M.A.D.E. 2003 Album

Memphis Bleek

On Bleek’s third effort, we see a continued expansion in song variety. The Just Blaze-produced 'Hypnotic' stands out with its laid-back, West Coast-inspired vibe that is nothing like anything from Bleek's first two albums. Rell kills the hook for 'Understand Me Still' for Bleek's best heartfelt song up until this point. Once again, we see the 'PYT' influence as we did on his last album with 'I Wanna Love U' (produced by Kanye West) with Donell Jones covering the hook from MJ's classic. The beat on 'War' could be slightly better, but it bangs, as does '1, 2 Y'all' being one of hundreds of songs to sample 'U.F.O.' by ESG. 'R.O.C.' is the only straight skip for me that finishes the album off poorly. Although the album loses some momentum midway, slipping into more generic G-rap territory for a couple of songs, it ultimately delivers stronger consistency and improved replay value compared to Bleek’s earlier work. His lack of a distinctive vocal presence still holds him back, especially when sharing tracks with the original voices of T.I., Jay-Z, Freeway, and M.O.P., but the production and songwriting mark a progression from his first two albums. It’s definitely worth a spin or two. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Roc-a-Fella Get Low Respect It, Hypnotic, Understand Me Still