KRS-ONE - Adventures In Emceein

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ulsvnf


1. Today's Topics
2. Our Soldiers
3. Money
4. We Dem Teachas
5. Better & Better
6. The Way It's Goin' Down
7. The Teacha Returns
8. The Real Hiphop
9. Watch This!
10. What's Your Plan?
11. All Right
12. Don't Get So High [Dancehall Mix]
13. I Got You
14. All My Love
15. Over 30 [Remix]
16. Getaway
17. Don't Give It Up
18. Gro---oh! (Hiphop Nation)
19. It's All Love
20. Wachanoabout


Albums like this frustrate me. KRS ONE has turned in what easily could have been his strongest album (or compilation since this is more of a collection of songs recorded between '04 and '07) since "I Got Next", but sadly it's crippled by being too bloated, and too unfocused. Patience is key though, and given you have enough patience to dig through this monstrous 21 track LP, then longtime fans and newcomers alike will find a very rewarding, very well crafted album from one of hip hop's greats.

The album starts off with a quick intro from Rakim; which is followed by what is essentially another skit/spoken word piece by Chuck D (Though Kris does end the track by spitting a few bars, it's hardly enough to be considered anything more then a glorified skit). The album gets its proper start with "Our Soldiers", the track finds KRS spewing venom over ominous sirens

What about the promises that were made?/
No one in America feels any safer, in fact we feel betrayed/
Over 200 family's played/
With an American flag and a letter that says your child got sprayed

"Money" is a nice surprise for longtime fans as it finds Kris briefly returning to his "I Got Next" flow while MC Lyte handles the hook with a spoken word flair (gotta appreciate the irony of this...KRS has Rakim, Chuck D, Lyte AND Nas on this album, and all any of them do is speak). "Better and Better" is one of the albums best offerings in my opinion.  The beat has a very dark; almost "Kill A Rapper" vibe to it, and KRS controls the production masterfully with his polished flow and lyrics. Sadly a throw-away verse from Pee-Doe will no doubt keep this one from showing up on any future "best of" compilations.

In fact it's worth mentioning that every guest rap here is pretty much throw-away. I hate to discredit the mc's, but honestly none of these guys are fit to be rapping alongside the Blastmaster; this is especially true considering how on point Kris is for most of the lp. It's the little things like this that begin to add up and derail the lp. For example did we really need an remix to "Over 30"? Especially one that's wildly inferior to the original? Or how about the albums closer "Wachanoabout"; which is easily one of the worst songs KRS has ever had his name attached to. The track is a heavy metal/hip hop mash up that sounds more Necro then the T'Cha, and though Kris does an admiral job in riding this musical abortion it still has no place on this album, or any other for that matter.

There's also some more minor head scratching moments. Like the inclusion of two tracks both built around vocal samples of the word "Love". The album probably could have really done without "All My Love". The beat sounds almost like a cheap Cam'Ron throw away, and KRS doesn't really say anything of any real substance here. On the flip side though "It's All Love" would have been the perfect way to end the lp. The beat is piano driven, and when the hook drops you would swear the instrumental was something MF DOOM had cooked up.

Two more standouts I would feel bad without mentioning.  "I Got You" finds KRS at his absolute best over a minimalist beat that sounds vaguely like something Marley Marl would have produced. Later in the album "Gro---Oh!" comes storming in with thundering drums and claps that mesh perfectly with Kris's flow. If KRS and Madlib were to ever make a song I would imagine it would turn out like that. 

At the end of the day it's really up to you to make the best out of what's given to you. Not the highest praise ever given I know, but it really is worth it to take the time to listen to this lp in full and trim the fat for yourself. As it stands though, this is still one of KRS One's strongest albums and one that shouldn't be missed by any fan. The production is mostly on point, and aside from the disappointing guest spots the lyrics and flows are some of the best Kris has offered up in years. I truly wish KRS would have taken the time to cut the filler, but really you cant blame the man for wanting to give the fans their money's worth.

Pro's
-Surprisingly strong production that recalls the works of other great producers
-KRS is lyrically stronger here then he has been in years
-Unlike his other albums around this time (and after) Kris uses a wide variety of flows
-As always the T'Cha offers up a lot of positive and insightful lyrics

Con's
-Very weak guest verses
-Wasted (and misleading) features from Nas, Rakim, Chuck D and MC Lyte
-A handful of weaker songs kills the momentum of the album
-Way too bloated for its own good
-Some are bound to find Kris preachy


Overall - 3/5