Brother From Another (2005)

Product Summary UPC: 00602498808627 Release Date: 5/24/2005 Buy.com Sku: 63979708 Item#: M2CU9Q Buy.com Sales Rank: 25079 Format:  CD Song Listing Disc 1 Song Title Sample 1. Knock Is There, The ~ Young Gunz 2. Set It Off ~ Young Gunz 3. Don't Keep Me Waiting (Come Back Soon) - (with 112) ~ Young Gunz 4. Tonight - (with Daz) ~ Young Gunz 5. Don't Stop (YG Party) ~ Young Gunz 6. Same Sh** Different Day ~ Young Gunz 7. Grown Man Pt. 2 - (with Kanye West/John Legend) ~ Young Gunz 8. Beef ~ Young Gunz 9. It's The Life - (with Pooda Brown) ~ Young Gunz 10. Way It Goes, The - (with Pooda Brown) ~ Young Gunz 11. What We Gotta Do ~ Young Gunz 12. We Still Here - (with Memphis Bleek) ~ Young Gunz (P) 2005 Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC (C) 2005 Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC   Album Notes and Credits Notes & Personnel Info Young Guns/Young Gunz: Chris, Neef (rap vocals). Additional personnel: Daz, 112, John Legend, Kanye West, Memphis Bleek, Pooda Brown. Audio Mixers: Manny Marroquin; Doug Wilson; Gimel Keaton. Recording information: Baseline Studios II, New York, NY; Home Base Studios, Philadelphia, PA; Monza Studios, New York, NY; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY. Photographer: Christian Lantry. Brothers From Another, the second Young Gunz album, often feels like it's as much of a mixtape as Get in Where You Fit In, an actual mixtape released by Young Chris and Neef during the tail end of 2004. Production-wise, it's all over the place, so it's rarely boring, if occasionally aimless. In the wake of Tough Luv's softer moments, such as the major hit "No Better Love," it's obvious that the duo want to come off harder, perhaps wanting to avoid Cassidy syndrome. (For some longtime rap fans, Tough Luv might've also sparked flashbacks of 2nd II None and Nice & Smooth, two other duos with sounds as smooth as their images.) The more serious and even sobering tracks, often packing aggression and a little menace, stand out most; "Beef," "It's the Life," and "We Still Here" show how Young Gunz have grown in a short amount of time. And all three come during the latter half of the album, the point where Tough Luv lagged and lacked. On these tracks, they sound convincingly hungry and desperate, not afraid to break a sweat. The first half also has its moments. "Set It Off" -- adrenalized deep throbs and handclaps delivered by Swizz Beatz -- and "Same Shit Different Day" -- disorienting deep throbs and handclaps delivered by Chad Hamilton -- are two of the album's best productions, though a few others deserve mention. Just to make sure the fans gained by "No Better Love" won't be lost, a dash of softer songs round out the bangers. "Grown Man, Pt. 2," featuring Kanye West and John Legend, is in the expected soul-dipped territory; on the other side, "Don't Keep Me Waiting" and "The Way It Goes" are two slightly jarring shots at exhuming the trebly side of mid-'80s R&B. Expect Young Gunz to command a greater amount of respect. They're no longer a singles group. ~ Andy Kellman In the album photos for BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER, the Philadelphia hip-hop duo Young Gunz poses in tracksuits and brimmed hats, a none-too-subtle nod to Run-DMC. The gesture is more than just superficial, as Chris and Neef's second record expertly combines a fun-loving old-school vibe with a more modern, grimy attitude. The 2005 album follows hard on the heels of their 2004 debut, TOUGH LUV, but there's not a hint of a rush, as Young Gunz display a blithe spirit, easing their way through a strong sophomore effort. The twosome establishes the tone on the anthemic "Set It Off," which takes a spare '80s-style bass beat and imbues it with a super-catchy chorus out of the Dirty South. That track fades into the throwback pop-funk of "Don't Keep Me Waiting (Come Back Soon)," featuring playful rhymes, a Luther Vandross sample, and a soulful hook provided by 112. "Don't Stop (YG Party)" oddly boasts that Young Gunz are not "your average '80s babies" between early-rap-era toasts over a haunting backdrop, while "Grown Man Pt. 2" is a typical Kanye West production in that it stands completely outside of time. Chris and Neef show off a more hardcore side on the second half of the record, but melody still prevails on BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER. Brothers From Another, the second Young Gunz album, often feels like it's as much of a mixtape as Get in Where You Fit In, an actual mixtape released by Young Chris and Neef during the tail end of 2004. Production-wise, it's all over the place, so it's rarely boring, if occasionally aimless. In the wake of Tough Luv's softer moments, such as the major hit "No Better Love," it's obvious that the duo want to come off harder, perhaps wanting to avoid Cassidy syndrome. (For some longtime rap fans, Tough Luv might've also sparked flashbacks of 2nd II None and Nice & Smooth, two other duos with sounds as smooth as their images.) The more serious and even sobering tracks, often packing aggression and a little menace, stand out most; "Beef," "It's the Life," and "We Still Here" show how Young Gunz have grown in a short amount of time. And all three come during the latter half of the album, the point where Tough Luv lagged and lacked. On these tracks, they sound convincingly hungry and desperate, not afraid to break a sweat. The first half also has its moments. "Set It Off" -- adrenalized deep throbs and handclaps delivered by Swizz Beatz -- and "Same Shit Different Day" -- disorienting deep throbs and handclaps delivered by Chad Hamilton -- are two of the album's best productions, though a few others deserve mention. Just to make sure the fans gained by "No Better Love" won't be lost, a dash of softer songs round out the bangers. "Grown Man, Pt. 2," featuring Kanye West and John Legend, is in the expected soul-dipped territory; on the other side, "Don't Keep Me Waiting" and "The Way It Goes" are two slightly jarring shots at exhuming the trebly side of mid-'80s R&B. Expect Young Gunz to command a greater amount of respect. They're no longer a singles group. [The album was also made available in a clean version.] ~ Andy Kellman Producer: Swizz Beatz; Chad Wes Hamilton; Kanye West; Ryan Press; Bangladesh; Swizz Beatz; Chad Wes Hamilton; Kanye West; Boola Engineer: Chad Wes Hamilton; Gimel Keaton; Shane Woodley Musical Guests John Legend Kanye West 112 Daz Memphis Bleek   Compilation Appearances Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse (Explicit Version) Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse (Clean Version) Southern Fried Soul: Locals Only   Technical Info Release Date : 05/24/2005 Original Release Date : 2005 Catalog ID : 000442002 Label : Roc-A-Fella Records (USA) Number of Discs : 1 Studio/Live : Studio Mono/Stereo : Stereo SPAR Code : n/a UPC : 00602498808627   Professional Reviews Vibe (p.140) - 3 discs out of 5 - "[T]heir complementary flow results in radio-friendly adrenaline rushes like 'The Knock Is There' and 'Set It Off'..."