Dame Grease – Goon Musik (5-27-2008)

Posted on May 07 in Reviewsby adminPrint

Most will remember Dame Grease as the producer who helped propel DMX to multi-platinum heights before Swizz Beatz started to put in major work. After a couple of oher hits in the late 90’s and the early part of the millennium Dame has since all but fallen off the face of the earth. His first compilation effort Live On Lenox Ave. was vastly slept on even though it featured some very promising artist as well as production from Dame himself. Chances are Dame just never rebounded from the self pity until now. With his latest effort Goon Music Dame Grease looks to reclaim his position atop the production elite.

Dame Grease, Bigga Threat, and Loose Cannons all show flashes of threatening excellence on the commanding opener “Lotzilla.” On the underachieving “9‘s Out” Meeno and Tony Wink assist Grease in an effort where the outcome sounds like an old 50 Cent record. Former Byrdgang member Max B immediately steals the show on the sure to be early favorite “Connecticut Kush.” Tracks like “Gangsta’s Fairytale” and the E. Snaps delivered “Bout To Ride” come off like fabricated attempts at some gangsta shit.

“The Tombs” turns out to be a throwback sounding beat-only effort with immediately apparent markings from Dame’s earlier works. Tony Wink, Fosho, and Tanya T6 all assist Dame on the surprisingly appetizing “Goon Luv” where the four spit about some tender lovin in a very rugged type of way. Dame invites Meeno, Messiah, and E. Snaps to rep for their infamous Harlem hood on the very pleasing “Lennox Ave. Boyz.” The ultra commercial feeling “Picture Me” turns out to be nothing short of a straight failure of an effort.

Goon Music is filled with a bunch of dark, grooving, and bass heavy offerings made uniquely for no one else other than goons. Some of the tracks have a very high peak point while some of the others are as horrible as it gets. The bottom line is that Dame still has the ability and skill set to make some solid hits. His production style just doesn’t fit the mentality levels of those who actually still purchase music CDs. Chances are that Dame will continue to provide under the radar heat to some of the more grown hip hop artist and quite frankly that might just be what hip hop needs.

VERDICT – 11 / 20 
LYRICS: 2
PRODUCTION: 3
DELIVERY: 3
CONSISTENCY: 3