[Album Review] Price Paul & DJ P. Forreal – “Negroes On Ice” – ### Review

By: Matt Wright

Prince Paul has been keeping it light for longer than most wannabe thugs have been keeping it real in the game.  From his work with De La Soul, to later conceptual records including the two Handsome Boy Modelling School releases, he’s been able to maintain quality with the music while incorporating humor that goes beyond farting in the booth.  He’s also been one of hip-hop’s gems when it comes to producing cinematic, conceptual albums.  A Prince Among Thieves, Psychoanalysis, and the aforementioned Handsome Boy Modelling School releases have been albums that are better listened to in their entirety, rather than seeking out a couple of singles. 

On his newest forage into the world of conceptual releases, his son, DJ P. Forreal, joins the festivities for Negroes On Ice.  The title instantly evokes the skit, Hitler on Ice from Mel Brooks’ History of the World, Part I.  Whether this was one of the comedies that has inspired Paul over the years is unknown, but one would have to assume so.  Similar theme aside, the album finds his son spinning a tale full of lies that continues to grow with each sketch.  DJ P. Forreal shows he is a master of hyperbole, generating retarded random lists of things when telling tales.  The name of the game is building lies just for the sake of lying, and the further he gets into it the closer he gets to the thin ice.  During all of his stories there are a number of great sound effects representing whatever actions are taking place (throwing waffles, punching his supposed lady in her funbox, breaking things, etc.)  Ample laughs await on each of the skits, whether he is talking about seeing Akon in tangerine colored pants that had an excessive amount of pockets on them; or asking the $500 question: “What would Sam Cassell do about now?” 

We’ve got the storyline taken care of, but the main reason to listen to any album that markets itself as hip-hop is the music.  How the music comes across is a different story altogether.  As any good conceptual album should, the songs continue the storyline that the skits introduce, and this is where a few outside guests enter the picture.  It’s always pleasant to hear Breeze Brewin on a track, so getting him to spit on three is just about as good as a Juggaknots fan can get these days.  Luckily for both he and Prince Paul, they continue their musical relationship into another decade.  T. Harris is the other lyrical guest that finds himself on multiple tracks (five).  For the most part, however, P. Forreal carries the brunt of the lyrical duty on the record.  He’s not going to wind up on anyone’s list of top lyricists, and while his voice is better than most of the mainstream garbage nowadays, it still doesn’t make him a great rapper. 

That being said, the album again is a testament to the double-edged sword that are concept albums.  If you throw this on, there will probably be a lot of laughs on the first full listen.  However, with each subsequent play, the laughs will decrease as will the replay factor of the album.  There aren’t a lot of lyrical guests that fans of certain artists are going to want to cop the album to hear, which was the case on A Prince Amongst Thieves and the Handsome Boy projects.  There really aren’t songs that would be good listens in isolation either.  That being said, it would do no harm to bump this and see where the mind of Prince Paul’s son is.  As they say, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, which means there is, at least, some hope for hip-hop’s future generation. 

The album includes an instrumental download of the whole project, so there is that bonus to entice folks who may not get too much into the concept after a while.  And who doesn’t like listening to Prince Paul’s beats?    

Rating: ### out of #####

Negroes on Ice Tracklist
1. Disclaimer For Ignorance
2. This Is What Happend
3. Wake Up (LOAYBM)
4. Mad Black
5. Steppin’ (feat. Breeze Brewin)
6. The Nza
7. Paid It No Mind (feat. Newkirk)
8. The Cornbread Chase
9. Pixel Hero (feat. Soce The Elemental Wizard)
10. I Don’t Discriminate
11. Textual Healing
12. Hey Negro Boy Slow Down
13. Craigslist (feat. T. Harris)
14. Live From Lebron
15. My Favorite Sport
16. Thug Boat
17. I’m A G
18. Fake Maxwell
19. Auto, Dos, Tres
20. I Love Seal
21. World Cup (feat. Young Mel / Breeze Brewin / T. Harris)
22. Phil Jackson
23. Snitch (feat. Breeze Brewin / T. Harris)
24. Triborough Power Walk
25. Cheesecake Factory (feat. T. Harris)
26. Big Bank Hank
27. Dude You Left My Car Running (feat. T. Harris)
28. Buddah Finga