Big Hoodoo- Asylum Review

A natural storyteller with a flair for the macabre, Big Hoodoo represents the next level of Detroit horrorcore rap.  Unquestionably one of the most frightening characters to ever emerge from Psychopathic Records, Big Hoodoo is a hoodoo practitioner with a taste and talent for bloody horrorcore rap, matched with an authenticity and rawness that only a life lived on the hard-knock streets of Detroit can create.  His first album Crystal Skull became an instant classic.  Just in time for the Gathering of the Juggalos Big Hoodoo presents, Asylum!   Track listing

1. My Illness
2. Asylum
3. Runnin from My Magic
4. I Bring Death ft Young Wicked
5. The Yard
6. Out My Mind
7. Boom Boom Piggy ft Trick Trick
8. Go Get Em ft Tha Hav Knots
9. Calm Down
10. Monster Squad ft ICP, DJ Paul, ABK and AMB
11. Psycho Love
12. Shadows
13. I’ve Seen Pain
14. The Passage ft Blac

  Track list and ratings My Illness- A simple intro which chronicles a psychotherapy session.  Definitely a wicked way to begin this album.  5/5 Asylum- A dark hard hitting and complex beat backs this lead track.  It sets the mood of this album from the start.  Lyrically Hoodoo is on point and brings wicked rhymes and feel throughout the entire track.  4.5/5 Runnin from My Magic- The track starts with a reinterpretation of the hook from ICP’s Southwest Voodoo that gives way to a smooth old school beat.  Once again his lyrics are on point and show his abilities on the mic.  4/5 I Bring Death ft Young Wicked- A dark slow plodding beats drive this track forward.  The verses are slow and enhance the dark feel in this one. Young Wicked adds his flavor to the hook and adds a much needed change of tone.  3.5/5 The Yard- This song continues the dark theme of the album.  The beat is slower and has a nice angelic singing in the background.  The hook is simple and really easy to get into.  The verses tell an interesting story and flow very well. 4/5 Out My Mind- Damn this beat is sick!  The bass is seriously lessened but it is alright because the lyrics are well written and performed.  There is a very unique sound achieved here and that is a breathe of fresh air.  The hook is simple but effective. 3.5/5 Boom Boom Piggy ft Trick Trick- This was one of the tracks turned into a music video.  The intro is a little long but gives way to a political track.  It is about the police brutality situations.  The beat is a little busy but the lyrics drive his point home really well.  4/5 Go Get Em ft Tha Hav Knots- A classic horrorcore beat backs this track.  Young Wicked and ABK make an appearance on this track as Tha Hav Knots and their verses are fire.  The hook is sick and Hoodoo holds it down.  Definitely going to be a new classic.  5/5 Calm Down- The beat is simple in this track, maybe a little too simple for the lyrics.  The verses are well done but don’t flow with the beat as well as most listeners may want.  This far into the album and this is the only song that doesn’t measure up to the rest.  3/5 Monster Squad ft ICP, DJ Paul, ABK and AMB- After seeing the features on this track listeners are expecting a devastating beat and they get it.  Every artist on this track gives top notch performances and the hook is awesome.  A nice rebound from the last track.  5/5 Psycho Love- The shift to a song about love seems a little weird but it works here.  It gives the listener a chance to breathe.  The beat is solid and slow.  The hook is nicely put together and compliments the verses well.  3.5/5 Shadows- The beat contains a lot of little sounds and tricks which aid the speed of the track.  The hook is solid and bring us back to the dark side of the album.  The verses drive home the dark energy and spirit tone here.  The track reminds the listener this album shows Hoodoo and his growth as a horrorcore artist. 4/5 I’ve Seen Pain- The dark sorrowful beat sets the tone for the lyrics in this one.  A deep emotional track about loss and pain.  The hook is solid and drives the emotions home.  4/5 The Passage ft Blac- A very solid beat is backed by an island feel in the hook.  The beat is very simple but that is needed to push the idea of the track to the forefront.  An uplifting track of sorts to end a very successful sophomore album.  This tracks once again proves his diversity and ability to adapt to many styles and many different beats and tones.  4/5   Overall Rating: 4/5   Conclusion:  Big Hoodoo is a unique talent who was restricted in his first release.  This album shows not only his diversity and drive but it also shows how well he can write tracks.  For this being his sophomore album there is no slowing down.  He brings fans the wicked shit and also shows a deep connection to society and himself.  This album is highly recommended and personally this reviewer can't wait to see what he does next.