From the Vault...

10/11/2020
#1746

info
Young M.C.
"Cold Stone Rhymin'"


© Delicious Vinyl Records

Year of Release: 1989
Rating:

track listing
  • I Come Off
  • Principal's Office
  • Bust A Move
  • Non Stop
  • Fastest Rhyme
  • My Name Is Young
  • Know How
  • Roll With The Punches
  • I Let 'Em Know
  • Pick Up The Pace
  • Got More Rhyme
  • Stone Cold Buggin'
  • Just Say No

  • WSVNRadio Archives
    A B C D E F G H I J K L M
    N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

    Young M.C. related sites:
    Young M.C. Website
    Wikipedia
    Previous Review: #1745
    Barry Manilow--Even Now
    Next Review: #1747
    Genya Ravan--Genya Ravan
    Young M.C.
    "Cold Stone Rhymin'"



    The late 1980s/early 1990s "old school rap/hip hop" has to be the best in this category, to how it would become in the later decades. Young M.C.'s huge hit, "Bust A Move" is certainly a great song from the "old school" of hip hop. The music is funky, the lyrics are clean (for the most part). Young M.C.'s 1989 release, Stone Cold Rhymin' has that huge hit, and the songs on this album have their own storylines. Funky yes, lyrics good.


    Another popular act from the 1990s hip hop was DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Will Smith). Their sound gets the compariosn on Young M.C.'s opening track, "I Come Off." "Principal's Office" is another comparison of the first track, and Beavis & Butthead would take attention to this track on their TV show.


    "Non Stop" has a more "serious" sound - it's not as funky as the previous 3 tracks, and others throughout this album. "Faster Rhyme" has no music, and it shows how a true rapper can rap, non-stop. 49 seconds of classic rap. The good, funky rap returns, on "My Name Is Young." (Note: Young M.C.'s real name is Marvin YOUNG.) Does that guitar riff sound familiar on the next track, "Know How" ? Yes, it's not a real sample, but it is the guitar riff from Isaac Hayes' "Shaft." And just as funky as the "Shaft" classic is, so is Young M.C.'s "Know How." Another sample (and it is), is the opening of "Roll With The Punches" -- "More music, more music, more music..." is from great rock band, The Who, as it was used on one of their early albums (A Quick One/Happy Jack).


    More and more funky, groovin' tracks -- "I Let 'Em Know," "Pick Up The Pace" (which starts off with a scratchy 45 jazz record, then gets as funky as "Bust A Move," and another rapper, Tone Loc comes to mind on this one. (Another note: Young M.C. co-wrote two of Tone's most popular hits -- "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina." Again, movin' and groovin' for "Got More Rhymes" and "Stone Cold Buggin'." The album closes on another "serious" sounding music -- "Just Say No." It's the title and the lyrics that makes this one as serious.


    Young M.C.'s Stone Cold Rhymin' is classic old school rap/hip hop. This kind of hip hop is far and way better than what would follow in the upcoming decades, including today. Thirty years +1 since this release, it's stands up as a fine "rap" album. An interesting interview with Young M.C. here. A great rap album. Listen to how Rap started, and how it should be -- Stone Cold Rhymin' by Young M.C.


    © WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Delicious Vinyl Records and is used for reference purposes only.


    Previous Review: #1745
    Barry Manilow--Even Now
    Next Review: #1747
    Genya Ravan--Genya Ravan