Lil 12 Dead - Steel On A Mission (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

A good 2nd CD

Kd | 03/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 96' things were off the hook, everyone knew about the LBC. And there were thousands and thousands of rappers coming out from the westcoast, and lots were from the LBC which was flooded with new rappers everyday. Some people had good beats, some bad beats. Some good rappers but wack beats blah blah blah, and you would never get anyone that was really that good at holding it tight with beats and lyrics. Mostly there would be some nice beats coming from LBC at this time. HD's voice was not that aggresive, but he kept it real and stayed on track with his first album which is a classic to me. His style was a bit like chilled LBC, smoking dojah, riding and still being a straight G without too much chit chat. He is real, and this album has moved on from dead has arisen, but not in a too bad direction. Its still heavy, even though it could have been longer. And the beats were mind blowing on the dead has arisen, i think i was expecting too much on here. But its still nicer than other stuff out in 96. These were the days!. But anyways, I gave this a 4 just because it was a bit too short, and i think the beats had a bit more flavour to them in the first one with a lot of variation. On this its still G funk, but only the overall sound sounds the same and a bit rushed on the whole. But make sure you check it out though, it's cool. And make sure you get the dead has arisen, you can't miss that unless you crazy and you did'nt like the early/mid 90's flavour thats died out to marketed, flavourless and talentless BS thats out now. Peace!"

True Gangsta Shiznit

Kd | 03/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is the best G-Funk CD of all time. The bad part is that people are still sleeping on this CD. This is the Lil 1/2 Dead that Snoop refers to in Lil Ghetto Boy. What make this CD so great is that you can just take a trip and ride to the whole CD to wherever you go(down the PCH, down the 110, down the 15, etc.). I remember buying the cassette single of Southern Girl back in '96 and it is still off of the chains. My favorite track is #10 "Cavvy Sounds", just true gangsta funk. I just bought the whole CD in December and I am glad that I did. Track 5 contains addition production from my homie Warryn Campbell(Mary Mary, DJ Quik). So don't sleep on this one, you must add this to your G-Funk collection. One Luv!!!"

Lil 1/2 Dead's Second Album Shows The Versatility of LBC Rap

G-Funk 4ever | Listenin' to the Delfonics | 04/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Long Beach has a history of being the breeding ground of top-notch rap and hip hop. Rappers from Snoop, Warren G, Nate Dogg, Twinz, Domino, Foesum, Dove Shack, and many many more have made big strides in underground and mainstream rap. The Long Beach scene helped make G-Funk popular in the mid '90's with Warren G's regulate. 1996 has had its moments, like with "Steel On A Mission." Lil Half Dead kills the tracks with killa flows over dope beats. Using many of the same producers (K Phix, Tracy Kendrick, Courtney Branch, etc) from his 1st album, 1994's The Dead Has Arisen (check that review too), one of the best rap albums of all time, Half Dead comes correct with some nice, heavy G-Funk beats. The album is only 10 songs deep, but it holds its own. "Steel On A Mission '96" is a dope follow up to 1994's "Still On A Mission" with a melodic, twangy, bouncy beat. "Southern Girl" is tight; Hald Dead gets sexual in the song, but he also shows respect for her, and that is refreshing. The beat is hard and bouncy with a nice whiny synth. "Back In The Day" takes a step back to younger days with a whiny synth. "Gotta Git Cha" took a bit of time to grow on me, but now I like to rock it. It steps up the hard core factor with a hard mobbin' beat. "Cavvy Sounds" is a prime example of Long Beach rap, with a dope party style LBC beat, a nice bit of flava for a house party. Lil HD also lets it be known in "If You Don't Know" with arguably, the best beat on the record. "Still Rollin" is a hot one with an eerie keyboard riff in the beat and an airy whiny synth. This album is a dope example of how good G-Funk production can be, and HD's laconic but versatile flow fits the beats well. However, 1994's Dead Has Arisen is a much better album, and that says a lot because this album deserves possible classic status. This one now goes for more than 100 bucks (as of 4/24/07); it's that rare!!"

Phenomenal sophomore effort

ctrx | 'bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks... | 12/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lil 1/2 Dead's sophomore LP (following his similarly excellent debut "The Dead Has Arisen") was 1996's "Steel on a Mission." Just like his first, this album is an amazing piece of 90s west coast g-funk and is and always has been embarrassingly slept-on. This album is quite similar to his debut, but overall I think I like this one a little better. At only ten tracks, it is a little more consistent with no skits and sounds a little more focused. No longer claiming Tha Dogg Pound, Half Dead has advanced two years lyrically, and his rapping is a little more varied and interesting. The cover, while really cool looking if you ask me, is a little misleading, kind of suggesting some sort of horrorcore. Half Dead is a smooth, laidback g-funk rapper in the vein of DJ Quik or Daz Dillinger. He raps of his experiences in Long Beach and is fun to listen to, he has a youthful flow and voice. The production is the real treat in Half Dead's music, though. The multiple producers who contribute to "Steel on a Mission" make simply phenomenal beats. The beats are upbeat but very laidback, always thick with thumping, catchy basslines, woozy synthesizer lines, and funky guitars and instrumentals. Half Dead usually has catchy hooks in his songs and is just really fun to listen to. "Steel on a Mission" is one of the lost gems of the g-funk era, a really great and underrated album.

The album begins with "Steel on a Mission '96," an update to the song "Still on a Mission" from his debut. This version is a remarkable improvement from the already great original. It has really catchy bass and beats, and the chorus allows you to ease into the album perfectly. The vibes keyboard heavy woozy song "Low Down" follows, featuring Quick ta Mac. The happy "Southern Girl" speaks joyfully of a woman, another enjoyable song, this one with a little R&B influence. I love "Back in the Day," a funky ode to Half Dead's childhood in Long Beach. "Givin' It Up" has harder sounding production but a catchy chorus and fun lyrics. "Young HD" is great g-funk, using soulful instrumentals, the MC chronicles his career in the song. "If You Don't Know" follows in the pattern of consistency, and the anthemic "Still Rollin'" does as well. "Gotta Git Cha" is reminiscent of some material off "The Chronic," and the album ends with the excellent "Cavvy Sounds," maybe the best on the album. This song makes my head bob every time, HD drops some hard-hitting lyrics and it ends the album on a great party joint.

"Steel on a Mission" is a forgotten g-funk standard, showcasing the best of the mid-90s west coast style. I highly recommend this album to anyone who likes g-funk, this album is enjoyable on multiple levels and has tons of replay value. I understand that this album is nearly impossible to find today and very expensive, but should this come your way, let nothing stop you from picking it up. It's just a great, fun album all around."

G-Funk's finest! A Rare and Classic cd!

bond007 | L.A., Cali | 10/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is truly G-funk's best. This is one of my all-time favorite cds. You will feel privileged just to have listened to it since few people have. I think that its better than his first cd because its more jammin. This is classic G-funk to the fullest."

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	Lil 1/2 Dead Steel On A Mission Genres: Pop, Rap & Hip-Hop, R&B Track Listings (10) - Disc #1 Steel On A Mission '96 Low Down Southern Girl Back In The Day Givin' It Up Young HD If You Don't Know Still Rollin' Gotta Git Cha Cavvy Sounds
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