In 2001, Hip-Hop was dominated by commercialism galore. Repetitive songs by weak artists such as P. Diddy, Nelly, and other such losers dominated the radio. Hip-Hop completely traded its art and creativity for ice, chains, platinum, and money. Hip-Hop was getting ridiculously stupid, yet its popularity soared among idiotic young kids who listen to ignorant music. However, there were a few exeptionally incredible albums to be released. One of which was by the non-sell-out group entitled Onyx's front-man: Sticky Fingaz. Onyx has always been known to give us gritty, hardcore street hip-hop and never sell-out in their career. Sticky Fingaz at last took a stand and released his solo debut album Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones. Giving us an extremely creative concept, Sticky Fingaz adaps his alter-ago, named Kirk Jones (which is also his real name), to give us creative narratives and stories, in autobiographical form using songs to tell his life. An amazing concept, but is the album any good? Read on...


Track List & Rating

1. Intro (NOT RATED)
2. Come On (4 Stars)
3. My Dogz Iz My Gunz f/ Black Child (5 Stars)
4. Not Die’n (5 Stars)
5. Kirk Jones Conscience 1 (NOT RATED)
6. Money Talks f/ Raekwon the Chef (5 Stars)
7. Why f/ X-1 (5 Stars)
8. Oh My God (5 Stars)
9. State vs. Kirk Jones f/ Rah Digga, Redman, Canibus, Scarred 4 Life, Lord Superb, Guess Who (5 Stars)
10. Kirk Jones Conscience 2 (NOT RATED)
11. Baby Brother f/ Dave Hollister (5 Stars)
12. Cheatin (4 1/2 Stars)
13. What Chu Want f/ X-1 (4 Stars)
14. Ghetto f/ Petey Pablo (3 1/2 Stars)
15. What If I Was White f/ Eminem (4 1/2 Stars)
16. Sister I’m Sorry f/ Choclatt (5 Stars)
17. Get It Up f/ Firestarr (3 1/2 Stars)
18. Kirk Jones Conscience 3 (NOT RATED)
19. Licken Off In Hiphop f/ Columbo the Shining Star (4 Stars)
20. Wonderful World (4 Stars)




Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones is hardcore hip-hop at its finest, mixed with amazing creativity. Sticky's amazing ability to tell a story in this fashion is unique and shown beautifully on this album. We begin with "Intro", as we get the trumpet sound from "Universal Movies", giving us a feeling that this album is more like a movie than anything. Then we kick right into the story where we first meet Kirk Jones, obviously played by Sticky. Kirk goes to his friend's house and meets up with his friend, who was having some fun with a female after being released from Prison. This begins the story...

"Come on" is the first real track, and it is pure braggadiocio from Sticky. Sticky basically gives us a simple braggadiocio flow about Sticky's emergence as a solo artist, and gives us tight flows and a catchy chorus. The beat is also extremely catchy, featuring a Strumming Guitar, hard bassline, and some R&B harmonization in the background. Sticky's complex and clever lyrics, adapting a multi-syllable flow, with wordplay and punchlines galore. This is a testament to Sticky's true skill, as it is shown here. After the song we get a short interlude where Kirk gets into an argument with the friend he was living with.

"My Dogz iz My Gunz" is another extremely creative track where Sticky basically metaphors a gun and a dog. His method here is an extended metaphor so when he cleverly speaks of his dogs, he is actually referring to his guns. The beat uses a unique arrangement of keyboard keys. He is joined by Black Child to hit us with a tight verse too. At the end of the song, Sticky is involved in a shoot-out in the projects, as he is shot, and runs off, betraying his own friend.

Sticky gives another amazing track entitled "Not Dyin'" next. Sticky Fingaz basically paints the picture of being immortal, and unable to be destroyed or killed. Sticky Fingaz gives us creative braggadiocio about how he attempted to kill himself, and it was impossible simply because he can never die. His lyricism is extremely well-written and clever, and is a testament to how underrated and good Sticky Fingaz is as an artist. The instrumental is wild and crazy, we get a fast beat with snares, keyboards, trumpets, and a thumping bassline for Sticky to rap over. Afterwards we get to the skit "Kirk Jones Conscious 1". Kirk describes the shoot-out he was just in... and how he managed to survive, but did get a few bullets. It is now 2 weeks later. Kirk describes a typical "Scarface" sort of story where he is getting money and women, until he finds out she is decieving and takes his money, and is now on a hunt.

Wu-Tang Clan alumni Raekwon The Chef joins Sticky Fingaz on "Money Talks", as we get yet another creative track. Sticky Fingaz goes into extended metaphor mode as he describes himself as money, similar to the way Nas described himself as a gun on the classic I Gave You Power. Sticky raps as himself being money, mixing it with social consciousness as he raps about the influence of money on society, and the thirst that everybody on the planet has for the green. Raekwon drops the hook on the track. The beat is pretty tight, with some fast high-key pianos, thumping drums, strumming guitars, and some lighthearted drum taps, and a non-existant bassline... blended perfectly. After the track we get another storytelling tale as Kirk goes to meet little brother Bruce, which is played by Sticky's real life little brother, emcee X-1.

This leads to "Why". On this track, Kirk and Bruce, played by Sticky and X-1, rap in narrative dialogue form. They both rap to each other in dialogue form as they prepare to rob a jewelry store. The track is vaguely similar to the classic Onyx track: "Rob and Vic", as the two alternate raps, telling stories to each other. Kirk manages to rob a jewelry store, killing the clerk Tyrone. Afterwards, he and Bruce get into an argument, which ends up in violence and the death of Bruce. The beat is a nice blend of piano and guitar, with a low, melancholy bassline.

Afterwards, Kirk is beginning to realize the mistake he made in killing Bruce. "Oh my God" begins in a hospital, as Bruce dies and Kirk contemplates why he was taken from him. Sticky Fingaz now once again shows his creativity as he raps WITH God on this track, very similar to the way Ras Kass did on "Interview with the Vampire". Sticky questions God's motives as well as the way things have been going in life, asking God metaphysical questons. The track begins with Sticky cursing out God for taking the life of Bruce, until God finally shows up to talk to him. Sticky gets extremely creative and intelligent, much more than he even shows of himself backed by a very arabian styled instrumental. At the end of this track, the police arrives and arrests Kirk Jones, taking him to jail, and to his eventual courtdate, which is shown on....

Kirk Jones goes to court and we get the story on "State vs. Kirk Jones", my favorite track on the album. Sticky Fingaz assembles an amazing team of legendary emcees to assist him on the track and each play a character. Flip-Mode Squad / Outsidaz member Rah Digga plays the Judge on the track, hardcore battle rapper Canibus plays the prosecuting judge, Legendary comical emcee Redman plays the defensive attorney. Lord Superb, Scarred 4 Life, and Guess Who play witnesses. One of which plays a friend of the original friend that Sticky visited at the start of the movie.... umm.. i mean album. Kirk struggles in court as everybody lays down their verses in story mode, crafted beautifully. In the end, Kirk is found guilty and sent to jail. The production is masterful, as we get a scaling piano and violin that sounds beautiful together with synthesizers, adding to the mood of the song. This is one of the best songs of 2001, hands down...

On the next skit, Kirk raps from jail, apologizing for killing Bruce. This leads to "Baby Brother", which is a dedication to Bruce. Dave Hollister gives us the R&B chorus for this, as Sticky gets emotional, plays different characters, and flexes his creative muscles once again. At the end of the song, Kirk is visited by his girlfriend Vanessa in jail, who is supposed to remain loyal, and she drops the bomb that she is seeing other people. Kirk, going insane due to her mischievious ways, goes insane and they start arguing, leading to "Cheating". This song is about the current situation, as i just described. The beat is a very head bobbing piano / keyboard mix with fast strumming guitars and thumping drums. Sticky once again gets extremely creative, describing different ways to figure out how you're girlfriend is cheating. Its pretty funny how Sticky is so clever and smart, and most of the stuff he says is completely true. Listening to Sticky's clever rhymes about discovering a female when she's cheating is extremely cool. After this song, Kirk goes to his appeal, six months later, as he is sadly told that he has no chance and must do his whole time. Kirk gets full of rage due to the news, knowing he'll have to remain in jail for a long time. "What Chu Want" is Kirk's answer to the question asked in the last track. Kirk describes how he wants everything, from money and cars. Dont get this confused with commercialism, as Kirk simply describes what he "wants", not what he has. The beat is a nice synthesized accompaniment, perfect for Sticky to rap over.

At last, Kirk has gotten out, and is back on the streets once again. He has served his 10 years, leading Kirk back to the ghetto once again. Sticky is joined by Petey Pablo on "Ghetto". They both describe what its like to be in the ghetto and living in the ghetto. The song is pretty comical, but Petey Pablo is a very poor excuse for an artist, so the track loses. The song is clever and funny, as he describes everything that has to do with being ghetto. Very cool track. Afterwards, Kirk is asked to sell weed, and he denies it, but finally gives in and robs the dude for the money and the drugs. Once again, hes back to his old ways. However, this turns around when we find out Kirk is white and that its just a dream.

"What if I was White" is the next song, describing the dream Kirk just had. This is another tight song by Sticky. White Rapper Eminem comically joins Sticky on this one, giving us the hook and some background choruses. Sticky comically raps cleverly about the racial tensions between black and whites. He sort of picks on blacks and whites together, and how their attitudes are. This song has made me laugh more than once, because of how wrong, yet right Sticky is on this matter. Afterwards, the story continues as Sticky Fingaz is watching TV, and his sister walks in, telling him to get a job, with whom hes living in. He smacks her at the end of the story, leading to "Sister I'm Sorry". Sticky dedicates it to his sister, whom he just smacked a second ago. Sticky gets emotional, giving us an R&B tale dedicated not only to his sister, but also all women. Sticky apologizes for the fact that men around the world are a**holes. The harmonization of this track reminds me a lot of 2pac's Baby Dont Cry, specially the chorus, which has identical notes to the 2pac tune. Hearing Sticky's emotional side is abstract (you should hear him sing!!), but the track is a success. Kirk goes back to his old ways, robbing another store. I guess he won't learn. This leads to the lead single from this album: "Get it Up". Sort of a small Onyx reunion, as Sticky is joined by Firestarr a.k.a. fellow-Onyx member Fredro Starr. Featuring a synthesized loud snare, Sticky and Fredro rap together about street violence, similar to the Onyx of old. He sort of pokes fun at commercial rap at times, but he has some commercial elements, such as degration of women and ice. But the track is still slightly above average. Kirk Jones gets violent, as he sticks somebody up for their money at the end of the track, continuing the story. Now Kirk is on the run from the law, now stating that he thirsts for money and that no matter what, he is not going back to jail. "Licken off in Hip-Hop" is next. Sticky Fingaz goes to braggadiocio for this one, giving us the clever rhymes and intense delivery that we're used to. At the end of the track, the law catches up to him, and Sticky puts a gun to his head, stating that he's not going back... and pulls the trigger. The rest is history...

The final track on this album is "Wonderful World", which is an outro. This is purely hilarious listening to Sticky trying to sing... and i laughed when he hit that first note. His grimey, scratchy voice absolutely does NOT fit with the music, giving us a cookie monster sort of feeling. The lyrics are so simplistic that it sounds like something lifted from Sesame Street, which to me is funny as f*ck, he even laughs at himself at the end, giving us sort of an Andy Kaufman sort of feeling.

Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones isn't classic, simply because it has a few weaker tracks, but its as close to a classic as could possibly be manifested. Sticky Fingaz gives us one of the funniest, most creative, most unique and fun albums to ever be crafted from one of the individuals who began the "Mad Face Invasion". I'm tempted to give this album 5 Stars because i really think that everybody should listen to this album at least once to understand what hip-hop is lacking nowadays: Creativity. So get off you're lazy a** and get yourself a copy...

4 1/2 Stars... Rounded down to 4


P.S. - Dont even try to download it off Kazaa, cause ive tried.. and you wont find all the tracks... in fact, you may only find 4 or 5. I suggest purchasing it, its worth it...



Recommended: Yes