I this; sue: It s all about the benjarnins/ Reviezos of nelO n1usic Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube star in tThree Ruff Ryder memeber Eve recently dropped Kings'. George Clooney also starts in the her rookie release. Check out her review drame about three men attempting to steal along with many other new discs. gold during the Gulf War. See page 2 See page 7 Page 2 cJlut Current. - October 1999 Eve hi it big Is Puff Daddy really a rapper? after paying dues PUff Daddy: ftForever" Bad Boy Records catogrize her and compare her \vith rappers like, the great Ask any 13 year old boy from Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Foxy Iowa about Puff Daddy and they will have heard of the man, also "And Adam called his wife Brown and Lil Kim, to find name Eve; because she was the where she tIts in. But is it that known as Sean Combs of Bad mother of all living." Genesis simple for Eve? Does she have a Boy Records. He owns one of the 3:20. Eve has been blamed political message in her lyrics? newest and phattest clothing throughout the centuries for the Yeah, she is sexy, and has no lines, Sean John and a New York down fall of humankind, when problem showing off her thick restaurant, Justin's. But is he she gave her husband., Adam, the physique, but does she exploit it? really a rapper? apple from the forbidden tree. Will she have more than one hit? There is no questioning that How appropriate the newest Unlike female rappers of the Puff Daddy's new album, female rapper would be Eve, past, EVE has been able to bal­ "Forever", has some hot beats a.k.a. Eve of destruction. ance her talents, making it diffi­ and he did do a good job selecting More commonly known as cult for her crititics to place her in writers to come up with his lyrics, Eve, she is the first lady of the a pre-labled box. She has been but can the man rap? There is no Ruff Ryders from Philly. This able to hold on to her femininity question that Combs, has pro­ platinum blonde blaze had to pay and yet remain tough. She can be duced some of the biggest hits of her dues. She was on the Root's sexy in her videos, but she does the late 1990's, but is he a rapper? "You Got Me", the remix to the not seem willing to rap about People wit4. millions of dollars "Ruff Ryders Anthem" and pimping herself for a diamond to play with can live out their Puff Daddy has been on top of the music business for several Blackstreet's studded Rolex. wildest dreams. Just look at years. His new disc is currently a best seller. "Girlfriend/Boyfriend." On this album, she collabo­ Sbaqueil O'Neil. Puff Daddy is a On September 14th, her debut rates with Drag-on and DMX of talented producer and deserves is the remix of PE'S "'Public album, self titled ''EVE'' hit the The Ruff Ryders, Missy Elliot, respect for being a great business Enemy #1" - "Public Enemy ~heCurrent shelves and it is hot. and The LOX. The beats are hard man, but be can't rap! Instead of 2000. The beats are there and The first single of the album, hitting and the lyrics dare to go having to go through the hard the lyrics are there, but there is Ken Dunkin • Managz:ng Editor "What Y'all Want", went plat­ deeper with tracks like ''Love is knocks of the rap game, Puff no soul. This albmn was sup­ Blind" and "Heaven only .Judi Unville • inum and the second single, Daddy bas used his wealth to add posed to be a response to the Faculty Muiser Knows". Eve has lasting power "Gotta Man,!' shows just as much to his list of tiles and became a critics that called "No Way . Josh Renaud • Prod Manager and it would be interesting to see promise. rapper. He has enjoyed the cross Out" weak, but can you honest­ Web Editor her growth on her next album. This Puerto Rican! African­ over appeal that many commer­ ly be hard with a name like Cory Blackwood • A&E Editor American diva will unfortunately cial rappers have been able to sell PUFF Daddy? Catherine • A&E .ksociate Marquis-Homeyer have to go through he rites of pas­ CHARMANE MALONE to suburban America. sage that all female rappers have The best track on this album, CHARMANE MALONE to go through. Others will try Staff: Charmane Malone, Rap oprea comes through with Rob Peery 7940 Natural Bridge Road St. Louis, Missouri 63121 strong cast and great music Newsroom • (314 516-5171 Advertising • (3J.fJ 51&5316 rap business. Everyone from Chris Business. {3I ~ -16·-1, - Fax • (3 1 ~J 51 11 Rock, to Big Daddy Kane are fea­ tured. This disc and the results are email: amazing. Everlast plays a crooked currenJ@jinx urns!. edu website: cop and turns in a great perfonnance It is time Prince Paul gets credit http://WW1U.ums!. edu! on "'The Men in Blue". for being the genius that he truly is. studentlije!cu1Te11t/ "A Prince Among Thieves" is proof Some of the stretches aren't to enough to give him the credit. far off from characters the rappers "A Prince Among Thieves" is a had played before. Rock brings out ·... .'.r' he ~ur:ent's A&E magazine is. a i speaal msert that appears pen­ concept disc· along the lines of The his classic crackhead role for a skit. r" . odically. Advertising rates avail­ Who's "Tommy". It is a rap opera, The always odd Kool Keith plays a . able upon request. Terms, condi­ wacky gun dealer. The casting is tions and restrictions apply. The perhaps the fIrst ever made. The Current, financed in part by student story follows Tariq, an up and com­ one of the discs biggest pluses. Each activities fees, is not an offidal pub­ person fIt their roles almost perfect- lication of UM-St. Louis. The ing rapper with a problem. He needs University is not responsible for the money to record his demo, which 1y. content of The Current or its poli­ causes him to sell drugs. The story The collaborating between des. Commentary and columns underground superstars Sadat X, reflect the opinion of the individual ends in an epic shoot-out. The tale author. Unsigned editorials reflect goes along with a yet to be made Xzidit and Kid Creole on "Handle the opinion of the majority of the Your Time" is a classic. This track editorial board. All material con­ movie which would be released to tained in each issue is property of theaters. alone is reason to add this disc to The Current and may not be The story alone is run of the mill. your collection. r~rinted, reused or reproduced Without the expressed, written con­ What made it so great was the vast sent of The Current. First copy number of musicians who play the KEN DUNKIN free; all subsequent copies, 25 cents, available at the offices of characters. It is a who's who of the The Current ~ October 1999 <'fk Current Page 3 German Guano Apes are good, Showoff produces great, Drive By Truckers stink fun, happy rock music , H all music could be as fun as Showoffs debut disc the world would be a better place. The group takes music for what it is, fun. Their music may not be the deepest, or the best and they aren't the best musi­ cians. Despite those flaws this disc is good in its own right. Picture Green Day and Less Than Jake A first reaction when listening to a band from having a jam secion and this disc is what Germany called Guano Apes is to scoff. When a could come out. Most of the tracks are band with a dumb name and no press hitsmy short, only around two and a half minutes. desk, I usually wait until boredom strikes before They give you a quick dose of good popping it in the CD player. What a surprise to music and then it is off on another track. find out the Guano Apes were good! "Proud Like With a catchy single in ''Falling Star" a God" plays like a harder-edged band with the disc could take off. The world might heart, something akin to the Deftones. Vocalist not be ready for a band as fun as Showoff. Sandra Nasic uses her great voice both in singing and screaming, without any trace of a German KEN DUNKIN Accent Her vocals sounds a little reminiscent to Pizza Deliverance' local band Radio Iodine, but with angrier music . Soul Dump IGhostmeat back:iJ,J.g her up. "Proud Like a God"comes out records Oct 12. 311 bombs on new release Our Rating: • It is difficult to put into words just how 311 has a pretty decent following bad this CD trul i. Bluegrass isn't the most throughout the nation, and in S1. Louis pected music out there to begin with, and as well. After their last a1bum, n many people wonder why. Some things "Transistor," many of us were wonder­ are jtLtit meant to be laughed at, and in the ing why they still had any fan base at all. music industry, polka and bluegrass take care "Soundsystem, due out Oct. 12, tries to ofth at vel)' well. go back to what they used to be - ston­ gle, and by the time listeners make it to With guitars that sound purposefully out er frat rock with enough hip hop beats to "Flowering," a mere two songs later, of tune and not in that cool \\'ay like punk give them some "street cred." heads aren't bopping, but nodding off.