------------Low Down, the Central Valley based rap group, is back once again with their fifth album. Known for their hard lyrics and rugged beats, Lowdown definitely fits into the gangsta rap category. But if you are expecting “Dirty Dozen” to resemble the sound of their past releases then you might be in for a shock, as this cd is very different sounding then their prior work. This is what ultimately holds the cd back from becoming something more than a good cd, as the rhymes are exceptionally good, but the beats don’t cut it.
___If you have heard some of the recent material released by Lowtown records, you may have noticed that a lot of their new stuff contains samples. “The Dirty Dozen” is no exception, as the trend continues. “Nine Shotz” has 9 different rappers on it and also contains a sample from an Ozzy Ozborn song (I am not sure of the name). Though this may sound like a horrible mixture, the final result is really tight with a fast flow lyrics and a cool guitar riff in the beat. Some may not feel this track since it is so different, but I think its one of the better tracks. “What About My Homiez” is another tight track that uses a sample (not sure from where) and has the Lowdown crew rapping about their sexual stories. I think the laid back style of this song is what makes it really work, as it isn’t as in your face as other songs.
___Only some songs enjoy the benefits of using samples. “Maryjane”, yet another
weed smoking track, suffers due to the fact that the beat just doesn’t measure up to other cuts. “Life or death” and “Executioner’s song” are just some other examples of samples gone wrong, as they just don’t fit in with Lowdown’s style. With most of the production handled by Never, it is surprising to hear some of the quality of some of the beats. Not to knock Never, as he is a great producer, but there are just to many samples and most of them are just so different they don’t work.
___There are a few songs that have that classic Lowdown feel to them so that the Lowdown crew still have more than enough left in them. “Once Upon a Murda” is a good song, with impressive lyrics from Never, Lil Wyno, NC the Necro, and Young Droop. Another good track is “North 2 Tha West”, with some tight lyrics and a decent beat. The only downside of this track is the opening verse by Hurrikaine J, which is somewhat lacking. “Hero’s bleed” and “Second 2 None” have some of the best beats on the cd. Not only do they have good beats, but NC the Necro has the opening verse on both of these tracks and he really tears it up. One of the newer members of Lowdown, NC the Nerco shows off his lyrical ability and he has great flow to go with it. I’m sure we will hear more from him soon. “Hero’s Bleed” also has a tight hook by Lil Wyno, who also rips this track up. “Live and Direct” ends the cd is another tight track, and features Stone Kold, Lil Wyno, and Big Wyno. Stone Kold is really impressive on this track, and if you didn’t know who was rapping, you would swear it was Young Droop (who happens to be his brother).
___“The Dirty Dozen” has its highs and lows. The production is one of the low points of this cd, which is surprising considering just how great it was on their last release “Valley of Death”. Also, at times with so many rappers on one track, there isn’t much of a chance for anyone to shine. Add in the fact that of the best rappers, Young Droop, is only on a few tracks. I must say I am a little disappointed by this one, as the beats aren’t up to grade. The rapping skills are good though, which is no surprise. In fact, Lil Wyno is on every track and does a really good job. He is probably one of best rappers of the group so it is more than justified that he is on all the tracks. Other rappers that shine are Never and NC the Nerco. But once again, it comes down to the beats, and they just aren’t all there on this one. Only if there were less samples and harder beats, this could have been a classic. As it stands, its a good cd that could have and should have been better.
Rating: 7.7/10
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bruce Wayne
