Marley Marl Albums (5)
'West End Mixtape Sessions, Vol. 1'
Release Date 9/13/2005
Tracks 24
Label Westend
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What The Critics Say
At 39 years of age, veteran rap producer Marley Marl's return to recording came as part of the London-based BBE (Barely Breaking Even) label's Beat Generation series. The series was an attempt to reclaim hip-hop from the clutches of overexposure. While Marl hadn't really recorded a true full-length album since his In Control, Vol. 2 in 1991, he remained a fixture in the hip-hop community (and influence on producers like Pete Rock and Jay Dee), producing tracks throughout the '90s for artists such as Capone-N-Noreaga, Rakim, and K Def & Larry O. Marl was directly responsible for putting together the Juice Crew, one of hip-hop's all-time elite teams that included the likes of Roxanne Shante, MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, and Biz Markie. The Juice Crew's late-'80s battle for rap supremacy with KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions remains one of the most compelling legends of rap lore. Re-Entry's against-the-grain format just might have won over a few young undergrounders, but it is not extraordinary by any stretch. One would have thought that a super-producer of Marl's caliber would fetch a number of name MCs; this is unfortunately not the case, with the exception of Big Daddy Kane, Capone, and a couple of talented undergrounders. Some of the old Marl magic does resurface on the thuggish "What U Hold Down," and the maestro even branches out on the jazz-funk exploration "Hummin'," which features hip-hop forefather Roy Ayers. Many of the cuts here are just instrumentals that surely smack of filler, but Re-Entry certainly has its moments -- moments that might just have some listeners reminiscing back to the Juice Crew era. ~ M.F. DiBella, All Music Guide
'The Queensbridge Session'
Release Date 6/18/1996
Tracks 9
Label Ol Skool Flava
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'In Control, Vol. 2'
Release Date 10/1/1991
Tracks 20
Label Cold Chillin'
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What The Critics Say
By the time of the release of Marley Marl's In Control, Vol. 2, three years after the release of volume one, hip-hop had changed paths. In 1988, Marley Marl's repertoire of drum loops and James Brown samples were revolutionary, but in 1991 they were anything but fresh. Even worse, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, and most of the other artists who made In Control, Vol. 1 such a success had parted ways with Marley Marl. On In Control, Vol. 2, the producer relies on a new set of artists. Unknowns such as MC Amazing, MC Cash, and Kevy Kev try their best, but they can't summon the energy of the original roster. A couple of unfortunate R&B songs and an excursion into reggae do nothing to lift the album. ~ Chris Witt, All Music Guide
'In Control, Vol. 1'
Release Date 1/1/1988
Tracks 10
Label Cold Chillin'
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What The Critics Say
In Control, Vol. 1 is a greatest-hits package (of a sort) featuring singles Marley Marl produced for his stable of artists on the Cold Chillin' label. Mostly though, the album serves to show exactly how important Marley Marl was to the advancement of hip-hop. Before him, hip-hop relied mostly on primitive, artificial sounding 808 drum machine beats. He transformed the genre completely with his stock of drum loops, most lifted from James Brown records. His crisp beats enlivened hip-hop and set the tone for the sample madness that would eventually consume producers. In Control, Vol. 1 includes some of the best moments from the producer's hip-hop revolution. Rap heavyweights Biz Markie and Heavy D. try their hand at a Barry Manilow impression on their transformation of "We Write the Songs." Master Ace and Action attempt some hip-hop upliftment on "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize," and Master Ace, Craig G., Kool G. Rap, and Big Daddy Kane join forces for one of the best posse cuts in hip-hop history, "The Symphony." While some of these rappers, most notably Heavy D. and Big Daddy Kane, would go on to further success, none ever would sound this tight again. Marley Marl's groundbreaking production and the strength of the various MCs showcased on In Control, Vol. 1 make the album a must for anyone even remotely interested in hip-hop's history. ~ Chris Witt, All Music Guide
