Search - Young Lay :: Black N Dangerous

*~~~ANOTHER HIT BY YBB RECORDS!~~~*

Philip Y. | Israel | 05/22/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After producing Ray Luv's masterpiece "Forever Hustlin'" Khayree, the genius producer, produced Young Lay's debut album "Black 'n' Dangerous". It's a hell of an album, although it's not as perfect as Ray Luv's. The last 2 songs and the remix are the reason it didn't get a perfect 5 from me. But almost all the first 10 songs are flawless. Young Lay has a very unique voice and delivery and his lyrics are also something you can hear by noone else. Khayree's beats are unbeateble, so amazingly creative. The song "Got 2 Survive" is just breathtaking, plain and simple. It features Ray Luv, Mac Mall and the one and only 2Pac. Other standout songs are "Playah's Mode", "Black 'n' Dangerous", "Sic Set", and all the rest from 1-10."

This album flows from one song to the next...

Sylntsolja@aol.com | The Greater Bay, CA | 04/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It goes from one song to the next without the listener really noticing that it's the next song. One way to put it is....this album flows so smoothly that it seems like Young Lay tells one story. With the always untouchable beats Khayrhee sets up and the lyrical fluidness of Young Lay, Black 'n' Dangerous is a must have. In each song, Young Lay speaks of real-life situations from his own perspective tellin' one story to the next all the while keepin' it at a moralistic view for the whole world to know. Young Lay has a quick-witted style which almost sounds like as if he was freestylin'...and has a West Coast/Southern accent. But more importantly, this is the first album i ever heard that was bumpin' from the FIRST to the very LAST song. Peep this album to get a feel of the Lofas Side (Northern Vallejo)."

YBB does it once again

ctrx | 'bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks... | 03/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Young Black Brotha Records was simply on a roll between 1995 and 1996. With the production of the amazing Khayree, the pioneering Vallejo label put out album after album of awesome Bay Area hip hop. Young Lay's debut "Black 'n Dangerous" is just one of numerous great albums from this period, similar in style and substance to Ray Luv's "Forever Hustlin'" and Dubee's "Dubee aka Sugawolf." As can be expected on a YBB release, the production is consistently outstanding. Like the other reviewers have accurately noted, Khayree is simply a great producer and the YBB product was mostly due to his awesome musicianship. Khayree makes upbeat and slower, deeper songs, using great instrumentation, being especially partial to live trombones. He always uses hard beats and funky bass, and often utilizes woozy synths as well. The hooks on each track are great and the songs are all very well polished. Young Lay is the typical YBB rapper, not an amazing lyricist but a good rapper nonetheless. He tells stories and has a nice flow, and the numerous guest appearances from the YBB crowd and most notably 2Pac in one of his last guest appearances are nice additions. Young Lay's life story is one of the saddest I've heard, and whereas his later material was shaped by his son's kidnapping and the tragic aftermath, this album is simple Bay Area hip hop at its simplest. It's a really slept-on album and I highly recommend it to fans of west coast hip hop.



The album begins with one of my favorites, the upbeat and catchy "Sic Set." The chorus is great, with a nice trombone solo and a fast bass heavy track. Lay performs well and it's a great opener. "On da Dick" is a slower song, addressing biters and sucker MCs. "Twisted" has a good bassline and chorus ("Stop, look, listen...learn!"), it's a more simple and upbeat song. I really like "Livin' 'n da Funk" too, it's funky and laidback, Lay raps about some of his struggles. The deep and well produced posse cut "Got 2 Survive" features Ray Luv, Mac Mall, and 2Pac, and it's a definite highlight. "Ruthless Adolescent" follows, another solid track with a nice hook. "Playah's Mode" is very catchy and has nice synths, Lay performs very well. The title track is next, where Lay tells about growing up black and urban. "Stickin' 2 da Grind" has funky guitars, and more "tales of triple-beams and ice cream," the YBB trademark. "All About My $fetti" was the single here, featured in a Spike Lee movie. It's got a nice laidback vibe and the organ sounds cool. All the rappers display great flows and chemistry. "Lawd Have Mercy" and "Puff Puff Pass" are both incredibly funky, closing out the album with a horn-inflicted "Playah's Mode" remix.



While I don't love it quite as much as Ray Luv's "Forever Hustlin'," "Black 'n Dangerous" is one of multiple great YBB albums released in a short time that I highly recommend. Musically these albums are all great and provide hours of head-nodding pleasure. Fans of gangsta rap will enjoy this immeasurably, and for those unfamiliar with Lay or YBB, I recommend it."