Search - Wc & Maad Circle :: Ain't a Damn Thing Changed

The First "Complete" Rap Album

Jabari Adisa | Chicago, IL United States | 03/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of songs is remarkable in more than a few ways. And in some ways that force it into stark contrast with anything that has come before or since.Firstly, in the liner notes WC & The MAAD Circle took the time to author a synopsis of each song's inspiration and it's meaning to them. With such an effort they forced a focus on the content and stood firmly behind their ideas. Contrast this to the multitudes of rappers who say that they have merely created a character (Too $hort) or that they are just reporting what they've seen (Mobb Deep). No, The MAAD Circle takes full responsibility for what they rap about and this supremely admirable.Secondly, the album is virtually devoid of any anti-woman rants and degrading comments about Black women in particular. The one song that does deal with a woman as the central subject leaves this listener with the feeling that The MAAD Circle was discussing a particular relationship and not attempting to paint all women with the same brush. The best thing about their portrayal is that it's relatively fair and even-handed. I love these brothers for challenging the way we discuss women. Nicely done! Unfortunately it seems that only Mos Def was paying attention.Next, they have the Gangsta tracks and the upbeat lyrics. No one gets murdered. No crime is glorified. No [women] get smacked. Nor are their any shiny suits or garish Versace shirts in the room. They simply provided a gritty urban landscape and painted a musical mural that combats the foolish notion that South Central LA is nothing but death and dismay. For this point alone this LP should have gone platinum and launche The MAAD Circle to superstardom. But we know it never happens that way.Finally, they rightly take absentee fathers to task for failing to do their job. There needs to be more of this. Black men should challenge the behavior of other Black men. The MAAD Circle realized they had the ears of our nation tuned to them and they delivered a valuable voice that was worthy of listening to.Good music. Excellent, thought out lyrics. Completely devoid of corny sentiment. Straight up gangsta tracks and good humor. A timeless, thoroughbred, unapologetically West Coast classic. Not just a concept. Not just a report. It's a complete immersion into their world! Show me more like this!"

Real Album

H.C. | Finland | 03/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dub-C and the rest of the posse really made an unbelievably strong package, this is a REAL album from start to end. Every topic on this album is the truth. I have to use the cliche "classic" here too, 'cus this is really one.

I was blessed I found this on cassette from Nuso, you can see his review here too. I highly, highly, recommend you to buy this and lot more hard-to-find classics from him. Price is nice, and delivery is fast. Props to him!"

He put it down. This is a hip hop classic.

H.C. | 05/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"WC and Coolio put it down on the slept on hip hop classic "Ain't a Damn thing Changed". WC and Coolio supply the vocals with DJ Crazy Toones behind the wheels of steel and Sir Jinx on the production tip. Every joint is bangin with a lot of political and street commentary west coast style with tight funk samples you can bump in your lowride. One highlight is the joint "You don't work you don't eat" Which features JD and MC Eiht joining WC and Coolio. This is a must buy for any hip hop fan and definitely a must for any fan of west coast music."