LEELA JAMES - LONG TIME COMING - WARNER
A mid tempo rap with very good keyboard & horn tracks. Rap is  good & the vocalist has deep raspy tones of a Millie Jackson or Janis Joplin. Could use a remix to pep up the energy level the vocalist exhibits. GOOD TIME - Borrowing the music from the Gwen Guthrie club classic "Funky Sensation" this rap retains that energy. Rap blends very well in the arrangement. Gives jocks some options and Leela some exposure. Has very good special effects that are more prominent in the instrumental dub mix.

DANIEL BIJAN - THIS IS HOW WE PARTY - SYNTHTIC
A good independent rap tune with a very nice synthesizer rhythm track. Rap is performed well and lyrics are simple and to the point. Extended remix is best mix.

FAM-LAY - FRESH 'N'  DRIVING - DEF JAM
A cool rap tune that has very good rhythm tracks & a nice hook. Rap performed well. A creative arrangement & production.  GIT BUSY - A much livelier rap tune whose music is more energetic. This one will probably have more appeal to rap fans. Both have radio versions. Request them.

YOUNG JEEZY - OVER HERE - DEF JAM
A hot rap tune with that "dirty south' flava all up in it. Rap done well Arrangement has a bit of Jay-Z & Ludacris in it. As the jacket label says , "Straight Out The ATL". No problem for rap fans. Request for radio. DJ's add to your program.

YUNG WUN - I TRIED TO TELL YA - J
A rap with gangsta style influences and lots of energy in its production. Energy not always heard in this type of rap. The arrangement is heavy with synthesizer tracks. Rap is very good. Will be enjoyed by both types of rap fans. It's got several mixes for jocks to choose from and a clean version for radio.

SHADOW SKILLZ - SUMMER TIME - NATIVE SHADOW
A mid tempo rap tune with a smooth laid back, lazy summer feel. Nice female back up vocals. Shadow Skillz sounds a bit like Q-Tip. The production although a rap has a r 'n' b feel to it. TEXAS OUTLAW - A down tempo rap with some of the tracks having a western tone to them. Both of these cuts show Shadow Skillz has a lot of creativity. Request for radio. Program for clubs.

CHINGO BLING - 1) WALK LIKE CLETO  2) WACA WACA WACA  3) AMERICAN PIE  4) SWANG ON DEEZ NUTZ  -  BIG CHILE
Highly energetic Latino / American rap tunes whose music and lyrics are quite creative. I  don't know what a "Cleto" walks like, but would like to see the video on it. Overall these 4 rap tunes have incorporated all the more popular rap hooks to their arrangements. But the singing and the lyrics on "Swang On Deez Nutz" are a little harsh. Not a bright point. The scratchin' special effects in their attempt to get some of that "American Pie".

FLAMINGO GLA'CE - MONSTER BALL - LO END
A mid tempo rap tune whose music tracks are quite lively. Very nice horn sections. Lyrics are good and performed well.

BEASTIE BOYS - JUST BLAZE - CAPITOL
They're baack!!!  After being dormant for some years they've returned with a highly charged rap with rock influences as the title says. Rap is done well. Music production and arrangement are very good. Hopefully this will have crossover appeal with both rock & rap fans.

MOBB DEEP - THROW YOUR HANDS ( IN THE AIR ) - JIVE
A mid tempo rap tune with some nice hooks. They have combined their talent with the famous, creative and quite popular Kanye West. An excellent string arrangement. Their performance and Kanye's influence give it a great opportunity to enormous commercial success. Request it. Play it.

LADY SAW - MAN IS THE LEAST ( EP) - VP
Lady Saw's never disappointing reggae / rap style is in full effect on this EP. "Man Is The Least" uses Cham's hit "Vitamin S" for her music tracks and it adds a whole new twist to it. DO ME BETTER - is equally as hot. Contains those elements in the arrangement that not only hook ya, but make you wanna" wine that waist". BEEN SO LONG and I'VE GOT YOUR MAN - These two mid tempo cuts with that classic old shcool reggae sound. The rap & lyrics are the stars of these two. Overall this is a quality must have EP. Request for radio &program for clubs.

KEVIN LYTTLE  - TURN ME ON  - ATLANTIC
There has always been a trend try to turn r 'n' b, jazz, ballads and reggae into commercially successful & popular house tunes. Recently there has been an influx of such music morphed into house mixes. A lot of times the transition of such efforts come out sounding like music & lyrics were simply speeded up without any thoughts of what "house " music really sounds. Not only is house music a higher speed, it also contains lots of hooks, gimmicks, special effects & breaks geared toward "The House Head". Thankfully at Atlantic, there was a house head at the helm of this remix and production. It contains all the "bells & whistles" a house head requires to make them "pop". And with several different mixes even "The Head" has choices. Finally "heads "  are getting more domestic choices they call appreciate and afford. Next is to take a gamble  with an original tune such as their previous released Kings Of Tomorrow's "Finally" a couple of years ago. The "heads" have been long neglected in this area. A job well done.

BRANDY  -  TALK ABOUT OUR LOVE  - ATLANTIC
Brandy's hit tune is another prime example of a hot hit turned house production. The folks at Atlantic have done well in hiring remixers that know what house should sound like & what the "house head" wants to hear & dance to. On both of these remixes picking favorites is a matter of preference, a matter of mood. Excellent.

REGGAE GOLD 2004 ( EP )  - VP

This "Riddim Driven" EP is just that. A super hot reggae tunes. Music is fantastic. Incorporates old school reggae style with the new. Loved the steel drum tracks on Mamacita that are more prominent on the instrumental. DARLIN' & A LITTLE CLOSER  are jammin'. A great production.