Field Mob Albums (3)
'Light Poles and Pine Trees'
Release Date 6/20/2006
Tracks 15
Label Geffen
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Integrated as a significant part of Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace collective, signaled by the Luda and Jamie Foxx-assisted hit "Georgia" (reprised here), Field Mob has a considerable amount of momentum (as well as a new label) behind them as they release Light Poles and Pine Trees, their third album. Everything is in place for the duo to gain far more exposure than before, and they answer the call with another set that displays their flexibility -- from the poignant and funny "Blacker the Berry" (Luda is absolutely correct that Shawn Jay and Smoke are two of the best lyricists around) to the playful and party-ready "At the Park." Pre-album single "So What," featuring a hook from Ciara, is even softer than the duo's 2002 hit "Sick of Being Lonely" and has "unavoidable summer hit" written all over it, in spite of its melancholy character (and yet more of producer Jazze Pha's gratuitous vocal stamping). A couple tracks in particular -- "Baby Bend Over," an obvious stab at striking platinum with sleazy whispering over a sparse production, as well as the Kelis-quoting "I Hate You," featuring the disruptive lead singer of DTP resident rockers Lazyeye -- prevent Light Poles from topping the duo's first two albums. (These miscues are especially frustrating since the hot "Friday Night" was, for whatever reason, left off the album.) Even with its considerable flaws, the album proves that Field Mob is one of the South's finest and most unique acts. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
'From tha Roota to tha Toota'
Release Date 10/22/2002
Tracks 15
Label MCA
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Some music critics have observed that if rap is "the CNN of the streets" (to borrow a phrase coined by Public Enemy leader Chuck D), country is "the CNN of the suburbs." Historically, hip-hoppers have tended to address urban inner-city concerns, whereas country singers have often focused on things that people in suburbia and small towns can relate to. But here's the thing: plenty of people in large cities listen to Patty Loveless and Randy Travis, and plenty of hip-hop heads live in small and medium-sized towns. So it was inevitable that a Southern rap group like Albany, GA's Field Mob would end up bringing a more rural perspective to hip-hop -- well, rural up to a point. Field Mob's Boondox Blax has described Albany as being "like a metropolitan area, but it's rural at the same time" -- and that rural/metropolitan blend makes for many interesting moments on the duo's second album, From tha Roota to tha Toota. Hip-hop heads from the Boogie Down Bronx or West Philadelphia will no doubt find this CD to be extremely southern-sounding, which is a good thing because southern-sounding is exactly what Field Mob is going for. At the same time, Boondox and his partner, Kalage, rap about many of the same social problems that northern MCs rap about -- poverty, drugs, and incarceration are among the topics that they address. But even though the subject matter isn't radically different from what you might hear on a northern (or West Coast) rap project, Field Mob's beats and flows give their work a certain freshness. Field Mob's beats never sound generic, and the southerners don't go out of their way to emulate popular MCs from other parts of Georgia. All things considered, From tha Roota to tha Toota is among the more memorable Dirty South efforts of 2002. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The down-home rappers from Albany, GA, have put together a debut that demonstrates that they should be mentioned alongside other great Georgia rappers such as Goodie Mob and Outkast. Like their predecessors, Field Mob has put together a mix of social commentary and Southern bounce that would appeal to listeners on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line. While too many Southern hip-hop artists resort to formulaic tracks, the album's production feels fresh. "Dead in Yo Chevy," with it's pounding 808 drum beats and catchy hook, seems to be designed to be boomed out of car stereos. The same can be said for "Crutch," a smooth mid-tempo song about friendship. Rappers Boondox and Kalage complement the solid production with clever rhymes. Check out "Channel 6:13, Part I," a clever song that incorporates several TV characters into a humorous narrative, sort of like a modern version of Slick Rick's "Bedtime Story." Similarly, "My Man Roni" is a playful Battle of the Sexes that steers clear of the usual he said-she said banter. There are some small miscues -- a track like "Dimez" lacks the shine of other songs -- but, as a whole, 613: Ashy to Classy provides a big helping of Southern comfort. ~ Jon Azpiri, All Music Guide
