Search - Marley Marl :: Best of Cold Chillin: In Control 1 & 2

LIVE AND DIRECT FROM THE HOUSE OF HITS!!!!!

05/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Any TRUE hip-hop fan of yesteryear knows that THE HOUSE OF HITS was the name for Marley Marl's studio. The new installment from "THE BEST OF COLD CHILLIN'" series is a long time coming. Some may disagree with the rating of 5 stars, but I'm giving it the 5 star rating mostly on the strength of the first installment "IN CONTROL VOLUME 1". Even though many magazines often overlook this album, when it was released in 1988, it was considered a classic. With classic songs like "THE SYMPHONY"(the FIRST posse song and arguably the best in hip hop history), "DROPPIN' SCIENCE", and "FREEDOM", how can you go wrong? This album also contains the underground late 88-89 mix show classics "WE WRITE THE SONGS" (featuring Biz Markie and Heavy D. in what has to truly be considered one of the Hevster's BEST lyrical outings EVER as they trade verses back and forth), "DUCK ALERT", and "LIVE MOTIVATOR". The second disc is "IN CONTROL VOLUME 2:FOR YOUR STEERING PLEASURE" which Marley recently admitted that he did just to fulfill his contract obligation with Cold Chillin'. The album isn't a TOTAL dud. There are some bright moments like "THE SYMPHONY PT. 2" (which can't hold a CANDLE to the original...but is decent nonetheless), "I BE GETTIN'BUSY" (LL COOL J), and "AMERICA EATS THE YOUNG" (featuring CHUCK D. and TRAGEDY when he was the INTELLIGENT HOODLUM and before he just totally thugged out and became TRAGEDY KHADAFI). Pick this double cd up if you want to hear some classic material AND a producer that greatly influenced many hip-hop producers from PETE ROCK(who Marley tutored)to DJ PREMIER. Along with 45 KING no one producer held it down as well as MARLEY MARL....the true QUINCY JONES/GODFATHER of hip hop producers.... PEACE AND LOVE"