Search - Kurupt :: Down & Dirty

Against The Grain...Version 2.0

D.P. | California | 02/09/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is the fourth release to come from Death Row Records since WideAwake Entertainment took over the company. One of the promises made by the new owners was that they were going to open the vaults & release the vaulted material and we got that with bonus tracks on Dr. Dre's album, a Snoop Doggy Dogg album, and their "Ultimate Collection" album...however they took a step backwards with this album.



Anyone who's a longtime follower of Death Row Records knows that, with the exception of replacing four songs, this is the exact same Kurupt album from years ago called "Against The Grain" from the introduction of the album all the way down to the same songs being in the same order on the tracklist. The four songs that were removed are "Deep Dishes", "I'm Back", "My Homeboys (Back To Back)" with Eastwood & 2pac, "You F'n With The Best" with Domination. They are replaced with four songs being advertised as unreleased but two of these songs have been available for years as well through through the internet album "Against The Grain: The EP" which featured songs that were removed from the original album (another story for another time). Two of these songs were "U Don't Know Who Your F'n With" with Kokane & "One Thangs For Sho (Reprise)" with Danny Boy while the two unreleased songs on this album are "Riot In The Club" & "Put This Money Right" with Petey Pablo.



My favorite tracks are "Throw Back Muzic", "Can U Feel It", "Slide N Slide Out", and "Calico" while the only songs I didn't really care for was "Jealously" & "Stalkin'" along with all the new songs except for one but I'll explain that in a second. The original "Against The Grain" was one of those rap albums that had a mix of everything from hardcore tracks to club bangers to laid back tracks and an album I still have in rotation to this day 5 years later while, with the exception of I'm Back (sorry but I just never liked that song), the songs they added to this album didn't match up in quality with the ones they removed as the only song I cared for was "One Thangs For Sho" but the version on here doesn't include the first four minutes or the original song and only includes the last two when Danny Boy starts singing to close out the song.



In the end, I would suggest that you try to get the "Against The Grain" album that came out years ago so you can get the better quality songs that were removed here while look online for that "Against The Grain: The EP" album so you can get the Kokane song along with the FULL VERSION of the Danny Boy song along with some other tracks that were quality in their own right. I hope Death Row/WideAwake doesn't make this type of mistake with their future releases.



UPDATE: For anyone interested, the "Riot In The Club" track also appears on Kurupt's latest solo album "Streetlights""

KURUPT GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN ONCE MORE

fmwaalex | Austin, TX USA | 03/26/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"KURUPT

DOWN & DIRTY



This album is pretty much the same album as "Against the Grain" which was released many years ago. The only difference is there are some songs that were replaced with new ones, and even some of them have been released before. Still for any one thinking of getting this I highly recommend it; it is still a good album. I reviewed the original when it first came out and meant to rate it as a five star album but accidentally put four. So I am redoing from that one with this one.



1.INTRO



2.SPEAK ON IT-the first song on the album comes out bumpin' hard, courtesy of a bangin beat by MARK SPARKS. What a great way to start an album, plus VAL C on the track, and a guy just telling him to speak on it. And Kurupt definitely does that speaking on different situations in the world like the DPG break up, racism, the east/west war, and certain individuals getting paid off of this type of music. Also this song as got a lot of attention due to the supposed dissing that goes on at the beginning of the song. Other then the 50 CENT part the others could have been mentioned dissing everybody that says that DMX, JA, and NAS are the new Pac's & Biggie's, not necessarily the individuals mentioned. Of course I could be completely wrong, so over all this is a great track, and even though it only has one verse I'll have to give it 5/5.



3.ANARCHY-Mark Sparks returns to drop another hot beat that switches up on ya during the hook, and the verse. The hook is more up tempo while the verse is more smooth and gliding with its bass and claps. Kurupt rips the track up easily with his lethal flow, and even throws in a little DAZ diss. I also love the fact that he brought back the hook from "BEHIND THE WALLS" for a lil portion of the song. Over all this is an excellent track.5/5



4.THROW BACK MUZIC-this has to be one of the best tracks to come out THA ROW in awhile, definitely a classic. Non surprisingly Mark Sparks returns to drop this straight west coast track for our listing pleasure. Kurupt giving it up to a time period he came up in, mentions a gang of things some will definitely remember. This is definitely a must have right here, no wonder it's a single.5/5



5.RIOT IN THE CLUB-the first new track added to the album is a very bouncy single like song. I am sure that if this would have been on the original release it may have been a single based on the beat alone. Of course Kurupt spits that Young Gotti flow over the course of three verses, but the hook is kinda simplistic.4/5



6.STALKIN'-another single from the album, in fact this is the one I hear on the radio all the time. SIR JINX created a very interesting and intriguing beat for this track, and the samples used add to the beat greatly making this psycho girl more believable. Of course u all know Kurupt holds it down on this track, this track happens to be my girls favorite song on the album, should I be worried.3.8/5, her score 5/5



7.CAN U FEEL IT-ok I guess every album has to have that summer time, radio friendly track. DOUG MAYHEM is the producer of choice on this track, and he was very successful in making a bouncy summa tyme track. To be honest I even bump this track from time to time. This is probably the closest thing to mainstream on this album, not that it's bad, in fact it is catchy to a point, and that includes the simple hook from POTION. This is another fav of my girls. This is this album's "IT'S OVER", & "SUNSHINE".4.5/5 her score 5/5



8.SLIDE N SLIDE OUT-the ever reliable BLAQTHOVEN drops this nice beat, and this tack features Y.A. representatives EASTWOOD, BIG TRI, & YOUNG TONE. Surprisingly the star of the album Kurupt only drops a lil something at the end adding up to nothing more then a cameo, not even a verse from Young Gotti. Of course this technique has worked well for albums like "THE CHRONIC", & "DOGGYSTYLE" were there were 1 to a few tracks were the star wasn't on the track, just giving their boys shine. Over all though for the most part this is a nice addition to the album, all though to be honest I really don't listen to this track much, also Daz gets dissed.3.8/5



9.U DON'T KNOW-the second new song was actually released on the "Against the Grain EP" but still for those who have not heard it this is a nice addition. This song basically is going at those who were against Kurupt at the time. Featuring West Coast legend Kokane on the hook and verse this one has a nice beat that will have your head nodding along. His last verse kinda reminds me of his verse on "I'm Back".4/5



10.JEALOUSY-this is by far an excellent addition to the album, a great choice for a single in my opinion. Mark Sparks returns to continue his winning streak on this album, the instrumental itself is enough to get anyone to bump this joint. Lyrically this is an interesting track, seeing that the ex roc-a-fella signed M.O.P. is in the house making u "Ante Up". Also Kurupt in his verse mentions the hatred towards him for returning to Deathrow, and his so called lose of flow on this track. But to this reviewer it's ROSCOE that steals the show with his fiery verse. This is definitely a great addition to the track.5/5



11.THA PAST-Dough Mayhem returns to drop the definition of what an instrumental should be. I could go on and on about how perfect the beat is for this song, but the lyrics are just as powerful. I love that a track was included that addresses Kurupt's {at the time} former boys in tha Pound. I also appreciate the fact that this isn't really a song hating on the others, plus DAVE HOLISTER is excellent on the hook.5/5



12.BS & NONSENSE-the second song that is strictly from Kurupt's boys, in fact Kurupt doesn't even get a cameo credit from me, he only says a few words. But the thing about this track is that it is a better track then the last Kurupt less album, the beat from JOSHUA ANDREWS is a really well put together track featuring great pianos. SPIDER and Eastwood come real correct with their verses, though I prefer Eastwood's flow better in this one. Over all this is an excellent track.4.5/5



13.CALICO-what more can I say other then this is a highly energetic track, the beat from THE SCREWFACE MUSIC GROUP is highly bouncy and to quote another track with Kurupt "off tha chain" {THE VERY BEST OF DEATHROW, that song also has PETEY PABLO}. Kurupt drops two hot verses; he even adjusts his flow to fit a southern type of flow. There's even a shout out to Snoop and the Doggpound in his verses. Also the DAYTON FAMILY hold it down hard on this track, especially during the hyped up hook, this track also appeared on their album. Over all this is a great song, also the Dayton Fam shout out RAS KASS.4.5/5



14.HUSTLIN-another song that's been moving around the internet for a while now, actually it's been years. This track was known then as "FAMILY", and the audio wasn't as good. This version seems cleaned up to a greater extent, it has a much more clear sound. This track sees Kurupt rip it up with Big Tri & Young Tone on this smooth Sir Jinx track. Each verse from the artist is off the hook, this happens to be one of my favorite tracks on the album.5/5



15.IT'S A WRAP-mark sparks returns to drop one of his best instrumentals on the album, the way each instrument is put together sounds incredible. Kurupt holds it down nicely on this track easily, the only problem with this song is that it's to short. The song comes in at a short 2:58, becoming the shortest song on the album. I just wish the song would have had one more verse.5/5



16.ONE THANGS FOR SURE-the next new track is also one that was released on the "Against the Grain EP" but is part 2. This is a wonderful track with excellent production and Danny Boy kills it. I have a feeling they put this one on here because his album is the next release from Deathrow. But for a Kurupt release they should have put the first version of this song with Kurupt killing it. Still a great track.5/5



17.PUT THIS MONEY RIGHT THERE-the final new track is a very worthy addition to the album with a brand new song never released from what I can remember. This one has a great bouncy beat that fits Kurupt's style. Former Deathrow artist Petey Pablo also features on this track providing the hook and a verse as well. Kurupt kills this track with two excellent verses; I would have liked to see a video for this one. Petey's verse is nice as well as he sounds right at home over the excellent production.5/5



Tracks taken out that are on original "Against the Grain" release, here is what I said about them.



DEEP DISHES-ah yes a favorite of mine, even though some people don't really like this track. I love the way Kurupt rips this track, the way he flows to it fits the track perfectly. And the beat by RICK RUDE is amazing, very creative on his part, it kind of reminds me of that video Method Man & Red Man did where they were in those chains; I think it was called "THE ROCWILDER" or something. Any way this is a personal fav of mine, u have yours I'll have mine.5/5



I'M BACK-to be honest this track fits the album nicely, but surprisingly here it is not labeled as a remix. As we all know this track was indeed on the "DYSFUNKTIOANL FAMILY" soundtrack, but there it was labeled a remix. So logically one would assume or at least think that the original version would be on the solo album from the artist. Or the other way around would be more logical since it would have came out years before the remix, but for some reason the remix was released first, and then re-released on this album. Well I have reviewed this track before and like before I do like this track, and the eastern influenced beat by the ROW HITTERS is nice. But I still wish the other version was included on the album.4/5



MY HOMEBOYS {BACK TO BACK}-finally I got my wish 2PAC on a Kurupt album, man it felt great to see this track on the track listing. And how appropriate that this come after the previous track. Also it was great to see that Mark Sparks returns to create this masterpiece of an instrumental, I love the flutes. Kurupt was right it feels good to see a Pac verse on a track with some one he actually got down with. Also Eastwood held it down nicely on this track with a verse and an excellent hook. U know I was going to give this a 4.5 or something for a recycled verse {"ME & MY HOMIES" from NATE DOGG'S album} but since a lot of people are using verses from Pac on their albums {usually the one from "THUG LUV"} I' am going to give this the classic rating it deserves.5/5



YOU WITH THE BEST-when I first heard this song on the internet I could have sworn that an in house producer for DOMINATION & BANG EM had producer this track. I had always loved that underground sound this song had, and I always felt it had an east coast feel to it. So to say the least I was surprised to learn that BABY C-STYLE had produced this banger, and to his credit the beat is hard. It has the perfect underground sound to it that fits Kurupt and Domination's styles nicely. And to be honest I love the hook for this track, "I came in this mf with a mask on, so lay ya a## on the floor, or get blast on".4/5

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