Deadringer

Synopsis: Overall, this is some real dope shit. I don’t buy CDs, but I did buy this one.

1. Start off with a piercing horn, next add a gritty bassline, and finally bring in the ominous synths, guitar licks, and mad scientist vocals. Sounds like a porn-horror soundtrack.

3. From the get-go, you can tell this is a nice soulful track. Nothing to really nod your head to except the mixture of sadness and remorse in the lyrics and sample.

4. The first upbeat track on the album, this cut is typical of all the nu-funk joints out there today. It’s got funky guitar stabs, crowd-pumping vocals, fast drums, and occasional DJ scratches.

5. RJ proves again he can bring the beats to rap to, but the cat spitting on the mic sounds too much like a mix between Mr. Complex and Talib Kweli, with nowhere near their caliber in ability.

6. Straight up screwball coming at you here. The beat starts off with a butter guitar sample and gospel female vocals, transitioning into a head-nodding horn-laden menagerie.

7. Some Mary J. Blige production steelo interchanging with a boilerplate hip-hop beat and RJ flexing his wrist on the cuts.

8. As with #5, this is a dope beat, but the MC needs work. While his anger towards the current hip-hop scene is justifiable, Jakki just doesn't provide the proper delivery to accustom this menacing beat.

10. Here’s where I feel RJ sounds most like an early DJ Shadow. Chaotic drums dominate the better portion of this track, with a couple piano notes lingering about every bar. The timing of everything is perfect on this track.

11. Originally overlooked because of the runaway success of its b-side, June, this track deserves some play. A rapidly pulsating synth over various instruments.

12. For the most part, this is a rather boring beat with an annoying repetition of the track title. The breakdown is composed of a 70s big band feel, perhaps the only thing worth listening to on the track.

13. Using leftovers from track #7, this is a minute long beat with more cuts and scratches (mainly of “brain damage”) by RJ.

14. There’s a playful and experimental feel to this track, with a combination of instruments just layered upon one another, with an end-result that makes it rather listenable.

15. All I have to say is: +PICK+ If you don’t know the track already, listen to it again and again. This was one of my two favorite tracks of 2001 with good reason. And my mom likes it.

16. Two dope tracks wrapped up for the price of one. I prefer the "hidden" track, with its video-game sample and oh-so-lovely, yet unidentifiable lyrics, but "Work" is great for its late night lounge feel.