by Rami Mallis and Matthew Bailey
Daily Lobo
Rapper Shyne's latest release, Godfather Buried Alive, is a breath of fresh air in the stale, over-commercialized R&B-based world of mainstream hip-hop.
He is a rapper with an interesting and enticing background and story to tell, and he tells it a gritty, raw style. His vocals can be compared to the baritone, potent voice of the late Notorious B.I.G. Elements of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur's defiant attitudes are reflected in his music and his life story so far.
Shyne, or Jamal Barrow, is currently serving the third year of a decade-long jail sentence in the Clinton Correctional facility in New York, which once housed Tupac. Shyne may not be up for parole until at least 2009.
His part in the 1999 shootings at a Manhattan nightclub, where three people were wounded, landed him in jail and bitter towards former mentor Sean "Puffy" Combs, who was present the night of the incident.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Barrow supposedly fired a gun into the crowd after a patron insulted P. Diddy. The aftermath temporarily cut short his promising career and desire to put out music.
However, Godfather Buried Alive, a mix of tracks recorded during his trial along with fresher material, has put an end to the silence of the angst-fueled rapper. The album gives a dramatic illustration of life in the dog-eat-dog world of many New York rappers. The music highlights his strong views of an inherently flawed and hypocritical American system in line with other conscientious hip-hop artists, such as Nas and Talib Kweli.
Shyne started his own label, Gangland Records, a subdivision of Def Jam Recordings, also home to the Murder Inc. group that includes Ja Rule, a rapper Barrow has a lot of respect for.
The album is a credible and unique representation of Shyne's image as a legitimate gangster and potential as the next icon of rap. It evokes the same appeal as 50 Cent's work.
However, Godfather Buried Alive does suffer from a downfall in production. It is composed by a mish mash of producers, including Swiss Beats, Charlemagne, Moses Leviy, Just Blaze and Kanye West, which makes the album seem disjointed. The lack of narrative in the album structure may also confuse listeners.
Guest vocals include Nate Dogg and Kurupt, on "Behind the Walls," a three-year-old remix that is out of place, slightly outdated and placed between two of the strongest tracks on the album.
R&B singer Ashanti is featured on "Jimmy Choo," a Murder Inc. effort, that feels like a more pop-driven introduction single than the rugged, rebellious Shyne heard in other tracks.
The Buckwild-produced track "Quasi O.G," which contains a sample of the evocative Bob Marley song, "No More Trouble," shows the more introspective, even political side to Shyne's ability. He takes on the ongoing criticism of mainstream rap music by explaining America is responsible for violence, not hip-hop.
Other standout tracks include "Edge" and "Diamonds and Mac-10's," where Shyne showcases his unquestionable flow, and producers lay down their game-changing beats.
Shyne shows massive potential as a man whose next album could change commercial hip-hop forever. Hopefully his skills will transcend his controversial story, and when prisoner 01-A-3886 is released, he'll come out big.
Godfather Buried Alive
Shyne
Grade: A-
