Bow Weezy is back with another album which he says will end his rapping career which started when he was only 13, under the name Lil Bow Wow. It's been said often by many rappers but rarely comes to fruition. I'm sure many rap fans wouldn't be crying if it did for Bow. From an artist point of view, I'm not one of those who hates him though. He isn't the most skilled for sure, but he creates some decent pop rap like that on 'Wanted' which I think is a good album. His previously newest album, The Price of Fame maybe not so much, but it still has some tunes I enjoyed.
To the album now and the first track is a skipper, then it improves from there. 'What They Call Me (Big Time)' ain't bad, 'Roc The Mic' is nice with The Stylistics 'Break Up to Make Up' sample and Bow and JD trading lines and then 'Been Doin' This' is one of the better songs on the album, with Bow Wow spitting quick which shows some more of what he can bring to the table.
From there 'Sunshine' has an interesting beat by JD, it has a country music vibe to it and uses a 'These Boots are Made for Walking' sample throughout the track. It doesn't work brilliantly but is different. From there it's very much...., I can't say hit or miss, but maybe good song or miss. Amongst the misses are 'She's My' which is boring and 'Shake' (I've never loved him but recently almost anything Swizz Beatz has been involved in has been trash) which is crap.
For an album only 11 tracks and 43 minutes long the consistency should be better. Two to three poor songs, and a few that are so so, but the rest of them do have some enjoyable qualities to 'em. You know what to expect when you acquire a Bow Wow album. Plenty of R&B hooks, many tracks with production by JD and a lil rubbish in between. Something for fans to enjoy.
Best Tracks: Roc The Mic, Like This, Been Doin' This, I Ain't Playing
Pusha T used to sell dope. He mentions it enough throughout the album if you forgot that information. While Pusha can be great as a guest (see 'Name me King' on Game's 'Jesus Piece'), or for a track here and there ('Exodus 23:1' is a great song), for a whole album I find him to be an extremely tedious boring rapper. Some people have mentioned the plethora of featuring artists on this album as a criticism, but would you want 45 minutes of exclusive Pusha? I certainly wouldn't and this album demonstrates that more than anything else I've heard from him previously. He raps basically the exact same way on every song, talking through his bars, that feature some weak punchlines and repetitive lyrics as Pusha likes to do. As a guest here, Kendrick also chooses to rap with his annoying tone and flow, so there goes that song from being enjoyable. The beats also have a minimalistic, drum-driven feel that add to the feeling of repetition. Pusha is a one-trick pony as a rapper and the beats aren't fantastic either. A disappointing album. The mixtape 'Wrath of Caine' has more going for it than this. In my humble opinion, his former partner's recent album, No Malice, is also more enjoyable than this. I don't like.
Best Tracks: King Push, No Regrets
Despite being a stand up guy, nothing quite goes right for the main character. He deals with employment, financial and relationship issues, criminality, corrupt police, childhood drama including domestic violence, being unwanted as a baby by his birth mother, an unsupportive mother-in-law... I am just now realising what a short straw he copped as I write this list. It does tug on the heart strings as it's hard not to feel empathy for the unjust deportation laws for adopted Americans that this movie sheds some light on, however, I can understand some feeling like it gets a bit much. I don't know what's wrong with me these days but I tear up easily, particularly when children are involved. The final 15-20 minutes of this are heavy. A recommended drama!
This begins bangin' with her female compatriots combining well with the first couple of songs. Snoop sounds great over the Hotrunner produced 'Hey Yall' beat and there are a couple of other okay tracks, but it falls away in the second half without anything outstanding being featured.
Best Tracks: What, Gangsta Lovin, Party in the Rain, Let This Go, Hey Yall
Lyrically there is still not enough variety from Game but he has always been able to pick a beat as he does on most of these tracks. There are some average songs but for an unofficial mixtape release it's a good collection of unreleased tracks/remixes an so on if you're a fan.
Best Tracks: Bang Along, Champion, Better on the Other Side, Flashback Memories, Follow Me Home, Put It in the Air (this one is old as...), Where You At
