Haters take note. Despite having easy access to ghostwriter extraordinaire Jay-Z on All Money Is Legal, Amil pens some rugged rhymes that would make Lil' Kim proud. Most would recognize Amil's distinctive little-girl flow ... more »from her cameo on Jay-Z's "Can I Get A...." Interestingly, despite the album's title, much of the subject matter doesn't really revolve around materialism. In fact, Amil reveals herself to be a staunch street-styled feminist. The release opens up with the autobiographical "Smile 4 Me," where she reflects on what it was like feeding her child while on welfare, as suicidal thoughts crept into her head. "I Got That" (featuring Destiny Child's Beyonce) may read like just another moola-centric song but she's actually declaring her financial independence from men. In fact, most of Amil's lyrics deserve repeated listens. All Money Is Legal's beats are all over the place, as she sings over loud guitars on "Get Down" and complements R&B crooner Carl Thomas over spacey beats on "Quarrels." The album's finest moment comes on "Any Day," where Amil prefers to stay loyal to an incarcerated hubby ("...ain't nobody tapping this, I'd rather tap my own / watching tapes we made while I'm resting alone"). Foxy Brown fans desperately need to buy this album and take notes. --Dalton Higgins« less
Haters take note. Despite having easy access to ghostwriter extraordinaire Jay-Z on All Money Is Legal, Amil pens some rugged rhymes that would make Lil' Kim proud. Most would recognize Amil's distinctive little-girl flow from her cameo on Jay-Z's "Can I Get A...." Interestingly, despite the album's title, much of the subject matter doesn't really revolve around materialism. In fact, Amil reveals herself to be a staunch street-styled feminist. The release opens up with the autobiographical "Smile 4 Me," where she reflects on what it was like feeding her child while on welfare, as suicidal thoughts crept into her head. "I Got That" (featuring Destiny Child's Beyonce) may read like just another moola-centric song but she's actually declaring her financial independence from men. In fact, most of Amil's lyrics deserve repeated listens. All Money Is Legal's beats are all over the place, as she sings over loud guitars on "Get Down" and complements R&B crooner Carl Thomas over spacey beats on "Quarrels." The album's finest moment comes on "Any Day," where Amil prefers to stay loyal to an incarcerated hubby ("...ain't nobody tapping this, I'd rather tap my own / watching tapes we made while I'm resting alone"). Foxy Brown fans desperately need to buy this album and take notes. --Dalton Higgins
"First off all the haters need to Shut Up!!!. Amil is nice , iight. She has a sexy sexy voice , damn!. I don't know who's voice is sexier her's or Angie Martinez. Anyway , this album is dope from start to finish. punchlines that I remember "Hold FRANKLINS like Aretha" , "Catch me in the drop playin Speedy Gonzales" , & "Body like a Cola Bottle mami". The Roc should have never let Amil go. And back in the concert at MSG The Roc wants to diss her during a song & say "Amil ... Gone!". That's wrong , even though I am a Jay Z fan , still yo. Anyway peep her New Freestyle it's iLL & look out for her 2nd album. Wait a minute I'm rambling , let me get back to this album. Ok ...
1) Smile 4 Me - a real song about the day by day struggle.
2) I Got That - Dope song with Beyonce , nice beat.
3) Get Down - an iight song , the guitars are cool.
4) Y'all Dead Wrong - song is slow paced , letting the haters know that they are dead wrong!!!
5) Heard It All - blah blah Jay-Z is wack on this song , Amil saves him.
6) Quarrels - yo this is my Favorite song , deep deep , meaningful song about the devil & how he wants you to do bad , but you must resist him.
"I see your eye watching me on them dollar bills".
7) Girlfriend - this song is something like Aaliyah's
"If Your Girl Only Knew".
8) All Money Is Legal - All Money Isn't Legal
9) That's Right - Sick beat , Jay's flow is better on this song.
10) Anyday - Dope Track
11) Raw - Amil spittin Fire
12) No 1 Can Compare - Love Song
13) 4 Da Fam - My 2nd Fav song , Jay-Z , Memphis Bleek , & Beanie are on this track.
nuff said
1"
THAT VOICE
LilBo | b town | 09/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Amil is dope at first I said not another wannabee female emcee but then I heard "I Got That" and said damn this chick is ill. You may think Amil is all about materialistic things by the name of the album and by the single but if you listen to the opening song "Smile 4 Me", You will realize Amil has been through a struggle to get where she's at and her voice is so original.While you have your wacked sex crazed female rappers {Lil Kim,Trina} some work{Foxy Brown}.You also have females to be respected {Missy, Eve,and Amil}.This album is blazing hot the best songs are Smile 4 Me and Heard It All and the rest are even hotter.So remember this saying, behind every good man{Jay-z} there's a good woman{Amil}."
Not bad, she maybe around for a while
04/14/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"amil is a pretty good female rapper, i have to admit, even though i hated her when i first heard her. i hated amil behind explination but my brother thought she was the only tight female rapper so when i saw the album online i downloaded it for him. while it was downloading i decided to listen. it really wasn't bad. she writes all her own lyrics and her voice & production are so unique.she makes a few key rookie mistakes like "i got that" being the bigget of them all. not even beyonce' of destiny's child could save that song cuz it was so weak. she shines along with her roc-a-fella family though on "for da fam" the album's only posse cut. one thing amil does also is shines sololy. you will find only 4 songs on the album with guest artists- and amazingly no interludes. the album's best track is her life story "smile for me" and not far behind are "heard it all before" (featuring jay-z), "no one can compare", "anyday" & the amazing title track "all money is legal".the party tracks are few and far between but "girlfriend" does show some dance worthy tunes and "ya'll dead wrong" i guess you can bounce to but not easily. this ones a more bump it out the trunk kinda track. she isn't the best thing i ever heard but i guess shes alright. shes can't even compare with the female greats like foxy, kim, lauryn, charli, digga or angie but i wouldn't put her to far below that list. hey its worth a listen"
This girl has talent
LilBo | 10/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I wasnt shocked at all. I knew she would be different and she was. Her Cd was good and it all wasnt based on beats. She has tight lyrics unlike some artist who depend all on there beats. Also she doesnt have alot of guest appearance it is all her and her voice is feminine so she still sounds like a lady but she comes harder than some of these men. It was no shocker to me that she would be tight she down with a tight fam."
A.M.I.L
Nathan Johnson | Harlem, USA | 09/20/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This album can be retitled as A.M.I.L. (Amil's Music is Legit). Amil shows the world in her first single, "I Got That"; that she has what it takes to move the crowd. "I Got That" is a tune thats sure to bump in the clubs. It features Beyonce of Destiny's Child. The rest of the CD is also flavored with catchy tunes, and bumping beats. Indeed, Amil set out to prove that she doesn't really need to feature a bunch of all star rappers to back her. Indeed, she will show the world that she is worthy to be a part of one of Hip Hop's strongest camps, Rockafella."