Any West Coast rap fan would expect to hear classic West Coast beats from a classic West Coast heavyweight, that is, the late Mac Dre. However, since Mac Dre Presents… Starters In The Game is not actually an album of his but rather a collection of some collaborations he did in his final years, plus songs from artists who have taken in his shadow or are paying tribute to him. In a sense, this is kind of similar to what has repeatedly been done with 2Pac’s music – his vocals taken and placed over a more modernized beat, plus a bunch of tracks slapped on from artists who wish to somehow pay tribute to the man. But ‘modernized’ is not exactly a synonym for ‘good.’
The album features a collection of nice, West Coast flavoured tracks, such as Unreleased,’84 To 2004 [Remix], Cash Withdraws and Boss Status (which should feel somehow familiar to any major 2Pac fans who can identify which beat he would sound great on…not that he is featured on this). Whilst these tracks are relatively good, it is worth mentioning that Mac Dre does not appear on almost half the tracks on this album, which, let’s face it, is a shame considering that he is (or was) more talented than most of the pedestrian rappers masquerading through these songs. Also, any fan of the Beastie Boys’ classic beat Paul Revere and any sampling of it might (or might not) enjoy Get Them Chips.
Over the years, a large amount of West Coast gangsta rap has gone down south – not only musically, but also in terms of quality. It doesn’t have that distinct sound it used to have, as the dirty south has taken over and there is a share of that here like on Ice Cream and Gangsta Mac. These tracks are not necessarily BAD, but if we are listening to West Coast “heavyweights” such as Brotha Lynch Hung, Mistah F.A.B., Yukmouth and Sugafree, where are the West Coast roots? And why, pray tell, are we listening to THEM? This is about Mac Dre!!!
One thing on this album that lives up to its name though, is its title – most of the artists truly do sound like starters in the game. That’s not to say that it doesn’t feature some well-known names like Brotha Lynch Hung, Mistah F.A.B., Yukmouth and Sugafree (as mentioned before), but among these huge West Coast “legends” it features the *cough cough* wonderful talents of Dubee, Sidewayz Speech, Chop The Hook Man (what?), and Guce (among other block-popular pedestrian rappers – a term which I can never stress less). In addition, if your mind is on the train headed for deep or intelligent lyrics, then sorry to say that this train only stops at Arrogance Square. However, all gun-toting, cash-getting, low-riding, bitch-hitting, cash-getting, blunt-smoking, cash-getting gangstas please apply – this is one hell of a treat for you.
Available through Thizz Nation
