Album Review: EMC- The Show

I made a post way back about EMC, a (sort of) new group with Masta Ace, Stricklin, Punchline, and Wordsworth. This album has been hyped up for a while now and it looks promising with 24 tracks, a good production lineup, and guest appearences from Sean Price and Little Brother. Plus, with Masta Ace running things this album should have a good idea or two. Does "The Show" deliver?


1. Who We Be


A very solid intro. All the rappers introduce themsleves which is convenient since I haven't really checked for any of these guys minus Ace before this album.


2. Airport (skit)


Like the past few Masta Ace album this is full of skits which follow a storyline, in this case, a show. In the first skit some Jewish show promoter keeps EMC waiting at the airport but he'll make it up to them.


3. Leak It Out


This beat is alright but would be better if this sample hadn't been used before (I couldn't tell you by who because I'm lazy but it's very familar). None of the rappers say anything especially interesting here.


4. The Check In (skit)


The Jew wasn't lying as he hooks them up with a hotel suite but then Masta Ace rolls off in his moms Denali.


5. Traffic (Feat. Little Brother)


A driving anthem or something (nothing new to Masta Ace) over the smoothest, and best, beat on the album so far. Phonte and Big Pooh contribute verses but Ace shines on this track.


6. Say Now


A bad take on one of those Just Blaze kind of beats where its just one note for like 8 beats. I'm not sure the purpose of this song but I'm starting to think that Ace should've just done another solo project instead.


7. Message (skit)


One of the guys not Masta Ace calls up his baby moms who doesn't pick up and he's had it up to here with that shit.


8. Don't Give Up On Us (Feat. ADI)


EMC pleads their girls not to leave them for cooler, more wealthy rappers. Naturally the most broing song yet.


9. Get Some (Feat. Sean Price)


Whoever made this beat should be slapped in the face. It starts off like a banger then the yelling and crashing sound effects just pile on until its just one great clusterfuck. What saves this song is Masta Ace's mention of beef and broccolis and Sean P's verse.


10. We Alright (Feat. Strickie Love)


The beat by Frequency (?) sounds alot like something Nicolay would do which would probably fit some Justus League rappers better but whatever. It's a nice and easy track which is conveniently placed after the chaos that was track 9.


11. Radio Station (skit)


EMC is asked by a radio host what EMC stands for, and something tells me that the next track has something to do with that.


12. EMC "What It Stand For"

This beat by the real Nicolay is just too repetitive and annoying for me to be able to enjoy this song very much. Ironically enough the group just says a bunch of three word phrases that could be abbreviates as EMC but I still have no clue as to what it actually stands for.

13. Angry Merch. Guy (skit)

Some guy selling merch(andise?) tells 'em why he madd.

14. Grudge

Ok this is pretty serious. The beat is a badass guitar riff and EMC raps about holding a grudge if you couldn't assume as much.

15. Make It Better

This is just not a good idea all around. The beat is fruity, the concept (making hip hop better) is weak, and the chorus sounds like something on Barney.

16. The Lobby (skit)

Masta Ace crashed the Jew's moms car and then (oh shit) Stricklin comes down rockin' the puma suit.

17. Winds Of Change

Things have changed since the members of EMC were kids, especially Masta Ace. This is kind of like that Cormega song "Back To The Future" except worse, but I'll take what I can get.

18. The Show (Feat. Ladybuy Mecca)

This plays out like a scene in a movie with Ace, Punch, Words, and Strick rapping about their preparation for the show. The uptempo beat matches the concept perfectly too. This would make a cool music video.

19. Back Stage (skit)

Some dude tries to get backstage to find his girlfriend Christy who I assume is getting railed by one of the guys.

20. Borrow U (Feat. Strickie Love)

The crew members want to chill with some honeys while they're in town. This sounds like a Little Brother song in one of their less creative moments.

21. Once More

I didn't pick up any specific topic on this but it is a good, normal track. The laid back piano beat is especially nice.

22. U Let Me Grow

As far as momma songs go this is pretty good.

23. Feel It (Feat. Money Ham)

EMC is gonna stay on the grind and all that shit. Kind of boring if anything.

24. Bonus

Bloopers from the skits over the "Winds Of Change" instrumental. Ace did the same thing on the last album.

Overall:

None of the post-2000 Masta Ace projects have had much energy or entertainment value because he isn't that kind of rapper, but Disposable Arts and A Long Hot Summer had creative genius to make up for it. This album unfortunately doesn't have that, so while the beats and rhymes themselves may be as good as those on A Long Hot Summer, the skits and storyline which helped make that a great album are watered down on this album. When compared more broadly to other underground rap albums though this is pretty good.

Best Songs:

"Who We Be", "Traffic", "Once More"