Dysfunktional Family:
Soundtrack

Release Date:

Reviewed By: Davina Ogarro

1. Still Tha Row - Crooked I, Virginya Slim

2. I'm Back - Kurupt

3. Dysfunktional Family Theme - Crooked I, Eastwood, Danny Boy

4. Hovy Baby - Jay Z

5. I'm A Gangsta - Juvenile, Skippa, Young Buck

6. We Ballin' - Eastwood, Crooked I

7. Who Want To F**k Tonite - Crooked I, Eastwood, Danny Boy, Ja Rule

8. All My - Ashanti

9. Gangstress - Gail Gotti

10. Tha Row (y'all Hoes) - Eastwood, Spider, Ganxta Kidd

11. I Know Where I'm Going - Mi'chelle

12. 1 Call (Real Talk) - Gangxta Kidd, Kurupt

13. Too Street For TV - N.I.N.A., Danny Boy

14. Get Off Tha Block - Crooked I, Phobia

15. On Tha Radio - Skippa

16. I Thought U Knew - Crooked I, Eastwood, Danny Boy, Eddie Griffin, The Dramatics

17. Dys-funk-tional - Spider, Eddie Griffin

Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner
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Dysfunktional Family is the soundtrack to the 2003 Eddie Griffin film of the same name. Executive produced by the one and only Suge Knight, founder of Death Row Records and infamous for his involvement in the unsolved murders of Biggie and Tupac, this album is the first album of new material from Tha Row in quite some time.

The album opens with “Still Tha Row” by Crooked I and Virginya Slim. This intro informs us that Tha Row ‘aint going nowhere’and when listening to the lyrics it is a story of survival, telling the world that Tha Row Records are back and here to stay. Despite it's message, this track fails to hype up the mood and proves to be a mediocre start, setting the tone for the rest of the album which pretty much follows suit.

Having said that, there are a few gems that do make you sit up and listen, the first being the title track, ’Dysfunktional Family’ by Crooked I, Eastwood feat. Danny Boy. The beat is infectious, you can’t help but sing to the hook and Crooked I laces the track with some positive lyrics about the importance of family. ‘I’m A Gangsta’, by Juvenile provides another track worthy of attention, a tribute to all West Coast thugs. The trumpet infused track, ‘I Know Where I’m Going’ by Michel’le shows the talents of a strong vocalist and diversifies the compilation.

Surprisingly there are some East Coast influences on the album in the form of Jay Z, Ashanti and Ja Rule. Jay Z’s track Hovi Baby is the remix of the original featured on Blue Print 2. Ashanti sounds sweet and softens the album out a little especially as she follows on from the dirty ‘Who Wants To F**k Tonite’ which features Ja Rule.

Tha Row have used this album to expose their artists and there is no denying that there is talent on this label. Crooked I has great ability on the mic and Ganxsta Ridd has a very distinctive voice, big and powerful, which can immediately add atmosphere to any recording. The late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez also featured on this album and signed to Tha Row Records, showed that she too had the ability to diversify her sound, displaying a much rawer sound to the side we saw when she was in TLC.

Even though Dysfunktional Family from Tha Row Records displays potential, it doesn’t compare to the Death Row classic soundtracks, Murder Was The Case (1994) or Above The Rim (1994).

If you’re a fan of West Coast Hip Hop, you could really appreciate this compilation, otherwise you may find it quite uninspiring.

3/5

Top 3 Tracks

3. Dysfunktional Family
5. I’m A Gangsta
6. We Ballin

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