PRINCE RAKEEM – OOH I
LOVE YOU RAKEEM (TOMMY BOY/WARNERS)
This was the EP that
Robert Diggs released in July 1991 ahead of eventually being known worldwide as
RZA. At this point he was already
steering and driving his career working on production as well as rap duties
even if it wasn’t necessarily in the direction he was destined.
All in all this record
is scrappy and light. At this risk of
ruffling feathers there is something cartoonish about it. Then again KMD used to sport cartoon covers,
albeit very explicit and controversial illustrations. Ultimately there was just too much smile.
Exhibiting eight
tracks drawn from three songs this was a pop record coasting with a most
cringing female hook announcing the sentiments of the release’s title. This was grossly misappropriated ego move
exhibiting the dumbest of gestures with no explicit meaning. “Ooh I Love You Rakeem” is not necessarily
sexist or misogynist but isn’t equal opportunity either.
It is interesting to
listen to the instrumental version of the lead track. While the beats are not necessarily hard and
the hook is embarrassing the striding motion of the beat does definitely point
to what was to come not least in its similarity to how his production on Liquid
Swords would later sound.
Co-produced by Easy Mo
Bee, who also worked on the first GZA release Words
From The Genius, you clearly feel his style of combining heavy beats with
jazz insertions.
Superior to the lead
track, “Deadly Venoms” rolls at a more fluid pace with stream of consciousness
flow as the hooks lie within the beats signalling the moments allotted for
catching your breath. It’s a weird
boast, at this stage his “venom” hardly feels deadly.
Closing out the
release are multiple versions of “Sexcapades” and the description of more
juvenile capers. Once again the pace
does pick up but impact drops with its goofy brags and repetition. A line such as “what time is it? Its time to get laid” is never really going
to endear a serious observer. The second
version of the track is notable for being the “Wutang Mix” as the drum beats do
taste slightly darker that couple with a guitar sample that make things sound
subtly rougher. Unfortunately the silly
sentiments remain rubbishing all efforts.
All in all this weird,
like looking at the silly hairstyle adorning a school photo. It’s a record guilty by future
association. This need not exist.
Thesaurus moment:
awkward.
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