Rating:
Genre:
Rap
Release Date: 10/10/1995
Run Time: 58:18
After the critical and underground success of
the Souls of Mischief's debut,
93 'Til Infinity, expectations were high for the group's sophomore release. The release of
No Man's Land in 1995 revealed a greatly changed
Souls of Mischief, and fans and critics alike turned their backs on the group. Gone is the youthful giddiness of the debut; in its place is confrontation. Instead of detailing their youthful misadventures with drink and around the way girls,
Souls of Mischief contemplate groupies, overzealous
hip-hop heads, and success or the lack of it.
No Man's Land is laced with touches of anger and bitterness. The change in production style is even more shocking than the change in attitude. The golden
funk of
93 'Til Infinity has been replaced with muddier, harsher beats. While the complex layering of drum breaks and
jazz samples is still there, the effect is one of paranoia rather than of wild extroversion. Once the surprise wears off,
No Man's Land reveals itself to be a solid
hip-hop album, despite the cool welcome it first received. While
Souls of Mischief's second album is certainly a notch below
93 'Til Infinity, it deserves more attention and respect than it has been accorded.
~Chris Witt, All Music Guide
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