New York: A Love Story
Now it's very funny on how I found this album but I am happy I did, because Mack Wilds' came with the heat on this one. This album is so NY, after listening to this album it makes me want to go listen to Mary J. Blige's What's The 411, Nas' Illmatic, and Wu-Tang's Enter The Wu (36 Chambers). I am not comparing Wilds' album to them but it has such a 90s hip-hop flavor. But I am going to explain how this album was in the view the whole time, but I finally decided to check it out, so glad I did.
Yesterday I was lounging around the house after eating dinner. Normally during this time, I listen to Music Choice Throwback Jams. But this time, I decided to listen to Hip-Hop/R&B Jams, and with me loving old music it gives me a chance to catch up with new hip-hop. After 2 Chainz and Trinidad James came on, I heard the beat to Eric B is President. So I thought to myself, I know they are not about to play this song on Hip-Hop/Jams, then I saw that it's Mack Wilds Own It. Then I remember hearing his performance of this song on Wendy Williams.
Vibe to this joint right quick
Now listen to the original
Didn't that sound good, so you would think I would want to listen to his album after I heard that. But it took a little more time. While I am getting ready for work, I started playing my music off my iTunes, so I am now getting a little sleepy. But every night before I go to sleep, I go to knicksnow.com to check out the news on the NEW YORK KNICKS. So, about 3 hours later (mind you I was tired LOL), I go to my Instagram and the first thing I see is one of my followers was listening to Mack Wilds' NY: A Love Story, he explained that he was bringing that 90s hip-hop/R&B flavor back. From that review, I felt that I had to check his album out. However, I go to Itunes to buy it before listening to it. (Hoping I didn't make a big mistake with doing this). I figured let me pick two songs to listen to so I pick Don't Turn Me Down and Henny, I was hooked. I was like I had to listen to this whole album before I went to sleep. I figured if he used Mobb Deep's The Learning (Burn) beat his album had to be official.
Henny
The Learning (Burn)
If you are from New York, you can't tell me you are not in your NY State of Mind right now. *I have to listen to these joints again*
Before I listen to the album, I had to check who the producers were and I saw greatness. The names I saw were Salaam Remi, DJ Premier and Pete Rock. I knew this album would be fire. DJ Preimer has worked with every legendary hiphop artist in this game, in my opinion he is the top hip-hop producer of all time. Pete Rock was part of the legendary hip-hop act, CL Smooth & Pete Rock. He produced so many legendary songs that includes my favorite hip-hop song of all time, They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y). Lastly, Salaam Remi is one of the best producers right now, he produced in my opinion the classic Life Is Good by Nas. Mack Wilds is co-signed by legends. Vibe out with these legends for a second, so you can see that Mack is in good hands.
DJ Premier
Pete Rock
Salaam Remi
Damn that sounded so good. Come on after listening to these joints you know Mack Wilds is in good hands.
Now I begin listening to the album he starts of with Wild Things featuring Method Man. I am not surprised because Mack is from Staten Island and so is Method Man. I felt it would only be right for Method Man to be on this feature because it gives you that Bring The Pain vibe.
Wild Things
Bring The Pain
I am feeling this album now, I am like okay he opens the album with a banger then he goes this way with My Crib. Now we know this Jay-Z beat...check it out
My Crib
Still in NY right, Mack has me deep into this album already with the second track. Already knowing Henny and Own It, I am ready for track 5 which is Magic, which I feel is a fill in but it still keeps the NY vibe going. But then he gets me again with track 6, Keepin It Real. When I heard the beat, I went crazy in my house. (Mind you it's like 1 in the morning, I know my neighbors are pissed..lol) I said "No, Mack didn't use The Realness...I know DJ Premier had something to do with this" In my opinion, next to NY State Of Mind, The Realness is one of the illiest cuts from DJ Premier.
Keepin It Real
Tha Realness
OMG that sounds so good, DJ Premier most definitely produced it he added more piano to it to Keepin It Real though. By now I really want to just drive to New York bumping this in my car because album is so New York. Next he goes into this track U Can Cry To Me featuring another person from the Wu-Tang, Raekwon. This song gives me Can It All Be So Simple vibe, from Wu-Tang's classic 36 Chambers mixed with Lauryn Hill's Ex-Factor.
U Can Cry To Me
Can It All Be So Simple
Ex-Factor
Now yall know I am in my house blasting this album with cuts like Duck Sauce and The Art of Fallin kept the NY music going. Lastly, his version of Michael Jackson's classic Remember The Time was smooth. From this album, you can clearly see that Mack wanted a New York album and he most definitely delivered. To me, he is giving the game a little bit of fresh air like Mary J. Blige did in 1992, mixing NY hip-hop and R&B together. Right now, in NY hip-hop we have lost our way, because it seems that we only have Nas & Jay-Z at the forefront of NY radio and they are veterans. I want my city rappers to bring hip-hop back to NY. Even though Mack Wilds is new, but as a New Yorker, he understood the essence of NY hip-hop and felt that we should be back on the forefront of NY radio. With Mack taking an approach like this, he setting himself up with a great career.
Please go support this dude like I did
