Hotter than the mainstream, but Cold for the Legends
maxheaddrone | Charlotte, N.C. United States | 02/24/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"A lot of fans would blame the Rawkus label for making this release sound so distant from the 'UHB' style releases. Though the crew now admits it was an uneventful turn in their sales, I don't give credit to Rawkus' schiesty arses fur any influence here!! I think the crew (especially Grouch)saw the 'Major Label' release as an excuse to use higher quality studio filters and mastering techniques. The Legends sound much more comfortable over the channels of a 4-track, but as a fan I can respect the fact that, to the artist, the track will NEVER sound clean enough. And listening to Grouch's latest 'Crusader..', or Sunspot's new one 'Fallen Angelz', I can see they ain't going back to lo-fi any time soon.('I come cleaner'-than ever-)
'Almost Famous' is an aptly titled release considering the Journeymen have been on track since the early 90's, and the L.L. have been well-known in the L.A. to the Bay Area for a good 10 years now, but have received little recognition on the East Coast until the turn of 2-G. It's about time they were 'Famous'.
I'm overall dissappointed by this CD because only ONE track features every member together ('Forces of Nature')and it is hands down the best track on the album. Other than that 'Rabbit Hole' w/G&E, PSC, Bicasso and Scarub is tight, 'Nothing Less' w/Grouch, Murs, Slug, Sunspot and Scarub is a great, smoothed-out outro, and 'Gift Wrap'w/Grouch, Aesop, PSC and Murs is the most 'familliar' sounding Legends track with distorted lyrics and that wobbly bass-line. Plus Grouch rhymes Tribe with Bizzare Ryde and shouts to Hiero (feeldat?!?).
I'd say the coolest parts of this release are that all beats are Grouch/Eligh/Sunspot produced and that Sluggo(Atmosphere/ Anticon) is down for being a Legend, later to release the 'Felt ep' w/Murs. Now where's that Sunspot/Moka Only collab boyzz???"
One of the best from the Undaground.
Romeo | Woodbury, USA | 01/20/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Almost famous...an album the LL crew put together in 2001 is one of the best CD's of the underground rap scene. With funky beats and crazy emcees, this is a rap fans delight. These guys are the defintion of underground and they dont want to be in the limelight they just want to be heard in a legendary sort of way. Represent the Legends.
Top Trax:
#2 Night Prowler Feat. Slug, #8 What would I be, #11 War games, #12 Forces of Nature, and #16 Nothing Less Feat. Slug"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1