BIG TEEZE

Album Review by John Berger Honolulu Star Bulletin Island Mele Dec. 26, 2008



"Big Teeze Presents 808 Jams

Volume 1: Island Vibin'"

Various artists

(Landmark Entertainment)

Terrence "Big Teeze" Hallums owns a place in local music history as a member of one of the two Hawaii recording acts that made one of the six major Billboard charts in the 1990s (He was part of the Hi-Town DJ's and hit Billboard's Hot 100 and R&B singles charts with "Ding-A-Ling" in 1998). Tai Okamura has similar credits as a member of the team that made local "girl group" Tenderoni the other act to hit a '90s Billboard chart (The girls had a track on the "Soulfood" soundtrack album in 1997).



This compilation, released on Okamura's record label, previews upcoming releases by a half-dozen artists. Teeze takes the lead on a hip-hop love song, "Thug In Love," and appears as a backing artist elsewhere.



The "vibin'" is almost entirely Jawaiian. Reggae-style rhythms predominate even when the vocalist isn't affecting a faux-Jamaican accent. The lyrics are well-written, however, whether the subject is romantic ("Next To My Baby") or so sexually explicit that it would vex Tipper Gore if she were still fretting about song lyrics.



Ikena Dupont endorses beer as the solution to all personal problems with the whimsical "Let's Drink Beer," and Kalola Kauhane espouses an optimistic response to everything from unemployment to getting dumped by his girlfriend in "It's Alright."



The musical format changes with the final song, a newly written, attention-grabbing hapa haole tribute to "The Royal Hawaiian Hotel."



Album Review by John BergerIsland Mele Honolulu Star Bulletin



"Off Air"

Big Teeze

Tiki Entertainment

Big Teeze always merits respect for being one of the very few local artists of any genre who has had a release make any of the six major Billboard charts. Teeze did it back in 1998, and with "Off Air," he reaffirms his place as one of Hawaii's all-time top hip-hop artists. Imagination and honesty are key ingredients to his sound.



While Teeze plays the romantic on some tracks and a hardcore "dogg" on others, he also puts out the message that a hard-knock childhood is no excuse for failure as an adult. "Walk Tall" teaches that a positive attitude in life is an important foundation for success. With "Dirty Waianae," he encourages his neighbors to take pride being from the Leeward area.



An unaccredited interpolation of Cecilio & Kapono's "Lifetime Party" is the melodic hook on Teeze's "Island Lady." There is a uniquely humorous take on "Inseparable," and "Da Yard" adds a touch of Hawaiiana.