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Trinity: Past Present & Future
Slum Village
Trinity: Past Present & Future
Genres: Pop, Rap & Hip-Hop
 
  •  Track Listings (23) - Disc #1

Slum Village's sophomore album has as many bright moments as it does miscues. Designed to illustrate the group's rise from the Detroit underground, the album's spotty production takes too long to get you throbbing while th...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Slum Village
Title: Trinity: Past Present & Future
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: Priority Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2002
Re-Release Date: 8/13/2002
Album Type: Explicit Lyrics
Genres: Pop, Rap & Hip-Hop
Style: Pop Rap
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 724353891121, 0724353891251, 724353891152, 724353891251

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Slum Village's sophomore album has as many bright moments as it does miscues. Designed to illustrate the group's rise from the Detroit underground, the album's spotty production takes too long to get you throbbing while the villagers manifest. Emcees T3 and Baatin's stepped-up flow is noteworthy, and newcomer Elzhi adds a rougher, battle-ready element to the mix, but at times his gangsta clichés don't mesh with his cohorts' green-tea-and-a-backrub Casanova personas. Though the overall production is uneven, young-Turk beatmakers Karieem Riggins and Waajeed O'Bryant shine on tracks like "La La" and "Tainted," which build on the momentum created by the group's debut, Fantastic, Vol. 2. Unfortunately, Trinity all but excludes founding member-producer Jay Dee, and in the end, Jay Dee's three contributions eclipse all others. We're left wondering what Trinity would have sounded like if all three original members were still in cahoots. As it stands, Trinity's overall vibe comes off like an often misguided attempt to inherit the kingdom A Tribe Called Quest helped build and De La sold. --Arno Kazarian

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CD Reviews

An okay album
Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 10/19/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)

"When the video for "Tainted" was first seen on TV, a lot of people said, "Uh oh, where's JayDee?" Well, the infamous super producer Jay Dilla left Slum Village, and when that happened, many people assumed a downward spiral would occur (you know, like when Kay Gee left Naughty By Nature). It's already a problem when the only member of the group anyone gives props to is the DJ, but after he leaves, then what?While JayDee gave up his production credits, the music on this album isn't TERRIBLE. Still, you can really feel the loss, especially in the disorganized sounds of "Star"; and "Unisex" is so chopped-up that it's not even bootleg-worthy. JayDee does actually show up for tracks like "Let's", "One" and "H**s"; you'll just wish he stuck around for the whole album.A new rapper named Elzhi is recruited for this album, but he really doesn't belong here. What I mean is that he should have his own album, because his rhyming is so dope that he raps circles around Baatin and T3 on EVERY TRACK. And in many places he ends up saving the songs, especially "Disco" and "La La". And we all know that Baatin and T3's rhymes are usually very plain, but it still seems like on this album they took a step down from that Fantastic sound. Also I think they're being a little too experimental in their rhyming, because on tracks like "All-Ta-Ment" (ultimate) and the aforementioned "H**s", I'm not even sure that's them rapping. Maybe when JayDee was still part of the group, the beats were so intense that it gave them more energy to try and bring it. But on here, how can they expect the crowd to "Get Live" if THEY don't?For Fantastic, Vol.2 people bought the album only for the beats. For THIS album, people should buy it only for Elzhi. All in all, though, Slum Village still has a little ways to go for people to buy their albums for the right reason: EVERYTHING."
Misleading, yet not without its rewards
K. Reynolds | 08/22/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)

"There is something of a paradox in hip-hop; the best hip hop really doesn't sound so great at first, while some of the worst hip hop sounds amazing at first, but really doesn't lend itself to repeated listens. Case in point: Scarface's new "buzzoworthy" song, My Block. It sports a very catch piano loop and an equally catchy chorus. After listening to it a few times, one realizes how simplistic it is: the chorus is unintelligent and the short loop is repeated without ever changing. On the other side, however, we have Slum Village's new album, which arguably falls victim to the other phenomenon: upon the first few listens the production sounds limp and unbelievably bland. This will come as a disappointment for most people who purchase the album on the strength of the instantly catchy single "Tainted." For those with patience however, the album will slowly reveal itself and reward in the process. The beats are muted and subtle but also complex and diverse, and the lyrics (save for a few throw away battle raps) are intelligent and impressive (particularly from newcomer Elzhi, who reminds me of Posdnous from De La Soul in his ability to impress without relying on flashy gimmicks). This certainly isn't the party album that it advertises itself to be but those with patience who are ready for some initial disappointment will eventually be rewarded. Sadly, the album doesn't achieve the epic status that it tries to (the concept is that the songs are roughly divided among tracks representing the past, present and future of hip hop, the reality is that even the most experience ear can't distinguish which tracks are supposed to represent which time period) but it may still prove itself to be a slept on, laid back classic in the same vein as A Tribe Called Quests initially-rejected swan song "The Love Movement.""
Original Authentic Detroit Hip Hop.
K. Reynolds | VA United States | 08/14/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Slum Village's new album Trinity is an absolute must have for any real hip hop purist out there. If you liked their previous album Fantastic Volume 2. You will probably enjoy Trinity. The only difference with Trinity is that the superb beat-smith J-Dilla is no-longer a part of the trio. However J-Dilla contributes his futuristic authentic production on 3 tracks. J-Dilla's lyrical replacement on this installment is Detroit underground M.C.Elzhai. Yo this kid is nice!!! Every time this dude spits he comes off like a used rubber! With the addition of a proven lyracist like Elzhai, it makes Batain and T3 (who normally have a go with the flo style) step up their delivery and lyrical content. If Elzhai dosen't receive a quotable from any of his verses on this album somethings wrong. On "one" (probably the best track on the album) Elzhai murders it, when he says "It takes One hit for a wack rapper to make millions, causing the illest niggaz to switch and spit what they aint feelin". Other standouts are "Disco", "What is This", "La La", and Unisex. Despite some of the lackluster reviews that this album received, this is a good album that represents the progressive and original side of hip hop, which isn't too visible these days. This album will satisfy any hip hop purists.
Overall, Trinity is a decent follow up to the underground classic Fantastic Vol 2. The production was better on Fantastic. The production on this album is good but not great. But the lyrics have greatly improved this time."