Masta Killa - No Said Date: Album Review

Masta Killa, No Said Date (Nature Sounds, 2004)
I don't wanna be that guy who trashes that new Beastie Boys album one day and then turns right around and claims that this new Masta Killa album is one of the best things that has ever happened, period, but dude, you gotta fucking hear this new Masta Killa album. It's good! And it's actually out! Fuck yeah!

BORN CHAMBER

On the one hand, the whole kung-fu movie dialogue as an intro has been done before, but on the other hand, it's like, fuck it, it's classic Wu shit.

GRAB THE MIC

Masta Killa flows on this beat like a fucking champion. This song doesn't really do a whole lot, but it's just an intro, an opportunity for MK to be like, "This is how I do it and I'm gonna be doing it all night."

NO SAID DATE

This was some OutKast song from back in the day. I wish I cared more about OutKast so I could be like, "Yeah that's 'Such and Such'," but I don't. Anyhoo, it's pretty much different from the way they used it, not some lazy beat jack.

LAST DRINK

I always liked Masta Killa anyway, but in the past it did seem like his flow was a bit overly deliberate, as if he was reading his rhymes straight from the page. That's not really the case here at all. He really dominates the beats on this album.

LOVE SPELL

Rap love songs are usually just gimmicky bullshit meant for the bitches and hoes, but this one's not that bad. Remember that song "Camay" from Ironman (some of you were probably 8 at the time)? This one's more in that vein. Not nearly as awesome though.

THE FUTURE (SKIT)

Having your kids on your album isn't a good idea regardless of who you are. I don't care if you're Masta Killa or Freddie Foxxx or whoever. That shit is gay.

D.T.D

Rae and Ghost guest on this one. Need I say more? OK, I probably should. Rae and Ghost rhymed together on that last Rae album and the results were less than spectacular. These aren't.

WHATEVER

Some other Wu MCs that I'm not as familiar with rhyme on this one. The beat has a Second Disc of Wu-Tang Forever feel to it. In other words, it fucking owns. Masta Killa's verse (I would quote, but I couldn't find it anywhere and I'm too lazy to type) is especially sharp.

SECRET RIVALS

The Method Man verse on this shit is creamy goodness. This beat fucking stomps.

SKIT

More kung-fu dialogue. Whatever.

DIGI WARFARE

Maybe you've heard this. Masta Killa kicks it old school (ain't shit to him!) over some kinda fast, old school-esque futuristic sounding shit.

OLD MAN

No they just didn't! The beat is the fucking theme from Sanford & Son. Not the actual electric saxophone (or whatever it is), but the bassline. I live with a guy who's a dead ringer for the character Cal from that show. I would've liked to have heard Ol' Dirty kick more than the chorus on here though.

QUEEN

More of this rap love song bullshit. This one is probably better than that other one, especially lyrically. Neither of them have really spectacular beats.

SCHOOL

I used to be in school, but then I graduated. Man, it fucking sucked. I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone. Just don't go. I'm sure Kanye West will take care of you. He makes that much money.

SILVERBACKS

Speaking of which... And what's the deal with Inspector Deck, anyway? You would think he was capable of putting out a really good album (like this one), but he hasn't.

MASTA KILLA

Awesome. The beat sounds like some shit out of Enter the Dragon only, of course, more modern hip hop-sounding.

So what are you waiting for? Go buy (or download) this shit. I bought mine and it came with a free DVD. It wasn't that good, but it was free damnit! But seriously, I don't want to blow this all out of proportion and have you thinking this is the next Supreme Clientele, because it's not, but it is surprisingly dope and something you're going to want to pick up if you're into that sort of thing. This is the kind of solo album the rest of the Wu (Ghost and RZA excepted, of course) should be trying to make.