Daily Staff Writer

Greatest Hits

Death Row Artists

After all the problems Death Row has been facing lately (Dr. Dre’s departure, 2Pac’s death and Suge Knight’s legal woes) what is left for the record label to brag about? How about all of the great music the label has left as a legacy?

That is exactly what Greatest Hits is, a two-disc, 33-song compilation that spans Death Row’s past to its future.

Greatest Hits contains eight songs from Dr. Dre, nine from Snoop Doggy Dogg and seven from 2Pac. Included are such gangster rap staples as “Nuthin’ But A G Thang,” “Gin And Juice,” “Lodi Dodi” and “Murder Was The Case.”

Also included are such poignant songs as “Dear Mama,” “Me Against The World” and “Doggy Dogg World.”

It is no surprise that most of the material is culled from Death Row’s three biggest releases, The Chronic, Doggystyle and All Eyez On Me, or that only the most popular songs from the soundtracks for Above The Rim, Murder Was The Case and Friday are included.

However, there are a few surprises contained within the two compact discs. Among them are Ice Cube’s “No Vaseline,” in which Cube disses former N.W.A. bandmates Dr. Dre, MC Ren and Eazy-E, not to mention Death Row.

In fact, the song was released through Priority Records, which is not an affiliate of Death Row, so why is it on this compilation?

But it’s no worse than including 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up” which is from Strictly 4 My Niggaz, released long before he ever joined the Death Row stable. At least there are two selections from 2Pac’s posthumous release, Makaveli.

Also included are seven very different remixes of previously released material. Highlights include “Let Me Ride” featuring Jewell (not the Jewel of “Who Will Save Your Soul” fame, but she does have a beautiful voice).

It also adds horns, keyboards and a different percussion loop. “Dre Day” also features singing from Jewell and adds an entire horn section.

Unfortunately, besides the remixes and the soundtrack selections, there isn’t much to offer that hasn’t been heard a million times before.

Even some of the remixes sound pretty pathetic (“Gin And Juice,” “Who Am I?” and “I Get Around”). If you already own The Chronic, Doggystyle or All Eyez On Me, don’t even bother with this compilation.

—Ben Jones

3

Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation Soundtrack

Various Artists

If you are familiar with the South African a capella group Ladysmith Black Mambazzo then you are one up on most people as far as South African music goes. And have I got a CD for you.

Full of rhythms not often heard in this part of the western hemisphere, the soundtrack from the documentary Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation is a chronological journey through the history of South Africa’s most favorite son.

The opening song, a 30-second instrumental called “Robben Island Ambiance,” is a tribute to the island were Mandela spent 27 years of his life imprisoned for his political beliefs.

The track includes sounds such as snarling guard dogs and wheeling sea gulls, all evoking the sounds with which Mandela lived during his long confinement on the island.

Several of the tracks are not actually new ones, but flashbacks to the days long before Mandela was president of South Africa.

Tracks like “Viyole”, “Vuka, Vuka” and “Pula Kgosi Seretese” are all from the 1950s era and are sung in Mandela’s native language.

The disc also contains products of the swing era, but it’s obvious that Benny Goodman and Count Basie didn’t have an exact lock on the swing technique.

When listening to songs like “De Makeba,” which features world renowned singer Miriam Makeba, it makes me want to chill. The whole album is a redemption song.

Sometimes the listener will sit and relax and just hum along; other times the energy in songs like “Black President” and “Guns and Pangas” is enough to make one want to start a protest.

The rhythm in the music is like the pulse of the South African nation.

Just give Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation a listen. You may not understand all the words, but after the first two times you will find yourself singing along, sounding like you were born in South Africa.

—Rhaason Mitchell

4

The Aftermath

Dr. Dre Presents

Following Dr. Dre’s departure from Death Row Records, what is left for the good doctor to do? Well, he has found quite a lot to keep him preoccupied: producing records and starting a new record label, Aftermath Entertainment.

The Aftermath is a compilation showcasing the talented people we will see from this label, and if their upcoming projects are as good as what is presented here, Aftermath Entertainment will soon take Death Row’s position as the rap industry’s leader.

The Aftermath starts out with “East Coast/West Coast Killas” from Group Therapy, a superstar rap band which includes Cypress Hill’s B-Real, KRS-1, Nas and RBX.

The song promotes a truce to the coastal feud currently enveloping rappers. It has a heavy bass line which is pretty funky and a great sing-along chorus.

Other highlights include Dr. Dre’s “Been There Done That” which features a great chorus, inspired lyrics, great rapping and a multi-layered rhythm.

It is also Dre’s version of why he decided to leave Death Row to form his own record label.

“Choices” is a flavored soul selection from Kim Summerson, who displays her wide range of vocal ability. She is definitely a singer to watch out for with the possibility of being the next Whitney Houston.

Another artist to watch for is Mel-Man, who makes his debut with “Shitting On The World.”

The song has a throbbing bass line, while Mel’s rapping sounds seem quite inspired, with such boasts as “Dre and Mel have the whole world shaking.”

Maurice Wilcher and Nicole Johnson deliver a heavenly tune called “Please,” which is a soul-flavored rhythm and blues ballad with wonderful bass crescendos and fluctuations.

The highlight of the disc doesn’t come until the conclusion, however. “Fame” is a remix of the classic television show theme song. It is produced by Dre and features RC on rapping duties.

The song is paced at a faster tempo than the original and adds frenetic keyboard beeps.

Judging by the material presented on this debut compilation, Aftermath Records is definitely going to be a force to keep your eyes on.

The label has a ton of great talent, innovation and creativity going for it.

—Ben Jones

4