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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Politics Of The Business
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 15 critic reviews
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Album Info
Label: Razor & Tie
Release Date: 06 May 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rap
Summary
A veteran of such hip-hop acts as Stetsasonic and Handsome Boy Modeling School and producer of such legendary albums as De La Soul's '3 Feet High and Rising,' Prince Paul returns with his third solo release. Almost a meta-concept album, it is loosely based on Paul's dealings with his (former) record company regarding his previous release, the 1999 concept album 'A Prince Among Thieves.' Among the guests here are Chuck D, Erick Sermon and Ice-T.
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Handsome Boy Modeling School: So... How's Your Girl?
Also On The Web: Prince Paul @ Razor & Tie
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Uncut
All that is good in hip hop is here. [Jul 2003, p.111]
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Hip-hop is littered with old-timers struggling to hang on after inspiration has left them, but with Politics Of The Business, Prince Paul ages gracefully, evolving without losing what made him special in the first place.
Read Full Review >Splendid
While Politics of the Business follows in the conceptual footsteps of its forbears, its all-too-literal sense of moral responsibility does get a tad tiresome, occasionally sagging into diluted dogma.
Read Full Review >Mojo
Paul proves this production pioneer can still turn in brilliant beats when he wants to. [Jul 2003, p.106]
Launch.com
The biting but insider-ish humor sometimes limits the potential audience, as Paul ironically marginalizes himself before the business and its politics can.
Read Full Review >The Wire
The only problem with Politics of the Business is that there are too few of the loose ends and lateral leaps of, say, Three Feet High. [#232, p.69]
All Music Guide
As a whole, Politics of the Business never quite jells into the cohesive statement it wants to be.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
Where his beats once evoked DJ Shadow picking through a crate of old comedy records, now he sounds like a hook-y, less bling-y Neptunes.
Read Full Review >Spin
The harpoons that Paul hurls at the industry's blubber have lost their edge. [June 2003, p.105]
PopMatters
Unfortunately, while Paul maintains a similar tone and approach almost throughout, the MCs he's working with don't, and this is the album's ultimate downfall.
Read Full Review >Vibe
The bigger problem is Paul's unexpectedly anemic production. [June 2003, p.155]
Blender
The joke isn't well-conceived or funny enough to sustain over an hour. [#16, p.123]
Q Magazine
Targets all things "bling" with the same mix of bitter storytelling and star guests, only it's not as funny. [Jul 2003, p.111]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 0.0 (out of 10) based on 0 User Votes
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