Ware Report 2 - Better than the first one - Instant Classic
A. Gonzalez | richmond ca | 07/13/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of the best produced album in 2010. The beats are sinsiter, the rhymes are grimey.
The guest appearances from Raekwon, Nas, and Busta add to the brilliance of this album.
15 tracks - i kid you not 14 of the tracks are Fire!!! 14 out of 15, no fillers!!! even the one that's not fire is still a great song.
Capone and Nore are back!!! CNN has declared WAR on all the bootsy ass rappers and i thank them for making another Classic in part 2!!!!
"
Why isn't anyone reviewing this?
iumak | 07/21/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Capone and his partner Noreaga (More commonly known as N.O.R.E) are back with the long awaited sequel to their classic, late 90's debut, 'The War Report'. First, I want to say that it's unfair to compare this to The War Report considering the time period we live in, and how music has evolved since then. The original title for this album was 'Reporting the War' and I think I preferred that better because it gave this album "spiritual successor" status instead of it being a direct sort of follow up (I.e the Stillmatic to Illmatic and not OB4CL to OB4CL Part 2) that breeds high expectations. But the title is the title, and I'm not going to dwell on that, let's get into it.
Production is better then I expected it to be, and that's meaning all around good. Producer contributions range from The Alchemist who is no stranger to producing artist from Queens [Mobb Deep, Cormega Nas] to Scram Jones who provided tracks for the OB4L2 sequel, Buckwild, and a host of others. The beats range from really mellow and mysterious like "Dutch Masters vs. Phillies vs. Bamboo" to hardcore, head nodding, Timberland boot, kick you in your face type songs like, "Thug Planet". I was hoping they would have gotten DJ Premier for a 3rd CNN collaboration [First being 'The Invincible' then 'Grand Royale'], but I guess it didn't work out.
Guest features are prominent, but aren't enough to make you feel like they're too much. Well, maybe one feature feels like dead weight... I know CNN are in a partnership with Raekwon, but I thought he had too many verses on the album. Putting him on 3 tracks is a little much. Especially considering how one dimensional Rae's style/content can be. Other guests include Faith Evans, who we haven't heard from in a while, Busta Rhymes, The LOX, Avery Storm and other longtime CNN contributors such as Nas, Iman Thug and Musaliny. The song that features Nas sounds kind of old though, I have a feeling that it may not be a new Nas verse, but the world has never heard it before, so I guess it's okay.
Lyrically both Capone and Nore have matured but it's sad to see how Noreaga doesn't rap in his signature style anymore. I thought he would have brought it back for this album, but no dice. He's still capable, lyrically, but it would have been nice to hear him rap that way again, if only for just one more album.
If I had to rank this in CNN's discography I would probably put it 3rd after 'The Reunion' album, but it's a VERY close 3rd mind you. The best album being the original War Report and their last effort, Channel 10 in 4th.
If you're like me and you loved the first War Report you should appreciate this, but again try to go into it not looking for a direct sequel (even though it is one). You may be disipointed if you want a revision of the 90's, so it's best to look at this as it's own entity or if you want, "The Stillmatic to CNN's Illmatic". Iumak gives this album a 8.5/10"
CNN drops a slammin Summer album, Capone N Nore are like Pea
ED | Pennsylvania | 07/23/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Great production.. that gritty, grimey, gutta NYC Queens sound we have been waiting for!! Dont even sleep on this album for a minute..buy it!! Give Capone and Nore some respect and BUY they album! Scrape together that $13 and go to the record store and buy it..dont just download it! Support the artists..heads be complaining there isnt any good hip hop coming out, only that radio 'Ish..Well you can change that buy buying CNN's new album!"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1