Thought I’d try the track by track style on this one….
‘The Entrance’
Straight out the gate, LP starts things off with a bang as he hits the track with an energetic flow over a swift, noisy track.
‘Hot: Sizzling, Scorching, Torching, Blazing’
This sounds like one of the songs that got cut off of First Class – that ‘modern’ style beat with a flow that sounds 99% like ‘Blaze Rhymes’. May also be the most awkwardly titled song since ‘Go Gadget Flow’. Next!
‘Maica Living’ Feat. Killa Sha And Guardian Leep
This is more like it – classic Xtra P material, with Killa Sha delivering as always with his Paypal reference.
‘Pump Ya Fist’ Feat. Mikey D & Lotto
Teaming-up with Mikey is a nice touch considering the whole Fuck What You Think situation. Good shit.
‘Party Time’
The second worst name for a Large Paul song after ‘Have Fun’. Sorta a ‘Just Hangin’ Out 2008′ vibe, only not as good.
‘In The Ghetto’
Large’s vocal technique doesn’t really work here – sounds like he just rolled out of bed. The run-of-the-mill ‘social commentary’ track that everyone did in the nineties.
‘Hardcore Hip-Hop’
Marco Polo kills it on this one, dope hook too. LP shouts out Neek The Exotic but sadly duke doesn’t rap on this. Winner.
‘Frantic Barz’
An electric guitar chop drives this above-average effort.
‘Sewin’ Love’
Uh oh. Grown Man Rap gone wrong. The chorus is particularly painful.
‘Ru Dope’ Feat. Jeru Tha Damaja
Under a minute long, a quick verse from Jeru. The beat’s quality.
‘Dap’ Feat. Lil’ Dap
Another 45 second spot from Melatchi’s main man.
‘Noyd’ Feat. Big Noyd
This is like a new version of ‘Who’s The Man’ or ‘Speak Ya Clout’, except they’re individual tracks. Noyd’s part is the best of the lot though.
‘Classic Emergency’
Standard ‘state of hip-hop’ material from P. Rhymes aren’t really setting the world on fire here.
‘Rockin’ Hip-Hop’
The second song with ‘Hip-Hop’ in the title – not a good sign. ‘Confidence helps you be on a winning team’ insists Xtra P. Oh dear.
‘Large Pro Says’
An attempt to start a new dance craze. It’s no ‘Steve Martin’, that’s for sure.
‘To The Meadows’
Short cool-out shit. Apparently actually buying this on CD will make you ‘hard-body’ if that’s important to you (if not – why not?).
‘The Hardest’ – Feat. Styles P & AZ
This shit is state-of-the-art – I could handle a whole album with this line-up. On the downside, this song makes the some of this record sound pretty weak in comparison.
Verdict: There’s some good material on here but you really need to edit this one down for maximum effect. Far superior to First Class as far as the beats are concerned, but it seems like the first track was the only one where Large really went in on as far as his rhymes. The tracks featuring guests make me want to hear a Large Pro produced compilation.
Large Pro talks about the album:
Xtra P…gettin copped
Gave this a listen yesterday and I agree with most of your comments Robbie. The difference in his vocal performance is kinda weird. Some tracks are the loud Extra P we know and love and some are on this this quiet, don’t wanna wake up my roommate while I’m recording this track type vibe. All the song titles are pretty bad. And then to use them as the hook is just horrible. Gonna give this some more burn this week, but after one listen it’s a pretty uneven release.
Is Hardcore Hip Hop the 12″ for this?
I’ll tell you what, off the strength of the leaked singles, I was excited…hearing “The Entrance” made me think, beyond the fact that I’m “still” giving a listen to anything Extra-P, I’m checking for this. That said, when it ended I was left unfulfilled. I’d second that taking it down to an EP length (didn’t feel like much more anyway) would have been more impressive…instead, I’m stuck with the notion that Large Pro can (no longer) carry a solo project. I’d love a compilation, so long as it’s not over-guested…I’d much prefer a collab project with whatever emcee is up for it.
Not that the album as a whole is a classic, but I think you guys are being a little too critical. This doesn’t leave me yearning for a Large Pro comp, for sure.
Considering that there’s some new cat droppin’ LP’s EVERY DAY, most of which are boring throw-aways, this was a breath of fresh air.
The production on the album (overall) is better than most of the wackness that gets put out there these days. And I thought the fact that Large doesn’t drop F bombs all over the place (which is almost status quo for Hip Hop these days) was refreshing.
Just my opinion, though.
i agree. a compilation would make it.
the album is not wack but not what it
could be.the voice effect on ghetto
reminds me of rakim. and on the dry hooks
keith wouldnt do ‘better’.the hardest is
still outstanding.
I see where your comin from at times but “In the Ghetto” works just fine for me, as does the Roy Ayers feuled “Sewin Love”…at least he didn’t go R&B anywhere so a chick joint is welcome for a change up….overall the LP came pretty damn hard, i mean no one is makin vintage 90 soundin shit like “Pump ya fist” anymore…Xtra P came thru in my eyes….although i hated “Rockin Hip hop”!!!!
To be Blunt about this Large Professor “Main Source” album in few words CrACKWATER!!!
You people are hating and Robbie you need to listen to this album without a blunt or drink in your system.
Rockin Hip Hop is one of the hottest tracks on the album, you need to listen to this album from 1 to 17 and enjoy that real Hip Hop.
You guys that say the album is OK aren’t going to buy this masterpiece, this is why Hip Hop has no soul right now because dudes like Large Professor is bring out that Dopeman to your ears and you stuck on regular weed.
Large Professor “Main Source” Sept 30th, I’m buying 10 copies to support Real Music.
Its Bigger Then Hip Hop!
P shoulda used the og version of Sewin’ Love instead, the beat was much hotter. I kinda agree with the review and only listen to the first half of the record + the Hardest. 1
where is this og version of sewin love??? I need that!
AND WHO ARE YOU? SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA FALL BACK AND LET THE GOD DO WHAT HE DOES (EVEN IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IT). NEVER TRY TO SABOTAGE A MANS FOOD SUPPLY. INSTEAD OF SAYING WHAT YOU DIDN’T LIKE, YOU COULD’VE BUILT ON WHAT YOU DID LIKE AND KEPT IT MOVING. LONG LIVE MY BROTHER THE LARGE PROFESSOR!
Yo for real ! Compared to all the bullshit that been coming out and is about to come out, that LP joint is solid. Definitely copping.
WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU SISKEL & EBERT? GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE WIT THAT BULLSHIT! L TO THE MOTHERFUCKIN’ P FROM 1989 TO 2008 AND BEYOND!!
I’ll still pick this up for the good tracks, but just because Large is a legend doesn’t mean he gets an automatic pass for whatever he puts out.
possibly dopest release this year.
will def dop this.
11355 THATS THAT KISSENA BLVD FLUSHING REP RIGHT THERE. LARGE PROS SHIT IS ILL HE NEEDS TO DROP MORE OF THAT. CUZ OTHA NIGGAS AINT DOIN IT.
i’d still be copping this album even if every review of it i read thought it was shit.
Large Pro gets a pass from me cause he’s a legend.
if I think its shit.. i’ll just hope his next joint is an improvement.
btw – thanks for the review.
Listened to this a lot last week and just reread my above post. I think I was expecting a lot because it was LP. I don’t really agree with giving him a pass for whatever he puts out, but like everyone else posting here, I will cop whatever he does and support dude.
After a bunch of listens I think I understand his vision on this record a bit better – it’s a clean, party record that can be played for anyone. Old heads will feel cool letting their kids listen to it cuz it’s clean and they’ll be turnin em on to some hip hop from the hands and mouth of one of the masters of the art. I can bump it loud at work without looking over my shoulder to see if my boss hears all the cursing coming out of my speakers. Maybe that wasn’t his plan at all, but it does work. Plus, I can’t really hate on a record that has Killa Sha, Lil Dap and Big Noyd on Extra P beats.
decent effort but why is it censored??
I’m def. feein this album… hot!