West Coast Connection Forum
Elements => Tha Vault => Album Review => Topic started by: Vigilante on July 18, 2003, 07:55:11 PM
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Roscoe – Young Roscoe Philaphornia
Rose and Sharon / Priority Records - Released June 10, 2003
Written by Vigilante / rm_777
Protégé… The word most common in the hip hop community when younger siblings of famous rappers try to succeed in the music industry. In this case, 19 year old Roscoe is trying to prove the critics wrong by ousting his older brother and Death Row Artist Kurupt. Although Roscoe is still very young, after touring with Dogg Pound Gangstas and his older brother Kurupt, he gained a large amount knowledge about the music business and how to improve your “game.” I’ve been personally listening to Roscoe since he was 15 years old as I am a big fan of his aggressive Pharoah-Monch-like flow, and his dope voice, but being born in Philadelphia and living in Los Angeles for most of his live puts a big burden on him to succeed on the west and the eastcoast. Roscoe is out to prove he is worth the hype, but only time will tell whether Roscoe will live up to the hype and deliver one of the best debut’s that anyone can enjoy….
1) 5 Seconds (prod. by Fingazz)
One of the oldest tracks that Roscoe has made. I first heard this in June 2002 and I was immediatly shocked. This is an unbelivable track ! The beat is somewhat similair to "Say What You Say" by Eminem (produced by Dr Dre) because of the sharp decrease in tone, either way Roscoe shocks everyone....the fans, critics, haters .....ALL....this is a super dope beat and record because he has an agressive style and looks majorly dope on it. This style of into by shocking the audiences is similair to Joe Budden's #1 because, both dont have actual hooks but have up tempo tracks that anyone can rock...this track remains in my top 5 songs of all time - 5/5
2) Head To Toe f/ Sleepy Brown (prod. by Organized Noize)
A dope beat with a nice "westcoast" club bounce to it. The only problem with this 1st single is that it will not be popular in the eastcoast clubs because it does not have ENOUGH (yes!) bounce to it....the video is dope with cameos by Kurupt and Young Assasins. Sleepy Brown does a perfect job on the hook, he uses his nice laidback style on a quick, westcoast bounce which sounds dope - 4.75/5
3) It's That Time Again f/ LaToiya Williams (prod. by Soopafly)
The song starts out by LaToiya humming (slow start)....to be honest, I thought it would be a weaker track, but the fact is that she sounds nice on this because she uses her nice siren-like vocals and adjust them to this quick, dope beat. Roscoe lays a couple of dope verses while behind the boards, Soopafly adds some westcoast summer effects that improve the beats dramatically....dope record, it can be a huge hit because its very jumpy, but it needs the promotion and the right video - 4.5/5
4) Get Ready (prod. by Caspa)
Many of you first have seen / heard Roscoe after this video, because it was the first single for "Friday After Next" OST. A dope, creative beat with a dope video. Kokane (Mr. Kane) lays a dope hook as he is right on the beat and he uses his quirky voice to add positivley to the track. Roscoe sounds similair to Kurupt but regardless, he has dope verses on this.....but when you have this track in 192 Kb, this is a super dope joint as the faint instruments are heard - 5/5
5) Smooth Sailin' (prod. by Def Jeff N Soul G)
A different type of beat, but it matches the name perfectly...."Smooth..." Roscoe has a different type of approach on this track as he lays down very laid back verses on this (I prefer the aggressive Roscoe) and he lets the beautiful sample handle the chorus. The unknown Def Jeff N Soul G proves their worth by this beautiful track.....to many a perfect song. This was supposed to be the 2nd single, but the video was cancelled....but this track will still be enjoyed - 4.75/5
6) Trouble (prod. by J Wells)
After making the J Wells mixtape, Westcoast producer laces a super sick beat on this....this is a dope, dope, dope club joint, and this could be a huge club hit, but it needs the promotion / video. The beat for the song is super addictive, the only problem with this is that Roscoe falls off several times in terms of flow and has to catch up (2nd verse) and them in the 3rd verse, his flow is terrible. The hook is made by some girl, but she has very nice vocals that compliment the song.... - 4.5/5
7) Shakedown (prod. by L.T. Hutton)
In the first couple of seconds, the song starts slow, but then immediatly increases the speed, the chimes on this track are Arabian-influenced (yet another..!) If you don't know who L.T. Hutton is....then thats really quite sad. He is works with Snoop Dogg and alot of Southern LA Cats as well as he works with So So Def and he is a close friend of Mariah Carey's. Back to the track, the hook is repetitive, which is good because it emphasized the stripper-like-anthem that it is. Roscoe's flow is unbeliebavle on this as he is aggresive and his delivery makes the song only better.... - 4.5/5
8) Get Flipped (prod. by DJ Quik)
The song starts out a very grimy, dark beat and dosent sound Quik-like at all, but then at the 20 second mark, The high-tone keyboard (signature move by Quik) is added....but after one minute the track gets repetitive and Roscoe's verses on this isn't special and Im really dissapointed because the Roscoe / Quik beat was highly hyped....Roscoe's flow and delivery are quite weak and this is not a remarakeble beat by Quik...still a decent track though - 3.5/5
9) Last Night f/ LaChrisha (prod. by The Costars)
A Dope beat on this track....a funky, "random" type of beat that connects itself...either way Roscoe's has amazing delivery where he rhymes, slows down (which makes the listener pay attention) and then he speeds up. LaChrisha does the hook and several times sings in the middle of Roscoe's verses...a nice song and LaChrisha does a very very nice job on the hook... - 4.5/5
10) Young Roscoe (prod. by The Costars)
This is a type of track that can be used as an intro because he describes himself, and his character...a nice, dope Night-Arabian-influenced beat. Roscoe has nice verses, but Im not entireley feeling this track compared to others because it has a different feel to it but you still can vibe to it. The hook is nice, but the song gets somewhat-annyoing after a while - 3.75/5
11) What I Look Like f/ Young Assassins (prod. by Organized Noize)
A fast paced type of beat, where a sample vocal is mixed many of times for the beat. Im not entirley feeling this move by Organized Noize to use this sample, but you still can make a dope video / anthem of the song. The flow of Roscoe reminds me of his older brother Kurupt but either way its still dope - 4/5
12) Get Low (prod. by J Wells)
A nice moody beat that is laid back. I don't like how the track starts off with the hook, either way the hook is an anomily because the hook seems southern-influenced. There are varied opinions of this track, but the track is differnt from the rest of the album. - 4/5
13) I Call Shotz Pt. II (prod. by Organized Noize) – Bonus
Finally a collaboration with Kurupt, and it is definitely up to the expectations. A dope, "sped up" beat that is fast-paced but still nice regardless. This is a different type of track because its not bouncy but straight dope where as the rest of the album is jumpy...Roscoe and Kurupt drop nice vocals and Roscoe laces a nice hook...Kurupt then steps up and lays a nice vers, nothing wack, but nothign unspectatular, but its better then "fucc a b1tch"....a nice ending to a dope beat - 4.5/5
Although this is a small album because it only has 13 tracks, Roscoe laces straight heat on this and its not a dissapointment at all, and similairly to Freeway's "Philadelphia Freeway" it exceeded expectations....I like Roscoe's aggresive style but he shows his laid back style on "Smooth Sailin". One of the few flaws with the album, is not enough tracks....he could of added dope tracks like the repetitive, but nice "Everyday" or the dope, club-like "G Fide" or the heartfelt track "The Brother" (although its a beautiful track - 5/5, it does not fit in with the rest of the album). Either way, this album sold very poorly (less then 100, 000 Units) because the first single "Head to Toe" didn't do very well on the eastcoast and it didn't have the expected vibe in the clubs, and the other problem was the delays....the album was delayed 5-6 times from September 2002 all the way to June 2003 and not many people knew the release date, because the advertisements in the Source and XXL were late compared to the delays. So the promotion, managment, and distribution really screwed Roscoe, the independedent route would be much better for him....Please support Roscoe in any way, whether copping the album or signing up as an active member at YoungAssasins.com....Thank You.... -Vigilante / rm_777
Album - 4.5/5
Lyrics - 4.25/5
Beats - 4.75/5
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over-rated. its an average album.
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overrated some of the tracks...i called shots...3/5....shakedown...3/5(they repeat to much in the end)...nice album...but the tracks sound too similar to one another and at times you cant tell which one is even playing...nice but nothing great..4/5
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yeah overrated, I give it a 3.5 outta 5.. ;D
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I like it. He should have keept some of his tracks that were on the advance on this album.
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damn i thought this album was dope
ok let me put it this way
Philaphornia vs. Space Boogy ;D
i say philaphornia ;D
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damn i thought this album was dope
ok let me put it this way
Philaphornia vs. Space Boogy ;D
i say philaphornia ;D
word
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over-rated. its an average album.
My thoughts exactly. I've barely ever played it the whole way through since buying it.
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average album i was dissapointed with it
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Im overating it ......but im an amazing reviewer.....so why am i overating??
cause he proved everybody he was tight as hell and every track is extremely exciting
its in my top 5 OAT
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Nice review. I'd give it a 3.75/5. 5 seconds and Get ready are my favorite tracks.
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its in my top 5 OAT
Seriously? All due respect if so, 'cause everyone has their opinion, but Roscoe's album is genuinely in your top five albums of all time?
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roscoe aint the best rapper alive but this album aint that bad.
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its in my top 5 OAT
Seriously? All due respect if so, 'cause everyone has their opinion, but Roscoe's album is genuinely in your top five albums of all time?
Yep....He is my 2nd Fav rapper and I find this album EXTREMELY BANGING, there is sh1t like club songs and westcoast laid back tracks.....I have over 500 Cd's also.....Everything from Classical to RnB to Mac Dre so I listen to alot
this is just very exciting and dope
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Ur right...
I overated alot of tracks
reason why people kept saying "this is dope" n for some fuking reasom i thought they would say garbage review if i didnt bs.....it backfired on me
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average album i was dissapointed with it