Search - 2 Black 2 Strong & Mmg :: Doin' Hard Time on Planet Earth

Across The 110

retro_styled_crooner | Tustin, CA USA | 09/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Harlem's confrontational 2 Black 2 Strong (members Mean Gene, Johnny Marrs, Warchild, C Dogg, and Dark Chocolate) came with the intense backing of MMG. Previous to their 1991 debut Doin' Hard Time On Planet Earth, 2 Black 2 Strong had already fired up a lot of controversy in the same year with their early 1991 EP Burn Baby Burn, This shorter variety spotlights a controversial flag-burning ditty and tipped off the subject matter of the title track. Relativity's tape manufacturer refused to press promotional copies, since "Burn Baby Burn" included the line, "F*ck the red, white and blue." 1991's Doin' Hard Time On Planet Earth was one of the strongest, foremost, and rejected rap releases in the early 90s. Although at times the Harlem MC can be excessively discordant and overly explosive, and rebellious, he's also (at times) got a meaningful thrust about him in a very incitive way when addressing social and political issues (gutsy). The track "Skulls" decries the crack epidemic with frightening accuracy, while "War on Drugs" asserts that the civil-rights violations occurring in response to the plague are as bad as the plague itself. "Iceman Cometh" tends to unfairly generalize about law enforcement, although its point about excessive force is well taken. As the early 90s went by 2 Black 2 Strong unfortunatley vanished from the political rap scene and remain undeservedly obscure."

Dope, Raw

gpops | the trailer | 04/27/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"2 Black 2 Strong were an obscure NYC collective of militant, angry MCs. Their style and subject matter are particularily intersting, as this CD comes from a transition period in hip hop. Hip hop was moving from political, black power oriented lyrics to more street-level gansterism, and this albusm strikes a pleasant balance between the two.

Johnny Mars half-rapped, half-screamed style predates groups like Onyx or MOP, so this albums is also interesting for that reason.

This is a dope CD of street cuts, political awareness and rawness, with "War on Drugs" being my favorite track. Definately a great buy."