By Phillip Smith
One rarely thinks of Vegas
when the topic of rap music arises. That
may be changing really soon. Big B, the Las Vegas rapper has released a very solid
album called More to Hate. Each
song seemed to have its own individual imprint, displaying a diversity of styles. The title track “More to Hate” emits that old
school nineties rap essence, and eases the listener in comfortably. “White Trash Life”, the single, could easily
be confused as a Mighty Mighty Bosstones song, with its ska beat, and gravelly
vocals. Being a Bosstones fan myself, I
enjoyed this track immensely. Danny
Diablo offers up assistance with the track, “Put’em Up”, a southern fried
selection which reminded me a bit of Kid Rock.
“Put’em up, get ‘em up, stick ’em up,
what? Your hands motherfucker! Your hands motherfucker!”, the hook, is
still moshing around the diameter of my brain.
Big B really connects with
the common person though songs “Counting Pennies”, “Pass the Jager”, and “Real
as they Come”. “Pass the Jager”,
featuring Dirtball, another ska influenced song, makes an excellent party
anthem.
The catchiest of the tracks
on More to Hate, may just be “Looky Looky”, layering the hook over a
beat that sounded like something the B-52’s could have cooked up. I also favored the track “On the Road”, which mixes one part drinking song, with
stories from the road, with a friendly nod to ICP and the Juggalos.
With the help of the Kottonmouth Kings, Big B has transformed
Men Without Hats’ one hit wonder into something sure to put a grin on Cheech
and Chong’s faces. In “We Can Smoke”,
Big B sings, “We can smoke if we want to…”
to the tune of “The Safety Dance”.
Tech N9ne is featured on the following track, “Million Miles”, a love
ballad about being away from home.
Don’t let the name fool you,
More to Hate will give you more to like.
