Disco de Big Mike: “Somethin' Serious”

Being a replacement for a group isn't an easy thing to do, but as I can heard on the Geto Boys'

, Big Mike has no problem handling that job. A year later, he dropped his debut solo album, "Somethin' Serious", at a time when some southern acts were making a name for themselves. In my opinion, the biggest standout on this LP, is the southern funky production. The production here is made by N.O. Joe, Pee Wee, John Bido, Mike Dean, Simon Cullins, Michael Banks, Pimp C of UGK, and Mike Barnett himself, so expect a lot of funky production here. Add those beats with Mike's wide range of rhymes from decent to great, and you have this album.

Some of the best tracks are on the beginning of the album. "Commin' From The Swamp" is an upbeat song with a nice sample in the hook that makes it dope. The next track, "World Of Mind" is great with it's slowed and funky production. Another one of the album's best track is "Ghetto Love" as Big Mike spits one long verse. "Smoke 'Em & Choke 'Em" is another standout. "Havin' Thangs" is carried by some funky production. "On Da Real" and "Playa Playa" has some head nodding production, but they don't standout like some of the other tracks do. "Southern Thang" is a good song with more funky production, but the track fails to standout as well, but the title track "Somethin' Serious" does standout. "Get Over That" is a great laid back song. "Fire" is a solid track (don't like the Ohio Players sample, it sound awkward), and features Rap-A-Lot label mate Tre-Deuce. Scarface comes in with the positive song "Daddy's Gone". And the album closes off with "On Da 1" which features Bun B, Billy Cook and A-Dog.

Overall "Something Serious" is a dope album. As I mentioned before, the biggest standout is the production. Big Mike has rhymes and they show on most of the album. At the same time, this album doesn't match to other southern albums that came out in '94 like Scarface's

, and Outkast

. But it's much better than some other albums that came later on like 5th Ward Boyz

, and Tre-Deuce's

. If you're a fan of Rap-A-Lot or southern rap, this album is what I would recommend to you. Overall, this album is "Somethin' Serious". Peace!

Lyrics: B

Production: A-

Guest Appearances: B

Musical Vibes: B+

Top 5 Tracks:

1. Get Over That

2. Ghetto Love

3. World Of Mind

4. Daddy's Gone (featuring Scarface)

5. On Da 1 (featuring Bun B, A-Dog, and Billy Cook)

Honorable Mention:

1. Commin' From The Swamp

2. Southern Thang

Big Mike Somethin' Serious CD:

Good Southern Rap,Good rhymes,good beats. Get the cd it's good.

like everybody else from rap a lot big mike keeps it real, love it i'm a playa got that al green vibe, on da real big mike tells it real, big mike was a talent few knew about outside texas, alabama, and louisiana.

Big Mike made huge impression on the albums "Convicts" (an album he did with 3-2) and as a temporary member of the Geto Boys on "Till Death Do Us Part". In 1994, it was finally Big Mike's turn to shine. Originally Mike is from New Orleans and he moved to Houston when he was 15. After The Convicts album, he even stayed in California working with Death Row Records, and even influencing Snoop Doggy Dogg (who paid him respect on the song where Snoop drops the line "Smokin' and Chokin' like the mothaf***in' Peter Man"). But that didn't work out so Mike came back and became an official Rap-A-Lot member. "Something Serious" is his debut, and it showcases Mike's talent. The title suits the album well - Big Mike is a serious dude. Although he speaks the gangsta sh** quite well, he isn't much about killin' and robbin'. He preferst telling about life in the hood, and hustlin' to survive. I think it's also a personal album as well, since Big Mike tells quite a few stories about his life. For example on "Ghetto Love" he raps about his girl, that was down for him since day one and on another song (feat. Scarface" he tells about him growing up without a dad. Big Mike IS a serious dude. On this album he stays away from sex songs and murder sh** he did on the Geto Boys album, it's more of a humble and laid-back album. Guests rappers include Scarface, UGK and a few lesser known dudes. The production is solid, although some songs dissapoint a little bit (producers iclude Mike Dean, Mike Banks, NO Joe, Pimp C and others). Overall, this album is a good one (great at more than a few songs), and it's a beginning. Better things are about to come after this one (released in 1994).

This is music to ride by! Well, I did not purchase this off Amazon. I bought this cd back in the 90's when it was cool to go into Circuit City and get cd's. Anyway, this joint was hott back then and it's still hot. My favorite is "Playa-Playa!" "Now baby's playing you for your money you're playing her for her drawers, she takes your money brings it to me, now I'm playing both of y'all!" The lyrics are hot and will keep your head bobbing for miles (I always review music to ride by) not to mention the bass line which will shatter your windows and keep your trunk rattling, sounding like two midgets wrestling in the trunk! If you are considering the purchase, I say get pick it up, put on that Big Mike Playa-Playa, grip that wood, lean back and ride like a PLAYA!

YMMV! ...NEOSOUL06