Search - Pooh Man, Mc Pooh :: Funky As I Wanna Be

Fun, slept-on album

ctrx | 'bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks... | 12/10/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1992, Too Short's onetime west coast protege Pooh-Man dropped his debut album "Funky as I Wanna Be," a good album that received little recognition then and remains that way today. This album has great, funky production, exhibiting a lot of the characteristics that would define the west coast g-funk explosion of the mid 1990s, with slow, heavy bass, synths, and hard drumbeats. The production is handled by Ant Banks, a talented and accomplished producer who would go on to have a fairly successful solo career of his own. Musically, the album stays very consistent and really delivers. Lyrically, I find Pooh-Man to be fairly similar to a young DJ Quik, dividing his raps between speaking of ghetto experience and sex. He talks about both with style, he has a great character and comes across humorously. This album is really hard to find today, but I highly recommend "Funky as I Wanna Be."



The album begins with "N.... Ain't Playin,'" which is an upbeat track with great production featuring a funk guitar and horns and heavy bass. Pooh-Man comes across hard, displaying an impressive, fast flow and good lyricism. Flint hip hop vet MC Breed collaborates on "Don't Cost a Dime," a musically dense song that I really like. The title track has a winding, fast beat and Pooh-Man uses a sort of whispered delivery. "Mellow Man" is a definite highlight, where Pooh-Man explores his character with a nice delivery and awesome production with great keyboards. "The Projects" deals with ghetto dealings and hustling. "Playa Haters" might be my favorite song, it has an ultra-funky beat with an organ being the main component, Pooh-Man bashes haters and the chorus is good. On "Racia," Pooh-Man collaborates with Ant Banks and Too Short on the mic to discuss a certain woman. After the good "F....' Wit Dank (Remix)" comes "The Big Gangster," another enjoyable song. I love "Your D...," which has the best beat on the album and a very good, female-sung chorus. The music is bouncy and happy sounding, it's a light and humorous song. "Eatin' P..." continues in the same lyrical direction, and the album ends well with a "Mellow Man" instrumental and the self explanatory "Sex, Money and Murder."



"Funky as I Wanna Be" is a very appropriate album, because musically and lyrically this album is funky as it gets. I recommend this album to fans of west coast rappers like DJ Quik and Too Short, Pooh-Man is pretty similar to artists such as them and fans should enjoy this album. Long underrated and out of print, should you come across this album I highly suggest that you pick it up. This would be a great album to add to the collection should you get the chance, it's very complete and great to listen to."

Da Tru Story

Skip Wade | NYC | 07/01/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was Pooh before he and Short Dog started beefin, so Short is here on #7, Racia. This is a great album. #10 is the best love song ever sung, it shows the women their righteous place and treats em like the need to be treated. Remember it when its time to flex! #6 is dope. #8 is literaly dope. #11 is stupid, doe, so you can already see why $hort eventualy left this fool to hang. Bangin, all in all, worth havin."