When was the last time you heard Blackout!?
Am I the only one that thinks that album gets better with each listen?
I hadn’t heard Blackout in a few years and reached for it a few days ago.
1995 was a magical year for hip hop as most can agree. Proof of that came in the form of the dynamic duo’s How High. When I saw the pair together, I agreed with the pairing. If the single was hot, then it stood to reason an album of theirs would be hotter. It would take another five years for my theory to be proven right.
Presumably, both MCs were busy with their solo and respective Wu-Tang Clan/Def Squad projects leading up to the Blackout! date.
There is easily no weak beat on the album meaning the producers must have known what they were working on and brought their A-game. The choice of guest appearances is also faultless with the exception of one. In retrospect, it would have been nice for Young Zee to have spit a verse on Blackout! instead of Ja Rule but I was not consulted or contacted for my opiionon when the album was in planning.
Epic hip hop albums like Brand Nubian's debut, both Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth releases, Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and Blackout! have many common traits. They are classic and timeless. As great as Blackout! is, it misses a smidgeon of an element for it to be considered timeless but is unquestionably a strong album graced by the charisma and talent of the two titans.
In the early 2000s, I was very picky about hip hop. Regardless of my rigid, rules on hip hop, Blackout! did not slip passed by me. I did not over-saturate myself with it at the time. I had a feeling it was like a fine wine that I would want to try to savor later.
I was too occupied to have fully listened and studied Blackout! 2. The beauty of the sequel is that it allows us to revisit the brothers from other mothers. One verse from Method Man or Redman is a blessing. I’m not sure when but a visit here in the future might reveal how I feel about the sequel.
Method Man & Redman had a scheduled performance at Olympia De Montréal (1004 St-Catherine Est) on Friday, June 21.
For more Method Man and company, Wu-Tang Clan are scheduled to perform at Montreal's Olympia on November 29.
If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.
Below is the 2013 CKUT Funding Drive podcast to bring you up to speed. Click here to download it and more.
If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.
Below is the 2013 CKUT Funding Drive podcast to bring you up to speed. Click here to download it and more.
Playlist:
1. Salt-N-Pepa – Get Up Everybody
2. DJ Kayslay – Untouchables feat. Prodigy & Raekwon
3. D-Shade - The World We're In 2(Simahlak Mix) feat. Buckshot And Blurum 13
4. Kanye West - Classic (DJ Premier Remix)featuring Nas, KRS-One and Rakim
5. EPMD – The Big Payback
6. Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics - A Day In The Life featuring Sadat X & Lord Jamar
7. Masta Ace and Edo G - Good Music featuring Posdnuos & Light
8. The Beatnuts – Se A Cabo (Remix) featuring Method Man
9. Shad + Skratch Bastid – Homie featuring Cadence Weapon
1. Salt-N-Pepa – Get Up Everybody
2. DJ Kayslay – Untouchables feat. Prodigy & Raekwon
3. D-Shade - The World We're In 2(Simahlak Mix) feat. Buckshot And Blurum 13
4. Kanye West - Classic (DJ Premier Remix)featuring Nas, KRS-One and Rakim
5. EPMD – The Big Payback
6. Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics - A Day In The Life featuring Sadat X & Lord Jamar
7. Masta Ace and Edo G - Good Music featuring Posdnuos & Light
8. The Beatnuts – Se A Cabo (Remix) featuring Method Man
9. Shad + Skratch Bastid – Homie featuring Cadence Weapon
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