#1 The writers here at iStandardProducers.com focus mostly on the beats … obviously – hence the name “PRODUCERS” in iStandardProducers.com… however we are still reviewing the record as a whole.
#2 EVERY track gets equal shine…
#3 You know how we do it…we don’t check the credits until the album is heard in its entirety.
Intro: Dope intro that definitely sets the dark, street tone of the tape. For someone who’s never been to Chi Town, this intro will more than likely keep them from booking that trip.
Amerikkkas Worst Nightmare: [PROD BY HONORABLE C.N.O.T.E] The news clip intro blends perfectly with Track #2, which has that eerie, movie score feel. L.E.P. rode the beat like they made it, flow is on point. The hook on this track was a bit plain to me though, for an album opener.
25th hour: [PROD BY J.U.S.T.I.C.E LEAGUE] My personal favorite on the tape. L.E.P.’s flow on this one reminds me of some classic Mobb Deep, lyrics and flow are powerful… if you grind, you will relate. To fully appreciate this, you have to listen for the intricacy of this beat; the eerie synth, choir, church bells, heartbeat sounds and strategically placed echoes… not to mention that Guitar! Yea, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League Murdered this track.
More after the jump!
Faces: [PROD BY ROC & MAYNE] The bassline and keys breathe life into an overused sample. However, this is my favorite use of this sample (Cerrone- “In The Smoke”) that I’ve heard yet. Classic break that transitions nicely into drums with a live feel & dope instrumentation. Count and Moonie get deep on “Faces” and paint a picture for the listeners with a story telling flow that I’m really feeling. The tragic story they are spitting about is explained in the outro of the track by a news report.
Rush Hour: [PROD BY J.U.S.T.I.C.E LEAGUE] Another dopeboy beat with menacing orchestral synths, fast hi hats and snare rolls perfect for Meek Mill or anyone from the MMG camp. Overall another solid production from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. While Meek Mill overshadows L.E.P. on this one, they still hold their own. This one is def a single for the streets…Turnt Up!
White House: [PROD HONORABLE C.N.O.T.E] L.E.P. isn’t aiming for radio play, but I’m sure the hood will be running this one back. Driving synths and Hard Drums… type of beat that makes you want to break something. Enough Said.
Claim My Shit: [PROD BY @HEISDRFOXX] Another cut the streets will go crazy over. Beat is reminiscent of most lackluster, trap anthem tracks… I can’t think of anything that makes this beat stand out. L.E.P. is going Hard at somebody, glad its not me.
Johnny Cochran: [PROD BY CHASE N CASHE] Count Bodied this unconventional Chase n Cashe beat! Spooky synths and strings give this beat a New age hip-hop horror film feel. If Tales from the Hood was coming out in 2012, this would be the theme music.
Click Clack: [PROD BY PHOENIX for THE SOUNDKILLERS] This is the first beat on the project that I’m not really feeling. If L.E.P. didn’t decide to kill this it would have been skip worthy. Dion Primo saved the day, the hook caught my ear as soon as the track came on. What’s a Gangsta Tape without a reference to guns or money being your chick?
Zombie Land: [PROD BY J-KITS] Fitting track for Now or Neva’s Halloween release. Fellow Chicago native Lupe Fiasco drops a pretty dope verse on Zombie Land; one of the most talked about tracks prior to the release of the project, and it lived up to its hype. Dope hook and Concept, overall a solid track. I love L.E.P.’s style and flow over up top beats. This one is simple but the switch-ups and eerie, yet soulful melody give it an epic feel.
Streetz Talkin: Definitely a street anthem, the beat and hook make this one radio worthy (after some editing, of course). The beat starts off slow during the hook, but picks up as they get into their verses. You can tell from L.E.P.’s flow that they mean what they say and they are speaking from experience, not just spitting written stories from a notebook, which gives tracks like this one an authentic feel that listeners relate to. Another real solid joint on this project.
We Want our Money: [PROD BY DONYEA'G] Again, L.E.P. seems to stand out more on beats like this although, I’m not a fan of this beat in particular. This simple beat with a choir sample works well with Moonie’s aggressive, back n forth style flow. The beat’s intro is too long and takes away from the suspense of the track. By the end of the cut, I found myself disappointed there was no hook, no switch-up, or no drop in the beat where the hook would be. The sample is off at points, but somehow that manages to add a unique element to the track.
Baghdad: [PROD BY HIT-BOY] One of the hardest beats on the project… the tone of this track reminds me of Jay-z’s “Where I’m From.” While the beat doesn’t change much, aside from drum rolls and drops, Moonie & Count’s wordplay mesh with this beat perfectly to make it complete. Bass & synth pave the way for talks of street life, which I’m sure will resonate with those who know what Crook County living is like.
Now or Neva: [PROD BY ANIMAL] Greatness. Producer Animal lives up to his name with this one, analyzing this sample perfectly along with impeccable chop work. Drums are simple but knocking and the sample couldn’t have been better for the message L.E.P. is conveying in this track (and the project in its entirety). I can’t really ask for more from this one.
Closer: [PROD BY FRANK DUKES] The production is dope on this, and the mix makes the hook fit perfectly as if it were part of the sample. Live drums give it a raw feel, which helps to preserve the cohesive, hood vibe of the tape, seeing as this is one of the more commercial joints on it. The placement of the track doesn’t fit well in the transitions of tracks.
I Just Wanna: [PROD BY YOUNG RY & M3RGE] Didn’t expect the drums to drop like that! The swing is fitting for a “chick track” or a “strip club joint” Can’t go wrong with the piano melody, and the synth on the hook complements it perfectly (Dion Primo on the hook with another winner). Not a typical L.E.P. joint but refreshing to hear from them, as it shows their versatility. I’m glad L.E.P. did something for the ladies and is covering different bases with out straying too far from their signature sound. Getting a verse from Shawnna, another fellow Chicagoan, makes this track complete.
Last Dance: [PROD BY J.U.S.T.I.C.E LEAGUE] Having an outro from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League is sure to end your project with a bang. While the cinematic instrumentation is flawless, the drums don’t seem to fit well with the rest of the composition. Once again, L.E.P. refuses to dumb it down for the masses, and they spit it how it is… this one might be too much for a lot of people, but I respect it. An all-together solid track.
Outro: [PROD BY FRANK DUKES] While this is only shout outs over a beat, the beat and vocals lack the quality the rest of the project offers. The feel is fitting for the credits rolling, but not for the hard theme of the tape. Shout out to Count!
Wide open feat. PACMAN [PROD BY TN2 PRODUCTIONS]: Best track ever! …. Nah but really, we did this track a couple years ago now so I feel like the sound quality is lacking on it, but perfect for a hardcore L.E.P. track. Sample and Hard drums create the backdrop for L.E.P to do what they do best. Not too much I can say about a track I produced without being bias, so you’ll have to listen for yourselves! More great music to come from L.E.P. and TN2 productions soon. ** R.I.P. Pacman, a feature on this track, who passed away before the release of this project. **
Wall to Wall, this was a universally dope project; I give it a 4 out of 5. The one big issue I had with this was the track order. If some of these tracks were in different places on the album, I feel like it would have sounded more cohesive and listeners would be more likely to play this straight through. The transitions were rough, and the last half of the project was better flow wise than the first half. As far as production, there were a few songs that I think L.E.P. could have def used something better for, but for the most part they chose their beats well. Much respect to L.E.P. for always keeping it real, fans recognize and appreciate the validity of what you choose to put in your music.
Also, as a result of the release of “Now or Neva” and its depictions of Chi Town streets, Chicago Tourism revenue has dropped 60% lol Shout out to the Homies!
-Kels
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