Metaphorically speaking, Ras Kass is the Vince Carter of this rap shit. Don’t believe it? Well listen up. Back when the west was nothing but G-funk, along came a young man from virtually unknown C-Arson (Toronto) named John Austin AKA Ras Kass (Vince Carter). The young cat turned hip-hop on its collective ear with his rookie debut Soul on Ice. Ras combined wit, knowledge, narrative, and pure ignorance into what became to be one of the most criminally slept on hip-hop debuts ever.  While he was head and shoulders above the competition at the time, the mainstream still criticized the beats which created his atmosphere (Toronto). So instead of sticking with what works best for him, Ras’ sophmore year turned into a tirade of the eMCee trying win the support of the mainstream. Instead of lyrically leaping over his competition he began to do what wasn’t him but somebody else (fadeaway jumpers, hoisting up threes) which did nothing but let the skeptics bash him some more. So another few years pass and instead of putting those critics to rest with what was supposed to be his greatest work yet – Van Gogh - massive bootlegging, label mishaps, and personal problems (injuries) made sure the kid never got another chance. Well it has been five years since Rassassination dropped  and something out of the blue turns up with the Golden Chyld’s name on it… a compilation called Ras Kass presents Re-Up.

Ras has never failed to at least show flashes of brilliance, which is what Re-up is all about, flashes of brilliance which fall far and few in between. Aside of the abundance of guest appearances, which range from unknowns (Scipio, 40 Glocc, and others) to the more recognizable names (Memphis Bleek, Sheek Louch, KonArtis of D12, Bad Azz, etc.) Ras still finds his way into a majority of the songs. Most are songs which were rehashed  from the bootlegged Van Gogh sessions, so there’s nothing really new here at all for those who copped the boot or downloaded it. But for those who missed it, the summer bounce joint “4much”, with a smoothed out Battlecat offering appears blessed by not only Ras but a dope verse from Tash Of The Liks and hook titan Nate Dogg. Also from Van Gogh comes the “Next Episode” flip, “That’s Gangsta” with Kurupt on the hook. Ras shows why he was one of the most quoted lyricists not too long ago, as he flips metaphor after metaphor. These moments make the CD a salvageable listen. Also included are the double time vocals of both Ras and Twista on “Showin’ Out” and the muscle flexing of Sauce Money, Sheek, and Ras on “3 The Best”.

The problem lies when the “other guys” grab the mic minus Ras Kass. The atrocious “Skitzo”, Psycho feat. Tri-Star and Scipio may force you to toss the CD out the window but the worst has yet to arrive. An equally horrid joint “I’m that Gangsta” which features some unnotable appearences by the new jacks is almost the tip of the iceberg until you garner a listen to the embarrassing “Put it to the Side” feat. Scipio and wack name of the year contender, Baby Momma. You have got to wonder if Ras supported this crap. And if he did what the hell was he thinking!?!? It seems as if the rest of the crew are trying to ride the coattails of Ras’ past work to try to gain some attention, but it only proves to be one fucked up listen after another.

If one song were to sum up Ras’s career at this point it would have to be “Billboard #1 – Ras Kass” where Ras Kass delivers an admirable narrative of an emcee becoming the number one rapper overnight but falling victim to what so many other emcees fall into, instead of being loved for being him he changes his image to try to conform to what he thinks the mainstream luxuriates in. And you all know what happens next right? He fails and he gets dropped. The funny thing is that with the track taking a dreamlike approach it seems to hit a little too close to home. Well until the day comes when Ras finds another deal and returns to his roots we have to sit and wonder what rap’s Vince Carter coulda, shoulda and woulda been.