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Island Mele
Friday, May 26, 2000
JB’s rap debut
impressiveJust Because,
JB (Outsider OTR 104450)WAIANAE rapper JB makes a great debut as a protege of Terrence "Big Teeze" Hallums and his Mafiuso organization. Teeze is one of the Hi-Town DJs and thus a member of the only local rap group to be signed by a national label and score on one of the six major Billboard charts. He moonlights at I-94. JB is getting major play there.
Teeze and JB created most of the material. Their best work is as commercial as almost anything on the national urban charts. "On Da Weekend" is a well-written vignette of local life from a hip-hop perspective. "Streetlife" and "Now What?" are potential national hits.
Two tracks need work. "Hiphoppera" is a clever parody but longer than it needs to be. "Miss Hawaii" is a lame local comedy bit that should have been deleted.
Overall, JB and the Mafiusos are taking local rap to a higher level.
http://www.olindaroad.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
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Larry Rivera (Coco Palms CP-CD 42000)LARRY Rivera expresses his love for Kauai with 14 earnest originals. Some celebrate scenic landmarks. Others speak of the ambience of the Garden Isle and its people.
Rivera has been entertaining visitors for decades and currently presides at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Hotel. This album will certainly be a treasured souvenir for many who enjoy his music there.
Coco Palms Records, 1092 Kamalu Rd., Kapaa, HI 96746
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William "Baba" Alimoot (Kinonui Productions KNP 81159)'BABA" Alimoot displays broad musical roots with a collection of modern Hawaiian music that stretches from falsetto to local-style '50s pop. "Makapu'u" is identified as an original. Another is a Samoan song but he provides no information as to its meaning or significance. The others are Hawaiian standards. All 12 songs are nicely done.
Alimoot favors live acoustic arrangements throughout. Cello, steel guitar and ukulele are among the instruments that add depth and texture. He and his guests do a fine job, but a little more information on the artist and the songs he chose would have made this a much better introduction to an obviously versatile vocalist.
http://www.olindaroad.com -- kinonui@msn.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
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See Record Reviews for some past reviews.
See Aloha Worldwide for locals living away.John Berger, who has covered the local
entertainment scene since 1972, writes reviews of recordings
produced by Hawaii artists. See the Star-Bulletin's Today
section on Fridays for the latest reviews.
