Gotty’s Note — Since TC does the majority of the reviews I asked him to chop up a quick reply/clarification on our ratings system in response to Phaseone’s comments on an earlier review. Understand — we go back & forth about reviewing albums & the accompanying rating, many times, before you see them. There is no science to it. Aww fuck it, let the beat drop…

phaseone Says:

“jesus, do you pussies ever give anyone anything besides a 3.5?!”

Pic HBO

Ain’t nobody got nothing to say about a 40-degree day.

Fifty? Bring a smile to your face.

Sixty? Shit, niggas is damn near barbecuing on that motherfucker.

Go down to 20? Niggas get their bitch on. Get their blood complaining.

But forty? Nobody give a fuck about 40. Nobody remember 40, and y’all niggas is giving me way too many 40-degree days! What the fuck? — Russell “Stringer” Bell

My sentiments exactly.

Do you think we actually like giving out 3-3.5 Cigs on the average? The game is infested with Boadie ass rappers who show glimpses of actual talent but won’t rise to prominence for whatever reason. We don’t make the albums, but we make the criteria. We sit back and observe. We see the leaks get sprung and watch cats go apeshit only for em’ to realize a couple weeks later what we already know: the shit is just aiight.

Trust me. When the time is right, we’ll be right there passing out Cohíbas to cement the occasion. We knew creating the rating system would get it’s own line of critics but I for one love the discussion. But we’re not those other guys. We don’t give out fanatic reviews just because MC so-and-so been in the game for “X” amount of years. You gotta earn them Loosies baby. And quite frankly, the level of cancer 2008 has put out has been less than fatal.

So next time you look up and realize that you haven’t bumped that album you was raving about at the time of it’s drop, remember what Stringer told you. When your replay value is 40-degrees, who gives a fuck in the long run?

Stray Shots

Souls_of_Mischief-93_Til_Infinity_(VLS)-1993

Snoop_Dogg-Imagine_Bw_I_Wanna_Luv_U-Promo_VLS-2006

Mos_Def-Ms_Fat_Booty-CDS-2000

Redman-Cant_Wait-VLS-1994

Keith Murray-The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World (Vinyl Promo)

P. Diddy – P.E. 2000 (CDS)

Nas, Kanye, Rakim & KRS-One – Better Then I Ever Been (Promo CDS)

Smoothe_Da_Hustler-And_It_Dont_Stop(12_Inch)-1998

Cormega – You Dont Want It/Take Mine/Killaz Theme(Vinyl 12″)

Genius-Gza-I_Gotcha_Back_(12Inch_Single)-1994

Gangstarr-Code_Of_The_Streets-Speak_Ya_Clout_(VLS)-1994

Snoop_Doggy_Dogg_Ft_Nate_Dogg_Warren_G_And_Kurupt-Aint_No_Fun-VLS-1993

Digital Underground – No Nose Job (Promo CDS)

Lady_Of_Rage-Unfucwitable_(Prod_By_DJ_Premier)_Promo_ VLS-2002

BDP – Ghetto Music Blueprint of Hip Hop

9th_Wonder-Brooklyn_In_My_Mind_(Crooklyn_Dodgers_II I)-VLS-2006

Dead_Prez-Mind_Sex_VLS-2000

Adult Swim World Wide Renewal Program Mixtape

Stray Shots