Two albums that prove not everybody can rap... no studio in the right mind though would pick the two treats here if there where released from people coming straight out of obscurity, these are rap albums from people that where already well known, one in the music field and the other in the wrestling field (and I'm not talking about John Cena, hell not even M.O.M, PG-13 or PN News, yes I am a wrestling geek) but he does have one of the most memorable voices in the all of wrestling...
Neither of these albums are considered classic, but both genuinely feature songs that are happily on my iTunes playlist, so it might say more about me then the quality.
Neither of these albums are considered classic, but both genuinely feature songs that are happily on my iTunes playlist, so it might say more about me then the quality.
Dee Dee King, you will know better as Dee Dee Ramone - member of the influential Ramones, who since I am a big fan of are fully aware where never a rap band, hey but he decided this was a good idea.
Mashed Potato Time (track 1), I couldn't hate, it's got it's charm in a bad way it's clear Dee Dee can't rap for shit despite the claim "he's the master of hip hop", while 2 Much 2 Drink (track 2), really shows the lack of rap skills if they weren't quite proved in Mashed Potato Time, I mean that in the way there is no hook and it's selling point is Dee Dee's rapping skills - so yeah .
Baby Doll (track 3), is a song I can't help but love, Dee Dee sings rather then raps this one, which I guess makes it vocally better just for the fact he's not trying to rap, the chorus is memorable and I think somebody should come along and sample it, Poor Little Rich Girl (track 4) sounds like it could be on a Ramones album, not as a stand out track mind you but it wouldn't totally be objectionable.
Commotion In The Ocean (track 5) is the album's "welcome" return to rap, whose best part is (surprise) the sung chorus, one of the better "rap" songs so far on the album (yes I feel the need for a lot of commas), German Kid (track 6), his awesome for the very fact that Dee Dee raps some of the song in German (I bet you didn't know he was half German! - which he tells you and the chorus spends most of the time telling you)
Brooklyn Babe (track 7), along with Baby Doll probably has the songs best chorus, Dee Dee seems to be unsure that he wants to go full rap when doing this song, this is another song that I think another artist should attempt to do something with, seriously. Emergency (track 8) is another song with it's own charm is probably the closest the album gets to Dee Dee rapping over something Ramones-y sounding.
Actually take that Ramones-y sounding thing back because The Crusher (track 9) actually did get re-done later by the Ramones and using pretty much the same style of music, so that's technically most true, this is wrestling related (and fits in with the next album) so it's awesome to me, the albums final track I Want What I When I Want It (track 10) is I'm sad to say not the album going out with a bang, but again it has something of it's own charm.
Overall, I'm going to be honest and say musically, structurally you can't deny Dee Dee knew what to do, but he can't rap for shit but that doesn't stop the album from being an enjoyable curio with a couple of genuinely decent sounding moments.
Commotion In The Ocean (track 5) is the album's "welcome" return to rap, whose best part is (surprise) the sung chorus, one of the better "rap" songs so far on the album (yes I feel the need for a lot of commas), German Kid (track 6), his awesome for the very fact that Dee Dee raps some of the song in German (I bet you didn't know he was half German! - which he tells you and the chorus spends most of the time telling you)
Brooklyn Babe (track 7), along with Baby Doll probably has the songs best chorus, Dee Dee seems to be unsure that he wants to go full rap when doing this song, this is another song that I think another artist should attempt to do something with, seriously. Emergency (track 8) is another song with it's own charm is probably the closest the album gets to Dee Dee rapping over something Ramones-y sounding.
Actually take that Ramones-y sounding thing back because The Crusher (track 9) actually did get re-done later by the Ramones and using pretty much the same style of music, so that's technically most true, this is wrestling related (and fits in with the next album) so it's awesome to me, the albums final track I Want What I When I Want It (track 10) is I'm sad to say not the album going out with a bang, but again it has something of it's own charm.
Overall, I'm going to be honest and say musically, structurally you can't deny Dee Dee knew what to do, but he can't rap for shit but that doesn't stop the album from being an enjoyable curio with a couple of genuinely decent sounding moments.
Wrestlers going into mediums is nothing new - acting, sports, rock bands - some do it successful, others not so much, but the fact one of the greatest wrestlers of all time Macho Man Randy Savage released a rap album is still unbelievable to me even 10 years later.
Intro (track 1) isn't really a song so won't really talk about it much it's voice overs talking about Savage, which goes straight into I'm Back (track 2), which features Savage saying a couple of times "you can't believe Randy Savage is rapping" which even while listening too I still can't believe, the song proves you are probably not going to get an album of awesome rhymes. R U Ready (track 3) continues the angry sounding rap (I don't think Savage can do anything else to be fair) with a similar tune, it makes the song somewhat indistinguishable to what just came before it (seriously the chorus is the only thing that could really set them apart).
Hit The Floor (track 4), most memorable thing is the chorus but honestly it's not really saying much, while Let's Get It On (track 5) is the probably representative of the album's entire problem so far, it all sounds so samey, it's hard to write something where the easiest thing it to say see above.
Remember Me (track 6) is the least pleasing on the ears so far, the music choice just did nothing for me, while I've got to be honest Tear It Up (track 7) is the first song I enjoyed, it's maybe because it's a bit of hip-hop/rock infusion in the sound. Macho Man still can't rap for shit though.
Macho Thang (track 8) I want to dislike just because of the title... seriously Thang... I kind of liked it int's stupid own way, Be A Man (track 9) is the albums best track, aimed entirely at Hulk Hogan, who was his best friend/worst enemy legitimately depending on the day of the week, that stayed as hate for probably the last 10 years of Savage's life, I really love this song with references to Mr. Nanny, Spider-Man (Bonesaw McGraw) and even Rodney Dangerfield for some reason, I adore this song.
Get Back (track 10) sadly doesn't quite continue the run of me getting into it, it's better then some of the stuff on the album (not saying much) I suppose. Feel The Madness (track 11) is again more of the same except for a cool chorus, What's That All About (track 12) feels like it could have been different but Macho couldn't really rap any different then in the gravelly tone so it gives this song a creepy vibe when it probably wasn't the intention.
Gonna Be Trouble (track 13) is again another similar track to what's already been heard on this album, the album's final track Perfect Friend (track 14) is at least a notable attempt to pay tribute to the late Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig, sadly because he's not rapping angrily this is the song where is rapping clearly sounds the worst, I sort of like it though in it's own way.
Overall the beginning portion of the album blurred together for me, but for some reason I responded better to the middle section (maybe some sort of Stockholm Syndrome), but a lot of the messages and even beats seem to be the same on so many songs it can't help but partially merge together.
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