Volume 4: The Redemption 2005 Album

Ruff Ryders

This begins well, with some standard g-rap, but the quality slowly dips bit by bit, hitting a low with the generic Swizz Beatz cut ‘What They Want’. 'Ghetto Children' is slightly better with some reggae vibes. Then we have the first of two Latin hip hop/reggaeton tracks that are skips for me. Flashy and Scarlett (who?) breathe life back into the album with ‘What Ryders Do’, a smooth pop-rap track laced with soul. Akon produces and features on the following 'Stay Down'. While not his best, Akon didn't miss on hooks from this era. Flashy spits some stories of struggle on the verses. The momentum continues with the Scott Storch produced ‘Get Wild’, the lone DMX appearance, and easily one of the project’s highlights. The beat doesn’t break new ground, but it bangs and the energy is undeniable. That’s the album’s best stretch. 'Blood in the Streets' has weak production and is a skip. Aja Smith's 'Stupid Bitch' isn't bad. Swizz Beatz redeems himself with 'Aim 4 the Head' where Cassidy, Jin & J-Hood spit solid gangsta bars. From there, Drag-On's 'Throw It Up' is weak. The gun cocking sound effect heavy 'Keep the Gunz Cocked (If It's Beef... RMX)' is more decent gangsta rap and on the tier below the best tracks. 'Dale Poppi Dale' s the second reggaeton skip that I alluded to earlier. The final hip hop track sees Flash appear again with '100 Bars of Crack' that features almost six minutes of bars/punchlines that catch the ear often enough to be worth a listen. Given the amount Flashy is on this (six tracks) you'd think Ruff Ryders had bigger plans for him, but we never got anything aside from mixtapes. Then, on the finale we have the softest shit ever from Lynne Timmes that feels completely out of place on this project. All in all, it's inconsistent, but has its moments Beats: ★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Ruff Ryders 4 Life, What Ryders Do, Stay Down, Get Wild, Aim 4 the Head 1. Ruff Ryders 4 Life 80 2. If It's Beef... 70 3. Knock Knock 60 4. What They Want 40 5. Ghetto Children 54 6. Dame Reggaeton (Skit) 7. Dame Reggaeton 30 8. What Ryders Do 76 9. Stay Down 72 10. Get Wild 80 11. Blood in the Streets 54 12. Stupid Bitch 60 13. Aim 4 the Head 74 14. Throw It Up 44 15. Keep the Gunz Cocked (If It's Beef... RMX) 70 16. Dale Poppi Dale 30 BONUS TRACKS 17. 100 Bars of Crack 61 18. So Serious 60