Hidden Stash II - the Kream of the Krop (Explicit)

by Bradley TorreanoThe Kottonmouth Kings jump back into the rap-rock fray with Hidden Stash, Vol. 2, a loud album that shows a fairly different sound than what they tried on their debut. Songs like "Killa Kali" are simplistic, angry tunes that take the same attitude and delivery as Eminem, an obvious influence judging by the production and style. The only difference is where Eminem throws clever references, funny quips, and thoughtful comments into his controversial music, the Kottonmouth Kings talk about three things: how great they are, how they hate everyone, and how much they love ******** There is no trace of humor on most of these tracks, as they try and take their punk and rap songs as seriously as possible. This emphasizes how angry they are, but takes the energy out of the lyrics and leaves them with strong music with forgettable vocals. What is most surprising is their incredible talent for reggae; despite the dull lyrics, both "On the Run" and "Tell Me Why" are the most memorable songs on the album. Hidden Stash, Vol. 2 is the sound of a band playing catch-up with their contemporaries but losing sight of what makes this brand of music exciting.