lordjerz's Full Review: The Bricks by The Outsidaz
ARTIST NAME: Outsidaz
ALBUM TITLE: “The Bricks"
REVIEWED BY: Lord Jerz
OVERALL RATING: 3.5 out of 5
The Outsidaz crew has been called home to some of the top spitters in the game today. Emcees like Pacewon, Young Zee, Rah Digga, and ....Eminem have all had their careers start with the now defunct Newark-based crew. While none save Em have achieved a marginal amount of mainstream success, they have been considered a force in the underground.
That said, that about sums up the entire album, and the Outsidaz crew as a whole. When core members Pace and Zee rock the mic, the album really shines. "Keep On" the album's first actual song has Pace and Zee going back and forth over a Rocwilder beat that is flames. Both seasoned emcees kill the beat, and it really sets the album off right. "Who You Be" has Pace and Zee teamed up with legends Redman and Methodman, with the four going running relay-style through the verses. The third track "I'm Leaving" features Rah Digga and is unfortunately the only track that does so. Kellis sings the hook, and Pace, Zee, and Rah all spit situational raps about the opposite sex, and all three verses are hot.
Then, the album takes a step down. After three perfect songs in a row, the rest of he album is littered with the rest of, to put it truthful, less skilled members. Members like Azz-Iz, Axe, DU, Denz, and Yah Yah are AVERAGE emcees on their best days. On most songs, Pace and Zee have a verse, and those usually represent the high moments of whatever song is on question.
The beats throughout the album are very steady, and production is very crisp, and very clear. "State to State", "Sign of the Power", "We Be the O's", "Music" and "The Bricks" are all the same formula. Zee and/or Pace come through, crush the song, and then the remaining members bring the overall song down with just dumb lyrics. The beats are all great, and the each chorus is unique and well done. It's just the lesser talented members can't pull their own weight.
The horrid "Rehab" with it's annoying sample, and childlike lyrics represents the low-point of the album, and the "Money, Money, Money" remix isn't very far off. The original was fine in my opinion, no need to put it on a different beat, a beat that wasn't as good as the original anyway.
Overall, this album could have been a classic, and had the potential to get the Outsidaz name out, especially considering the guest spots they had. However, this did not happen, and this is completely the group's inherent weakness: if their first name doesnt being with a Pacewon or a Young Zee, they're wack.
This album should have been presented as the "Pacewon and Young Zee Show"
1. Intro - SKIT
2. Keep On - 5/5
3. Who You Be - 5/5
4. Interlude - SKIT
5. I'm Leavin - 5/5
6. State To State - 3/5
7. Interlude - SKIT
8. Sign Of The Power - 3/5
9. Hell Yeah - 4/5
10. Rehab - 1/5
11. We Be The O's - 3/5
12. Music - 3/5
13. Interlude / Yo Doe Doe - 4/5
14. Bricks, The - 3/5
15. Money, Money, Money - 2/5
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.