Type: Contains explicit content, Lyrics are included with the album
Genre: Rap
Review
When Please Don't Take My Air Jordans came out in 1994, some people tried to categorize Reg E. Gaines as a hip-hopper. But this CD isn't rap; it's spoken word. Like Wanda Coleman, Gaines demonstrates that a black vocalist who is speaking instead of singing isn't necessarily a rapper. However, he does tackle many of the same social issues that hip-hoppers have tackled, including black-on-black crime, poverty, and racism. And like rapper KRS-1, he has a way of being humorous and angry at the same time. One thing the artist has in common with so many other spoken word artists is a tendency to be overly self-indulgent. But it's easy to forgive his excesses because the CD's best tracks demonstrate that when Gaines is good, he's really good. The New Yorker is especially impressive on the disturbing title track (which takes a look at inner-city youths who are willing to kill to steal someone's gym shoes), the sympathetic "Jamaica to Roslyn" (which takes a look at the struggles of Caribbean immigrants) and the insightful "Just Another Misunderstood Brother." The "misunderstood brother" that Gaines is referring to is Jimi Hendrix; he finds it quite ironic that the seminal hard rocker was hailed as a musical genius by so many white rock musicians but was ignored and dismissed by many African-Americans in the 1960s. Those who hear Please Don't Take My Air Jordans in its entirety will find the disc to be uneven, but when Gaines really gets going he shows a lot of promise. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Tracks
Track Title
Composers
Performers
Time
Urban Hai-Ku
Reg E. Gaines
Reg E. Gaines
(:16)
Just Another Misunderstood Brother
Calvin Gaines, Gordon Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(4:34)
Eulogy
Calvin Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(3:43)
My-A-Y-Ya Write Dat Poem
Calvin Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(3:11)
Denominator
Reg E. Gaines
Reg E. Gaines
(:49)
For the Lady in Green Who SH*ts in the Harbor
Calvin Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(2:19)
100 Years 2 Late
Reg E. Gaines
Reg E. Gaines
(:47)
Jamaica to Roslyn
Calvin Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(3:36)
Taken Out at the Ballgame
Reg E. Gaines
Reg E. Gaines
(2:51)
Please Don't Take My Air Jordans
Phillip Damien, Reg E. Gaines
Reg E. Gaines
(4:39)
When I Grow up I Wanna Be Just Like John Gotti
Calvin Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(1:00)
Off da Wall
Reg E. Gaines
Reg E. Gaines
(2:09)
Kids "R" Us
Calvin Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(3:29)
Watermelon, Lox & Bagels
Calvin Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(4:11)
Loaded . 45
Calvin Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(2:45)
Home Alone
Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(3:14)
Great Expectations
Calvin Gaines, Reg E. Gaines, Mark Wilson
Reg E. Gaines
(3:54)
Credits
Mark Wilson (Bass), Calvin Gaines (Engineer), Calvin Gaines (Drums), Reg E. Gaines (Piano), Reg E. Gaines (Executive Producer), Gabrielle Family (Vocals (Background)), Calvin Gaines (Conductor), Phillip Damien (Engineer), Mark Wilson (Organ), Calvin Gaines (Guitar), Calvin Gaines (Bass), Mark Wilson (Piano), Reg E. Gaines (Producer), Dan Kramer (Editing), Phillip Damien (Bass), Patricia Lie (Design), Gordon Gaines (Composer), Phillip Damien (Keyboards), Reg E. Gaines (Composer), Eric Roundtree (Bass), Mark Wilson (Percussion), Reg E. Gaines (Vocals), Lisa Cortes (Executive Producer), Phyllis Gaines (Vocals), Mark Wilson (Composer), Dan Kramer (Post Production), Gordon Gaines (Guitar), Pattycake (Producer), Mark Wilson (Engineer), Martin Dixon (Photography), Pattycake (Multi Instruments), Greg Calbi (Mastering), Phillip Damien (Producer), Calvin Gaines (Composer), Reg E. Gaines (Keyboards), Mark Wilson (Executive Producer), Michael Bays (Art Direction), Mark Wilson (Vibraphone), Mark Wilson (Strings), Calvin Gaines (Executive Producer), Phillip Damien (Composer)
