I just got Ras Kass' "Soul on Ice" promo cassette and, yes, the album is as phenomenal as promised. I'm probably _not_ going to dub this, except perhaps for people whom I'm 100% sure will go out and buy it in a store because I don't want Ras' first album to be like Nas' (i.e. heavily dubbed which = lowered sales which = commercialized 2nd album). If Ras' album goes gold, as I feel it has the potential to do, then it will open a whole new chapter in hip-hop: the age of the- dope-MC-regardless-of-geography. I know a lot of people were worried about the album sounding like "Anything Goes". Well, it doesn't. 9 out of 15 tracks are pure skill tracks, including the flamboyant "Etc..." and the storytelling genius of tracks like "Nature of the Threat" and "Ordo Abchao". The remaining six tracks include four tracks for the masses to enjoy (including "Anything Goes" and Miami Life") and two skits which are pretty amusing. I place "If/Then" and "Marinatin" among the four "masses" tracks even though they (like the other two) still have butter fresh lyrics. The topics on these four songs is what makes them crazily accesible, so expect them to be singles as "Miami..." and "Anything..." already were. Below, I have including a track listing and a critique. Side A Eisodus - quite possibly a "promo only" intro, because it mentions how if you're looking for mindless lyrics, you have recieved the wrong promo LP On Earth as it is in Heaven - the butter metaphorical track contrasting Christian theology with Ras' day-to-day life in C-Arson (i.e. Carson City, California); this is the B-side for the first single Anything Goes - the first single, this track discusses how in this age of "rich get richer, poor get poorer", survival tactics are a must. The perfect counterpoint for the Republican's Contract _on_ America Marinatin' - West Coast flossin' track, as butter slick as a party track can be. The bassline is designed for bump in the trunk. Gauranteed to make the hardest East Coast head form his fingers into a "W" like they were Biggie imitating Tupac. Reelishymn - This is the new title for "Outta My Head". Some purists might not like the new female-sung chorus which replaces the old Western Hemisfear chant. Nature of the Threat - Seven and a half minutes of lyrical acid, no chorus. B-boys, break out your mats... Etc. - The mind-blowing lyrical deconstruction of a sucka MC. A must-hear. Side B Sonset - Ras deals with the bullshit coastal conflict; here, he freaks the chorus with a De La line: "I'm a fan of hip-hop that never saw Bam rock in the parks/but I still snap skulls after dark". The lyrics will burn the wax out your ears. The bonus: Shortkut freaking the cuts and breaks for about twenty seconds at the end of the track. This song alone is worth the price of admission Drama - Yeah, this song has Coolio on it, but Coolio kicks some lyrics that are tolerable. The track is about the ladies and it is preceded by a funny little skit about why people should forget about coasts. For those who don't like the b-word however, you should fast forward. Everyone with a sense of humor and a willingness to endure a little misogyny for good ol' fashioned entertaining lyrics (i.e. 95% of the rap audience) should peep it. The Evil That Men Do - Ras' autobiographical song. Ras drops a lot of personal ish in this one and it is one of the finest autobiographical raps in some time, perhaps of all time. And he didn't even need Alex Haley to co-write it... Skit - yeah, they actually labelled this as a skit. It features Ras on the phone with Pharaoh Monch from Organized as they discuss the world of hip-hop. It was alright, a tolerable skit. If/Then - The chorus to this one should floor y'all. It goes: "If bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks/then niggas ain't shit but hoes with dicks". Heh-heh. Miami Life - Yep, it's on here. I like the production and I'm still waiting for someone to challenge the lyrics. I mean, what??? Of course, it's not the strongest cut on the LP, but all the "typical" rap purchasers I played it for (i.e. the Death Row/Bone/Biggie crowd) seemed to enjoy it. In any case, this track is for some, while "Etc." and so forth is for others. I still dig it. "Niggas be getting over like unprotected sex with Oprah". ;) Soul on Ice - The title track, this is another Ras track analyzing the effects of the white supremancy power structure and the Judeo-Christian system of thought. Protein for the brain. Yum. Ordo Abchao (Order Through Chaos) - Once I saw the title was in Latin, I knew this one would be the joint. It was. Un-fucking-believable and pure vintage Ras. He actually takes "Nature of the Threat" up a notch. Can rap, or any music for that matter, get any better? Exodus - The outro featuring a speech from Eldridge Cleaver, I believe. That's all. Keep in mind that the above critique were done lyrics first, beats second. The production had my head bobbing, so I ain't mad at all. Some of the Western Hemisfear tracks were slightly altered, possibly due to sample clearance problems. Also, there is a skit that deals with the alleged fight between Ras and Vooodu! (without using any names). Word is, Vooodu! was handed a Ras promo CD, then threw it on the ground and started stomping it. Ras witnessed this and a fight ensued. Ras talks about this on the skit, as I said earlier, but only mentioned that one of the people involved was someone he knew (i.e. Vooodu! if the rumored incident is true). That's all for now. I hope y'all pick up the album because it is worth your hard earned cash. It is also worth five mics. Classic material, no doubt. Salaam, Apex (ACP)