If ever a hip-hop outfit could be classified as a one-hit wonder, it's Audio Two. MC Milk (cousin to MC Lyte, who covered Audio Two's hit on Seven & Seven) and DJ Gizmo produced one of the most name-checked rap attacks... more » ever--"Top Billin'"--and it still holds up as a classic B-boy jam. Unfortunately, what follows is strictly doo-doo. The rhymes are instantly repetitive, while the beats are thinned-out drum-machine tracks and James Brown samples. Even with Stetsasonic's Daddy-O stepping to the boards on a couple of tracks, there's no juice here. If you're looking for the hit, try Hip-Hop Classics, Volume One, where it's at least surrounded by some other good tracks. --Todd Levin« less
If ever a hip-hop outfit could be classified as a one-hit wonder, it's Audio Two. MC Milk (cousin to MC Lyte, who covered Audio Two's hit on Seven & Seven) and DJ Gizmo produced one of the most name-checked rap attacks ever--"Top Billin'"--and it still holds up as a classic B-boy jam. Unfortunately, what follows is strictly doo-doo. The rhymes are instantly repetitive, while the beats are thinned-out drum-machine tracks and James Brown samples. Even with Stetsasonic's Daddy-O stepping to the boards on a couple of tracks, there's no juice here. If you're looking for the hit, try Hip-Hop Classics, Volume One, where it's at least surrounded by some other good tracks. --Todd Levin
CD Reviews
IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME, BUT IT'LL GROW ON YOU
kevinmoondogjunior | knockin' em back in AZ | 03/21/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I TOO BOUGHT THIS CD FOR TOP BILLIN', BUT THE REST SEEMS TO EVENTUALLY TAKE YOU IN AS WELL. THE LYRICS, AT TIMES, MAY SEEM A LITTLE WEAK, BUT THE OVERALL PRODUCT IS PRETTY DOPE. I CAN'T GIVE IT 5 STARS (CRIMINAL MINDED, GREAT ADVENTURES OF SLICK RICK) OR EVEN 4 STARS (BIGGER AND DEFFER,YO! BUM RUSH THE SHOW) SO 3 STARS SEEMS FITTING. IT'S DEFINATELY WORTH CHECKING OUT AND WILL STILL BE PLAYED IN MY RADIO NOW AND AGAIN. MILK D IS LOUD AND BOASTFUL (KINDA LIKE L.L.). IF YOU LIKE THAT '88 SOUND (DRUM MACHINES, ETC)AND AN OVERALL FUNKY SOUND, YOU SHOULD CHECK THIS ALBUM OUT!"
Worth a listen, NOT a classic
Sylas Lapham | Lansing, MI | 03/11/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I had this tape when it came out. There's definitely some worthwhile songs on here (I Like Cherries, I Don't Care and I always liked Hickeys On My Neck)and it is damn entertaining but it is NOT a classic. In fact, when you consider what else came out the same year as this (PE It Takes A Nation Of Millions, BDP By All Means Necessary, NWA Straight Outta Compton), this sounds pre-historic. Audio Two had their own sound. But it was lyrically very lightweight in comparison to what other people were doing. Sort of like a better, not-quite-as-wholesome version of Jazzy Jeff/Fresh Prince. I hadn't thought of this album in years till I saw it on here."
Todd Levin (editorial reviewer) is NOT a hip hop head
jim | charlotte, nc | 09/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Always be cautious when you hear a music review when they use the term "one hit wonder" in regards to hip hop (or even r&b) music. It's used mainly by people who aren't in the culture, and don't know what's hot unless it's mainstream. This guy probably didn't know what hip hop was in '88 when this album came out. So he's far from an authority. "..what follows is strictly doo-doo." Is this guy crazy? This is a classic hip hop album! If you like MC Lyte's first 3 albums (the rest are underwhelming), Positive K's first album, Big Daddy Kane, etc., you'll like this album. This album has been sampled by many later rappers. Audio Two got much respect from other rappers. You can verify that by looking in the album covers of many of their peers - they give them shout outs. And I don't mean obscure (comparatively speaking for hiphop music) cats - I mean like Boogie Down P, Big Daddy, Stetsasonic, etc. If you don't like the album, cool, but remember, this was done in '88. A LOT of stuff sounds like this. Top Billin' is a must have for any true head with a collection. And no, I'm not related to these cats. Peace"
Milk is chillin
roger d jones | alexandria virginia | 06/19/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"i am gonna tell you the first rap song i ever herd is top billin i think and it has ahd me hooked since then.milk is buy no means the best mc ever but he is not the worst(that would be master p)but i am a audio two fan i have serched endlessly to find the whole audio two collection and i have it now if you can find it get i dont care the ablum with"get your mother off crack"a timeless peice in hip hop history.but back to this ablum top billin is the most herd beat in hip hop and the milk does damage on the milk with his high pitch flow.this ablum is dope and if you dont have it get and if you dont like it,like milk said i dont care.......for real it is a timeless peice of hip hop when you are seventy and in a home you can bump top billin and all the old heads will bump right with you ....."
Very, very underrated
roger d jones | 01/28/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"despite what the amazon review may say, this is album is old school fun from beginning to end. ecclectic rhymes over raw, kicking beats. this one is a must for old schoolers."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1