Nappy Roots - Wooden Leather

 Nappy Roots- Wooden Leather
Nappy put out yet again another great country album, that very similar to their first, just strait bangs. When i first heard "Roun' The Globe" on madden 04, i was like, no way is that Nappy Roots?. They were out of the game for a while so i didnt even know that they were still making music. But sure enough they put another album. While WL is not as good as WCG, but WL is still a great album worty of their discography. The reason this one wasnt as good as the first is because they werent as country this time around. They were alot more ghetto on this album, but country is where they excelled last album. But they still show some great potential, like on the first single "Roun' The Globe" where they showoff that singnature singing-rap style that was all over their first album. Roun the Globe is pretty much saying... actually litterally saying "The whole damn world is country". They still have their flawless writing and rapping skills equipped on this album. They show off their talents mostly on the mellow/laid back track "Work In Progress" and on the emotional and seventh member Anthony Hamilton assisted "Push On" which both songs describe the struggle that some people expierience everyday just get by. Overall this is still a good album, but its not to the same extent that WCG was. February 10, 2008

 Sophomore Jinx? Please!
Nappy Roots's first album was great but this album is just as great as Chicken, Watermelon And Gritz. Good God Almighty wasnt a bad opener and The David Banner-produced Nappy Roots Day is crazy. Round The Globe wasnt a bad single but it was not a single that was going to get everybody to go out and pick up the album. Anthony Hamilton makes two appearances on here. Sick And Tired(second single) and Push On. Both tracks are standouts. Nappy Roots give you a song of substance by the name of Work In Progress and I must say I respect them for doing that. There are some slip ups on this album though. Leave This Morning With Raphael Saadiq is bland, The Lil Jon-produced What Cha Gonna Do is horrendous, Lacs, Dogs and Hogs is so bad its comical and Roll Again and Round The Globe Remix with The Ying Yang Twins(Rap's Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber) are also skip material. Bottom Line: File Nappy Roots' Wooden Leather under slept-on albums. Even with its flaws it wasnt a bad album. It was slept-on because people are stuck on their first album. Its still a highlight album of 2003 regardless. Standout Tracks: NAPPY ROOTS DAY, ROUND THE GLOBE, SICK AND TIRED, TWANG, WORK IN PROGRESS,NO GOOD, WAR/PEACE, THESE WALLS and PUSH ON. September 4, 2007

 Pretty Solid Follow Up
I have the Clean version btw.

It definitely has a different sound than and theme than Watermelon Chicken and Gritz. their first album was more upbeat, party type atmosphere with a few songs (Blowing Trees and Po' Folks) being conscious and slower.

The converse is almost true for this album most songs are more politically conscious, with a large message behind wight a few upbeat party tracks.

Into 4/5 - hilarious skit with some Lil Yuk character who appears on their intros and outros. But only an intro

Good God Almighty 4/5 - Good beat, starts strong but ends week, but transitions into their next track quite well.

Nappy Roots Day 5/5 - Excellent beat by David Banner (a speed up sample of Beegees Holiday). They speak on them breaking out and success being as a result of them pulling through. Some of the best lyrics and interaction between the members.

Roun the Globe 5/5 - The Album's featured single. Solid beat, good chorus, and overall performance by all the members. Talking about the whole world being like Kentucky.

Lacs Dogs and Hogs 3/5 - Ok beat, chorus is like one line being repeated over and over. Lyrics are more or less glorifying their cars like My Ride in their first Album. But I don't think the song is strong straight through.

Sick and Tired 5/5 - 2nd Single. Excellent overall track. Again what we expect from Nappy Roots. Talking bout struggles, solid performance by Anthony Hamilton, excellent interaction between Clutch and Prophet. I donut know if any other group pulls it off as good as them.

Twang 3/5 - Beat is like someone plucking a ukulele or something. The lyrics are basically glorifying women. Some performances were good but overall it fell.

==here is where the album transitions to a slower more conscious songs

Leave This Morning 3.5/5 - Produced by and featuring Raphael Saadiq. Probably shouldnt have been singing on this one. But the guys had some solid performances on the track. But the bad chorus just sticks in my head.

Work In Progress 3.5/5 - Similar to Leave this Morning the performances by most of the guys are solid, but the chorus is weak IMO and the beat could have been a little tighter.

Push On 4.5/5 - The beat could be better but the lyrics are tight, Hamilton helped them out quite a bit on the chorus. The performances by Scales, B. Stille and Big V are solid. Song urges you to push on through adversity.

No Good 4/5 - A lil faster paced than the previous but provides a solid beat more like a party track. The performances could have been better, but the chorus salvages them in this one.

These Walls 4.5/5 - A Kanye West Production. I don't know whats the guy making this "uhh" sound but the beat is solid. Big V singing the chorus explains why rappers shouldn't sing (probably should enlist Hamilton). But the lyrics, and tribute to MLK at the end really hits home.

War/Peace 4/5 - A Freddie Macintosh Production. Rap/rock hybrid, good lyrics basically comparing opposite end of spectrum. War/Peace, Love/Lust, Heaven/Hell.

Roll Again 4.5/5 - Solid song. The each do their part, good beat, good chorus, again you hear a lot of reflections in their songs.

What Cha Gonna Do 3.5/5 - Club/party track produced by Lil John. Has a crunk type sound to it. Its alright but I am not so much a fan of it.

Light and Dark 4/5 - Them talking about what music means to them, featuring Anthony Hamilton again (who helps them out with a gospel sound).

Roun the globe collipark remix 2.5/5 - A poor remix. It doesn't have the feel of roun the gobe. The beat is like a low sound, when Roun the Globe has an upbeat pace. Just diddnt work, not to mention Ying Yang twins basically making it theirs.

OUttro - worse than intro

Overall good album, just not as solid as the first. This one is a little more conscious now February 23, 2007

 Sophomore albums make or break a group; here...it makes the group
OutKast's debut album Southernplayalisticcadillacmuzik and Beastie Boys' LTI (Licensed to Ill) as well as Nappy Roots' WCG (Watermelon , Chicken, and Gritz) were debut albums that put the respective groups on the map. All three of these groups redefined their sound and advanced their groups to a new level with their next album. OutKast's ATLiens (ATLiens, Two Dope Boyz, Mainstream, Elevators, etc.)and the Beasties' Paul's Boutique were albums that propelled the groups to the success they have today.
Nappy's "Wooden Leather" isn't quite up to the level of those two aforementioned albums, but they do stay Nappy to their roots with this cut. Memorable cuts include Roun' the Globe, Good God Almighty, Work In Progress, and War/Peace. I guess what I'm trying to say is, that with OutKast, the Beasties, and Nappy Roots, is that changing a sound doesn't mean the band has "sold out" or gone awry; it just redefines them and makes them that much more talented. Po' Folks is my favorite Nappy Roots song, but Wooden Leather does not disappoint. Buy this album; you will most likely enjoy it. May 2, 2006

 much better than watermelon, but theres better artists
i dont know what these other reviewers were thinking, but i suspect they are more into their commercial recycled BS than real hip hop. because thats the sort of thing that kind of fan would say when a group takes an already good sound, and spins it in an even better, more interesting direction.

watermelon was one of the only dirty south cds i like. i never really bought into the southern BS, cos thats what alot of i was...BS. but why did i dig nappy?? i dunno, it could be the fact that members reminded me of so many other artists (namely scarface, outkast, and one member of outlaws. dunno which one).

or maybe its because these guys arent obsessed with "rims", "B*tches" and "bling"...yeah i think thats it. too many artists are rapping over whack commercial beats about stupid subject matter. you cant rely on mainstream for alot these days. but you can rely on nappy. They dont conform, make music thats good to THEM and luckily the mainstream has enjoyed it at the same time. i say good work for nappy

to give you an idea how much this impressed me ill list a few artists i listen to: non phixion, mos def, diverse, mf doom, cannibal ox, the roots, arsonists, cage and non prophets. now if you cant say you recognise more than 3 of thise names, your probably a mainstream junkie, otherwise your probably an avid appreciator of hip-hop. thats what i am, and nappy roots still managed to hit a chord with me. and thats good in my books.

heres a rundown of the tracks:

into (3/5) its an into
good god almighty (4/5) interestign beat, i like it.
nappy roots day (5/5) love this beat, love the song
roun the globe (5/5) another top class beat, good subject matter
lac dogs and hogs (2/5) sorry. its clinical dirty south.
sick and tired (5/5) can relate to what they are saying. nice
twang (4/5) didnt liek at first, but tis an interesting beat
leave this mornin (5/5)this bassline carries me. i love it.
work in progress (5/5) LOVE this beat. good lyrics
push on (5/5) this basslien carries me aswell. meaningful song
no good (4/5) interesting beat.
these walls (3.5/5) not kanyes best beat, chorus a bit weak
war/peace (4/5) interesting song, love the beat
roll again (3.5/5) overall average song
what cha gonna do? (2.5/5) dont like it. whack beat.
light and dark (4/5) i like this. interesting
outro
roun the globe remix (2.5/5) why remix this song? it was perfect! June 24, 2004

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