Another album gets the HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN treatment, this time around it`s an album that was originally released back in 1998 on the infamous Death Row Records. The album in question is Daz Dillinger`s "Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back", which just happens to be his first solo outing. It`s a pretty decent album in my opinion, I just think that it tends to get over~looked because it was released during a period of time when Death Row Records was basically on it`s last legs. Dre was gone, Snoop was gone, `Pac was murdered & label head Suge Knight was incarcerated. It`s safe to say that things weren`t looking so good for the label, but ya got to give Daz some credit instead of jumpin` ship when all this was happening he decided to take on the role as head producer for the label...
A move of desperation? Maybe so, but I`m thinking that Daz knew that there was still a treasure trove of material left at the Row & he wanted to get his hands on `em. Or maybe he was just trying to keep the label alive because after all he was one of the kats that helped make it as big as it once was. Only Daz really knows for sure, but that`s another story altogether anyway. As for the album Daz was able to oversee the entire project by himself since Suge wasn`t around. Dr. Dre was also absent from the mix so he couldn`t take away any production credits from Daz Dilly. A lot of folks out there mention the fact that some of these songs were probably meant for a second Dogg Pound album seeing as how Kurupt is featured on 4 tracks, it`s a possibility I`m sure. Maybe Daz decided to rescue the tracks from the vaults for his own album seeing as how Kurupt had also left the label when ish began to hit the fan. Either way I`m glad they made his album because they ended up being some of the iLLeR joints on the album...
I guess since Daz was handling most of the production duties (Soopafly co-produced 2 joints) he felt the need to have plenty of his homies featured on the album. Or maybe it was a way for him to complete the album much sooner than he would have if he was doing everything on the solo tip. I`m thinking the latter since the label wasn`t standing on the most stablest of grounds. Daz was probably thinking, "Hey I gotta get this shit out ASAP!" Whatever the case may be it worked out for him because most of the contributions that the featured artists bring to the table compliment the album. Daz sure did a great job when it came to the beats for this project, they definitely bang hard! Some G-Funk at it`s finest, that goes without saying. Something interesting to note about the album`s cover art, it was highly influenced by the Marvin Gaye`s "In Our Lifetime" album cover art...
A move of desperation? Maybe so, but I`m thinking that Daz knew that there was still a treasure trove of material left at the Row & he wanted to get his hands on `em. Or maybe he was just trying to keep the label alive because after all he was one of the kats that helped make it as big as it once was. Only Daz really knows for sure, but that`s another story altogether anyway. As for the album Daz was able to oversee the entire project by himself since Suge wasn`t around. Dr. Dre was also absent from the mix so he couldn`t take away any production credits from Daz Dilly. A lot of folks out there mention the fact that some of these songs were probably meant for a second Dogg Pound album seeing as how Kurupt is featured on 4 tracks, it`s a possibility I`m sure. Maybe Daz decided to rescue the tracks from the vaults for his own album seeing as how Kurupt had also left the label when ish began to hit the fan. Either way I`m glad they made his album because they ended up being some of the iLLeR joints on the album...
I guess since Daz was handling most of the production duties (Soopafly co-produced 2 joints) he felt the need to have plenty of his homies featured on the album. Or maybe it was a way for him to complete the album much sooner than he would have if he was doing everything on the solo tip. I`m thinking the latter since the label wasn`t standing on the most stablest of grounds. Daz was probably thinking, "Hey I gotta get this shit out ASAP!" Whatever the case may be it worked out for him because most of the contributions that the featured artists bring to the table compliment the album. Daz sure did a great job when it came to the beats for this project, they definitely bang hard! Some G-Funk at it`s finest, that goes without saying. Something interesting to note about the album`s cover art, it was highly influenced by the Marvin Gaye`s "In Our Lifetime" album cover art...
Now let`s talk about the music & the lil` ''enhancements'' that I made to the album shall we? First off there wasn`t a whole lot of room to include much in the likes of extras, actually I was only able to add one whole track to the album since it`s just under 75 minutes in length originally. So I chose to add the "It Might Sound Crazy [Rmx]" which features the legendary Too $hort just like the original version. I was going to add the track titled "Pimp City" that was originally included as a bonus cut on both the vinyl & cassette versions of this album, but decided against it even though the track is a banger. For those interested in it though it`s produced by Soopafly & he`s also featured on the song. It later went on to appear on Soopafly`s debut album titled "Dat Whoopty Whoop"...
As for the other adjustments that I made to this album they`re more on the minimal side of things when compared to the other albums that I gave the HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN treatment to. Nonetheless some changes were made, the main one being that I took the Intro that was attached to the album`s opening song "Gang Bangin` Ass Criminal" & made it it`s own track (the first one of course). Not sure why the album`s Intro was tacked on to the beginning of the first song anyway, I feel that it`s a stupid idea. I`m sure plenty of folks just ended up skipping over the opening song because of the long~ass Intro, it`s over 2 minutes in length. It`s a DaMn shame too because "Gang Bangin` Ass Criminal" is one of the album`s better songs. So on this version of the album the Intro gets it`s own track so the listeners can get to the opening song without any delay...
"It`s Going Down" features Daz`s partner in rhyme Kurupt as well as the late Prince Ital Joe spittin` bars over a nice thumpin` beat, definitely a trunk thumper! On the funky & smooth`D out "Playa Partners" Daz invites B-Legit & Bo-Rock (of Dove Shack fame) to contribute to this braggadocio track, the end result is a pretty enjoyable listen. On "It Might Sound Crazy", the pimpish collabo` with Too $hort I made some small adjustments to the track`s opening & ending (volume~wise). This way you get to hear the lil` convo` Daz & Soopafly have at the beginning of the song about their feelings on bitches & also the closing bitch clownin` that Daz does at the song`s ending, CLaSSiC material indeed."Our Daily Bread" is another collabo` that features Kurupt & Prince Ital Joe. The beat, at least to me sounds kind of like "If We All Fucc" from the Dogg Pound`s debut album "Dogg Food". The song`s vibe however isn`t sexual at all, more on the G`d up tip as the gun shots at the beginning of the song indicate...
"In California" is one of the album`s singles & it features Val "Lady V" Young singing on the hook. It has a nice lil` G-Funk vibe to it, showin` Cali some love with it`s catchy chorus. For me it`s the perfect Summer time type of joint. "Initiated" is a Dogg Pound, 2Pac & the Outlawz collabo`, or "Thug Pound" as `Pac puts it....LoL, this joint was obviously recorded before `Pac's passing seeing as how he shouts out both the Pound & the Outlawz in the track`s opening seconds. The beat on this joint bangs hard & helps to make it another one of the album`s stand~out tracks. "Oh No" featuring J-Money & Tray Deee is really nothing super spectacular. The beat`s dark & thumps pretty hard while the hook may have ya thinking of that Nate Dogg, Mos Def & Pharoahe Monch joint with the same title, but verse~wise there`s nothing to really talk about...
As for the other adjustments that I made to this album they`re more on the minimal side of things when compared to the other albums that I gave the HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN treatment to. Nonetheless some changes were made, the main one being that I took the Intro that was attached to the album`s opening song "Gang Bangin` Ass Criminal" & made it it`s own track (the first one of course). Not sure why the album`s Intro was tacked on to the beginning of the first song anyway, I feel that it`s a stupid idea. I`m sure plenty of folks just ended up skipping over the opening song because of the long~ass Intro, it`s over 2 minutes in length. It`s a DaMn shame too because "Gang Bangin` Ass Criminal" is one of the album`s better songs. So on this version of the album the Intro gets it`s own track so the listeners can get to the opening song without any delay...
"It`s Going Down" features Daz`s partner in rhyme Kurupt as well as the late Prince Ital Joe spittin` bars over a nice thumpin` beat, definitely a trunk thumper! On the funky & smooth`D out "Playa Partners" Daz invites B-Legit & Bo-Rock (of Dove Shack fame) to contribute to this braggadocio track, the end result is a pretty enjoyable listen. On "It Might Sound Crazy", the pimpish collabo` with Too $hort I made some small adjustments to the track`s opening & ending (volume~wise). This way you get to hear the lil` convo` Daz & Soopafly have at the beginning of the song about their feelings on bitches & also the closing bitch clownin` that Daz does at the song`s ending, CLaSSiC material indeed."Our Daily Bread" is another collabo` that features Kurupt & Prince Ital Joe. The beat, at least to me sounds kind of like "If We All Fucc" from the Dogg Pound`s debut album "Dogg Food". The song`s vibe however isn`t sexual at all, more on the G`d up tip as the gun shots at the beginning of the song indicate...
"In California" is one of the album`s singles & it features Val "Lady V" Young singing on the hook. It has a nice lil` G-Funk vibe to it, showin` Cali some love with it`s catchy chorus. For me it`s the perfect Summer time type of joint. "Initiated" is a Dogg Pound, 2Pac & the Outlawz collabo`, or "Thug Pound" as `Pac puts it....LoL, this joint was obviously recorded before `Pac's passing seeing as how he shouts out both the Pound & the Outlawz in the track`s opening seconds. The beat on this joint bangs hard & helps to make it another one of the album`s stand~out tracks. "Oh No" featuring J-Money & Tray Deee is really nothing super spectacular. The beat`s dark & thumps pretty hard while the hook may have ya thinking of that Nate Dogg, Mos Def & Pharoahe Monch joint with the same title, but verse~wise there`s nothing to really talk about...
On the album`s title track "Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back" I made some small volume adjustments to it`s opening so you can really hear Daz taking one of them "$20 pulls".....LoL, the track itself is the only solo song that Daz has on this entire album. The beat definitely meshes well with his vocals, only thing that I don`t understand is who he`s referring to on the track. Who is he out to get revenge on? Those that left the Row during that time period? I`m just a lil` curious. Next up is "O.G.", a collabo` with Snoop & the late great king of hooks Nate Dogg. The beat`s got a nice smooth`D out vibe to it that`s a perfect backdrop to compliment Nate`s singin` on the song. I wonder how Daz was able to slip this joint onto the album seeing as how Snoop wasn`t affiliated with Death Row at the time of this release???
"Baby Mama Drama" tackles the subject of child support, kids & the always lovely baby mama stresses, the song features both Big & Lil` C-Style. It`s not a bad track, but it`s not one of the album`s strongest either. Daz follows the drama up with a love song.....LoL, not the greatest of transitions but that`s not really what`s funny. I just find it comical that Daz takes the time to drop a joint that professes his love for a woman without spittin` any cuss words until he gets to the end of the song & yells "Beeyatch!" Val "Lady V" Young & Big Pimpin` Delemond make appearances on "Only For U". On "Ridin` High" I made some small volume adjustments to the opening seconds of the song, just so you could really hear Daz`s shit talkin`, this song features WC & C.J. Mack. Dub & Daz have a good chemistry together, I guess that`s why they ended up workin` on that DoPe collabo` album together...
The opening seconds of "The Ultimate Come Up" received a lil` volume adjustment, just wanted to boost the levels a bit so we could really hear it. As for the song itself, it`s alright I kind of expected it to be a lil` iLLeR than it is though since both MC Eiht & Bad Azz are featured on it. All three artists deliver some so~so verses, but nothing quote worthy. On "Thank God For My Life" Daz gives a shot at spittin` an inspirational track that sort of makes for an awkward listen. Maybe it`s just his singin` on the hook that ruins it for me....LoL, anyway the song also features Tray Deee, Soopafly, Big Pimpin` Delemond & Bad Azz. The Outro "Why Do We Bang?" has Daz just giving some shout outs to his homies & also has him talkin` some shit as well. He doesn`t really elaborate too much on the answer for the question at hand, but whatever it`s an outro that you`ll probably hear once & then you`re good. That`s where the original album would have ended, but I added an extra joint for your listening pleasure & that track is the "It Might Sound Crazy [Rmx]". Again it features Too $hort & a different beat with more of an R&B type of vibe to it, gone are the adlibs of the chick thru~out the song & also the cussin`. It seems like it`s more of a radio version than an actual remix, but it`s still enjoyable none~the~less...
So there you have it y`all, peep the album...
So there you have it y`all, peep the album...
Label: Death Row Records
Released: 1998-2014
1. Gang Meeting [Intro] {ft. Tray Deee, Ty Cuzz, Bad A$$ & Technique}
2. Gang Bangin` Ass Criminal {ft. Tha Gang, Kurupt & Technique}
3. It`s Going Down {ft. Kurupt & Prince Ital Joe}
4. Playa Partners {ft. B-Legit & Bo-Roc}
5. It Might Sound Crazy {ft. Too $hort}
6. Our Daily Bread {ft. Kurupt & Prince Ital Joe}
7. In California {ft. Lady V}
8. Initiated {ft. 2Pac, Outlawz & Kurupt}
9. Oh No {ft. Tha Gang, Tray Deee & J-Money}
10. Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back
11. O.G. {ft. Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg}
12. Baby Mama Drama {ft. Tha Gang, Big C-Style & Lil` C-Style}
13. Only For U {ft. Lady V & Big Pimpin`}
14. Ridin` High {ft. WC & C.J. Mac}
15. The Ultimate Come Up {ft. Bad A$$ & MC Eiht}
16. Thank God For My Life {ft. Tha Gang, Tray Deee, Soopafly, Bad A$$ & Big Pimpin`}
17. Why Do We Bang? [Outro]
18. It Might Sound Crazy [Rmx] {ft. Too $hort}
N`JoY...
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