Manifest Destiny

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
In 1994, Mos Def along with his younger brother DCQ and his younger sister Ces, formed the group Urban Thermo Dynamics. UTD first graced the scene with the underground classic track "My Kung Fu". They soon thereafter followed up with the now classic "Manifest Destiny" single which gave them notoriety among the wider hip-hop masses. Though the group was signed to Payday Records (former home of The Group Home and WC and the Mad Circle), the group's album was never released due to label politics. Soon after the group was released from Payday, Mos Def and DCQ formed Medina Green and released the Rawkus Records underground mega-hit "Crosstown Beef." Later, Mos Def recorded with Talib Kweli as Black Star which took his underground notoriety to soaring highs. Mos Def hit gold with his debut solo album, Black on Both Sides. Now available for the first time ever is the UTD Manifest Destiny album via Illson Media. This hip-hop classic is filled with dark and melodic bass! heavy production from Diamond D. and Showbiz. This album is a must have for all fans of early 90's Hip-Hop.

Manifest Destiny,UTD,Illson Media,Alternative Rap,Hardcore Rap,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop


Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Below-average release from one of America's best bands (2.5 stars)
  • Purchase This Over The Import, But......
  • You call this a sellout?
  • I am a handsome man
  • Destiny Rules
Manifest Destiny
The Dictators
Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Proto PunkProto Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
PunkPunk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
American PunkAmerican Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Hard RockHard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!
  2. Bloodbrothers
  3. D.F.F.D.
  4. Viva Dictators
  5. New York, New York

ASIN: B0002VK65G
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

  1. Exposed
  2. Heartache
  3. Sleepin' With The T.V. On
  4. Disease
  5. Hey Boys
  6. Steppin' Out
  7. Science Gone Too Far
  8. Young Fast Scientific
  9. Search & Destroy

Album Description

Manifest Destiny, The Dictators second release, is considered by many to be their best. It is the only one of their albums to make the Billboard charts, circa 1977. The group is lead by singer "Hansome" Dick Manitoba.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Below-average release from one of America's best bands (2.5 stars).......2005-07-25

The Dictators are incredible. Few bands can alternativly spoof and embrace the rock 'n' roll ideals as these guys have, and their Spinal-Tap-meets-Ramones-mees-Beach-Boys style almost always works - almost. "Manifest Destiny" is a dissapointing release from the 'Tators. I mean its not a bad album, but the guys can do much better than this. There are a few good songs. "Disease" is hilarious, particulary the spoken word act from Handsome Dick at the begining. "Science Gone Too Far" is one of the band's catchiest tunes, proving they were as good as any of the big names from the 60s. Their closing cover of the Stooges' "Search & Destroy" is an okay interperatation of the classic. However, that's about it. The rest are mostly humorless FM-style rockers, and while the Dictators weren't selling out, they were certainly trying to become more accesible. Download those three tunes, and pick up every other album by the band.

5 out of 5 stars Purchase This Over The Import, But.............2005-04-10

No sell-out here. Just flat out, in your face, New York City you talkin' to me, rock. Yes there are a few mellower tunes on this album, but when Ross The Boss let's his Les Paul rip, mellow goes right out the window. Plus, the Dictators mellower songs still are tinged with the melodies and lyrics that made the first album such a masterpiece. I'd like to use the term "more mature" than sellout. Plus, how anyone can call The Dictators version of "Search & Destroy" a sell-out is beyond me. I think the version recorded on this album even made Iggy put on some bandaids & button his fly. The only problem I have here is the sound. While the Wounded Bird release is a millions times better than the dreadfully brutal import version (see me review), it still lacks the sonic depth & punch this album deserves. Wounded Bird is not known for the sound quality of their reissues and it shows here. The highs are a little harsh, the bass a bit muddy, and you still get the feeling a high bias cassette tape was used for the mastering. I'm still waiting for the definitive remastered version of this album to be released. After typing this, I'm off to the Rhino Handmade website to suggest they work their magic on a box set of the first three Dictators albums. Now there's a box set any Dictators fan (or band member!) might drop a Ben Franklin for. Until then, if you are a Dictators fan, and you must be if you've made it this far, add this cd to cart ASAP. It is the best sounding cd release of this album available....for now.

4 out of 5 stars You call this a sellout?.......2005-01-09

This is it, the Dictators' infamous sellout album. This album is so different from their previous album, the classic "Go Girl Crazy", that you would swear it's a completely different band (actually, they just added one new member, got a new drummer and shuffled roles a bit). But if it's a sellout, every band should wish they could sell out this well. The reason it's considered a sellout is that after the dismal sales of GGC, songwriter Adny Shernoff decided that the Dictator's brand of rock'n'roll humor was too sophisticated for the average dumb heavy metal fan (which is true), so he proceeded to write an album of great songs with intentionally trite lyrics. Note the "intentionally" -- most bands who write trite lyrics (such as Loverboy and Foreigner from that era) write them because they can't do any better. That couldn't be further from the truth here -- Adny was (and is) an amazingly clever lyricist. So what do you get? "Exposed" is a great pop song that reminds me of the Outfield (who came along much later). "Heartache" is a terrific power ballad. "Disease" is a fantastic dark heavy metal song with a large dose of the Dics brand of humor. And on it goes. About the only song I don't like is the cover of the Stooges' "Search and Destroy" -- not that it's bad, but when the original is perfect, there is nowhere to go but down.

After this album, the band realized that pandering to the masses wasn't the way to go, so they regrouped and came back with the terrific album "Bloodbrothers", and, after a mere 25-odd years, the brilliant follow-up "DFFD" (where Adny inexplicably changed his name to "Andy" -- geez, the things some people will do to get attention). But this album is not just for completists; it stands on its own. I hope the Dics will re-introduce some of these songs back into their live gigs -- there's lots to fun to be had here.

2 out of 5 stars I am a handsome man.......2004-10-12

I am not a recent fan of this band but what really blew me away was the the action of the band head, Handsome Richard Manitoba.
Why does a rock star think they own the world when they gain a modicum of star status? i am referring the legal action by the handsome man to force electronic artist, Dan Snatih to drop his recording name Mantitoba, despite the fact the handsome man never recorded any solo material.
Perhaps just another example of the record label owning the band. How punk is that!
Perhaps the handsome man should have changed his name to The Big D!

4 out of 5 stars Destiny Rules.......2004-09-30

Producers Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman saw the nascent Blue Oyster Cult sound in the Dictators' voice and made "Manifest Destiny" parallel the early BOC discs. Thick, sludgy guitars, vocals back in the mix and heavy on the reverb. As a result, I really can't give this 5 stars due to the muddy production, but at the same time, this was the album that made me a Dictators fan for life! Why the Dic's haven't been put on the pantheon they deserve is beyond me, but with songs like "Science Gone Too Far" and their blistering cover of The Stooges' "Search And Destroy," they proved they could blast as well as their CBGB contemporaries of the period. And they were not without a sense of humor; just check out the opening lines of "Hey Boys" or Handsome Dick's monologue on "Disease." "Manifest Destiny" is a brilliant artifact of an era in American Music, and it's finally available at domestic prices. They followed it up with their masterpiece, "Bloodbrothers," and Sony has been kind enough to leave "Go Girl Crazy!" in print. My advice is get 'em all now and that includes the recent "DFFD" because it still smokes the competition.
Manifest Destiny
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Still the Best!!
  • John Shreds
  • Good Fusion and Flashy Guitar
  • Brand X "gits funky"
  • Inspired, Brand X burns it up again!
Manifest Destiny
Brand X
Manufacturer: Cleopatra
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jazz FusionJazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive RockProgressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ProgressiveProgressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Xcommunication
  2. Do They Hurt?
  3. Timeline
  4. Livestock
  5. Unorthodox Behaviour

ASIN: B000001JWN
Release Date: 1997-04-15

Tracks:

  1. True To The Clik
  2. Stellerator
  3. Virus
  4. XXL
  5. The Worst Man
  6. Manifest Destiny
  7. Five Drops
  8. Drum Ddu
  9. Operation Hearts And Minds
  10. Mr. Goes To Hollywood

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Still the Best!!.......2000-10-31

This CD confirms that Brand X continues to be one of the greatest fusion bands ever! Of their prior releases, some are better than others like Unorthodox Behaviour and Morroccan Roll, but none totally disappoint. I was lucky enough to see them live during the early years but had not kept up with the recent CD's until I bought this one. Since buying this disc about a week ago, I've probably played it 10 times! The first three tunes are some of the best Brand X has ever written. These guys put it together so well, I thought the paint was going to melt off the walls!! The other tunes range from good to very good and the more I here them the more I like them as well. As another reviewer stated, you will not be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars John Shreds.......2000-03-15

The pleasure inherent in listening to John set a fire to his acoustic guitar in "Five Drops" is enough to recommend the album in and of itself however that isn't all the Brand X boys are offering on this album. Their typical tirade of tightly fused jazz and well orchestrated tracks combine with Goodsalls' mercurial guitar style to create the ultimate, and always progressive, jazz fusion style that is expressed in all of Brand Xs' work.

3 out of 5 stars Good Fusion and Flashy Guitar.......1999-10-27

This is a good fusion album, with lots of simple back-beat drumming, great bass work and scorching single-note runs from guitarist John Goodsall. There is a bit of repetition on many of the cuts, but as a whole I enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed the first four tracks, the seventh one and I loved the ninth one, "Operation Hearts and Minds", which is worth the admission alone.

4 out of 5 stars Brand X "gits funky".......1999-09-29

They've done this in the past, back in the days of "Masque" and "Do They Hurt", when where they'll do one or two numbers with a "steppin' out" rhythm (examples: AWB's "Pick Up the Pieces" and Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done For Me Lately"), but fully half of this album has that same quarter note-driven rhythm. It's an interesting mix--that sort of beat behind guitarist Goodsall's crisp tonalities. The track "Virus" at nearly eight minutes is the longest one they've done in at least fifteen years. This album isn't as minimalist as its predecessor "Xcommunication", which was based almost entirely on guitar, bass and drums--they use a session keyboarist occasionally, along with some new MIDI-powered synth and sampler tonalities done by Goodsall (why let Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew hog all the fun?). Oh yeah, there are two bonus tracks here not listed here (or even on a guess-what sticker on the shrinkwrap) which bump the total album time up to 12 tracks and over an hour running time--live versions of one classic from the original period and a drum solo. They sound to me like recent performances rather than archive stuff--the crowd noises sound like club instead of arena. So apparently they're touring again--is there a "Livestock II" in their future?

5 out of 5 stars Inspired, Brand X burns it up again!.......1999-08-23

Don't listen to the first review. This is an incredible album, Brand X's best offering since Masques. The old melodic content and structure are back, with a 90's burn that shows the greatest fusion band ever hasn't stopped growing. You will not be disappointed.
Manifest Destiny
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • solid...
  • Scorching beats and rhymes
  • NOT A CLASSIC BUT A MUST HAVE
Manifest Destiny
UTD
Manufacturer: Illson Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Gangsta & HardcoreGangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Experimental RapExperimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Pop RapPop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. U Know the Flex Mix Tape, Vol. 1
  2. Funky Fresh in the Flesh & More Mix Tape, Vol. 2
  3. True Magic
  4. Makin' Moves
  5. Like It Should Be

ASIN: B0002VEPAI
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Tracks:

  1. Worldwide
  2. Manifest Destiny
  3. Hardcore Nights
  4. Victory
  5. Luv It Liv It
  6. You Can Run
  7. Moon In Cancer
  8. Do It
  9. My Kung Fu
  10. Flight To Puerto Rico
  11. Front Line
  12. Like That
  13. My Kung Fu (Remix)
  14. Manifest Destiny (Remix)

Product Description

1. Worldwide
2. Manifest Destiny
3. Hardcore Nights
4. Victory
5. Luv It Liv It
6. You Can Run
7. Moon In Cancer
8. Do It
9. My Kung Fu
10. Flight To Puerto Rico
11. Front Line
12. Like That
13. My Kung Fu (Remix)
14. Manifest Destiny (Remix)

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars solid..........2005-09-18

recorded in possibly hip hop's finest year so far (1994), this album was put on ice for a decade.

"moon in cancer" and the title track both use beats that were also used on intro skits on showbiz and AG's first album, and the rest are in a similar style: minimal but extremely raw. The 3 mc's (one of which is mos def before he got more well known, the other two his brother asnd sister) are up-front on the mic, and not afraid to rap as loud as they can most of the time. The best track here for me is "You Can Run", with the most head-nodding beat on the album, and a nice breakdown where they sing the hook to sly stone's "Runnin" before the last verse. On this CD you also get a remix of My Kung Fu (also a great track) and what I believe is a J-Swift remix (uncredited in the inlay but Im pretty sure it's him) of the title track with some really slick drums on it. All in all good value and recommended for any hip hop fan.

5 out of 5 stars Scorching beats and rhymes.......2005-02-08

This album is blazin' hot people. Mos Def comes to the scene with Urban Thermo Dynamics which is composed of Mos, Ces, and DCQ. If you're a fan of mos def's true hip-hop efforts, then you will love this album.

4 out of 5 stars NOT A CLASSIC BUT A MUST HAVE.......2004-11-04

I AM SAYING IN LOVER OF HIP HOP, AND WHEN I SAY HIP HOP I MEAN THAT OLD SCHOOL STUFF LIKE TRIBE CALLED QUEST, DE LA SOUL AND EVEN LEADEARS OF THE NEW SCHOOL WELL LIKE LIKE THIS ALBUM IT REALLY HAS THAT 94 SOUND TO IT, BUT IT'S RAW, SO ANY OLD SCHOOL HEADS THAT CAN APPERCIATE THAT 94 ERA HIP HOP WILL LIKE IT, IT'S A MUST HAVE.
Manifest Destiny
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Pogo Dance, Belch and Puke to the Sounds of the Numbskulls
Manifest Destiny

Manufacturer: Average Day
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000BKCFDO

Product Description

13 tracks: 1 I'm Not Special 2 Defeatist 3 I Give Up 4 Dead People 5 How Can You Win 6 I Hope She Finds It 7 What Am I Doing Here 8 Disaster 9 Party Crasher 10 It'll Be Alright 11 Live Fast 12 Enemies 13 1984

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Pogo Dance, Belch and Puke to the Sounds of the Numbskulls.......2006-08-03

Great Numbskulls compilation - buy it and dance to the caffeine laden madness that makes the numbskulls semi-infamous.
Featuring: Divided Mindz, Manifest DeStiny, R.T.K., & More
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Featuring: Divided Mindz, Manifest DeStiny, R.T.K., & More
    The Alliance
    Manufacturer: Hazordous Recordz
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B0007U7OZW
    Release Date: 2002-01-08

    Tracks:

    1. Intro
    2. Alliance
    3. We Ain't Slipping
    4. Code of the Knights
    5. We Don't Love You
    6. 52 Pick Up
    7. Hazordous Five
    8. Outro
    Hunger Pains
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Hunger Pains

      Manufacturer: Triple Deuce Entertainment
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B000CAENGU
      Release Date: 2003-12-09

      Tracks:

      1. The Explanation
      2. Starvin Artist
      3. Hardship Academy
      4. 52 Pick Up
      5. More to Life
      6. Parnters in Rhyme
      7. Flip Out
      8. No Light
      9. ill Hispanics
      10. Manifest Da-Solution
      11. Midway Connection
      12. Raunchy
      13. Phases of Death
      14. Space Gat
      15. 7 Man Mosh Pit
      16. F#*k It
      Manifest Destiny
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Manifest Destiny

        Manufacturer: Messenger and Films
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B000CA2Q5K
        Release Date: 2004-10-12
        Manifest Destiny
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Manifest Destiny

          Manufacturer: AlterCulture Records
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
          ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
          ASIN: B000CAEN92
          Release Date: 2000-10-17

          Tracks:

          1. Vultures
          2. Stars & Stripes & Satellites
          3. Descent (Our Way Down)
          4. So Much For Salvation
          5. Incubation
          6. All These Years
          7. Plaything
          8. Mere Pawn
          9. Candythoughts
          10. Contaminated
          11. Rat Race
          12. Strained
          13. Eclipse
          A Lot Like No One
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            A Lot Like No One
            Manifest Destiny
            Manufacturer: Manifest Destiny
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            GeneralGeneral | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
            ASIN: B000CAE7W0
            Release Date: 2001-12-04

            Tracks:

            1. Star Warz
            2. Ill Hispanics {Featuring Diane Afonzo}
            3. Lot Like No One
            4. Chaos {Featuring Nut Nillz}
            5. I Need Her
            6. As Seen on TV
            7. Impromp2 {Featuring Nut Nillz & Funka Nite}
            Manifest Destiny
            Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
            • gggggggggooooooood
            • Destiny Fullfilled!
            • Grrreat God in Heaven...it's on CD!!!
            Manifest Destiny

            Manufacturer: Wea/Warner
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
            Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
            RockRock | Imports | Stores | Music
            ASIN: B00006JLIZ
            Release Date: 2002-10-28

            Tracks:

            1. Exposed
            2. Heartache
            3. Sleepin With The TV On
            4. Disease
            5. Hey Boys
            6. Steppin Out
            7. Science Gone Too Far
            8. Young Fast Scientific
            9. Search And Destroy

            Album Description

            Japanese exclusive issue (first time on CD) of the influential proto-punk band's 1977 album for Asylum. Highlights include a cover of the Stooges' 'Search & Destroy'. Elektra. 2002.

            Customer Reviews:

            5 out of 5 stars gggggggggooooooood.......2003-01-30

            how come my reviews of manifest destiny by the dictators were not printed?

            4 out of 5 stars Destiny Fullfilled!.......2003-01-25

            I really can't give this 5 stars because of the muddy production, but at the same time, this was the album that made me a Dictators fan for life! Why the Dic's haven't been put on the pantheon they deserve is beyond me, but with songs like "Science Gone Too Far" and their blistering cover of The Stooges' "Search And Destroy," they proved they could blast as well as their CBGB contemporaries of the period. And they were not without a sense of humor; just check out the opening lines of "Hey Boys." "Manifest Destiny" is a brilliant artifact of an era in American Music, so naturally the only way to get it is through a Japanese import. Where is the justice?!? That they followed it up with thier masterpiece, "Bloodbrothers" (which you can buy for the not so inflated domestic price) gives alternatives to the uninitated, and Sony has been kind enough to leave "Go Girl Crazy!" in print. My advice is get 'em all now and that includes the recent "DFFD" because it still smokes the competition.

            5 out of 5 stars Grrreat God in Heaven...it's on CD!!!.......2003-01-12

            If you're reading this, chances are you're pretty familiar with the 'tators' musical output. This is a straight, no-frills release of their second album. I've been waiting for this forever, having worn out the vinyl and 8-track (!) editions I have. Hopefully, Andy Shernoff will release a remastered version that cleans up the often-muddy production. The songs are all excellent, with "Hey Boys" featuring a fantastic vocal by Ritchie Teeter being a personal fave. Although it's sorta the black sheep of Dictators albums, "Manifest Destiny" tends to get better as time goes by. If you're a younger punk fan and are curious about the Dictators, start out with "Go Girl Crazy" or "D.F.F.D', though. A note about the booklet: As is common with Japanese cd's, the English translation of the lyrics to "Search and Destroy" are hilariously incorrect in spots.

            Soul Music:

            1. Money Iz Motive [Explicit Lyrics]
            2. Multi-Platinum Debut Album
            3. Muted
            4. N II U
            5. Nasty Girl [CD-single]
            6. Nighthawks [Explicit Lyrics]
            7. Order in the Court [Explicit Lyrics]
            8. Poly Sci [Explicit Lyrics]
            9. Pop-A-D-Ball [Explicit Lyrics]
            10. Relax, Relate, Release [Explicit Lyrics]

            Soul Music

            soul music

            Recommended Music:

            Living Dream - The Best of the Peanut Butter Conspiracy

            Puccini: La Bohème; Recital by Renata Tebaldi

            Roadhouse Research

            Music: The Jazz Giants Play Cole Porter: Night and Day

            Joe Jackson: Night Music

            Pipa from a Distance

            Sings She's a Lady (Originals)

            Scott Joplin: Piano Rags

            Stories That The World Once Told

            Phil & Quill with Prestige

            Temple of the Dog

            Riatazos Musicales: Banda Y Nortena

            Oju [Import]

            Cello Concertos (Bonus Tracks) (RMST)

            Pleyel Jazz Concert, Vol. 2