Dope Album! Too Bad it's the group's last one
Detroit DAN | 07/29/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you don't know slum, then your slipping! Jay Dee aka J-Dilla, Baatin, and T3 reppin burst on the scene with one of the most heavily bootlegged album of all all time. The trio released fantastic Vol. 2 in 2000, containing dope rhymes, dope beats, and a bunch of features including pete rock, busta rhymes, kurupt, and q-tip. Vol 2 is their best work to date, and it is a classic album you need in your collection if don't already have it. J-Dilla left the group to persue a solo career, so the group added ELZHI. Ezhi was known for his potent rhymes and flow, which fit nicely with Baatin and T3 on their follow up album Trinity, spawing the hit "tainted". Baatin left shortley after due to heath issues. Elzhi and T3 carried the slum village flag on the next album Detroit Deli, which contained the hit selfish featuring kanye west and john legend. Although J Dilla left the group, he was still present on production on a few songs on the trinity album, and detroit deli. J Dilla died in 2006 from complications from lupus, leaving the remaing memebers pondering the group's fate. The group released a self titled album a year earlier, which was under the radar compared to their last couple of albums, but it was a dope album reguardless. The death of J Dilla caused the group to go on a hiatus, ultimately laying the ground work for a new ablum. In the process of creating Villa Manifesto, T3 wanted to bring Baatin back into the group, to carry the torch they started. Unfortunaely Baatin would pass away in the summer of 2009. Before he passed away he was album to supply the group with plentiful verses for the ablum. Villa manifesto is unique, because it is the first slum village album to feature vocals from all four members. Production on the album is handled by Hi Tek, Young RJ, J Dilla, and Khrysis. Production on the album is very good, remincent of Early J Dilla productions. Even though Unrealeased J Dilla verses from the vault were placed on the album, and they fit perfectly adding to the album's coheisiveness(my spelling is kinda bad i know). songs like scheming, set up, errol flinn, and bare witness showcase the group at their finest. The Single faster is simlar to classic slum village material. All in all the album is very dope, unfortunately this will be their last, leaving all the fans wondering how an album would have sounded if all members recored an album together while everyone was alive. Villa Manifesto is a solid album and pretty damn good for a last album. All of the proceeds from the album will be given to families of Baatin and J Dilla, so please, please support!"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1