I still remember the first time I heard Redman kick a flow. It was 1991, and I was an fan of EPMD because on three separate occasions, being able to rap they lyrics to “You Gots to Chill” saved me from getting picked on. I was a nerd, and a giant one at that, straight from central casting, and EPMD were just the kind of dope emcees to get behind to save myself from insult. So, when I heard “Hardcore,” and there was a fresh voice on the record, a high pitched charlatan with a troublesome edge, I was a fan. I later knew the rapper as Redman, and was a perpetual admirer. I know all the words to “How High.” I still lift in the gym with “Time 4 Sum Aksion” getting me amped. The Blues Brothers greatness of the video for “Whateva Man” or the humor of the “I’ll Bee Dat” clip keeps me in stitches. “Da Rockwilder” is one of the most underrated songs of the hip hop decade, and his crossover one Christina Aguilera’s “Dirrty” gave her the boost she needed to make that era of her career legitimate. All that being said, Redman’s seventh studio album, Reggie, in featuring nothing of the artist I always respected, is a boring failure and lesson to new school emcees in a digital age.
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If you are an out of touch over and over 40 fan of hip hop, this is the best album of the year. It legitimately features a duet between Redman and hip hop legend Kool Moe Dee on “Rockin’ With the Best,” a straight up solid hip hop record discussing the place that the man who dared to ether LL Cool J and the Funk Doctor Spock will always hold as lyrically proficient emcees with chops honed in the golden era. “That’s Where I B” features DC go go legend DJ Kool, and is fantastic, but in the realm of “cabaret DJ trying to bridge current norms with classic style” way. It’s a fun throwback with modern elements, and is the exact essence that this album should have aspired to. Rockwilder produced debut single “Def Jammable” is the classic trunk rattler and party rocker of Redman’s past, but gone is the immediate angst of his past and instead the giant track is rocked with a well worn enthusiasm that comes from years of comfort with his persona. As with everything on this album, it’s not a release by a man who needs the money, it’s done by a man still in love with the art of hip hop.
He has all hands on deck here.Pete Rock, Just Blaze, DJ Toomp and Don Cannon alll contributed beats to this project. However, all of these producers are in time with providing immediate, intricate and entertaining beats that blend the classic kickdrum power of 1995 with the synthetic blast of 2010. However, Redman just isn’t the same rhymer he once was. Possibly the most depressing track on here is his collaboration with Method Man and Bun B, the weed anthem “Lite 1 Witcha Boi,” which while featuring top hip hop veterans falls short because it’s not Bun B mentoring Wale and trying to stay relevant, and neither is it Meth delivering a classic rhyme and leaving you in awe. It’s three veterans recording in a studio and passing around a spliff, and it feels stale and reticent. It’s unfortunate that “Tiger Style Crane,” which is just a lyrical throwdown closes out this release, as after listening for 40 uneven and underwhelming minutes, it’s solid excellence is muted.
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