Escape From Alcatraz

producers: da beatminerz, jake one, omen, brisk, kleph dollaz.

guests: chali 2na, reks, casual, planet asia, others.
year of release: 2003
website: pocketslinted.com
Not simply a reference to one of the landmarks of Rasco's native Bay Area, the title of this, his third album, seems to have various representative meanings throughout the record. Following an "Intro" which sets the scene by using soundbites describing Alcatraz and the difficulty/impossibility of ever successfully escaping from it, Rasco pulls no punches in divulging two of the album title's more symbolic meanings on "Get Free". The first of these is an inspirational message, which is developed as the album progresses, urging people to make a change in their lives, and 'escape' from whatever is holding them back. The second, however, is much more personal, and also much more controversial, as Rasco calls out Copasetik Recordings and Jon Sexton (its label-head), relishing in his newfound freedom from that particular 'prison'.
"U Got The Time" follows "Get Free" and builds upon the notion of getting things together and escaping from personal confinements over a laid back, soulful guitar loop. While Rasco can, at times, sound brash, his flow tends to be both relaxed and unforced, so that on a track such as "U Got The Time", his verses glide effortlessly over the beat and roll seamlessly into the sampled vocal hook.

tracklisting
1. Intro
2. Get Free feat. Shake da Mayor
3. U Got The Time
4. The Sweet Science feat. Chali2na
5. Put Your Hands Up
6. Interlude
7. My Life
8. Making U Move feat. Reks
9. We Get Live
10. San Fran To The Town feat. Casual
11. Let's Get Down Tonight
12. Interlude
13. Snakes In The Grass (The Jon Sexton Story)
14. Endless feat. Planet Asia
15. Real Hot
16. All I Wanna Be feat. Kisha Griffin
Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 is enlisted to trade verses on "The Sweet Science", which is exemplar of the majority of tracks with guest appearances on the album; Rasco takes the first verse, the guest the second, and then the third is shared by both MCs, over a beat not dissimilar to Rasco's solo tracks, but seemingly slightly geared towards the particular guest rapper. As such, "The Sweet Science" (featuring Chali 2na) is a funky track with a bouncy vibe, while "Endless" (featuring Planet Asia), is a slightly more driven beat with strings, a curious rattling noise, and a scratched chorus, over which Planet Asia's quicker flow fits nicely.
Although "Escape From Alcatraz" is not a very long album, with only thirteen full tracks and three interludes, it suffers from a minor lull in the middle as "We Get Live", "San Fran To The Town" (featuring Casual) and "Let's Get Down Tonight" follow one another. Taken separately, these are all quite strong tracks - "We Get Live" was actually released as a single. Together, however, all three have backing tracks built around plucked guitar string samples, and all have the same 'party rap' feel to them, so each track becomes relatively indistinct.
The pace is picked up again after the "Interlude", on "Snakes In The Grass (The Jon Sexton Story)". Recalling his earlier comments on the album, "Snakes…" is Rasco's re-telling of the Copasetik Recordings story; covering his first involvement with them, how they stole songs and money from him, how he fought to leave them, and how he feels about it now. As the story drifts into a hook which ends with "you may not live when you fucking with Ras", this is a diss-track in the same vein as Common's "Bitch In Yoo" all those years ago - over a calm beat punctuated by handclaps, Rasco's delivery is unhurried and subtle, yet contains both cutting remarks and threats.
"All I Wanna Be" (featuring Kisha Griffin), with its wistful strings and Griffin's sung chorus of "I'm tired of living the life I live" implies one last hidden meaning that the title "Escape From Alcatraz" might have. Rasco raps in the style of a prayer or confessional, voicing his hopes for his future, and revealing that he might wish to 'escape' from the route his career and writing have taken up to this point. This is the note the album ends on, and while progressive improvement is something an artist should always strive for, Rasco can rest assured that throughout this record, his creativity and musical ability sound neither stifled or 'imprisoned' in any way.
review: cornerstone
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