Search - Hot Boys :: Get It How U Live

The album that set if off!

Philip Y. | Israel | 09/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the Hot Boys' first album as a group, and even though Cash Money Records had sold hundrieds of thousands of records before it as well, this was the record that gave them the Universal deal. Untill this album, the label was huge only in their region, and while it was enough to make Baby and his label rich, very few oustide the Dirty South had heard about CMR. Well, that album changed all that. It sold more than 400,000 copies independantely!... So, what's so special about this one?... It's the first time the four hottest rappers on the label united and worked together. This album was released in 1997, so all of them were VERY young: Juvenile was 22, B.G. was 17, Lil' Wayne was only 14(!) and Turk wasn't much older as well. Depite their young age, all of them menage to impress - each one having his own unique style. Juvenile is the star of course, the one who shines above all: His crisp delivery, hint of humour, and passionate truthfulness in his words have always made him a standout in a world filled with lackluster rappers. B.G. has got a darker, more gangsta oriented style, while rapping real calm and grimmy (almost with no emotions whatsoever). Lil' Wayne is a young teenager on this one, but his talent can't be ignored, especially on his first ever solo song "Block Burner" : his rap skills still unpolished and his voice is still kinda quite on this album, but the charisma and creative delivery are already there. Turk also impresses with his thugged out rhymes and overall mic presence. So, as you see all of the Hot Boys do a great job, even though some of them (Lil' Wayne and Turk) were just getting started (Juve and BG already had a few albums under their belts). And as usual, it was Mannie Fresh's awesome beats that stood up! There are 13 songs (+ 2 totally useless skits) on this album, and the production on them is flawless. Some of the beats are laid-back, some are harder, and some have a darker feeling to them (especially Lil' Wayne and BG's solo songs). Lyrically the boys don't dissapoint as well. To those ignorant so called "hip-hop fans" thinking CMR is only about flossing, you couldn't be more mistaken - the Hot Boys's rapping is all about gangsta rap, living in the streets, hustlin'. There are a few songs, that have a social and deep message as well. There are no "party-style" songs, and no songs about sex, big behinds or whatever. CMR is all about the streets on this one, they're hard-core to the fullest. Out of the 12 songs (+ 2 skits and a Big Tymers intro), you get a great solo song from each member, and the other 8 are all group efforts. B.G is missing on a few songs, since he had some drug problems at that time, but his presence is well-felt on the songs he's on. "Get It How You Live!" is one of CMR's best early releases, and the one that got the label that huge destribution deal with Universal Records. The album was released a year before "Back that a** up" and couple of years before "Bling Bling", and overall the album is just as good as the albums those huge singles were on. And to think that things only got better from that point on... The rappers' style improved and matured and even Mannie Fresh's beats got on an even higher level!... Bottom line is - this one is a classic, you should not miss it!"

This is the best hot boys album

L. Garner | Honolulu,HI | 12/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best hot boy album eventhough the second one is just as good. The beats are on point and like always the lyrics are thugged out as hell. If you don't have this you need to get it."