From the Record Crate: Master P – “Ghetto D” (1997)

The one thing that anyone should take away from Master P’s sixth studio album is, his versatility and the interesting mix of different sounds.  Ghetto D may have 19 songs but the majority of them have the same message so its never bothersome.

Master P brings this cool and collective vibe to each track while at the same time bringing hardcore rap to the forefront of the genre (for a short while, nonetheless it’s important to note).  When he’s not spitting knowledge about the streets, Master P is seducing women with a collection of punchlines that are both clever and quite amusing.  He definitely brings a certain level of humor to this record, which was rarely found on street rap albums at the time.

Sure, this may not be the most tonally consistent rap album of all time, but for a bulk of this project, the production is steady enough to the point where you know your listening to a Master P album.  The features (especially Slikk the Shocker) complement Master P really nicely as well, as they each brought their own dark and dingy verse on all of the tracks.

What impressed me the most on Ghetto D however was how Master P could create catchy hooks to back up the many memorable punchlines included within every verse.  His drug-driven anthem “Ghetto D” kicked the project off with Master P shouting “Ma-ma-ma-ma make crack like this,” and over a Public Enemy-esqur beat, he was able to make the perfect song for the streets of New Orleans.

https://youtu.be/aVzhvz3S7FI

On ‘Let’s Get Them,” Master P brought his listeners on a horrific journey of his reality living in a tough situation, and the sacrifices he and his other friends might have had to make.  He made a reference to Tupac and Biggie as well, portraying how much of an influence they’ve had on him.  Sikk brought this horrifying tone to his voice where you could feel his pain on this track.  On top of that, another enduring hook really keeps the song in your head for awhile.

Another shocking revelation from going through this experience was how well Master P transitioned from this hard-nosed gangster rapper, to a more toned-down reflective artist.  One of the more beautiful moments on this album was the song “I Miss My Homies,” where Master P gives a gorgeous performance as an ode to his fallen friends/others who have died too young.

“Tryin’ 2 Do Something,” “Plan B,” and “Captain Kirk” were other softer singles released right smack in the middle of the record.  Master P had little fun too especially on “Plan B” and “Captain Kirk,” where on the former he has some cunning wordplay with regards to the term “Plan B” (the song is actually something different than what you may think), and the latter was basically a title that he gives himself when trying to get girls attention.  It’s almost like what Biggie was doing in “Big Poppa” except it’s Master P’s version.

I’m glad he sprinkled these tracks in because at the end of the day, this was a bleak and dim record.  It’s nice to have some relief from the overall tone of the project.  Nonetheless, the topics discussed on here were definitely important, and are still really relevant today.

Master P doesn’t entirely abandon his message which was refreshing to see.  There are multiple examples of hip hop artists composing 19 or 20 song albums that really meander off into nothingness because of a lack of originality or attentiveness.  Master P stayed on track for the most part on Ghetto D.

The way he represented the druggy lifestyle of where he was coming from was both raw and genuine.  That’s why this record has lasted for as long as it has.  While many of these songs may seem dated, this album definitely deserves to be a footnote in the genre.  “Weed and Money,” and “Pass Me Da Green” were atmospheric high songs worth noting because it showed the more entertaining side of drugs rather than the serious business side.  Master P was’t just showing versatility through his bars, he was doing it through his different themes and topics as well.

Master P took some risks with regards to his story and construction of the tracks.  Unlike most hip hop albums, Ghetto D was successful.  In my opinion, thats what this album will be remembered by.