Pluto
Players Like Us Takin' Over (1995)
Dolla Bill Recordz
G-Funk
How
could an album with that sort of cover be bad? I mean a car flying
through space with three gangstas in it? It lives up to its cover
though, don't worry. While there isn't too much creativity in lyrical
topics (women, drugs, how great and funky they are, and one RIP
track), it doesn't matter as it's 9 tracks long with a screwed
version of the top song at the end. Pluto is a group of three rappers
from Texas. One sounds like Geto Boys crossed with G-Funk, one sounds
like a dirty south rapper, and the other, my favorite, sounds like a
true G-Funk rapper, with a confident flow and creative lyrics (I'll
refer to these MC's as the first second and third respectively from
now on). Perhaps one of them is also the male singer in almost every
song. The best way to describe the production is seamless. There are
no real flaws, and most of the tracks excel with creativity and
funkiness.
01)
Nobody Phonkin Betta --- Production- G-Funk, Southern style. The
female vocalist melds perfectly with the beat, and the production is
so seamless there's no distinct break between the hook and the verse.
/// Lyrics- Pluto sounds like a complete cross between the West and
the South. They've got the drawl of UGK with the G-Funk triplet flow
of Snoop and the gangster MC of Geto Boys.
02)
I Getz HYA --- Production- Some of the best I've heard. Again it's
seamless, and on par with Dre's G-Funk production. /// Lyrics- I love
the hook on this, a male singer with Pluto muttering in the
background. The third MC just has that up-front style like most of
the G-Funk artists, no time for complexity. He has the first verse,
followed by the second MC. They then do a back and forth in the third
verse, trading every other line (the first MC doesn't seem to be on
this track). Their flows and voices contrast nicely back and forth.
Undaground Madness is listed on this track, presumably as the singer.
03)
We Gon Ride --- Production- That high electric guitar lead though.
/// Lyrics- The intro and hook are a bit wack, but they grow on you.
The singing is reminiscent of Islamic prayer calls (quarter steps and
descending notes). The first verse was the best so far on this album.
The second verse, presumably Jiggheadz, is decent, but not on par
with the other two. He doesn't sound as confident and his flow isn't
as smooth. The third verse is from the second MC, and he definitely
holds his weight on this one
04)
Plutonian Ballers --- Production- The piano is really well used in
this. That's the impressive part, these tracks are all extremely well
produced for G-Funk, but also variable, utilizing many
instruments/leads. /// Lyrics- The first part of the hook sounds
somewhat like the voice effects used in Parliament tracks, and has
the same rhyming comedy (“I feel it's our duty/ To make you shake
your booty”). The second part of the hook uses the middle-east
musicality again. Pluto's rapping about women, in a very comedic
manner (“Well what do you know, if she'd pregnant she can't get
pregnant again”), classic G-Funk style (see Snoop Doggy Dogg Lodi
Dodi).
05)
Smooth As A Dope Jam --- Production- Nothing special, but still
great. /// Lyrics- Taz has got your Dope Jam. I'm guessing Taz is the
other rapper on this track. This is truly a dope jam, Taz runs all
over the beat, and Pluto keeps doing their thing
06)
Playa's Phonk --- Production- More typical G-Funk, one of the weaker
tracks production-wise. /// Lyrics- Pluto talks about their
phonkiness, pimping hoes, and how much he loves funk. The third MC
really does have lyrical flow, it's not just his delivery when he
drops lines like “From the superb words I serve”.
07)
Love 4 Da O.G.'s --- Production- Damn, the female vocalist is a great
singer, perfect for G-funk. I love the funky bass on this one. I'm a
sucker for dark remembrance raps, and this really hits the spot. ///
Lyrics- This is a R.I.P. track, and the atmosphere is perfect. It
sounds entirely different from all of the other tracks, downbeat and
melancholy. The rappers' flows have changed subtly and the beat has
too to match. Undaground Madness makes another appearance, and on
this track it really clicks. Check out the closing line: “I gotta
keep pushing till my time comes around/ When death knocks on my back
door and asks me to lay it down”
08)
Nickel Bag Blo' --- Production- Sleigh bells, and this is Christmas.
/// Lyrics- The hook is among the best, with the male singer singing
while one of the members sing-raps a chorus in a monotone. The second
verse is from my the third MC. He's the most excessive rapper
voice-wise, which is perfect for the G-Funk beats. They even use some
Jamaica-style rapping on this track, perhaps one of their members
mimicking the accent or perhaps a feature.
09)
P.O.O.F (Planet Of Original Phonk) --- Production- Decent. ///
Lyrics- The intro sounds like DJ Eazy Dick off Doggy style. Not a
great track to finish off the album, but oh well.
10)
Nickel Bag Blo' (Screwed Version) --- Production- I've never been a
huge fan of chopping or screwing. I think the original version is a
good bit better. /// Lyrics- see track 8.
9/10
Favorite
Tracks: Plutonian
Ballers, Love 4 Da O.G.'s, Nickel Bag Blo'
