4.5 Mics for the King of Northwest Hip Hop!
NWROOTS | San Diego/Portland | 12/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I vividly remember the first time I heard Cool Nutz. It was fall 1993, and I lived in Portland, Oregon. The Homies and I came inside from playing B-ball to listen to Portland's Unedited Hip Hop show on KBOO 90.7 FM. We all began bobbin' our heads to the first Bosko beat we had heard other than "In Living Color". When a smooth flowing, clear speaking MC with a deep voice (Nutz) started his verse of "This is Portland, don't take it as a joke", we all agreed he was tight and became instant supporters. Cool Nutz has since became somewhat of a Portland legend, a tireless advocate for Hip Hop music and culture. With the release of the NW classics "Harsh Game for the people" in 1997 and "Speaking upon a million" in '98, Cool Nutz has both displayed his versatility and developed a "signature" style. Honestly, the man just makes wonderful Hip Hop music, and he's honing his skills.
King Cool Nutz is the latest, and long awaited album from Cool Nutz. It begins with an infectious cuban flavored beat that I would love to hear him rhyme over, however, that was simply the intro. The first song, "Perservere", is one of the best songs I have heard from Nutz with it's unique, epic sounding beat and soulful hook. "Frontline", the third track is somewhat dissapointing and the only song I felt like skipping with it's ho-hum beat and familiar hook. "Anything", the next track is a straight banger with a boastful Nutz offering his "anything" skills to the listener. "They don't have to know" has Cool Nutz teaming with 40 water himself(who is losing weight and growing dreads) for a smooth party jam that goes down good with a beautiful and/or a concubine. "So Drunk" is not as simple as it's title implies with it's piano fueled beat and temptation led vocals. "Deal with me" is a classic Bosko beat with smooth MCing centered around being up front with personal priorities. "Yo mouth" is just straight hilarious and a great ice breaking jam to play around a girl when you are feeling confident. "Bring it back" is interesting. It incorporates influences of Crunk AND Hyphy. It's an no-brainer banger for the Club. "Killen 'EM teams much revered lyricist Ras Kass with Cool Nutz to trade boastful battle verses toward weak MC's over another nice beat. "Have it my way" has an interesting beat with Nutz being his usual flamboast self. "My baby" is the "Deepest" I have ever heard Cool Nutz go. This song brought tears to my eyes as I literally felt his pain and starting thinking of how unecessary all violence is. Cool Nutz asks "have you really seen death/look it in the face/you can't bounce back when a ni**a get a grace/it aint back to the future turn the hands of time/the hand stop tickin and the watch don't wind". The next track "Livin these Raps" is a standout, with Nutz revealing some of the struggle and dirt he has endured in his experiences. "Streets Calling" matches the winter Portland scenery with it's beautiful but melancholy beat. "Written in my book" talks to your soul. It's spiritual ohh ahh ahh singing beat and violent street tales gives you goosebumps. "Ball out" introduces one of Portland's top Hip Hop Dj's, Chill, to the microphone. While the beat is truly addictive, DJ Chill shows why he should stick to DJing with some of the most shallow lyrics and off beat flows I have heard in quite some time.
Cool Nutz stated that he is giving us his masterpiece with King Cool Nutz, although I will always be partial to his first two albums, I don't have to be coaxed into agreeing with him. Cool Nutz is West coast hip hop with a regional Northwest vibe influenced by the liberal and vivid green landscape he represents. Earlier this evening, I spoke to a Friend who lives in Paris, France. He was excited about the new Cool Nutz album and wanted to play some of the songs in a club there where he DJ's. He asked me to burn it for him and send it. I replied "NO, support this positive brother and buy his album.....then play it to death over there man." I know he will, and you should too."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1