This is full of mostly mediocre pop rap. 'Ooh Big Momma' samples the classic 'Computer Age (Push the Button)' by Newcleus making that one stand out, but at the same time, it's not one I'll be rushing to play again. Nas' 'I've Got to Have It' sounds like it could've been a Nastradamus cut. 'I Want to Kiss You' sounds like a Mariah Carey song. Mac Nelson's R&B song, 'Love's Not Love', is comfortably the best thing here.
Best Tracks: Radio, Love's Not Love, Ooh Big Momma, Get Up
There's nothing in the first song. 'Mini Birki' couldn't be more generic. 'Fresh' could use some drums kicking in at some point. 'Paradise' sounds incredibly dated. The title track does as well, but it's better. See what was said on 'Fresh' for 'They Don’t Love You'. You can't give us only 31 minutes of music and it be this weak. There's nothing to revisit here.
Best Tracks: Dog House, The World Changed on Me
'Missionary' might sound like a polished, high-budget project, but does it live up to that? Most of the tracks have a pop-influenced feel that I wasn’t expecting or hoping for. There’s not a single straight-up hip-hop banger to be found. Snoop’s rapping performance is on-point, but lyrically, there is almost nothing interesting. Overall, I wasn't expecting a 5 mic project, but there isn't even one song that is near that. The album comes and goes. So, "no" is the answer.
Beats: ★★★
Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆
Hooks: ★★★
Best Tracks: Outta Da Blue, Hard Knocks, Thank You, Now or Never
1. Fore Play
A near pointless intro that borrows from 'People Make the World Go Round' by The Stylistics that has been used a million times.
2. Shangri-La
A high energy way to kick off the album for real. Enjoyable production
3. Outta Da Blue
Borrows from 'Paper Planes' by M.I.A. This almost sounds like too much is happening.
4. Hard Knocks
Probably the best song. The hook is catchy, borrowing from Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall'. That is until the beat changes up and it doesn't match the opening half.
5. Gorgeous
Probably the best song. Nice pop-rap.
6. Last Dance with Mary Jane
The country-esque instrumentation fits the feature more than Snoop. Can musicians stop writing about weed? Yawn.
7. Thank You
This has a lively bounce, complemented by a choral-inspired hook.
8. Pressure
Boring beat. Not enough is added to it as the song progresses. It sounds like a draft.
9. Another Part of Me
You know when a song sounds like it was trying to be something special and is trying too hard? Maybe overproduced is the word. This song has that feeling.
10. Skyscrapers
Decent spitting but there is no discernible hook or anything to make it catchy.
11. Fire
Reggae influenced. I don't like this at all. The hook in particular.
12. Gunz N Smoke
50 needs to never grab the microphone again. Eminem helps afterwards. There is something likeable in the more grimy instrumentation with this being the most 'hip hop' track here but there's is little catchy.
13. Sticcy Situation
Samples 'Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic' by Isaac Hayes that is instantly recognisable. It's another song that hip hop has sampled countless times. The start of the hook from K.A.A.N. uses the same rhythm as the start of the hook in Eminem's 'Ass Like That'. This song is another that changes up in the second half. The songs with more engaging instrumentation change up halfway through, yet with the boring songs, they just let the beat ride...
14. Now or Never
Not bad. As we often get at the end of a hip hop album we have the obligatory motivational piece here.
15. Gangsta Pose
Decent.
16. The Negotiator
An underwhelming way to finish the album. It's okay at best.
Is there nothing in DMX's vault? This is basically X's prayers with some spoken word features. The "original music created by Grammy-winning gospel songwriter/producer Warryn Campbell" is fairly basic. There have been lots, but this is near the top of the list for pointless posthumous releases.
Best Tracks: Until I'm Gone
Why are there Fridays where nothing drops of interest and then you have over half a dozen projects drop on the same day that you want to listen to? I was looking forward to this one. While they go back some way, Mario has some of my favourite R&B tracks, and his voice is always pleasing to the ear. Before listening to this album, I was thinking that no track, for quite some time, had jumped out at me for a number of albums now as an instant favourite, but then 'Selfish' hit. It's great. Elsewhere, the second half of the album has most of my other favourites. Like some of his other more recent albums, there aren't a lot of top tier moments, but there is something to take away.
Best Tracks: Keep Going (Aaaaahhhhh), Selfish, Love Ain't Perfect, Give It to You