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Years before Eminem began outraging parents and pop stars alike with his brutally funny lyrics, New Jersey's Chino XL was already making the musical world safe for brainy, tasteless battle-rappers with his enormously promising but little-remembered debut, 1996's Here to Save You All. As might be expected from a rapper who boasts about his SAT scores, Chino is both smart and eccentric, and like Eminem, he uses his razor-sharp wit to lyrically dismember everyone from Will Smith to Magic Johnson to Chubb Rock. Considering the similarities between Detroit's most notorious native son and Chino XL, it's no wonder Eminem-basher Evidence of Dilated Peoples has decried the sometimes Slim Shady as a "fake Chino XL." It's not an entirely fair criticism, but it does contain a grain of truth, particularly since, like Eminem, Chino has a tendency to alternate between gleefully mean-spirited black comedy with tortured, self-deprecating introspection. "It's All Bad" is undoubtedly the album's most elaborate, ambitious, and unusual song, beginning like a typical rags-to-riches narrative but taking a detour into a surreal theoretical universe where Chino's a huge, coke-addled mega-star whose career and life are both falling apart before his eyes. "Who Am I" smartly and sensitively addresses the complexities, frustrations, and ambiguities of Chino's mixed-race heritage, while "Kreep" borrows the chorus of Radiohead's breakthrough hit in dramatizing the ins and outs of a dysfunctional relationship. The same overbearing force of personality that makes Chino a hero to some will undoubtedly turn off others, but for the most part, Here to Save You All is one of the most distinctive and underrated debuts in hip-hop history. ~ Nathan Rabin
Personnel: Jut Boogie, Jamie Stewart (vocals); Lamont Holbdy (maracas, timbales, vibraslap).
Audio Mixers: Steve Souder; Chip Mullaney; Dan Charnas; King Tech; Sean Freehill; Carlos Bess.
Photographer: Stephen Stickler.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Mark Luv; Jay Vietnam; Sean Freehill.
Personnel: Chino XL (vocals); Ras Kass, Gravitation, Kool Keith.
Producers include: B Wiz, Kutmasta Kurt, Bird, D.J. Homicide, Erik Romero, Dan Charnas.
Rolling Stone (5/30/96, p.50) - 3 Stars - Good - "...takes rap back to the hollowed African-American tradition of capping, in which black kids stand in front yards and shoot verbal arrows into each others' asses..." The Source (5/96, p.70) - 3.5 Mics - Dope - "...a record with equal amounts [of] style and substance....incorporates elements of both coasts' sounds. HERE TO SAVE YOU ALL is solid, dynamic and refreshing..." Melody Maker (4/20/96, p.46) - "...pushes sonic frontiers while engaging in a one-man war on humankind....tours the darkside with a body-breaking bass on the underside..." Rap Pages (5/96, p.33) - 7 (out of 10) - "...a blend of rugged rhythms featuring dope punch lines and hooks. His rhymes run through warped rhythms, making for a nonstop head-nod....There's nothing Chino XL won't say to get his message across..." NME (Magazine) (5/11/96, p.46) - 6 (out of 10) - "...[Chino] is riveting precisely because he doesn't pull punches..."
chino xl one of the only true wordsmiths Here to save you all is a testament to true lyricism from the first to the last song. His poisenous wordplay and precise vicious delivery really make you believe the outrageous punchlines that he creates. I say that this CD deserves to be right at the top with Dr. Octagon and the first Mob Deep. If you are true hip hop head or just somebody who just wants to hear some dope punchlines then this CD is a must buy, you definintly gotta get this. Submitted by agarcia2 (Detroit) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
real hip hop kids Chino xl is def one of my fav mcs he and canibus should do a collaboration I love eminem but em def stole his dissing other rappers style from chino cept chino is more controversal he'll diss anybody(tupac) em only disses pop artist chino is one of the best latin mcs I'v heard next 2 Big Pun & Immortal Technqiue get this album u won't be let down! Submitted by dixonjer (Huntsville,AL,USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
NEED BETTER BEATS This cat is pretty dope, but he needs some better production. His beats are weak. There is only one song on this album that is worth it. all other production on this album is pretty crappy.
Chino got rhymes, but beats kill it
all in all, maybe he should release an acapella album.
Submitted by sickverses (anaheim, CA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
This album will never die i listen to no complex ery day he a crazy underated artist CHINO XL IS IMMORTAL YOU HERE ME!!!!!! Submitted by Kunal (India) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
sick debut this is a dope album that to me remains timeless. it came out in the mid 90's and still to this day is ill. the freshman album is veteran trust. cop it Submitted by a reviewer (Chandler, Arizona) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
chino xl one of the only true wordsmiths
NEED BETTER BEATS
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