Ashes 2 Ashes, Dust 2 Dust
Critic Score
Details
1994 / Release Date
LP / Format
Street Smart / Label
Tommy Wright III / Producer
lo-fi
/ Full Credits
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Critic Reviews
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2 years after his debut mixtape, an 18 year old Tommy Wright III founded Street Smart Records. Looking to make waves in the Memphis hip hop scene, he drops Ashes 2 Ashes as the first project released under the label. The outcome - one of the rawest and most influential projects the Memphis scene has ever seen. The distorted quality/messy production may take a bit of time to get into, but eventually you just start appreciating the album for how vigorous and crunk it is.
Much of the where this ... read more
As early to trap as you can get, along with Juicy J and Three 6. This album is a cult classic amongst online rap circles, but Tommy's voice and lack of big, attention-grabbing personality makes it hard for me to enjoy as much as your average Three 6 outing.
I feel like the rerelease of this is better than the original only because the original has such blown out production that it feels a little ridiculous, but I think the original is the one that the praise is going towards so maybe you can check it out on the Internet Archive anyway. this is good but it feels way better to drive to, the thumping really matches the feeling of moving across asphalt somehow. also this dude's resume in killing and being insane is pretty impressive.
Day 136 of listening to and reviewing an album every day of 2026
you know those old 90s and 2000s McDonald’s toys with the little shitty microphones? I think that’s what Tommy was recording on when making this because god damn this album is Lo-Fi, which yeah, you guessed it makes it better. Im too predictable. This is just 90s Memphis rap perfection, the flows are tight and seamless as hell, the production quality is shit, the beats are kinda minimal and weird using those old 808 ... read more
UTTER MEMPHIS RAP PERFECTION.
This is the sound that has so immensely consumed my mind for all these years. This is what spawned so many of the different kinds of music I listen to today. All due respecr to it, this is what I expected when I listened to Mystic Stylez. One of the CRUNCHIEST, most unsettling, and strangely atmospheric hip-hop albums I've ever heard.
The aesthetic. That's what makes the album what it is. The irreplaceable sound of a gritty, underground tape created on ... read more
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Track List
| 1 | Drive-By 3:05 feat. Mac T Dog | 86 |
| 2 | Creepin' While Ya Sleepin' 4:23 feat. Mac T Dog | 90 |
| 3 | Meet Yo Maker 6:07 feat. Shawty Pimp, Tiptoe | 95 |
| 4 | Caught U Slippin' 3:30 | 84 |
| 5 | Murda in da 1st Degree 5:43 | 91 |
| 6 | Roll Call 3:44 | 71 |
| 7 | On Lockdown 1:38 | 77 |
| 8 | Packing 1:59 feat. X-Rated Al | 74 |
| 9 | Don't Start Shit 5:39 | 89 |
| 10 | Screet Type Nigga 3:00 feat. MC Spade | 91 |
| 11 | Comin for the 94 6:15 feat. Mac T Dog, Princess Loko | 86 |
| 12 | Sewed Up 2:57 | 75 |
| 13 | Wargames Phase I 3:56 | 87 |
| 14 | Four Corners 2:41 | 85 |
| 15 | Hit List 2:18 feat. King Goldi | 81 |
| 16 | Hog Killin' 1:09 | 75 |
Total Length: 58 minutes
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11mo
Say what you will about "Roll Call," but it makes for a great source and to-do list for Memphis rappers to listen to
1y
meet yo maker is fucking awesome but like you wouldn't catch me listening to this shit in public