Most people might remember Ed O as the kid who said “I Got to Have It” or “Be A Father To Your Child” from around the 1991 era. Ed O.G’s career spans from the last 12 years starting with his debut album “Life As A Kid In The Ghetto.” For those that might have slept, Ed O.G has been around in the shadows, throughout the mid-latter part of the ’90’s making tracks and collaborations with producers like Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Diamond D, Ayatollah, Alchemist, Supreme One, Nottz… and the list goes on. He’s been surviving in the underground with the noriety of freestyling and guest-spotting on other rappers tracks while continually slaying wackness and comes through with the ready-willing-and ableness to spit at the drop of a hat.
His 4th album released titled “Wishful Thinking”, explores different subjects, different styles and rapper-sensitive elements as well as keeping tracks laced with his ability to say a rhyme and keep it fresh. Although the album has 5 tracks, which are 1 minute & change each, and are pretty much breakbeats or beats premiered by the executive producer DJ Supreme One, it doesn’t take away from the tempo or flavor that has Ed, doing what he does best – rap.
Standout tracks like “On Fire”, “Questions”, and “Bitch Up Off Me (remix)” give the album a 70’s, pimp-o-holic stankified-type feel, incorporating one of the lost-but-refound elements of Rap music – the DJ (scratches). Other tracks like “Rock The Beat (remix)” (not a Derek B remake) include cameos from fellow rapper and Boston homie, Krumb Snatcha as well as Jayshun.
“Be Thankful” is a ode to realism of being thankful of everything you possess and the skills will build, but don’t take everything for granted because there’s another cat out there ready to take your shine… hot today, cold tomorrow. Although most tracks on “Wishful Thinking” are hot, the DJ Revolution-produced track “Rise & Shine” take the spotlight as Ed spits metaphorical and lyrical pre-emptive strike on wack and commercialized emcees.
This is a very good comeback to accent the 2001 release of “The Truth Hurts” and basically is a strong continuance, picking up where Ed left off a year ago. With less of a mesh of different producers and keeping it basic (like the good ‘ole days) of having one producer do your whole album, Ed allows DJ Supreme One to showcase his talent behind the boards (and on the turntables) for 90% of the album bringing it back to the Real Hip-Hop. While, at rare times, Ed O.G seems unenthused in his deliverance, all-in-all he proves that it doesn’t take today’s commercialism and compromising of artists integrity and/or creative control to make Real Rap Music.
Excellent effort. Worth picking up. Recommended.
Reviewed By P The Uptownkid for HipHopHotSpot.Com
