Artist Info:Discography Album length: 17 tracks: 62 minutes, 15 seconds Street Date: May 2, 2006
The official version of Mars Ill's third full-length project Pro*Pain
finally hits streets 20 months after its initially proposed release date in 2004. Although JfH
had originally reviewed its initial mix here, the final version is a
slightly more streamlined version of the original, deleting a few minor samples due to copyright
issues, while featuring two brand-new tracks in exchange. Although I expected a moderate-to-major
overhaul for most tracks on Pro*Pain, I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the
songs remained unaltered from their excellent original mix. Highlights such as "Sound Off,"
"Stand Back And Watch," and "Effortless" retain their sonic edginess and innovative beats, while
songs such as "Wicked Ways" even managed to keep their main hook sample intact in the process.
Although not every track escaped untouched, the changes, for the most part, are subtle. For
example, "Say So" is missing only its "Throw up your hands" opening sample while retaining its
assuredness and swagger as Pro*Pain's opening track. Other songs, such as "Dog Eared Page,"
however suffer slightly from the changes, with its distinctive sampled hook ("In the annals of rap /
I'm on the Dog Eared Page") replaced by a complete re-recording that somehow loses the spunk of
the original. These changes are minor, however, and don't affect the overall excellence of the
album. Each track still bursts with exuberance and retain all of the elements that fans have come
to love about Mars Ill: unparalleled rapping from manCHILD and versatile beats from Dust.
Where the final version redeems itself, however, is in the inclusion of two brand-new songs
that Dust and manCHILD have managed to include on the new version. The first addition, "Too Strong
To Change," easily establishes itself as one of the strongest songs on Pro*Pain's already
impressive tracklist. Featuring Cappadonna of the legendary hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, it
bumps along to a series of dirty beats and bluesy guitar licks, while being solidly anchored by a
melodic chorus. Its overall sound could have easily fit on the equally impressive Pirate Radio.
The second new song, "Glam Rap," is another strong addition. Featuring veteran rapper Prince
Po of Organized Konfusion, "Glam Rap" is another swirling mix of guitars, horns, and stuttered
beats that Dust is getting way too good at putting together and making sound great. The sacrifices
made to accommodate these two new additions are minor, with the deletion of two tracks - the filler
"Loud!" and the catchy, but lightweight "Moment" being my two least-favorite tracks on the original
Pro*Pain anyway.
So, although I am still partial to the original mixes of a few mentioned tracks ("Dog Eared Page"
being the most obvious example), I would have to concede that this version of Pro*Pain is
indeed superior to the original. The inclusion of two brand-new tracks made an already strong
album even stronger and they stand side-by-side with some of the best songs this veteran rap duo
has ever written. Mars Ill is the best thing Christian rap has going for it right now and they have
produced, without a doubt, the best hip-hop album of 2006!
- Review date: 7/23/06, written by Sherwin Frias
Artist Info: 
