Reviews Written by Gabriel
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October 17, 2006
Banks' Rotten Apple Proves He Was Hungry For More
1 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Amazing Lyrics, Great amount of Tracks, Working with people outside the G-Unit Camp, Hot Beats
Cons: Although there are hot beats, the production seems all blended in one direction, and the beats don't branch off to make each cut REAL different
Two years have passed since we first heard the money being counted on the introduction to The Hunger For More. Banks had proved he was a lyrical force, and just because he was the protege of 50 Cent, didn't mean he couldn't deliver hits. He proved to us that G-Unit, indavidually, has talent, and that he was lyrically better than 50 himself.
Now it's 2006, and Banks puts out his sophomore album Rotten Apple. After hearing the last two G-Unit albums, Thoughts of a Predicate Felon by Tony Yayo, and Blood Money by Mobb Deep, I was thinking that G-Unit was heading to it's demise. But then came this album, and Banks just did it again. He brought the rise of G-Unit and hopes for more coming hits from Young Buck and other G-Unit members.
Rotten Apple delivers Lloyd's lyrical abilities and world famous punchlines, and all of the components you found in the Hunger For More. It even expands due to the fact he works with some members outside of G-Unit as well, so we have a good mix of guest. Lyrically Banks can't be stopped, if he's in the track you know it's going to be fire. Production wise the album has hot beats, and beats that can make you go crazy. But the problem with production is that although they are hot beats, they are all similar in a way. When you heard the Hunger For More, the beats were all hot, but each beat had something that made it different from the other. All the beats here are hot, buch each has a style that moves in the same lane. Otherwise, the album is hot and definitley a suprising good sophomore release. Here is a lay down on each track:
Track 1: Rotten Apple, Feat. 50 Cent and Prodigy -The intro to the album you have been waiting for, yet the intro didn't really impress me. The beat was hot and Banks' verse was hot, the hook by 50 and verse were cool, Prodigy's verse was OK. It made me think "Oh please don't let this be another G-Unit dud". The track will eventually grow on you however and you can learn to live with it, but doesn;t give a great first impression like "Ain't No Click" did.
Track 2: Survival - Definitley had me way happier, and is probably one of the hottest songs in the entire album. The beat is insane, the hook is just hot, the punchlines and story tellin keep coming. Definitley a blazing track that stands out.
Track 3: Playboy Part II - Banks seems to make sequals to his own songs (such as Warrior Part 2), and I'm not really agaisnt it at all. This one sounds very similar to the first, with an almost similar beat and the crowd right with him. Definitley something you can bump too.
Track 4: The Cake Feat. 50 Cent - Hot, Hot, Hot, most people have heard it already through the mixtape circuit. Hot beats and verses by both Banks and 50, just goes to show that Banks loves his doe (I'm slick with rhymes to don't get it twisted, just kidding)
Track 5: Make A Move - A hot club track with a hot flow, beat, and lyrics. Reminds me sort of "On Fire" if you think about it. This is something you can bump in the club and he still keeps it G'd up with his witty punch lines. Sort of a gangsta/club track. This one also stands out the album.
Track 6: Hands Up Feat. 50 Cent - Another hot club track after another. Already has a video out and most people have heard it. Produced by lyrical genius Eminem. Something to just bump and have fun with, with lots of punchlines. Most have heard it. Different beat from the previous tracks, due to the Eminem production.
Track 7: Help Feat. Keri Washington - Similar to the track "Karma". Keri does an amazing hook and Banks just does one for the ladies. Shows that a G got a soft side too, if you like Karma then you will probably like this one too. Beat is hot as well, but blended with th others just with a female touch.
Track 8: Addicted - This is a hot track that just shows off his skills and shows his addiction to music and his spot in the ... -
October 7, 2006
Make Way For The Bad Guy!
3 of 3 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Everything
Cons: Nothing
In an era where Scarface is held as a classic film, we never thought it would be transformed into a video game. Scarface: The World Is Yours captures the essence of the film, even if it doesn't follow the same story line.
The game begins at the end of the film, Tony losing everything, and I mean everything. After the first mission is complete you lose around $65,000,000 and the police have custody of your mansion. You have to work your way back to the top, to rebuild your cocaine empire, and place your revenge on Sosa.
Running and re-building a cocaine empire is no easy task. You have to maintain shipments, maintain money laundering, take over territories, make sure other rival gangs don't take your territory, sell drugs to the local dealers, collect your income, and overall stay alive while you do it.
I haven't had this much playing a video game since the last GTA release of San Andreas. This game, which I was highly suprised about, has the same level to be compared to a Grand Theft Auto, it's just as big, just as difficult, and just as fun.
The game is beautifully done, with the feeling of Miami back in the 1980's brought in perfectly. Although Tony isn't voiced by Al Pacine, you seriously can't tell the difference. Their are many vehicles, guns, items, businesses, and missions to keep you playing for hours. The graphics are done very well along with the sound and capturing parts of the film. The game is so easy to control, and the vehicles run like a charm. Aiming is perfect, which adds much more smooth gameplay and fun. The game also has lots and lots of music. Everything from music from that era, to the entire Scarface sound track, even Reggaeton artists Wisen Y Yandel. Rappers such as D-12, Pit Bull, and also G-Unit's DJ Whoo Kid.
With plenty of drugs, money, sexuality, cars, and lots and lots of violence, this game will surely impress Scarface fans world wide. Running an empire is no easy task and this game proves it. To answer the question most gaming sites have asked, this is definitley worth your hard earned drug money. Definitley a must buy for all Grand Theft Auto fans and all Scarface fans. ... -
August 28, 2006
Oh Man, Memories and Good Times With This One...
Pros: Everything
Cons: N/A
(Ratings based on the technology they had when they made this)
This game is probably the best game for the N64, this was just a classic. This is still one of my favorite games, but I have played it so much it is just a breeze to beat now, but still if you have N64 and you don't have Goldeneye something is wrong with you (just joking). But it's still so good, with a variety of weapons and the multi player. This was the hype of it's time, and i still got love for it! Definitley a must own for the N64! ... -
August 28, 2006
MUST BUY!
Pros: Everything
Cons: N/A
Vice City, selling millions world wide is probably one of the best games you can have for the Ps2 console. I won't get into much detail about it, because it's the same thing as the other ones. Just a new city, new capabilities, and a whole lot of fun. Definitley a must have, one of the greatest games ever. ...
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August 6, 2006
One of the Best Rap Albums Of The New Millennium
Pros: EVERY THING
Cons: NOTHING
Released in an era, where most of hip-hop was turning into "I got Money, I got Rims, I got Bling" 50 came out with one of the biggest albums in rap history. Love him or hate him, you can't deny Get Rich Or Die Tryin' made one of the biggest hip-hop buzzes the genre had ever seen. With production by rap superstars Eminem and Dr.Dre, the beats were in demand in the underground, and with careful lyrical content it impressed everyone from an industry critic to an underground rapper. With track after track, bringing you a perfect blend of lyricism and production, Get Rich is definitley a must own. Selling over 11 million copies world wide, outdoing what most rappers who had been in the game for years, it still is a highly regarded album. Starting with an simple Introduction track that 11 million people have heard world-wide and can identify, it still is an amazing album that a hip-hop fan can treasure. While some label it a commercial album, it still has creative aspects to it making it almsot untouchable. If your a fan of rap and Shady/AfterMath, this album will be sure to impress you. Definitley a MUST OWN album. ...
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August 6, 2006
I Trust The Zen Touch More Than An Apple Ipod
4 of 4 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Amazing Price, Holds 10,000 songs (No one is filling over 10,000 I don't see the point in 60 GB with no video), Great Organazation, Great Sound Quality, Great battery life, better than an Ipod
Cons: VERY RARE occasions it freezes and you need to hit the small reset button (your songs are still on it nothing changes), the touch pad is hard to get used to but easy to get used to
When I went to the store to purchase a large storage MP3, I was thinking Ipod. Then before entering the store I rememebred all my friends with Ipods, and most of them complaining about the battery, the warranty, and value. Then when I was in the store I saw a sign "WE DO NOT TAKE BACK IPODS AFTER THEY ARE PURCHASED. NO RETURNS". So I knew Ipods already had a cheap value. The Zen Touch to me is everything I really needed. All i wanted was a MP3 with a large amount of space and easy organization, and that's what I received. With 20 GB, the user is allowed to have around 10,000 songs, if you want more pleasue re-think that. I'm a huge music lover, I rap, and im addicted to music, I have 600 songs which is barely a dent, and when I first had it I didn't listen to the songs completley, I just heard pieces, but now I have learned to chill and listen to them as a whole. There is absolutley no point in a 60 GB MP3 player. Even the Ipod Video isn't that great. Yes it's really cool, but they always come out with something better. For now this will do, because I know Apple has had the technology for a Internet based Ipod with video and music, I mean Sony has the PSP. I'm not suprised Apple will come out with a new a "new and improved Ipod" with internet someday. This did just fine. I downloaded all my CD's (which was A LOT), and now I have them esily stored in the Zen Touch. I do recommend it if you want to keep is simple and plain, if you want more than look for something else. I listen to my Zen everyday and I have had it for a year now and its still in great shape. This gives you a great price, great quality, and great music! Highly recommended. ...
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August 5, 2006
A Pure Hip-Hop Classic, Nas Is A Lyrical Genius
Pros: Everything
Cons: None
Today, in an era where lyrical content and thought doesn't seem to matter in hip-hop, fans can still look back and listen to It Was Written, another classic album delivered by Nas. This definitley passed my expectations. As an MC, this was an album I had to listen to, and I learned a lot from it, because of the amazing lyrical skills. At the time when this album came out, some judged the album and considered it a sophmore jinx, but today we all know it was another classic. The best track on the album is "I Gave You Power" where he vividly describes himself as a gun through a metaphoric relationship. Nas was and continues to be a lyrical genius, and this is what hip-hop needs to be. We need our 2pacalypse, our Reasonable Doubts, our Ready 2 Die, and our Illmatics, but what hip-hop also needs is It Was Written. I highly recommend this album to true lovers of hip-hop, and those who understand and appreciate the power of hip-hop, because today all we have is garbage like Dem Franchize Boyz, Jermaine Dupri, and other people who dont appreciate lyrical content and beats as a whole working together. I'm glad we have people like Nas, Jay-Z, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Rakim, KRS-One, and other intellectuals who care about lyrical content within the music, which keep hip-hop advancing forward. Nas - It Was Written is definitley a classic, and if your going to be an MC, you need to listen to this album. Definitley recommended. ...
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Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2Price: $5.99 to $19.99 Compare PricesAugust 4, 2006
GTA Continues A Gaming Legacy (IN DEPTH REVIEW)
Pros: Everything
Cons: The fact it was made for PSP (harder to control), makes the game simple on the PS2 console
The gaming community can't deny the fact that the Grand Theft Auto series is probably the most successful series to date. GTA: III, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas all were amazing games, with each game taking a huge step forward. Now we reach GTA: Liberty City Stories for the PS2 (originally for PSP). The story follows Tony Cipriani (one of the lead Mafia bosses in GTA III) struggling to obtain power in Liberty City and to make a name for himself in the family. While both the PSP and Ps2 versions are the same, I think you would still need to write two different reviews. I have played it for both the hand held and the console, and with the hand held it is definitley much more difficult to play and move around, making the game much more difficult as a whole. Some people are saying this one is a step back, but it continues to be on the same level. Since you have a PS2 controller in your hand, this game will definitley be quicker and much easier to you. Some features like swimming, and airplanes are taken away, why you ask...because it would make the game much easier than it already is. In the PSP version they give you other fun features like downloading your own music into the game so you can listen to what you want, well people this version is for the PS2 and some features had to be taken away, because the game would have been way too easy. I made it through the last mission and beat the final boss (won't give anything away for those who haven't played) with a rocket launcher because I had a large amount of ammo for it. They give you so much because in the PSP version it is very difficult to aim and move around. It's much tougher on the PSP version. However, I'm not saying that the PS2 version isn't fun. I had a great time playing this game and got addicted very quickly, and it was fun being back in Liberty City, seeing old and new sights. What your left with is another addicting GTA game in the series. The missions, some are the same, some are new and creative. Rockstar knows what they are doing when they put out a GTA game, and every feature given or taken is there for a specific reason. We had so many features in San Andreas due to the fact it was a huge world. We needed to swim, we needed to fly, it was a huge land scape, here its smaller, so some features are taken away. The PS2 version still gave me a fun time playing, and I'm still keeping the game after I'm done with it. New music, new stations, some new rides, new missions, new story, same city, new sections of this city, still all makes for a fun and addicting game that will have you playing for hours. If someone asked me to keep or remove this installment I would say keep it, because Rockstar knows what they are doing. I definitley recommend this game to any GTA fan, because you are going to like it. Yes it will seem a little simple, but its still a long, fun, and addicting game. If your complaining about not enough features, then go out and buy a PSP and a copy of this game for the PSP, but I'm not spending over $300.00, when I got the PS2 version for $20.00 (An amazing price) and had just as much fun! Definitley recommended to all those who are into GTA, go pick it up. ...
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August 4, 2006
Better Let Buck In, He's Coming Through Blasting!
Pros: Everything
Cons: None (but I would like to see how it would be if Eminem and Buck collaberated, interesting thought)
GGGGG G-Unit came and put it down with this album. This album is definitley hot, and shows what G-Unit is all about. This was when G-Unit had good quality in their music, but the last months we have been seeing a decline. This album definitley surpassed my expectations and really had me bumping it for a LONG time. Tracks like "Let Me In", "Shorty Wanna Ride" let you have a good time. Tracks like "Black Gloves", "Prices On My Head", and "Taking Hits" tell you not to mess with Buck and his lyrical skills. Other songs like "Bonafide Hustler" "Thou Shall" are real laid back beats, but at the same time very energetic. If you like G-Unit you definitley need to pick this album up, its worth every penny. You can go through the whole album, each song is very different and just pplain hot. Young Buck is distinguished because you got a Southern rapper, who takes time and patience with his lyrics. Some Southern rappers just really don't seem to put in an effort and just let the beat do the work, but not Buck. Can't wait for his sophmore album "Buck The World". GET EM' BUCK! ...
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We Need Someone To Help G-Unit...GET EM' BUCK!!!!!
1 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: Everything
Cons: None
We all know that G-Unit sales have been a little depressing. Not saying they are bad, due to the fact not many rap artist can sell 500,000 like Mobb Deep (even though their album was horrible). Some contributing factors are the internet, the internet, and umm the internet. My reviews on here have been contradictive. I thought Rotten Apple was great compared to two depressing albums (Yayo and the Mobb), so it got full stars, but compared to Young Buck's new release I would have to give it a 4 stars or 3 1/2 (and Yayo and Mobb Deep's efforts even lower). If you notice however their is a small trend, G-Unit is actually stepping up.
The G-Unit torch has now been passed to Young Buck. Banks dented the metal door that was holding G-Unit back, and Buck just knocks it down. This album is literally as good or better than Straight Outta Cashville. The thing is this album actually lived up to the hype it was given. What made it live up to the hype is that Young Buck as an artist is willing to try new things. Of course this album talks about money, sex, drugs, guns, and violence, but Buck tries to take a new spin on it which works well. Songs I would never in my life expected were well done such as "Slow Ya Roll" featuring Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington...yes Linkin Park on a hard core Dirty South rap album, which was an amazing collaboration. Also "Losing My Mind" produced by Eminem (a collaboration I have always wanted) was an amazing track. Young Buck SCREAMS at the top of his lungs and during one line gives the expensive industry microphone some static. "Clean Up Man" even has Buck discussing the G-Unit flops and how he is cleaning up the mess people are talking about G-Unit, and maybe from my point of view clean up the mess G-Unit has made themselves. The intro track "Push Em' Back" will definitley let you know that you as the consumer have made a good choice because that track bumps HARD. He also has amazing collaborations with artist such as Linkin Park, 50 Cent, 8 Ball & MJG, T.I., Pimp C, Young Jeezey, Snoop Dogg, Trick Daddy, Ky-Mani Marley, LaToiya Williams, Kokane, and Jazze Pha. Production is seen from Dr. Dre, Jazze Pha, Hi-Tek, Polow Da Don, Lil Jon, Eminem, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, DJ Toomp, Vitamin D and many others.
Lyrically amazing compared to the mainstream garbage releasing. Production is fire, and you couldn't ask for a better sophomore release.This is a highly recommended purchase to all Dirty South fans, G-Unit fans, and Shady/Aftermath fans. Buck is back with a shot that can be heard world wide, and can make you proud to yell: GGGGGGG G-UNIT!!!!!!!
If you are still confused with this G-Unit release here are some of the songs you might want to check out to see if you will like it, these were fire:
1) Push Em' Back
2) Lose My Mind (includes the infamous Camron diss by 50 Cent called "Funeral Music" after the track is finished as a Hidden Track)
3) 4 Kings
4) Slow Ya Roll
5) Buss Yo' Head
6) Buck The World
7) Clean Up Man
8) Say It To My Face
9) Hold Up
10) Haters
This just about over half the album, and I really wanted to add others but narrowed it to the Top Ten. Don't let "I Know You Want Me" fool you. It was actually the "worst" song on the album (and I still found it to be pretty cool). Just goes to show how good this album is. ...