Dead Prez Presents M1 - Dead Prez Presents M1 Confidential (14 tracks) +Album Reviews

Dead Prez Presents M-1: Confidential

Constant | Vancouver, BC Canada | 03/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"M-1 (AKA Mutulu Olugabala) delivers his debut solo album with "Confidential" (2006). I have been following Dead Prez since I heard their premium debut album "Lets Get Free". M-1 opens this release with the outstanding "One Side" (The Anthem). M-1 and his Dead Prez partner Sticman team up for their only collaboration with the solid "Early". M-1 excels on the exceptional "Land Bread and Housing" feat. My Momma & singer Raye he delivers some heartfelt lyrics. Scrap Daddy then drops in for the banging "For You". The albums title track "Confidential" is another excellent track, M-1 rhymes over a dope laidback beat, while singer Raye delivers some smooth vocals. M-1 enlists A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip & singer Cassandra Wilson for the beautiful standout "Love You Can't Borrow". "5 Elements" opens with M-1 quoting Bruce Lee, in a track about discipline, which is similar to "50 In The Clip", found on Dead Prez last album. "Gunslinger" is an interlude of sorts, a funny sounding one at that. M-1, Styles P of the Lox & Bazaar Royale hook up for the strong "Comrade's Call". Two experimental sounding cuts follow then M-1 & Ghostface tag team "Been Through", while singer Raye provides more smooth vocals. M-1 lyrics on the moving upbeat single "Til We Get There" are off the hook; he takes things to a whole another level, Somalian Rapper Knaan & singer Stori James shine. This track is full of positive messages and quotables, ultimately it's about being together, accepting each other's differences and realizing we all are human and are stronger when we accept and love each other and work together. In order to achieve that goal solidarity is needed. M-1 closes the album off with "Too Smart" kicking rhyme after rhyme backed by his own chorus, and then finishes this release off talking about Assatta Shakur & other revolutionaries and the politics and ideology of his movement. M-1 delivers an excellent album with "Confidential", full of memorable lyrics, premium collaborations and tight production. Highly recommend checking out this release."

AWESOM ALBUM - DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I EXPECTED THOUGH....

Michael B. Colon | NYC | 04/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I too am also a huge DP fan and I highly anticipated this album. I must admit I intitially didn't like the album when I popped it in the car. I guess cuz I was expecting something different. But when I saw the dvd and listened to it again, I really, really dig the album. 90% of the album is on point! Yeah it's not a typical DP album, but it does have that DP flavor. M1 does have some intellectual things to say on this album. Not to mention the beats! I would have to say the beats are way better than any of the previous albums.

I highly recommned this album. I can also guarantee that you will not get bored listening to this album. Thd dvd is ok, but it does give you insight on why he did this album. "If you know then you know, if you don't then you don't".

M1 is most definetly a King of New York. Check out kingsofnewyork.net for some more Kings, NYC style...

peace"

Great from beginning to end

C. Stevens | 04/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"M1 has always shown that this was possible; however, I was not expecting anything this good. The production is amazing particularly on tracks like Early, Confidential, Gunslinger, and Been Through. The lyrics are some of the best from any of Dead Prez (essentially this album has a foot in the excellent Let's Get Free and also the hard Revolutionary But Gangsta). Confidential is an amazing song with great lyrics and production. Any fan of Dead Prez, Wu, Vordul (Cannibal Ox), Public Enemy, Big L, Paris, BlackStar, Mobb Deep, or Immortal Technique will find this one of the best albums of 2006. A positive addition to the Dead Prez catalog and to hip hop generally. The featuring vocals are also excellent (including Scrap Daddy, Q-Tip, Styles P, Ghostface, and of course Sticman) and demonstrate that M1 still does excellent collaborations in addition to solo work. Great from beginning to end."

Still Revolutionary... {4 Stars}

Norfeest | Washington DC USA | 09/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"M1 is a good rapper. His work with Sticman on the RBG (an album I rated way too low when it first dropped) and Let's Get Free LPs, as well as a strong catalog of mixtapes, is pretty much untouchable. But expecting another Dead Prez album would be a mistake. This albums takes on a whole 'nother vibe. You always know what to expect from the Dead Prez camp whenever they drop new material -- strong messages of upliftment and self sufficience over soulful, intense, almost tribal production, but this time the vibe is a lot more mellow. Joints like "Til We Get There", "Been Through", "Confidential", "5 Elements", and "Early" are definitely standouts that follow the DP formula. The message of upliftment is definitely consistent on every track and fans will get exactly what they've come to expect from the DP rider.

The other side of the Dualdisc includes a music video for "Til We Get There", the album in dolby, and clips that focus on a day in the life of M1 and showcasing his message.

As far as flaws, though the message is great in every song, the problem with this album is the spotty production and too many tracks have terrible hooks. There are a few joints like "Land, Bread, & Housing", "Don't Put Down Your Flag", "Gunslinger", and "For You" that could be labeled as skip material while "Comrade's Call" and "The Beat" are pretty forgettable. The rest of the album is strong and flows well from track to track.

Confidential is definitely an album worthy of your support. M1 shows that you can mellow out and still get the same message out. Though the album is uneven in spots, it's still worth hearing. I recommend adding this one to the collection.

Standout Tracks: 5 Elements, Been Through feat. Ghostface & Raye, Love You Can't Borrow feat. Q Tip & Cassandra Wilson (My Favorite), Early feat. Sticman, 'Til We Get There feat. Knaan & Stori James, Too Smart, One Side (The Anthem), and Confidential feat. Raye"

Dont keep this album Confidential

Nuisance | Miami | 10/02/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As you all know, M-1 half of the dynamic duo, Dead Prez. After a classic first album Let's Get Free, Dead Prez dropped two dope mixtapes and finally put out RBG and recieved mixed reviews for a tepid follow up. M-1 decided to drop a solo release, Confidential. After hearing it, its clear that this album is better than RBG. The album starts off with a tight intro One Side. M-1 and his comrade Sticman prove that they can still give you a hot track with Early. M-1 gets introspective on ya in Land, Bread & Housing feat Raye and his mother gives a touching intro in the beginning of the track. Confidential feat Raye is pretty tight too. Love You Cant Borrow feat Cassandra Wilson and Q-Tip is a nice track dedicated to his queen. Til We Get There feat K'Naan and Stori James was a heartfelt first single that should have moved this album off the shelves. There are a couple of tracks that should have been shaved off the album. The ragtime-sounding Gunslinger is downright stupid. The Beat(feat Bang Double) and Dont Put Down Your Flag(feat Young Dre) are boring. Styles P's offbeat rapping(listen to his verseson that track carefully)stops Comrade's Call from being the great track it could have been. But the flaws are a minority on this album so it's excusable. Bottom Line: M-1's Confidential is definitely one of the most slept-on albums of 2006 and quiet as kept, it was better than Dead Prez's sophomore jinx RBG. M-1 still flows nice and the production(with a few exceptions) was good not to mention that he's still drops some gems in his songs as well as those inserts on the outro. Standouts: ONE SIDE, EARLY, LAND, BREAD & HOUSING, FOR YOU, CONFIDENTIAL, LOVE YOU CANT BORROW, 5 ELEMENTS, TIL WE GET THERE and TOO SMART."

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	Dead Prez Presents M-1 Dead Prez Presents M-1: Confidential Genres: Pop, Rap & Hip-Hop Track Listings (14) - Disc #1 One Side (The Anthem) Early Land, Bread & Housing For You Confidential Love You Can't Borrow 5 Elements Gunslinger Comrade's Call Don't Put Down Your Flag The Beat Been Through 'Til We Get There Too Smart
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