Set It Off [Original Soundtrack] [PA]

Performer: Original Soundtrack
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Producers include: Organized Noize, D.J. U-Neek, Wyclef Jean, Keith Crouch, Trevor Horn. Engineers include: D.J. U-Neek, Eugene Lo, Booker T. Jones III, Keith Crouch. "Missing You," performed by Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan, was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)" was nominated for a 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. Every cut on this contemporary R&B and rap soundtrack is infused with the tension and urgency of the streets, and countered by cool, transcendent grooves. Busta Rhymes offers up "Live To Regret," an ominous, moody track that warns of the dangers of living the gangsta life, a central theme of the film. Seal's surprising version of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Hey Joe" highlights the song's timeless theme of rage and violence. Rapper Queen Latifah, who stars in the film, is one of the stars of the album as well. Her vibrant, assured vocal style makes her two cuts high points. She collaborates with Organized Noize on the title cut and shows off her boldly angry side on "Name Callin'." One comes away from the SET IT OFF soundtrack with a strong impression of the unsettling emotions that simmer beneath the surface of everyday life in the ghetto. In that sense, these songs are a perfect complement to the film. The soundtrack to the black female gangsta movie Set It Off is surprisingly short on high-quality hardcore rap. Apart from a couple excellent tracks from the likes of Busta Rhymes, Goodie Mob and Queen Latifah (who also stars in the film), the majority of the album consists of urban R&B and swingbeat balladry, often in degrees of varying quality. En Vogue's reunion's track "(Don't Let Go) Love" is a stellar contribution, proving that they haven't lost any power, while the Chaka Kahn/Brandy/Tamia cut "Missing You" is surprisingly not disappointing. What is disappointing is the preponderance of cut-rate tracks from the likes of Seal, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Simply Red, whose inclusion is simply baffling. In short, it's an average soundtrack, with enough good tracks to make it worth acquiring, and enough mediocre material to make it frustrating. ~ Leo Stanley The score to the black female heist movie Set it Off is an appropriately melodramatic and exciting set of instrumentals by Christopher Young, highlighted by the song "Up Against the Wind," which is sung by Lori Perry. ~ Rodney Batdorf

Entertainment Weekly (10/18/96, p.83) - "This slammin' soundtrack for a flick that crosses "Waiting To Exhale" with "Dead Presidents" appropriately veers from En Vogue's saucy anthems to Busta Rhymes' ominous hip-hop; and old-school divas Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight are represented alongside new jills Brandy and "Set" star Queen Latifah..." - Rating: A- Vibe (10/96, p.134) - "...well-packaged grab bag of Top 40 pop, backwoods hip hop, and attitudinal R&B....SET IF OFF delivers..." The Source (10/96, p.128) - "...the SET IT OFF soundtrack actually complements the theme of the film, showcasing some of the strongest female performers in R&B and hip-hop..."

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