Tag: 9th Wonder & Buckshot

Buckshot – “The Package” review

Here is the 3rd solo LP from Brooklyn, New York emcee/producer Buckshot. Emerging as the frontman of the trio Black Moon & the Boot Camp Clik’s de facto leader along with founding one of the most beloved record labels in all of hip hop Duck Down Music with the assistance of his business partner Dru Ha, his debut The B.D.I. Thug as well as Backpack Travels become the only 2 albums he’s put out & he’s coming off the I’m the Boss EP a few years earlier to drop off The Package.

The self-produced “We Have Arrived” begins with a jazzy 3 & a half minute intro to get things going whereas “Good Day” continues the jazz rap vibes explaining about how rather pleasantly this day has been panning out in his hood. “What I Bring to the Table” shifts towards a hardcore boom bap direction talking about getting his & breakin’ ‘em all off leading into “Sounds of the Subway” brings the horns back for another jazz rap cut getting on his New York shit.

“Just Stop” moves on from there with a more mellow boom bap atmosphere providing some advice for the kinda people who don’t know when to shut the fuck up until “Make Moves” reaches the halfway point of the full-length responding to those saying he ain’t the hardest. “High Tech Low Life” kicks off the 2nd leg of The Package ruggedly talking about going nowhere as long as he has is notepad & pen in his backpack while “All Fans” expresses his increasing appetite over some strings.

To get the 4th quarter started, “Beware Now” jazzily advises to realize where one stands & spraying up blocks while “Band on Break” brings some pianos into the fold responding to the people wondering where he’s been for so long. “Night Stress” featuring Steele talks about everyone having their own right to rebel & scoffing at these muhfuckas playing crash dummies while the title track spends the LP’s final minutes embracing a celebratory atmosphere confident of taking it to the top with him.

The B.D.I. Thug has been widely considered to be one of the most disappointing debut albums in hip hop & Backpack Travels was alright for what it was but if it takes another decade or so for Buckshot to go solo again, then I wouldn’t complain because I truly believe The Package is musically superior than both it’s predecessors. I think it’s a great for those who’ve been wanting him to produce an entire body of work for himself & the Duck Down co-founder lyrically sounds as sharp as he did on Rise of da Moon back in 2019.

Score: 4/5

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Buckshot – “I’m the Boss” review

Buckshot is a 47 year old MC/producer from New York City coming up in the early 90’s as the frontman of the trio Black Moon & the Boot Camp Clik collective along with for founding one of the most beloved record labels in all of hip hop Duck Down Music with the assistance of his business partner Dru Ha. Not only would The B.D.I. Thug & Backpack Travels become the only 2 solo albums he’s put out to date, but Hanif Alwin al-Sadiq would also form a duo with 9th Wonderdropping 3 full-lengths together & a collab effort with KRS-One called Backpack Skills. But in light of him getting into the NFT game, he’s celebrating by dropping a debut EP.

After the “UPG” intro, the first song “Hey” opens up the EP with a dramatic boom bap instrumental from none other than Da Beatminerz going at the throats of anyone who dares to step up to him in a battle whereas “Come Take a Ride” goes into funkier territory with talking about cruising around at night. “Your Choice” laces some pianos written towards a ride or die bitch leading into “Roll My away” taking a more lavish route & the storytelling throughout Buckshot’s verses painted is very eloquent. The song “Dear Daddy” takes it back to boom bap range talking about his father while the penultimate track “1 Nation” spaciously declaring that it’s time to connect. “Thug Life” ends the EP with a bass guitar-infused tribute to 2Pac.

Considering how much I enjoyed Black Moon’s comeback effort Rise of da Moon a few years back, I was definitely interested in how The B.D.I. Thug would deliver with this EP given how long it’s been since Backpack Travels & it’s definitely worth the listen for any Boot Camp fan. In fact, I’d consider to be some of the best solo material he’s put out yet. Rather than just being lazy & compiling primarily songs that’s been already previously released like Snoop Dogg did with Metaverse: The NFT Drop, we’re getting all new music from the one who gets the job done & he still sounds great on the mic after being the game for almost 3 decades.

Score: 3.5/5