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| Queensbridge just got a new anthem: "Hood". This is Tragedy Khadafi, and along with him the producer Dart La, at his finest. It's just catches upon everything of relevance to the man, equally grilling you, giving
props to what's life, showing love to the Hood. Over a calm, but not less deadly Dart beat, that just explodes on the hook. It seldom gets better than this. It's also the defining moment on the album, even though this track is only one of the bangers. Because the album is good. Not thoroughly every
little bit, bite, second, boom and bap of it, but it's still dope. |
| Why? Well, Trag' plays both sides: the seasoned veteran that knows how to fight the battle. But at the same time the rookie soldier, that still swings his sword with a gut hunger. And the combination of the two is deadly. With Trag' not letting any time pass for him to attack, thus
the opening song "Still Reportin'..." is already getting right back at you. The Booth beat is adding a little piano to some tuned up singing, recreating the gritty tarmac of the streets. What's only the first fighter of the tag team,
with the second being "Neva Die Alone Pt. 2", a ghetto tale of 'you heard the story before, but as it still goes on, I'ma tell my version of it.' Thus it's "The Truth". And truth shall be told. Be it from the gangsta
perspective as on "Fall Back" or of the hustler, as on "Can't Figure", where even the singing sounds good, or the ig'nant, as on "Eloheem". |
| Trag' however shows that he's still the intelligent hoodlum, with the emphasis laying on intelligent. He's actually humble enough to take himself down from the thrown and show some "Hood Love" (featuring Rashida).
The beat adapts to this with a smoother approach. This thankfulness is followed by pure hurt on "Cryin' On The Inside", that proves that people of many moons might see the world through different eyes. Hate has his place, revenge, fighting
and going against enemies too. But once you can put all your trials and tribulations into perspective, you'll see that you're 'crying on the inside.' What's an incredible and respectful stance, and as such shows true wisdom. Repeated on "The Message
(Aura Check)", where the 'old guy' really comes through, with Tragedy schooling all the young bucks. |
| But as said, not everything is as good on here. There are some glitches, like the bad beat by Scram Jones on "The Code" with Littles and Havoc. The keyboard strings struggles against the equally artificial bass kicks. Lyrically the three are not interested in prisoners,
as there's no holding cell in their stomping grounds. And it's the Sha Self keyboards that also give a bitter taste to the beat on "Walk Wit Me (911)", with the crooning further being unnecessary. Lyrically however, we get another real message that balances the hit 'em up, shoot 'em
up, bang bang lyrics on "U Make Me" featuring Capone, Littles and V-12. This song comes with an 'eh' bea, that only captures our attention with an interesting choice of horn, as hooked up by Ben and Abe. |
| The ideal for a reviewer is: you expect to like everything, and the music has to change that. The reality however often is: you expect to hate everything, and the music has to change that. Okay, I admit, here it was the second case scenario. What however only shows you how good this
record is, if it can turn an opinion around like that. And with more real content than the average conscious record, with all of that being balanced with some first eye witness reporting, and a selection of banging beats, Tragedy Khadafi really comes through. He's still reportin', we're closely listening. |
| review: tadah |
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