What What! wassup this is a review of the Capone-N-Noreaga CD The War Report CNN broadcasting live ya heard!

CNN -- The War Report

01) Intro
02) Bloody Money
03) Driver's Seat
04) Stick You
05) Parole Violators
06) Iraq (See The World)
07) Live On Live Long
08) Neva Die Alone
09) T.O.N.Y. (Top Of New York)
10) Channel 10
11) Capone Phone Home (Interlude)
12) Stay Tuned (Interlude)
13) Capone Bone
14) Halfway Thugs
15) L.A., L.A. (Kuwait Mix Marley Marl)
16) Capone -N- Noreaga Live (Interlude)
17) Illegal Life
18) Black Gangsta
19) Closer
20) Capone Phone Home Outro
19) Outro

      The explosion of the "Queens flow" in the last couple of years has been a fresh new force in the hip-hop wilderness, but old-schoolers have been down with the sound of that NYC borough for years. Forget Nas, A Tribe Called Quest and Mobb Deep for a second. Groups like the Super Kids, Roxanne Shante, Craig G, MC Shan, Disco Twins & Starchild, Biz Markie and Kool G. Rapp & DJ Polo, with their musical mentor, the super-supreme Marley Marl, all emanated from the borough's (in)famous Queensbridge projects in the mid-to-late '80s. And they all in their own way have had a significant impact on today's hip-hop. In Marley's brilliant production development, we saw the super-raw, booming drums of a track like the Super Kids' "The Tragedy (Don't Do It)" and Craig G's "Shout" develop into the slicker, but still dope, "Road To The Riches" by Kool G and Roxanne Shante's "Have A Nice Day." And his influence certainly still has relevance today. Following along the famed family tree of Queens, and Queensbridge in particular, is that vicinity's newest revelation, Capone-N-Noreaga. They've been making some serious noise on the underground/street tip for over a year now, but The War Report is the first complete document of their ever-expanding sound, and it should be one that heads will latch onto. With no-nonsense delivery and impeccable, patient rhythmic timing, these two up-and-coming voices make quite a heavy impression, showing above all their storytelling power, which is evident on every track. One fascinating thing is that they have reinvented themselves and their surroundings by refiguring their environment: Queensbridge Projects are now Kuwait, LeFrak Projects are now Iraq, Long Island is Lebanon, Brooklyn is Baghdad and the Bronx is Bosnia. It's not unlike playing war games with your toy soldiers as a kid, but this metaphorical reality is a serious way of dealing with their urban backdrop. And for those who savor the "realness" factor of any rapper's lyrical crime content, both Capone and Noreaga met in jail, where they began masterminding their attack. In fact, Capone was incarcerated for part of the making of this LP, as evidenced by the "Capone Phone" segments of the album, which consist of the rapper's phone calls home to Noreaga while on lockdown. And the music is equally dope. Working with several different producers, they have achieved a solid mix of styles, although track speeds rarely push past the mid-tempo mark. "Bloody Money," laid down by EZ Elpee, is a perfect example of what this duo (joined, as per usual, by their co-conspirator Tragedy a k a Khadafi, a former member of the Super Kids whom many will also know as the Intelligent Hoodlum) is all about: a crime tale about life in the Rotten Apple told with chilling style and lyrical finesse, over a basic but tough drum pattern, with a piano riff sprinkled in the background. "Parole Violators," produced by Khadafi is dark and ominous. Bronx neighbor Buckwild lends his skillz to "Neva Die Alone" and "Black Gangstas," the former of which continues the war-time Middle Eastern imagery. And "Illegal Life" is as menacing as it is compelling, with a faster pace and some freaky, hypnotic female vocals that haunt the track, as the regular crew lays down a dope rap about their contempt for the law and all things American. Khadafi produces here with gusto and Havoc from Mobb Deep lends his voice and drum programming skills to the proceedings. But the album's true masterpiece is Marley Marl's "LA, LA (Kuwait Mix)." Released last year, it inevitably shredded the underground around the globe. This tangential response to Tha Dogg Pound's (wack) "New York, New York" put this crew on the map and is still as amazing as it was the first time I heard it. Managing to be simultaneously menacing and laid-back (in true gangsta style), this Queens-style throwdown will blow your mind, whether you've heard it before or not. From the chorus, which leads things off, to song's final notes, the tales told within are masked in metaphor but also steadfastly earnest: "I'm in too deep/Losing sleep/I can't call it/In love with this drug shit/Do any and all for it/What's a nigga to do with no cash at 22?/Take it, or find out the best way to make it fast." The remaining work on the album is far from dull as well. While some may fault CNN for a lack of range, it makes more sense to me to say that they've found a niche and they work it to its limit. Tune in to CNN for The War Report and you'll get the real deal.
Brian Coleman
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Quick Quotes

      4 Mics (out of 5) - "...this Queens-bred duo have not only created new styles, but created their own chaotic new world....THE WAR REPORT is one of the most promising debuts in recent times..."
The Source 5/97, p.128

      "...Musically, CNN don't hold back, giving listeners a full-scale invasion with help from fellow Queens henchmen....Almost every song is distinguished by choppy but memorable hooks similar to those made famous by QB homies Mobb Deep..."
Rap Pages 6/97, p.88

      Just like fellow Queens-MCs Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga bring their songs to life through their lyrical wizardry. For their beats, only the best will do; Clark Kent and Buckwild handle the boards for some of the tracks. The duo even employ the hard-hitting production skills of Nashiem Myrick and Carlos Broady on "T.O.N.Y. (Top Of New York)." Getting the news from CNN takes on a whole new meaning as THE WAR REPORT describes the dirt going down on the streets of New York.

Personnel: Capone, Noreaga, Tragedy (aka "Khadafi"); Iman T.H.U.G., Mobb Deep (vocals); Havoc (vocals, drum programming); Brian Attmore (keyboards); Shawn Brown, Nneka (background vocals); Castro, Musolini, Mendosa, Troy Outlaw.
Producers include: Charlemagne, EZ Elpee, Nashiem Myrick, Carlos Broady, G-Money.
Engineers include: Pacman, Ken "Duro" Ifill, G Money.

      Yo people If ya don't have this CD ya best to go buy it ya heard! this shit is the bomb I mean these two combined made a debut CD that should be recognized by everyone, but unfortunately it was only bumped in the underground so some people didn't get the shit until after the N.O.R.E. CD came out. This CD is so good, it had good rhymes, lyrics, beats, and production, I gave this CD a 8.9 out of a possible 10. CNN broadcasting from channel 10 ya heard!