Red Gone Wild: Thee Album

by

Redman

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A full six years since his last LP, Redman finally dropped what is probably hip hop's most delayed album not named "Dretox." "Red Gone Wild: Thee Album" is a completely refreshing, hilarious, and satisfying release from a hip hop legend that totally stands tall even when compared to his 90s classics. What I have always loved about Redman is that the more things change, the more he stays the same. His hilarious punchlines, wild flow, and unique quirks never grow old, although this album is very fresh sounding and sounds quite updated. Erick Sermon handles most of the production, which I was ecstatic about, because he is one of my favorite producers and he and Redman are a match made in heaven. Scott Storch and a Pete Rock, among others, also contribute beats. His funky, bass-heavy, and upbeat productions bring nostalgia of Def Squad's heyday but mostly just entertain. It wouldn't be a great Redman album without Soopaman Luva, and he appears in all his greatness on the album's last songs. The skits are hilarious, especially "Mr. Ice Cream Man." In the way that Ghostface Killah introduced his Theodore Unit Crew on "Fishscale" and "More Fish," Redman takes the opportunity to present his young rap posse, the Gilla House. These rappers appear on a good deal of the songs, and shouts of "Gilla House!" and "Brick City!" are heard throughout the album. While these rappers are all okay, they can't touch Reggie Noble, and I would rather hear him rap than any of them. The only other complaint I would have is the album's running length, it's a little too long and having less than 23 tracks might make it a little easier to digest. "Red Gone Wild" is the finest album of 2007 thus far and will please his longtime fans in a huge way.

The first song is the introductory "Fire," which features E3 and announces the return of Reggie Noble in grand fashion, and the punchline-filled "Bak Inda Buildin" serves the same purpose. The first single, "Put It Down," is a good mainstream track that I could see getting spins at the club, but it doesn't compromise any of his style at all and the beat is excellent. "Gimmie One" is a little odd sounding, but enjoyable. The posse cut "Sumtn 4 Urrbody" is okay, and the bouncy "How U Like Dat" makes up in its funkiness. I really liked "Freestyle Freestyle," which has a great beat and is a lyrical highlight. The Def Squad reunion "Walk in Gutta" also has an unlikely appearance from legend Biz Markie, and I just loved hearing Sermon, Redman, and Keith Murray together on the mic again, it's exactly what hip hop needs. "Wutchoogonnado" is classic Redman, sample lyric: "I'm in your college campus corridor / they should call me Uno the way I make y'all draw four." Erick Sermon's beat on "Diz Iz Brick Easy" brings to mind something off the Def Squad album "El Nino." My favorite song, though, was definitely "Rite Now," which is blessed with Sermon's best beat on the album. The Al Green sample and funky instrumentals are quintessential Erick Sermon, and Reggie totally does it justice. "Blow Treez" is an ode to weed featuring partner-in-crime Method Man and Ready Roc, with a Mike Jones-style chorus. "Pimp Nutz" is anthemic, excellent, and the aforementioned hilarious skit precedes the crazy "Hold Dis Blaow!" Another Gilla House posse cut comes before the great "Merry Jane," which features Snoop and Nate Dogg. This collaboration has a great production vibe, it's a gorgeous summertime-type cut that brings out the best in all three performers. "Gilla House Check" uses a familiar sample from Nas's "Made You Look." The most exciting part for me came at the end, which marks the return of Reggie Noble's superpowered alter-ego, Soopaman Luva, as he embarks on yet another wild and crazy adventure, and like always, I can ensure it'll have you laughing quickly. From the opening lyric ("What up, yo, it's the Soopaman Luva / I'm about five minutes from out ya baby's motha,") it's plain to see that Red is back in full effect. The album ends with "Suicide," which is based around a sample from Snoop Dogg's classic "Serial Killa."

This album was pretty much everything I could have hoped for in a new Redman album. He shows that even though his career is 15 years deep, he still is as entertaining as ever, and his fans will love it. I hope Def Jam will put some promotion behind this where they didn't for both of Ghostface's albums and Method Man's "4:21...The Day After," because it seems like those albums were ignored by the label. After this I know I'll eagerly be anticipating "Muddy Waters 2." This is a funny, musically interesting and complete work that can really only be described as a Redman album.

The last time Redman made a proper album was back in 2001, the aptly titled Malpractice (afterwards, even Red himself said the album was bad). Then, mistakes like How High and Method & Red proved point blank that rappers acting doesn't work for everyone (although the How High SOUNDTRACK wasn't all that exciting either). Well, Red finally came back with Red Gone Wild: Thee Album, which is a step in the right direction.

You'd never know that Red is still on Def Jam because he spends a good deal of time giving props to underground label Gilla House (maybe he manages it or something). At any rate, he's definitely gotten his swagger back, as shown on joints like "Gilla House Check", "Bak Inda Buildin" and the necessary Scott Storch production, "Freestyle Freestyle". Snoop and Nate Dogg's help on "Merry Jane" adds some life to the party, and Erick Sermon and Keith Murray show up to bring back that Def Squad flava on "Walk In Gutta".

I'm not sure who Gov Mattic is, but he just rips it on "How U Like Dat", which has me wondering when he's going to drop an album. Actually, I don't know who a LOT of these guest stars are (a Def Jam album with too many guest stars? Imagine that!), but some of them aren't worth knowing, like on "Sumtn 4 Urrbody", where Blam kicks a dull chorus while Ready Roc says things like: "It's goin' down like I'm Yung Joc/But I'm not". And the obligatory honey-sings-the-chorus track "Whutchoogonnado" features Melanie Rutherford, who isn't exactly the greatest singer in the world.

This album is 75 minutes long, and I know just what to get rid of to save some time: the "Sooperman Luva" tracks, which haven't been interesting since Doc's Da Name 2000 (and the songs re-introduce Hurricane G, who's still wack). The "Mr. Ice Cream Man" skit is also pretty pointless; and "Rite Now" has a chorus that lazily rides an old Al Green sample. Speaking of questionable choruses, "Gimmie One" has: "One, and here comes the two to the three to the four/And here comes the three to the two to the one". Great lyrics, Red.

Another issue is that the radio skits that conclude much of the album's tracks make things get a little monotonous. Red Gone Wild: Thee Album isn't the classic comeback from Redman that everyone says it is, but it's still above-average, especially after a six-year hiatus. Hopefully Red continues his ascent back to the top and gives us that classic album (with fewer guest stars) next time.

Anthony Rupert