Whodini Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
Whodini's popularity had decreased considerably by the 1990s, when the Brooklyn rappers left their long-time home of Jive/Arista Records for MCA. Though a decent effort, Whodini's first MCA release, Bag-A-Trix, wasn't strong enough to help Whodini return to the top of the charts. The group's approach -- very danceable and melodic compared to a lot of rap, and drawing heavily on '70s soul and funk -- hadn't changed much since the early '80s, and remained quite recognizable. While nothing on Bag-A-Trix is in a class with "Freaks Come Out at Night," "Five Minutes of Funk," or "One Love," this CD definitely has its strong points, including the invigorating "The Party Don't Start," the erotic "Taste of Love," and an inspired remake of the Undisputed Truth's soul classic "Smiling Faces Sometimes." A better introduction to Whodini would be Escape, but for the most devoted fans, this is worth hearing. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
As one of the first successful rap acts, Whodini albums quickly became standard bearers and necessary purchases for fans. The Brooklyn-raised trio of Jalil Hutchins, Ecstasy, and DJ Grandmaster Dee first came to national attention with the single "The Haunted House of Rock." Their third record, Back in Black, is the follow-up to a multi-platinum album, 1984's Escape. Those expecting a by-the-numbers sequel of sorts to that effort won't be too let down here. Although Back in Black does revisit lyrical and musical themes of previous efforts, it also offers a few new tricks or two. The first track (and a single release), "Funky Beat" features monster bass and drums, the one-two punch of Hutchins and Ecstasy, as well as a rare rap from Grandmaster Dee. The well-produced "One Love" has great synth signatures and the guys dispensing their brand of pithy and pragmatic advice. They seem to unlearn those lessons by the time the hilarious "I'm a Ho" rolls around. The slow, scratch-laden track has a boastful chorus ("I rock three different freaks after every show") and some great rhymes from Hutchins. Despite the group's best efforts, Back in Black does often seem to be style over substance. Luckily the producer Larry Smith knew how to keep things sonically interesting. On the lyrically foggy "Fugitive," the hard rock guitars and clanging cymbals mesh especially well with Ecstasy's droll and abrupt delivery. "Echo Scratch" is also all over the road, but it was a great chance for Grandmaster Dee to show off his turntable skills. Also recorded at Battery Studios in London (as was Escape), Back in Black wasn't as influential as its predecessor, but it's nearly as enjoyable. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
More singers than straight rappers, Jali Hutchins and Ecstasy made a successful conversion to hip-hop, scoring two hits on their debut with "Rap Attack" and "The Haunted House of Funk," a reworking of "The Monster Mash." ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Mille Jackson made a wonderful guest appearance on "Be Yourself," but not only was the handwriting on the wall, it was soon readable by everyone. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A vast improvement over the previous year's debut, Escape is the second album from the seminal no-nonsense New York rappers. Unlike many rappers, Whodini got their beats and musical backing from synthesizers. While this isn't a conceptual masterpiece and really is nothing more than sure-shot singles and sound-alike single, "Five Minutes of Funk" was an instant classic. The just-as-good "Freaks Come Out at Night" has the guys talking about nocturnal freaks with vivid lyrics and a little too much inside information. Listening to Escape, one has to be struck with the minimalism offered here. On "Big Mouth" and "Friends," producer Larry Smith provides clutter-free tracks for the guys to rap over. In contrast, the fast-paced "Escape (I Need a Break)" brings in ambulance sounds and ends up being a great instance of unconsciously danceable rap. Better yet, the closer "We Are Whodini" distills the essence of the group more than the other groundbreaking tracks here, and still retains a sense of freshness. The real unsung hero on Escape is the DJ, Grandmaster Dee, who provides deft work. Recorded at Battery Studios in England, Escape has a countless amount of memorable lines and productions, and has held up over time better than the debut. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide
