Album full of 'Magic'

By Wes Woods, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, October 5, 1998

Variety is the spice of life. This phrase sums up the album debut of No Limit, Tru Records artist Magic. All of the proverbial bases are covered on this album.

The 23-year-old's songs about growing up, killing, hard times and women manage to get the overall job done. His emotion-felt lyrics confidently complement this diverse and entertaining piece of work.

Although, Magic's heavy, enunciated tone and slow flow are not the most original, but he does surprisingly have some smooth moments.

"A lot of pessimistic people are speaking about my lifestyle," Magic says on the track "No Hope," "So when I enter the center I look for phony smiles." The lyrics come off very smooth in his slow, enunciated vocal tone. The material on "Skys the Limit" is straight gangsta, but with enough twists and turns to make it a success.

Amazingly, in this era of self-described thugs and killers, Magic comes off as very truthful in describing his various trials and tribulations. And despite having a little bit of trouble over the faster-than-the-usual No Limit tracks, Magic still holds his own with his vocal presence.

The tracks are familiar in the mid-tempo, bass and synthesizer-heavy tradition of No Limit. However, quite a few of the beats are slightly tweaked and speeded up using a wavering keyboard or synthesizer thrusts driving the prodding drums.

For instance, the cut "Mobb 4 Ever," featuring C-Murder, Fiend, Prime Suspects, Gambino Family, KLC and the TRU survivors, employs a nice screeching horn and synthesizers that speed up and ever-so-slightly slow down with the thunderous drums. The track explodes with its own presence, both musical and lyrical.

As usual, everyone associated with No Limit eagerly grabs the microphone every chance they get (16 times out of 22 songs), and it is entertaining. Co-executive producer C-Murder, along with brother Master P, brings his tight charismatic musical style to the six tracks he is on.

He just about steals Magic's thunder every time he even talks on the microphone.

Master P, Mystical, Snoop, Silkk and every other No Limit soldier on the album are surprisingly smooth. The lyrics, while simple, are very engaging and commanding.

Some standout songs include the short, yet interesting sample of Godzilla yelling "Ghetto Godzilla," with Master P. The thunderous upbeat chant-a-long "No Limit," with Snoop and C-Murder. And last, but not least, the melodic and touching R and B influenced cut "No Hope" with C-Murder, the Sons of Funk and Lady TRU.

Other songs, unfortunately just serve as fillers. The monotonous, long beat of "I Got Love 4 Ya," featuring Steady Mobbin' and Snoop, is one example. "Special Forces," featuring Da Commission with its keyboard plunks and rumbling bass that move too slow and the generic, slow-as-a-snail title track with Mia X, are others. Despite the negatives, which include Magic being solo on only five songs, there are enough good songs to forget about the mistakes.

In the big picture, this CD wins with its diversity and length.

The album's length is a hefty 80 minutes. While its content and originality will not change any musical barriers, it is entertaining enough to enjoy for a long time.