Album Review : V.A. Monohon Squad

Artist : Various Artists

Album Title : Monohon Squad

Styles : Electric Hip-Hop / Hardcore Hip-Hop

Label : Monohon
Reference Code : PTCQ-1005
Released : 2005/02/23

Running Time : 19:47

REVIEW >>>

Buying compilation albums is always a hard choice, especially when looking for that momentarily fix and satisfaction that you get when purchasing the latest cd's from your local cornerstore. For most of us, the success of any good compilation album is usually resting entirely on whether or not the cd is filled with your favorite bunch of artists that you can trust to deliver the goods no matter what is happening today in the world of music. Monohon Recordings is pretty new to the scene by the industry standards but has since it's opening day worked as the homebase for artists such as Kaminari Kazoku, Gas Crackerz and Maguma MC's to name a few of the label's roster. Now the group of semi-underground rappers from Tokyo lead by Rino Latina and his posse have finally made their way on their first official cd compilation and it's time to put their new material to a test on the infamous culture universal review column.
Monohon and the squad that carry the name have never been the most original crew out there when it comes to innovation in hip-hop music but what they have done in the past is that they have blessed their fans with the above average quality of each release that has been released under their label. When first receiving the copy of Monohon Squad to our office i had mixed feelings when i noticed that the mini album only features 6 tracks that even combined are less than 20 minutes in length. This however of course shows on the price tag (the album costs just a few nickles more than the average single) but it's unusual for a label to try to gain a better foothold in the scene with a mini album with 6 tracks that are all just barely 3 minutes long. It's hard for a listener who's not familiar with monohon to actually get introduced to the whole line-up of the label when they are treated with 30 second verses from each mc. This doesn't mean Monohon Squad fails as an album nor does it mean that it's a huge dissapointment. Production wise as well as the verses are very forgettable though but they are also packed with good amount of energy that saves the album on it's weaker moments when the music goes inside from your left ear and comes out from the another. Alternatively the album can be compared to a pack of bubblegum, put it in your mouth, chew it and spit it out which pretty much works as a good metaphor on how it sounds like the album was made.

Monohon squad clearly has potential and some talent but this release makes it's listener feel like the potential is not getting used to the fullest, mostly thanks to the shorter than average tracks that really do not give space for any mc to just rise on a level that would make you notice them. Rino Latina though comes out correct and features on 4 of the 6 songs on the release and gives the album at least some kind of kick in the ass that might make some people listen the album more than a few times. The release could have been better if Monohon would have spent a little more time in the studio, added few tracks and given a proper chance for each of the artist to introduce themselves to the fans. Existing fans of Monohon's earlier recordings though will no doubt enjoy at least some of what the album has to offer but is unlikely that the posse will gain any new fans through this release. Solid release that unfortunately would have been better with more tracks and a touch of originality. 1 Star for the price tag, another for the energy and half a star for Rino Latina.

Rating :

Words By : Jesse Viinikainen

ADDITIONAL INFO >>>

Monohon is an underground Tokyo based hip-hop label and a home to artist such as Gas Crackerz, Maguma MC's, D.O., Rino Latina, Gama and of course the super group Kaminari Kazoku.

TRACKLIST & SOUND SAMPLES >>>

01. Monohon Squad
02. エネルギー革命 ~Gas Crackerz Remix~
03. More Soul
04. 輪句
 05. Street Fight
06. Break Ground 0

Album Highlights are marked with this symbol

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	Artist : Various Artists Album Title : Monohon Squad Styles : Electric Hip-Hop / Hardcore Hip-Hop Label : Monohon Reference Code : PTCQ-1005 Released : 2005/02/23 Running Time : 19:47
REVIEW >>> Buying compilation albums is always a hard choice, especially when looking for that momentarily fix and satisfaction that you get when purchasing the latest cd's from your local cornerstore. For most of us, the success of any good compilation album is usually resting entirely on whether or not the cd is filled with your favorite bunch of artists that you can trust to deliver the goods no matter what is happening today in the world of music. Monohon Recordings is pretty new to the scene by the industry standards but has since it's opening day worked as the homebase for artists such as Kaminari Kazoku, Gas Crackerz and Maguma MC's to name a few of the label's roster. Now the group of semi-underground rappers from Tokyo lead by Rino Latina and his posse have finally made their way on their first official cd compilation and it's time to put their new material to a test on the infamous culture universal review column. Monohon and the squad that carry the name have never been the most original crew out there when it comes to innovation in hip-hop music but what they have done in the past is that they have blessed their fans with the above average quality of each release that has been released under their label. When first receiving the copy of Monohon Squad to our office i had mixed feelings when i noticed that the mini album only features 6 tracks that even combined are less than 20 minutes in length. This however of course shows on the price tag (the album costs just a few nickles more than the average single) but it's unusual for a label to try to gain a better foothold in the scene with a mini album with 6 tracks that are all just barely 3 minutes long. It's hard for a listener who's not familiar with monohon to actually get introduced to the whole line-up of the label when they are treated with 30 second verses from each mc. This doesn't mean Monohon Squad fails as an album nor does it mean that it's a huge dissapointment. Production wise as well as the verses are very forgettable though but they are also packed with good amount of energy that saves the album on it's weaker moments when the music goes inside from your left ear and comes out from the another. Alternatively the album can be compared to a pack of bubblegum, put it in your mouth, chew it and spit it out which pretty much works as a good metaphor on how it sounds like the album was made. Monohon squad clearly has potential and some talent but this release makes it's listener feel like the potential is not getting used to the fullest, mostly thanks to the shorter than average tracks that really do not give space for any mc to just rise on a level that would make you notice them. Rino Latina though comes out correct and features on 4 of the 6 songs on the release and gives the album at least some kind of kick in the ass that might make some people listen the album more than a few times. The release could have been better if Monohon would have spent a little more time in the studio, added few tracks and given a proper chance for each of the artist to introduce themselves to the fans. Existing fans of Monohon's earlier recordings though will no doubt enjoy at least some of what the album has to offer but is unlikely that the posse will gain any new fans through this release. Solid release that unfortunately would have been better with more tracks and a touch of originality. 1 Star for the price tag, another for the energy and half a star for Rino Latina. Rating : Words By : Jesse Viinikainen
ADDITIONAL INFO >>> Monohon is an underground Tokyo based hip-hop label and a home to artist such as Gas Crackerz, Maguma MC's, D.O., Rino Latina, Gama and of course the super group Kaminari Kazoku.
TRACKLIST & SOUND SAMPLES >>> 01. Monohon Squad 02. エネルギー革命 ~Gas Crackerz Remix~ 03. More Soul 04. 輪句 05. Street Fight 06. Break Ground 0 Album Highlights are marked with this symbol