Skateboards 2 Scrapers


Skateboards 2 Scrapers is the debut EP by American hip-hop group the Pack. It was released through Up All Nite, an imprint of Jive Records, on December 19, 2006. The EP follows the Pack's breakout hit "Vans". Skateboards 2 Scrapers was produced entirely by the Pack member Young L, who was the group's main producer. The EP received mixed reception from reviewers, who mostly criticized the lyrics.

Background and release

The Pack was formed in Berkeley, California in 2005, and consisted of four rappers: Lil B, Young L, Stunnaman, and Lil Uno. They released their breakout hit "Vans" in 2006, and subsequently signed to rapper Too Short's Jive Records imprint Up All Nite. The Pack released Skateboards 2 Scrapers, their debut EP, on December 19, 2006. A music video was later released for the song "I'm Shinin.

Composition

Skateboards 2 Scrapers consists of seven songs and one remix. It is a hip hop album, with lyrics mostly about money and sex. Produced by the Pack's main producer Young L, the EP features slowed, sound-effect driven hyphy beats. Skateboards 2 Scrapers opens with "Vans", a song about the skateboarding shoe brand Vans. Its instrumental is a mix of Bay Area hyphy and Dem Franchize Boyz-inspired snap. The following song "I'm Shinin features exaggerated vocal deliveries, and lyrics about owning diamonds. The songs "Ride My Bike" and "Candy" contains bass-heavy production and simplistic lyrics. Steve "Flash" Juon of RapReviews wrote that "Oh Go" is "the most hyphy of any song on the album". Its beat incorporates heavy bass hits combined with "a noise that can only be described as the air horn from a hockey game when goals get scored", according to Juon.

Critical reception

Skateboards 2 Scrapers received mixed reviews. Juon wrote that "none of the lyricism displayed by the group is excessively impressive." AllMusic's Marisa Brown said the EP lacked the "quirkiness" of "Vans", and felt that its sexual themes were too predictable. HipHopDX's Dave Goodson considered the song "Oh Go" to be "a great example of what the group is capable of", but said the Pack failed to leave their comfort zone often enough to show their full potential. Goodson also criticized the group's lyricism, describing the lyrics on the songs "Candy" and "Ride My Bike" as "almost cringe worthy."

Track listing

All tracks are written by the Pack, and produced by Young L.

Credits and personnel

Production
Art