Chaundon - Carnage: Album Review
Chaundon, Carnage (Hall of Justus, 2008)
Continuing with what's turning out to be weed carriers week for album reviews (my bad), we have Chaundon, who's down with (and takes risks for) North Carolina's Justus League collective.
THE GREATEST WARRIOR
To put it in terms of rappers probably no one ever heard of (because obviously that's gonna be useful), Chaundon kinda sounds like a cross between Celph Titled and G-Dep. Though he's down with Little Brother 'nem, he hails from the South Bronx, so his steez is more along the lines of, say, a Sean Price.
DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL
His claiming other rappers are jealous of him strikes me as a whole lot of wishful thinking, but you guys know I'm a hater like that. Darien Brockington (really?), who was on some of those Little Brother records drops the amateurish-in-a-good-way R&B chorus.
3 KINGS
What seems like the umpteenth rap song named "3 Kings," though it might just be the second or third. Torae and Skyzoo (me neither) are the other two "kings" here.
HPNY
Listening to this, I'm reminded that it's been a minute since I've heard anyone attempt the chipmunk soul thing. Let's just say that was a good minute. Also, this could use more powerful drums.
ANGIE
A cautionary tale about a broad ,a la that one Brand Nubian record. How come there haven't been more of these over the years? However, no Rolling Stones sample = what a waste!
EVERYTHING AIN'T EASY
None of these growing up in the ghetto is tough (no, really) records will ever match Ghostface's "All That I Got Is You." This beat is a head-knodder though.
UNDERSTANDING
This one's '80s R&B-esque beat suffers from the same issues as any number of other 9th Wonder beats. I don't think I need to get into it here. My tracklisting has Percy Miracles on the chorus, but there isn't a comedic element to this. Hmm...
GONE
Chaundon and Jean Grae get all conceptual on a nigga. The fellow on the chorus kinda reminds me of that Hi-Tek record on More Fish. Jean Grae scares me. Nice New Jack City reference!
TOLD YOU THAT
Chaundon goes especially hard on his verse. The production on this doesn't do him any favors though. The other guy who raps isn't as bad as he's not particularly memorable.
CAN I LIVE
Oh and look, a cover of the classic Jay-Z record! But why didn't they keep the same beat? Never mind that it was a ridonkulously wanton, '96 era rip of some old Isaac Hayes record. Hell, it worked!
CARNAGE
A killer posse cut. The beat cranks, especially with that whistle or whatever it is. The first guy who raps sounds just like Talib Kweli. He's kinda good, too. Hmm...
SELFISH
More Chaundon in wishful thinking mode. This beat could give someone a headache.
SUBMISSION
Well if it isn't Sean Price himself. The Jay-Z of NY budget rap (I may have just coined a genre), if you will. I wonder if Chaundon got a little bit nervous when he walked in the studio.
WE ARE HERE
The 9th Wonder production aesthetic reaches its nadir, for the time being. G.O.D., Sha Stimuli, and DV Alias Khryst fans (there have to be some, right?), take note. They all rap on this.
COMMENTS: With these weed carrier albums, the tendency is to want to hate. But I think Chaundon's got potential. He could be the next Sean Price, though I suppose that doesn't bode particularly well for his financial well-being. But whatever. Money's not everything, right? I would suggest ditching the 9th Wonder production aesthetic altogether, but that's probably a bit too much to ask. At the very least, he should either find a novel way of rapping about how tough it is growing up in the ghetto, or (if possible) find something else to rap about.
BEST TRACKS: "The Greatest Warrior" "Can I Live" "Carnage"
BONUS VIDEOS: Rick Ross interview (entirely unrelated)
Rick Ross goes to Ireland (fucking ridiculous)
