1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
A REALLY GOOD ALBUM , 2008-08-02
ESHAM
A-1 YOLA
It's been a while since I reviewed a Psychopathic Records album and I thought it was the right time to bring one back. And since I have yet to review an Esham album yet I decided to review his final album on the record label, A-1 YOLA. The album is entirely produced by Esham except two songs, so lets get started.
1.SINCE DAY ONE-the album starts out on a high note with banging track, Esham definitely comes hard on this track. Esham holds it down on this opening track lyrically and production wise. I particularly like the beat for this album, it hits real hard in the ride. Good opening track.4.8/5
2.TURBULENCE-this track was also on the "Murder Dog" double disc album that came out earlier that year. This track is much like the first in that it has a thumping beat and killer lyrics from Esham. I will admit though that the song can get annoying, especially the hook.4/5
3.BOLIVIA-the first single for the album and has a really smooth beat sampling a very recognizable song. Esham comes nice with the verses, and the beat is real cool, too bad there was not a video for this song. Could have been real cool if marketed right.4.5/5
4.BIRD AFTER BIRD-this track is cool, it has a real west coast influenced beat to it. Also Esham kills this track with his verses, I like how he adapts the flow a points during this track. I would say that this is the best song so far, simple hook though.5/5
5.JUSTA HUSTLER/PAIN KILLER-this was the second single from the album, and yet the only one with an official music video for it. This track has a very bouncy beat and Esham adjusts his flow to fit the style of the song. Most people hate this song but I think it is a great throwback to the Rick James days, which it is just take a look at the video for it. Then it falls right into "Pain Killer" which has a smooth beat and a great verse, excellent song as well. 5/5
6.YOCA COLA-this is another banging song featuring a bumping instrumental from Esham. And you know Esham holds it down on the lyrical tip and straight kills it. This another track like the first two, good bumping beat and verses.4/5
7.FALL INTO THE FIRE-this track is great, Esham totally kills this track with some great verses. The story telling on this track is great and the hook is cool, but the beat though is great. The beat is something you would hear the Beastie Boys on rocking something. Great track.5/5
8.WICKET-this is like a juggalo anthem really, and that is actually a good thing since the songs above have really been more street orientated for the most part. The beat is bumping on this track and will have you nodding your head. And Esham really kills this track, he sounds right at home on this type of track.4.9/5
9.ENEMIES-next up is another great story telling track about you guessed it, your enemies. The song is definitely worth listening to, Esham does his thing on this track. The beat on this track is nice as well really blends a new sound with an old school sound, good song.4.8/5
10.HELP ME-bumping song, this is Esham at his best a nice fast paced song with a great twist to it. Esham holds it down on this song both lyrically and production wise on this track.4.5/5
11.SERVIN'-this is another good song worthy of this album, it has a nice east coast feel to it. The hook for this song is catchy to so it is really well put together, and the instrumental is very east coast influenced. Good song, worth checking out.4.8/5
12.BANGIN' DOPE-this song makes me think it was made for the clubs, if only for the lyrics it could have been. This is none the less a really good addition to the album the beat is bumping but annoying at times during the repeating part but the verses are good.4/5
13.ONE HUNDRED-the first of two non Esham produced tracks, and this track is off the hook. POLAR BEAR did his thing heavy on this track, the beat for this track is highly original and could have been a cool single for the album. I really like the whistling on the beat and the kid singing in the back ground. Of course Esham held it down hard on this track, and the hook is great. This is possibly the best song on the album.5/5
14.GANGSTA DEDICATION-the second of the non Esham produced tracks and MARC LIVE did a great job on this track. Marc created a great instrumental for Esham on this track real old school sounding, really great in the car. Esham does his thing for all the gangstas out there, really great hook as well.5/5
15.UNHAPPY-this is really good rock influenced track for all to enjoy, in fact I think it is really epic sounding. The instrumental for this track is amazing and real poetic in my opinion, Esham out did him self for this track, especially during the chorus. Lyrically Esham did his thing and created a real good song, beat switches at the end.5/5
16.?-really heavy on the bass for this song, in fact the entire first part of the beat is based around the bass. The beat does have its cool moments though, and Esham holds it down on this track, and the chorus has some cool guitars on it.4.5/5
17.SMILEY FACES-the final song is the most unlikely track of the entire album, a happy song by Esham. But unlike most people who hate on this song because of the subject matter, I actually like this song. I think the smooth instrumental is extremely well put together, and Esham rides the beat with ease.5/5
Over all this was a pretty good album, and while not as good as previous albums it is still a worthy addition to your collection. Also the cd comes with a DVD that has a video for every song.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
A little generous., 2007-12-01
I gave this album an extra star for the videos. I thought that was a cool touch. Other than that, with the exception of a few tracks, this album is poor. And Esham knows it.
As an Esham fan from '90, Wayne Co, MI, I must say, this is E's weakest effort. Sorry, honesty is what is needed here. A good fan will not encourage an artist to underperform.
I still have faith in Esham, and his next album will be good.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Guns and Grams, Thats What We On., 2007-11-26
This isn't your typical release. Then again, has Esham ever put out a 'typical' release? Thinking back to albums such as Closed Casket, KKKill The Fetus, Bruce Wayne, even Repentance, none have shown to be anywhere near typical. All differ in style, production, features and affiliation.
This is the second solo LP put out by Esham for Psychopathic Records, the first 'Repentance', the technical first release was a greatest hits 'Acid Rain'. Many original fans begged to differ.
Repentance was put out, with a lot of Psychopathic's team on the album(several features with ICP, production by Mike P.(horrible producer), a feature with Twiztid, etc.) The next to follow would have nothing Psychopathic on it other then the hatchetman logo and Soopa Villainz logo.
Before it's release, Sham's brother James, 'Dead Boy' saw release on a trumped up charge. It was just Esham and Dead Boy in the studio during the recording of 'A-1 Yola'.
Besides two tracks, the whole album was produced by Esham. Polar Bear produces one, 'One Hundred'. And someone named Marc Live produces the other, 'Gangsta Dedication'.
There a few bangers on this one, and all tote tales about cocaine abuse and murder.
'Since Day One' starts the album off with 'dope' production, and raps about flipping coke. Just in case anyone doubts E sold dope back in the day.
'Yoca-cola' also has addicting production, and similar subject matter as the previosuly mentioned track. Esham raps about his own use and sale of cocaine. Really crazy video for this song, with lots of paraphenalia and shots of dope and dope use.
And to shed a little light on the hidden track 'Pill Me(Feel My Prescription)', after the pretty terrible "imitation" track Justa Hustler, is the dope-ballad from E's classic 2001 album Tongues.
Esham did an interview for Murder Dog some time back and they were hyping him for his Tongues/WWW.COM releases, E explained that the WWW.COM album was coming with a DVD of exclusive sh-t. He explained Tongues would also containe a DVD, with a video for all the songs on Tongues. This never happened, and apparently Esham has a few videos of songs from Tongues.
He included 'Pill Me' on this album, because he wanted this tight video to see the light of the day. It would've been too much if he threw half of Tongues on A-1, so he just went with the one hit. 'Pill Me' is an excellent song about prescription drug abuse and addiciton, and very in-depth lyricism by Esham. The video is also awesome, and could've been a hit on the scene if things were different.
Many reviews don't seem to be exactly on point about this album, in my opinion. This was poorly recieved by the suicidalists, or original Esham fans. Many 'juggalos' don't even like this, other then the fact that it has the hatchetman on it and it's Esham. Some see it as just a pathetic attempt at mainstream success(talk of selling cocaine has been dominating the rap radio lately with artists such as Young Jeezy, Kanye West and other wack artists.)
The DVD included is a nice addittion and allowed me to not think twice when I ordered my copy when it first came out. Very trippy to watch while under the influence, which was Esham's intention. 'Dope Vision' he calls it in the booklet. To bad to say though, I was disappointed(The "trippy" effects were a bit much at times and ruined what could have been a normally great video, ie: Since Day One, Bird After Bird, Fall Into The Fire).
Esham, props due, is a legend. This is far from Esham's best works, while awesome and different like every one of his other albums, the style is more late 90's like albums such as 'Bruce Wayne', although with a couple more bags of dope added to the stories.
Not a bad one, but definitely a mediocre release. Especially coming from someone who released the albums 'Boomin' Words From Hell', the FIRST double album in hip-hop 'Judgment Day', and 'Closed Casket'.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Horrid, 2007-06-08
Let me tell you idiot's something, this cd is bunk. The worst Esham cd.
Period. There is not a greater fan than me, but I will keep it real.
Someone is making these reviews up, seriously. One, maybe two good songs.
Since day one; turbulance; fall into the fire.
Thats it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
