Encore
"The Essence/Defined By The Dollar"
Stones Throw STH-2005
The Blue-Collar Baller, Encore drops his debut single following the success of "Think Twice" on Peanut Butter Wolf's "Step On Our Egos?" EP. G-Luv The Architect (Homeliss Derilex) produces both sides of this Stones Throw 12", another soild release from one of the Bay Area's most promising independent record companies.
...The b-side is my ish though, no doubt. The beat has a
fresh piano in it and he goes through the song talking about how he's trying decide how to come with his shit: "I can't decide - am I
out for dough or pride?" Encore has a country-playa-pimpish type voice and its easy to picture him rapping about some bullish, but he
doesn't. Get past this, and on the b-side you've got a fresh cut and lyrics that hold their own weight. - Jay Bee, Hip Hop Vibes
Encore comes with some lyrical skills..."Quasi
nas's and neo-ras kass" this is an mc from the underground that has learned that you got to be yourself. I can't front on this cat.
Conviction on the mic...the A-side alone is enough to get this record. The outro to this record has some nice
cuts...The producer came with a nice back ground beat, heavy but not g-flavor. defined by the dollar - Piano break is the standout part of the track. A dope mc is a dope mc. This one is a lighter than the a-side, but the track is strong by
itself. "I aint taken what's given" Maybe I just like his politics, but on the strength, he has full command of the english and the slang. This record should be in the crate... - kari orr, house of phat beats
PB Wolf's label's newest features "Step On Our Egos" deb, Encore, with music by G Luv of Homeliss Derilex. Check "Defined By The Dollar" for the best run-down on the way that hip hop has been warped by the green stuff. Intelligent and melancholic, another Stones Throw beauty. - MUZIK (9 out of 10)
Side One
"The Essence"
1. Radio
2. Street
3. Instrumental
Side Two
"Defined By The Dollar"
1. Radio
2. Street
3. Instrumental
Back to 12" singles
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