21/30: Hi, Tek!

Salutations!

Hi-Tek feat. Ghostface, The Willie Cottrell Band, Pretty Ugly - Josephine
Hi-Tek feat. Nas, Common, Marsha from Floetry, Busta Rhymes, J Dilla - Music for Life

Hi-Tek is still stuck on neo-soul. "Josephine" has an OK verse by Ghostface and Hi-Tek ain't sooo bad at rapping here on this song about some junkie chick. He doesn't have Kanye's ghostwriters, though. But there's way too much singing, like it's Kirk Franklin or something.

I don't really like it when producers shoehorn themselves into raps on their own albums, and "Music For Life" is a great example. Not that anyone comes particularly correct anyway, but Hi-Tek is particularly glaring. I'm going to assume that J Dilla's appearance is the answering machine message at the beginning of the track. Busta Rhymes does not rap, just talks.

It's worth noting, Hi-Tek pretty much bit J Dilla's style almost completely, especially listenin to these two tracks (and the ones on the 50 album). Listen to the filtered basslines and tight snares. Damn. He didn't sound like this when he was chillin with Talib, did he?