Released 30 years ago
Cloud 9
Nine · 1996
43 min · 12 tracks · hardcore hip-hop
Raw, aggressive beats meld with introspective lyrics, encapsulating the grit and resilience of urban life.
Top tracks — play these first
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Every Man 4 Himself — This track serves as a powerful introduction to Nine's perspective on individuality and survival in an unforgiving environment, showcasing his distinctive flow.
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We Play 4 Keeps — With its hard-hitting beat and relentless energy, this song exemplifies the album's core themes of loyalty and determination amidst adversity.
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Lyin' King — The narrative in this track explores themes of deception and betrayal, highlighting Nine's skill in storytelling while maintaining a fierce delivery.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Cloud 9 combines raw beats with introspective lyrics, reflecting urban life while maintaining a cohesive sound throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a spoken-word introduction that sets a gritty tone, followed by aggressive beats that dominate the first half.
- Lyrical themes shift from personal struggles to broader societal issues, with tracks like 'Every Man 4 Himself' featuring a call-and-response structure.
- The production features heavy sampling and raw instrumentation, with several tracks incorporating layered vocal harmonies for emphasis.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Know Introduction 2:38
- 2 Every Man 4 Himself 3:11
- 3 We Play 4 Keeps 3:53
- 4 Tha Product 4:19
- 5 Uncivilized 3:38
- 6 No Part a Me 3:42
- 7 Lyin' King 3:36
- 8 Richman Poorman (Act One) 2:50
- 9 Jon Doe 3:51
- 10 Make or Take 4:00
- 11 Warriors 3:46
- 12 4 Chicken Wings and Rice (1991) 3:31
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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