Redman - Malpractice

by Midas

I’m in no position to make an accurate review.  I have removed myself from the loop.  I haven’t listened to the radio for years, but this is different. I am officially in the middle of nowhere, otherwise known as the Midwest.  Culture just doesn’t get out here; they’re just now having people rock Echo.  But if there is one thing I know, it’s Redman.  Coming from the Dirty Jerz, it has always brought a smile to my face when he’s disrespected another MC and put Jersey on the map for all to see.  That’s why it’s probably been tough listening to this new album, Malpractice.  It’s dirty like Jersey, but more importantly, it’s exactly what he says it is: a roller coaster.

OK, let’s just get one thing straight.  No matter how much dap he’s getting or however many times Doc’s the Name went platinum, Redman is going to stay underground.  Remember, he dropped “How to roll a blunt” when Bow-Wow was in kindergarten.  He’s been doing it and will continue to, kinda like KRS, but that’s another story…

Point is, I look at this album like Dare Iz A Darkside.  It’s not the same thing for bandwagon jumpers that liked the video to I’ll Be That.  Back when Darkside dropped, everyone was still feeling Blow Ya Mind.  So the complete 180 directly south on the next album kinda shunned away the groupies.  Yes, the video for Let’s Get Dirty is catchy with the customary girl busting her
ass.  But the album stops right there, trying to be commercial.  In fact, I’m not even sure Let’s Get Dirty is a commercial track.  Then again, I wouldn’t know anymore…

Rockwilder produced Dirty and Whut I’ma Do Now.  Da Mascot did Dat B***h featuring Missy, an all right track until Missy gets on it, and Doggz II.  Redman shows the versatility on this track, slowing and speeding the flow to match the George Clinton sample.  Enjoy Da Ride featuring Method Man, Saukrates and Streetlife is a dark beat by Diverse, which matches the mood
of the album.  Both prodigies come off all right, with Street getting the better.  Meth is Meth, what can you say?

Nevertheless, this is a Redman album, so Erick Sermon did most of the production.  Real N****z featuring Scarface, Treach, Mally G and Icarus is just the right speed for all the vocalists, although each uses it to their advantage.  Not being a huge Scarface fan, he had a tough act to follow after the appearance on Dynasty.  I can’t say he lived up to the rep, but he didn’t disappoint, like Treach.  Mally G is Mally G, an average rapper with a cool voice.  But the light should be on Icarus.  Maybe he’s been out before, but for a debut for my tape deck, he did all right. “Ic is the man and I never been to Japan.  Got a Japanese chick with my dick in her hand.”  He follows up on Da Bulls**t, making me want to hear more, but not eager enough to anticipate his new album on Funk Diggy Doc Records.  Guess who’s in charge at that label…

Bricks Two shows me that Red has good tastes in MC’s, because those cats came off again.  I haven’t talked about Erick’s beats or Red’s lyrics because I feel I shouldn’t have to.  Neither one has digressed in skill.  Both are still towards the top of the game, but like I said before, I’m not
sure where that game is now…

I can see people having a problem with all the skits.  And to that, I say, you gotta lotta nerve.  Nah, that’s like a Redman tradition.  If he didn’t have the skits, it wouldn’t be a true f@ck Doc album.  Just to clarify, the chick is the hater in the whip.  The fastest finger answer goes: suck the
hype man’s dick, suck the whole crew’s dick, then suck just one dick.  Chris from the Bricks has been killing me for three albums, getting into snafus and the like and it was good to hear Uncle Quilly again.  I like the direction Soopaman Luva is going and, of course, will buy the next album to find out if he got his mojo back.

So what’s the final analysis?  I like the album, but that doesn’t mean you will.  I mean, shit, y’all people bumped Nelly and Trick Daddy and all that other shit not worth using for blank space.  I haven’t understood the direction hip-hop culture has been headed for years.  It looks to me like
there’s a great divide between the rap that I grew up with and this watered down MTV, video before the cassette crap that is pumped into unsuspecting ears today.  Then again, instead of searching for the next wave of true MC’s with skills and something to say, I have moved backwards to discover the roots of all this shit.  Maybe by re-discovering the past, I can understand the future of this musical genre we call hip-hop.  I can say one thing.  I know, whenever I return from my musical vacation, Redman will be waiting for me with the same dirty flows that make me stop the car and reconsider.  He’s doing his thing and won’t have to change to appease some broader audience.  He writes for the weed heads and true fans that have been there since day one.  Guess which one I am?

Buy Malpractice NOW!