Search - Melvin Van Peebles :: Ghetto Gothic

Essential work from the inventor of Rap

J. B Brent | Oak Ridge, Tennessee USA | 01/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before rap music had a name, Melvin Van Peebles was a pioneer of the form in the late '60s, when he released BRER SOUL, AIN'T SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH and AS SERIOUS AS A HEART ATTACK on A&M Records. With GHETTO GOTHIC, Melvin's tunes are enhanced by an instrumental background which makes the scenes he creates more vivid than ever. "The Apple Stretching" is as good of a picture of everyday life in New York City as you can find, and listening to it is truly uplifting. "Lily" is a hip-hop remake of his '60s classic, which is also true of "It Just Don't Make No Sense." "There" contains a melodic undercurrent that will stick in your mind forever. The mark of a great innovator is that his work seems as 'cutting edge' today as it was in the beginning. Give GHETTO GOTHIC a spin and see what I mean. Then let's hope all of his vintage albums get a domestic reissue."

Same ole raggedy voice

Johnny Heering | Bethel, CT United States | 06/20/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a decent enough album. Melvin Van Peebles doesn't have a great singing voice, but most of the lyrics are spoken, anyway. He tells evocative tales of life as a black man in New York City. It's definitely not for everybody, but if you are into this sort of thing, you will probably enjoy it."