Search - MC Eiht :: Death Threatz

Possibly Better Than His First Solo LP (Rating: 8 out of 10-

Chandler | Atlanta (College Park), Georgia | 06/10/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Back in '96, I believed alot of west coast artists were beginning to loose their steam. I found MC Eiht to be an exception with his second solo album, two years after his '94 album We Come Strapped. On that album, the production had a laid back type of sound. This album here carries a different vibe, production wise as it's as not laid back. Eiht really wastes no time starting off the album with part IV of his "Def Wish" series, aiming his lyrics towards his rival DJ Quik (To be honest, after I heard "Dollaz & Sense", I didn't think Eiht was going to respond as strong as he did here). He and his crew, N.O.T.R. gets on Quik again on the song "Killin' ******". "Ain't Nuttin' 2 It" and "Fucc 'Em All" are dope songs on this album as well. The latter song features Havikk from South Central Cartel doing the intro, and I think he produced that song as well. As I said before, the production is more upbeat, this his first solo album. Most of the songs on here were done by 1/2 Oz. which is Eiht and DJ Slip. The formula's they use on here hits more than misses, so thats good as well.



The album has it's misteps as well, more weighed towards the end. I find the tracks, "Collect My Stripes" and "Killin' Season" to be forgettable.



But overall Death Threatz is an excellent album for 1996. MC Eiht has shown improvement on the solo tip as a rapper. This album here moves in a different direction, than most west coast album that I've heard that came out that year, and Eiht still handles his business behind the mic without a problem. If you're a fan of west coast rap, I recommend that you check this out. Peace.



Lyrics: B+

Production: B+

Guest Appearances: B+

Musical Vibes: A-



Top 5 Favorite Tracks:

1. Ain't Nuttin' 2 It

2. Def Wish IV (Tap That A**)

3. F*** 'Em All (Featuring Havikk from SCC)

4. Killin' N***** (featuring N.O.T.R.)

5. Late Nite Hype Part 2



Honorable Mention:

1. Drugs & Killin"

Gggeah 2

Christopher Thompson | Japan | 08/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a must have. West coast gansta Rap at it's finest. In my opinion this is his best album."

Musically Deep Gangsta Rap

G Funkin | Land of Sunshine | 10/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"MC Eiht and DJ Quik are probably the most interesting cats out of the mid 90s west coast rap scene. A beat ain't just a beat for either of them...it's art, it's music. It needs complexity, melody. And then, they stack their beats with some of the hardest gangsta themes ever recorded. Four letter words roll of Eiht's tongue like hello and goodbye. And Quik, well, if you don't know about his exploits with the ladies by now, you must be deaf. Interestingly enough, Eiht and Quik had a rivalry going on (Dollaz + Sense, Def Wish IV etc). I don't know much about what was going on streetwise but up in the recording studio, I think it has something to do with the fact that these two rappers understand MUSIC better than anyone else in the game. G-funkwise, Quik's the king of p-funk (talkbox, electric guitars, drums etc), while Eiht rules with 70s r&b/soul (slow laid back tempo, deep bass, melodic violins and instrumental solos).



Death Threatz is just another example of Eiht's distinctive style throughout his long career. This is gangsta rap at its best folks. Featuring 2 real classics, 3 near classics and solid g-funk era rap throughout, Eiht turns out another hit.



The first classic is Late Night Pt 2 and man is this song smooth. A west coast anthem for sure, Eiht recounts a night out gangbanging: "Unloads my strap like a real g should," "Stick the gat behind my back with an extra clip." The lyrics, as I said, are real hard. And yet, when put together with the music, the super funky and smooth bassline, drums and random percussions, it doesn't seem hard at all. This amazing contrast and contradiction is seen in much of gangsta/g-funk era rap but Quik and Eiht push the contrast even further. The "gangsta" is amped up, but not at the expense of the "funk." Both are amped up and brought to a new and confounding level. The second classic and one of my favorite rap songs of all time is "You Can't See Me" featuring Chill. Even smoother than Late Night, the beat is something out of Shaft or Dead Presidents (an homage to 70s soul). Here, the syncopated bass comes together with a fantastic set of strings in the background. The best part about this song, however, is the rolling drums, which bring a bluesy element to the whole thing. The last minute or so is just a classic instrumental solo. I dare anyone to find a more melodic beat in any genre. The sound created is beautiful, and yet, the lyrics, with a full dose of Eiht's trademark "g'yeahs," is hard, boastful, violent and menacing, like most gangsta rap. However, peep out the music video and listen carefully to the lyrics again. It's more complicated than that.



The near-classics are "Def Wish IV" where the tempo is sped up a bit but the funk remains. It's Eiht's comeback to Quik's diss, "Dollaz & Sense." I'll admit that Quik came hard lyrically on his diss but Eiht not only brings the rhymes but has a hard beat behind him. He even got Rob "Funksta" Bacon, Quik's faithful guitarist, to help tear him up with some hard instrumentals! Another gem, musically. "Ain't Nothin 2 It" slows things down a little and "Run 4 Life" which has a similar tempo, is also good.



G-funk era gangsta rap is not all simple. It's not just about the gangsta themes. Musically, Eiht turns out some of the best tracks in rap history...no joke. Haters should open their eyes and minds a little more. Pac, Eiht, Quik and other real gangsta rappers are saying something, both in their lyrics and in their musicality on the boards...Classic 5/5"