Search - Tha Alkaholiks :: Firewater

(3.5 Stars) It's The Liks, Baby....It's The Liks!

Charles L. Hubbert | Milwaukee, WI | 02/03/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Touted as one of the early alternatives to the West Coast in the 90s, The Alkaholiks only managed to gain a little fame throughout the many years they've been around. Early hits like "Make Room" and "Hip Hop Drunkies" with ODB made a little noise, but for the most part the Alkaholiks remained under the mainstream radar. They came on the scene 15 years ago and managed to have a decent fan base to follow them the whole way. J-Ro, Tash, and E-Swift muster up enough nerve to put out what they say is their last album together. Although it's a little different from their previous efforts, Firewater will have most of their fans lifting their bottles in salute.



The Liks don't change up their flow at all, sticking to basic metaphors and head-nodding beats. "Party Ya @ss Off" is probably the most comparable song to others in their long resume of tracks. "Get Into It" "Chaos" and "Turn It Up" will also keep hardcore fans happy. "Do It" has a grimy feel even though it does have a little bit of a mainstream sound to it with a similar riff to Missy Elliot's "Sock It To Me." "The Flute Song (LaLaLa)" is their radio-friendly cut while "Over Here" is probably the most impressive underground cut. "Popular Demand" is a horn-blaring anthem that is a great intro song to a Liks stage show. "On The Floor" and "The Get Down" have an East Coast feel, putting you in the mind of Mobb Deep but with faster lyrics.



There are some songs that will give a few fans something to question. "Poverty's Paradise" is a very deep and soul-driven reflection of the hoods in America, something nobody expects to hear coming the Liks. "Handle It" suffers from a sub par beat along with bland lyrics. "Hangover" is the title most fans have been waiting for, but it comes off sounding too commercial and cliché. "Drink Wit Us" starts off like a homage to BDP's song "Number 1," but then loses its steam soon after.



Firewater does quench the thirst of day one fans, but won't garner any awards or accolades from today's hip-hop crowds. Essentially, that's the best thing about the Alkaholiks. They've pretty much stayed true to their sound and their audience throughout their entire career. That's something that very few rappers these days know anything about. Hopefully they have enough experience to go on to bigger and better things. The Liks have paid their tab consistently and are well deserving of a 21-can salute!"

Not what you'll expect, but nice still... (3.5 stars)

Chandler | Atlanta (College Park), Georgia | 01/30/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Tha Alkaholiks fifth album "Firewater" was not what I expected compared to the other albums that this trio has released. They still know how to get drunk and rock the party like always, but the lyrics are not up to par like they have been. It's weighed down by using other people's names to toss weak punchlines. Example: Tash says in The Flute Song- "I'm like Luda, I'm just straight chicken & beer..." Another example later on in the CD, J-Ro says: "I'm like 50 Cent, taking shots at the bar..."



E-Swift and Danger Mouse handles the production on this CD. If you think there are some beats on this CD that J-Ro and Tash are used to just ripping apart, then you are wrong. The beats are more of a inside the club/party/commercial type, no mic rocking beats (with the exception of "Hangover"). E-Swift gets behind the mic on this CD a little more than he did on the last few albums, so you'll hear more of him.



It sounds like they are trying to become commercial when rhyming with are the people that they name ("Drink With Us"), something that they are not used to doing. Another example is "Poverity's Paradise" on how they rap about the struggles in the hoods. Great song, but comming from Tha Liks will kind of throw you off.



But the album is not all bad. There are some hot tracks. Like mentioned earlier, "Hangeover" which features Bishop Lamont and Stylistic Jones brings some light into the CD, making it one of the best tracks on the CD. "Popular Demand" will grow on you if you can get past the format of the way Tash and J-Ro stays on beat. A great optistmitic part of this CD for Likwit fans thoughts of them falling apart is cleared up on "Party Your A** Off" when Tash says: "Xzibit that's my n****, don't ask stupid questions...It will be a cold day in hell before the Likwit Crew divides."



But its a nice album by this trio, just it's not what you'll hear on Coast II Coast or Likwidation, but like always, it does it's job and will rock the party. It's great to hear their voices here in 2006, with guest appearances by King T, and others. If you love Tha Likwit family and some music to party to, I recommend this album for you. This is supposedly the last album that they plan to make, and I'm going to miss them truly. But it's not over yet because each member is making a solo album."