Search - K-Rino :: Stories From the Black Book (Reis)

YO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

drama_s | birmingham | 04/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"IF YOU LIKE THAT CELVER LYRICAL S--T THEN PICK THIS DAMN CLASSIC UP FROM A KING, K-RINO!!!!!!!! I PROMISE YOU, YOU WONT BE DISSAPOINTED!!!!!!!!"

AT LEAST 1 OTHER GOT IT RIGHT!!!

kikanju | 12/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"th previous reviewer got it spot th fu@k on!!!

K-Rino is th most precocious, unique and preposterously superb Rapper i have encountered! Gza, Rakim an esp Eminem can suk my glock, i dont care 4 ANY of those drastically overrated pop p@$sy punx but Rino even immolates th incredible Bootleg an Dre Dog!!! his Raps are so contrived and elaborate yu simply can not predict what he will say next! also has an extraordinary signiture style all of his own! Dre Dog had something similar but no way th vocabulary and excessive complexity of K-Rino! Bootleg's-"Death Before Disshonesty" album is th only thing i kno that can dispute K-Rino's throne but not enough 2 bump his iyc cream an milk gorging ass out of it!!! bow th f@*k down!!!"

"Better hope you die, 'cause if you live it gets WORSE!" (3.

ctrx | 'bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks... | 06/03/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Chances are if you know a rap fan from Houston, you've heard K-Rino's name; he's a regional favorite who despite being hailed as a lyrical visionary remains virtually unknown outside of his city. Musicians such as these can certainly be a mixed bag (and Houston's scene proves a perfect example), because it can be difficult to distinguish from afar who is truly great and who receives love just for being local.



In any event, K-Rino is a great lyricist, with an excellent vocabulary, good storytelling abilities, strong flow, and commanding presence. He's also one pissed-off dude, and for his battle rhymes alone he is awesome, delivering ruthless lyrical onslaughts that hit so hard it's difficult to imagine any challengers. Even on posse cuts and among good company, his verses stand out from the crowd as the most potent and powerful. His approach bears a distinct Houston flavor, with a uniquely bleak world view. That said, he's a lot more Willie D than Scarface: indiscriminately militant and humorless, he's not particularly innovative or soulful. Still, I find true what his fans have been saying for years: he'd rip your favorite MC to shreds.



1993's "Stories From the Black Book" is a long and varied album that reflects a lot about 1993 both in terms of the music itself and socially. Some of it plays like a low-budget Death Certificate or a young, Houston Tragedy Khadafi, with social commentary and violent observations of situations in the hood, as well as the familiar themes of trick women, STDs, sellouts, unjust authority, and Nation of Islam theology. These tracks tend to be hit-or-miss and can feel a bit unoriginal despite K-Rino's singular ability. "Never Give a Freak," "Goin' to da Clinic," and the silly "Cartoon Orgie" should have been left off the lengthy tracklist. The beats are bland to say the least, but being as this was an underfunded record in 1993, I don't really fault K-Rino for it. Still, it's a problem because on the tracks that are somewhat uninspired, the beats definitely never make up for it, and the hooks tend to be weak as well.



The best tracks are the straightforward ones where K-Rino puts his aggression to work. He shines on "Step Into the Mind" and "S.L.I.P." The title track is impressive, and he's also great telling stories on "Tied In" and "Children of the Concrete." My favorite tracks, though, are the posse cuts, which play like ruthless tag-team battles. His crew the South Park Coalition appears extensively and proves almost equally impressive, with AC Chill, Ganksta NIP, and Point Blank guesting most frequently. "4 Dimensions of a Universe" is phenomenal, each great verse even better than the last, and the highlight is the closer "War in South Park," a brilliant running narrative with eight rappers.



It's hard not to appreciate K-Rino, a local hero who despite immense talent has never reached a mass audience, yet remains on his grind with frequent releases after twenty years in the game. He's a lyrical wizard and he knows it, yet he's also tirelessly true to the underground. Listeners should definitely not sleep on K-Rino. While I don't think he reaches his huge potential with "Stories From the Black Book," it has some great material that displays his immediately impressive rap."