Da Band - Too Hot For Hot TV

Da Band have it easier than most, and tougher than anyone can imagine. Is that philosophical spaghetti? Let me explain. The dysfunctional fam got a tremendous boost from the Making the Band 2 show. Knowing how they were selected and their (perceived) behavior in the house, you doubted they would ever be able to put together eight coherent bars. With that in mind all that was necessary for them to impress people was to put together any chorus/verse combo that resembles what's currently on the radio. And that's precisely what they did, there is nothing outstanding here.. it just seems that way because we saw them "come up." It's like your cousin coming by the house with a professionally produced demo, never mind what's being said.. your amazed that it sounds like an actual record.

That's the "got it easy part." What's hard is transcending the Making the Band stigma. Take it right back to the cousin analogy.. more..

That's the "got it easy part." what's hard is transcending the Making the Band stigma. Take it right back to the cousin analogy.. no matter how many records get sold, stadiums sold out, it'll take a hell of a lot to think of your cuz as anything more than that. Said simply, because of the show.. they don't come of as real artists. It's not regulated to Da Band.. American Idol winners have the same feel.

They did turn up the heat on a few songs, "I Like Your Style" and "What We Gonna Do" are potential singles. If I can offer Puff my two cents either one is ripe for the radio.

Ness has gotten the unofficial distinction as the nicest lyricist in the group, but it's Babs Bunny who surprised me. She pops out more animated than any other member - sorry XXL, Dylan is not Da Band champ. Bab's verses sound like pure Brooklyn chicken.. fried rice, Gates Ave and all. I can feel the realness and visualize what she speaks on, which.. if I may screech the tires.. slows down considerably by the fourth or fifth song. It's then you notice that in every rhyme she mentions getting weeded. Ol girl has a serious habit. She didn't sneak out of the house in episode(?) just to see her Grandmama.. she hit her peoples, puffed, puffed and didn't pass shit. "I'm sayin. I ain't smoke in three days, yo."

I'm feeling the rawness of her voice though. The lyrical flaws are inherent in all the members of Da Band. They all get stuck in gear. Take Chopper for instance.. his solo shot is hot for exactly two verses, then you want to slap him with a book, newspaper, or a dishrag.. anything that will get his ass away from the TV watching Cribs. He is obsessed with anything shiny and new. You just know his advance check is looking like $1.25 by now.

Sara and Dylan get shortchanged for the most part, they get to sing hooks and mini bites on the tracks. Sara does get a solo shot that I think was soured with Ness's rap.. not every R&B song needs a thug hug. And Fred's lyrics are umm.. let me see.. they are.. exactly unmemorable. His energy doesn't come off on records the same as what you saw from him on the show. At one point he was the most energetic (or at least entertaining) member of the group. This CD isn't horrible. I just believe that once you hear it and have checked them for actual skills or lack of, it'll get lost in the collection and you won't miss it.

Too Hot For TV? That remains to be seen. I say if the music thing doesn't work out they approach MTV with a new reality show called Da Band Back Home.. Now What? - CG

Late Addition: Making the Band 3 following Da Band on tour is underway

back to the ratings..

The Industry Says

XXL - M .."Da Band's members exhibit less chemistry than Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley. The most solid of the lot is Dylan."

Launch.com - .."Give this ragtag ensemble credit for rising to the challenge: with the help of ringers like Wyclef Jean and Diddy himself, they've managed to make an album every bit as mediocre and forgettable as most of their hip-pop competition."

urbanelements.com - 3.5 out of 5 "I’m gonna have to give it to Diddy, when I heard that six was the magic number I thought there was no way that he could pull it off but Da Band surprises me. Where they do falter is that the thuggery runs a bit too high for my tastes, I suppose I respect what they’re talking about having seen them on MTV and knowing that they’ve lived said thuggery.. Again, it’s the hunger factor – you know that they all want to be there and you have to give respect where respect is deserved."

-- Degrees --	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100
1. We Here (Intro)
2. My Life
3. Living Legends
4. Tonight
5. How You Like Me Now
6. I Like Your Style
7. What We Gonna Do
8. Why
9. Stick Up
10. Watcha Be Doing (Interlude)
11. Chopped Up
12. Bad Boy This Bad Boy That
13. Do You Know feat. Wyclef
14. Hold Me Down
15. Cheers To Me Mr. Bentley feat. Madd Rapper
16. They Know
17. Go Steady
18. Holla (Outro)