Brand Nubian - Time's Running Out

Brand Nubian formed after Grand Puba's original group, Masters Of Ceremony, split up. Their first single "Brand Nubian" dropped in 1989 and their debut album, "One For All", was released in 1990. Critically acclaimed, the album drew fire for militant rhetoric on tracks like "Drop the Bomb" and "Wake Up." The video for the single "Wake Up" was also banned from MTV. The singles "Slow Down", "All For One" and "Wake Up" all became hits on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1991. After pursuing individual careers, Grand Puba, Lord Jamar, Sadat X and DJ Alamo reunited in 1997 after contributing a song to the "Soul in the Hole" soundtrack, titled "A Child Is Born" as well as releasing the underground single "Rockin It." The success of both songs propelled the group to record their second album with all four original members. Most people believed that the album entitled "The Foundation" from 1998 was their reunion album, but it is in fact the "Time's Running Out" album, unheard and shelved until now that would lead the quartet back into the recording studio to recapture and reclaim the iconic sound of the "One For All" album. Featuring production handled by Puba, Jamar, Alamo with help from DITC legend Lord Finesse and Slick Rick producer/DJ Vance Wright, this is must have for Brand Nubian and the vintage Hip Hop collectors in general. Product Description

3-1/2 stars -- Time's running backwards

Fans of early `90s hip-hop should recognize Brand Nubian as delivering classics like "Word is Bond" and especially "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down". And even though Lord Jamar, Sadat X, Grand Puba and DJ Alamo did their thing on solo releases, they still got back together to deliver 1998's Foundation. But that album seemed to be the only "recent" album from the pack that people really paid attention to (admit it; how many people do you know that own Fire in the Hole?). At any rate, they now come back with Time's Runnin' Out.

Lyrically, the fellas really haven't lost that much of a step. The best track would have to be "Scientists of Sound", but the introspective "A Child is Born" comes in at second. And "I Wanna Hear It" will have you saying just that. "Enjoy Yourself" (which is based on the Jacksons' song of the same name) would also be good if it wasn't for the predictable chorus and the off-key trumpet sample.

Speaking of that, if people think "Girls, Girls, Girls" is a rip-off of the Jay-Z song, Brand Nubian's version was actually made first, which brings me to another point. A lot of these songs sound, well, old because this album was supposed to come out in 1997, and you can tell because they give props to 1997 and 1998 at various points throughout the album. In addition, the production and some of the choruses sound more dated than classic; I think I would be saying that even if this WERE 1997. Such examples include the hooks to "Once Again", "Rockin' It" and "Right Here". Some folks might argue that this is a "lost" album like Nas' The Lost Tapes or Anthony Hamilton's Soulife or Southern Comfort, but the thing is, it isn't marketed as such; it's marketed as a new album.

While Time's Runnin' Out will probably still satisfy fans of Puba, Jamar, X and Alamo, releasing this album feels more like a contract fulfillment than anything else. But I'll still wait for something brand new from Brand Nubian.

Anthony Rupert May 25, 2008

HIP HOP UNCUT

THESE OLD-TIMERS GIVES YOU WHAT'S BEEN LACKING IN HIP-HOP, SLAMMING BEATS, HOOKS, AND SUPERIOR LYRICISM. FOR ALL YOU TI, YOUNG JEEZY, AND FANS OF THE SO-CALLED DRUG RAPPERS, CLEAR THE LANE CAUSE THESE BROTHERS WILL GET YA HEAD RIGHT! October 13, 2007

Fresh for 1997... err, I mean 2007!?

Recorded in the same time frame as Foundation (which we were all lead to believe was their 1st reunion album)comes this long lost disc bringing together the entire original crew after a 7 year split(Grand Puba, Sadat X, Lord Jamar, Alamo). The rhymes here are of the usual quality (although less militant and religious)you have come to expect and they have always complemented each other well with their unique flows and voices. Beats here are produced in-house by the members themselves, although pretty good their isn't anything that instantly makes you reach for the repeat button... just nice beats that patiently stand aside for the lyrics. This is probably closer to a 3.5 star album but I figure any cats who have been in the game for near twenty years (!)deserve to be rounded up rather than down. For fans this purchase is a no-brainer guaranteed to please, plus it might be the closest thing to a "new" album we get for some time (if ever). If you aren't familiar with Brand Nubian I'd recommend checking out any of their other releases first (except Everything Is Everything which is passable) and then picking this up. All in all an excellent release with a really chill vibe that I'm glad time never ran out on.
September 24, 2007

fire the A&R who slepted on this

Brand Nubian doesn't come off very political on this album, but it's okay because at the end of the day I love to hear skillful boasting & good story telling. I downloaded this album from zshare(I will purchase this when the price drops) & it's was well worth my time. Why can't rappers make more albums with this kind of sound anymore. Now of days everybody's production sounds over the top and they don't embrace the ESSENCE! This is new york hip-hop at it's best. I miss brand nubian I wish they were still in they're prime, my only problem with this album is the production, they're aren't any producers outside of alamo, lord Jamar or grand puba unlike on foundation. Could have been a classic with more outside production and more involvement from sadat x who only appears on one song. September 22, 2007

HIP HOP THE WAY IT USED TO BE!

Great samples, spare but killing beats, great raps! Makes me feel nostalgic for when hip Hop WAS Hip Hop and not R&B like today. September 1, 2007

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