Review by Loose Cannonz

DJ Rondevu - Dangerous Minded Volume Two

DJ Rondevu's highly-anticipated second volume of Dangerous Minded is in the now, showcasing emcees on the up and up whilst spotlighting Ronde's production just the same. Packed with the album format, proper jewel casing, pull-out insert, and DVD, D.M.II also features various rap legends supportin' the Brooklyn Bad Boy's grind. Ronde's resume is impressive, exploding onto the mixtape scene with already classic Four Horsemen, Godbrothers, and Knights of the Roundtable series. Das Efx, who haven't done a relevant damn thing in a minute-this side of average Hit Squad appearances-represent lovely over the tight metaphysics Rondevu brings to the boards. Dray & Skoob no longer limit themselves to riggity riggity rapping, coming off hard with dope flows and tighter rhymes in a minute. Ronde delivers a certain West-ish flavor to the boards on "How We Do," inserting plenty of tingling string and synth elements in the background, all the while packing hard enough drums to keep this shit East Coast. Skoob, the more liggity liggity likely to figgity figgity fuck you up with the classic Efx sound, contributes his always enjoyable presence-and some witty one-liners-to the Marco Polo breaks of "Get Down" (we never said these vets were original with song titles), while the alliance with Sean Paul on "The Memories Remain" chipmunks some deep-introspect shit to Das' resume. The production on Dray's joint "Hustlers, Gangsters" sounds like a Dre rip-off while his guests Un Pacino & Scott Cane (very funny) are all over the album, but don't characterize themselves other than typical round-the-way rappers (i.e. "we the shit, squeeze the fifth, smash the strip, stackin bricks, kidnap kids…). This is further exposed on "Paper, Feti, Skrilla." I mean…if this is all dooks know, that's cool and all-you gotta represent what you know-I'm just not impressed. Un does take things a step higher with Hogg Brando on "Baby That's It," which appeared earlier on the DJ Murderers mixtape, and "You're My Baby" which descriptively jots down situations and surroundings to a soulful tune.

What about DJ Rondevu? It's his tape, so no surprise for dude highlighting the album with shine. Look no further than "Essence," bringin' back heads from the Mic Geronimo/Royal Flush era rockin' to the joint; "Mad Cuz U Know Me" keeps within the same early-90s grime; and the mafiaesque strings of "The Sitdown" is on some true Firm shit, despite its talentless raps. It's unfortunate the Smif 'N Wessun track is a burning heap of trash, as is the Un Pacino dolo "It's Gangsta" (beat has potential, but goes anywhere with its simplicity), and "Tonight" by Balance and Locksmith is possibly the worst song of 2005. Should we care about the tape as much as the DVD anyway? Hell no! Shit's the real prize of this product, and not your typical let's give the people a little something to boost sales. No, I believe the album was the supporting point for the DVD, which contains explicit language and strong sexual content. Whoopee. You got slap fights, golden hoes, concert raps, hot customs, sleek technic(que)s, and exclusive interviews with album cats (i.e. a grizzly stroll through Flatbush, South Central, and Europe wit Das, real talk with Tek), and other surprising guests (i.e. a hip-hop video/interview from Thirstin Howl III). It's funny how many of the songs that were just shredded in half sound 5x better when supporting the DVD-maybe that's where the music should've stayed. Dangerous Minded lives up to its name as a home hood movie with unsmooth pans, moderate editing, shifty sound, but damn the back-ends you'ze about to witness (lookout, Necro). Do not make Dangerous Minded a Saturday night with ya girl…unless she exactly that…yeowmean?

CD = 1.5 out of 4 bulletwounds

DVD = 2.5 out of 4 pierced-tongues

Total = - Diehards only

RATING SYSTEM
	Trash
	Step Ya Game Up
	Diehards only
	In the Deck
	Straight Crack
	Among Year's Best
	Mixtape Classic