David Banner, of the Crooked Lettaz,
who were signed to Penalty Records in the late 1990's, has released his first solo effort
entitled "Firewater Boys Volume One". With this album, he has teamed up with
some of the most respected artists in the game today such as Ras Kass, Devin The Dude,
Pimp C of UGK, and Jazze Pha. The acclaimed "Grey Skies" album by the Crooked
Lettaz showed shades of greatness, would this be more of the same?
The album starts off with "Flickin' Twankies" featuring his Crooked Lettaz
cohort Kamikaze as well as Mr. Marcus. The song, which has a Texas flair, sounds like
production that Pimp C of UGK would do. As the low bassline slides in and out of the
drums, it gives the feel as a "riding" track. This is an excellent way to begin
the album and I feel shows one of the many sides to the rhyming and production found
throughout this musical cornucopia. The album's title track, "Firewater Boys",
is the second track on the album. The song starts out with some blarring symbols, then
leads into serveral claps and simplistic bassline. All in all, the track really comes to
life when Thug Addict drops his verse. He rides the beat perfectly and it comes off as one
of the most memeorable songs put forth on the LP. David brings some wittiness to the track
with the line "I heard he gay like them big purple Teletubbies", which had me
rolling when I first heard it. "Welcome To Jackson (Intro)" is next on the
tracklist, which is basically a skit speaking on who's in the Firewater Boys. The fourth
track is called "Pay Your Dues" and features a very talented, yet unheard of
group called the Doberman Gang. The sample used for the production is over the
overly-sampled "Triggaman", however David puts it to work and really made it
work well with the track. The Doberman Gang really surprised me with their exhibition of
lyrical weaponry. I really look forward to hearing from them in the future.
"Twerk Something" is an ode to strippers which is produced by one of Atlanta,
Georgia's finest, Jazze Pha. I'm really feelin' this track and Jazze makes the chorus come
alive. This track seems to be getting a lot of rotation in my changer recently. This leads
into "Living" which features the one and only, Devin The Dude along with Crooked
Lettaz member Kamikaze and Macaffey. The song is about the struggle, perseverance, and
succeeding. The production is a very eerie electric guitar sample under a drum pattern,
which works out well because you can distinguish the guitar clearly. "Lil Jones"
features Bone Crusher and the Lyrical Giants, who have been making a large noise
throughout the Southern half of the United States. David Banner's voice takes command and
leashes the bucking production and outshines the rest of the artists on this track. This
is above average and shows another aspect of David Banner's versatility. The chorus, when
I first head it was irritating, but became very enjoyable after a few plays. I'm definatly
feeling the way the production was faded out at the end, however the voice remained
constant. "Akmil's Revenge" is a hilarious skit which sort of reminded me of the
skit on the Fugee's second CD where they were in the chinese restaurant.
"Get Crunk" featuring Pimp C was first heard on the Crooked Lettaz project,
released on the now defunct label, Penalty. The production samples "Live and Let
Die" from a James Bond movie I believe. This song is one of my ten favorite tracks
from the South of all time. If you haven't heard this song, the album is worth the price
just for this one track. The tenth track is called "Uh Huh" and features Young
Bleed, formerly of C-Loc Records and the Concentration Camp. Dope jam after another, this
CD keeps on pushing them out. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album as well.
David Banner speaks on the struggle, while keeping listeners intune by rhyming with a hype
flow. Young Bleed drops the usual verse for him, a trill one. The hook to the track is
very catchy and has had me humming it many a day. "My Lil Cousin Sweet" is a
skit by obviously, David Banner's cousin Sweets. I enjoy the few R&B bars at the end
of the skit. "Trill" featuring Kamikaze is a laid back track while both emcees
come about as real as you can get on a track. There's no other word to describe this song,
but "trill". Thirteen tracks deep into this album, and have yet to find even an
average song since they all are highlights. "Dope Popper" features another
former C-Loc Records artist in Boo The Boss Player. The song basically is about exposing
the fake and seperating them from the real. The production on this song is average,
however the vocals make up for it. It'll have you listening to everyone word for word.
"If I Had A Choice" featuring Fiend is my favorite track off "Firewater
Boys Volume One". Most people have also heard this song on the soundtrack Fiend
released in 2000 called "Can I Burn?", which was easily the standout track on
that as well. David's articulate lyrics simply have you mesmerized by how cleverly they
are put together. "Whomp Whompalude" is a skit that features Fiend. Fiend
sprinkles a few power driven bars accapella and proclaims his signature "WHOMP
WHOMP!!". "Bitch What" is a song bound to get the club knockin' with it's
military derrived hook and marching drum comprised beat. His vocals scream over the beat
with authority which makes this another one of my favorite tracks. "Spazz Out"
features Mr. Vincent Van Gogh himself in Ras Kass. Of course, Ras delivers a masterpeice
as David Banner delivers something equally as spectacular over this bouncy beat. "Joe
Smuckatelly" is another skit which has a comedic influence. The nineteen track is
called "Ain't Nothin'", which features J Da Groova and Bone Crusher alongside
David Banner. This is another "get buck and start throwing your elbows left and
right" track, which us Southern listeners are accustomed to. David Banner once again
adds cleverly put punchlines under the highly-uptempo production. "Firewater"
featuring Noreaga was also originally on the "Grey Skies" album. This song
really put Crooked Lettaz on the map. Unless you've been living in a cave, you've heard
this anthem many, many times. Here we are, the last track so soon. "Eulogy"
features Polo of Jim Crow, Lyrical Giants, and Fiend. Wow, what a way to end the album
with a complete hit! This is a really nice posse cut that has gained many hours of airplay
in my car.
This album is the greatest southern album I've heard since UGK's release of "Ridin'
Dirty" in 1997. Every single track is absolutely bangin'. Other artists need to take
example of this display and model themselves after such an amazing album. There is no
denying that no matter who you are, you can relate to something on this album. After this,
I can't wait to hear what David Banner has ready to unleash on the world. |
