Search - Various Artists :: Soundbombing 3

Starts off wack but gets better

E.J. Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 06/08/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you already heard how bad Soundbombing 3 is, those rumors are half-true. But be forwarned, underground fans: when you look at the track listing to this album, the mere fact that Missy Elliot and Kandi of Xscape are featured on this compliation should signal to you that this album is leaving the underground in hopes to gain mainstream appeal. And usually when that happens, the results are beyond disappointing.It may be unfair, but it'll be hard not to compare the strictly underground sounds of 1999's Soundbombing 2 (with artists like Bahamadia, Medina Green, and Dialated Peoples) to the hip-hop/R&B sounds of the third installment (with Q-Tip, The Roots, and Noreaga). For example, Pharoahe Monch is singing when he should be rapping on "My Life" while Styles P. of The Lox rocks the mic. And Mos Def has a painfully weak song, I kid you not, which is the Rockwilder-produced "Freak Daddy". If Mos comes off wack, then you know there's something wrong with hip-hop. It gets worse: another underground champion, Mad Skillz, lazily raps through the Missy-assisted "Crew Deep", making it fail compared to past Supafriendz joints. Moreover, even the interludes and skits on Soundbombing 2 were dope. Here, they just take up time and Mr. Choc and Cipha Sounds aren't as good mixers as J-Rocc and Babu were on the last album.But before you break your stop/eject button, there are okay songs ahead. Pharoahe and Skillz both redeem themselves with their freestyles on Jonell's "Round and Round" and "They Don't Flow", respectively. However, Monch's verse is the only thing new in "Round and Round": this isn't really a remix, it's Method Man's 2nd verse taken from the remix on the "How High" soundtrack pieced with Kool G Rap's 1st verse from another "Round and Round" remix, sandwiched between Monch's new verse and Jonell's vocals (but since her song is over a year old, why did they even bother?). And Skillz laments on why rappers sell out and not bring it on "They Don't Flow" (with Novel), even though he did that exact thing earlier on this album.Things continue to go okay, as Q-Tip's "What Lies Beneath" and The Beatnuts' "The Trouble Is" both get B's for effort. The real treats come when Talib Kweli joins Common on "Yelling Away", DJ Quik on "Put It in the Air" and The Roots on "Rhymes and Ammo". Momentum is further gained when Cocoa Brovaz and R.A. the Rugged Man bring back that Soundbombing flava on "Spit Again" and "On the Block", respectively. Save the best for last, I guess.At over 75 minutes, Soundbombing 2 left me satisfied, but at under 60 minutes, this album left me still hungry because I only had a snack of real hip-hop. While Soundbombing 3 isn't a total bomb, it is still disappointing to see even this album stoop to the levels of selling out. If Rawkus Records ever get a chance to make another Soundbombing (because their future is uncertain), they better go back underground and stay there."

The worst among all three soundbombings!!!

E.J. Rupert | 06/24/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this album last Friday night. When I looked on the back of the cover to see the various artists who would perform, I was excited because I consider most of whom dope. This album is the worst soundbombing in the history of Rawkus records! I was extremely disappointed in every emcee(whom I considered dope) on this album. If you really want to hear a classic soundboming album, then purchase the first one. The second soundbombing wasn't that bad either, but they are both more euphonius than soundbombing III. Hip hop is getting to the stage where you can't trust but a select few emcees. After listening to this album, it was evident that these artists paralled Tyson's intentions against Lennox Lewis; they were all going through the motions exclusively for the payday and not for the hunger. Nowadays, I find myself purchasing early 90's hip hop because many emcees today are wasting their god-given talent, and they are coming up with every lame excuse to justify their motives.If I could give this album NO stars for a review, then I most certainly would do so.Don't buy this album!! I'm warning you. You'll be wasting your money."

Two words- WASTED TALENT

Adam Jones | Greenville, SC USA | 06/18/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I was actually excited about this release, but now I greatly regret purchasing it. Hopefully, I can find someone who hasn't heard it who will buy it. Nah, I'm not even that mean. I don't want anyone to have any questions about buying this. Don't do it! If you love Rawkus- you'll hate it. If you love Fabolous and Lil kim- you'll hate it. No matter what you're into, you will NOT enjoy this... The worst part is hearing Kweli on a wack beat with...DJ Quik. That hurt my heart. Stay with Hi-Tek, Talib. Please."