STORM THE UNPREDICTABLE: A2: What Should Have Been

Storm the Unpredictable

A2: What Should Have Been

© 2006 Domination Recordings (616892830825)

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Hip Hop

notes

Storm the Unpredictable is a hip hop artist with a lyrical style that can instantly change the mood of any crowd, like the weather quickly changes with an approaching violent storm. His musical style, as seen on his first single, "MCs Be Killin' Me", is party-oriented but still gives listeners something intellectual to think about.

"My music reflects the two sides in one person. I'm a quiet person because I like to observe. But when making noise is truly necessary, I can make a comment out of nowhere and have the crowd falling out laughing or thinking seriously about something," Storm explains.

Releasing "MC's Be Killin' Me" was just one of the previous moves for Storm, who later released his second project "The Unexpected" - EP which also featured Priest da nomad and the production of Kokayi (Opus Akoben, BMG/France), DJ Symphoni, and DJ D'Salaam (Urban Intalek). The EP also included the blazing single "Stop Lyin'". Although self released, "The Unexpected" - EP received airplay on stations across the country and created a huge buzz. The buzz was big enough to gain Storm a distribution contract with Mullet Recordings International as their first and only hip hop artist. The EP was re-released in mid-February 2000 nationwide, as well as, a video for the single Stop Lyin'.

Storm has always been a player in hip hop culture even before he was seen on national television. He's been featured as a finalist on B.E.T.'s Rap City Raw Footage contest and also on USA Network’s Farmclub television show where he was spotlighted on the same program as Ja-Rule and Snoop Dogg. He started rhyming seriously at a talent show during his high school years in Oxon Hill, Maryland, located just outside of Washington, D.C. After that first taste of hip hop limelight, Storm continued performing at hip hop clubs and showcases while studying biotechnology in college in Rochester, N.Y. "Growing up, my hip hop influences where Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane and the whole Juice Crew," says Storm the Unpredictable, who was previously known as Quiet Storm.

He sharpened his stage skills by continually performing at clubs, colleges, and showcases including Showtime at the Apollo, Nuyorican Cafe, the Philadelphia Music Conference, and Motown's Black History Month Conference. Storm could also be regularly found building his MC talents with the Freestyle Union, a D.C. hip hop organization that held monthly ciphers, rhyming workshops, and shows.

Storm's music has received praise from XXL, The Source, Elemental and Insomniac magazines as well as the Washington Post, Washington City Paper, and various other print and internet magazines/newspapers. Radio listeners across the country and world-wide have heard his songs on stations such as Hot 97FM in New York and both WPGC and WKYS in Washington, D.C. His previous single, "Get Your Weight Up (Big Girl Anthem)", won the WPGC 95.5 Homejam’s competition enabling him to open up for their Springjam concert along side Ludacris, Fabolous, Ashanti, and others. The single was released in October 2002 and rose to number 2 on the national college charts. It was followed by Storm’s first full length AMALGAMATION in February 2003. His latest single, "Y’all Know The Name", off the 3 Piece, Extra Mumbo EP rose to number one on both the Rapattacklives and Rapnetwork national college radio/mixshow charts the week of January 24, 2005.

With all his experience and preparation, Storm the Unpredictable is ready for hip hop’s big leagues. Still, with success just around the corner, he continues to remain humble. "My biggest message is to have fun while keeping things in perspective. We have faults and its okay to have material things, but let's remember the things that are really important, things like God and family", Storm says.

reviews

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  • Sick beats! Must have album!!
    author: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rhhbmister

    Sick beats! Must have album!!

  • This whole album is absolutely FLAWLESS!!!!!
    author: Multiple Man/The Multiple Report

    A2 : What Should Have Been Features: Priest da Nomad, Natural Law of PoemCees, Almond Joy, and Ty-Riek Production: The Unknown, Decompose, Kokayi, DJ Symphoni, Danja Mowf, and Brainstorm Sounds Storm the Unpredictable's name rang bells with me before I even met the dude. I first caught wind of Storm in The City Paper in like 99', 2000, 01'....one of them years....The City Paper was the first media in our area to even investigate the DC Hip-Hop Scene. The next time I heard of Storm was in late 2002 at the Art-O-Matic. He was performin' somewhere in that building but not with the rest of the rappers. I always thought that was wierd. That was a nice night too 'cause I sold every CD in my possession that night. OK....Back to Storm....I finally got to meet Storm face-to-face at a Priest da Nomad CD release party at DJ Hut in Dupont Circle. That was my first time meeting both of them. And Storm showed me love prior to this day and copped that Multiplexxx on CD Baby. Ever since all of this, Storm has been in The City Paper AGAIN!!! He's been on VH-1 battlin' rappers! He's been in XXL Magazine! And he's been nominated for Best Male Rapper in DC with heavyweights Multiple Man, Priest da Nomad, Kingpin Slim, Mr. Whitefolkz, 20 Bello, and Tabi Bonney. A well-deserved nomination if I should say so myself, I wonder which one of us is gonna win! LOL!!!! This man Storm....doesn't use a single cussword on this entire album. You won't see me do that on any Multiple Man album! LOL!!!! But Storm keeps his material clean cut without bein' clean cut. To say that this man is lyrically talented is an understatement. He's more than lyrically talented. NOW!!!!.....Representin' Oxon Hill, MD lookin' like a shorter version of D. West from the Maury Povich Show....it's STORM THE UNPREDICTABLE!!!!! When you first get into the "Welcome" track....light you an inscent, roll a J, and just relax. This intro is just blissful as the credits are ran down by Almond Joy over a harmonious track. And the song that comes after this, "The Reintroduction" just makes me wanna FIGHT!!! And Storm drops poisonous lines like "I spit words so nice, I make Jesus look diabolical". And WOW!!!! On the song "Oh My God", Storm just starts it off his first verse with "Brought to you by the makers of syphillis, emerges the sick lyrical physicist". I mean....WOW!!!!! Freakin' WOW man!!!! And RBI is cuttin' the heck outta some records in the back like he at a freakin' wood shop! Omega Studios is definitely a nice studio to do your music 'cause the quality of this album is just fantastic. Storm is prolly the only rapper in DC that truly inspires me aside from my man Bearwitnez and my lil' bro Napoleon da Legend. By track 4 which is "Suplex Reloaded" featuring Priest da Nomad, you realize....this album is flawless so far. This particular song makes you wanna dance even if you don't know how to dance. Plus Storm and Priest both murder this jont. Now when "Get Your Weight Up" comes on, I'm siced than a mug 'cause anybody that knows Multiple Man knows that I can relate to this song 'cause this song gives praise to the most beautiful women on the planet....BIG WOMEN!!!! When I say big women, I'm talkin' 'bout them sexy full-figured heavyset ladies! Anybody who met my lady Carolyn or seen the ladies who send me comments on Myspace knows I love me some big women!!! Storm! You got good taste in women my man! On "All About", I'm just lovin' this jont, man! This song is just street grimy, organic, and positive all at the same time! Storm "holds it down like centrifugal force". "Grown Folks Biz" has a track that gives you mental images of big city buildings and skyscrapers. This is what hip-hop is supposed to sound like. And Decompose does his thang with the production on this song. "I'm Gone" has a track that just THRUSTS a mean frown and a head nod upon you. And Storm really tells some brawd off on this jont with words of maturity rather than words of profanity. All I know is that this brotha Storm is a lyrical genius and we will be collabin'.Yup!....Me, Storm, and Priest for that matta already spoke about collabin' sometime last year. I know when we finally do, it's gonna be crazy. Now "Darker the Berry", I truly mess with this song. But me bein' light-skinned, I lived this song in reverse. You see....when I was just a Lil' Multiples....grown women used to be like "When you grow up, you gonna have all the ladies chasin' after you". But then I grew up and the ladies was nice checkin' for me 'cause now dark is in and light is out. This song is too deep. And I can relate to it 'cause I've experienced firsthand this division amongst our black people. "Contradictions" is my jont 4 sho! The track sounds like some bangin' elevator music. Storm points out a lotta things about life and the music industry that I really ain't analyze myself. What Storm is sayin' in this song is some real stuff. And some of the things he brings up are humorous. This is one of those songs that got my repeat button on repeat repeatedly. Only real intelligent people can get with this song. Matta fact, only real intelligent people can get with this entire album. So if you don't like this album for some reason, there could be a chance that you just might not be intelligent..... "Please Forgive Me" is a song in which Storm asks for forgiveness for actually doing things that are good. Nice concept! This whole freakin' album is totally FLAWLESS!!!! It's totally FLAWLESS!!!! And to add onto an already flawless album....not only does Storm got 14 bangin' tracks, but this CD is an enhanced CD in which if you put this jont in your computer, you can see live performances with him and Priest. I always dug their performances so this was a treat. AND JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS IT!!!!!! Storm got like 5 uhh jonts that ain't even a part of those 14 tracks that you can listen to. Like the song "Vigilant Thoughts" for example....complex wordplay and a real menacing track! Wonderful combination!!! AND IF YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS ALL!!!!! The brotha also got videos for certain songs on that jont! The video for "Stop Lyin' featuring Priest da Nomad is some funny material. And the concept and rhymes are comical and creative. All I know is Storm.....me and you gotta talk, joe! Not only about them collabs, but we gotta talk about me making an enhanced CD for my next album LIKE THIS ONE, DAWG!!!! The jont is freakin' WONDERFUL!!!! This album is some beautiful material, slim! You did your homework, slim! Storm the Unpredictable is the only brotha to get 5 Skulls from me all year! A lotta yall mc's out here have been makin' some weak material!!!! But not my man Storm! And since he 's the only one to get a 5 this year, yall already know who got the number one spot for The Top 10 Local Albums of 2007. This whole album is absolutely FLAWLESS!!!!! 5 Skulls all the way!!! And if Storm don't deserve a 5, then tell me who does......

  • the CD overall is real strong
    author: Big R

    Storm the Unpredictable hails from Maryland if ya ain't familiar, and his style truly follows suit with his name. He has tracks that make fun of society's view of fat girls coupled with joints talking about racial issues. That kinda dichotomy is good for the CD though, it's important to be diverse on a project so fans won't be bored. Some of the more conscious tracks on the album include "Darker the Berry (Remix)" and "Contradictions". "Darker the Berry (Remix)" features Storm's dope track writing ability about having trouble literally being in the skin he is in. He rocks over a smooth beat produced by C. Bruce aka DJ Symphoni about how he used to rub Noxzema on his skin to try to look lighter. I'm all about thought provoking tracks, and Storm continues on the jammie "Contradictions". I'd probably call this the most crucial joint on the album. A great beat by DJ Symphoni, Storm drops some great lyrics about the contradictions in the world. "Why my people use the n word erryday, errynight / another race use the word, oh now you wanna fight" That's not even the best of the contradictions, but Storm traverses through topics of rap and in generally life. Conscious joints that aren't overly annoying a treat, and "Contradictions" definitely is conscious with some unique edge. Like I said Storm is also at his best when he was being comical, as shown on other joints. "Get Your Weight Up [Remix]" is the song where Storm spits over a hard Decompose beat about how he isn't feeling super skinny chicks. Who can blame him, I prefer a chick to look more like Oprah than Skeletor any day. I find the joint hilarious and refreshing at the same time, which is a testament to Storm's flow and writing abilities. My favorite punchline maybe all year is Storm dropping "I'm not a gangster, when I yell buck buck I'm trying to get two dollars." That's just vintage, and proof of Storm's lyrical abilities. As far as pure lyricism goes, Storm the Unpredictable has you covered on "The Reintroduction" over another Decompose production. Where the CD falls short to me is the fact while Storm has a great flow and lyrics, songs overall don't grab me as a great CD would. You know the feelings you get from bumping a new Gangstarr track that induces you to repeated play? I like this CD, but it doesn't demand repeated listens like others. Production overall is on point, but I wasn't really feeling "All About", "I'm Gone Remix" and "Please Forgive Me" personally. Storm the Unpredictable's sophomore effort shows that Storm got definite talent, and the CD overall is real strong. Some of the material that Storm used were remixes from earlier projects, but that doesn't take away too much from the CD if you aren't familiar with his catalogue. The album is strong enough to capture new fans, and I do recommend a listen to this album which is also packaged with great bonus features like live videos of life performances.

  • Storm the Unpredictable is an extremely gifted lyricist
    author: Chris Connelly

    One thing is now clear: Storm the Unpredictable is an extremely gifted lyricist, blending an enormous rhyming vocabulary into socially relevant commentary. In resurrecting a style that reached its peak in the late ‘80s, A2: What Should Have Been is ripe with choruses and head bobbing hooks. Storm’s quick staccato is effortless, relentless and powerful–a unique voice in today’s hip-hop world. Most importantly, he has something to say. With subject matters ranging from race to religion to politics, A2 represents the true poetic art of hip-hop. Storm even tackles the demands of his chosen industry in “Please Forgive Me,” defiant against the hip-hop culture that often seems to overshadow its own art. Top to bottom, this is a great album: sophisticated, engaging and catchy. ~CC

  • He is one of the best
    author: Music For America

    Storm The Unpredictable has been under the radar for years, I remember listening to him and becoming a fan during my U-WU days. He has the kind of power and determination to make him one of the best MC's out now, but he doesn't need that kind of declaration to make that official. He is one of the best, and for the non-believers, they can take a listen to A2: What Should Have Been (Ty-She/Domination). "The Reintroduction" proves why Storm has what it takes to maintain a career in this music, and even if he did, he could be supplying publishing houses with his well-written songs. "Oh My God" features motivational wordplay, while "In Case You Forget" (featuring Priest Da Nomad is a verbal beatdown. I want to hear music that'll fuck up thy noggin and make me smile, I've found it here.

  • Forecast: positive
    author: Chairman Mao/XXL Magazine

    Judging by his latest LP's unwieldy title (A2: What Should Have Been) and unfortunate cover logo (ostensibly a microphone being pulled into the eye of a twister, it could pass for one being flushed down the toilet), Storm the Unpredictable could probably stand to market himself better. But what the Oxon Hill, MD. -bred MC lacks in industry savvy he compensates for in heart and skills. A2, his Domination Recordings-released second full-length effort, finds the former Rap City-featured rhyme rogue equally lively whether giving props to girls wtih girth ("Get Your Weight Up") or getting racial with his battle-tested boasts ("These MCs, they couldn't hand with me/if we was all Black men caught fondlin' White women in the'50s," he declares on "Oh My God"). No mere punch-line artist, Storm also proves proficient creating conscience-raising compositions. "Darker the Berry (Remix)" dissects pigment politics, while "Please Forgive Me" issues a sarcastic apology for refusing to dumb down lyrics. And if not all of Storm's critiques electrify, his taste in beats-from producer Decompose and others-is generally robust enough to weather the occasional conceptual lapse. Forecast: positive.

  • Clean-cut lyrics and subject matter, solid but safe production
    author: Hiphop11.com

    Those who have kept an ear out to underground hip hop will most likely recognize Storm from the work he’s put in over the last few years including his 2003 debut “Amalgamation” and various 12” releases. If that doesn’t ring a bell than you might recognize the Maryland emcee from BET’s Rap City or magazines like XXL, and The Source. Almond Joy provides any other introduction you may need in the albums intro entitled “Welcome.” “The Reintroduction” will eliminate any skepticism you may have about Storm’s lyrical abilities: “I got these rappers in a state of emergency Takin their heart, So now they need a triple bypass surgery And any rapper even think about serving me My telekinetic power process brings you the third degree” This is only a small portion of the battle-ready rhyme schemes that are more than present in the albums beginning tracks. You’ll see that Storm isn’t the only one with battle experience as soon as you hear DJ RBI’s precise cuts of Method Man’s line “oh my god not you”. These elements are well complimented by soulful samples and busy drums, but the boom-bap style of production doesn’t come into play until the remix to “Get Your Weight Up (Remix),” where Storm gives a tribute to large women that maintains humor while dealing with some of societies touchiest issues. These lines best summarize storms views on a woman’s weight: “You’ll never see me followin’ A women who was starving herself So she could be on the cover of Cosmopolitan If that’s your natural size, cool But don’t be sticking your finger down your throat Like you’re a constant vomit fool” “Get Your Weight Up” is only the beginning of the social commentary that you will hear on “A2: What Should Have Been”. “All About” is a representation of what Storm stands for. From hip hop magazines giving fair reviews, to getting George W. Bush out of office, and everything in between. By the time you’ve finished listening to “Grown Folks Biz” you will understand that Storm is more than just an average man speaking his mind, but a true leader that is only held back by those that choose to ignore what he has to say. A nickname like “The Unpredictable” is only suitable for a lyricist that can cover so many topics in such a short amount of time. Although “I’m Gone (Remix)” is far from disrespectful, it still serves as a platform for Storm to release his frustration of the women who aren’t trustworthy, giving way to the most emotional track on the album “Darker The Berry (Remix)” where the horror’s of harassment that Storm went through because of his dark complexion are re-lived. Just when you think there’s nothing left, “Contradictions” deals with all the ironic situations in our society, whether its studio thugs using body guards as protection, or men being praised for the same thing that gets women labeled as a “hoe.” On a similar note “Please Forgive Me” features Storm sarcastically apologizing being humble and honest, claiming “It's like being conscious is now like a liability.” After a variety of topics, Storm takes it back to the basics for the albums ending with the pure lyricism and liquid flow that introduced us to Storm in the first place. Although there is not a single curse word on the album, there is no shortage of aggression when dealing the albums rougher issues. The production does a great job of complementing the lyrics, but only a few beats such as “Grown Folks Biz” and “Please Forgive Me” could hold their own as instrumentals. In the end you will be glad you listened to “A2: What Should Have Been”, and will most likely be able to relate to it in more than one way..

  • author: cpf

    From Maryland DC, Storm The Unpredictable has been rockin the mic since many years, building a rep of an energetic lyricist, masterly skilled in the art of freestyling. Earlier singles such as 'MC’s Be Killin Me', 'Stop Lyin', 'Get Your Weight Up' and 'Y’All Know The Name' created a buzz for this biotechnologist graduate and led to a deal with one of today’s most tasteful labels, Domination Recordings. Being the freestyle performer that he is, the lyrics are packed with metaphor-infested punchlines and a topicality that is seldom seen in today’s rap scene, working out different themes with agile precision. Where the album starts off with some good old braggadociousness ('Verbally, I’m in your upper echelon') on the vibe-and bassfull 'Oh My God' (the title most likely inspired by Doug E Fresh’s album), which is packed with jargon ('My cranium cavity houses a biological weapon for you all') and the Danja Mowf-produced 'Suplex Reloaded' with fellow wordsmith magician Priest da Nomad ('They want an on-line battle on some frontline shit, but they log off the minute that the punchline hits'), 'A2' continues with issues that deal with today’s society’s desire of a woman unequivocally having to be thin ('You wanna get with Storm, then you should’ve ate your plate up') in the guitar-fickled remix of 'Get Your Weight Up', ending a relationship in the excellent remix of 'I’m Gone' ('I made excuses for the children while their mama danced the night away') and the very introspective, piano-laden 'Darker The Berry', dealing with racism, demonstrated by personal experiences ('I thought my skin was dirty'). 'I’m all about magazines giving out fair reviews, not based on the size of your ad', Storm raps in 'All About'. Without advertising involved (check any banner on the site), we can easily say this album is nothing short of lyrical bravoure and beats that instantly atack your neck muscles. No matter what, if anyone tells you that hip-hop is wack in 2006, then let him/her take a listen to 'What Should Have Been', deal?

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