Search - Boot Camp Clik :: Last Stand

BCC is back to teach the posers a lesson.

Pablo | 10/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sometimes you question why you follow certain groups in hip-hop; why you're dedicated to them through the thick and thin, and cop everything they release, or everything you can afford(in the case of the Wu-Tang Clan in the mid-nineties.. picking up their core 9 albums was a chore in itself, but with dozens of affiliates, it came down to picking the cream of the crop). Is it because of your undying loyalty to the group? Is it because they consistently release dope music? Is it because you've been mindwashed by a marketing strategy? Or are you simply a completist, who feels awkward owning a majority of a group's material, but missing some odd ends?



For me, in the case of the Boot Camp Clik, it's the second option. In the early nineties, you couldn't be a hip-hop head without owning Black Moon's Enta Da Stage, Smif-N-Wessun's Dah Shinin', Heltah Skeltah's Nocturnal, or O.G.C.'s Da Storm. All four of those Duckdown releases were underground staples, and some of the best albums to come out of that era of hip-hop. Unfortunately, when they dumped Da Beatminerz on their first official group album, For The People, their music really took a dive in terms of quality.



8 years after their initial falling off, and after a slew of mediocre releases later, the Boot Camp Clik returned in 2005 with a bang; perfectly represented by the extremely dope solo debut of Sean Price. While Buckshot's album with 9th Wonder and Smif-N-Wessun's releases were also essential in BCC's resurgence, Sean Price led the way in 2005, and in 2006, the group returned as a complete collective to release this fine effort here; Last Stand. Hopefully this isn't the last stand for BCC as a group, because this is most definitely their finest album as an entire 8-piece, and one of the best albums to come from the BCC as a whole.



The production on this album is strictly underground, and that's perfect for the Clik. 9th Wonder provides two standout tracks in "Take A Look(In The Mirror" and "Here We Come," while his effort on "So Focused" is also good, although not one of the better beats on the album. Pete Rock's "1-2-3" is everything you'd come to expect from Pete; just beautiful. Marco Polo's "He Gave His Life" sets a nice dramatic atmosphere, and the Large Prof's "World Wide" shows the Professor still has it; my favorite beat on the album, though, would have to be from Ken Ring and Rune Rotter on "Trading Places." It's unlike anything I've heard in awhile, and the production alone makes this my favorite track on the album.



Lyrically, the BCC is still one of the illest cliques you'll find in hip-hop. Sean Price, Buckshot, and Tek are absolutely dope on this album, while the rest of the members are dope as well, if not quite as spectacular. The chemistry that these eight men share is really unbelievable; never once do they sound awkward together, nor do they appear to be competing with eachother lyrically. They come together in perfect unity.



While it isn't a perfect release, BCC's album is definitely one of the strongest releases of the year, and a must for any true hip-hop head. Dope flows, dope beats, dope tracks; what more could you want?"

My 2 cents

Rey Cortez | 11/10/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album gets 4 stars in my book. I thought it was definately worth the buy but it's not as good as I thought it would be. I rated 4 stars more because this is the kind of Hip-Hop I grew up with and love and we need to see much more of it these days. Kids growing up now will unfortunately never know and understand what true Hip-Hop is thanks to the radio and it's brainwashing. Buy this album, support the real!"