Filed under: 1992, Bushwick Bill, Geto Boys, Reviews, Video | Tags: 5th Ward, Bushwick Bill, Geto Boys, Little Big Man
Bushwick Bill – Little Big Man
Year: 1992
Back in the 90s, on my journeys through the record stores, I wasn’t only searching for vinyl and CDs, I was looking for info, too. Not the easiest of tasks, with rap music being generally overlooked, and the internet as we know it today wasn’t invented yet. So, it was all about the printed word back then. World of Music (WOM, a now closed music chainstore here in Berlin) had a magazine shelf with all the goodies, Rap Pages, The Source, etc. Prices were ridiculous, so I had to skip through the pages right there in the store, like an information-thief if you will.
From one of those instances I remember reading that Bushwick Bill’s solo debut only got 2.5 of the legendary 5 mics. Well, I didn’t expect it to get a high rating, but what bothered me were the harsh words of the reviewer. Feces, that’s what he basically called the album. I was a little dissapointed to read that, because for me, it lived up to all the expectations I had when I found out he’s gonna release a solo. I think that was when I saw Ever So Clear on MTV, and it blew my mind. I didn’t rest until I had the album in my hands after that. And from that day, each mixtape that I listened to in my walkman contained at least 3 Bushwick-songs.
The title track, Little Big Man, was the perfect introduction to an hour of heavy funk-riffs and bloody carnage. Sometimes represented by his alter ego Chuckie (the murderous puppet from Child’s Play), Bill kicked his no-holds-barred, evil lyrics on tracks like Call Me Crazy, Skitso and Chuckwick (a reprise to the Chuckie-track contained on the Geto Boys “We Can’t Be Stopped”-album). Listening to the record right now, I still have to say that the beats James Smith and John Bido provided just fit him perfectly. The tracks just got that 90s, 5th Ward Texas vibe going on, really funky beats with disturbing lyrical content.
There was one thing the man from The Source and I agreed upon, though. The standout track on this album is Ever So Clear, the deep, self-reflecting story of how Bushwick Bill lost his eye. Most of the other tracks were too misogynistic and violent for the magazine, with the whole psychopathic killer image that the reviewer thought was dated.
For me, this remains the best solo effort from a Geto Boy since Mr. Scarface Is Back. I listened to that album many times, I still do, and I still think it’s great. I is not a 60 minute murder spree, sometimes Bill even brings positive vibes to the table (like on Letter To The KKK, also acknowledged by The Source).
In the same issue (October 1992), Willie D’s “Goin’ Out Lika Soldier” only got 2.5 mics as well. To each his own, I guess. Me, I put the magazine back on the shelf, went home, and probably listened to some Geto Boys.
Filed under: 1990, Geto Boys, Rap, Reviews, Video | Tags: 5th Ward, Geto Boys, music, Rap
The Geto Boys – The Geto Boys
Year: 1990
Let’s start with the Geto Boys, consisting of Scarface, Bushwick Bill, Willie D, and, back then, DJ Ready Red. Hailin’ from Houston, Texas, their self-titled album released in 1990 on Rick Rubins Def-American-Records remains a true classic. With its extremely violent lyrical content, it shits on every pseudo-horrorcore rap album released today. The only album I own where the “Parental Advisory”-Sticker didn’t seem to be enough, so they printed another, larger disclaimer on the cover, to warn the people what an disgustingly foul album they’re about to purchase.
The first track “Fuck’Em” sets the pace perfectly, and 15 minutes into this record a sensitive listener would have to seek therapy. The not-so-sensitive listener (like me) instead is entertained by 3,8″ Bushwick Bill tellin’ us about body size, and how it ain’t shit when your dick is big enough. Or all band members talkin about their sexual preferences in an explicit manner over a nice Steve Miller Band sample (“Gangster of Love”). Hell, they even threw some necrophilia in there (“Mind of a Lunatic”).
Every track on this is a banger. This an angry, brutal album, not for the faint of heart. That goes for a lot of releases back then, but this record stands out. There’s some really sick shit goin’ on here. Oh, and the movie “Scarface” gets sampled frequently. Can’t go wrong with that one.
Here’s the video for Do it like a G.O., track #8 on this fine record. Note that it is heavily edited (changed lyrics like they did back then, otherwise it would’ve been all censor beeps), it’s like a different song if you hear the original; nevertheless, great song, great video, and a great album, enjoy!
