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THREE 6 MAFIA ALBUM REVIEW: CHOICES 2 - THE SETUP

"Hypnotize Minds!, Three 6 Mafia!, FraySer Boy!, Lil Wyte!, We about to take over this club!!!...What y'all know about that ?.." - Three 6 Mafia - "Who Da &^%& You Playin Wit?".

Finally!! An album arrives this year with NO LOVE SONGS!! Finally!! I get to review a group that is truly hardcore!! Thank God for these Tear Da Club Up thugs aka Three 6 Mafia. They've just released their soundtrack for the Movie CHOICES 2 - THE SETUP and ironically these country Memphis boys are one of the few groups that continue to save hiphop due to their non-commercial, true to themselves approach to music. See hiphop was started as an alternative to the boring pop disco radio that ruled the 70's and early 80's yet nowadays just about EVERY East Coast rap act and a slew of West Coast and South Coast artists thrown in with some Midwest rap acts go out of there way to release watered down, embarrassing, "girl I love you" type songs just for sales. These days there is no integrity. No shame. And it's ruining hiphop daily. Enter Three 6 Mafia. Starting with their first major label record release album, CHAPTER 2: WORLD DOMINATION, that featured the raucous and "banned in most states" single "Tear Da Club Up" in 1997, Three 6 has been setting the standard for no-holds barred hiphop and actually developed their own style of hiphop I have dubbed "fight music". Lil Jon was definitely the originator of crunk music but Three 6 turned crunk early on into fight music. And later they would create what I call "Trance" hiphop as well. They're style is to repeat choruses or phrases throughout almost every song in the background or foreground with the chorus usually being something suggestively violent or suggestively incendiary. And now they continue their hardcore tradition with CHOICES 2 - THE SETUP which is actually the title of their newest DVD movie. But as a bonus when you buy this CD you ACTUALLY GET THE DVD TOO! All for $11.99!! Now while the movie is so bad that it's actually good, the Soundtrack is simply put, VERY GOOD.

Now before I delve into this album stop right here. If you don't have the Three 6 Mafia album called WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, drop whatever you're doing right this second and go scoop it. Then come back and read the rest of this article because that album right there is one of the shining moments of hiphop as Three 6 puts together the perfect blend of hardcore beats and sinister lyrics.....OK, welcome back. If you've peeped any Three 6 material you'll quickly learn that DJ Paul and Juicy J own the patent on eerie baselines, irreverent and borderline demonic lyrics and heart pounding beats. They form a SUPER production crew that has few rivals and they produce just about 100% of the group's material. What the group lacks for in lyrical ability they more than make up for that fact by perfecting their sinister, in your face, gangsta aura and coming out with their own form of hiphop. Now for some reason the first single off this Soundtrack is "Who I Is" even though it is actually their 2nd most average song on the album.

It features Trillville so I guess they are trying to capitalize on the current notoriety of Trillville but instead they should have released "Shoot up Da Club" which showcases their patented "fight music" type style and is kind of like a 2005 "Tear Da Club Up" song. Other classic Three 6 on this CHOICES 2 album are "One Hitta Quitta", "Who Da &^%$ You Playing Wit?", "It's Whatever Wit Us", and "Yeah I Rob". The latter is the standout of the aforementioned songs as DJ Paul and Juicy J showcase their production skills with their patented hard hitting track mixed in with some Terminator like machine background noise that intertwines perfectly with the track. "I Sho Will" also stands out as Lil Flip makes an impressive cameo on the song. Knocking the album into "solid" status is the superb "P.I.M.P." where the crew takes a break from the murda topics and give the 411 on how they control theirs.

Of course we have the traditional hiphop ode to weed songs here too. But "Stanky Stanky" and "Pass Dat S&&&" actually end up being some of the best songs on the album. Especially "Pass Dat S&&&" where the musical production is impressive and where new Three 6 Mafia affiliate Lil Wyte aka "the only white boy tough enough to hang with Three 6 Mafia" really goes off with hedonistic lines like "You a grown man, trying to hog the [weed] man, but if you wanna &^%% with me without passing just stick with Cocaine...". Classic ignorant comedy that's sure to get the uppity folks all riled up. Look hiphop is a reflection of life so I got no problem with the violent and controversial lyrics these guys spit out.

It's all entertainment and serves as a good release or party starter most days. This album is very solid and I'm pleased to have more nice Three 6 Mafia product. The only thing I wished is that Gangsta Boo would have made a cameo on some of the songs but the regular members - DJ Paul, Juicy J, Crunchy Black and Lord Infamous - do a good enough job overall. And Lil Wyte appears enough to add some lyrical dexterity to the whole album as he pretty much overshadows everyone else on the album lyrically. So anyone from the South who has digged their style before won't have any complaints on this one. If you didn't like Three 6 Mafia in the past or any groups like them this album probably isn't for you. But if you dig the whole crunk music scene then you'll love this album because it's an extension of it with a twist. Personally it'll be one of the CDs that I play the most this year. I'm always craving hiphop that is uncompromising and solidly produced and everything Three 6 Mafia does falls into this category.

Benz0
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