Search - Ed Og & Bulldogs :: Roxbury 02119

4 stars (ignore the 5) Roxbury 02119

? | United Kingdom! | 05/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you don't know, Edo.G. is one of the most genuine and conscious Mc's ever to pick up mic. He is also one of the most inspiring MC's of 1991, (and still is, 13 years later in 2004 with the release of "My own worst enemy"), proving why he is undboutedly Boston' #1 MC. For most groups, it is inevitable that the second album never exceeds the expectations installed from the debut, well, there is no difference here for Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs. However saying that, "Life of a kid in the ghetto" was one of the best albums of 1991, with most songs proving to have a strong message that was so evidently needed in Hiphop, so beating that would take some doing. Roxbury 02119 is a very consistant album, with not one weak track. Although the messages are not as important and hardhitting as on the debut, Roxbury still offers some food-for thought. The beats mostly handled by DITC legend Diamond D, are qunitessential 1993 with the hard bass & drums and refreshing samples. Although not the best album of 1 of the best years for hiphop(1993), this album helps justify that argument, and should not be ignored by any fan of early 90's hiphop. PEACE



Lyrics - 8.5/10

Beats - 8.5/10

Origianlity - 8.5/10

Replay Value - 8.5/10



If you found this helpful, check out my other reviews"

Boston's finest (3.5/5)

ctrx | 'bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks... | 12/06/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Ed O.G. & da Bulldogs made history with their 1991 debut Life of a Kid in the Ghetto, an excellent album that balanced slick East Coast production with socially conscious and relevant lyrics. Songs like the single "Be a Father to Your Child" advocated social responsibility and reflected simultaneous works by artists such as Main Source, and Ed O.G. established himself as the best MC from the city of Boston. Two years later, he returned with his sophomore effort, "Roxbury 02119." The first thing that jumped out to me about this album was how much it sounded like a concurrent D.I.T.C. release. Musically, it sounds so much like Diamond D's 1992 LP Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop that if judged by beats alone, one might confuse the two. It turns out that Diamond D handled the bulk of the production on "Roxbury 02119," and you can definitely tell. His upbeat, looping beats with chirpy horn samples and signature vocal breaks of singing and chanting crowds will be familiar to any fans of D.I.T.C. On the mic, Ed makes a slight departure from his debut. On Life of a Kid in the Ghetto, relevant issues dominated most of the verses, but "Roxbury 02119" is a more conventional album, following some 1993 trends. Most of the time, Ed's more concerned with dissing nameless sucker-MCs than advocating social issues. Ed's not exactly what you'd call an exciting rapper, and given his monotone delivery and consistently midtempo delivery, the product can be a little underwhelming at points, but he's likable because he seems like such a realistic and ordinary guy. "Roxbury 02119" doesn't get the acclaim of simultaneous East Coast releases like Mecca and the Soul Brother, Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop, Daily Operation, or Midnight Marauders, and rightly so. Still, it offers some of the same qualities that are strengths of those albums, including the warm, jazzy production, upbeat spirit, and free-flowing East Coast style that helped make 1993 the greatest year in hip hop history. Ed O.G. is a dope and underrated MC, and while "Roxbury 02119" isn't the best work of his catalog, it's still a solid LP.



The disc opens with "Streets of the Ghetto," an urban narrative that takes the listener on a trip to Ed O.G.'s Roxbury neighborhood. The beats and hook are on point and it's a nice opener. MC-bashing is the agenda on "Busted," which is followed by the album's standout highlight, the classic "Love Comes and Goes." The beat is gorgeous, upbeat, and catchy, and Ed delivers some of his finest rhymes about friendship and loyalty. "Skinny Dip (Got It Goin' On)" boasts a great jazz sax sample in the chorus, and "I Thought Ya Knew" brings standard b-boy-isms over a Diamond D beat. I really like "I'm Laughin'," which features a really creative, warm, and appealing beat with a breezy flute sample, and Ed offers one of his best performances, including a triple-time verse in the middle. "I'll Rip You" and "Go Up and Up" are both fine but neither too memorable, but "Tryme" has some clever sampling and nice production and scratching as Ed kicks rhymes to a fly girl. "Dat Ain't Right," "Less Than Zero" and "Check It Out," are all nice, closing out the album with jazzy horn sampling and good rhymes.



This album didn't quite match the high bar that Life of a Kid in the Ghetto set for it, but it still provided some great moments and memorable hip hop in a year dominated by timeless classics from the East Coast. It's too bad that both of these albums have gone out of print, I wish that the label would re-release them in a two-disc package like has been done for Intelligent Hoodlum and Cormega's first two albums. "Roxbury 02119" is sometimes cliched and not a must-have by any means, but if found for a reasonable price, I'd recommend a purchase for the early-90s East Coast fan, at least for the great tracks that most likely can't be found anywhere else. Ed O.G. is a great hip hop artist still doing his thing today, and even though this isn't his finest, he deserves more recognition and I recommend his music."