Rock Vs. Rap

Performer: Various Artists
Producer: Fred Coury; Lanny Cordola; Mark Dodson; Mellow Man Ace; Anthrax; Tom Lilly
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Personnel: Paul Shortino (vocals); Lanny Cordola (guitar); Pat Torpey (drums); DJFM (scratches). Recording information: Headroom Studios, North Hollywood, CA (08/2003-09/2003); Stealth Bombaz Studios, Granada Hills, CA (08/2003-09/2003). The men behind most of the tracks on this faux mash-up of rap and rock are the nearly forgotten rapper Mellow Man Ace and guitarist Lanny Cordola, who not only appeared on Dave Coulier's Songs in the Key of Beaver but also the Cleopatra compilations A Tribute to Garth Brooks and The Complete Tribute to Garth Brooks. A real "mash-up" would mean original tracks are mixed together, but almost everything on Rock vs. Rap is re-recorded. The highlight for sure has to be the original team-up version of "Bring the Noise" by Anthrax and Public Enemy, but some of Cordola and Mellow Man Ace's productions are worth checking out. KRS-One's "The Devil's Crown" is actually his "Ah Yeah" with a new rocking backing track that improves on the original. Kottonmouth Kings' good buddy Big B delivers "Hey Joe" in a pleasing and lazy Sublime style, and D. Brown's rap over Cordola's take on Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen" is a winning combination. Too bad the limp version of Ratt's "Round & Round" from Stephen Pearcy and KRS-One (who was signed to Cleopatra, meaning he's doomed to keep turning up on their compilations) is one of the best examples how "mash-ups" should be left to irreverent bootleggers and not hair metal hangers-on. Worse yet, the lyrics to the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" get "updated" to "Everybody dies alone/So get stoned!" Cordola can certainly shred on guitar but too much of the album is a loud and rebellious mess with too much swagger and no soul. ~ David Jeffries The men behind most of the tracks on this faux mash-up of rap and rock are the nearly forgotten rapper Mellow Man Ace and guitarist Lanny Cordola, who not only appeared on Dave Coulier's Songs in the Key of Beaver but also the Cleopatra compilations A Tribute to Garth Brooks and The Complete Tribute to Garth Brooks. A real "mash-up" would mean original tracks are mixed together, but almost everything on Rock vs. Rap is re-recorded. The highlight for sure has to be the original team-up version of "Bring the Noise" by Anthrax and Public Enemy, but some of Cordola and Mellow Man Ace's productions are worth checking out. KRS-One's "The Devil's Crown" is actually his "Ah Yeah" with a new rocking backing track that improves on the original. Kottonmouth Kings' good buddy Big B delivers "Hey Joe" in a pleasing and lazy Sublime style, and D. Brown's rap over Cordola's take on Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen" is a winning combination. ~ David Jeffries

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