Just-Ice - Kool & Deadly

GOING WAY BACK

BDP-JUSTICE. I LOVE THIS CD HE TELLS HIS LISTENERS HOW TO EAT TO LIVE. VERY DEEP BROTHER. THANKS JUST FOR THE MESSAGES. SHAKIM ALLAH OF PGH August 29, 2007

And I know because of KRS-One

JUST-ICE's influence on music cannot be understated. Although his most immediate impact was on his fellow heads, his music has been sampled by artists from Sublime to Thievery Corp. Do yourself a favor and try to track down the 12" vinyl version of Na Touch Da Just/ Freedom of Speech '88, it contains a full-on 7 & 1/2 minute version of Na Touch that kills. If you are here lookin' you must be doin' something right, now buy it. We need more peace and love in '07. Keep on rockin' to '08. May 19, 2007

Great Gem of Golden Age NY Hip-Hop

Just-Ice's first album, "Back to the Old School" was released in 1986. The follow-up, 1987's "Kool & Deadly: Justicizms" continued the trend of street-and-jeep-friendly hip-hop anthems from Just-Ice, a.k.a. `Sir Vicious'. His first album was produced by Kurtis Mantronik, but "Kool & Deadly" was produced by Boogie Down Productions' KRS-One (the late DJ Scott La Rock was supposed to be involved, but was tragically murdered before the studio sessions began). After years of being out of print, Traffic Recordings revived the Sleeping Bag/Fresh catalog to the joy of 80's era hip-hop fans.

Pros:
As produced by KRS-One, all the nine songs (eight originals plus a CD-bonus remix) have a sonically-sparse, unadorned sound that can be summed up as `beat--bass--scratch'. But with Just-Ice's forceful baritone, that's all that's needed (special acknowledgement to Just-Ice's human beat-box man, DMX, not to be confused with the famous rap artist of recent years). Most of the songs are effective battle-raps, though Just chooses to open the LP with "Going Way Back", giving an oral history of hip-hop's origins in the Bronx, NY. The artist's dancehall reggae influence shows up on several cuts, the best of which is "Moshi*up", with KRS-One. KRS-One chimes in on several songs, but this is far from the guest-star heavy hip-hop releases of today. You really get a full dose of Just-Ice's personality, warts and all.

Cons:
The casual sexism of even golden-age hip-hop creeps into the beat-box-driven "The Original Gangster of Hip-Hop" (on this dirtier, alternate take of his first LP's "Gangster of Hip-Hop", Just goes into lurid detail on how he gets down with a lady) and is blatant on "Booga Bandit B***h". The inclusion of only one 12-inch remix "Freedom of Speech `88" is rather conservative (the album still runs at barely 50 minutes); perhaps not all of the masters were readily available, but there were probably at least a handful of 12-inch/EP cuts to choose from (radio edits, instrumentals) during the album's original release. Also, there was definitely a music video produced for "Going Way Back"--that would also have been a good inclusion (in CD-Rom or DVD-Rom form).

Overall rating: A-
May 10, 2007

Its PERFECT

Lyric Lickin!!! Thats all I have to say! WoW, what a great record. Of course though, when KRS-1 looks at you as one of his favorites its for a good reason. This dude is one of the illest to ever bless the MIC. A MUST HAVE for all hip hop lovers!!! August 30, 2006

Another Production by the Blaster Master

Just-Ice is one of the best lyricist to date. His raw sound is very real and his grammar consistent. "BACK TO THE OLD SCHOOL" which is his debut album is what hook me to "THE JUST". I think KRS-ONE brought something out of Just-Ice that Mantronik didnt bring out!! Mantronik (even though he is a hell of a producer) didnt out do KRS on production they both did a good job with Just-Ice!!!!!! A real hip hop head most have this cd or dont call yourself a hiphopper at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May 29, 2006

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