The general of the Boot Camp Clik, Buckshot, teams up with former Little Brother producer 9th Wonder for a second go around following their less than stellar debut as a duo: Chemistry. Perhaps it was the lackluster and brutally boring production by 9th Wonder or maybe it was the seemingly uninterested raps of Buckshot, but whatever it was, it was a type of chemistry that made a mediocre album. The Formula provides a much better listening experience with better production from 9th Wonder and on point rhymes by the aforementioned Buckshot. Although he does not retain his Black Moon form (just like many MC’s who find it near impossible to retain their 92-94 roots), Buckshot is back in a lyrical trance and delivers some gem verses and dynamic displays of storytelling and structure that is near perfect.
The “Intro” sounds like something you could hear Buck rap on “Total Eclipse” which is by no means a bad thing. The 9th production is fine, but nothing to write home about. “Brand New Day” allows Buck to give his outlook on the things to come including the recent success of Duck Down and revival of himself as an MC and a person. The horns by 9th are beautiful but once again, something seems lacking. The first single “Go All Out” features the voice of Carlitta Durand (who probably should be an honorary member of the Justus League), the guest appearance by Charlie Murphy in the very funny video, blaring horns by 9th, and a nostalgic tale of perspective and ambition. Certainly, not the strongest song and can get heavily annoying, redundant, and bland.
As a sucker for voice samples, “No Future” might be my favorite beat on the album. It also displays 9th’s trademark drums in their finest unorthodox patterns. Buck is tremendous on this track and he plays the role of a teacher telling his students the rights and wrongs of life. This joint leads fittingly into the strongest track on the album: “Hold It Down.” Talib Kweli is featured on the track and delivers a typical great Kweli Verse: “Why you have to pass a-/way so young while his craft is being mastered/ I don’t want to ask her/ a question with no answer but I still fight for the chance to write the cure for cancer/ wipe poverty off the map with a verse and a 9th Wonder track.” Tyler Woods gives a hook that aches to be repeated out loud and Buckshot could come harder, but seems to play it safe stays conservative..
“Man Listen” is the other really strong track on the album because of Buckshot’s superb ability to make this rap shit seem so simple. I picture myself sitting on the stoup with Buck and his crew and just listening to him say this entire joint to everyone. It’s about as real as it can get. 9th provides an uplifting beat full of voice samples and strings to fulfill your ears with pleasure to end the album off. It’s also the most positive and joyous tracks on the album and serves as the perfect end to a “Brand New Day.”
The album is not without faults, in fact, it has plenty. “Whassup With U” made me cringe and hit the skip button immediately even with the Curtis Mayfield sample. “Be Cool” exemplifies my biggest issue with 9th and Buckshot collabing; Buckshot seems much more sentimental and slowed down. 9th is certainly not Da Beatminerz, that I understand, but these beats certainly limit Buckshot in his delivery, flow, and ferocity. “Here We Go” and “Throwing Shade” furthermore prove the point that the chemistry is lacking and the formula still needs plenty of work. With that said, this is still a very good album with plenty of potential and the bright spots alone make it that much better than “Chemistry.” Just keep in mind you aren’t getting Black Moon Buckshot and Little Brother 9th Wonder, you are getting scientists who are certainly trying to perfect their craft.
Standout Tracks:
No Future
Hold It Down
Man Listen
Overall Rating: 69/100
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17 Comments
production could have been better… it seems like 9th just got some old/leftover beats and gave it to buckshot.
Yeah, I agree with you Arthur, but for some reason I like this better than Chemistry.
this album is much better than the very dull and limited Chemistry..
I enjoy both albums. I love (pause) 9th’s production/work, but I just want him to surprise me once. Give me something that doesn’t sound like a “typical” 9th track. I want some dirty sounding drums, a horn blaring, a baby crying, etc….I’m take an all keyboard track for once…just something different.
“Be Cool,” “No Future,” and “Man Listen” stand out for me.
what’s disappointing to me is 9th doesn’t get out his comfort zone and produce a track with some “knock” for Buck. Sometimes I think the beats are “too soft” for him. Buck needs at least one track with that early/mid 90’s “knock” to it. I think Buck’s rhymes are on point, but something grimy would be nice….something to make you wanna put break your face up because it just hits hard…..I guess I’m still living in the past…..or I need to put in “Enta…” or “Da Shinin’”
well put, Thomas
“Be Cool” exemplifies my biggest issue with 9th and Buckshot collabing; Buckshot seems much more sentimental and slowed down. 9th is certainly not Da Beatminerz, that I understand, but these beats certainly limit Buckshot in his delivery, flow, and ferocity
i hear you on your point thomas, I felt like these beats really limited buck
I hate to say it, but I understand why Little Brother left 9th. The guy just can’t get out of his own lane and be a true producer. His beats still sounds like demos from the 90s. I love the guy and his style and his beliefs on music, but after this and Murs last album, he is definitely the weak link in these collabos.
Actually, it was a mutual agreement. If anything, from the stories I’ve heard from both sides, 9th seemed to be the one to leave because he felt like LB weren’t letting him expand his sound. 9th wasn’t even in the studio most of the time when recording was going on.
Murs last album..as in Murray’s Revenge? That shit was fire
I FUCKS w/ this record. 9th’s best beats in a minute. well maybe not individually, but overall i dont find myself going ‘this beat would be 100x better if i handled the percussion’; buck comes pretty nice
69/100!!! Are you crazy! And how is Chemistry Mediocre? ya’ll crazy!!! The Formula is the best thing out right now! Out of 13 songs I only skip one and that is “Wassup with u”, and that is because I heard that sample flipped about a hundred ways and I am tired of it (sorry Curtis!)
My Fav. Five (F@$! T-Mobile)
1.) Be Cool
2.) Go all out
3.) Hold it down
4.) Only for you
5.) Just display
actually, the best thing out right now is probably the album i just recently reviewed. and there are a few i probably won’t review that are better than this as well
Yo Dutchmasters, are you serious about the last MURS album?!?!? MURS & 9th go together like peanut butter and jelly! …with a baseball bat
YO,the track i’m really feeling on this album is Ready(Brand New Day)
I love this album, only beat I don’t like is “Just Display”.
I see the criticism about 9th, fact is he’s always sounded the same. The most annoying thing has to be the fact the guy seems to use the same snare all of the time.
On the other hand however, why change something if it is dope? To me, it’s a winning formula, it might not break any new grounds but his samples still tingle my spine. maybe it’s because he’s got an undeniable golden ear for samples. Think of it this way: many have tried to imitate his style, but few can even come close.
I can also see the criticism concerning Buck. Buck used to me my number one favorite Emcee, but heads who know will remember that he’s never been the same as on… well - damn right, “Enta Da Stage”. He was an entirely differnt emcee then because he was still a grimy young alley cat and hungry like a mutha. After that, he’s become more laid back and that’s thrown many people off. But don’t forget that Buck is older now and not “Buckshot Shorty” any longer. I thought he made some really dope efforts on this album, only think that made me cringe a little at times were very simplistic rhyme patterns, like take the word “lock” and find simple words that rhyme with it, for example “clock”, “rock”… you get the picture
Overall though, I think it’s a winning formula. If you’re an unconditional sucker for 9th Wonder’s choice of samples and a fan of Buck too, you can’t possibly sleep on this one. To me definitely one of the best albums out so far this year
It probably is one of the better albums of the year so far, but there is a lot of year left. I don’t think it’ll be in my top 10 come the end of summer even
I’m a fan of 9th but a bigger fan of Buck.It just seems like Buck is having to try to fit his rhymes to 9th’s beats rather than 9th trying to make a beat to fit Buck.There’s been a few cases where he has come with a proper track for Buck but most cases he doesnt.And 9th has basically done beats for the whole crew. For anyone that came up on boot camp clik’s music, knows their style and I’m sad to say,9th making beats for the BBC is like declawing,defanging and taming a pack of cougars.9th is still hot,but not a perfect match with one of the rawest rap crews to ever done it.
I actually like this album and the beats.
The beats are laid back, groovey, riding beats, and maybe to some ppl that makes it boring, but I think its a good collab… As usually he uses samples seamlessly…