Redman Album: “Doc's The Name 2000”

I'm a HUGE Redman fan. There's something intangible about Redman that endears him to hip hop lovers on so many levels. After dropping classics like Muddy Waters, Whut Thee Album, and Dare Iz A Darkside, my guess would be that fans were expecting more of that grimy production that was so prevelant on his previous releases. I think the complaints are because this was the first Redman album that garnered less than 5 stars, but a lot of those complaints are totally baseless -- Redman don't make bad albums (Malpractice was less than stellar, but still good). Even though things where slightly different on this joint, the production from Erick Sermon, Rockwilder, and Red himself is still on point (and really not all that different -- just tweaked a lil' bit). You can still expect all the routine Redman staples -- the typical Def Squad collabo with E Double and Mr. Murray, a Soopaman Lova sequel (this time with the underrated Dave Hollister on the hook), Method Man collabo, etc...

The first problem to jump out at me was the abundance of overdone skits. While it was hilarious on the Dare Is A Darkside LP and mildly funny on the Muddy Waters LP, this time out Red runs a lot of the very same jokes into the ground and they come off kind of stale. Outside of that, there are only one or two joints on the album that are kind of "eh" (D.O.G.S. & My Zone) in my opinion, but nothing on the album is wack.

Doc's Da Name is one of the best rap LPs to come out in '98. The sound may be a little different from his previous releases, but Doc can get down over any beat and still come off. I recommend adding this album to your collection.

Standout Tracks: Beet Drop, Da Goodness feat. Busta Rhymes, Jersey Yo!, Boodah Break, I'll Bee Dat!, Well All Rite Cha feat. Method Man, Get It Live, Keep On '99, Cloze Ya Doorz feat. Double O, Tame, Diezzel Don, Roz, Gov-Mattic, & Young Z (My Favorite), I Got A Secret, and Dah Dah DaHHH