I Told You So Music Cd

Chino Xl - I Told You So

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I Told You So      Artist : Chino XL      List Price : $17.98 USD        ProductGroup: Music      Release Date : 2001-11-13      Studio : Metro (Bayside)      Label : Metro (Bayside)      Avg. Customer Rating : (36 reviews)

Reviews Customer Reviews for I Told You So      no sophomore jinx here      Rating:      I'm a huge chino xl fan. I have every album. I have heard numerous freestyles. he is definitely one of the most underrated rappers ever. if you know rap history, any list of the greatest lyricists should include chino. Now although i'm a huge fan i feel i can also criticize just as much as i build him up. his second album took about 5 or 6 years to finally get released. poison pen was rumored to be released but suddenly comes i told you so. this album has several cameo appearances as it appears that chino is becoming a more mainstream artist. his attacks on the industry or anyone for that matter was less fierce on this album. his first album was so offensive that it was kind of hard to top. there was hardly anybody else to insult. Chino always selects great beats to rhyme too. the harder and darker the better. on a personal note i'm a east coast guy and not really into west coast sound and it's clear from this album that there is a heavy west coast influence. skits dont make or break an album but this has been a weakness of chino xl on every album. you are left wondering what the value was behind it or if it could be produced better. now it might sound as if i left alot of negative comments. when i give a review i want to give a full picture. the positive. the album is hot. if you expect chino from here to save you all you might have to listen to the album a second time to begin appreciating what you have in your cd player. chino expands his lyrical mastery and shows that his skills can transcend all styles of hip hop. hard underground= check, west coast sound= check, freestyle= check, song about relationships=check, you get the point. there are definitely some gems whether you're an east coast or west coast guy, or someone from nebraska. Nunca which also appears on the poison pen album as a hidden track is phenomenal. Sorry featuring shaunta is his relationship track is one of the greatest lines "the stepdaughter you helped me raised is also your niece". Chianardo Dicaprio is also a nice track with some phenomenal lines. Even though degrading to women, women have to admire the brass and confidence of this lyrical masterpiece. it's my world is a track that if i am introducing chino to someone this is what they will here. the punchlines are there. the beat is hard. this is a track that you expect from chino. he still finds some people to insult like being sicker than kelly price doing aerobics or being black when it's convenient like mariah's (carey) ethnicity. there are subtle jabs and definite knock out blows on this joint. five years was a long wait but did not disappoint. most artists regardless of genre have a tough time following up their debut. not chino. there was enough freestyles and appearances on sway and tech albums to hold us and this album was a solid sophomore offering. not as good as here to save you all but good nonetheless. this album represents a turning point in his development as an artist. in later interviews he claims to be a west coast artist and that is evident in his sound. Although there wasn't any commercial radio success (singles) like kreep or no complex, he became a mainstream artist. the producers, the cameo appearances was all a start in making chino more appealing to the masses and not just underground fans.     Customer Reviews for I Told You So Cd      King Of Ill Lines!!! (Rating: 10 out of 10- -5 stars)      Rating:      When it comes to punchlines, Chino XL probably has enough to fill a warehouse. Listening to Chino's album "I Told You So", he spits with a vingance and holds nothing back when rhyming. He sort of reminds me of an in-your-face Lord Finesse type lyricist. His lyrics are garunteed to grab any listener's attention. If you ever sit down and and listen to his words, you'll be amazed on how talented he was -"I leave n****z confused like homeless dudes on house arrest"- that took a second to get to me, but I laughed when I understood what he was saying. Even the skits are funny in sort of a way. There is one where he talks trash to his audience while on stage, and there is one where some girl calls in about a date with Chino. You have to hear them, becasue they are funny. I really can't think of anything that is bad about this album. There are a few skippable tracks that I find at the beginning of the CD like "What You Got". Other than that, I find this album near flawless. I find Chino's flow to be excellent. Don't believe some idiot who say he rhymes off beat, because I can assure you that he doesn't. I don't know about the situations with his record company, but their issues really kept his hands tied for a while with this album, but I guess they allowed this album to be redistributed. I got my copy for less than 10 bucks, and I see some being sold for around that price. I believe the most you should pay is $20 for this here. Side Note: Amazon's track listing and the listing in the linear notes are incorrect. Here is the correct one: 1. Rude Awakening 2. What You Got 3. History 4. Nunca 5. Concert (skit) 6. Beef 7. That Would Be Me 8. Last Laugh (featuring B. Real) 9. Let 'Em Live (featuring Kool G Rap) 10. Baby Momma 11. Sorry 12. Chino XL 13. Chinophone, Part 1 (skit) 14. You Don't Want It 15. Chinophone, Part 2 (skit) 16. I Told You So 17. Don't Say A Word 18. Chino Fans (skit) 19. It's My World 20. A**-In-An-Assistant (skit) 21. Chinardo Di Caprio 22. Outro 23. How It Goes (Bonus) 24. Be Here (Bonus) Lyrics: A+ Production: A- Guest Appearances: A- Musical Vibes: A Overall: A Favorite Tracks: Last Laugh, Let 'Em Live, Sorry, Chino XL, You Don't Want It, I Told You So, Don't Say A Word, Be Here Honorable Mention: A**-In-An-Instant, Chinophone, Concert Peace Everyone!!