Stetasonic - Blood, Sweat & No Tears (1991)

What turned out to be Stetsasonic's parting long-player, "Blood, Sweat & No Tears" may have disappointed those expecting another "In Full Gear", but there was much to love here despite a long-winded, partially deflating running time. 

Starting out with a devastating instrumental, "The Hip Hop Band," Stetsa sounded fresher than ever on "No B.S. Allowed" and the funky groupie tribute, "Speaking of a Girl Named Suzy." "Go Brooklyn 3" sounded surprisingly reminiscent of West Coast hardcore, but the very next track, "Walkin' in the Rain," was a smooth ballad that sampled the 1972 Love Unlimited hit (and re-created the oh-so-sexy Barry White phone conversation). 

As a band, Stetsasonic still had plenty of ties to funk, dropping expressive party jams like "So Let the Fun Begin" and the P-Funk name-dropping "Don't Let Your Mouth Write a Check That Your Ass Can't Cash." Prince Paul, then coming off the success of De la Soul's "3 Feet High and Rising", hardly dominated this record; Bobby Simmons and Daddy O each produced as many (or more) tracks as he did (most of them great), while DBC and Wise also contributed. If it lacks the classic status that "In Full Gear" instantly commanded, "Blood, Sweat & No Tears" was still a fitting last hurrah to one of the golden age's most diversely talented combos.

Tracklist:

1The Hip Hop Band2:28

2No B.S. Allowed4:30

3Uda Man5:02

4Speaking Of A Girl Named Suzy5:25

5Gyrlz5:34

6Blood, Sweat & No Tears2:47

7So Let The Fun Begin4:53

8Go Brooklyn 33:52

9Walkin' In The Rain5:44

10Don't Let Your Mouth Write A Check That Your Ass Can't Cash5:22

11Ghetto Is The World5:54

12Your Mother Has Green Teeth2:15

13You Still Smokin' That Shit?0:46

14Heaven Help The M.F.'s4:37

15Took Place In East New York2:36

16Paul's A Sucker3:58

17Free South Africa (The Remix)3:06

Stetasonic - Blood, Sweat & No Tears (1991)
(320 kbps, cover art included)