VA – Soundbombing III (2002) [FLAC] [Rawkus]

Genre: Hip-Hop
Codec: Flac (*.flac)
Rip: tracks+.cue
Quality: lossless
Size: 402 Mb
Info: Soundbombing III is the third installment of the Rawkus Records Soundbombing series. The album was not nearly as critically acclaimed as its predecessor Soundbombing 2, but was able to sell moderately well, led by the single “The Life”, featuring Styles P and Pharoahe Monch which was sent to radio during the week of April 29, 2002. Taking after 2000’s Lyricist Lounge 2, Soundbombing III furthers the label’s transition to a more commercial sound, which caused harsh criticisms from die-hard Rawkus fans. The album features Styles P, Pharoahe Monch, Mos Def, Skillz, Missy Elliott, Kool G Rap, Capone-N-Noreaga, Hi-Tek, Jonell, Method Man, Zap Mama, Talib Kweli, Common, Q-Tip, The Beatnuts, DJ Quik, Novel, The Roots, Cocoa Brovaz, Dawn Penn and R.A. The Rugged Man. The compilation is hosted by Cipha Sounds and Mr. Choc. The compilation contains many remixes of tracks already having appeared on earlier released albums, however the album does contain singles.

Like soul music in the ’60s and ’70s, rap is full of regional styles. In classic soul, it is easy to tell a Memphis sound from a Philly or Detroit sound — similarly, rappers from the West Coast, the Northeast, and the South tend to have different ways of flowing. Released in 2002, Vol. 3 of Rawkus’ rap-oriented Soundbombing series is heavily northeastern — and yet, the compilation does acknowledge hip-hop styles from other parts of the United States. RA the Rugged Man’s nostalgic “On the Block (Golden Era)” salutes New York rappers of the ’80s and mentions many of that era’s top MCs, although RA’s rhyming style is quite contemporary (by early-2000s standards). And Vol. 3 is equally Northeastern-sounding on tracks by the Roots (“Rhymes and Ammo”), Q-Tip (“What Lies Beneath”), and Kool G Rap (“My Life”). The East Coast school of thinking-man’s rap receives a fair amount of attention on this release, thanks to material by the Roots, Q-Tip, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli, who the Roots feature on “Rhymes and Ammo.” And Chicago native Common, who Zap Mama employs on “Yelling Away,” is to the Midwest what Q-Tip is to New York. Here’s where things get especially interesting: On “Put It in the Air,” Kweli performs a duet with DJ Quik. Hip-hoppers couldn’t have asked for a more unlikely combination — while Kweli is often hailed as athinking man’s rapper, Compton, CA’s DJ Quik is the essence of West Coast gangsta rap. But Kweli and Quik manage to find some common ground, and “Put It in the Air” turns out to be one of the album’s best tracks. Usually decent and occasionally excellent, Soundbombing, Vol. 3 is among 2002’s more noteworthy rap compilations.

01. Cipha Sounds & Mr. Choc – Intro
02. Styles P & Pharoahe Monch – The Life
03. Mos Def – Freak Daddy
04. [Dialogue]
– Skit (1)
05. Skillz – Crew Deep (ft. Missy Elliott & Kandi)
06. Kool G Rap – My Life (ft. C-N-N)
07. Jonell – Round & Round (Remix) (ft. Method Man, Kool G Rap & Pharoahe Monch)
08. Zap Mama – Yelling Away (ft. Common & Talib Kweli)
09. [Dialogue]
– Skit (2)
10. Q-Tip – What Lies Beneath
11. The Beatnuts – The Trouble Is…
12. Talib Kweli – Put It In The Air (ft. DJ Quik)
13. Novel – They Don’T Flow (ft. Skillz)
14. The Roots – Rhymes And Ammo (ft. Talib Kweli)
15. Cocoa Brovaz – Spit Again (ft. Dawn Penn)
16. R.A. The Rugged Man – On The Block (Golden Era) (ft. L. Dionne)
17. Cipha Sounds & Mr. Choc – Outro

VA – Soundbombing (1997) FLAC
VA – Soundbombing 2 (1999) FLAC

VA – Soundbombing III (2002) [FLAC]
[Rawkus]