Daily Staff Writer

‘Southern Devils’

Pimpadelic

Pimpadelic is a Texas bred rock/rap group with roots that seem to have been influenced by everyone from Conway Twitty to AC/DC to N.W.A. They shamelessly promote their image of girls, drugs, booze and Satan while managing to make some decent music along the way.

The band strays away from the more hardcore metal guitar style of other rock/rap groups such as Limp Bizkit and Primer 55, opting instead for more classic rock riffs much in line with Kid Rock.

That isn’t the only comparison the band draws with Kid Rock though. “Vegas” is Pimpadelic’s version of the Kid Rock hit, “Only God Knows Why.” And it can’t be ignored that just like Rock, Pimpadelic takes pride in the same white-trash pimp stance. Pimpadelic even sends a shout-out to Rock in “Break You Down.” “Props to Kid Rock/ Pussy and loot/ We both kick the truth to the goddamn youth.”

Easy Jesus and his lyric kicking sidekick, Dirty K are both solid in their rhymes. If you still think that there aren’t white boys who can throw down on the mic, Easy Jesus and Dirty K are the proof. DJ Mia’s beats and scratching compliment the rhyming duo as well. Take away the guitars and live drums and these guys could hang with a straight up hip-hop crowd any day.

“Caught it From Me,” “Check Yourself” and “Perpetraitor” are good examples of the group’s razor sharp rhymes and classic rock choruses. Easy Jesus has a very peculiar singing voice that is amazingly similar to that of Geddy Lee from Rush.

Sometimes though, Pimpadelic lets their image interfere with their music to a point where it is embarrassing. The group just doesn’t let up in its relentless act to convince listeners that they are truly beer guzzlin’, Satan lovin’, pimps.

“So Damn Tough” and “Nasties Get Up” are downright comical attempts by the band to force-feed their image and “Fire” is a lame tribute to Satan. “They teach the children to hate me in the churches and schools/ Suicidal thoughts often enter my mind/ Not Knieval but I’m evil/ Pentagram is my sign,” raps Dirty K.

Pimpadelic does put a fresh twist onto the rock/rap scene that is growing increasingly predictable, it’s just too bad that at times the group is more concentrated on being controversial than they are on the music itself.

2 1/2 Stars

—Trevor Fisher

‘Yeeeah Baby’

Big Pun

Christopher Lee Rios (Big Pun) is dead, but like so many now deceased rappers, his music lives on.

“Yeeeah Baby,” Big Pun’s latest, is a blend of many current music trends.

Rock power chords introduce “Watch Those,” a track influenced by rap/metal, but it falls short of Korn or Limp Bizkit in intensity. The rap/metal feel is also evident later on the disc with “Leather Face.”

“Yeeeah Baby” finds Big Pun using Spanglish throughout, a tactic that brought Ricky Martin fame. At times it is hard to understand which language the Punisher is using, because even his English has a Spanish accent.

The chorus of “100%” is in Spanish, but the verses are mostly in English, which makes the listener wonder if Big Pun was just trying to copy “Living La Vida Loca.”

The difference between Ricky and Big Pun is Big Pun sprinkles humor throughout his album.

However, the comic relief that is employed is a brand of genitalia-discussing, frat boy humor. This is clearly evident in the song “My Dick,” a song in which Big Pun tells the listener how the females must get on his “dick.”

Another song that might provoke a half-smile is a skit called “Air Pun.” In this skit, Big Pun mixes it up between snoring and farting, while on a commercial airline. If this humor doesn’t appeal to you, at least take comfort in knowing there are some kick-ass bass lines on both.

Perhaps the big song on “Yeeeah Baby” is “It’s So Hard.”

Keeping in line with current rap trends, it features Donnel Jones on backup vocals. “It’s So Hard” is a song about Big Pun’s daily life, and the troubles he faces. Although it may be tough to believe Pun’s plight, the song’s intro includes a cutesy guitar solo and catchy lyrics.

The latter half of the record takes on the feel of filler music. The mood is temporarily broken on “Wrong Ones,” a song that includes original rhythms using violins and other string instruments, but songs such as “My Twin” and “You was Wrong,” could have been excluded altogether.

Though Big Pun borrows sounds from many current artists, “Yeeeah Baby” does have its own distinctive feel.

It’s worth the purchase for fans, but might take a little bit of convincing for others.

3 Stars

—Paul Kix