After writing that quick introduction to my site, i realized that a review might have been a better first post. Then i realized that maybe i should have pre-written a few. Then I realized how hard it is to write a real review, instead of justs bitching to your friends about how shitty Drake is. Oh well.
So after like two weeks, I finally decided to review probably the only album I know track by track (other than classics like Illmatic, or Only Built 4 Cuban Linx), Snak the Ripper, by Snak the Ripper.
From what I gather from his music and website bio (its not like I could wikipedia the dude), Snak grew up just outside of Vancouver, selling pipe bombs and vanadalizing shit since he was a teenager. Eventually he turned into a crackhead. After years of addiction, he started making music as a way to get clean(ish). One year later, this album burst on the scene, helping to gather him his current cult status. As well as being propelled to #1 on the myspace and reverbnation charts, Snak recieved a large amount of promotion via youtube, having his songs featured on the graffiti crew SDK's videos.
Warning (intro)
Meh. It's a hip hop into. These things are never good. They're like sequels. Even though nobody likes them, people keep making them. Even though Snak drops some ill lines ("Leaving you infected like unprotected sex on a filthy mattress." Fucking GRIMY!) and there's some sick scratching thrown in at the end, Snak sounds almost uninspired. Oh well.
Vanilla Gorilla
Now this is the shit that we wanna hear. Snak drops fast paced lines over a funky beat, with no chorus, just his DJ splitting things up with some cuts. Lyrically, Snak is all over the place, seemingly only keeping the theme that he's a dirty white boy that smokes alot of weed. Kinda sounds like me, maybe that's why I like this song so much.
Dangerous State
The first thing that pops into my head when I listen to this song is that beat is annoying as fuck. The sample is just two notes on a piano being played over and over again, with drums under it. Kinda like a shitty version of the beat from You Aint A Killer by Big Pun. Beats aside, Snak is once again killing shit. He drops more hot bars, and also the first hook you hear on the album. Still. The beat almost ruins this shit for me.
White Lightning
The required song about cocaine on every rap album. However, Snak takes a different point of this time, that of the junkie, instead of dealer. It's a refreshing twist to not have to hear a rapper talk about chopping grams for once, and an ill description of being strung the fuck out. I actually love this track.
2 Big Jerks (ft. Fatt Matt)
The first verse of this track consists of Snak bitching about how poor he is, and that he has nothing to lose. Then, it's Fatt Matt talking about how great of a rapper he is, and how much respect he gets. I really feel like they should have agreed on something to write about before they layed the track down, or atleast they should've been in the same room while writing it. If you ignore the lyrics though, it's a good enough song, even if the beat does start to wear a little thin by the end
Bring the Thunda
Honestly, this track is one of those songs I picture myself sitting on the front step of my apartment complex smoking a blunt to on a hot summer day. The idea is real simple. It's Snak rapping on some George Clinton type shit, rapping about ass. Not even fucking, just looking at ass. Genuis! Why has nobody thought of this before?
Elevation Music (ft. Narai, Edge & Limit)
This beat makes up for Dangerous State. It actually features more than two piano notes, and is one of the best produced songs on the album. The R&B chorus goes with the song great, and the guests easily keep up with Snak, making this one of the better songs on the album, giving us a quick break from the gritty street shit we've been hearing.
Poison
Another song about addiction, and it's hard to pick which hits harder, White Lighting, or Poison. Snak's harsh voice goes with the subject matter prefectly, and meshes with the beat instantly. One of those tracks that just clicks. Beats like this are to Snak are what Pete Rock beats are to CL Smooth.
What's Street
Two words. Fucking. BANGER! Easily the best song on the album, a poverty anthem. Some funny shit when you do half the shit this song talks about.
Another Day (ft. 952)
Not really a fan of the beat on this track. Its not horrible, but it leaves something to be desired. This isn't quite one of those songs you can get high and listen to, and trip out just because of the noise. Because the flow was a little off for me, I actually had to listen to the lyrics to start to like it, but Snak delivers the heaters like always (Now how am i supposed to retire off money i collected from Canadian Tire? Look at my entire attire. If dirty sweat pants were the hot shit then I'd be on fire.) and his guest isn't half bad either. This song gets a pass
The Dark
The beat is a break from what we've been hearing, sounding vaguely electronic, employing a synthy beat, the type of thing Kool Keith (or Docta Octagon, or whatever the fuck he goes by nowadays) would rip to shreads. Lyrically, it's a song about how shitty Snak's childhood was, and that he's doing so much better now that he's grown up, which would sound played out as fuck from any other rapper, like rhyming Miracle with Lyrical, but Snak makes it sound original. Oh yeah, and the sample at the end is fucking diabolical.
Push Comes To Shove (ft. Bottles)
This song starts out kinda slow, I didn't really like Bottles' half whispered flow when I first heard it, but he grew on me like a rash after fucking Whitney Houston bareback in a bed of poison ivy. By the second verse I was loving it. I think the idea of the beat switching up with each verse is pretty awesome, and both the beats they use hit pretty hard. Another great song.
What A Fool
Love this song, Snak hits hard once again talking about his high school, police, and weed. Your a heartless bastard if you don't feel this song, you can tell Snak is coming from somewhere real on this track. Honestly, the only complaint I have about this song is the hook. The ONLY words I can understand are "what a fool I've been" and the rest sounds like a 3 year old on helium trying to sing.
Yer The Shit
Sure, it's a love song, but it's nowhere near terrible. I like the beat, and Snak's flow is on point. More easy going than he's sounded on the whole album. And this shit made me laugh when he sais "I know you think this is corny". And even though Snak doesn't have the greatest singing voice, he makes an effort, and that's more than you can say you lazy fuck.
My Time (Outro)
This song provides a decent ending to the album. It didn't leave a huge impression on me, but I liked some of the lyrics. I liked the beat, but I didnt like it enough to listen to it for 5 minutes after the fucking song was done. I guess it's supposed to be theatrical or something, but it's still annoying as shit.
Final Thoughts: This album is a breath of fresh air for anyone that's getting tired of hearing the same thing over and over again on the radio. It may not appeal to all hip hop heads. I mean, his lyrics are a bit unpolished at this point, consider he was hitting withdrawls while writing the fuckin thing. At the very least, you should check this out. It's different to say the least.
Final Thoughts: This album is a breath of fresh air for anyone that's getting tired of hearing the same thing over and over again on the radio. It may not appeal to all hip hop heads. I mean, his lyrics are a bit unpolished at this point, consider he was hitting withdrawls while writing the fuckin thing. At the very least, you should check this out. It's different to say the least.
