Search - Another Bad Creation :: It Ain't What U Wear It's How U Play It

You have GOT to be kidding

Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 07/16/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I remember when I was in seventh grade, Another Bad Creation came to my school for some bizarre reason. All the students were sent to the auditorium for an assembly about...actually, I don't remember WHAT it was about. ABC were a surprise guest, and I can tell that they were trying to promote this album, It Ain't What U Wear, It's How U Play It (whatever the hell that means). They didn't actually perform any songs from the album, though (actually, they didn't perform at all; they just talked to the audience), and I'm sure glad they didn't.



For those that don't remember, ABC sustained some success with "Iesha", but then their following single, "Playground", just BLEW UP (hell, I'm 24 and I STILL play that song). But then the crew tried to don a more hardcore style for this album, and the result was nothing short of embarrassing. Take the first single, "I Don't Wanna Be Grown Up". Okay, four or the six members were 15 years old, so there's the main problem right there. And it didn't get any better when you heard Red singing things like, "I can eat corn flakes in the morning/I never miss my kiss good night/I can get a bedtime story whenever I want it/To make everything all right". Even as a 13-year-old kid, I was like, "WTF???"



Speaking of Red, I was surprised to hear him turn into something of a lead singer because it seemed like he would be the last one to even sing at all, but he actually sounded pretty good despite the horrible lyrics. Chris Sellers, on the other hand...okay, I don't know what happened, but puberty apparently ruined his voice, because he turned into a HORRIBLE singer. He kind of sounded like a rapper that was TRYING to sing.



Wait; maybe I should say that about Dave Shelton. There's a particular song on the album, the Wanya Morris-penned "One More Try", where the background singing is better than the foreground singing. Red sounds fine, but...well, it's bad enough that Chris is leading the song, but if you thought HE sounded bad, when Dave joins in on the second chorus, he doesn't even sound like he's trying. That song is so bad that I downloaded it just to laugh at it.



But it's not like the rest of the songs are exciting either; "Where's Ya Little Sista" is a ridiculously corny song that just has Dave naming fine female celebrities while the rest of the group asks, "WHERE'S YA LITTLE SISTA?" The only song on here that's even remotely tolerable is "Got It Goin' On". Everything else is forgettable -- actually, I DID forget everything else, and it's really sad when you can't remember half of the songs that are on an EP. If you own this album, hide it in the basement and save yourself some embarrassment.



Anthony Rupert"

How U Play It...

Adam Blackstock | H-Town, MD | 12/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in 1991, when Another Bad Creation burst on2 the scene, i waz in 6th grade. Of all the artists i waz listening 2 back then, ABC waz the only group in my age range that was making music. "Coolin' At The Playground, Ya Know" was definitely a soundtrack for me back then. Having Dallas Austin, Boyz II Men and Michael Bivins behind the project didn't hurt either. After having 2 huge hits with "Playground" and "Iesha" as well as other respectable hits like "My World" and "Jealous Girl", ABC disappeared from the scene for a bit.



Kris Kross came out with with "Totally Krossed Out" and a handful of hits themselves, dissing ABC even tho' ABC paved the way for them. Hence the title of the 2nd album "It Ain't What U Wear, It's How U Play It." This album finds the fellas growing up and taking things 2 the next level...starting off with the 1st single bridging fans 2 the more mature sound "I Don't Wanna Be Grown Up." The track has an upbeat Hip-Hop thump that slowly introduces the fellas more mature sound.



The album opens up with the Hip-Hop/R-N-B jam "Got It Goin' On" featuring a slightly sugar coated Hip-Hop sound. The harmonizing is smooth and their rhymes are tighter than they were on the 1st album. A great album opener. "Where's Ya Little Sista?" is a track where the boys are indirectly giving props 2 the top entertainers of 1993. This was the 2nd single off the album, and with some digging u may find the CD single or promo featuring a handful of remixs...one of them including a rap not featured on the album. "Keep Steppin' On" is a hyped up Hip-Hop jam wear ABC joins forces with the mighty infamous Busta Rhymes. This track is crazy raw with tons of energy. "One More Try" is a slow soulful song penned by Boyz II Men's Wanya Morris. It's a good song, but i personally feel this one was a bit beyond ABC's vibe at the time. Still a good song tho.' "My First Kiss" is another good one, finding a mid-groung between R-N-B and Hip-Hop. The coming of age track was always one of my favs. "Show Me The Way" smooths things out with an opener with Boyz II Men (who also penned this one). The production reps the early 90's R-N-B sound 2 the fullest. Busta Rhymes works with the fellas again on this Hip-Hop jam for the jeeps on "Strive To Be." This is one of my favorite songs off he album. The bad boy vibe the fellas always had is strong on this one. They are talking themselves up on this one. "Throw Ya Palms" is the closing track, with Michael Bivins behind the lyrics. ABC's Hip-Hop and R-N-B vocals are dropped over this dope Hip-Hop beat that reprsents the classic 90's Hip-Hop sound. This track would have provided a great opening song for an ABC show. The energy is crazy.



In retrospect, i think this album is as dope now as it waz back in 1993. The album takes me back 2 a good time when i waz growing up. If Motown promoted this album, i could have seen it doing better than it did and ABC doing more in the music biz. Anyone looking for some good early/mid-90's Hip-Hop or R-N-B should check this album. On top of the talents of ABC, u'll find work by Michael Bivins, Boyz II Men, Dallas Austin, Busta Rhymes, Debra Killings, Kevin Wales, and Tim + Bob in the credits.



On another note, anyone wanting 2 hear more from ABC can look for their 2006 EP where a handful of the members reunited on the indie tip for an album. It's not polished up like their Motown releases and not all the members are present, but if u like indie Hip-Hop with a dash of "crunk" 2 it, u might wanna check it out."