Pace Won and Mr. Green

The word �hip-hop� should not be tossed around lightly when talking about the duo of Pace Won & Mr. Green. The Newark tag team of DJ (Mr. Green) and MC (Pace Won) have a profound love for making hardcore hip-hop. The group claims that the likes of Gangstarr and Eric B. & Rakim inspired them to keep it real when fakeness is on the rise. Immaculate lyrics lain down by Pace Won perfectly complement Mr. Green�s unique classical style of production. The duo has already created a buzz through their single �Children Sing� and seemingly more will come if the group makes a strong first push into the hearts of underground hip-hop fans. This awaited push may come in the form of their LP, The Only Color that Matters is Green.

The introductory track �Four Quarters� shows Mr. Green�s abilities as a producer by combining gritty violin strings with a simple drum line. Pace Won takes this opportunity to introduce himself to the mic with the hook, �White Collar/Blue Collar/I Holla/You Holla/ Let�s get together four quarters makes a dolla,� explaining that all different people can come together to make music. This kind of substance is found throughout the rest of the album. The next track that happens to be their single �Children Sing� portrays the come up of the two, explaining that they are finally starting to get things together in their lives through making their music. To contrast this come up story is the song �Let A Shot Go.� Pace Won goes to the other extent by laying down cold lyrics straight from the streets explaining that he will do anything to get to where he needs to. The next track that relates to this style of a go-getter is the song �I Need Money.� This track samples the all too familiar line from the Junior Mafia track �Get Money� to set the tone of a go-getter�s story. Pace Won uniquely puts a twist on this explaining how he needs money and the fantasies that would come with this cash.

The duo then goes in a different direction with the lighter track �She Be So Cold.� Light symbols with a harsh but steady piano key hit combine to make a nicely laced track by Mr. Green. Pace Won explains the troubles of a relationship with catchy lines like, �And even under/The spell that I was under/I wonder why she always called me from a block number.� Each track pieces together to lead up to what I feel was the strongest song on the entire album, �Hip Hop.� This track seems to be an overview of the entire album in its own sense. Each element of the album from the dubs and ice to the M-I-C is equally explained through the one word that pushes the group to be hardcore, hip-hop. Pace Won explains what hip-hop is to the group through his lyrics while Mr. Green explains through the earthly classical beat. To tie everything together is the final track �The Joker� which utilizes an unearthly beat along with a whining electric guitar riff. Pace Won makes a joke into punch lines to finish off his lyrical massacre on the rest of the album.

Between simplistic yet substance filled lyrics from Pace Won and the classical and gritty tracks by Mr. Green it is hard not to see success in the future of this duo. Only time will tell if the Newark natives can hold up in the game. This LP is more than a push into the game and will only be material for them to ride on into a successful career. Not giving this album a few listens would be a hate crime to real underground hip-hop.

4 out of 5

Kevin Fairbanks - Artofryhme.com

What better than a traditional Hip Hop video for a song showing love to the Hip Hop culture? Well-respected Outsidaz member Pace Won connected with up-and-coming producer Mr. Green to craft a new album called The Only Color That Matters Is Green, dropping May 23rd. Don't forget about Jersey! - Artofryhme.com

www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=20216 - xxlmag.com

http://thezrohour.blogspot.com/2008/02/spotlight-pace-won-mr-green.html

This week's spotlight artist is a dynamic duo in the tradition of the classic hip hop combo of (1) DJ and (1) Emcee- PACE WON & MR. GREEN. In the essence of ‘Eric B. and Rakim’ and ‘Gangstarr.’ they define their style as classical hardcore Hip Hop. Mr. Green’s heart pounding beats blend perfectly with Pace’s gravelly yet smooth flow creating a flawless result. Within days of dropping their first single, they were already in the radio rotation of many profound DJ’s such as DJ Premier, DJ Eclipse and DJ Tony Touch. Their song ’Children Sing’ is considered to be an underground classic. With a dynamic live show that involves includes both improvisation as well as crowd participation they are true performers. The debut album THE ONLY COLOR THAT MATTERS IS GREEN will drop this Spring. Pace Won should not be unfamiliar to fans of Hip Hop. Pace Won is a member of one of New Jersey's illest crews THE OUTSIDAZ and made his debut on The Fugees classic, THE SCORE. He followed his debut with appearances on Rah Digga's DIRTY HARRIET and Redman's MALPRACTICE albums along with a couple of independent releases WON and TELEPATHY. Mr. Green is a self-taught, hip hop composer who has a straight forward approach to his production. Originally a DJ, Mr. Green's first official production credit came at the end of 2006 on C Rayz Walz album "The Dropping". The song "Childhood" featured Matisyahu, the platinum Jewish Reggae sensation and Kosha Dillz. Mr. Green has also produced for our first SPOTLIGHT featured artist CYMARSHALL LAW. Check 'em out and let them know what you think! - Zrohour.blogspot.com

Expectations, or lack thereof, can make or break an album. It often takes years to really assess a highly-anticipated album without being affected by the hype. On the other side of the coin, expecting little and getting a lot can get you just as caught up. Enter Pacewon. During the late '90s indie Hip Hop boom, the New Jersey-based Outsidaz were among the most hyped clicks around. Led by Pace, Young Zee and reinforced by affiliates Eminem and Rah Digga, the crew seemed destined to blow. Pacewon in particular, had folks drooling for a solo album. Unfortunately, 2002's Won hit years too late and '04's Telepathy was a big disappointment. Years went by with none of the "rah rah" from Pace.

Defying expectations, The Only Color That Matters Is Green kicks off better than any album released this year. No joke, the first three songs can just stay on repeat. All respect due to Pace, who will be instantly likable to any newcomers with his breezy delivery, but it is Mr. Green's show. "Four Quarters" kicks it off something ridiculous, with raucous strings and banging drums. The track could have just as easily been be "PSA Pt. 2" with Hov tearing it apart. Green chops up a kids choir to form the exquisite "Children Sing" for Pace to flex some serious muscle over. "The Eye of the Needle" settles in third and sets the plate for the sound of the album. It is nothing fancy, just a piano loop and drums that will make you feel like its '92.

The party continues as Pace appropriately waxes nostalgic on "Who I Am" and single "Hip Hop." The latter once again proves that sometimes all you need is drums. The emcee enlists some help as he reminisces some more on "Childhood" alongside Cymarshall Law, Kosha Dillz and Mary Lou. Unlike 50 Cent or Milk D who've got it, Pace says he needs it and "I Need Money" is a stick up kids' anthem rather than a laundry list of riches.

Unfortunately, the second half of the album features the only real flaws. "So Straight" is decent, but Green's production is a couple notches down from the rest of the album. The out of place and sub-par Eminem [click to read] diss "The Joker" is the album's weakest link. Pace clearly feels like Slim turned his back once he got on, but with little ammunition or substance in the diss he just comes across as "rocks at the throne." What's worse is that is closes the album, when it couldn't be a poorer representation of what this LP is about. The true gem late in the album is "She Can Be So Cold." Fueled by a White Stripes sample mutilated by Mr. Green, Pace weaves some wonderful storytelling about an elusive lady.

It has been a while since I've heard an album this easy to listen to. The Only Color That Matters Is Green is really the Pacewon album we've been waiting on for close to a decade. It's fun, it's basic, it just is what it is. No worrying about if it's made for gangsters, hipsters, backpackers or whatever - this album's remarkable production and almost infallible focus takes two outsiders, and puts them in the epicenter of Hip Hop's best releases in 2008.

- hiphopdx.com

Pace Won & Mr. Green - The Only Color That Matters Is Green (2008, Raw Poetix)

autor Bobby / Alba

Ruku na srdce, klasická rovnice MC & DJ, kterou dříve vyznávaly tradiÄ?ní dvojice Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, Eric B & Rakim, Pete Rock & CL Smooth Ä?i Gang Starr, už se v dneÅ¡ní dobÄ›, kdy můžete na jedné desce klidnÄ› najít patnáct různých producentů ze tří kontinentů, příliÅ¡ nenosí a ani zdaleka nemá takovou tradici jako za starých Ä?asů. ÄŒestné výjimky se vÅ¡ak najdou - v tomto případÄ› navazuje na práci dinosaurů ze zlaté éry nezávislý newarský tandem Pace Won a Mr. Green. PrvnÄ› jmenovaného už si pÅ™ed dvanácti lety pozvali The Fugees do Å¡lágru "The Cowboys", druhý se oficiálnÄ› uvedl produkcí na desce "The Dropping" od C-Rayz Walze.

Nemám rád pÅ™ehánÄ›ní, ale "The Only Color That Matters Is Green" nabízí jedineÄ?ný a zvukovÄ› nejednou prověřený styl produkce, u které neuhádnete dobu vzniku i kdybyste se rozkrájeli. Na graffiti odkazující záležitostí "The Eye Of A Needle" kupříkladu proplouvá beat, jenž jako by z oka vypadnul vÄ›ci "Can I Kick It?", kterou pÅ™ed neuvěřitelnými osmnácti lety bodovali A Tribe Called Quest. Pokud neposloucháte Å¡estnáct hodin dennÄ› rytmy, jimiž oplývá vÄ›tÅ¡ina jižanských jmen, garantuji, že vaÅ¡e krÄ?ní svalstvo bude zamÄ›stnáno nÄ›co málo pÅ™es padesát minut. Od první až do poslední, dvanácté skladby jde o kompaktní a odpoÄ?inkový poslech, který si díky podmanivým melodiím, v nichž hraje prim úderné piáno Ä?i smyÄ?ce, rozumí s Ä?asto užívaným heslem ´v jednoduchosti je síla´. Nutno podotknout, že to zde platí dvojnásob (tichým svÄ›dkem mi budiž tÅ™eba i cover).

Lyrické postupy majitele hrubého hlasu z The Outsidaz, který je vÅ¡ak oproti kandidátu na rakovinu hrtanu Big Twinsovi z Infamous Mobb pořád v normÄ›, mi v mnohém pÅ™ipomínají comptonského reka The Gamea. Kdybych rapoval, také pÅ™ece neustále odkazuji k tomu, co miluji. I proto se nelze divit, že v různých souvislostech zazní spousta jmen scény. Bez nich by tato oslava hip hopu byla jako hrát karty bez esa. Co se týÄ?e sdÄ›lení, příbÄ›hy se kombinují s výpovÄ›Ä?mi a ventilacemi vlastních pocitů a názorů. Domyslet si, o Ä?em bude výrazným motivem opÅ™edená "Hip Hop" nebo "I Need Money", v jejímž refrénu zaznívá vysamplovaná Junior M.A.F.I.A., je urÄ?itÄ› lehÄ?í, než potkat Karla Gotta v tramvaji. Jelikož se vÅ¡e pohybuje v osobních mezích, v "She Be So Cold" dojde na vztahy a v úvodní "Four Quarters" zase na lásku k muzice, jež má moc spojit nejrůznÄ›jší lidi bez ohledu na jejich geografickou polohu.

Další rozpitvávání nemá smysl. Z New Jersey vzeÅ¡el útok na klasiku a Pace Won & Mr. Green si jdou pro respekt. AÅ¥ vzpomínám jak vzpomínám, za posledních Å¡est mÄ›síců jsem neslyÅ¡el lepší a celistvÄ›jší nahrávku. Ani bych se vlastnÄ› příliÅ¡ nedivil, kdyby podobným konceptem zatím naposledy zaujaly nahrávky "Train Of Thought", potažmo "My Own Worst Enemy" z let 2000 a 2004. Díky celkovému pojetí nesnižují kvalitu ani vysoké dávky nostalgie, které se nejÄ?astÄ›ji vážou k devadesátkovému boom-bapu. Na Greenovo nikam se neženoucí bicí nebudete mít náladu permanentnÄ›, ale kvůli tomu, že nejde o prvoplánovou instantní jednorázovku, se k tomu bude proÄ? vracet. I pÅ™es ne až tak poutavý finiÅ¡ klobouk dolů.


Hodnocení: ( 9 / 10 )
- bbarak.cz

- Pacewon & Mr. Green - "The Only Color That Matters Is Green" - @@@@
07/23/2008 05:34

Pace Won first got notice with a guest spot on The Fugees' The Score back in 1996. That's right, 12 years ago. Dude's been around for a minute. He served as one of the front men for the group The Outsidaz and if you're wondering where he's been or surprised he's still around, it's been four years since his last solo release, Telepathy.

New Jersey MC and DJ duo Pace Won and Mr. Green's The Only Color That Matters Is Green gets off to a better start than most hip hop albums for the simple fact that it actually starts with a song. A full-fledged, meaty, five-minute-plus track with Mr. Green (not to be confused with DJ Green Lantern) laying down some rousing strings as Pace comes in to get it "bangin' like Billy Bob Thornton."

It sets the tone for the fairly tight package this album delivers. The Only Color... is somewhat of a rare thing these days—a hip hop record you can just enjoy. Put it in the deck, press play, and bob your head. It's not innovative or socially conscious or even that gangsta, but at only a little over 50 minutes, it's not bloated with the requisite club tracks, southern-flavored tracks, intros, outros and skits that have you constantly hitting the skip button.

That said, the second track, "Children Sing," employs what's become, if not a cliché, than a hip hop staple, the children's chorus. It's apparently a study in contrast producers can't resist: Glock-toting MC's and the little kids who sing their hooks. Still, Mr. Green makes it work as Pace Won takes shots at weak rappers and proclaims, "I'ma just push and push until I get it."

Pace seems to have become a sort of journeyman of the underground. While he gives lip-service to gettin' cheddar ("The Only Color That Matters is Green," "I Need Money"), he's not ever going to be Jay-Z or 50 Cent. On "I Need Money" he talks predictably about his spot on the Forbes list but he's more truthful when he spits: "Pick my pen up and just let the nouns flow/and earn/like Nature did with The Firm." Yeah, Nature, that's more like it.

Like most rappers, Pace is obsessed with the past, and the middle portion of The Only Color is heavy on nostalgia. On the piano-laced "Who I Am," he takes us through a timeline of his hip hop influences: "I'ma take you back with a heavenly rhyme/to me in kindergarten back in '79/back to the essence/when hip hop was precious/first I heard Rapper's Delight, then The Message."

On the next verse, he fills us in on how he used to eat more junk food than a candy-fiendin' Derrick Rose: "Five-cent candies they called 'em Jingles/who didn't have the fever for the flavor of some Pringles … Swedish fish, Blow Pops and Chico Sticks/all before evil chicks or ego trips." It's not exactly a childhood reflection worthy of Ghostface talking about plucking roaches out the cereal box, but it'll do.

The second-to-last track, "She Be So Cold," is the unequivocal gem of the album. Mr. Green brilliantly samples The White Stripes' "Denial Twist," and Pace weaves a 'why she wanna go and do me like dat' tale of woe worthy of Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty." Some girl jerked Pace around for months but, refreshingly, instead of calling her a bitch he went the Project Pat route ("Don't Call Me No Mo") and told her to delete his number from her phone.

Unfortunately, the record closes with a not very creative diss of Eminem (who had been affiliated with The Outsidaz and didn't exactly put Pace on his back when he reached stardom). What might have been a bold attempt at starting a beef ends up smacking of jealousy, and threatening to "get Tiger Woods to putt you" doesn't necessarily strike fear in the hearts of men. Pace does raise one good point, though, where is Eminem?

The real star of this record may be Mr. Green's startlingly consistent production. The unheralded producer's DJ Premier-like sound proves that you can make quality hip hop by taking a sweet sample, looping it, scratching it and letting it bump. With so much filler and garbage out there, these beats and a solid performance from a rather seasoned MC make you wonder, is this game really so hard? As Pace says on "Four Quarters," the album's opener, "It's like fightin' some dude that got a glass jaw/you hit him in the chin and you win/your old life ends and your new one beings." - Stefan Schumacher - hiphopsite.com