Lord Finesse

Alright 1st off... DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz, & of course Mike Smooth handle all the beats! If this were only an instrumental record you should've bought this by now. Lord Finesse came correct!!! His punchlines are extremely tight and his perspectives stand-out. Even if you're a hard to please head, I'm confident that you'll find this LP to fit your criteria for classic status. If you don't already have this, by all means get it whenever you come across this. If you do infact own a copy, re-discover its purity as a Hip Hop album for the ages. Peace!

Lord Finesse, the funky brother, has to be one of New York's most criminally slept-on & un-appreciated artists to ever come up. The DITC legend has been going for round about 13-14 years and STILL he does not get the props and recognition he deserves. 3 classic LP's and a notable remix album, Lord Finesse is straight consistency, I guarantee you'll never hear a weak verse. Although it is debated that yeh Lord Finesse does lack the complexity and the ability to switch up the speed of his flow like others, it can not be argued that his funky, double-rhyming style is next to none! when he starts to talk, any true hiphop fan knows what they're in for...
"Funky Technician" being Lord Finesse's debut is an absolute timeless classic. Released in 1990, originally, it sounds as fresh as fresh can get. With the seemingly endless use of funk-legend samples, like James Brown, the beats are the most notable significance of the album. Well what do you expect? Hip Hop LEGENDS; DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz & Mike Smooth handle the production (Yes, and you slept on this?!)and produce some of their best work yet, if not THE best. The relationship between Lord Finesse and the flawless production, is unexplainable. They suit perfectly, I don't think they could have created a better sound.

There are 12 full-length tracks and 1 skit (the intro) on here, and not one single track can be dubbed "weak" or even "average". Every one is likely to BLOW YOUR MIND!

1. Intro (the intro to the funk, prepare yourself)

2. Baby You Nasty (produced by premo), is one of Lord Finesse's most recognised songs, with Finesse talkin' about just why he is the man, and the funky technician.

3. "Funky Technician" is my personal favourite, with Diamond flippin' one of my favourite samples of all time (also used on Das Efx's - They Want efx & others). Similarly, you can bet lord finesse is untouchable here. CLASSIC, peep it and you'll see.

4."Back To Back Rhyming" (Produced by Showbiz) features fellow DITC legend AG. The charisma and chemistry demonstarted by both MC's on this track is just phenomenal, a boom-bap classic.

5. "Here I Come" (Produced by Diamond) is straight FUNK, with finesse rippin' it over one of the most laid-back and jazzy beats on the album. With James brown on the cut, you know what's up...

6."Slave to my soundwave" (produced by Mike Smooth)is the most up-tempo track on the album. With finesse speeding up a little bit accordingly. flawless.

7. "I Keep The Crowd listening" (Produced by Diamond) is also one of the more laid back tracks, with Rakim on the cut.

8. "Bad Mutha" (produced by Diamond) uses one of James Brown's most famous and memorable samples (check Nas-Get Down). "I don't front and pretend cause thats imaginary, I get funkay with the use of vocabularly...". Enuff Said

9. "Keep It Flowing" (Produced by Premo), again features DITC affiliate AG. HARDCORE FUNK, more uptempo, AG & finesse demonstrate how it's meant to be done, prepare to be captivated.

10. "Lesson to be taught" (produced by premo) has a very "charming" vibe about it. With finesse droppin' knowledge about the importance of school, and the alternative route you can take. peep.

11. "Just a little something" (produced by Showbiz), as the name implies this is the shortest track, with only one verse and then finesse shoutin' out to those he holds dearest

12. "Strictly for the ladies" (produced by premo). 3 words - OH MY GOD! One of premo's best beats, check the vibe! Symbols, heavy bass and a ridiculous sample is what your brain will endure. Prepare for the ride...CLASSIC "Now girls step up to this"

13. "Track the movement" (produced by Premo)veryyy jazzzzy. One of the album's most satisfying tracks, with the beat switching up from time to time. Premo lays the foundation for finesse to kick the knowledge before the end of one of the best debuts, ever.

If you still haven't heard this, HURRY UP! 16 years is better than never, and get ready for one of the most charismatic, funky and hardcore hiphop albums you will ever have laid your hands on. Please do not sleep any longer. PEACE!

Lyrics - 10/10
Beats - 10/10
Originality - 10/10
Replay Value - 10/10

If you found this helpful, check my other reviews!

Funky Technician (Wild Pitch 1990)

In the early 90's, Lord Finesse was the freestyleking of New York, and for those of you been around for awhile, you might remember his legendary acappella verse from New Music Seminar, where he dissed Mr. Funkyman from Lords of the Underground (Lord Finesse was namely the original 'Funky Man'.) Already in 1990 he debuted with this great record, Funky Technician. It didn't became an instant classic, but in later years it has slowly appeared to that status, at least in my ears.

With production from Diamond D, DJ Premier and Showbiz, plus a featuring by A.G., this was kind of a D.I.T.C.-record, and the first one too. Everyone were fresh this time, but there's something' very refreshing `bout the simpleness here. Primo's beats was the most impressive, both him and Diamond used many well known samples, especially James Brown, which was used a lot during this timeperiod, and there's actually two samples from the music to the movie Black Ceasar. DJ Mike Smooth also produced a great song, if you if look at the cover, you'll actually see that Finesse and Mike Smooth where a duo that time. As a DJ, he was a part of the group (like Eric B. & Rakim, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock etc. etc.) When it comes to the rappin', it was simple but entertaining, and Lord Finesse's strength has always been punchlines. He was a "slick brother with a face and a half moon", and he could really spit. There's no more hocuspocus than that, this was before the gimmicks took over.

Funky Technician are recommend for all true fans of hip-hop. Not every track here's a classic, but check out "Back To Back Rhyming" and "Keep It Flowing" they still sound as funky today as they did 16 years ago. Show this Bronx-rapper some love and buy a "forgotten" classic.

Lord Finesse caught uncanny wrek on this LP in cool indifference to the hostile (first) Bush Administration...he's nice with the mic and he's "nice with his clothes off." Deads nearly all rap LPs today.

this is a hip hop classic! the first reviewer summed it up very eloquently.

I love how people who have just heard this within the last 5 years try to give it less than 5 stars. I've had this since it came out, and you can't front on it. It's a classic. Even the interludes are dope. Lord Finesse has always been one of the most underated mc's, and he continues to be. But not by this reviewer, i know the deal...

Just to clarify to the reviewers and anyone who heard this album and claims that it sounds like an EP, that it is an EP. Not only it was advertised as an EP (Amazon should state that in it's product discription), but it is mentioned as an EP on the second track of the album. A lot of reviewers say that there are as many interludes as there are songs, which I personally don't have a problem with. The point is that they are there listed as individual tracks, so in case you do not want to hear them, skip over them, rather than them being placed at the beginning of the song, causing the listener to loose interest in the track before the actual song begins. The interludes average about a minute and a half. Also they have some dope beats that are played in the back, like "Taking It (MC) Lyte". "O' Lord" has O.C. spitting a few short rhymes on his interlude. So they are all great to listen to, with the exception of Akinyele screaming all over one them ("Words From Da Ak"). Personally, I see the interludes as like a preperation for a track, while giving the listener the option to hear them if they want to.

Now that been said, the EP itself is excellent from Lord Finesse. Finesse is known for bringing you punchlines in your face, and he does them perfectly here. I disagree with one reviewer who claims that every other line is a punchline, although they are quite a few that flow all throughout this album. I find that the best tracks that Lord Finesse are on by himself are "True And Livin'" and "Hip 2 Da Game", because he flows more confortably on those tracks.

Some of the best tracks are when there are guests on as well. "Brainstorm/P.S.K. (No Gimmicks Remix)" featuring KRS-One and O.C. is a good one and it sound better than the origonal version of "No Gimmicks" that is towards the end of the album. The one that has my attention the most and had me hitting the replay button was "Speak Ya Peace" with Marquee, Diamond D, and A.G. Dope lyrics comming from all four members as well as as a dope beat from Myke Loe. There is a bonus track at the very end called "Actual Facts" and it features Grand Puba, Sadat X, and Large Professor. All four of them on one track alone makes it worth listening to as well.

So there you have it, Lord Finesse's EP "The Awakening". This EP is dope from beginning to the end and will gurantee satisfaction who is a fan of hip hop, especially in the early-mid 90's. This album was just reissued last year on Traffic Entertainment Group which was a very good idea to do. As for the price, I believe that anyone shouldn't pay no more than 20 bucks for this, seeing that the actual price is around 15 (and the fact that it is an EP, and the majority of them sell for around 10). But if you can find this EP at a reasonable price, go ahead and add it to your collection.

One more thing before I finish (and this really isn't that important to some people). The reissue that is here on Amazon, has the product discription, and it shows quotes from The Rap Pages and The Source. Just to let you know, The Source gave this 3 Mics, and the Rap Pages gave this a 6 (out of 10). I was just wondering if they actually listened to the same EP that the reviewers here were listening to.

Lyrics: A-
Production: B+
Guest Appearance (not including interludes): B+
Musical Vibes: B+
Overall B+

Favorite Tracks: True And Livin', Brainstorm/P.S.K. (No Gimmics Remix), Speak Ya Peace, Hip 2 Da Game, and Actual Facts (Bonus Track)

Peace Everyone!!!

Throughout his career, Lord Finesse has been one of hip hop's strongest artists, producing great tracks for countless great artists and more than holding it down on the mic. "The Awakening" is the true gem of his career though. This album, originally released in 1995 and long out of print, showcases just how great he really was. This is an archetypical Diggin' in the Crates release, with guest appearances from many DITC members and the signature DITC sound that Finesse pioneered. The beats are full of deep funky bass, jazz sampling, great vocals, and a certain vibesy sound that no one else could ever manage to duplicate. Finesse's lyricism here is quite entertaining, he establishes himself as a master of punchlines. I could sit for a long time laughing at all the funny punchlines on "The Awakening", he does a great job. I like the length of this release too, it has 16 tracks but half are short skits with MCs giving props to Finesse. Even the skits are quite enjoyable though, because they always have such dope beats. "The Awakening" is a forgotten gem and a truly great hip hop album.

After the intro, the first track is "Time to Bounce". It has an awesome beat, there's great bass, awesome vibes and drums, it always makes my head bob. "True and Livin'" is a slow rollin', chilled out song, great verses from the Lord and excellent production. O.C. drops a verse on his "O Lord" skit, which is followed by the excellent collaboration "Brainstorm/P.S.K. (No Gimmicks Remix)". My favorite song is the MC Lyte collaboration "Gameplan". Finesse tries to land Lyte's female character in this song, but the production is beautiful, such great instrumentals there and I really like the chorus. Akinyele shows his crazy style once again on his appearance in "Flip da Style", and Showbiz produces "Speak Ya Peace" in his guest spot. "Hip 2 Da Game" is one of the best here, great beat and punchlines from Finesse ("I see more skins than the average dermatologist!"). "No Gimmicks" is an awesome posse cut, and the bonus track is also great.

"The Awakening" is an amazingly consistent, expertly produced and impeccably executed album. Finesse does an awesome job, and the guest spots are perfectly selected, it's like a who's who of the 1995 New York scene. While $50+ is a very steep price for any album, I'm sure it is available for sale and download for much less. I recommend this one to all hip hop fans.

CLASSIC.
LYRICS ---------- 10/10
PRODUCTION COURTESY OF LORD FINESSE -------- 10/10
THEME ---------- 10/10
ALBUM COVER -------- 9/10
CONCEPT ---------- 10/10
GUEST APPEARANCE -------- MY MAN O.C & KRS ONE.
STAND OUT TRACKS -------- ALL TRACKS.
OVERALL ----------- N.Y.C. CLASSIC.

O.KAKA GOD'S GIFT TO DA UNDERGROUND.

First things First
The Awakening is one of the overall best Lp's ive ever listened to!!! the production is Finesse at his apex and the LYRICS well come on where talkin about the LORD FINESSE i cant get enough of Finesse's flow not only is he a rapper who rips it with battle enforced raps he drops true Knowledge about being an artist and the GIMMICKS that are used in the HipHop scene.
There is one Problem for me on this album that is almost the same as the other reviewer's the lack of tracks and before i knew about the Game Plan/Actual Facts 12" original i could still be extremely happy with the tracks that were on the album!
since im a giant DITC fan i coped the 12" and it has 2 unreleased tracks that im guessing were supose to be on The Awakening "SOUL PLAN and Underworld Operations" these track's I must say are well dammmmbbb I was happy to get that 12" with these 2 tracks on the album along with the critically aclaimed Down 4 the Underground would of made LP album in my opinion in the top 5 hiphop Lps of all time!!!
without the knowledge of the 12" i woulda had a 5 star rating but after knowing about it and knowing how much more heat could have been on the Album knocks the Lp down to 4 but still a Rap Classic IF YOU DONT HAVE THIS ALBUM YOU DONT KNOW THE ESSENCE OF REAL HIPHOP
OH YA AND Look Out for the ALL NEW FINESSE LP "THE UNDERBOSS" its been 8 Years since THE AWAKENING i can only Imagin what he has cookin up~!!!!!!!!

It's nice to see this still available. I never owned this album, but picked up "Yes, You May" on 12" many years ago. Glad I know have the album. Finesse's rhymes are on point, production is what I would expect from the DITC crew, nothing less than top-notch. Guest spots are uncredited in the liner notes: Percee P, Andre the Giant, Shel-Rumble, and Harry-O. Production by Finesse, Showbiz, Diamond D, Aladdin and SLJ.
Overall, WELL worth the low price. If you are a DITC fan: you need this album in the library. If you are fan of 1990's hip-hop and not familiar with the DITC crew, get familiar ad start here...

if you like funk & rap this is the best medicine for you!this effort have absolutely no sign of weakness.lyrics are youst sublime and the beats are great.i will rate it together with o.c (word...life) & nas (illmatic) as one of the 3 best hip-hop records ever made. buy it if you can find it!

Lord F spitting out rhymes all day every day. Great early `90 hip hop album. One of the best

After dropping the classic Funky Technician in 1990 i didnt think he could top that release, but he did Return of the Funky Man in my opinion is the best lord finesse album out. a lot might say Funky Technician and The Awakening are better but i have a few reasons why i prefer this album. first this to me is his only mature or full album. there are no skits and very little pointless talking before the songs start. the beats are some of the funkiest he has rapper over and lyrically hes on fire. The Awakening may contain some of his best songs but fails in some places where this album rules. this whole album is dope from start to finish with no songs that need to be skipped.

if your a Finesse fan or a D.I.T.C. fan i would recommend getting this album before the other Finesse albums.

Actually my rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars but considering the fact that this grading system doesn't allow this type of rating I'm inclined to give this album 4. Not his best album but still a good listen considering the crap that comes out these days. But if you never listend to his solo works than the right place for you to start is his first album with DJ Mike Smooth and after that check out the Awakening those albums are deffenitely 5 stars.

Founder of the phenomenal Diggin' In The Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), Lord Finesse will arguably be the sickest punch line emcee you will ever hear. In my opinion, no emcee can match Finesse's microphone dexterity. No emcee can match his lyrical endurance. And I dare you to find an emcee with superior wordplay. No, you've never quite heard an emcee lace a beat quite like Finesse. The only comparable emcees in terms of skill would be Rakim & Big Daddy Kane. His multi-syllable verses are among the elite. A hip-hop head not owning this classic album is like an R&B fan not owning Marvin Gaye "What's Going On".

Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth signed to the legendary Wild Pitch Records in 1989, and in 1990 they dropped "Funky Technician" on the scene like a ton of bricks. The producer lineup is ill - DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz, and of course the scathing DJ Mike Smooth.

This album is a wildly boisterous and exciting ride. It doesn't creep up on the serious tip in the least really. This duo is about dope beats & ill rhymes. And very few duos can execute this somewhat narrow spectrum with such vivid success. Tracks like "Funky Technician", "Back to Back Rhyming" featuring A.G., "Bud Mutha", "Just a Little Something" are just a few examples of the perfection these guys have to offer. There isn't a wack track in the bunch.

Despite the stellar lineup of talent, this album never received the respect it's due. In which case, it remains wholly underrated. And to the unconverted, without a question, you need this in your collection as soon as humanly possible.

Of Lord Finesse's three official releases this to me is truly his best, and the 1 that has undoubtedly stood the test of time. While all 3 albums were great, his first two albums have aged well lyrically but unfortunately between 1990 & about 92 there was huge change in hiphop, and the simple James Brown loops that had been the backing of his first 2 albums quickly began to sound dated. Also in this time Finesse also started to produce stuff for himself & other artists, and by 1995 he had become one of the best and most underated New York producers period. The Awakening is both the culmination of his Production & Emceeing talents.

First off while this album was officially labelled as an EP, it is effectively a full album, there are 9 tracks and it has a longer running time than Illmatic so it is an LP as far as in concerned. There are several interludes during the album (7 in total i think) and while this would detract from most albums, the beats on these interludes are nice, and work well as an introduction to the next track, several also include shout outs to Finesse from many other well known emcees. What you're left with are 9 amazing tracks, not a single 1 is weak in any way, beat wise I love True & Livin, the opening track & also Flip Da Style, with its off key piano loop and very heavy bassline. In fact the basslines on this album in general are speaker shattering, and should appeal to all NYC heads who are into that 90's sound. Elsewhere Finesse kicks game on the brillaint Gameplan, warns of the pitfalls of criminal life on Food For Thought, and generally there's a bit more diversity than on his other albums, though he still kicks some amazing punchlines & battle raps.

All guest emcees are top notch, including the likes of KRS-One (twice), OC, AG, Diamond D and on Actual Facts the hidden track, there is one of the greatest posse cuts ever with Sadat X, Grand Puba & Large Pro. All bar 1 track is produced by Finesse and as already stated they are all superb.

All in all I believe this album deserves to be mentioned amongst the top albums of 96, and the decade in general for that matter. One of the best albums to come out of the DITC camp also, if you dont already have it and your looking for something with that mid 90's NY sound you should check this out now, 5 stars.

This album has it all and is some of the tightest production I've heard in hip-hop. Beats up with the greats like Premo and Pete Rock. Liquid flows to blow your mind. No use going through the individual tracks because they all have something fresh and unique to offer. Some are on the shorter side, but they leave you wanting more, which is sometimes nice. Great guest spots from MC Lyte and O.C. Get this album if you do not already have it!!! Definitely a find for your collection.

Throughout his career, Lord Finesse has been one of hip hop's strongest artists, producing great tracks for countless great artists and more than holding it down on the mic. "The Awakening" is the true gem of his career though. This album, originally released in 1996 and long out of print, showcases just how great he really was. This is an archetypical Diggin' in the Crates release, with guest appearances from many DITC members and the signature DITC sound that Finesse pioneered. The beats are full of deep funky bass, jazz sampling, great vocals, and a certain vibesy sound that no one else could ever manage to duplicate. Finesse's lyricism here is quite entertaining, he establishes himself as a master of punchlines. I could sit for a long time laughing at all the funny punchlines on "The Awakening", he does a great job. I like the length of this release too, it has 16 tracks but half are short skits with MCs giving props to Finesse. Even the skits are quite enjoyable though, because they always have such dope beats. "The Awakening" is a forgotten gem and a truly great hip hop album.

After the intro, the first track is "Time to Bounce". It has an awesome beat, there's great bass, awesome vibes and drums, it always makes my head bob. "True and Livin'" is a slow rollin', chilled out song, great verses from the Lord and excellent production. O.C. drops a verse on his "O Lord" skit, which is followed by the excellent collaboration "Brainstorm/P.S.K. (No Gimmicks Remix)". My favorite song is the MC Lyte collaboration "Gameplan". Finesse tries to land Lyte's female character in this song, but the production is beautiful, such great instrumentals there and I really like the chorus. Akinyele shows his crazy style once again on his appearance in "Flip da Style", and Showbiz produces "Speak Ya Peace" in his guest spot. "Hip 2 Da Game" is one of the best here, great beat and punchlines from Finesse ("I see more skins than the average dermatologist!"). "No Gimmicks" is an awesome posse cut, and the bonus track is also great.

"The Awakening" is an amazingly consistent, expertly produced and impeccably executed album. Finesse does an awesome job, and the guest spots are perfectly selected, it's like a who's who of the 1995 New York scene. While $50+ is a very steep price for any album, I'm sure it is available for sale and download for much less. I recommend this one to all hip hop fans.

Lord Finesse HAS GOT TO BE one of the most under-rated mc's of all time. His flow is flawless and his metaphorical laced rhymes have obviously influenced so many other mc's that its scary. This is the man that is credited with discovering BIG L after he freestyled for Finesse one day outside a store. As a leading member of D.I.T.C. he established himself as an outstanding producer who worked with countless mc's such as A.G., Diamond, Big L, Fat Joe, B.I.G. and Artifacts to name afew. But its his rhymes that are the real blessing on this EP (there's 9 tracks on the re-issue plus interludes). Each of the 9 tracks are brilliant and nothing short of it. "True And Livin'" is a joint that allows Finesse to flex his lyrical muscles on the solo tip over a melodic rolling beat and its the perfect 1st track to showcase this EP. "Brainstorm" feat.O.C.+KRS1 is amazing where all 3 mc's tear the beat to shreads. "Gameplan" is an excellent story telling track about women were Finesse sounds confident and precise. Both "Flip Da Style" and "Speak Ya Peace" feat.Diamond, A.G. and Marquee are top notch with amazing production and verses from all mc's involved. "Food For Thought" is another story telling joint where Finesse shows his vast vocabulary in entertaining fashion. "Hip 2 Da Game" and "No Gimmicks" feat.KRS1 are like classes for lyrical lessons as these legends show exactly what makes an mc original and why they are so popular with fans. Finally is the bonus track that only gor added to the re-issued version and calling it the BEST posse cut in the last 10years in hiphop wouldnt be an understatement. "Actual Facts" feat.Sadat X, Grand Puba and Large Professor is simply put...a hiphop fans dream lineup. The beat that accompanies this is perfect and all mc's rise to it. The only things that took from this being a 5 star to me were there was skits all over the place which i HATE on albums plus when you hear the beats on some of these you wish that Finesse recorded more rhymes over them and turned this into an album rather than an EP. Other than that you wont find any other faults. Brilliant release from an under-appreciated lyricist.

Just to clarify to the reviewers and anyone who heard this album and claims that it sounds like an EP, that it is an EP. Not only it was advertised as an EP (Amazon should state that in it's product discription), but it is mentioned as an EP on the second track of the album. A lot of reviewers say that there are as many interludes as there are songs, which I personally don't have a problem with. The point is that they are there listed as individual tracks, so in case you do not want to hear them, skip over them, rather than them being placed at the beginning of the song, causing the listener to loose interest in the track before the actual song begins. The interludes average about a minute and a half. Also they have some dope beats that are played in the back, like "Taking It (MC) Lyte". "O' Lord" has O.C. spitting a few short rhymes on his interlude. So they are all great to listen to, with the exception of Akinyele screaming all over one them ("Words From Da Ak"). Personally, I see the interludes as like a preperation for a track, while giving the listener the option to hear them if they want to.

Now that been said, the EP itself is excellent from Lord Finesse. Finesse is known for bringing you punchlines in your face, and he does them perfectly here. I disagree with one reviewer who claims that every other line is a punchline, although they are quite a few that flow all throughout this album. I find that the best tracks that Lord Finesse are on by himself are "True And Livin'" and "Hip 2 Da Game", because he flows more confortably on those tracks.

Some of the best tracks are when there are guests on as well. "Brainstorm/P.S.K. (No Gimmicks Remix)" featuring KRS-One and O.C. is a good one and it sound better than the origonal version of "No Gimmicks" that is towards the end of the album. The one that has my attention the most and had me hitting the replay button was "Speak Ya Peace" with Marquee, Diamond D, and A.G. Dope lyrics comming from all four members as well as as a dope beat from Myke Loe. There is a bonus track at the very end called "Actual Facts" and it features Grand Puba, Sadat X, and Large Professor. All four of them on one track alone makes it worth listening to as well.

So there you have it, Lord Finesse's EP "The Awakening". This EP is dope from beginning to the end and will gurantee satisfaction who is a fan of hip hop, especially in the early-mid 90's. This album was just reissued last year on Traffic Entertainment Group which was a very good idea to do. As for the price, I believe that anyone shouldn't pay no more than 20 bucks for this, seeing that the actual price is around 15 (and the fact that it is an EP, and the majority of them sell for around 10). But if you can find this EP at a reasonable price, go ahead and add it to your collection.

One more thing before I finish (and this really isn't that important to some people). The reissue that is here on Amazon, has the product discription, and it shows quotes from The Rap Pages and The Source. Just to let you know, The Source gave this 3 Mics, and the Rap Pages gave this a 6 (out of 10). I was just wondering if they actually listened to the same EP that the reviewers here were listening to.

Lyrics: A-
Production: B+
Guest Appearance (not including interludes): B+
Musical Vibes: B+
Overall B+

Favorite Tracks: True And Livin', Brainstorm/P.S.K. (No Gimmics Remix), Speak Ya Peace, Hip 2 Da Game, and Actual Facts (Bonus Track)

Peace Everyone!!!

Lord Finesse at his best. I also recommend Funky Technician with DJ Mike Smooth. Plus if you're a fan of Big L (RIP), Yes You May and You Know What I'm About will blow your doors off. Buy the album.

Who dares to say Lord Finesse isn't a great MC? Lord Finesse IS one of the true lyrical champions of the Boogie Down Bronx and well reknown as the "punch-line King". On any great MC list, Finesse's name will be there. From Melle-Mell to KRS ONE to Big Pun, Lord Finesse is well respected as one of the "King MC's of Pelan" (The Bronx). This CD is "classic" Lord Finesse. All it's missing is the original version of "BABY, YOU NASTY", and it would've been a wrap. This is true NYC Boom-Bap at it's best! A must have!

I ordered this album expecting to hear some vintage DITC lyrics and rhymes bringing it back to the days of the second golden era, right? Wrong. Lord Finesse was never a great MC, he's dope on the boards though. I will never dispute that. This album high points come when the listener hears Big L voice once again on the tracks "Yes You May" and "You Know What I'm About". Only the latter four tracks of the album may you nod your head in agreement, as for everything else, you'll be shaking your head in dissapointment.

Lost sessions lord finesse is a collection of straight New York's hip hop snares,horns & thumping beats.

Alright 1st off... DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz, & of course Mike Smooth handle all the beats! If this were only an instrumental record you should've bought this by now. Lord Finesse came correct!!! His punchlines are extremely tight and his perspectives stand-out. Even if you're a hard to please head, I'm confident that you'll find this LP to fit your criteria for classic status. If you don't already have this, by all means get it whenever you come across this. If you do infact own a copy, re-discover its purity as a Hip Hop album for the ages. Peace!

Lord Finesse, the funky brother, has to be one of New York's most criminally slept-on & un-appreciated artists to ever come up. The DITC legend has been going for round about 13-14 years and STILL he does not get the props and recognition he deserves. 3 classic LP's and a notable remix album, Lord Finesse is straight consistency, I guarantee you'll never hear a weak verse. Although it is debated that yeh Lord Finesse does lack the complexity and the ability to switch up the speed of his flow like others, it can not be argued that his funky, double-rhyming style is next to none! when he starts to talk, any true hiphop fan knows what they're in for...
"Funky Technician" being Lord Finesse's debut is an absolute timeless classic. Released in 1990, originally, it sounds as fresh as fresh can get. With the seemingly endless use of funk-legend samples, like James Brown, the beats are the most notable significance of the album. Well what do you expect? Hip Hop LEGENDS; DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz & Mike Smooth handle the production (Yes, and you slept on this?!)and produce some of their best work yet, if not THE best. The relationship between Lord Finesse and the flawless production, is unexplainable. They suit perfectly, I don't think they could have created a better sound.

There are 12 full-length tracks and 1 skit (the intro) on here, and not one single track can be dubbed "weak" or even "average". Every one is likely to BLOW YOUR MIND!

1. Intro (the intro to the funk, prepare yourself)

2. Baby You Nasty (produced by premo), is one of Lord Finesse's most recognised songs, with Finesse talkin' about just why he is the man, and the funky technician.

3. "Funky Technician" is my personal favourite, with Diamond flippin' one of my favourite samples of all time (also used on Das Efx's - They Want efx & others). Similarly, you can bet lord finesse is untouchable here. CLASSIC, peep it and you'll see.

4."Back To Back Rhyming" (Produced by Showbiz) features fellow DITC legend AG. The charisma and chemistry demonstarted by both MC's on this track is just phenomenal, a boom-bap classic.

5. "Here I Come" (Produced by Diamond) is straight FUNK, with finesse rippin' it over one of the most laid-back and jazzy beats on the album. With James brown on the cut, you know what's up...

6."Slave to my soundwave" (produced by Mike Smooth)is the most up-tempo track on the album. With finesse speeding up a little bit accordingly. flawless.

7. "I Keep The Crowd listening" (Produced by Diamond) is also one of the more laid back tracks, with Rakim on the cut.

8. "Bad Mutha" (produced by Diamond) uses one of James Brown's most famous and memorable samples (check Nas-Get Down). "I don't front and pretend cause thats imaginary, I get funkay with the use of vocabularly...". Enuff Said

9. "Keep It Flowing" (Produced by Premo), again features DITC affiliate AG. HARDCORE FUNK, more uptempo, AG & finesse demonstrate how it's meant to be done, prepare to be captivated.

10. "Lesson to be taught" (produced by premo) has a very "charming" vibe about it. With finesse droppin' knowledge about the importance of school, and the alternative route you can take. peep.

11. "Just a little something" (produced by Showbiz), as the name implies this is the shortest track, with only one verse and then finesse shoutin' out to those he holds dearest

12. "Strictly for the ladies" (produced by premo). 3 words - OH MY GOD! One of premo's best beats, check the vibe! Symbols, heavy bass and a ridiculous sample is what your brain will endure. Prepare for the ride...CLASSIC "Now girls step up to this"

13. "Track the movement" (produced by Premo)veryyy jazzzzy. One of the album's most satisfying tracks, with the beat switching up from time to time. Premo lays the foundation for finesse to kick the knowledge before the end of one of the best debuts, ever.

If you still haven't heard this, HURRY UP! 16 years is better than never, and get ready for one of the most charismatic, funky and hardcore hiphop albums you will ever have laid your hands on. Please do not sleep any longer. PEACE!

Lyrics - 10/10
Beats - 10/10
Originality - 10/10
Replay Value - 10/10

If you found this helpful, check my other reviews!

Funky Technician (Wild Pitch 1990)

In the early 90's, Lord Finesse was the freestyleking of New York, and for those of you been around for awhile, you might remember his legendary acappella verse from New Music Seminar, where he dissed Mr. Funkyman from Lords of the Underground (Lord Finesse was namely the original 'Funky Man'.) Already in 1990 he debuted with this great record, Funky Technician. It didn't became an instant classic, but in later years it has slowly appeared to that status, at least in my ears.

With production from Diamond D, DJ Premier and Showbiz, plus a featuring by A.G., this was kind of a D.I.T.C.-record, and the first one too. Everyone were fresh this time, but there's something' very refreshing `bout the simpleness here. Primo's beats was the most impressive, both him and Diamond used many well known samples, especially James Brown, which was used a lot during this timeperiod, and there's actually two samples from the music to the movie Black Ceasar. DJ Mike Smooth also produced a great song, if you if look at the cover, you'll actually see that Finesse and Mike Smooth where a duo that time. As a DJ, he was a part of the group (like Eric B. & Rakim, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock etc. etc.) When it comes to the rappin', it was simple but entertaining, and Lord Finesse's strength has always been punchlines. He was a "slick brother with a face and a half moon", and he could really spit. There's no more hocuspocus than that, this was before the gimmicks took over.

Funky Technician are recommend for all true fans of hip-hop. Not every track here's a classic, but check out "Back To Back Rhyming" and "Keep It Flowing" they still sound as funky today as they did 16 years ago. Show this Bronx-rapper some love and buy a "forgotten" classic.

Lord Finesse caught uncanny wrek on this LP in cool indifference to the hostile (first) Bush Administration...he's nice with the mic and he's "nice with his clothes off." Deads nearly all rap LPs today.

this is a hip hop classic! the first reviewer summed it up very eloquently.

Alright 1st off... DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz, & of course Mike Smooth handle all the beats! If this were only an instrumental record you should've bought this by now. Lord Finesse came correct!!! His punchlines are extremely tight and his perspectives stand-out. Even if you're a hard to please head, I'm confident that you'll find this LP to fit your criteria for classic status. If you don't already have this, by all means get it whenever you come across this. If you do infact own a copy, re-discover its purity as a Hip Hop album for the ages. Peace!

Lord Finesse, the funky brother, has to be one of New York's most criminally slept-on & un-appreciated artists to ever come up. The DITC legend has been going for round about 13-14 years and STILL he does not get the props and recognition he deserves. 3 classic LP's and a notable remix album, Lord Finesse is straight consistency, I guarantee you'll never hear a weak verse. Although it is debated that yeh Lord Finesse does lack the complexity and the ability to switch up the speed of his flow like others, it can not be argued that his funky, double-rhyming style is next to none! when he starts to talk, any true hiphop fan knows what they're in for...
"Funky Technician" being Lord Finesse's debut is an absolute timeless classic. Released in 1990, originally, it sounds as fresh as fresh can get. With the seemingly endless use of funk-legend samples, like James Brown, the beats are the most notable significance of the album. Well what do you expect? Hip Hop LEGENDS; DJ Premier, Diamond D, Showbiz & Mike Smooth handle the production (Yes, and you slept on this?!)and produce some of their best work yet, if not THE best. The relationship between Lord Finesse and the flawless production, is unexplainable. They suit perfectly, I don't think they could have created a better sound.

There are 12 full-length tracks and 1 skit (the intro) on here, and not one single track can be dubbed "weak" or even "average". Every one is likely to BLOW YOUR MIND!

1. Intro (the intro to the funk, prepare yourself)

2. Baby You Nasty (produced by premo), is one of Lord Finesse's most recognised songs, with Finesse talkin' about just why he is the man, and the funky technician.

3. "Funky Technician" is my personal favourite, with Diamond flippin' one of my favourite samples of all time (also used on Das Efx's - They Want efx & others). Similarly, you can bet lord finesse is untouchable here. CLASSIC, peep it and you'll see.

4."Back To Back Rhyming" (Produced by Showbiz) features fellow DITC legend AG. The charisma and chemistry demonstarted by both MC's on this track is just phenomenal, a boom-bap classic.

5. "Here I Come" (Produced by Diamond) is straight FUNK, with finesse rippin' it over one of the most laid-back and jazzy beats on the album. With James brown on the cut, you know what's up...

6."Slave to my soundwave" (produced by Mike Smooth)is the most up-tempo track on the album. With finesse speeding up a little bit accordingly. flawless.

7. "I Keep The Crowd listening" (Produced by Diamond) is also one of the more laid back tracks, with Rakim on the cut.

8. "Bad Mutha" (produced by Diamond) uses one of James Brown's most famous and memorable samples (check Nas-Get Down). "I don't front and pretend cause thats imaginary, I get funkay with the use of vocabularly...". Enuff Said

9. "Keep It Flowing" (Produced by Premo), again features DITC affiliate AG. HARDCORE FUNK, more uptempo, AG & finesse demonstrate how it's meant to be done, prepare to be captivated.

10. "Lesson to be taught" (produced by premo) has a very "charming" vibe about it. With finesse droppin' knowledge about the importance of school, and the alternative route you can take. peep.

11. "Just a little something" (produced by Showbiz), as the name implies this is the shortest track, with only one verse and then finesse shoutin' out to those he holds dearest

12. "Strictly for the ladies" (produced by premo). 3 words - OH MY GOD! One of premo's best beats, check the vibe! Symbols, heavy bass and a ridiculous sample is what your brain will endure. Prepare for the ride...CLASSIC "Now girls step up to this"

13. "Track the movement" (produced by Premo)veryyy jazzzzy. One of the album's most satisfying tracks, with the beat switching up from time to time. Premo lays the foundation for finesse to kick the knowledge before the end of one of the best debuts, ever.

If you still haven't heard this, HURRY UP! 16 years is better than never, and get ready for one of the most charismatic, funky and hardcore hiphop albums you will ever have laid your hands on. Please do not sleep any longer. PEACE!

Lyrics - 10/10
Beats - 10/10
Originality - 10/10
Replay Value - 10/10

If you found this helpful, check my other reviews!

Funky Technician (Wild Pitch 1990)

In the early 90's, Lord Finesse was the freestyleking of New York, and for those of you been around for awhile, you might remember his legendary acappella verse from New Music Seminar, where he dissed Mr. Funkyman from Lords of the Underground (Lord Finesse was namely the original 'Funky Man'.) Already in 1990 he debuted with this great record, Funky Technician. It didn't became an instant classic, but in later years it has slowly appeared to that status, at least in my ears.

With production from Diamond D, DJ Premier and Showbiz, plus a featuring by A.G., this was kind of a D.I.T.C.-record, and the first one too. Everyone were fresh this time, but there's something' very refreshing `bout the simpleness here. Primo's beats was the most impressive, both him and Diamond used many well known samples, especially James Brown, which was used a lot during this timeperiod, and there's actually two samples from the music to the movie Black Ceasar. DJ Mike Smooth also produced a great song, if you if look at the cover, you'll actually see that Finesse and Mike Smooth where a duo that time. As a DJ, he was a part of the group (like Eric B. & Rakim, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock etc. etc.) When it comes to the rappin', it was simple but entertaining, and Lord Finesse's strength has always been punchlines. He was a "slick brother with a face and a half moon", and he could really spit. There's no more hocuspocus than that, this was before the gimmicks took over.

Funky Technician are recommend for all true fans of hip-hop. Not every track here's a classic, but check out "Back To Back Rhyming" and "Keep It Flowing" they still sound as funky today as they did 16 years ago. Show this Bronx-rapper some love and buy a "forgotten" classic.

Lord Finesse caught uncanny wrek on this LP in cool indifference to the hostile (first) Bush Administration...he's nice with the mic and he's "nice with his clothes off." Deads nearly all rap LPs today.

this is a hip hop classic! the first reviewer summed it up very eloquently.

I'm with what they said about the shout out's, I really wasn't feelin this CD though, Not Impresses.I'd Give it 1 1/2 stars but it can have the benifit of the doubt and have 2

If you want good music then find out who the artis are on this CD and buy the albums. If you want to listen to shout outs then this is the album for you. Every got damn 2 minutes Lord Finesse wants to shout out to someone. If he's not shouting out then someone is popping up on the CD shouting out. The music is great and that's why I bought the CD but to listen to him talk through the entire CD made me want to pimp slap him for messing up the CD. The other CD's by The Biz and Pete Rock are nice and not as much talking but seriously I wouldn't recommend this CD unless you can find someone to burn it from.

Shout outs are expected on mixtapes, no question. This one has about 1,000 of them. If your gonna drop over 40 bones for this disc expect non-stop shout outs from Finesse to about every mc and dj in the book. The music is first rate, no doubt, but to me all the shout outs get in the way. Pete Rock and Biz Markie have Blue Note mixtapes in this series as well with far less shout outs, letting you, the listener, enjoy the jazz/funk mix more. No discredit to Lord Finesse, we know you've got skillz, but chill out on all the shout outs boy, damn!

Lord Finesse is the man and unbeatable. His funky breaks are more obscure... none of that Grant Green stuff either. In fact, you wonder why this man is not more appreciated in his lifetime at all. Indeed, I will admit that his cutting skills are impeccable and quite a beaut by all means too. The sound is the best mono and definitely worth listening for all the tracks one by one...