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Ali Shaheed Muhummad - "Banga"
Posted on May 16, 2005 8:46 AM
“I never take shots… at legends.—That’s just something I don’t do.” – The Game
*sigh* I gotta do it.
If you loved A Tribe Called Quest as much as I did growing up, then this review will probably hurt you to read as much as it did for me to write. One of the greatest misnomers of all time, Ali Shaheed Muhummad’s new single and video “Banga” [watch it now] is probably the saddest shit I’ve seen since watching that new corny ass yellow nigga host Rap City. (Seriously… That jigapoo actually makes me want Big Tigger back.)
I feel like I’m hatin’ on my older brother who used to be the man, but went to prison, picked up a nasty drug habit and got herpes from Cell Block Sally (like that nigga Ike with the Iverson jersey).
This shit starts out like a fake-ass Roots video. Sadly, it continues and ends that way too. The video is chock-full o’ foofy-ass, “keeping-it-real-nigga” shit. Essentially, everyone looks like they came from a Camp Lo album release party. I’m not one to knock natural hair and earth-toned clothes, but when there are white girls with dreads and a double-digit headwrap count, I tend to get a little disinterested.
Needless to say, Ali Shaheed’s attempt at cultural diversity failed miserably. I wasn’t able to find a soul in this video that wasn’t a corny ass hipster, faux-revolutionary or 70s poseur. Oh, wait… Phife Dawg makes an appearance in this debacle. I almost forgot because his cameo is so short, it almost looks like Shaheed didn’t want anyone that “street” fucking up his coffee-shop party. Even Q-Tip, known the world over for his lapses in judgment, wanted no part in this shit. This video almost absolves him of guilt for releasing Amplified (and the videos associated).
Coming from such a legendary group, one would think Ali Shaheed Muhummad knows what it feels like to make a dope track. His spider-sense should have been tinglin’ like a motherfucker when he listened to the playback of this song. I guess it’s been a while since he's had a hit and he got antsy. For all who may be wondering: This is NOT a banger! This record has already garnered the spurn of nearly all who took the risk to listen and are pissed about the 4 minutes of life they’ll never get back. Even confirmed coffee-shop niggas watch this video shaking their heads like “What the fuck was he thinking?!”
Shaheed’s rapping is some of the most unpleasant shit I’ve been exposed to since I got the clap from Trina. I understand why he never spoke during his Tribe days. He sounds like he has 3 marbles and 2 dicks in his mouth. If you can imagine J-Kwon trying to read out of Talib Kweli’s notebook, you don’t even have to watch this video. I’d bet Shaheed offered this beat to Talib, and after Kwa' kindly rejected, he merely offered to write the song. Since Mr. Muhummad obviously couldn’t get Bilal on the hook, he got Stokley, the dude who looks like Chris Tucker in Dead Presidents. Skippy actually sounds good on the hook though. If he were all you had to deal with, this song might be salvageable.
The most entertaining part of this video by far is the breakdown. Shaheed takes a page from Three 6 Mafia and implores that his fellow partygoers “Tear the club up!... Tear the club up!”… FUCK OUTTA HERE! These bourgie bitches ain’t tearin’ up SHIT. They are going to calmly get back on the L train to Bedford Avenue smellin' like Starbuck's and incense, turn on their i-pods and bump the shit out some Floetry. Gangsta Boo should get on the next flight to New York and beat Shaheed’s ass.
While the image professed in this video may be some people’s cup of tea, I haven’t found much of musical value. There is a decent hook and a beat worth hearing… once. Pay no attention to the nigga from Lucy Pearl stammering over the track. He’s goin through some thangs. Of note, the walls and floor of the video set are covered with stray, unidentifiable pictures. I’m assuming they are snapshots of former Tribe fans that have given up on these poor, confused bastards. You can watch for yourself here. If you're not sure that you know what posers and hosers look like, it’s definitely a worthwhile experience.
See ya tomorrow.
Comments
WHITE GIRLS WITH DREADS!
This video is sooooo neo-soul it hurts. He says "the New World Order brings new politics"
Um, it's 2005. No one is talking about the New World Order anymore.
Maybe this would have been hot if released 6 years agao.
NWO is such a dead subject. Sort of like Busta when every song he did was like "there's only 4 years left...", "there's only 3 years left...", etc. and finally the year 2000 hit and Busta's career ended - go figure.
Sup Mexico!
You disappoint me today. I'm here lookin to get my laugh on at some rapper's expense and you talkin about Ali. Damn, reading your tame commentary today was a waste of 4 minutes of MY life. What... you was hung over from partying this weekend?
Mexico... step that game up kid... i'll be lookin for the ether in tomorrow's dose.
I think Houston may have seen that video right before he gouged his eye out.
On the real, though. I'd like to hear what you have to say about that Tony Yayo video. Why do people like him? You'd hear about the same rhymes and sound coming from a cow stuck in a sewage pipe.
Those videos are kinda fed up. I like the new Aesop Rock and RJD2 videos though. They look like they are from the same art director/producer which makes sense since they are both on the top underground label, IMO, http://www.definitivejux.net/. Definitive Jux.
C'mon Mex...I mean, what did Camp Lo ever do to you soul brotha? Ya know?! Dig this cat daddy...besides having a couple of hot plates of wax for the righteous bros. & sistas(This Is It and the other one...you know...the other one)and trying to drop dime on some retro slang, what you jive talkin' them for. I heard they got back together and are on tour right now and even picked up a girl to do their new joint "Cool Like Dat" =)
where does Ali from ?
he is from his mama ass crock or he is african bootyscriter motherfucker u shit
Taco Meat:
The difference between you and Ali is that he'll always be a legend and you will always write about legends. Get a clue one day :)
He'll always be a legend...
Doesn't make him exempt from putting out horrible shit (i.e.: THIS)
If you are a Shaheed fan and you are OKAY with him putting out shit like this, I'm a little worried. We should push our heroes to do BETTER, not toss us any old bullshit they come out of the studio with and expect to fly on the strength of their name.
Not like his name holds that much weight anymore anyway.
But yes... being a legend doesn't absolve him from this shit... and I had to get him.
Sorry you didn't like the review.
hahaha...
Actually no, i'm not. But thanks for reading.
Frijoles:
One "jacked-up" video does not mirror a person's whole career. In addition, his name must hold some measure of weight, because you took the time to review it (duh). Also, I am a fan of his work both R&B and rap. Yes, the video was weak (to say the least), but you didn't just "get at him" ...you totally disrespected him "He sounds like he has 3 marbles and 2 dicks in his mouth" I mean ...come on. So he fell off a little :) by the way, I am not OKAY with paying my money for garbage and I didn't, but he's proven his production cababilities long enough and I'll just catch him the next time.
Okay... you said it... This video was horrible.
That's what we're talking about.
My opinion about what his rap sounds like is just that... a wise crack reflecting my opinion.
I'll be waiting for the next time too... just so long as he's not rapping.
Shit, Ken Griffey is a great hitter... but you don't expect him to go out and throw a perfect game.
Okay... apology accepted ;)
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