R.A. the Rugged Man - American Lowlife (1999)
On this (shelved) album, R.A. the Rugged Man steps his game up with both rapping (flow and the ability actually understand what he's saying) and production. The opening track "4 Days in Cali" had me surprised with its Notorious B.I.G. vibe to it! It makes me wonder what type of shit R.A. and Biggie could've made together if Biggie didn't quit rapping or whatever, I never looked into what happened to that guy, but I can't wait to see him live if he ever picks the mic up again!!
R.A. the Rugged Man is a pretty tough and nasty guy, as hinted by "Night of the Bloody Apes" and now this album, and man, he is NOT the type of guy you want to be alone in a bathroom with. The issues going on with transgender people using bathrooms at Target right now? Stop being ignorant and let them piss in peace, just keep R.A. the Rugged Man the fuck out of every public bathroom in every country!!
The production still ain't great, but is certainly a step above "Night of the Bloody Apes" in every way, especially in creativity. Songs like "4 Days in Cali" and "Poor People" have great beats, but the rest of 'em are pretty much just passable, but when you have a rapper as entertaining as R.A. the Rugged Man flowing over them, it's usually not too big of a problem, unless someone like Mr. Eon steals the microphone away from him and you pray for R.A. to steal it back from him.
Not every track is a winner, or even that noteworthy ("Break the Walls" is so.. Ugh. Don't get me started on songs like that), but it's pretty consistent flow-wise, and like I said, R.A.'s pretty entertaining as a rapper, with the nasty shit he says and how he says it. I wonder how this album would've done if it were actually released.
7/10
