Disco de Ras Kass: “Rasassination”

Ras Kass is one of the best (if not the best) wordsmiths alive. His wordplaying skills are awesome. The only bad thing about Rasassination is that there are some more commercial songs, with R&B-hooks and less hardcore beats. Still, the hardcore joints on the album make it worth buying. "H2OProof", "Ghetto Fabolous", "Interview With A Vampire", "Ice Age", "Wild Pitch" and "The End" truly demonstrates Ras Kass' lyrical skills. Buy this album if you're into tight lyrics!

This disc is one of those 'disappointing sophomore albums'. Not that 'Rasassination' is bad, it's just that the sparkling debut 'Soul On Ice' was so good. 'Rasassination' features more guest artists than 'Soul On Ice', therefore the artist himself doesnt get the opportunity to shine so brightly. But when Ras shines, he shines BRIGHT. Just listen to tracks like 'H20Proof', 'Conceited Bastard' or the title track, and you'll understand why people call Ras Kass one of the best true lyricists out west. He doesnt over-use metaphors, his flow is sick and the fact that the production on this album is so much better than on the debut helps out a lot. The only problem with Ras' rapping technique is his voice, which is somewhat average. The essential hit track is the Xzibit, Jah Skillz and Phil Da Agony-featured 'Wild Pitch', with its fast beat and slick delivery. Jah Skillz, a relatively unknown female rapper, doesnt impress with her lyrics, but her flow is somehow captivating. There are wack moments too, almost too much of them. 'Lapdance' (with RC) is probably one of the wackest attempts to make a party track I've ever heard, and the lyrics are just straight up nonsense. 'Grindin' (with Bad Azz) is from the same mold with its cheesy chorus and wack beat. Bad Azz whining on the track doesnt make it better either. 'It Is What It Is' (with Jazze Pha) is so stereotypical and clicheéd it almost hurts. The hook is one of the worst I've ever heard. But if there's a true diamond on this album, its definitely the epic 'Interview With A Vampire', where Ras plays the parts of a human, God and Satan. One of the best philosophical hip hop tracks ever, straight up. In conclusion, definitely not a bad album, but most definitely not a great one either. I'd say somewhere between 'pretty good' and 'good'.

I first learned of Ras Kass through 2 hip-hop magazines, XXL and the Source. I then downloaded a few of his songs and decided to purchase his CD, proof that downloadable music is a good promotional tool. This CD is probably the best balance between underground and commercial tracks. "Ghetto Fabulous" featuring Mack 10 and Dr. Dre should've been made into a single, but unfortunately Ras Kass' record label holds him back. The producer of several of the tracks, including "Ghetto Fabulous" and "Rasassination", Stu-B-Doo, is where Ras Kass made his mistake- he should've used him more. Ras Kass' new album should be out soon, but it will likely not be able to compare to Rasassination, and his earlier release, Soul On Ice, didn't have the beats to compare to this bangin' album. If you like Hip-Hop music in general, this album has it all-gangsta beats (Ghetto Fabulous), underground tracks (Rassasination), a track for the Wu-Tang obsessed, (The End featuring The RZA), concept songs (Interview With A Vampire featuring God and Satan) and thoughtful lyricism (every track!). So whether you love West Coast Rap, East Coast Rap, intense lyricism, underground rap, commercial rap, or phat beats, you should get your own copy of Rasassination. I also recommend Soul On Ice, but don't think Ras can obtain perfection more than once.

RAS KASS

RASASSINATION

Ras Kass has always been one of my favorite artists from his first album to now I still get everything he puts out. As a solo artist he is great and in groups like the Horsemen [Ras, Kurupt, Canibus, Killah Priest] and the Golden State Project [Ras, Xzibit, Saafir] he is alongside fellow greats. This album was Ras trying a little something different but not switching it up completely, still a lot of people complained unjustly I feel.

1.ENDTRO

2.RASASSINATION-the first song on the album is potentially the best song on the entire thing. This is Ras at his best spitting nothing but fire at fake mc's plus I love that he references the Gracie's. Each verse is fire and Ras flows with perfection over the excellent instrumental. Stu-B-Doo did an amazing job with this horn driven track and provides Ras with a classic.5/5

3.GHETTO FABULOUS-next up is the single from the album that most should remember as Ras gets down with Dr. Dre and Mack 10. Stu-B-Doo returns with a very Dre like instrumental, you know that early Aftermath sound. So the beat is nice and Dre sounds right at home over this slow pulsing track. Ras does his thing as usual although it really is more Dre's sound, he holds it down still. Mack 10 is only on the hook but his voice is very distinctive and fits the style of the song perfectly. A really good song that made a good single although not the best pick from the album.4.5/5

4.LAPDANCE-you can tell from the title that this was another attempt at a single mainstream style sound, complete with a Rufus sample. Stu-B-Doo returns and does a good job with the sample and beat, a nice head nodder. Ras does his thing over the bouncy track talking about the ladies, and RC provides some good vocals throughout.4/5

5.SKIT 1

6.CONCEITED- Klev has production duties on this one and does a great job bringing another sound to the album. This is Ras at best lyrically flipping it all throughout the song over the smooth sounds. This brings back memories of Ras's first album in fact it would have sounded right at home there. A great track that all would enjoy and showcases Ras well.4.8/5

7.ICE AGE-next up we have a track that I was incredibly looking forward when this album was released. Of course that is because my favorite artist Kurupt stops by to drop a raw verse on the album. Young Gotti spits raw battle influenced lyrics over a Twelve instrumental. This is a Horsemen style track for sure from two of the members to the sound of the beat. Ras kills it of course over the banging beat even referencing the title track and fellow Horsemen Killah Priest's single that Ras featured on. El Drex also spits next to the two Horseman and sounds right at home.4/5

8.SKIT

9.H20PROOF-now this one here is absolutely one of the best on the album as Ras goes at all those who are faking and all those who hate. Ras drops gem after gem in each verse killing it each time. Big Jaz provides the great instrumental this time and it fits Ras perfectly, Saafir is great on this as well, this was also a single.5/5

10.IT IS WHAT IT IS-other than the title this may be my favorite track on the album, this is just one of those songs that you can't help but love. Ras goes little more real on this track talking about what is messed up with the world. Each verse gets better and better and Jazze Pha sounds excellent on this track. His hook is great maybe one of his best performances, maybe best. Klev returns to drop one of the best instrumentals ever in my opinion, I love this track as it was the last single.5/5

11.INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE-now I know I have said this before but this is one of the best on the album, but this one could also be one of the best in all of music. I am not over exaggerating as the story told here is amazing. In this one Ras speaks with God and the Devil in a three way dance of conversation. Creatively this is absolutely amazing as is the lyrics and Ras's flow as each one. Klev did an amazing job on the darker instrumental, excellent song.5/5

12.WILD PITCH- Stu-B-Doo returns bringing his style to the table once more with a quicker tempo, and each artist kills. Ras does his thing on here easily as does Jah Skillz who kills it, Ras is still the show stealer here of course. But Xzibit comes close destroying the track like few can do, I wish the Golden State project would have worked. This is a great track that changes the pace up from the last couple of tracks.4.5/5

13.OOHWEE!-another mainstream kinda sounding one comes forth on this one but it is the opposite lyrically. That may be the point because of the content of Ras's lyrics, also Ras kills it with the flow. Also he samples another west coast song from Tha Dogg Pound [Daz & Kurupt] and Mack 10 called "Nuthin but a Cavi Hit". Ras really kills this track lyrically and flow wise just destroying it. Klev provided the bouncy beat for Ras to make his point over.4.5/5

14.ALL OR NUTHIN-Twista is in the house for this track over a Toxic instrumental that is clearly more of his style. But Ras holds his own over the track but this is that sound out of Twista's town. Lyrically both artists kill the track and the hook is perfect, any Twista or Do or Die fan will like this one.4/5

15.GRINDIN-any hip hop head will know the name Easy Mo Bee well he provides the beat for this one as Ras Kass unites with another DPG in Bad Azz. The beat is perfect for Ras as he lets loose on the mic even though he switches it up some. Bad Azz is always great to hear even though he is only on the hook and providing backups. Still this is another good track that fits the style of the album.4/5

16.I AIN'T # WITH YOU-Flip provides the beat for this one and definitely comes with something different. The beat is kinda simplistic but not at the same time, it is weird and sounds like something D-12 might get on. Ras does his thing on this track although it doesn't fit his style perfectly. Not one of the best but none of the songs are horrible in my opinion but this one is ok.3.5/5

17.GET AT ME-Flip comes back with one of the best instrumentals on the album and that is after that last one. The strings on this track sound amazing and the slow style of the beat fits Ras perfectly. Ras gets down easily on this one and kills it alongside a great hook. This one could have been a good single with a nice video since it tells a story, excellent track.5/5

18.THE END-East Mo Bee returns with a straight hip hop style track that sounds a lot like guest Rza's production style. Rza and the whole Wu for that matter have always been some of my favorites but Ras is the star of this one and steals the show. This is an excellent end to the album as the both provide different styles over the beat.4.8/5

A lot of people speak ill of this album saying it was to different than Ras's last album but I like this album. And while as a whole "Soul on Ice" is the better album there a lot of great songs on here as well. There is nothing wrong with an artist trying different things and switching it up a bit. I felt there was enough of Ras from the previous album to complement the new one that was found on the other half of this album.

This is an "Album," and it's good from start to finish. The "Album" concept is becoming more and more rare in rap music, most artists put out a disc with 2 or 3 sure hits and fill the other 60+ minutes with junk. It's refreshing to hear Ras Kass put together an "album"--quality product from start to finish. From the haunting and beautiful IT IS WHAT IT IS to Ras going 100 miles a second with Twista on ALL OR NUTHIN, he proves that he's one of the most versitile and slept on MC's out. If you're sick of spending money for 3 songs on a disc, this is a must. The production almost matches his lyricisim on this cd, and it's so varied that there's something on it for everybody--pop it in, press play, and put down the remote:there's no need to fast forward anything here.