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KURUPT PRESENTS
- Tsunami (Volume 1) |
Review By:
Monotone
Release Date : October 2005
Rating: 3/5
We all know Kurupt Young Gotti as the head lyricist of the critically
acclaimed group Tha Dogg Pound, but now the former Death Row Records VP steps
out of the spotlight to share some shine with the new talent he aims to
introduce to the masses with Tsunami Vol.1.
Accompanied by fellow DPG heavy hitter Daz Dillinger, brother Roscoe, Sun, S
Bugg, Petey Pablo, Zoo Babies & The Riflemen, Kurupt returns with 13 tracks
albeit only appearing on 9. When I first looked at the track listing, I was
far from impressed. 13 tracks & 1 skit, 5 of which I had already heard from
various mixtapes/albums over the last year, but there is one major flaw that a
lot of Dogg Pound fans will be upset about, the track titled "Ride 2 The
Fullest" is not a new DPG track but instead "Push Bacc" renamed, that appeared
on "Dillinger & Young Gotti II - The Saga Continues".
Despite having so many old tracks on the mixtape, Kurupt quickly redeems
himself over a smooth beat featuring Sun & S Bugg titled "Street Life". This
track brings flashbacks of the '95 Kurupt that fans have been waiting to hear
again;
"I was a young muthaf-cka/ hittin n-ggas up like where you from muthaf-cka/
lookin at these n-ggas through my muthaf-ckin rear view/ hood with a clear
view/ the greatest mc to be this close near you."
Although Kurupt sets the bar quite high with this verse he doesn't seem to be
able to keep up with the pace and finds himself dropping mediocre verses
throughout with the exception perhaps of "Ride 2 Tha Fullest." With that said,
don’t let that put you off this CD as verses from 40 Glocc, Jayo Felony &
Roscoe more than make up for the lack lustre verses from Kurupt, in particular
the freestyle over an Alchemist beat brings the best out of younger brother
Roscoe who once again shows why he should have a bright future ahead of him.
To my surprise was the inclusion of the 40 Glocc track "I Aint Scared", a
track which sparked controversy though the coast when it was first put out due
it being perceived as a supposed Game diss; "N-gga with an attitude?
Where's his attitude?/ The n-ggas in Compton should be mad at you," I'll
let you be the judge.
One name that may stand out from the line up is southern artist Petey Pablo,
while he may not have gained his fans off the back of his "lyrical ability"
and the thought of him being able to keep up with the likes of Mobb Deep &
Jayo Felony on the mic may be almost laughable to most, he will certainly turn
a few heads with his contribution on the track "Shame" featuring Jayo Felony &
40 Glocc. Granted this track will not blow you away but it is one of the most
enjoyable tracks and Petey recites the best chorus on the compilation.
"Its a god damn shame
Cant hang with the dudes that you used to hang with before you got famous
Its a god damn shame
When the whole hood shit on ya name in the hood where you were born and raised
Its a god damn shame
Cant let the money change me man to the point where I don't know myself
Its a god damn shame
This is why I aint sell, the records that I thought id sell
Its a god damn shame"
Kurupt fans purchasing this will find little joy in the fact that his one and
only solo track "Deep Dishes" is a previously released track which featured on
the 2005 album "Against Tha Grain," a viscous attack on the state of hip hop
and its current trends. While Tsunami Vol.1 has a good balance of street hits
and commercial sounding tracks, it contains too many fillers and there is
little or no replay value. In spite of host Kurupt's inconsistency, his new
line of artists stepped up to the plate and delivered. One cant help but think
the future looks bright for the new west.
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