http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090310/SC2470401%0A/90310005/-1/RSS247
"Sporting a smoked out West Coast vibe, Ridin High from Keelay and Zaire of the Sole Vibe Music Group is a hip-hop record made for those who like their rap music relaxing and creatively insightful. The rhymes are packed with wit while the beats conjure up memories of the old school and just beg to be pumped out of a drop top convertible surrounded with smoke clouds. Ideal for fans of Outkast, Del the Funky Homosapien, or early Dr. Dre, Ridin High is not as thought-provoking as the latest from Mos Def or as gully as anything 50 Cent has put out, but it is a smooth record for a niche market of West Coast hip-hop heads. Check out “The Times,” “Addicts For Real,” and “Take a Ride” to get a feel for the atmosphere of this solid album."
------
http://thephoenix.com/
"With their 16-cut debut, Bay Area boardsman Keelay and his Dayton-born sidekick Zaire slide onto the exalted end of hip-hop's sound spectrum — their tracks bounce lovelier than Joe Budden's girlfriend on that trampoline (consult YouTube), and they exhibit a flair that distinguishes their cross-continental steeze from that of any other beat team.
Click the autobiographical Tunji ear smacker "Addicts for Real," then peel through the delightfully reclined "Trapped" with Slo Mo and Supastition, and the sonic circus "I Used To Ride" with Fortilive and Saafir. Singles aside, the most revealing thing about Ridin' High is that — except for Rasco, Tash, Blu, and Planet Asia — the guests are pretty much unknown. Result: the majority of these cameo contenders bless us with the verses these joints warrant."
------
http://www.rapreviews.com/
"The title of bi-coastal producers Keelay & Zaire's debut album, "Ridin High," has several meanings. On one level, it refers to how the duo is feeling, like they are riding high and on the top of the world. They are riding high on hip hop, as the track "Addicts for Real" explains. They are also riding high in the literal sense, with a glove compartment full of weed and St. Ides. On another level, the title refers to the fact that they are taking the listener on a musical journey, a laid-back cruise through fifteen tracks. Finally, "Ridin High" refers to the 1977 classic by Faze-O which serves as a musical backbone for the album, and is covered on the title track. "
-----
http://vinylmeltdown.com/2009/
"But who’s on it? Well, there’s Blu, Phonte, Darien Brockton, Emilio Rojas, Supastition, and Planet Asia to name some of the more known. But, even though a lot of the guests on here might not be world renowned stars, each contribution is well thought out, fitting, and a positive contribution to the LP.
While everyone does fit well on the production, there are a couple of tracks that really leave a long-lasting impression. “The Times,” which features Blu, Fortilive, and Nino Moschella on top of simple yet lush, jazzy production, paints a hauntingly real picture of what it’s like to be living today. Blu is the new master of vivid imagery, and he lives up to his reputation on this track. Fortilive (Slo-Mo, Mushmouf, and Illmind) all do their thing on here. Nino Moschella’s vocal contributions are eerily beautiful, and really pull everything together. Other tracks that really push the album forward are the title track, which features smooth vocals from FEMI (not Femi Kuti), and “Addicts for Real,” where Tunji from Inverse spits about his relationship with hip hop over a smooth decidedly West Coast beat."
peace!
No comments:
Post a Comment