Do yourself a favor, hit the Library and cop this, then play that shit and read on...
....it's good, right?
M.E.D, aka Medaphor, aka Nick Rodriguez has been with Stones Throw for over a decade and has recorded with all types of superstars including OhNo, Gangrene, Guilty Simpson, and J Dilla. He's from the Oxnard, CA underground that also gave us his label-mate, and co-star MADLIB.
BLU hails from just up the way in working class San Pedro neighborhood of LA. BLU is a prolific musician, traveling the world performing 100's of shows, collabing with TONS of producers like Exile, Nottz, and Bombay, all while maintaining his role as co-CEO of New World Color, a label through which he is releasing many of his projects.
With a catalog that includes collabs with Dilla and DOOM, a dozen solo albums, one-offs with some of hip hops most badass emcees, and over 25 years worth of other efforts, including his breakthru role as The Alkaholics producer, the closest this superstar trio actually gets to a superstar is MADLIB, Otis Jackson Jr, who has seen little recognition in the mainstream but is recognized as one of the greatest producers of the modern era none-the-less.
As you might expect, when you get a studio full of friends there's going to be an impact on the final product. I'd like to remind everybody about 'Felt.' I'm not experiencing that in the same way that a few others online have. I can sense some relaxed atmosphere exists but I think this is solid AF, and has a serious element to it. Working with your boys probably nice, 2 times for them.
I expected a couple filler songs, and wasn't left hanging. 'Streets' feat. OhNo def fit in that category in spite of my high expectations. 'The Stroll' kicks off with some MADLIB wizardry that sets the pace for a SOLID single track, not revolutionary, but nice. 'Finer Things' is a nice slow jam that I didn't expect, Phonte comes thru as expected, even tho I'd MUCH rather have a Percy Miracles cameo. 'The Buzz' is a nice closer.
'Knock Knock', with the unstoppable Bernie Worrell bassline and 'Drive In' with an infectious Brenda Russel hook that makes me want to stand outside her bedroom window and confess my love while holding a boombox over my head, blasting "Drive In' wearing my freshest Polo boxers, in the pouring rain, under a full moon are the 2 cuts that really set this album apart for me. It's the amalgamation of all the elements. All bullshit aside, I've rocked Bad Neighbors another 3 times, minimum, preparing for this review. It's nice! My only caveat- the vocals seem a little muffled on 'Knock Knock' and low on 'Drive In', but that's the entire album really.
For a full breakdown of the madness behind the production - Bad Neighbor
For a full breakdown of my enchantment with Brenda Russel - Brenda Russel <3
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