Daily Staff Writer

Shaquille O’Neal

You Can’t Stop the Reign

The 300 pound, biceps bulging, Superman logo-tattooed rapper – Shaquille O’Neal – hits you with rich bass sounds that will keep your head noddin’ all day and night with most of the tracks on his latest CD, You can’t STOP the REIGN.

The big fella had a lot of help from people in the R&B and hip-hop community. Performers such as Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, The Notorious B.I.G., DJ Quick, Mobb Deep and others blanket the 19-track disc with their influences.

Gone are the many references to how much game he has on the court and how no one can stop his teeth-jarring dunks. A semblance of maturity has seeped through the bald head of Shaq and he has come up with some songs that should become hits on the charts as well as radio.

You can’t STOP the REIGN hits hard with the single, “Still Can’t Stop the Reign.” The sample track from the 1980s hit-making group Loose Ends, provides the perfect smooth-mellow sound for Shaq and Notorious B.I.G. to flow as everyone is told to think again if he wants to challenge Shaq Diesel.

Peter Gunz adds to Shaq’s CD as he is featured on two of the tightest tracks, “Can I Play” and “Best to Worst.”

“More To Life” features the writing expertise of recently reunited New Edition members, Brown and Tresvant. The song is laced with a catchy repetitious snare beat. Brown even shows how he can flow when he takes the mic. His sound is laced with controlled anger. It’s effective. Shaq tells people that there is more out there than money and jewels.

“Big Dog Stomp” is a calling out by Shaq which references his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi. He calls out for the purple and gold in many instances.

Of course Shaq has to talk some trash. On “Game of Death” the music is tight as ‘Kazaam’ tells everyone that his “game is finesse, filled with pain and stress.” This track will definitely blow up anywhere hip-hop is accepted as appropriate for the radio.

It’s a good thing the break is coming up because you will not get a chance to hear many of the tracks on this one. This CD can definitely be labeled a must buy to kick off a party or ‘bump’ in your cars.

*** 1/2

— Vernon Johnson

Tricky

Pre-Millennium Tension

Tricky is a busy man. In the span of two years, he has released two albums under his own tag, one under the name Nearly God, let loose an E.P. titled Tricky Presents Grassroots, and remixed many other artists material including Bjork, the Gravediggaz and Garbage.

His most recent release, Pre-Millennium Tension, is a further exploration of the tag of “trip-hop,” breaking down its barriers and once again setting the pace for other artists to follow.

The first half of the album slinks along to repetitive beats and low grooves. “Vent” starts off the album full of Beatle-esque backward guitar sounds with Tricky’s vocals coming through without all that much distortion.

The first single, “Christiansands,” follows the opener, which features Martina Tooley-Bird’s vocals. Her swooning voice from Maxinquaye is evident in this song, leading the listener through the chorus: “I met a Christian in Christiansands and a devil in Helsinki.”

Tooley-Bird’s voice takes on a rough texture for other parts of the album. “Bad Dream,” a real standout on the album, has Tooley-Bird monotonously spilling out the words while a low, crashing rhythm guides the song along.

Tricky himself steps to the mic on “Tricky Kid” (his full name during his Massive Attack days). “They used to call me Tricky Kid/I live the life they wish they did/I live the life don’t own a car/Now they call me superstar.”

The second half is rather disjointed, as irregular rhythms and beats reign supreme along with a noisier soundtrack in general. That’s not an insult by any means, as Tricky is not afraid to step out of a comfortable groove and try something new, including a cover of Eric B. and Rakim’s “Lyrics Of Fury.”

This is an album that shows definite progress, even though you still can’t dance to it. But that could be a good thing….

****1/2

—Christopher Clair

Iowa State Singers

Under the Campanile

If you’ve never been to a concert by the Iowa State Singers, luckily they come to you on this disc. With performances including the Oratorio Choir and the ISU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, this first album released by the choir since 1989 is a cornucopia of sound and music.

Several genres of music are covered by the 20 tracks. Everything from Baroque and folk to contemporary and world beat. And, of course, the sounds of Iowa State close out the album.

Recorded over a span of three years, conductor Robert Molison does an excellent job of showcasing the talents of Iowa State’s student crooners. Beginning on a traditional note, literally, Campanile opens with a capella, Baroque choral pieces full of large sound. The elaborately ornate numbers generated by the choir are rich in texture and deep in meaning.

And, it’s nice to hear a version of “Danny Boy” that doesn’t come off a soundtrack about drunken, Irish mobsters.

By far, though, the highlight on this disc is a cover of the Sting song “Fragile.” Performed by the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, it is worth buying the CD just to hear this number.

Vocal percussionist Aaron McCullough does a Bobby McFerron-esque job of making sounds beyond human.

With the addition of “The Songs of Iowa State,” a medley that includes “Rise, Sons of Iowa State,” “Iowa State Fights,” and “The Bells of Iowa State” among others, this is an ideal gift for any Cyclone fan.

— Kris Fettkether