Search - Raw Fusion :: Live From the Styleetron

Digital Underground's Best Kept Secret...

Servo | Atlanta, GA. | 05/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Raw Fusion is Money B. (Vocals) and DJ Fuze (Cuts and scratches). In 1991, the pair branched out from popular parent group, Digital Underground, to showcase their considerable talents with "LIVE FROM THE STYLEETRON." Lyricist Money B. joins the ranks of A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip and Gangstarr's Guru with his unique rhyme flow which is like butta - mellow yet hard - while turntablist DJ Fuze's cuts and scratches are nothing short of true hip hop wizardry. This album was surprisingly fresh at the time while clearly evoking its Digital Underground roots. I first purchased Raw Fusion on cassette back in '91 only having heard the song "Throw Your Hands In The Air," which is probably the most well-remembered track from the album. There's also "#1 With A Bullet" featuring the late Tupac Shakir. The standout tracks for me are "Nappy Headed Ninja," "Hang Time," "Wild Francis," and of course, "Throw Your Hands In The Air." I was pleasantly surprised by the album overall as I can play it with out skipping over "bad" tracks. Though, as I previously stated I do have my favorites. If you're a fan of Digital Underground, you should like Raw Fusion. If you're not a fan of Digital Underground, but you do like to nod your head to Nice-hard-smooth beats and rhyme flow then "LIVE FROM THE STYLEETRON" is DEFINITELY for you!"

My personal favorite

Dr Strangetone | New Jersey | 04/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Styleetron is one of those albums that I listen to all the way through almost every time I listen to it. I still haven't heard any album that remotely sounds like this (okay, if you like Styles of Beyond, Divine Styler or Downtown Science you'd probably love "Live From the Styleetron"). The sound is unique and perfectly summed up by the concept of the Styleetron itself, "a converted cyclotron that, instead of splitting atoms, fuses musical styles and ideas to create a form of Hip-Hop known as Raw Fusion". The intro sounds like some collision of Hip-Hop, Industrial and Kung-Fu music and is one of the greatest intros I've ever heard. There's the Reggae influenced "Don't Test", the freaky "Kill Mi Dead" (Mon's first production) and of course the Funk is there too on "Funkintoyoear". "Wild Francis" is one of the few times I've heard Mon spit as a storyteller and he shines. Money-B's flow is tight and his rhymes fit the idea of every track perfectly. I bought the tape before I had a system and it sounds great in headphones, the reason I mention this is this album takes on an entirely different life in a good system. Referred to as "Toxic Waste Fallout Bass" in the liner notes, the bass is perfect, it fits the track and enhances the experience. I have listened to many Hip-Hop albums and this one never grows old for me. I'm glad to see the prices for this one bottoming out, don't miss this one."