Rating:
Genre:
Rap
Release Date: 02/01/2008
Fresh from his small role in the 1993 film
Menace II Society,
MC Eiht followed
"Streiht Up Menace," his breakthrough hit single from the film's soundtrack, with
We Come Strapped. The album may be his full-length solo debut, but
Eiht was no rookie here. He had come of age as a member of
Compton's Most Wanted, a semi-successful
gangsta rap group, and brought along the defunct group's producer,
DJ Slip, to join him. And that's pretty much all there is to this album,
Eiht and
Slip. Make no mistake:
We Come Strapped is a sparse and straightforward album, just
Eiht's ghetto rhymes and
Slip's showering keyboards. And that's it: no extensive guest appearances, no
P-Funk interpolations, no lavish extravagances, just
Eiht's rhymes and
Slip's keyboards.
"All for Money" is the album highlight. Here
Eiht rhymes gently about doing whatever it takes to get paid while
Slip's keyboards hover alongside some smooth, jazzy guitar and "la-la"s in the distance. It's simple and laid-back, for sure, and it's distinct and evocative as well. Moreover, the same can be said about
We Come Strapped as a whole. This is a bare-bones album stripped down to the
G-funk essentials:
gangsta and
funk. Unfortunately, there's a lack of standout songs, and fresh ideas are few and far between. But it sure sounds good while it's playing.
~Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
;)
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