Epinions Recent Reviews for hierograffiti

Get Lifted With John Legend: A Different Type of High

Mon, 13 Dec 2004 18:38:07 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - John Legend's (ne John Stephens) sensational studio debut, Get Lifted, begins with the twinkling keys of Prelude over which Legend commands, "Come on and goooooooooo with me." At this point, even if you had intentions...

Lyfe 268-192:Bringing The Realness Back To R&B

Thu, 9 Dec 2004 00:38:06 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - In 2004, R&B unquestionably belonged to one Usher Raymond. In taking his already successful formula and adding a few more layers of gloss, he created an album, and perhaps more profitably, an image that shut down the whole genre. But for listeners...

36th Chamber of Shaolin: Building a Warrior

Fri, 16 Jul 2004 01:54:17 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - If the majority of the early Shaolin monks had their way, kung fu would still be practiced in secret and the congregations of those involved with it would be enshrouded in as much secrecy as a Mason’s induction ceremony. The 36th Chamber of...

Killer Priest: In star mode with the discipline of Damo...

Mon, 5 Jul 2004 18:03:59 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - A lone monk stands in front of a small temple that is just barely shaded by the fledgling forest it sits adjacent to. He has traveled many miles and for many days to impart what isn’t a new system of beliefs; but rather an extension and a better...

Train of Thought: Hip Hop will never be derailed! (HHAW4WO)

Wed, 19 May 2004 03:06:43 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - It’s not my style to review products that already have several reviews, but this is a special occasion. Hip Hop Appreciation Week is once again upon us, and this year the theme is faith. So with the blessing of the Don of Epinions Hip...

Memories: Katsuhiro Otomo's Dazzling Triad

Fri, 14 May 2004 23:32:47 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Ask every anime fan in the world what the crowning achievement of the genre is, and the answer given most often will be Akira. With its then-unmatched animation quality and a ridiculously layered mythology that even many of its staunchest...

Van Helsing: Shrek Killer...literally

Wed, 5 May 2004 05:53:26 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Van Helsing is a frenetically-paced, action-filled film revolving mainly around the stories of five entities: the determined Anna, the eloquent Frankenstein’s monster, the ferocious Wolfman, the calculating Count...

Invincible Armor: Try to beat the unbeatable...

Tue, 4 May 2004 02:11:11 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - So I’m going through my corner of my Mom’s garage, wading through things that probably should have been thrown away years ago. There was my bow and arrow, that actually was just two branches of my neighbor’s tree, one of which had a big @ss rubber band...

Walking Through The Wicked Streets of the Chi

Fri, 19 Dec 2003 01:38:43 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - During my freshman year of college, I took my friend to see her brother at Morehouse. He took us to a few parties while we were down there. At the very first one we went to, the DJ threw on No Mo Play In GA by Pastor Troy. Now, I hadn’t...

...and the storm clouds gathered...

Mon, 15 Dec 2003 01:19:52 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Now, we all know that music fans tend to overrate musicians, songs, and albums they believe no one else has heard. So while I do believe that less than one percent of you know who Vakill is, I assure you that the 4.5 star rating I’ll bestow upon the...

Saadiq Unplugged

Sat, 29 Nov 2003 00:20:30 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Respect is due to Raphael Saadiq for being one of the architects of the nu-soul movement that has spawned much of the best R&B music of this generation. Respect is due to Raphael Saadiq for creating the blatantly uncommercial work arrogantly, yet...

Beats

Fri, 22 Aug 2003 23:16:02 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Is it possible for producers to be too effective for their own good? This is a question that has to...

Their Development Hadn't Been Arrested Yet

Tue, 22 Jul 2003 00:30:27 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - When Arrested Development burst onto the scene with their noteworthy debut 3 Years, 5 Months, 2 D...

Bend Over George; Spankin' The Monkey for May Music Madness

Wed, 7 May 2003 01:40:27 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - This is my first entry into kristinafh's May Music Madness write-off. The Spankin' the Monkey portion is dedicated to albums released in May 2003.

The Isley Brothers have been a picture of longevity with a career...

"Touch your life, and everything I touch I take

Tue, 6 May 2003 16:29:53 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Sticky Fingaz is undoubtedly one of the most underrated lyricists in hip hop, and arguably one of the best. The novelty of his on-10, super-amped delivery sometimes hides the fact that his rhyme patterns are oftentimes flawless. As part of the grimy, NY...

Castle in the Sky; Miyazaki Does It Again

Thu, 1 May 2003 19:35:19 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Off top, it needs to be said that Miyazaki is a genius. The writer/animator has churned out nothing but quality product including Princess Mononoke, easily the greatest achievement in the history of animation, and culminating with Spirited...

B.B.E: Runnin This Rap Ish

Wed, 26 Mar 2003 03:08:51 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - There's a certain intangible that goes into making a CD with as eclectic a musical foundation as Here to There's a success; a very fleeting intangible that many artists struggle to grasp. An album with a diverse musical backdrop is either...

Muhammad Walked With A Sword; I Roll With A Gat

Thu, 27 Feb 2003 01:56:25 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Beanie Sigel described Freeway as a hungry animal ready to go at anyone.

Jaz-O described him as a "high pitch, whinin @ss n!gga."

Simply put, he's both. Freeway does have a story to tell, but parts of it are hard to...

R. Kelly and his Chocolate Factory: You Never Know What You're Gonna Get

Tue, 18 Feb 2003 03:14:48 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - R. Kelly is a pervert...

R. Kelly is a monster...

R. Kelly is Satan himself...

...feel better? If not, before you continue reading, spend a few moments getting all that sh!t out of your system, because this is going to be...

Who Is This Jane?

Fri, 17 Jan 2003 01:12:59 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Don't know a thing about rock and I won't pretend that I do. But I do know what I like and I can say with the utmost confidence that Songs About Jane is one of the most slept-on albums from last year, hip-hop or not.

I'm...

We're All God's Children

Sat, 14 Dec 2002 03:13:23 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - There's not much more that needs to be said about Nas. It's a story that's been told several times. Youngster comes out of nowhere and drops one of the most poetic, influential, and, simply put, best albums in the history of music. Said album becomes...

I Hear Voices

Mon, 9 Dec 2002 01:08:19 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - "Your playing, while technically proficient, lacks passion."

That was an admonition given to Homer (yes, that Homer), and it applies to Syleena Johnson's sophomore effort Chapter 2: The Voice. While her singing and lyrics are...

Welcome To The Circus; Don't Whiz On The Fence

Sat, 7 Dec 2002 23:28:48 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - It's very hard not to respect Common. He's "the only cat in hip hop/That can go to a thrift shop/Bring that get-up to the ghetto and get props." All throughout his tenure in the game, he has retained creative control over his music, and with...

When Your Mob's At Your Side And They're Ready To Ride

Thu, 5 Dec 2002 22:56:45 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - The gang code is probably the most strict set of rules on the planet. Any violation results in you getting your *ss whooped, no questions asked. And while about two-thirds of the people in a gang are cowards who just need backup while they talk sh!t...

Rock City In Stores...Finally

Wed, 4 Dec 2002 07:04:02 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author hierograffiti - Am I supposed to put this with the bootleg reviews?

I reign while you hope to sustain dope in this game/Something you can't stop, you can only hope to contain

Top of the world, all that's around you is beneath me/Me learning from...