Malpractice

by

Redman

Edit

I remember hearing Redman for the first time on a track called "Hardcore" from EPMD's "Business As Usual" CD. Once I heard his verse, I knew that he was destined to be a hip hop great. He would later bless "Headbanger" from EPMD's "Business Never Personal" CD and that's when most people took notice of him. Redman's 1st CD, "Whut...Thee Album" turned out to be a hip hop classic with tracks like "Blow Your Mind", "Tonight's Da Night", "Time 4 Sum Aksion" and "Watch Yo Nuggets" w/Erick Sermon. Everytime Redman showed up on another rapper's song the song was hot and he continued to drop the classics, "Dare Iz A Darkside" and "Muddy Waters". On his last CD, "Doc's Da Name" some of his fans were disappointed with it but to me it's just the same old Redman. It had tracks like "I'll Be Dat", Da Goodness w/Busta Rhymes, "Get It Live" and "Brick City Mashin'", which were classic Redman. Sometimes, when a rapper achieves greatness, their fans can expect too much sometimes but I am always satisfied with Redman's CDs and guest performances. Redman showed up once again with his partner Method Man to drop "Blackout". Backed with production by Erick Sermon and the RZA, the CD lived up to the hype in my opinion. Now in 2001, after 4 solo CDs, a Def Squad CD, and a CD with Method Man, Redman is back with his fifth solo disc, "Malpractice". This CD is another one to remember from Redman. He gets things started with "Diggy Doc", a parody of the D.O.C. song, "D.O.C. and The Doctor". After that, it's nonstop tight tracks, skits and interludes from then on. Most of the production is handled by the green eyed bandit Erick Sermon and a newcomer called Da Mascot. This CD will remind most Redman fans of "Muddy Waters" and believe me you will not have to use the fast forward button on this one. The skits are long in some instances but it doesn't take away from the flow of the CD and everything falls in place. The best songs are the 1st single "Let's Get Dirty" w/DJ Kool, "J.U.M.P." w/George Clinton, "Real N****z" w/Scarface, Treach, Mally G, and Icarus, "Uh-Huh", and "Doggz II". Out of all the Redman CDs that have been put out, "Malpractice" definitely has the most guest appearances on it from other rappers: Missy Elliott, Method Man, and the aforementioned Scarface, Treach & Mally G, give quality performances on what I have to call the best rap CD of 2001 so far. Hip hop fans this is definitely what the doctor ordered. Any fan of Redman's previous CDs should pick this one up as well.

While this is definetly a banger by any standards, compared to past Redman albums it falls a bit short. The album starts of strong with Reggie Noble in classic form dropping punchline after punchline in his one of a kind flow on "Diggy Doc", and slides right into "Lick a Shot" and the club banger "Let's Get Dirty". Redman's alter-ego "Superman Lover" returns and adds another memorable episode to the collection, and the posse cut, "Real Niggas" will have you reaching for the rewind button thanks mainly to strong verses from Red and Treach and another hot track by E double. However unlike past Redman albums, Malpractice is marred by inconsistencies. There are far too many skits that run too long, breaking up the album's flow. And even though heads have wanted to hear Red work with other producers for awhile now, when he strays away from Erick Sermon and Rocwiler here, the beats tend to be mediocre at best. Plus, some of Reggie's lyrics feel rushed. Don't get me wrong, I'd still put him among the top 5 MCs on the planet right now, but the lyrics here are consistantly clever, some lack the intricacy and complexity of Red's performances on Muddy Waters and Blackout for example. But those are relatively minor complaints. This is still one of my favorite rap albums so far this year. If it weren't for the abundance of unfunny skits, I'd give it a four.