1999 Replay Records
I can't run down a track-by-track production list, because the liner notes are near impossible to read, but production is by: Agallah, Charlie Maratta, Alchemist, Lil' Dap, Rad, DJ Premier, Buggy Eye, Jiv Pos
1. Tear Shit Down -
3
2. Da Real GH -
3
3. Stupid MF's -
4.5
4. Street Life -
2
5. Sun For A Reason (feat. Guru) -
4
6. The Legacy (feat. Guru) -
4.5
7. Run For Your Life -
3
8. Make It In Life -
3.5
9. A Train X-Press -
3.5
10. Be Like That -
3
11. Dial-A-Thug -
2.5
12. Politic All Night -
2
13. Keep Rising -
3
14. We Can Do This -
3.5
15. 12 O'Clock -
4
16. Oh Sweet America -
3.5
17. Breaker 1-9 -
1.5
18. Beefin' For Rap (feat. Steph Lova) -
3
19. Game Recognize Game -
3.5
20. Life Ain't Shit -
4
Overall:
3 / 5
Although it's obviously no "Livin' Proof", "A Tear for The Ghetto" is a decent follow-up effort. Everyone automatically looks towards the production when Group Home is involved, but, truth be told, Lil' Dap isn't that bad on this album (Malachi is fucking terrible, though). Lil' Dap doesn't say too much, but stays in line with the street theme. They have a particular style that tends to work with the production and Lil' Dap's voice is actually my biggest complaint about the performance. Basically, the rhyming is decent.
So onto the beats. Most of the production has a dark sound that works nice with Lil' Dap's style. Not all of the beats are strong, and towards the end they begin to sound very similar, but what they lack in intricacy they make up for in cohesiveness. The sound of the album is very consistent and works surprisingly well despite the handful of sparse, underproduced tracks. The strong tracks are excellent, while the bad ones are really more bland than bad.
Because of Premier's absence (except on "Legacy"), the follow-up to "Livin' Proof" is an expected step down. There's a handful of lackluster material, but amidst some mediocrity, there are some excellent, gritty tracks. Decent overall.
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