“Ghetto Fabulous”, which is in my opinion the best song on the album features Dre and Mack 10.  This song is made complete by the hooks provided by an unrecognized female rapper, who simply reiterates the words ‘Ghetto’ and ‘Fabulous’.  It provides an uplifting orchestra-based sound that surrounds you and makes you feel like Ras Kass’ style is not to be reckoned with. And in effect, lyrically, he’s not to be reckoned with.  Your knowledge of the game and of life, has to be extremely broad to fully follow his lyrics.  He travels all over the spectrum of hip hop to pick choice lyrics to throw into his songs.  Its really quite amazing.  He can rap fast and slow.  The slow jam “It is What It is” is really good and a friend of mine, who’s not really into hip hop took to it upon first listen.  Another gooder is “Grindin” which kinda reminds me of  Ice Cube’s “We Be Clubbin”, but without Cube’s dynamic style.  The title track, “Rasassination” starts off the album with a funk-tinged sound.  “Conceited Bastard” starts off with just a guitar strumming and builds up from there, providing a Wyclef Jean-type sound which is pretty dope.

As much as this album seemed really good, I never took to it very well.  Ras Kass has definitely got lyrical skills and often my mind couldn’t keep up with his lyrics, cause I had to stop and make sense of what he was trying to say or try to figure out from whom he’d taken those lyrics.  I guess maybe I was expecting a west coast/Westside Connection – type feel from the album, but that’s not Ras Kass’ style.  I’ve gotta confess that this album was good, but that it had the potential to be even better.  It just didn’t seem to climax.  The album was really good listening, but I just didn’t find myself wanting to come back to it.  But, if you’re lookin for a lyrically dope album, then definitely check out Rasassination. www.brockwayent.com

(Originally posted on HipHopCanada.com)