by John Bear
Daily Lobo
When a group's gimmick has run dry, it probably feels like a nasty hangover.
Tha Alkaholiks - J-Ro, Tash and E-Swift - arrived in 1993 with 21 and Over which featured "Only When I'm Drunk," one of the best hip-hop songs of all time. The staggering bass line was first used by EPMD and later made famous by Jay-Z.
Aside from standard hip-hop gloating, the group mostly raps about drinking and smoking weed. It worked because they chose beats that make a listener's head spin. When they are on point, the room spins.
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Firewater - supposedly their farewell album - misses the mark. "Turn it up," the first song after the amusing "A-Team" inspired introduction features tinny and frankly amateurish production, a far cry from 13 years ago. "The Flute Song" which has received slight air play on 97.3 Kiss FM fares slightly better, but fails to bring things up to par. The lame snap, crackle and pop production continues on "The Get Down," leaving the first third of the album a complete mess. It's almost like the first hour of a hangover, not quite drunk anymore, but still too nauseous to drag oneself out of bed, stumble to the liquor store and resupply.
"Get Into It" picks up the pieces somewhat with sinister organ hits almost being crushed to death by a rolling drum line. J-Ro offers up some of his best lyrics on the album. It's like the first drink of the day. The hangover recedes for a moment, washed away by a wave of fleeting euphoria. "Chaos" offers more organ hits over a break beat that spins out of control throughout the track. The two tracks form the brief high point of the album.
That nasty hungover feeling returns on the aptly titled "Hangover," with lousy production washing away the pleasant memory of the previous two tracks. This downward trend continues on "Party Ya Ass Off" and "Handle It."
"Poverty's Paradise" attempts a comeback with sad, soulful guitar loops reminiscent of Wu-Tang, but doesn't manage to redeem the album, instead just fills up a few more minutes with uninspired pining about being broke - quit drinking and you will find your pockets somewhat fuller, silly rappers.
"Do It" conjures up memories of early '90s string and g-funk laced instrumentals, but it is 2006. Do something new.
The group claims on "Drink Wit Us," that they're not done yet, but sadly, they are. Tha Alkaholiks are talented enough, but four albums where almost every song is about getting drunk or getting stoned is just too much to stomach. The gimmick has worn thin and these three MCs must be pushing 40. It's time to grow up and get on the wagon, guys. Seriously.
