Tommy Boy's Greatest Beats, Vol. 4 [Enhanced]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Though volume 4 of Tommy Boy's Greatest Beats, a four-part retrospective and party mix from the label's vaults, starts with Apache's "Gangsta Bitch" and ends with Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise," there is none of the gangsta aesthetic anywhere to be found. Apache's work is a humorous novelty, and Coolio provides a seething lament, yet that's about as close to the Too $horts of the world as this label gets. Instead volume 4 offers more of the dance and electro-boogie side the roster. RuPaul makes his first appearance (with "Supermodel"), as does the Jonzun Crew with "Pack Jam," a track ripe for a Squarepusher-ish remix. Some of the tracks haven't aged well; for instance, Stetsasonic's "Talkin' All That Jazz," sounds quaint, owing to its relatively facile acoustic bass line and their tendency to rap right on the beat rather than just behind it (as is the case in most jazz-influenced raps). The high points lie in rediscovering lost pleasures: the didgeridoo-like intro to Naughty by Nature's "Hip Hop Hooray," Digital Underground's playful "Kiss You Back," and some early Jazzy Joyce on Sweet Trio's "Non Stop." Like volume 3, this one doesn't stand on its own as well as it makes a companion for either volume 1 or volume 2. The box set, which collects all four volumes with a fifth disc (of remixes), might be the best place for these two. --Martin Johnson

Tommy Boy's Greatest Beats, Vol. 4,Various Artists,Tommy Boy,Club/Dance,Dance Music,Golden Age,Hip-Hop,Pop,Pop-Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop,Rap Collections,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban

Tracks:

Gangsta Bitch - Apache
Hip Hop Hooray - Naughty By Nature
Potholes in My Lawn (12in Version) - De La Soul
Pack Jam (Look Out for the OVC) (7in Version) - Jonzun Crew
Louder Than Love - TKA
Running (12in Version) - Information Society
Supermodel (You Better Work) - Rupaul
Kiss You Back - Digital Underground
Rock the House (You'll Never Be) - Pressure Drop
Talkin' All That Jazz - Stetsasonic
Non Stop - Sweet Trio
Play That Beat Mr. DJ - G.L.O.B.E. + Whiz Kid
Tender Love - Force M.D.'s
Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio

Amazon.com

Though volume 4 of Tommy Boy's Greatest Beats, a four-part retrospective and party mix from the label's vaults, starts with Apache's "Gangsta Bitch" and ends with Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise," there is none of the gangsta aesthetic anywhere to be found. Apache's work is a humorous novelty, and Coolio provides a seething lament, yet that's about as close to the Too $horts of the world as this label gets. Instead volume 4 offers more of the dance and electro-boogie side the roster. RuPaul makes his first appearance (with "Supermodel"), as does the Jonzun Crew with "Pack Jam," a track ripe for a Squarepusher-ish remix. Some of the tracks haven't aged well; for instance, Stetsasonic's "Talkin' All That Jazz," sounds quaint, owing to its relatively facile acoustic bass line and their tendency to rap right on the beat rather than just behind it (as is the case in most jazz-influenced raps). The high points lie in rediscovering lost pleasures: the didgeridoo-like intro to Naughty by Nature's "Hip Hop Hooray," Digital Underground's playful "Kiss You Back," and some early Jazzy Joyce on Sweet Trio's "Non Stop." Like volume 3, this one doesn't stand on its own as well as it makes a companion for either volume 1 or volume 2. The box set, which collects all four volumes with a fifth disc (of remixes), might be the best place for these two. --Martin Johnson

Freestyle Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection, Vol. 4

Average customer rating:

All in the title.
A Must Have
A Freestyle Collection Must-Have

Freestyle Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection, Vol. 4
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Tommy Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Freestyle | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

1990s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music

Soul | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Boy I've Been Told - SA-FIRE
Don't Take Your Love Away - Lydia Lee Love
Mirage - JELLYBEAN w/INDIA
Don't Be Afraid - TKA
The Name of the Game - Dan Hartman
Mandolay - Latin Rascals
You'll Never Find Another Love - & More
Change On Me - Cynthia
Never Let You Go - Sweet Sensation
I Burn - MARSHALL JONES
Love You Will You Love Me - Judy Torres
Summertime Summertime - Nocera

Customer Reviews:

All in the title........2000-02-24

Brings back memories. Great cd which includes the tracks which made freestyle. SA-FIRE, TKA, CYNTHIA, and SWEET SENSATION are classics. If you like freestyle, get this cd. What more can I say, like the title goes, FREESTYLES' GREATEST.

A Must Have.......1999-12-23

This is absolutely a must have in your collection! A variety of the most popular freestyle music as we know it. Definetely your money's worth & you'll love it.

A Freestyle Collection Must-Have.......1998-08-11

This disc is the fourth of a 10-disc series that is the definitive collection of Freestyle music. The series features a variety of songs from the most popular artists of the genre, including many hard-to-find classics. All discs include comprehensive liner notes charting the history of Freestyle music. A must-have collection for anyone interested in dance music from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s.

Disc Four Highlights: The original freestyle club mix of "Don't Take Your Love Away" by Lydia Lee Love is featured as well as the classic "Summertime Summertime" by Nocera.

This volume also contains classics by Sa-Fire, & More, Cynthia, Sweet Sensation, Judy Torres, and more.

Soul Music: