Disco de Kurupt: “Against Tha Grain [PA]”

i didn't like this album that much when i first got it but i gave it a chance and i grew to love it. it's almost all good. great combination of old-school-gangsta-death-row-sound, unexpected lyrics, easy-listening-2pac-type flows. give it a try.

i wish they promoted it. i wanted to see this do well. death row could have had a classic with a little promotion.

Standout tracks: ANARCHY 87, THROW BACK MUZIC 86, DEEP DISHES, SLIDE N SLIDE OUT(where's Kurupt?), MY HOMEBOYS, BULLS**T AND NONSENSE(again where's Kurupt?), CALICO and YOU F****N WITH THE BEST. Filler: Im back(sucked on Dysfunktional Family Soundtrack and it sucks now), Jealousy(wack plus MOP's verses were off big time), Hustlin(wack cipher), Can you feel it(wack club record that falls short) etc. Bottom Line: We are going to have to come to grips with the fact that Kurupt hasnt been the same since he left Deathrow and changed his style around. He went back to Deathrow but he still has the same schlocky rap style he had out of the record company. Songs like Speak on it and Tha Past would be good but its ruined by his retarded flow. Beware of any album that comes out of Deathrow nowadays! One last note: You f****n with the best is also on Bang Em and Domination's album God Giveth and God Taketh Away. Pick that album up its not a disappointment like this one.

Took me a couple of listens to get into some of the tracks, but worth 4 stars just for the heat Kurupt brings to "Speak On It", "I'm Back", "You ******* With the West," and especially "Jealousy." Kurupt absolutely flames that track out over some crazy beats.

For more of a G-Coast West Coast sound check out Kurupt and CJ Genevice's 2004 album "Originals." if you can find it. Features excelleng production and appearances from Kokane and Suga Free.

Finally, a solid record from Death Row. Makes you wonder what took them so long. Crooked I anyone?

HARDCORE......

ACHIEVING

STREETFUL

....AND OVERCOMING.

Kurupt has come across many odds and ends to deliver this album to the shelves- arguably, a typical Death Row Records trademark. However, after finally doing so, Kurupt brings a much needed album and brings his game status with him.

It's obvious. Alot on his mind... Regrouping to his old label, reclusiveness to industry, hostility amongst former artists...

Moreover, "Against the Grain" album wasn't even to be released under Kurupt's approval! ....... Distribution handling the final tracks wasn't to his tastefulness.

With all of this on the line, I'd have to say that Kurupt has overcome many odds to bring out a delayed album that spits fire left and right. An aggressive, subfound Kurupt has answered some of his own vengeance overall and even aknowledges his status with a new, decayed Death Row Records.

Highlights:

03. ANARCHY '87- A strong and feelful track! Non-the-less far from being a typical rap track. Pace is up and down with unpredictable production from Mark Sparks.

04. THROWBACK BACK MUZIC '86- Calmed track but the street talk is dominating! Old school meets new school. If Death Row was to ever have kept its jem with the original line up, a new age Death Row sound would be just this...

07. CAN U FEEL IT- Glam and style was always the indredient for Tha Row. Kurupt fulfills that here and some. Radio chorus with the mean flows.

08. SLIDE N SLIDE OUT- Overwhelming! Blacthoven pushes the limits with crisp beats while Kurupt follows up with mic shredding! Fastpaced and executed nicely here as Eastwood, Big Tri & Young Tone assists on 3 pointers. Album highlight!

09. I'M BACK- Forceful delivery from Kurupt. Taken from the Dysfuntional Family sessions, this one is a different take on matters but done well. Impressive and a growing track.

A few more songs speak volumes for this recording. With all the odds in mind, I'd say that this is a great album for the archives. I feared how Death Row would personally adjust to Kurupt... - sound old school production or bring in some new while demanding the old fire from Big K?

Of course, Dat Nigga Daz would sound quite nice accomidating Kurupt Young Gotti. And so would Snoop, Nate, Warren G and so on. But it still holds nice on it's own. My personal mindput is really a 3 1/2 stars on this but a plain 3 would underappreciate it's worth. Speaking of lineup, there were some hits and misses on the featured artists. However, there weren't that many to begin with. That's impressive enough for this day in age where 20 tracks feature 60 artists....

Overall, a bold album from Kurupt. A good step for Death Row, finally- whom can only release soundtracks and compilations lately. The ingredients are still flowing in the West. For "Against the Grain" we get a Kurupt from "Dogg Pound Gangstaz" track of Above the Rim days. Strong effort but still needing Kurupt the Kingpin back!

As Kurupt re-signed to Death Row a beef came about between him and Daz, who released this Agaisnt The Grain album on his own label right when Kurupt was supposed to release an album under the same name on Death Row (it didn't come about until 2 years later). With 13 sogns, about half are from other albums or are remixes, but of the 13, 1 is a classic, 1 I skip, 3 are ok and the other 8 are good or real good songs. Guests are on all but 2 songs. Production credits aren't given, but Daz, Mike Dean and Ivan Johnson did the majority, if not all the songs. A nice album to have for his fans to get to hear some of his unreleased songs.

#2 - 9 (another version features Daz on his "This is the Life I Lead" album -- tight beat)

#3 - 7.5 (f/ Roscoe)

#4 - 9 (Roscoe f/ Kurupt -- another version is on Roscoe's "Philaphornia" album -- good beat)

#6 - 8 (f/ Roscoe & Tristar -- nice beat)

#7 - 8.5 (deeper song)

#8 - 7 (f/ Snoop Dogg -- a version with Bad Azz is on his "Personal Business" album)

#9 - 8 (f/ Daz Dillinger)

#10 - 5.5 (f/ Everlast)

#11 - 8.5 (f/ Daz Dillinger -- also on Daz "This is the Life I Lead" album)

#12 - 8 (f/ Daz Dillinger & Too $hort --a version with no Kurupt is on Daz "Retaliation..." album)

#13 - 10 (CLASSIC -- f/ Warren G, Hershey Locc, Daz Dillinger, Bad Azz --- another version is on Warren's "Take A Look..." album w/o the Dogg Pound on it -- great beat)

#14 - 8.5 (f/ Deon of the Twinz)

#15 - 8.5 (f/ Daz Dillinger -- "This is the Life I Lead" album)

#16 - 7.5 (f/ Daz Dillinger & 2Pac -- also on the "Makaveli & Dillinger" album)

Ricardo Jones -- b. 11/23/72 -- b. Philadelphia, PA moved to Hawthorne, CA

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