Mad Cj Mac - True Game

"West Side L-O-C..." (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4.0 stars)

Not too often when I hear someone appear on another person's album, and they drop horrible verses, I won't check for their album. That is what CJ Mac did on albums such as The Shadiest One and on Recipe, dropped bad rhymes until the point wereas I couldn't stand him (I think I mentioned that in one of my reviews). Then I heard him on Ant Banks' album Big Thangs and allowed him to grow on me, but still didn't think he was nothing special, until CRTX told me to check out his debut "True Game" on Rap-A-Lot, in which I'm sort of glad I did.

What I like about this whole album is that it vibes so smoothly. It has that Cali vibe that a handful of albums were released around that time, not to mention his production is amazing for the west coast. Also CJ Mac keeps it real with his lifestyle about him getting money and selling drugs, and make it through everyday life. Not too many rappers focused themselves around that area, and make quality music, but he did. A song like "Let My ****** Out Tha Pen" he wonders why people get locked up for petty crimes. "True Game" falls along the lines of his personality. A perfect track for crusing would be "Take A Ride" with Poppa LQ (dope video too), that is the joint. "Powdapuff" is funny about wannabe gangstas. Another standout would be the funky sounding "Tryina Survive" which explains itself. "Deadman Walkin'" is a standout as well about a friend in jail for a life long sentance.

Most of the songs here are good. Only a few I didn't like in my opinion, such as "You Can't See Thee Ahh!" and "I Can't Stand A Rat" (kind of hard if he means snitch or hoodrat). Other than that this album is great. Not too often would Cali artists go to Houston to hook up with Rap-A-Lot Records (Seagram and Poppa LQ are some I can name in the same situation). Luckly he did, so he can get this album out. Now it's out of print, which is unfortunate, because this is one of the better albums from that record company. Doesn't look like it's being sold for high prices (as of today), so I recommend that you check this out. CJ Mac isn't a bad rapper, he just bad on other people's albums. Peace.

Lyrics: A-
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: A-

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Come And Take A Ride (Featuring Poppa LQ) {personal favorite}
2. Tryina Survive
3. Powdapuff
4. Dead Man Walkin
5. True Game

Honorable Mention:
1. Let My ****** Out Tha Pen
2. Loosin' My Mind March 18, 2008

Thought-provoking lyricism over incredible production

You might recognize Mad CJ Mac's name from a few guest appearances during the 90s on some other west coast artists' albums. His 1995 debut "True Game" was released on Rap-A-Lot Records, making him one of the Houston label's few west coast artists during their mid-90s heyday. Mad CJ Mac is an immensely talented individual, both on the mic and on the mixing boards. As a producer, he has a great formula, his sounds are polished, funky, and consistent. He tends to use the same instrumentation on each track, usually consisting of a high, whiny synth, rolling bass, a hard beat, and often a choppy sax or horn. His sound is strictly g-funk, but it's not quite as laidback as Warren G or Dr. Dre's early beats, they have a harder feel. The beats sound really great throughout the LP. On the mic you'll find CJ Mac to be an enticing MC. He has a nice delivery, deep and commanding. He has radical ideas and speaks with experience about life on the streets and drug trade. I enjoy him most when he challenges the legal system and talks about incarceration, but he's also really good when he talks about the hood and the lifestyle. Although he falls into cliche once or twice over the course of "True Game," a handful of absolutely classic tracks that make this album totally worth the pickup, and the beats make it worth it alone. Musically and lyrically, this album is really a gem and it's a severely underappreciated west coast album.

Following a totally dope intro, the album begins with the lyrical gem "Let My N...s Out the Pen." On this song, CJ is truly powerful. He criticizes the American prison system and injustice in the legal system. He addresses government conspiracies, such as the "war on drugs" and 3-strike law, that really make you think. He makes convincing arguments for his cases, and I think that's a sign of a great rapper. On the title track, CJ speaks of his experience and wisdom of the streets over a fast and synthed-out beat, it's not the best song on the disc but I definitely like it. The next song is an absolute classic, "Come and Take a Ride," a collaboration with fellow South Central rapper and labelmate Poppa LQ. The beat is absolutely perfect, a laidback, vibesy g-funker with an awesome synth-line. It's got an awesome chilled-out vibe but maintains a raw feel to it, both rappers' deliveries sound great and this song is just awesome. "Realism" and "Powda Puff" are two solid tracks, lyrically they're not standouts but the awesome production makes these songs keepers, especially the latter, a rough diss track with a bumping, sax and string-laced beat. My favorite song on the album is "Losin' My Mind," a really engaging song both musically and lyrically. The beat is gorgeous, a bouncy, woozy track with sax and great electronic instrumentation and a pounding synth line on the hook. CJ speaks of urban paranoia a la "Mind Playin' Tricks on Me," his raps are insightful and emotional. "N...s Can't See Thee Ahh!" is another nice woozy track, he represents his hometown and coast. It's not a real highlight but again a very solid track, showing his consistency as a producer and rapper. "Tryina Survive" is a pretty average song about struggles in the dangerous ghetto, and "Trust No" is kind of forgettable. "Dead Man Walkin" is a return to form, a heartfelt and musically excellent song. The album closes with the pretty good "I Can't Stand a Rat."

Rap-A-Lot couldn't exert the same pull on the west coast as they could in the south, so this album went under the radar despite its quality during the 90s and remains slept-on to this day. I highly recommend this one to fans of west coast rap, his lyrics will appeal to 2Pac fans and anybody with ears could enjoy his awesome production. While he would go on to release one more album, 1999's Platinum Game, this was the crown jewel of his career, but with the flood of California g-funk in '95, it was swept under the rug with other gems like Jayo Felony's Take a Ride, Twinz' Conversation, and B.G. Knocc Out & Dresta's Real Brothas. 1995 was a great year for hip hop, especially on the west coast, and this reflects the great state of rap at the time. There are points on this album where you'll find yourself thinking it doesn't get much better than this, and it's true, there is some incredible hip hop on "True Game." If you get the chance to pick this up, I highly recommend a purchase, this music is thought-provoking and musically excellent. June 1, 2007

One of the most hidden treasures in west coast rap

Mad CJ Mac True Game was the best album few heard about. What makes this cd so enticing is not only good production (classic g funk circa 1994-1995) but Mad CJ is one of the most intelligent mc's I have ever heard. He feels strongly about the incarceration of many black males, and how the system is seemingly set up as a viscious cycle more than a mechanism for rehabilitation. His argument is well structured and compelling. This album about awareness to this and many other issues. The thought critique is very in depth, and gives us accounts of abhorrent instances of institutional racism. "Come and Take a Ride" is the feel good song, which is classic g funk. This album is a twist of g-funk and innovative progressive thought. Being that this album came out in the "renaissance" of rap (94-95)and it still ranks in my top 10 of all time says a lot. I give it five stars, and a must for any hip hop fan. June 11, 2005

5 Star Hit and Underrated

Mad Cj Mac (now just CJ Mac) spits nothing but fire in his debut album "True Game." "True Game" has angry, hard-core rhymes set over an interesting array of G-Funk beats, ranging from laid back as in "Come and Take a Ride," to jazzy as in "Powda Puff," to bass heavy and menacing as in "I Can't Stand a Rat." Of course, it may be gangsta rap, a genre hardly new in 1995, but CJ Mac throws in his own especially angry persona, which makes the album awesome. The use of the whistly, whiny keyboard synths in about half of the songs adds an even more gangsta feel to the cd! Of course, this album is one of many great non-mainstream albums slept on! Despite being from South Central LA CJ had to holla at Lil' J in H-Town to get this record, and aside from the West Coast mentality here, there is a certain third coast influence on many of the beats like the hella sick "Dead Man Walkin'" and the seriously political "Let My N----s Out Tha Pen" and even the classic track "Come And Take A Ride." All in all, the neat mix of Texas and West Coast beats and CJ's firey flows will satisfy any real hip hop head. Another Rap-A-Lot classic!! May 23, 2005

C.J. Mac - True Game

After hearing C.J. diss Dr. Dre and Aftermath on Death Row's "Too Gangsta For Radio", I decided to check out his earlier solo work. His first album titled, "True Game" was released in 1995.

1. Intro

2. Let My N***** Out tha Pen - Good beat, C.J. comes nice, hook is good - 4.5/5

3. True Game - Great beat, C.J. rips it, hook is good - 4/5

4. Come and Take a Ride (Featuring Poppa LQ) - Good beat, C.J. and Poppa LQ come nice, hook is good - 4.5/5

5. Realism - Good beat, C.J. comes alright, hook is dumb - 3/5

6. Powda Puff - Good beat, C.J. kills it talking about light hearted gangsta's, hook is good - 4.5/5

7. Losin' My Mind - The first minute and 48 seconds is a skit, Great beat, C.J. comes real nice, hook is good - 4.5/5

8. Can't Cee Thee Ahh! - Good beat, C.J. tears this beat up, hook isn't bad at all - 4.5/5

9. Tryina Survive - Good beat, C.J. comes nice, hook is decent - 4/5

10. Trust No - Great beat, C.J. talks about not trusting anyone, good hook - 4.5/5

11. Dead Man Walkin' - Nice beat, C.J. raps slow over this slow paced beat, hook is good - 4/5

12. Moment of Silence - Skit

13. I Can't Stand a Rat - Great beat, C.J. comes nice, hook is alright - 3.5/5

Overall: 45.5 /55

4 Stars

C.J. put out a good debut album to get into the rap game. The main thing that this album lacks is the hooks, most of the really suck or are borderline average. If they would have been more creative and hard, this album would have been so much better. But don't get me wrong, this album is still good! March 2, 2005

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