Doc's Da Name 2000

by

Redman

Edit

Redman just released a fun, funny album. That is good to listen to all the time, any time. "I'll Bee Dat" was one of the funniest songs I've ever heard. "Da Goodness" w/Busta Rhymes has one of the best beats on a song ever. I'm not lying. Redmans flow is just cool as hell. I love the way he raps, it captures you. Everyone needs to buy this album just to feel how good it really is. Best songs:I'll Bee Dat, Da Goodness, I Got A Seecret, Let Da Monkey Out, Jersey Yo!, Well All Rite Cha, Brick City Mashin', Beet Drop & Down South Funk. It's an amazing album, so go get it

You can't blame Redman for wanting to stick with Erick Sermon. The Green-Eyed Bandit is responsible for a unique style of East-Coast production. But lately (well, actually dating back to circa 1998 when this album came out) it's been a little slack.

This is plenty noticeable in many of the tracks on "Doc's Da Name 2000." The same bassline is used on three or four tracks, sometimes in a row. The production is crisp, and leaves plenty of room for Redman to get down, but is somewhat of a letdown.

But you can't front on Redman's rhyming acumen. Hands down, he's my favorite MC; so full of energy, ready to dump on ANYONE and always comin' with the cleverest punchlines.

My favorite Redman album has to be "Dare Iz a Darkside," and I think it's because he did a lot of the production himself. It's a lot darker, a lot grimier, but still retains that Erick Sermon/P-Funk-inspired edge.

There are some real good songs on here, though. "Keep On '99" rides a smooth beat with a muted vocal sample to chill you out, "Klose Ya Doorz" doesn't feature Redman but rather Brick City up-and-comers, and "D.O.G.S." is one of the best uses yet for George Clinton's WAAAAAAY-oversampled "Atomic Dog."

There are also some nice homages. Red reworks Ice Cube's "Once Upon a Time in the Projects" for the funky "Jersey Yo!" and does some all-out Beastie Boy shouting on "Beet Drop."

So the production has suffered a little bit, but "Doc's Da Name 2000" is still a quality hip-hop record.