I never really was asked, and it's not me to really say, but I would never call myself Rooster. But as said, that's only me. And maybe it's only me in whose brain 'Rooster', automatically concludes the rhyme 'turbo booster'. Oh well.
But that's not really important right now. We got a tape to check out. And this TX native starts on the right foot, catching us with "Rooster 4 Congress". This funny tale of him running for office, is humor rarely heard in hip hop lately. And that reminds us that there used to be the Odd Squad. But they don't really have anything to do with Rooster, so why even mention them? Hmmm. Whatever. Well, the beat is on some vintage Cali bounce tip. And we don't intend to complain about that. But that Rooster is not all about happily hopping around shows "Smak Dem Fools". Game Hogg's beat switches to a sinister state, with a "I Got A Story To Tell" drum. And Rooster is onto some braggin' and boasting. But this track is phat. This is some 'rewind and listen again' ish.
Well, the tape doesn't miss to be influenced by Rap-A-Lot's master beatsmith Mike Dean. At least the beat to "Emulation Stimulation" sounds like a good ol' Mike track to me. But that's a good thing. You got the guitary sound, and that TX flavor, that always had more soul and blues than the keyboard sounds of a few states to the East. In the mean time, the guy behind the mic flows, thinking about life, and does that in a rather interesting manner. Again switching in a more dramatic, but then smoothed out, then back again mode with "Lab Rats". This track could be called frankensteinian. By now you should have also realized, that there's always a certain 'tongue in cheekiness' about the cuts. Same goes for "Cross Dressers: Part 1". Ripping a Ultramagnetic MC's beat, Rooster mockingly pulls the card of rappers, comparing them to drag queens.

So on to the b-side of this up till now highly enjoyed tape. And Rooster starts up with "Mane", a dialogue, acapella intro, where he either stresses his TX yang, or that's just the way this cat gets down. Recognize. And then there's "Be Quiet Midtro", somewhere. Cause the sloooow moving track, only consisting of a drum and Rooster freestyles over the track, rhyming all dumbed down, mocking all those that can't even do it better if they'd try has to be "Bullshit Filler Song". Best line: "ooh, where's the double mint". The westcoast beat vibe returns on "Just-Us Against Them". This one kicks in with an interesting and dominant drum, that has Rooster on a more violent battling tip. We'd rather have him make us laugh though. "The Prototype" guides us with dope strings and a cool concept of Rooster and Gerg-Ski being the prototype of all rappers, introducing all qualities all slacks of all rappers to come. Not yet ready to leave this dramatic vibe, "Emotional Rollercoaster" keeps the danger going and Rooster's confidence behind the mic is expanded to another dope track. And finally there's "On A Lighter Note", a track that has this cat kick rhymes that are desperately asking you to not take 'em too serious, like "stop at the cemetery for a 'menage a trois' with Medusa and Virgin Mary / tell 'em to close their eyes, I have a surprise". The beat is a bass bubbling, percussion hopping thingy, and stands in complete contrast to the last two tracks on this tape.
Now I can't even front. I like this. And I know that the word 'I' does, or should not exist in journalism. Whatever. Sue me. If Rooster is cocky, I'ma be cocky too. Rooster is a funny guy, and I like funny guys. That's why I like this tape. And Rooster is kinda serious too, and I'm kinda serious from time to time too. So, I will say it again: I like this tape. (tadah the byk)

explanation of our rating: each album can get a total of 100 stripes. there are three categories the albums are rated in: lyrics (40 stripes), beats (40 stripes) and originality (20 stripes). the stripes in black show the remaining stripes for the full 100.