Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review



Night Owls 4: A Shot In The Dark
by Various Artists



Album length: 20 tracks: 69 minutes, 46 seconds
Street Date: January 8, 2008 (CD)


Lemon Grove, California-based record label, Syntax Records, is well-known by fans of underground hip hop. While the label does have several artists outside of the genre, it's most well-known for the likes of LA Symphony, Sackcloth Fashion, and the incomparable RedCloud. And every so often, a collection of these and various other artists comes around. January 2008 marks the newest of such releases, Night Owls 4: A Shot In The Dark.

Most of the artists involved are mainly underground giants, but the talent is not left behind. The duo of Cookbook & UNO Mas, who provide the jam "Always Shine," make for one of the best songs on the album. Cookbook sounds almost identical to The Cross Movement's Phanatik, and is quite comparable in style as well. In "Live & Direct," Paradox sounds like he was born to rap, especially with a pretty impressive flow on the second verse. The intelligence and well-thought-out flow is what makes hip hop so unique, and it's what proves the talent of hip hop artists. And few people can spit a verse like RedCloud, who makes an appearance at the end of the disc with "21 Jump Street," where he showcases his fast-paced rapping ability. Even RedCloud's partner in crime, DJ Wise, gets some time on the album, appearing in several tracks, and also having his own interlude track halfway through the compilation.

Other highlights include Page One & Because playing with words on "Emceeing Is Believing," and Kaboose calling on two Deepspace 5 members (manCHILD and Playdough) to complete the track "Knuckle Up." Disappointments arrived a couple times as well, though. theBREAX's track "We Will Not Stop" is very outspoken, almost to the point of cockiness. Lines like "They crack jokes when they find out I'm celebate, but I've never been in the clinic sweating waiting for the evidence" seem, at first, to be just defensive, despite truthful. But when the whole song is full of lines like that, it almost seems as if he's just talking about how great of a Christian he is. Another letdown, although very very minor, is the extremely creepy sample used on Listener's "Older Than I Was Before." However, Listener's unique style almost makes up for it.

If you want good flows, creative beats, and more collaborations than you can touch with a 39 and a half foot pole, look no further. Night Owls 4: A Shot In The Dark is what you want. One of the best compilations to be released as of late, in any genre of music.

- PReview date: 12/1/07, Review: 12/30/07 written by Scott Fryberger



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 


. Record Label: Syntax Records
. Album length: 20 tracks: 69 minutes, 46 seconds
. Street Date: December 4, 2007 (Digital) / January 8, 2008 (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. For You - Kaboose
  2. Always Shine - Uno Mas
  3. We Will Not Stop - theBREAX
  4. Emceeing Is Believing - Page One & Because
  5. Spell It - NoVA Infinite
  6. Hold On - MotionPlus
  7. California Soul - Maximillian
  8. Older Than I Was Before - Listener
  9. First Of All - Sivion
  10. A Shot In the Dark - DJ Wise
  11. Knuckle Up - Kaboose
  12. Something You Said - Insufficient Funds
  13. Shots Out - Man Of War
  14. Test Market - The Pride
  15. Live & Direct - Paradox
  16. Fine Line - Scribbling Idiots
  17. We Ran With It - Propaganda
  18. Choose Your Battles - Cal Logic
  19. Okay With It - Braille
  20. 21 Jump Street - Redcloud

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images