Vibe (p.140) - 3 discs out of 5 - "[T]heir complementary flow results in radio-friendly adrenaline rushes like 'The Knock Is There' and 'Set It Off'..."
Young Gunz: Chris, Neef (rap vocals).
Additional personnel: 112, John Legend (vocals); Daz, Kanye West, Memphis Bleek, Pooda Brown (rap vocals).
Recording information: Home Base, Philadelphia, PA; Monza, New York, NY; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY.
In the album photos for BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER, the Philadelphia hip-hop duo Young Gunz poses in tracksuits and brimmed hats, a none-too-subtle nod to Run-DMC. The gesture is more than just superficial, as Chris and Neef's second record expertly combines a fun-loving old-school vibe with a more modern, grimy attitude. The 2005 album follows hard on the heels of their 2004 debut, TOUGH LUV, but there's not a hint of a rush, as Young Gunz display a blithe spirit, easing their way through a strong sophomore effort.
The twosome establishes the tone on the anthemic "Set It Off," which takes a spare '80s-style bass beat and imbues it with a super-catchy chorus out of the Dirty South. That track fades into the throwback pop-funk of "Don't Keep Me Waiting (Come Back Soon)," featuring playful rhymes, a Luther Vandross sample, and a soulful hook provided by 112. "Don't Stop (YG Party)" oddly boasts that Young Gunz are not "your average '80s babies" between early-rap-era toasts over a haunting backdrop, while "Grown Man Pt. 2" is a typical Kanye West production in that it stands completely outside of time. Chris and Neef show off a more hardcore side on the second half of the record, but melody still prevails on BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER.