Scientifik - Criminal

posted on Sep 19, 2005 Scientifik - Jungles Of Da East (Link Expired)

Scientifik - Criminal

Scientifik
Criminal
Definite, 1994

Boston area rapper Scientifik recorded at least two LPs in the 90s. But it is Criminal, which was denied a proper domestic release due to industry politricks, that lives on in the boom-bap afterlife of folklore, vinyl bootleg, hissy dub, and mp3 download. Criminal boasts a mid-90s dream team of producers – deities RZA, Buckwild, and Diamond D contribute beats – as well as a tragic, dramatic back story. Police theorize that Scientifik shot his girlfriend to death and then turned his gun on himself in late 1996, but the case is still officially unsolved due to incomplete evidence.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this record retains a cult following. It ain’t hard to tell why the music is still captivating. On the mic Scientifik is certainly competent, and by 1994 standards he operates correctly, dropping jewelz and relating crime sagas in a soldierly, commanding voice that flexes just enough to reveal his famished intensity. It doesn’t hurt that some of the beats are absolutely tremendous bangers. The mid-album string of “East Coast Jungle,” “I Got Plans,” and “Lawtown” is as good as it gets; each song typifies that ol’ brooding, moody, Gotham City at midnight hardcore rap sound that safe harbor mixshow DJs and their insomniac fans once coveted.

Criminal is a work teeming with skills that successfully panders to the consensus of aficionados; this is the album’s primary strength and its ultimate weakness. Even if we adjust for the era’s overflow of beloved gems and our current nostalgia for the cerebral street music of yesterday, we are left with mega-quality sans distinction. Guest verses from hugely magnetic legends Diamond D and Ed OG only accentuate Scientifik’s dearth of album-carrying charisma. Criminal lacks the dimension and enjoyability of similarly shelved and/or sabotaged mid-90s projects like Jemini the Gifted One’s Scars and Pain, even if its standout songs shine brighter.

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Comments for "Scientifik - Criminal"

  1. Maybe you should know before you speak of what you think you do there was no evidence to what actually happened no fingerprints on the gun either in the crime scene unfortunately like most people you judged with out knowing but being that you are part of the gossiping media you wouldnt understand peace …...
    — Raquel    Sep 2, 01:52 PM   
  2. Maybe I should have wrote “Police allege that…”

    I didn’t “judge” anything. I was relaying the STORY as I had heard and read about it. Next time I’ll make it clear that nobody really knows.

    Raquel is a sexy name.
    — KRS-Thun    Sep 29, 10:21 AM   
  3. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE THAT NO ONE KNOWS I APPRECIATE THAT MAY SCIENTIFK EL D REST IN PEACE LOVE HIS SISTER RAQUEL
    — RAQUEL    Oct 12, 03:46 PM   
  4. Classic album I loved both of them and his verse on Big Shug’s “Official” it’s a tragedy that we lost him and really nice too see his sister on here.

    oh word?...word
    — Jaz    Oct 20, 08:14 AM   
  5. as maphilly’s son id like to say i miss Dimitre”Scientifik” and Beverly “Betty” Cora as well Raquel. MA sends much love. 1
    — macho    Nov 4, 01:22 PM   
  6. heavy album i just heard this a week ago and son i am trying to get an original copy but it’s too hard to find please get someone to re-distribute this album because this has definetly been overlooked by all this bulls#it being put out nowadayz
    — rav    Nov 17, 07:53 PM   
  7. cash ruined all the fun in hip-hop. mannnnnn, i love the golden era
    — NevaOne    Dec 4, 06:57 PM   

  8. Rest In Peace Scientifik, and thank you for a blazing albumm, especialy the track LawTown,

    one of the illest hiphop joints ever recorded, totaly raw and filled with hiphop angst, used to play it back to back on my radio show, my condolences to his sister raquel and family, peace be with you.

    TEN, England UK.


    — TEN    Feb 3, 12:54 PM   

  9. This is now being re-released and will be available (among other places, I’m sure) from Rhythm Online (our small, friendly, independent music webstore). Jude x


    — Jude    Apr 3, 10:12 AM   

  10. Betty was my cuzin and I considered Demitre my cuzin two, rest in peace to two strong leaders, this is Charlie aka Sgt. De León I’m about to go back to Iraq and I would like for all of u to know that I still rock Scientifik’s tracks even when I’m out in Iraq, that is wat takes me out of Iraq and back to Law-Town, Rest in Peace to my Primoz, holla front lines, one…


    — Charlie    Apr 4, 02:04 AM   

  11. hope somebody will read my comment:

    i’m french ,an i’m 17

    i went to the fnac(french virgin) 2 days ago, like i do each month aproximatively , i never heard about scientifik before but after listening to some few traks , i been lobotomised by the alchemy of the album, be sure i copped it

    now that i know more about his life and his work in hip hop, i just wanted to let u know that this reeissue is a big event 4 the true french hip hop fans

    i know the album is selling real good on paris


    — from from aulnay: riot french city    May 15, 09:51 AM   

  12. one of the greatest albums ever.

    rip scientifik.


    — ryan    May 16, 04:53 PM   

  13. What up my true hip hop fans as you know this year will be the 8th year That Scientifik has rested, RIP Scientifik…I love you… on June 4th, 2006 for those of you who have been wondering where to get his album “Criminal” you can find it on Wax or get the CD @ www.fatbeats.com…. get it, share it let all hear… One love

    Scientifik’s sister for life

    Raquel (Lady RED)


    — Raquel    May 26, 10:46 PM   

  14. picked up the scientifik album, had it in a burned disc, but had to grab a real copy once i new it was finally being released. one of the greatest cd’s ever.

    hope that shit that lady red did w/ sci get’s released too.

    RIP scientifik


    — fuckery    Jun 19, 09:00 AM   

  15. I thought I’d heard all the dope albums from the 90s until I saw a recent review of this. First heard Scientifik on Big Shug’s dope “Official” joint. They really don’t make ish like this no more.


    — J    Jul 16, 02:17 PM   

  16. Peace. Where can I get a copy of the Lawtown video?


    — Yusuf    Sep 16, 06:28 PM   

  17. ERROR—Scientifik died in 1998, NOT ‘96.


    — ill-lich    Nov 3, 12:57 PM   

  18. scientifik is da greatest & thats that. still holding him down in da hood from da realest niggaz in da hood… robski..


    — edesco74    Nov 15, 07:55 PM   

  19. What up hip hop heads once again you can purchase the original album at Fatbeats.com and blunted on reality as well… I appreciate that the love is undying for his music….


    — Raquel    Nov 22, 03:34 PM   

  20. “The most Blunted” comes out tommorow…

    Boston rapper Scientifik recorded two albums in the 90s, The Most Blunted” and the more familiar and recently re-issued Criminal. “The Most Blunted, considered a demo from day one was denied a proper release yet mysteriously was pressed up as a white label LP around 1996 (perhaps capitalizing upon his untimely death). So for the last 14 years the record has lived on in the boom-bap afterlife of vinyl bootlegs, hissy dub cassettes, and low quality MP3s. That is until now. Traffic Entertainment and Executive Producer Edo. G now present Scientifik’s “The Most Blunted” as it was originally recorded and intended to be released. All production duties are handled by Joe Mansfield of the Vinyl Reanimators (most famous for his “I Got To Have It” production for Edo G. and later on 7L & Esoteric). It ain’t hard to tell why the music is still captivating. On the mic Scientifik is certainly competent, and by 1992 standards he operates correctly, dropping jewelz and relating crime sagas in a soldierly, commanding voice that flexes just enough to reveal his hunger and intensity. And it doesn’t hurt that some of the beats are absolute bangers as Joe Mansfield flips samples made popular later on by Nas, DJ Premier and D.I.T.C…
    — jnigrux    Nov 25, 07:43 AM   

  21. What up hip hop heads…. stoppin by to show some love thanks again for keeping Sci alive through the beats.. I and my fam appreciate it I am listening to Hard to kill as we speak …. Rest in Peace Sci El Dee Love your sister (lady Red) Raquel


    — Raquel    Dec 9, 11:34 AM   

  22. I just recently started thinking about Dmitri “Scientifik” and started looking for some of is music. I remember how much pride we had because of him and how much hope that he gave us by letting us see that lawtown was gonna get put on the Hip Hop map. But the day 495 was blocked up and we found out why it was like a dream deferred. We lost a great one. R.I.P


    — Dario    May 14, 10:08 PM   

  23. I canr believe its officially 9 years today still feels like yesterday Sci is definitely missed… We definitely lost a great one… His name still lives in his sisters heart I love you Sci RIP fo sho…. Hip Hop will never be the same


    — Raquel    Jun 4, 03:42 PM   

  24. Whoa! What’s next?????


    — wuqueen    Jun 4, 09:03 PM   

  25. The Originator of the name Lawtown how can anyone forget him? he renamed a city! & people stick by saying lawtown till this
    day. Some don’t know who it camefrom but that only shows he lingers blessing every up & coming lyricist so please when you say his name or if some one asks A yo! have you ever heard of Scientifik ? reply yes or no in a respectful way please.
    So to end my part I’ll just say Imagine if he were still here
    the beats that he would make come out of me & all the other beat makers he gets a hold of? but that will stay my dream till I see you in heaven I Love You Bro…
    See You Then.
    PS. I Still Have your criminal album on wax & in mp3 format
    & still bump it! got to show love no doubt ONE Sci


    — Victor"BeaTzFS" Melendez    Jun 28, 02:29 AM   

  26. Vic you the man always staying True to Sci I love you… thanks for keeping his love alive through your beats…


    — Raquel    Jul 8, 02:35 PM   

  27. Hey all… born and raised in Lawrence… SCIENTIFIK... DAMN... LOVE HIS MUSIC.... I’ve been out of Lawrence for about 10 yrs now… and am trying to find his music and cant find none… Yo represento mi gente… from Holly St to Lawrence St… I need to get his music… Much love to all people still representando Lawrence,Ma… if anyone can give me info on how to get his music… hit me up at Pantykilla07@yahoo.com… Shout out to the Class of 1996 … Lawrence High…


    — Carlos    Jul 16, 06:46 PM   

  28. wat up lawtown mother fuckaz born n raise LHS on the north side bradford projects—-SCIENTIFIK the man at rapping riminding me of BIG L n CORMEGA but its tru he killed his wify an then him trust n believe he was with my man dj gemini durring the day..shyt this is way back shyt suprised representing C-BLOCK all day


    — WACKY    Aug 1, 02:40 AM   

  29. Wacky… you dont know what your talking about niggaz always talk what they dont know dont matter what happened fact is they have both passed on let them be peace


    — Raquel    Aug 5, 03:13 PM   

  30. hey whats up peeps its been along time feels like yesterday i was hanging out with sci he’ll be missed much luv dont forget about all the others from LAWTOWN who r no longer with us


    — christopher    Oct 29, 09:19 PM   

  31. WAS GOOD THIS SHITS SOUND ILL, RAQUEL WHATS GOOD?


    — RAQUEL LET ME FUCK YOU    Jan 4, 06:26 AM   

  32. R.I.P. Scientifik

    Dopest shit ever.. props from denmark..


    — Ol skool    Jan 5, 03:31 PM   

  33. I absolutely love this album and I’m glad I found the original LP.

    I’ve been listening to most blunted again lately and there’s something I just remembered. I once read that Scientifik changed all the beats on that album to tracks that had some known samples in em, like on bitch I don’t need ya etc.
    I can’t for the life of me remember where I read that so can anyone shed some light on this story? It really intrigues me!


    — bittersweet    Jan 9, 04:10 PM   

  34. i am scientifik older brother im proud of evrything he acomplish in a short time


    — patrick b    Jan 12, 08:23 PM   

  35. i hazardly found two copies of wat i think is the original lp of Criminal from 1994 and since i heard dey were pretty rare i bought both of em and i say that album kicked enter da 36 chambers from da nr one of my alltime faves. it s such a shame dat guy is dead R.I.P. but as i said i got two copies and im pretty sure its not the reissue so if anyone interested…


    — inkrusted    Feb 6, 06:19 AM   

  36. SCIETIFIK IS AND WILL 4 EVER BE THE BEST RAPPER IN MASS PERIOD!I REP 360 LU NOX AND ASTRO ALL DAY!AND AS LAWTOWN NATIVES WE SALUTE HIM!MUCH LOVE TO HIS FAM AND KIDS!360 INFINITE 1.


    — REY    Apr 1, 04:48 PM   

  37. first time a saw hem in stage was in a clud i NH. i thing that club was call the Bajamas. my brother in law Platano tock me thear. in 1991. he star rapping( Im thescientifik ,you never her of me , im the one who st_ _ to you femal un the D.L ) this rimm never lett mi mind,some one had this tape tha came out of bajamas tha nithg, I have beem out of lawton since 1996 . i live in Dominican Republic now .if any one have .pleace elfurgon@hotmail.com
    peace Demit.
    peace to the old school T.R.N the real nigggg


    — jesus    Apr 20, 03:50 PM   

  38. One of the best albums ive ever heard the song criminal does not leave my stereo does anyone know if theres another album the sounds similar to this one plzzzzzzzzzzz


    — Moustafa    Apr 26, 11:39 PM   

  39. Hey Yal once again thankx 4 still showing the love man this year gon be 10 years I cant believe its gon be a whole decade already…still feels like yesterday. He is definitely missed by me, by many, by most… RIP Sci. EL. Dee the last DON!


    — Raquel    May 14, 07:20 PM   
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