A few weeks ago, we brought you the first news regarding the new digital release street album Monsters InK by Glasses Malone featuring his Blu Division artists – and now we have the first review of the album! Known for his conceptually themed mixtape/street albums, Glasses takes on a horror theme for this near Halloween release. Each song has some sort of horror tie-in whether it’s through the lyrics or the music. Don’t expect any “Monster Mash”/ Boris Karloff voices or corny horror gimmicks on this though. 

Now although Glasses and Blu Division are family, I am going to give an honest review. There are things that I absolutely loved a lot and a few things that I thought could be a better.  The one thing I will say though is that there are some break out performances! We all know that Glasses is a star on the rise but he’s got some artists under him that have shown me on this tape that they are on their way too if they keep on developing.

I am going to rate each track with the Styles rating system which is explained below:

VERY STRONG – This is the ultimate compliment that I can give. A VERY STRONG rating is something that I feel is an outstanding and superb performance. 

STRONG – This means that it’s a great song. This is the equivalent of receiving a B or a B+ on your report card. A great song is a wonderful achievement and nothing to be displeased about. Usually there is a slight improvement needed in order to make it a VERY STRONG song.

COOL – Cool is not as bad as it seems. It is like receiving a C, which is still a passing grade. It’s listenable and even enjoyable to a good extent. Obviously on COOL songs there are improvements that need to be made, but I can listen and hear the potential. 

EHHH – An EHHH song is something that while I wouldn’t pass off as wack, although I wouldn’t really be interested in hearing it again either.

WEAK – Why did you even bother making me listen to this shit?! 

So here we go!! Here’s Monsters InK review and rating from start to finish!

Glasses Malone Featuring Butch Cassidy – On Me 

RATING: VERY STRONG!!

The intro starts off with the always spooky “One Two, Freddy’s coming for you” borrowed from the Freddy Krueger movie, A Nightmare on Elm Street. What follows next is some straight West Coast heat! Some net critics accuse G. Malone of just flowing over Southern style beats but this beat here should silence all of that. Malone uses his Beach Cruiser flow nicely over some gangster funk while Butch Cassidy chimes in with a hook that will stay playing in your head. This is a very nice start to the CD and a VERY STRONG performance as well. The best overall song on the CD hands down. Memorable line: “Fuck Satan! Stop testing me faggot! I refuse to sell my soul like the rest of these rappers.” 

Quiz – He’s Alive

RATING: VERY STRONG!!

Remember how I mentioned in the opening paragraphs about break-out performances? Well, the Quiz that I have been waiting for has finally arrived. Although this track is probably the closest to horror gimmick as the CD gets with the “He’s Alive” Frankenstein references, it’s a superb and well put together song. Quiz flows smoothly and on point while delivering an outstanding chorus/hook as the beat borrows from the Tales from the Crypt theme. The music, lyrics and delivery are a perfect match. This song is the coming out of Quiz!!

Conflict - Fly

RATING: VERY STRONG!!

Another break-out performance! The flow and delivery goes perfectly with the music and this is a very well crafted song from the chorus down to the “la-la-la-la’s” at the end. The beat is absolutely amazing and it samples from the Candyman horror flick. It’s one of those beats that MC’s out there will wish they had the instrumental for as the music will stay inside of your head for days on end. Not much has been heard from Conflict since he got down with the Blu Division camp, but like Quiz, this song is his coming out. Whatever Glasses is teaching these young cats, they are definitely picking up on.

The Bloc Boys Feat. Kokane - Paranoid

RATING: STRONG

Not quite as strong as the first 3, but great indeed. It’s refreshing to see “true” groups on the West Coast because it’s mostly an individuals game. But The Bloc Boys are a true rap duo the same way that The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz are a true team in wrestling. The song reminds me of The Geto Boyz classic “My Minds Playing Tricks On Me” in a small way as the young duo rap about the paranoia’s and the fears of the streets. West Coast veteran Kokane sings the hook over some G-Funk synthesizers, however the bar for hooks on this CD has been set pretty high by Butch Cassidy - and while it’s cool, the hook here falls a bit short.

Stage – I’m The Man

RATING: COOL

Stage is a rookie amongst the Blu Division group and it shows. I’m not saying that there isn’t promise or anything, because like I stated earlier, a COOL rating is still a good one. The beat is slamming as hell, it’s just that the delivery doesn’t mesh too well with it as it sounds very forced. Plus, I am not sure if “street lyrics” are best suited for this artist. Stage to me appears to be more of a type of artist that can get the party started, and there is nothing wrong with that. Lord knows we need more of that on the West Coast. I love how the beat rides out on the end of this song.

Quiz Feat. Glasses Malone – Worse Nitemare  

RATING: STRONG

Quiz, Quiz, Quiz, what can I say? I love surprises and he’s without a doubt one of the great surprises on this CD. I really hope that he keeps it up. The song uses a horror movie sample that I can’t quite put my finger on - It has a nice eerie touch though. Only receives a STRONG rating though because while it is great, it doesn’t quite reach the high bar that was set by Quiz’ earlier track, He’s Alive. Malone comes in for a nice finish.   

Lude – My Fate

RATING: EHHH

I really tried to find something that I liked about this song, but in all honesty, I couldn’t – not even with the music. I’m sure there is a concept behind the song, but whatever it was, I failed to grab it. It’s back to the drawing board Lude. Use this to grow upon. Reach deep down and you will find your sound – this just wasn’t it.

Glasses Malone, Yung Bruh, Big Steele – Ghost Writa

RATING: STRONG

As Jim Ross would say, “Business has just picked up!” The ghost-writer theme has been done before but with a Monsters InK theme, the “ghost” title fits right in. Malone brings along fellow Watts rapper Yung Bruh and veteran Big Steele for this song about writing for other rappers. When you hear the ending for the first time, you will fall out of your seat! I know I did. Some might be unhappy with it, but I took it just as fun humor. Hopefully everyone else will too.

Roc Slanga – Stay Out Of The Water

RATING: VERY STRONG!!

To me this was VERY STRONG! I had heard of Roc Slanga but I have never heard any of his music up to this point – so this was a great debut! With a name like Roc Slanga, you better be able to rock street grimey rhymes and have the voice and swagger to back it up – and this dude definitely does. Blu Division has a new young star here and my only real regret about this CD is that there is only 1 track by Roc Slanga on Monsters InK. Roc had me laughing at the end with a non-rapping line, “Cuzz, these niggas are Gilligan’s! How you gonna pull up a Minnow to the Titanic?”

If you didn’t already pick it up from the song title, this track samples the always spooky Jaws theme - the 70’s horror classic -and it has great old school 808 bass added in too. Mini truckers from the mid to late 80’s would have blasted this so loud, you would’ve heard it a mile away. 

Mykestro & K-Boy – Who You Dealin’ Wit

RATING: STRONG

Two great young MC’s with Mykestro and K-Boy – yet there is something missing from this track and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I think it’s the piano beat, which is nice but nothing to get excited about. It is also sandwiched between the great debut of Roc Slanga and a VERY STRONG next song (but more on that in a second).  I love the Biggie sample, “Who you think you dealing with? The Black Demon”, which is used for the hook.

Glasses Malone – Kidnappin’ Hip-Hop

RATING: VERY STRONG!!

This one gets a VERY STRONG rating just on the strength of its creative concept; however it is a dope ass song too. Glasses Malone catches Hip-Hop slippin’ out in Atlanta, kidnaps him, and then explains to him why he’s being held. One of the stand-out lines: “I don’t give a fuck if you’re running with Blood. Big Wy placed the order. Quik said you know him. Suge gave his blessing. Mack 10 says you owe him. On Crip, I’m here to collect. Red & Blue cliqued up, you should fear the connect.” The ending is funny also, with a nosey Southern accented chick getting threatened to be shot in her “Ciara-man ass forehead” and then complaining, “They must be from L.A. Those niggas always be on that bullshit.”

Conflict – Victim

RATING: VERY STRONG!!

Props to Glasses on handing off the ending to one of the bright stars of the CD. He could have ended it with Kidnappin’ Hip-Hop, however, the burden of closing the show was given to Conflict and he nailed it down! It was a challenge too because earlier Conflict had the benefit of an infectious beat and he didn’t have that this time around – not knocking this beat or anything because it’s still dope. The strength of the song stood squarely on Conflicts writing skills as he uses outstanding lyrics, delivery, and even pitches his voice on target for the hook. Those are the signs and skills of a good rap artist.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it. We knew that Glasses could make dope songs but this is a Blu Division street album and the soldiers stepped up to the plate. You could tell from the Death Row/The Electric Chair mixtape that Quiz was moving on up, but this album confirms it. Also if Conflict and Roc Slanga continue developing and putting out efforts like this, the Blu Division camp is going to be a mean force to be reckoned with. 

Buy this album when it comes out digitally. Even though it has Halloween overtones, it’s still something that can be bumped year-round. 

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment

---