Madison Jay :: Rap's Like Wrestling :: Bandcamp
** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series **
as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon

[Rap's Like Wrestling] It doesn't surprise me to learn that Madison Jay is from North Carolina, given 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair was an adopted son of the state and billed from Charlotte for most of his career. It also doesn't surprise me that by the third song of "Rap's Like Wrestling" you hear Mr. Jay making references to putting his opponents in a figure four leg lock. Jay is serious about his wrestling love from the jump though, screaming like a heel John Cena over his intro at "you old Junkyard Dog ass tardy-ass rap niggaz" to let the world know that just like The Undertaker he's arrived to be the self-proclaimed "nWo of this rap shit."

For most of the album Madison Jay is rapping over traditional rap beats as opposed to doing hip-hop versions of wrestling entrance themes a la "WWF Aggression." Jay crosses over to the roped off ring with his punchlines and themes, comparing his ferocious attack on the mic to being hit with verbal "Steel Chairz."

"I hope God is watchin over the weak
You rappers is food, I'm thirsty for meat
Get acquainted with 'Da Bad Guy', Razor Ramon
All it takes is 7 digits and they blazin my phone
I mean - yikes! I'm 'bout to fuck up the playlist
K-97, quite sure they won't play this
Never mind, I'm still goin for the crown
'Million Dollar' boy with the 'Million Dollar' sound"

Every now and then Jay and his partner in crime DJ Awesome5 can't resist the temptation to flex on a familiar theme, and when they do they flip it the way K-Murdock flips chiptunes, turning it into a brand new sound. A good example is how they turn one of the most iconic and well known of wrestler songs, Hulk Hogan's "Real American," and make it into a brand new anthem called "Fight 4 Ya Life."

This is the "rap meets wrestling" album I've been looking for, which makes it a shame that it came out five years ago and I somehow missed covering it then. Song titles like "Shit Gets Real (Like Sabu)" would pop me regardless, but with the throwback 1980's/early 1990's rap instrumental and the "check out my +Pedigree+" punchlines, it's the perfect mix of a rap head who is a wrestling fan catering to the same audience. He's not just sneaking in one line here and there like a rapper who watches it but only occasionally references the squared circle - he throws out Black Scorpion, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels lines like they're going out of style. If songs like "Suck It Like DX" and "Money (Million Dollar)" don't make you smile then I can only guess you've never watched Monday Night Raw. Anybody who has will get and appreciate Jay's shit.

Music Vibes: 7 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 7 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 7 of 10

Originally posted: April 1st, 2014
source: www.RapReviews.com