Tha Alkaholiks - Firewater | Review By: Shaun


Release Date : January 24th 2006

Label : Waxploitation

Rating: 3/5

Note: There were tracks missing from the advance copy, including “Do It,” “Get Into It” and “On Tha Floor.” Hence, the final rating is based only on the other 11 tracks.


January 24, 2006 marks the release date for Tha Liks fifth – and supposedly final – album “Firewater.” The group’s split appears amicable and the three do plan on working together on their future solo projects. Tash sets the record straight on the track “Party Ya A-- Off:”

“I know ya’ll heard the rumors ‘bout the alkies grand finale
How J-Ro, Shy-Swift and Tash moved out of Cali
Half that s--- is true, half that s--- is true lies
It’ll be a cold day in hell before the Likwit Crew divides
All I can say is save some space for me
(We the best that’s ever been) and bow out gracefully
We three different solo careers about to blast off
But right about now we ‘bout to party ya a-- off”

As usual, Tash leads the way lyrically. J-Ro’s never been weak, but I’m still waiting for him to come up with something to the level of what he spit on “The Next Level,” a truly classic verse:

“You’s a n---- everybody diss ‘cause you can't bust this
You got a bad name like Dick Butki(u)s
Welcome to the next level, of rhyme flowin’, scratchin’, hookin’ up beats and ho catchin’ Every time I come home I got 50 messages
I only call back the girls with big, big breastesses
Ooh, I got biddies, in all the major cities
The safest way to have sex is right between her t------”

The beats and lyrics are pretty much what we’ve come to expect from this Los Angeles based trio. Tha Liks don’t hide from who they are and they’ve never strayed far from the likwit formula: alcohol fueled rhymes and great one liners, plenty of bass and mixing with a little guitar mixed in here and there. This album’s biggest problem may be the lackluster hooks that appear on a few of the tracks.

Another problem this album suffers from is the lack of star power guest appearances that we’re used to seeing. Tash’s solo, “Rap Life,” had an incredible lineup of guest appearances and Tha Liks have done some great songs with other artists in the past. You won’t find any songs with artists like ODB, Raekwon, Big Boi, Xzibit, Bustah Rhymes, or Kurupt. That’s not a slight to King T, Bishop Lamont or Stylistik Jones. In fact, the songs they appear on are two of the best tracks on the album. King T flows on “Over Here,” a song that samples an old Beastie Boys track. A B-Boys/Liks collaboration would have been truly intriguing. That could have been the ultimate party song of all time, and certainly worthy of Tha Liks last go around.

This may be Tha Liks last album, which is definitely a sad thing. But, if the trio’s future solo projects are of the same quality as Tash’s “Rap Life,” there’s still a lot to look forward to. “Rap Life” came out in late 1999 and was one of the best albums of that ‘99-‘00 time period. I’m expecting more of the same in the future from all three members.



 

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