Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 16, 1998

Music Meltdown

Gang Starr

Moment of Truth

(Noo Tribe)

The groundbreaking duo of Guru and Premier are back with Gang Starr's latest offering, Moment of Truth. This fifth installment in the Gang Starr legacy is guaranteed not to disappoint fans of good rap and hip-hop.

The first track, "You Know My Steez," is simply incredible with a Jazzamatazz-type backing and smooth as silk lyricals. Guru, for the most part, sounds like a new version of his old self, as his voice has lost that jerk often heard in the previous releases.

"Robbin Hood Theory" is a genius track and yet again combines Guru's raw vocals with Premier's aged-but-sharp backings.

So far so good, but what's the rest like?

Well, to put it simply, it's a brilliant release along the lines of their previous LPs. The tracks are quality and guest appearances from artists such as Inspectah Deck, K-Ci and JoJo, Big Shug, Freddie Foxxx, and Krumb Snatcha add a final finish to an album that really never needed outside help. Gang Starr is like a self-sufficient country reveling in the luxuries of smaller ones. This extra help is a way and means of keeping Gang Starr's trade balance in check.

All in all, this release is one of the finest accord and indicates 1998's potential for being a truly good rap year. Guru and Premier appear to be like a fine wine, getting better and better with age.

-James Casey

Widespread Panic

Light Fuse Get Away

(Capricorn)

"Havin' a good time..."

Not only are these words echoed by front man John "J.B." Bell throughout "Porch," the opening track on the latest release from Widespread Panic, they also tell you exactly what's in store for you when you sit down and listen through Light Fuse Get Away.

The 19-track, double-disc, live compilation is full of energy, showcasing the band's musical diversity, with each track distinctly different from the last. From the country-folkish feeling of "Porch," to the upbeat, fast-paced rock 'n' roll of "Wondering" and "Pigeons," to the grab-you-by-your-soul-and-shake-you energy of "Rock," Widespread Panic, a six-man band from Athens, Ga., provides a large sampling from its vast bag of tricks.

Each track on Light Fuse Get Away is unique in tempo, style and sound, but is also unlike any other previous versions of the same songs - including a solid cover of the Talking Heads' "Papa Legba," an awesome version of "Space Wrangler," and the absolute pinnacle of the album: an impeccably smooth and melodic "Picking Up the Pieces." This song features a guest appearance by the modern day monarch of sax, Branford Marsalis, who throws some serious jazz into the mix.

Basically, Light Fuse Get Away is just one of those rare things in life that everyone must experience for themselves.

-Eric Anderson

D.J. Magic Mike

Bootyz In Motion

(Jake Records)

We have one every summer: a one-hit-wonder puts out a hip-hop track that everyone grooves to during the vacation months. It gets a ton of airplay, and by July your mom even knows some of the words. Last summer, we had "Da Dip" from Freak Nasty.

It was less than a masterpiece, so by August you cringe every time the bass line hits your ears.

Well, D.J. Magic Mike has done us the favor of putting all these songs together on his compilation, Bootyz in Motion .

With a little self-editing, though (courtesy of a fast-forward button), it actually turns into a decent album. Magic Mike keeps his mixing and scratching simple, but effective at the same time. Case in point is his smooth transition from Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back" to "Me So Horny" by the 2 Live Crew.

Not that he gets it right every time. Magic tends to overuse some phrases in his mixes, like Tag Team screaming "party people," from "Whoomp There It Is" and other annoying repetitions.

His biggest mistake, however, is the dance remix of "Tha Crossroad" by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. First of all, the bass drowns out all of the vocals. Second, it's just wrong to turn a meaningful song about friends and family that have passed away into a track intended for grinding at your local club. Sick, sick, sick.

Still, the CD receives bonus points for the inclusion of underground hits "Shake It" and "Give It All You Got."

Its also has this summer's hit, "Tha Booty Hop." Guaranteed, you will be sick of it by July 27.

-Joel Flom

Cocoa Brovaz

The Rude Awakening

(Duck Down)

Since their 1995 debut Dah Shinin, a lot has happened to Tek and Steele. The duo had to change its name from Smif-N-Wesson (the gun company didn't like the association) to Cocoa Brovaz, along with switching record labels. Needless to say, the Boot Camp Clik members had plenty to talk about on their latest production, The Rude Awakening.

Cocoa Brovaz spit their rhymes over laid back, strong bass lines, typical of the BCC sound. The name change controversy is covered extensively on the first track, "Off The Wall." They speak out on second chances after prison release on "Back 2 Life," and the joy of just being alive on "Still Standin' Strong." In the eerily dark track "Memorial," Tek and Steele, with the help of Eek-A-Mouse, ask why the good ones have to die young.

One of the tightest cuts on the album is "Spanish Harlem," which offers up a smooth Spanish verse from Tony Touch and a great backdrop from Mr. Wait for Da Beatminerz. Also impressive is "Won on Won," a rugged track that successfully uses a sample from "Public Enemy No. 1," and "Black Trump," where the Brovaz combine forces with Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan.

In addition, all the tracks seem to flow seamlessly from one to another, allowing the album to feel more like a storybook, rather than 14 separate tracks.

In that regard, The Rude Awakening is definitely a page-turner, with Tek and Steele providing an excellent story.

- Joel Flom