Search - Half-A-Mill :: Milion

Half-A-Mill - Million

Constant | Vancouver, BC Canada | 03/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Half-A-Mill's (AKA Jasun Ward) debut album was "Million" (2000). Prior to his debut album Half had appearances on the Firm's "The Album" and the "Belly Soundtrack". His second and last album "Da Hustle Don't Stop" was released in 2002. Brooklyn's Half-A-Mill was found murdered in his apartment in 2003, leaving behind a wife and two sons. I remember reading about it briefly at the time, and wondering who Half-A-Mill was, in a Rap game full of MC's I had never had the chance to listen to his work. Half-A-Mill hooks up for an excellent collaboration with Ali Vegas on the grimy "Tough Guyz", both MC's shine backed by some a tight guitar beat. Half-A-Mill and Nature team up backed by a laidback beat for another standout in "What U Ridin". Half-A-Mill reps himself and his goals on the fast-paced "New Millenium" a cut about getting paid. The talented Az drops in for "Quiet Money" another good collaboration. AZ paid tribute to Half-A-Mill on his most recent album, including him on a tight cut called "Street Life". Backed by a vibrant bouncy beat Half-A-Mill talks to the ladies on "Don't Go Away". Half-A-Mill samples the Notorious on the outstanding "Where BK At", rhyming with a fast flow over some upbeat production and repping his hood with pride. Half comes across hungry on "Fires In Hell". The albums single was "Thug Ones", Half-A-Mill, Noreaga, Musolini and the legendary Kool G Rap deliver a impressive banger. Half-A-Mill then delivers two laidback love cuts for the ladies with "Gimme Ya Luv" and "Ghetto Girl". Half-A-Mill shines again on the exceptional "Thug Luv", Half-A-Mill goes deep on this one in a track dedicated to the incarcerated, dead and those who "Got Murdered For Stacks". Half-A-Mills lyrics and chorus are really on point, and sadly apply to his own life and death. Spice 1 drops in for another banger in "Bounce" while Half-A-Mill rhymes over an original Public Enemy beat on "Thuggest Enemy #1". It's tragic that Half-A-Mill died young leaving a family behind, and never getting the chance to make it big in the Rap game. Half-A-Mill's "Million" is an album worth having in the collection. R.I.P.

"

BIG MILLI STYLE

RealMatic | NYC | 04/12/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard of Half-a-mil when I was at a barbershop on Jamaica Ave, Queens. I saw his picture on the wall alongside the likes of Ali Vegas, Nas and 50 Cent. I asked my barber who he was and he said a rapper that ran with AZ. Knowing AZ cosigned him, I went out and bought Da Hustle Don't Stop. CLASSIC MATERIAL. If you like Cormega, Nature or the above mentioned artists, then do yourself a favor and cop Da Hustle Don't Stop.
Around October of 2003, Half-a-mil was found shot to death in his apartment in the Albany Projects, Broolyn. He'll be greatly missed and truly respected by Real hip hop fans everywhere. On to my review:Having first heard Mil's classic second album, I had high expectations for this project. Unfortunately, I was somewhat let down. The beats were a little below the standards set by the classics off Da Hustle Don't Stop.02 Tough Guys featuring Ali Vegas was a dope italian guitar, mafioso track about Mil and Ali bodying a snitch. 4/503 What U Ridin'? featuring Nature is a dope song to whip in. When I'm driving this song gets me focused man. 4/504 New Millenium up next, just drags on. The chorus is pretty wack, and the beat is montonous. This is a shame, because Mil's verses are cold. 3/505 Quiet Money featuring AZ is easily one of the dopest cuts. The most underated rapper EVER, AZ gets shine and Mil is obviously motivated by A's performance. 5/506 Don't Go Away featuring Charisse of Changing Faces follows with a thumping bassline. The beat sounds like its missing something and Charrisse isn't really saying anything on the hook. 3.5/507 Where BK At? is one of the standout cuts. I mean he's got the obvious BIG sample. Mil represents'- the first verse snatched my attention like a platinum chain. BROOK'NAM! 5/508 Fires in Hell is also a standout, sporting a Just Blaze beat. This is definitely one of my favorites. Hard beat, Hard lyrics. 5/509 Some Ni@@az is a cool joint, too. By now you've probably heard various rappers (Joe Budden,etc.) freestyle over this beat- Mil blessed it nice, talking about different people in the game. 5/510 Thug Ones featuring Noreaga, Kool G. Rap and Musalini was the first single. It serves it purpose; Neptunes club banger. I couldn't front on it - G. Rap, an alltime great comes thru - I'd probably be feelin it in the club. 5/511 Gimme Ya Luv is phat. Even though its a chick flick, the Curtis Mayfield sample is just dope. This could've been a follow-up single. I'd play this for my girl. 5/512 Ghetto Girl is one of the weaker tracks. Its got an old school feel, with a beat from Sha-Self (SHADYVILLE!). I'm not feeling the lyrics, though. 2/513 Thug Luv follows Ghetto Girl. This is an ode to cats dead or in jail. Mellow track, mellow lyrics. Definitely a drinking/smoking song. He drops some knowledge also. 5/514 Bounce featuring Spice 1 is a good pickup from Thug Luv. Its an uptempo banger and features Spice 1 and that rapidfire flow. Dope. 5/516 Thuggest Enemy #1 could of been another radio joint. It features the beat from Public Enemy #1 (Puffy/Shyne). Solid closer. 5/5Overall a good introduction for Half-a-mil, but I liked Da Hustle Don't Stop better. Its kinda like Az's Doe or Die to Pieces of a Man, or Nas's Illmatic to Street Dreams, and Cormega's Realness to True Meaning (except Milion was Mil's first not second); you already heard what they're capable of so you hold them to those standards.

In conclusion, I would say its definitely worth copping. Another emcee who'll be missed. APPRECIATE PEOPLE WHILE THEY'RE HERE........."

Millmatic

Omnipotent | The Realms Of Reality | 11/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is crazy, I don't know what the herb who said it had three good songs was smoking, but if you want a lyricist who can make commercial songs without compromising himself, as well as keep it on a street level, this is the album for you.



Half-A-Mill = A complete emcee



R.I.P"