Témoin" is very dope. The Rascalz team up with Muzion, to do some bilingual spitting, showing that there are people talking French in Canada. This track is by far the best cut on here. As "Bordaline" featuring Consice & Sazon is again not very pleasing, "Lab Rat Produce" is a interesting interlude though. If you have been hoping for Bret 'The Hitman' Hart to drop some rhymes on "Sharpshooter (Best Of The Best)", you will be disappointed, as his voice is solely sampled for the chorus. And on this track it's evident again, that Misfit is much more likely to win belts in a lyrical championship, than Red 1 will ever be. What leads us to "Blessings", a "The Global Warning" intro revisited, with a voice talking about 'the elements' and how the world needs to be taught about it. Well, it's just unfortunate, that this album wasted so much time on babbling about nonsense, that could have been used for exactly that teaching.

Now this is a harsh review, but it was a harsh awakening, listening to it. As said: for a crew that is proud to represent hip hop and all it's elements, it's a disappointment hearing them talk about shooting up people, about glocks and 'blood-clot'. And it's doubtful that this can be their cash crop, that will allow them to harvest big profits. Profits in a monetary, as well as props sense. Lyrically, the album is misdirected, and musically, while not sounding like a spitting image of today's trends, it's oftentimes sounding like true heads trying to do LES or "It Was Written" material. But the beats are still the saving grace of this project, as most of 'em can appeal, and some of 'em even amaze. And so the total result is a okay album, that could have been much more, as we were able to witnessed on "Cash Crop".