MOST WANTED 1999
Featuring: Amon, Juanita, Trapminds and Ebony Impact.

In March this year Most Wanted held 4 trial rounds at different stages throughout Amsterdam. Out of all shows 4 winners were selected and given the opportunity to go into the studio and record one track. The results of that can be heard on the CD-single Most Wanted 1999, brought out on Rhythm Import/Skillz Records.

First track on the CD is 'Funk Tha Rama' by 'Amon'.
Amon is a crew of four heads: the rappers Scorpio, Phantom, Killa VII and Cable. ART 12 saw them performing for Most Wanted in Ganzenhoef, Amsterdan Southeast.
The studio recording of 'Funk Tha Rama' is not much different from their live performance: very streetwise. The intro is short but effective, the beat's just alright and some words at the end of the lines are accented with a raw ruffneck reggae voice. The track also ends with easy accesible reggae. The lyrics are based on the violent street life many rappers talk about: no fear, smoking big blunts (20 a day!), guntalk, the crew and the niggas that bring the Funk tha Rama!

Number two on the CD is 'I Like Your Style' by 'Juanita', a honeydripping R&B track. Yes, Miss Juanita puts it down like it is: you can't make R&B smoother than this. She places the high key notes unexpectedly pure with a voice that sounds like it has been trained. For R&B lovers this is a most decent sounding track. Juanita can consider herself happy with her producer Pappa Howie from 2Pappaz Entertainment, who can be heard on this track as well, as the Smooth Daddy whispering in the background.

Third in line is the crew called 'Trapminds' with 'Party Time'. A track with a touch of Westcoast stylee to it. The rappers Diekey & Devine rap very fanatically and repeat a lot of words in the lyrics, which gives it a diesel effect: it's pumping. The beat is nice, but terribly disturbed by a badly ajusted piano loop (too loud compared with beat and voices). The track's got a syntheziser loop that makes you smilingly reminisce the late 80's sound of Hip Hop.
Probably Drake & Cuban from Cuban And Tha Dragon Music Productions couldn't help it, but the overall sound of the track is unfortunately like there's "dust on the needle" compared to the other tracks.

Last track on the CD is 'All That Money' by 'Ebony Impact'. Art 12 also spotted these guys doing their thing in the trial rounds. Their live performance was most entertaining by their fanatic way of rapping, singing and of course because of the two dancing cuties homeboys brought along. It was already clear at this show that rappers Ebony and Impact were more R&B/commercial rap-oriented than the other acts that night.
The studio version of 'All That Money' shows this is true: a professional studio sound, a wellknown tune of an 80's pop hitsong ('Just Got Paid, it's Friday night' by Johnny Kemp) and rap succeeded by the chorus of the song just mentioned. Why?! Why?! Why?! Most Wanted is of course a talent competition for HipHop and R&B, so an act like Ebony Impact fits in that concept perfectly. If the more dogmatic rap audience is gonna dig this, will be the question.

Most Wanted 1999 gives you some young talent representing the contemporary, young part of the HipHopscene of Amsterdam. Because of the rappers' age and experience the flow and pronounciation of the lyrics can still be shaped up to higher levels if these artists keep on doing what they're doing.

My last comment, and I got to spit it out, is about the photos on the 2 flyers Stichting Grap had made, or gave their approvement of, for the Most Wanted 1999 series. The first flyer showed a girl's ass in a G-string sitting on a matrass, and I frowned. Remember "Commiting straight pimp tactics/none of y'all can match this/Being a freak in a week/workplace a matrass" - Ice T's 'Pimp Anthem'.

The photo used for the second flyer (and CD cover) takes away your appetite at once. A leg spreading- envelope titties no bra in a lowhanging tanktop- bad hairweave- but most of all wrong sunglasses wearing- girl who's holding up her rags so you can see the Most Wanted logo projected on her white pantied pussy area.
First of all: This is definately a lack of class.
And Second of all: What the fuck does it have to do with promoting young talent?!

Mickey