Tag: Stetsasonic

Daddy-O – “East New York Stories” review

Daddy-O is a 64 year old MC & producer from New York City notable for being the frontman of the original hip hop band Stetsasonic with 6 solo albums under his belt. The group officially reunited last spring signing to SpitSLAM Records & putting out Here We Go Again to warm welcoming praise after over 3 decades of inactivity last spring, initially signing to the label for 1st Team & the 9th full-length LP under his own name kept my fingers crossed it would do the same since I enjoyed the predecessor.

“Keep Dat” featuring Lena Jackson produced by C-Doc pairs the 2 over a soul sample with horns advising not to bring that wack shit over their direction whereas “Cheating” takes a bit of a soulful boom bap direction instrumentally playing harps in the ghetto. “Gloves Off” continues the sampling mixed with kicks & snares looking to bring it to you without any ifs or maybes until “Small Ting” talks about the posers & savages over a reggae beat.

Meanwhile on “CounterAttack”, we have Daddy-O speaking on chillin’ at a Brownsville party during a Friday evening & shots ringing out leading into the self-produced “Off Dem” explains that he felt taking up hip hop as a career was far better than a bitter alternative. “The Pros 2” featuring Choclatt fuses trap & reggae for a collaboration dedicated to the Brooklyn borough while “Clap” tells of a story ending in gun violence.

“Here But Gone” counts down the final minutes of East New York Stories sampling the late great Curtis Mayfield to talk about needing to be warned beforehand if you don’t know him by now refusing to erase his roots because grew up as a trooper & “Raised by Wolves (Ask Cavario)” wraps up the half hour collection of experiences with a drumless string instrumental refusing to call it quits until he gets his respect.

Many a Daddy-O album thus far has left Stetsasonic finds divided like You Can Be a Daddy, But Never Daddy-O as well as From My Hood 2 U or G.O.A.T. Antidote & only a week since Public Enemy returned to a Bomb Squad sound on Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025, the East Coast pioneer takes us on a trip through the neighborhood he grew up in from the hoods to the hustlers to the pros & the MCs.

Score: 4/5

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Stetsasonic – “Here We Go Again” review

Stetsasonic is the first ever hip hop band from Brooklyn, New York consisting of Daddy-O, MC Delite, Wise & Bobby Simmons. They would only put out 3 full-length albums together during the late 80s/early 90s, but remained inactive as a unit although what they did would eventually pave the way for The Roots. But after teasing a comeback by releasing singles over the past 3 years, the band is getting back together for their 4th LP executive produced by Public Enemy frontman Chuck D.

“Message in Our Music” is an old school-inspired opener produced with C-Doc talking about the message in their music has always been clear asking if you have what it takes to escape & change your fate whereas “(Now Y’all Giving Up) Love” works in these triumphant horns to boasting their return after over 3 long decades. Mala Reignz & Smoothe da Hustler both join Stet on the first part of a “Cypher” with Smoothe having my personal favorite of the 2 features, but then “Lolita” gets into their storytelling bag a bit over heavy sampling talking about the titular character.

Moving on from there, “Handled” brings the horns back into the fold reminding y’all they’re known for handling styles that others simply can’t leading into what is probably & with all respect here the weakest track on the album “Stet Dreams Come True” featuring Calvin III being this awkward reggae/pop rap fusion about being the Biggie to her Lil’ Kim. The soulful title track makes their case as being old school like Melle Mel without the disgruntled bitterness he’s shown in recent years while “Notes of Impression” featuring Ruste Juxx hooks up a crooning loop with hi-hats bringing you non fiction.

“Stetsa Anniversary” switches from trap to full-blown g-funk continuing to delve more into their comeback while the song “People in Your Neighborhood” goes for a humorous approach beatboxing & talking about drugs. The penultimate track “Hanging on a String” sonically pays homage to Zapp for a charming club banger rap & “Fallen Soldiers” concludes Here We Go Again by paying tribute to all of those who can’t be with us today.

I was hoping Prince Paul was gonna have at least some involvement behind the boards with this album, but I’m still very happy with what we got on Here We Go Again because it’s similar in a way to one of my personal favorite groups A Tribe Called Quest releasing We Got It From Here…Thank You Your Service nearly 2 decades after The Love Movement. It’s still very much a return to form for the band from the production to everyone sounding genuinely happy to be back doing what they do.

Score: 3.5/5

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