Re-Living

Another amazing offer from the Large Pro. I can't praise this guy enough. His lyrics and beats bring you back in a state of head-nodding nostalgia, while at the same nothing feels "old or done before," it all feels fresh. I feel like even after all these years he's getting better and better... This album is definitely worth your time. If I had something negative to say, I suppose I could say I DO wish it was longer, but I disagree that it "feels like an EP" as the other reviewer says.

Good old school vibe.. LP

still large

Large is still the man on the beats and mic just gets better with age his sound like no one short & sweet.

When you've been doing hip hop for twenty-five years and you're seen as a icon in the field, you might lose the fighting spirit and the hunger that marked much of your very early career. Large Professor (William Paul Mitchell), who was an incredibly influential emcee and producer with the golden age group Main Source and who helped make their 1991 album Breaking Atoms a classic, is by all accounts still a monument. Post- Breaking Atoms, Large P went on to produce for many of the game's greats, including Akinyele, Cormega and most famously Nas, but at this late stage in the game, after several endearing successes, he doesn't need to prove himself to anyone. From taking in his new album Re: Living, one can hear a man who still has the skill and talent to spit tight rhymes and make dope beats but who might feel deep down that he doesn't have to try very hard anymore. From another perspective however, the album's calm simplicity is the result of Large Pro's confidence in making quality, unshowy rap songs with cool, strong messages.Drawing heavily on the Professor's soul-soothing style from hip hop's early 90s heyday, Re: Living uses some sounds from Extra P's younger days but invigorated with modern original life. "Dreams Don't Die" teaches some of LP's own, personal history lessons with steady streams of his unique inventive lyrics (by necessity), and again in "Opulence" he discusses other random shine- stories and life inspirations from the individual point of view of the Queens, NY native in him. Bridged with the mood-setting "Earn" instrumental, "Off Yo Ass On Yo Feet" tells the sad story of a sorry slob, and "In The Scrolls" featuring Bomb Squad producer G-Wiz praises rap giant Nas from Queensbridge (same Nas as in the above mention). Large Professor does romancing in "Own World," and a popular young lady is his muse in "Sophia Yo." More fresh rhymes are kicked in "New Train Ole Route" and especially in the "Industry Remix 2" starring Wu- Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck, Cormega, Roc Marciano, and Sadat X and Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian. The album ends with the ill yet swanky "NDN" street beat.Large Professor never comes weak, and that statement can still be made even after the initial roar for this album quiets to a tremor. Although unable to compete on the same level as Breaking Atoms, Re: Living reasonably stacks up evenly with any of LP's previous solo outings. Not too much style updating has been done here what with its writer/composer's singular, very special style. At any rate, Re: Living gets high marks for being as solid a project as it is from an artist who is pushing the envelope a little in terms of style, importance and age to a lesser extent.

Loved it...glad to listen real hip hop....

Good solid LP from the Queens veteran.In the scrolls & industry remix pt 2 are stand out cuts.Go buy if your a fan of real authentic hip hop.

Sharp!

Another amazing album by this iconic MC and producer. I could listen to him all day.

Great album

I just wish there were more songs on it. One of my Top 5 Hip Hop Producers of all time.