Kurupt CD Review
February 2010

Label: Death Row Records
Kurupt
Down and Dirty

http://www.myspace.com/deathrowrecords

By: Alex Young


Kurupt is a rapper that earned his bones in the early days of Death Row Records, after he made his debut on Dr. Dre's 1992 landmark album "The Chronic" alongside hip-hop veteran Snoop Dogg. Despite that he was born in Philadelphia, Kurupt honed his skills and cut his teeth in the West Coast rap scene and signed with Death Row Records during its inception in the early 90's. On top of that, he has appeared on other classic hip-hop records including 2pac's "All Eyez On Me" and Snoop Dogg's breakthrough album "Doggystyle".

In terms of his own career, Kurupt has released four solo albums, and is a founding member of the seminal hip-hop group Dogg Pound with fellow Death Row alumni Daz Dillinger. "Down and Dirty" is Kurupt's latest album showcasing his sly and sleazy word play over a batch of new beats that will have fans bumping and grinding until the sun comes up.

"Speak On It" has Kurupt putting the 90's behind him by revealing his stance on hip-hop politics of the past and present while entertaining the notion that he's going to smash modern rappers with his old school attitude. "Can U Feel It" is a serious throw back to the signature club sound that made Kurupt the MC the world knows today, with his smooth rhymes thrown down over slick dance beats and soulful back-up vocals. On the bitter track "Jealousy", Kurupt seeks revenge on anyone who says he's living in the past by proving he's moving forward. The cunning track features a cold-blooded melody while Kurupt spits lines like, "People sayin' they don't like me no mo'/I lost my flow/they like me better/when I'm stranded on Death Row", with a vengeance.

All in all, "Down and Dirty" sounds like Kurupt's return to the signature style that made him famous in the first place – back to sounding like a Rottweiler someone let off his leash.