A Rare Gem of Golden Age Hip-Hop
Hype Currie | Detroit, Michigan United States | 03/20/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Stezo, aka Stezo-E, (real name: Steve Williams), was a Connecticut native turned Brooklyn transplant whose hip-hop aspirations led him to become a dancer for hip-hop group EPMD. Leaving the group's auspices shortly after the "Run's House" tour of 1988, he was signed by Sleeping Bag/Fresh Records, and became a labelmate to his former crew. In 1989, "Crazy Noise" was released, to great acclaim in hip-hop circles and major spins on hip-hop friendly radio. Unfortunately, Sleeping Bag/Fresh would end up declaring bankruptcy in 1990, thus short-circuiting Stezo's career momentum. He would not make another mainstream album, but this LP is fondly remembered as a "done in one" snapshot. Production is credited to the artist (and during the LP Stezo shouts-out to partners DJ Jimmy Slice & Chris Cos), though legendary, late hip-hop producer Paul C apparently had quite a bit of input on the album. Samples are plenty here, with breakbeats and riffs that have become trademarks of the Golden Era sound. Standout tracks on the 12-cut album include "Bring The Horns", "Freak The Funk", "Talking Sense", and "Getting Paid", among others. "Girl Trouble", in the tradition of EPMD's "Jane", is a tale of misadventures with the opposite sex. The instrumental "Jimmy's Getting Funky" gives Stezo's turntable man the spotlight--a common practice in this era of hip-hop. The most remembered cut on the album is "It's My Turn", a just-under 4-minute jam that samples the legendary rhythm track `Skull Snaps' (George Clinton's `Atomic Dog' should also be mentioned). Stezo's MC skills hold up with other rappers from this period- like EPMD, there are some occasional mispronunciations, and he isn't as intricate as golden-age gods like Rakim or Big Daddy Kane. Still, his workman-like flow keeps the beat, mostly avoids profanity, and steers clear of thug excesses that rap would become known for. This has been out of print for years, but Traffic does a good job on the re-release. Though they could have put some bonus material on here (perhaps some 12" sides), this is a can't miss for people who appreciate rap from a simpler time."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1