Twinz - Conversation

Compton/Long Beach rap unfolds like a family tree: N.W.A. branches into Ice Cube, Eazy E, and Dr. Dre; Dre begets Snoop and Warren G; and, with Twinz, Warren brings on his own brood of disciples. But don't necessarily expect these follow-up acts to succeed by association. After all, Warren scored by asserting an identity completely apart from his big brother Dre. In fact, the Twinz' Conversation barely steps out of the shadow cast by Warren's smooth G-Funk/Long Beach flow. The Twinz--identical sibs Deon (Trip Locc) and Dewayne (Wayniac) Williams--rip through Conversation with muscular rhyme skills, though their best material rides on the more subtle waves created by Warren G's exquisite music production. "Hollywood," for instance, relies on a silky Chaka Khan interpolation and guest rap from female duo Five Footers (the real stars of Warren G's stable) to make it Conversation's standout track. --Roni Sarig Amazon.com

"Twinz Got The Sound That Goes Round & Round" (Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars)

To me, "Converation" is one of the many lost gems from the west coast. Being signed to G-Funk records branched from Def Jam, you know the fate that this group received (along with Warren G., Dove Shack, and Da 5 Footaz- I don't think "Worldwide" even saw the light of day...remember the "Gimmi Sum" video?). Twinz conisted of two bilogical twins Deon (Tripp Loc) & DeWayne (Wayinac) Williams, spitting some rhymes over some funky west coast production. After hearing these guys on Warren G.'s Regulate...G Funk Era LP, I couldn't wait to get this album.

The lead single "Round & Round" is excellent starting point on this album. The track vibes so perfectly. Then next is more laid back "Good Times", a track to just sit back and listen to. More great tracks are "Jump Ta This", "Eastside Long Beach" the second single. "Journey With Me" is real great with Bo Roc of the Dove Shack. "Hollywood" is excellent with Neb Love and Jah Skillz. "Pass It On" is a traditional bud smoking track with some members of Foseum.

The album is excellent. I guess I have to give a reason why I didn't give this a perfect 10. "4 Eyes 2 Hands" I wasn't feeling. Personally I believe that the west shouldn't try their hand in any reggae sounding tracks unless they sound perfect (i.e. DJ Quik's "Bumbudd II"). The track is still good.

Overall "Conversation" is a must have. However many albums these brothers sold was probably word of mouth, because Def Jam placed no money behind pushing this album (yet they can sign artists like Chingy and Rick Ross). It sucks that this album is out of print. Trust me, however much you pay for this album, it's well worth it. This is one of those albums that makes me wish I was living in California riding on the road listing to this. Peace!!!

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

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Good Times
2. Round & Round
3. Hollywood (featuring Neb Luv and Jah Skillz)
4. Journey With Me (featuring Bo Roc)
5. Pass It On (featuring Foesum) December 30, 2007

damn

I didn't even know of this album until the 2000's.....too bad i missed it, but glad i caught it eventually. Got that classic laid back westcoast sound. Love this 1, burned myself 3-4 extra copies incase i bust the original....won't be able to find this again at Best Buy or anything. Good cut. May 30, 2007

Horribly overlooked classic

The Twinz' "Conversation" is among the most overlooked G-Funk albums ever. It was one of the best of the genre ever recorded. It came soon after Warren G's "Regulate...G-Funk Era", and it's not a far throw from that album, as many of the elements that make that album so classic are present here. If you liked "Regulate...", which if you've heard it I can't imagine you don't, you'll definitely like "Conversation". Like on that album, Warren G produces and co-writes every song, and the same guest features of Lil' Malik, the Dove Shack, and Warren himself are present. Although "Conversation" doesn't have a single as great as "Regulate" or "This DJ", I prefer "Conversation" as a whole. The album flows better, is more consistent, and every track is as great as the next. Warren's production is among his best, with the pounding bass, woozy synths, funky guitars, and hard beats that we all know and love. Wayniac and Trip Locc are good on the mic, usually reminiscing over times and friends in their beloved Long Beach or telling drug tales. "Conversation" is one of the best albums to come out of the mid-90s G-funk craze.

After the short intro, the album leads off with "Round and Round", featuring Nancy Fletcher, which sets the standard with the funky production, lyrics, and hook. "Good Times" is one of my favorites here, with the brothers reminiscing over their younger days and looking ahead, and the woozy beat is perfect. "4 Eyes 2 Heads" tells a gangster tale, and has a reggae influenced hook by Judah Ranks. "Jump to This", a party track, is another of my favorites, with its funk guitar and synth. "Eastside LB", featuring Warren G, is a laidback joint representing their hometown. "Sorry I Kept You" is my favorite song on the album, where the Twinz lay back and rap of drugs, old times, and it has a great hook line and production. "Journey With Me" is another very laidback and fun song. After the pretty good "Hollywood" comes the excellent "1st Round Draft Pick". The lyrics on this song are among the best, and the beat reminds me of A Tribe Called Quest's "Check the Rhime", believe it or not. "Don't Get it Twisted" has the best chorus, sung by New Birth, and the lyrics and beats don't disappoint. The album is ended by another great weed song, "Pass it On".

"Conversation" is one of the most consistent west coast G-funk albums ever recorded. It is completely laid back and fun, which is what the music always strived to achieve. Warren G's immaculate production and Wayniac and Trip Locc's lyricism combine for an excellent, amazingly consistent album that I highly recommend. April 6, 2006

Another G Funk Gem...By Who?

Continuing on my mission to discover all that g funk has to offer, I came across "Conversation." With scores of more publicized 1995 g funk albums, it's a shame that the releases of more mainstream artists overshadowed this classic. It's just as worthy. With Warren G at the helm, Twinz--Deon (Trip Locc) and Dewayne (Wayniac) Williams--turned out 11 pure g funk tracks. With the G Child in charge, the lyrics aren't as hard as other artists, with little to no profanity. In addition, Warren G also wisely chooses his crooners, the glue that holds together the standout tracks on this album. They aren't as well-known as Nate Dogg, but they hold their own. Once again, with each song, the sounds make us think of palm trees, summertime, beaches and just crusin. The tracks are just so laid-back, and the Twinz make sure to rap just a bit louder than the melodies. The beats, as always, are the main attraction, but the lyrics are pretty good.

Conversation has one classic, "Journey With Me," which in my opinion is one of the best g funk songs of all time. The bass line is brilliant. Watch for the guitar at the beginning of the second verse. It sends chills down my spine every time I hear it. Throughout the album there are actually real instruments supplementing the rhythms: percussion, horns, guitars. This only adds to the quality of the album. With good speakers...wow! So multi-layered, commanding and overwhelming. Other memorable songs are "Eastside LB," which is nearly a classic. It's so melodic. To someone who says rap can't be beautiful, let them hear this. "Don't Get it Twisted" is another good one and "Hollywood," which has grown on me, is cool as well. The rest of the songs are okay, though I don't listen to them too often. They seem out of place in an album that has songs that are as good as the classics on Regulate, Doggystyle and The Chronic. The quality just drops down a few notches, for some reason. Warren G seems to go for something different in songs like "Jump to this" and "Pass it On," which are sort of party songs, though I couldn't see myself dancing to them. So what are they? It just doesn't work and the sound for these lesser songs sounds nearly the same. In fact, I usually think of the rest of these songs as one song. In addition, the male and female crooners (New Birth, Bo Rocc, etc... ) used in the good songs aren't utilized well, if it all.

All in all the album is memorable. There are 4 excellent songs on here. Nothing can take away from that. Even the ones I knocked aren't that bad. The Twinz should've come out with more albums. With more refinement and experience, I'm sure their next one would've been even better. Add this one to your g funk collection. Let their lone album live on.
January 8, 2006

G-Funk Classic

This album is crazy full of sweet G-Funk songs. Warren G helped Twinz do it perfectly with his G-Funk beats. And Twinz' rapping is addictive, too. This album should've been multi-platinum just like Warren G's "Regulate... G Funk Era" did. Because every song is classic!!!

1. Conversation #1

2. Round & Round (5/5) - 1st single. The bass line is so damn addictive and Nanci Fletcher's vocals are as great as Twinz' hot rapping.

3. Good Times (5/5) - Very melodical and good enough to close your eyes and reminisce about the good times.

4. 4 Eyes 2 Heads (5/5) - One and only gangsta track on this album. Hook is kinda catchy and the beat is crazy. Produced by Priest Brooks.

5. Jump Ta This (5/5) - Classic. The beat is so damn funky that even makes listeners nod your head to this.

6. Eastside LB (5/5) - One of the best tracks on this album. Even if you listen to this song all day, you'll never be bored.

7. Sorry I Kept You (5/5) - Crazy bass line. Quotes a line from Eric B. & Rakim's "My Melody" - "Times up, sorry I kept you."

8. Conversation #2

9. Journey Wit Me (5/5) - Very comfortable song. Especially Bo-Rocc's vocal is the highlight of this song.

10. Hollywood (5/5) - Da 5Footaz featured on it. The collaboration is so great and without saying, the beat it crazy.

11. 1st Round Draft Pick (4/5) - Great sample from Minnie Riperton's "Baby, This Love I Have". But if you're not deep into the G-Funk music, you won't be fond of this track.

12. Conversation #3

13. Don't Get It Twisted (Featuring New Birth) (5/5) - So crazy!!! New Birth's vocals go well with Twinz' rapping.

14. Pass It On (4/5) - Foesum featured on it! Every rapper on this song spit some must-listen-rhymes.

I'm Korean who's only 15 and recommending this G-Funk class to everyone. This album will make your ears hot. October 6, 2005

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