Vanguard:
Big Pimp Jones - Dollar Major, Neighborhood Playa
By Gary Schwind
I was drawn into this CD before I even
heard a note. This is a CD that has excellent packaging. The
front cover looks like one of those velvet paintings you might see in any
blaxploitation film. Luckily, the goodness doesn’t end there.
Dollar Major, Neighborhood Playa kicks
off with “The Jailbreak,” which is a microcosm of the album. It is
a short, hard-hitting funky tune, driven by thumping bass lines.
There is also a healthy dose of hip-hop on this album that reminds me a
bit of Pharcyde. Perhaps the best example of hip-hop-funk fusion
on this album is “We Funk It.” On this track, Jojo Shorty lays down
the rhymes to a funked-up version of, are you ready for this, the theme
song from “The Transformers.” It is wicked awesome.
I prefer the up-tempo songs, but the slow
jams like “Uptown” are pretty good too. Another good slow jam on
this album is “Let Me Get Naked for You.” I don’t think anything
more needs to be said about that one.
Where I give this band a lot of credit
is in their lyrics. You have to admire a band that can reference
Dikembe Mutombo, Eggo, Jedi and Yeti in a song. Especially when that
song is called “Funky Cops.” In “Vinyl Killer” Big Pimp Jones delivers
the only Bert Blyleven reference I’ve ever heard in a song. That
one scored big points with me.
This band would be great to see live, if
for no other reason than to see Pooky attack the bass. I don’t know
how it looks in person, but on disc it sounds like he’s trying to break
his bass in two. And that’s a good thing. One thing about this disc
is that it is not a disc to listen to discreetly on your headphones at
work. This is a CD you want blasting on the stereo with the volume
and the bass cranked up. Every song on here is pretty good, although some
are a step below the rest. If I have one critique about this album, it’s
the length. It’s too short. But then maybe that’s the point.
They give you a taste and you’re hooked. I know one thing for sure.
It worked on me.
CD Info Links
Big Pimp
Jones - Dollar Major, Neighborhood Playa
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