Search - Sa-Ra :: The Hollywood Recordings

'Sa'right

Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 11/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was first introduced to superproducers Sa-Ra Creative Partners when they helped out Platinum Pied Pipers on their album Triple P (not that those guys NEEDED help, though). Now shortened to just Sa-Ra, the trio gives us their latest offering, The Hollywood Recordings.



Since this is a producer-driven album, the times when the guys are alone are few, but when they come around, they excel because they're pretty good rappers themselves; see "Rosebuds", "Hollywood" or "Hey Love" for proof of this. But guest stars also do great jobs over Sa-Ra's backdrops, like Pharoahe Monch on "Fish Fillet"; and although I'm not sure who Ty is, he spits some good bars on "And If" and "Do Me Gurl". The J Dilla-assisted "Thrilla" is also good even though it's a little unsettling to hear a chorus touting "it's over" in a song featuring a deceased rapper (I realize that's not what they meant, but...)



Even Kurupt sounds better than he's sounded in a while on "Lean on Me". But R&B singers also impress, like Bilal on "Sweet Sour You", Erykah Badu on "Fly Away", and Rozzi Daime on "So Special", which is just that. There really aren't many road bumps to find on here, aside from the fact that "Feel the Bass" (with Talib Kweli) could stand a better chorus. There are also a couple of songs that seem out of place, especially the corny "Bitch". And the Capone N Noreaga-assisted "Not on Our Level" is aptly titled not because it's necessarily bad, but because gun totin' might be common fare for CNN (well, probably more Capone than N.O.R.E.), but it just ain't Sa-Ra.



Still, The Hollywood Recordings is an album that just might make you want to take a trip to Hollywood and see what these guys are all about. Cop it.



Anthony Rupert"

Neo-Soul Meets Hip Hop (Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars)

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

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Something about the music on this album that makes me enjoy listening to it, especially when I play it at night inside of my car (ie, friday and saturday nights). Sa Ra Creative Partners (consisting of Om'Mas Keigh, Taz Arnold, and Shafiq Husayn) album "Hollywood Recordings" has a lot of mellow music, that sort of puts you in a mellow type mood (well at least that is how it is for me). With all of the production done within the group, you can expect for the same quality of sound throughout the tracks on this album.



"Hollywood Recordings" is sort of like a mixture of Neo-Soul and Rap. The Neo-Soul songs flow nicely, like on "Rosebuds". And the song "B****" is a good song. Most of the rap vocals come from the guest appearances (I believe Sa-Ra rhymes on a couple of songs). A few rap songs stand out would be "And If" and "Do Me Gurl", both song feature Ty (of Ty & Kory) over some great Sa Ra production. "Feel The Bass" featuring Talib Kweli is another standout. The sex type song "Fish Fillet" features Pharaohe Monch is another great song. The club type song "Tracy" featuring Rozzi Daime (Is she what I think she is?) is a cool cut over some bouncy Sa Ra production. "Thrilla" features the late J. Dilla is also great, and I believe Sa Ra rhymes on here as well.



A few tracks I didn't have much feel for. One of them was "Not On Our Level" featuring Capone-N-Noreaga and Lord Nez. I personally those guys mix with the flow of this album. Everything else is not bad at all.



Depending on where you purchased this album, you get three bonus tracks and a DVD. One of the tracks "Scoripo (A Night On The Sun)" featuring Debi Nova is one of the standouts of the bonus tracks. The DVD is pretty great, as it takes you on the behind the scenes of the work of Sa Ra.



Overall, this is a great album. To give an accurate discription of how this album sounds like, try to mix D'Angelo's Brown Sugar with Camp-Lo's Uptown Saturday Night, and you'll have an idea of what this is like. I personally this album is great that it kinda goes outside of the box with music. Don't listen to the reviewer below me who gave this album one star. His review is completly irrevelent. This is one I highly recommend. Peace!!



Lyrics: A

Production: A+

Guest Appearances: A-

Musical Vibes: A+



Top 5 Tracks:

1. Thrilla (featuring J. Dilla)

2. And If (featuring Ty)

3. Fish Fillet (featuring Pharaohe Monch)

4. Feel The Bass (featuring Talib Kweli)

5. Rosebuds



Honorable Mention:

1. Tracy (featuring Rozzi Daime)

2. Lean On Me (featuring Kurupt, Lord Nez, & Erika Rose)"

Sonic masterpiece.

J. Balli | 05/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is amazing. It recalls to me a time when producers like Timbaland and The Neptunes first started getting recognition for their work. When their beats were a mix of pop-creativity and artistic flair. Such is "The Hollywood Recordings." Having been a Sa-Ra partners fan for a little over a year now, I can attest that they do not fail to innovate or excite. THe production is A+, feeling both pop and hip hop (Hieroglyphics and Jedi Mind Tricks comes to mind). This CD will be in rotation at all of my parties for a while now!"