Published on Jul 17, 2003
“I have the microphone and you don’t. SO YOU WILL LISTEN TO
EVERY DAMN WORD I HAVE TO SAY!!!!!” Not a threat either.
The place: Virginia. The time: Right about now. The players: Hu
Man, Link, Holy Smokes, Haze, Red, Dory Funk Jr., and singer Big
Zoe. The album is
Forbidden Fruit. Wait!! There’s none of the
Southern-Sound-Stereotype to throw them into Outkast territory, or
Master P, or anyone else that might immediately leap to mind. They
have their own, and it’s better if you just try not to think of
them as being from anywhere.
Forbidden Fruit plays like a really good compilation, as the
six MC’s and one singer dominate the tracks they feature on. My
surveillance (a sad observation) is, with all the totally useless
shit that’s getting massive advances/audiences, why is Bu Bonic
having to self-release this? In a perfect world, skills on the
M-I-C would be fundamental, rather than goofy-ass looks, empty
posing, or LL’s pointless biceps. Meanwhile Bu Bonic Inc. would be
reachin’ for #1, and the Fresh Prince would be putting salt on
cheeseburgers.
“Let Me Know” is a bit of a break in the action, as singer Big
Zoe takes over, and makes this crew 3-D with his voice. This album
was produced by Len Funk, Joe Burn ‘Em, Professor Zoom, and a Mike
Luv (who, incidentally, doesn’t sing about suntans in the Beach
Boys). Len Funk’s noise was a bit more lethal, but everyone here
did was great, and I’m curious who’s gonna work on Hu Man’s “Hu Man
on Eve” before that solo joint drops?
“The Haunting” and “Hutha” stand out as the most re-playable
songs on
Forbidden Fruit, but this album has a firm grip on my stereo
anyway. The beat-boxing on “Hot Butter 2000” was a nice step back
in time. So many heads claim Old School, but what’s they believe
it’s all about Run DMC track-suits, and think the Fat Boys are just
a nickname for their uncles. The competition wilts in Bu Bonic’s
presence. Without even copping a sweat, they’ll “make your style
evaporate like cheap-ass cologne.”
For more information on Bu Bonic Inc, check out their