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Nodima
 Very nearly perfect.
Digital
[Rating17226098]
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Muddy Waters (Produced by Erick Sermon unless noted) [Def Jam Recordings 1996]
1|Intro|2:16 (Produced by Reggie Noble) 3.25 - 4
2|Iz He 4 Real|1:35 (Produced by Erick Sermon & Reggie Noble) 4 - 4.25
3|Rock da Spot|4:10 (Produced by Erick Sermon & Ty Fyffe) 4 - 4.25
4|Welcome (Interlude)|2:06 3.75 - 4
5|Case Closed|2:57 (Produced by Rockwilder) 4.25 - 5
6|Pick It Up|5:08 4 - 4.75
7|Smoke Buddah|2:34 (Produced by Reggie Noble) 4.5 - 5
8|Whateva Man (feat. Erick Sermon)|3:08 5
Hidden in the background is a sample Kanye did for Common.
9|Chicken Head Convention (Skit)|1:17 (Produced by Reggie Noble) 4
10|On Fire|3:50 5
11|Do What Ya Feel (feat. Method Man)|4:15 (Produced by Pras & Te-Bass Produtions) 4.75 - 5
12|The Stick Up (Skit)|0:55 (Produced by Reggie Noble) 3.5 - 4
13|Creepin'|3:59 (Produced by Reggie Noble) 5
I feel like I've heard every piece of this song somewhere else, but from multiple sources. I guess "Can You Dig It" by Def Squad most obviously, but seriously. Every line and portion of the beat.
14|It's Like That (My Big Brother) (feat. K-Solo)|2:55 (Produced by Reggie Noble) 4
Purposely takes the production way back for Solo. "Let your girl suck on the shit that I piss through."
15|Da Bump|5:09 4
I love Nasty Naje.
16|Yesh Yesh Ya'll|3:58 4.5 - 5
17|What U Lookin' 4|5:01 (Produced by Rockwilder & Reggie Noble) 4.75 - 5
18|Soopaman Luva 3|4:11 (Produced by Erick Sermon & Reggie Noble) 5
I think it takes balls to turn that beat into a Soopaman Luva. Love the superheroes verse and the beat flip.
19|Rollin'|4:09 3.5 - 4
20|Da Ill Out (feat. Jamal & Keith Murray)|3:35 4.5 - 5
This song sounds lifted straight out of Boot Camp.
Overall: 86.5 - 90 4.41/5 87 - 90%: Exceptional; repeated listens demanded; BUY IT
"Vocabulary's very.... loquacious." Yea nigga, rap that shit.
"Everybody wanna know WHAT female artist is takin' 3 in the mouth at one time."
Dare Iz a Darkside may be my personal favorite Redman album, but I can see every argument for Muddy Waters. With songs like "Case Closed" it's hard not to. I love how Dare sounds like Redman's pet project, full of funky ass breaks and interludes put together almost entirely by Reggie Noble. Even better, like this album there were very few features and it just feels like an hour-long journey into Redman's mind whenever I put it on. Couple that with our shared affinity for the other smoke and it's always been my Redman-album-du-jour. But the sound Erick Sermon brings to the table in 1996 just sounds so much fuller and fleshed out than what Redman produced. He brings an air of dusty Beatminerz ethics to his samples (check the vinyl pops on "Pick It Up"), but the funk of EPMD is still definitely present. No offense to Redman but the final effect is just more professional sounding.
And a professional sound is definitely what Redman deserved in the middle of the decade. Unlike Red Gone Wild or whatever else he's done lately, Muddy Waters finds Redman rapping like nearly no other rapper can about things nearly no other rapper would think about on top of beats that aren't too far behind whatever else came out in '96, especially New York. Sermon keeps it simple, but so did Premier during this period and he certainly doesn't catch any real flak for it. Like all of Redman's albums, it does still suffer from sounding really samey throughout the album and ultimately that kind of holds it back. I'm not sure Redman could ever cut a track with some so-called substance, but at his lyrical height it would have been really nice to hear him try. That's just not Redman's style though, and it's definitely a minor complaint. Redman's albums are your favorite rapper's favorite albums, hour-long clinics on what it takes to be a crowd motivator a/k/a MC, not just a guy spitting punchline after punchline. Really dope album. |
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G.O.Z.
 Lagoon Company
[Rating7808841]
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"Niggas be like 'Ah, he changed his style up'/shut da fuck up, ya still a dickrider!"
Well.....not everybody was such a big fan of Redman's acid-induced journeys through the Darkside so Album #3 is a return to form. Here's Muddy Waters.
For Muddy Waters, Redman has stopped using LSD, which means his lyrics are less bizarre. So what you get here is bragging, smoking weed, and Soopaman Luva without any weird stuff. Obviously, this makes his performance here an updated version of Whut? Thee Album which nobody has a problem with. Redman's technique is even sharper here than on Whut? Thee Album and still have you listening to his joints for days trying to catch every little thing he says. Let's not forget to mention he's even more charismatic here than on Whut? and Dare Iz a Darkside. Do I need to explain further why Redman is one of my all-time favorites?
As usual, Muddy Waters is produced by Erick Sermon and Reggie Noble with some help from future frequent collaborator Rockwilder, Ty Fyffe, Pras, and Te-Bass. For those of you familiar with E-Dub's dense, minimalist production in between the EPMD breakup and the EPMD reunion, Muddy Waters is more of that. Needless to say, these beats are a little more accessible than the production on Dare Iz a Darkside. Of all the rappers Erick Sermon produced for during this time, these beats sound best with Redman. The MC and the style of production were just made for each other.
Problems? Nope. Muddy Waters is 60+ minutes of Redman killing it under excellent Sermon production.
I recommend this to fans of Hit Squad, Def Squad, Busta Rhymes (particularly The Coming), Doggystyle, Heltah Skeltah, and mid '90s East Coast hip-hop in general.
With Whut? Thee Album and Dare Iz a Darkside under his belt already, Muddy Waters is a three-peat for Redman.
Song Quality: 10/10 (third classic in a row!)
Lyrics: 10/10 (Brick City's Finest at his finest!)
Beats: 9/10 (nice beats from Sermon and Reggie as usual)
Favorites:
Iz He 4 Real
Rock da Spot
Welcome (Interlude) (Redman, I got yo' back!!)
Case Closed
Pick It Up
Smoke Buddah
Whateva Man
On Fire
Creepin'
It's Like That (My Big Brother)
Da Bump
Yesh Yesh Y'all
What U Lookin' 4
Soopaman Luva 3 (I like the "One Love" sample)
Rollin'
Da Ill Out
Least favorites:
none |
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Zephos
 Ok
[Rating24583089]
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Help! I'm sick with a disease, not enjoying Redman! What's going on here! What don't I get? What am I missing? Why isn't this even getting a 3.5 from me when it has a near 4 average round' here? What's everyone enjoying over there? Can I see? Please! Somebody! Help! I'm not impressed! And I can't stop! I just keep....being...underwhelmed by everything he does except maybe his delivery! And event hat gets tiring after a few tracks! I'm not a hip-hop rookie anymore! This isn't just a matter of unseasoned ears or acquired taste! So what's the matter! It's not even that I hate it....I...I....I just don't even know! Redman...you, it's you. I just don't get you. What have you ever done for me huh? Huh?? Redman....I...I...want to like you dude.... please....let me in...let me in on what everyone else is hearing...don't leave me here...alone....it's dark here Redman... ..it's cold....and I'm lonely and afraid....is anyone out there? Hello? Redman??? Anybody???? Hello..??!?!??!.......... oh..god...so...c-cold...and....alone....
Rating: 3
Highlights: Case Closed, On Fire, Soopaman Luva 3, Rollin' |
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team_vampire
CD
[Rating23378780]
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Is there any point in choosing a favourite Redman CD out of his first 3 albums? They all have dense, murky beats from Erick Sermon and Reggie Noble, they all have a couple Def Squad guest spots, they all have some funny skits and some unfunny ones, they all have a Sooperman Lover track somewhere near the end, and I'm pretty sure they've recycled a couple beats too (definitely heard that beat from 'Da Bump' before...) Every time I think 'Wow, this is the best one!' I'm reminded 'Dare Is A Darkside' and 'Whut? Thee Album' also smoke. I guess I'll just have to put all three as joint (huh huh) first.
Anyway, it's a Redman album so point is, we know what to expect. After a terrible/pointless intro, we get track after track of Red's earthy humour, distinctive voice and spontaneous sounding rhymes. It's a little strange to hear him give a shout to 50 Cent, but apart from that, nothing came along that wasn't expected. The beats here are a little spacier and less claustrophobic than '...Darkside' but we're still a long way from 'Life After Death' crossover territory, even with some production by that smooth dude Rockwilder. Reggie still has great lyrics and his flow has not really changed since 92.
If you're a fan of hip-hop at all, I doubt you haven't heard Red. He's too pervasive an element, what with Red & Meth's success, and the fact he's been on a Xtina song as well. However, it's possible you haven't heard his first 3 albums, or any of the stuff before he cashed in and looked for radio play. I'd say any hip-hop fan needs some Redman in their collection. This one is as good a place to start as any. |
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DaTempetz
 Excellent
Digital
[Rating21775058]
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Redman managed to flip his style again from his sophomore album Dare Iz A Darkside and luckily it was a good flip. His debut is of course one of those albums that can't be compared to any other records, but this album is a good number two after that. Redman is the biggest star once again as his rapping is STILL top notch, unique and innovative. If you've read my reviews of Whut? Thee Album and Dare Iz..., you may notice that I've said these exact same things already before. I can't figure out anything new to say about Red's rapping because he just doesn't fail. He doesn't reinvent himself but he also doesn't sound over-played or cliché. So when I mentioned the style flip, I meant actually the beats. Erick Sermon comes back and I have to admit that these two make an excellent couple: Red kills everyone on the mic and Erick rips it off with funky beats and hardcore touch. Sermon is one of my favourite producers and this album is one reason why: he can reinvent himself (well, not totally "RE"invent but you know what I mean) and still make fresh trademarky beats. On the whole Muddy Waters is an excellent album and continues Reggie Noble's tradition of great hip hop albums. It's definitely one of the nicest milestones of '96.
Artistic: 4.0
Entertainment: 4.5 |
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diction
Excellent
CD
[Rating9729199]
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Lyrics: 4.5
Beats: 4.0
Redman's 3rd album Muddy Waters is definitely one of his best and one of the highlights of 1996 hip hop. It's his reunion with Erick Sermon on production, Redman did a good job without him on his previous album but the best results happens when these 2 are combined. This is really some pure hip hop, just beats and rhyming without any fancy tricks. Redman makes this album so great, his rapping is almost on another level with one straight ill line after the other and he's just so hilarious. I love this album because it has near infinite replay value, you certainly can't catch everything Redman is saying on the few first times and learning the lyrics is just very fun to do. Erick Sermon provides a bunch of excellent beats, this is one of the last times where he would be this effective. While my favorite Redman album will forever be "Whut", this is another one to confirm his legendary status and a damn near essential one to have. |
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williamherbert
 Victory Hop Devil
Digital
[Rating20037195]
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Way too many bu__sh__ skits on this one, which ruin the flow of the album. None of them are interesting or funny or in any way redeeming. He should put more effort into writing better songs and producing better beats. The songs that are here are not bad, but they aren't great and the flow of the album is destroyed by, what, a chicken head convention? C'mon Red, you're better than that. Also, so many of his songs have too many 8-bar choruses that feel like they are there to simply pad the album's runtime. It does have enough solid songs to salvage it, but could have been so much better without the clutter.
Best songs: "Rock Da Spot," "It's Like That," "Smoke B----h," "Do What Ya Feel" |
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chase007
CD
[Rating19979215]
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HOW CAN U RATE THIS AGAINST NOTHING IN COMPARISON. REDMAN IZ ON FIRE ON THIS 1. |
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_JMFG_
Vinyl
[Rating18966536]
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Top to bottom, a decent LP, but this album has its bright spots. "Do What Ya Feel" is one of Redman and Method's nicest collabos. |
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rn_96
Very Good
Digital
[Rating18512041]
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crazy hiphop beats. redman spittin realness thorugout... the song whateva man is somthing u can just chillout and not care whats happening in the moment.
5 star songs: Pick it up, Whateva man
3.8/5 stars = 76%
RN 96 RATINGS:
1 = horrible (suck ass)
2 = not worth listening (home made garbage)
3 = decent
4 = Amazing
4.5 - 5 = CLASSIC (BUY IT) |
distribution | 1.0 | | 3 | | 1.5 | | 1 | | 2.0 | | 4 | | 2.5 | | 6 | | 3.0 | | 28 | | 3.5 | | 46 | | 4.0 | | 95 | | 4.5 | | 66 | | 5.0 | | 43 |
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Very nearly perfect. | | Digital |
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Lagoon Company | | |
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at least you're not a fuckin libertarian | | Digital |
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distribution | Cassette | | 2 | | CD | | 168 | | CD-R | | 4 | | Vinyl | | 9 | | Minidisc | | 1 | | Digital | | 88 | | Multiple | | 1 |
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rym
