Against The Grain - Operation Takeover
Reviewed By: ULTIMATECDLINK
Album Rate: 3.75 out of 5 Stars
Silky Smooth, Slo Mo, and Big Shaboo make up the trio Against The Grain. The Little Rock, Arkansas rap group drop their 20 track debut album on Don Dada Productions. The album features Phil C, WordRunna, Mob Beezie, Ralph Riddle, Film-One, & Tracie Valace.
1. Can't Nobody Do It Like Me-- this track has a 70's funky, vibin party type beat. It's not exactly a club track but more somethin you'd bump at a party.
2. For The Love Of Music-- this track has a laid back, synthesizer beat. Silky Smooth starts it off with a verse about how you can't be coming with that weak shit in the studio. Big Shaboo and Slo-Mo add decent verses as well. It's a bumpable track.
3. It's Critical-- this track has a nice midtempo beat that you can bob ya head to. Slo Mo raps about the haters, paper chasin, ballin, etc. It's a nice song that you can bump in the ride.
4. Play Sleep (f/ Tracie Valace)-- this song has a slower tempo on that R&B tip. Silky Smooth sings about 2 lovers and their sensual way of "playin sleep" before making love. There's also a rap verse in Spanish halfway through the song. This would be a great radio song for the ladies out there.
5. Just Pimpin-- this track has a midtempo beat with the sound effects of what sounds like water bubbling. Silky Smooth, Slo-Mo, and Shaboo rap about how it goes down in the Rock. Nice track that you'll wanna listen to more than once.
6. We're Dangerous [radio edit](f/ Tracie Valace)-- this track has a electric guitar laced beat that gives it a rock and roll feel. The hook is catchy and goes well with with the beat. The more you listen to this one, the more it grows on you.
7. Ride With Me-- this track has a shifty type beat with horns and synthesizers. Against The Grain basically trade bars in a way that you get perspective of a young cat trying to pick up a female. Decent song but the beat didn't really do much for me.
8. Who Can You Trust-- Silky Smooth raps the hook which goes "Who can you trust when it's your friends who put your life in danger (nobody)". It's basically a track about cheaters and that breaking of trust. Not really feelin this one too much.
9. It's Gettin Ugly-- this track has a nice midtempo keybord beat that you can just sit back and enjoy. Shaboo starts it off with a nice verse on the mic. The hook goes "it's gettin ugly in here/it's gettin crazy in here/why don't sit back, relax, and try to drink our beer" This is a tight track that will get ya ready to buss heads in the clubs. Nice job by everyone on the song.
10. Welcome To Little Rock (f/ WordRunna)-- this track has a grimey beat with deep basstones. Get a load of WordRunna on this one and you'll catch yourself sayin "damn". His rapid fire delivery is second to none. They reppin for Little Rock and the Natural State on this one. Nice song overall.
11. Come Girl Do Your Dance-- this song is an uptempo effort about the strippers in the clubs. It's an OK track but not much replay value here in our opinion.
12. Soldiers-- this track has a decent midtempo beat with lots of tubas different sound effects. Pretty nice job on the mics on this one. It's a bumpable track.
13. You Ain't Real-- this one has a slower, laid back beat. Silky Smooth and Shaboo come tight on the mic on this one. The R&B hook goes "you ain't real/you be hatin/so stop pretending/you be fakin". This is one of the best songs on the album in our opinion.
14. Dear America-- this track has a slower piano laced beat. It's a song about the pain and struggles growing up in our lifetime in this country. It's a track that probably almost everyone is gonna be able to relate to and make you reminsice about your life thus far.
15. No Stuntin-- this track is about how Against The Grain ain't about that stuntin and shinin because they ain't had shit to begin with. They ain't forget their roots in the projects and havin to grind and hustle to make it. Tight song.
16. End Of The Struggle-- this track has a nice Oriental type beat with horns and guitars that you'll bob ya head to. The hook goes "it's the end of the struggle/ain't nobody taking our shit/ain't nobody taking our dough/oh no/we chasin green til our feet bloody/I got my soldiers grippin grain/we bout to get our hands dirty". Good flows from everyone on the mic. Nice song.
17. This Heart, This Life-- this track has a nice laid back beat with a decent bassline. It's one of those tracks that's designed to make the listener feel the pain in their struggles and to see the same world we've seen through their eyes. Bumpable song.
18. To My Adversaries-- this track has one of our favorite beats on the album although it might have been better if they stayed with the same intro beat throughout the song. The song serves as a warning to all the enemies and haters out there to watch out or suffer the consequences. Like they say, 'cross the line and you'll bleed.'
19. We Dangerous [street mix]
20. Outro-- a few more bars and some shout outs to end the album
Overall, the production on the album was decent. Some of the beats were a little lacking but overall a nice effort. Silky Smooth, Slo-Mo, and Big Shaboo came through with a nice job on the mic. It's worth checkin out for some new bumpin music out of the Arkansas. Against The Grain is doin their part to help put the Natural State on the map.
Against The Grain - Operation Takeover