Very Good: Neva Have 2 Worry, Sensual Seduction
Good: Press Play
Okay: Life of Da Party, Cool, Whateva U Do, Sets Up, Been Around Tha World, Those Gurlz, One Chance (Make it Good), Can't Say Goodbye
Skip: A Word Witchya! (Intro), SD is Out, Gangsta Like Me, Waste of Time, Deez Hollywood Nights, Staxxx in My Jeans, Let it Out, My Medicine, Ridin' in My Chevy, Why Did You Leave Me
There are way too many soft choruses on this album. It's too poppy and un-hip-hoppy for me coming from Snoop Dogg! I expected as much when I heard the first single 'Sensual Seduction' but that is a well constructed contagious song so it isn't an issue and one of the best from this album... Even the more general hip hop tracks on this are below par. I'm not usually a person to be against an album when the artist has gone a bit more mainstream but this is too far for me. What makes it worse is his last LP was a return to his best. Ego Trippin' is an album that most long time Snoop Dogg fans like myself may take a while to like if they are going to like it at all.
The pop-rap smash hit, 'Where Is the Love', was one of the first rap tracks I loved. I had it on a mixtape that I used to play on a walkman, and 'Hands Up', that was featured on NBA Live 2004, is a standout too. Besides the bookends, that are good songs, most of everything else is forgettable.
Best Tracks: Hands Up, Hey Mama, Shut Up, Where Is the Love?
This starts off brilliantly and makes it very hard for you not to be disappointed with the rest of the album. 'NY Weather Report' to 'Say Something' are all 5/5 songs, but from there most of the beats just lack anything special. Talib would have been better off spreading them around a lil. Among the weakest here are Madlib's beats ('Soon the New Day' & 'Eat to Live') who I'm not a fan of and are borderline boring tracks. Worth checking out because the best are crack, and the worst ain't too bad, but it's too inconsistent for a higher rating.
Best Tracks: NY Weather Report, Hostile Gospel Pt. 1 (Deliver Us), Say Something, Hot Thing, Listen!!!
I've said this with Slaughterhouse and other hip hop groups, but to be a successful hip hop duo or group, in my eyes, there needs to be distinction between the rappers. I don't hear enough between the Bone Thug members and they don't have captivating voices. It all sounds a tad too similar early on into this release and while they are good technical fast rappers, at times they are extremely difficult to understand, although this complaint isn't exclusive to these rappers. Overall, I find this to be pretty boring and one paced. Even the Grammy winning single 'Crossroad' is lackluster. One of those hip hop albums heralded as a classic that I don't get.
Best Tracks: Down '71 (The Getaway), Mo' Murda
I'm a fan of B.V. His first two albums have some of the best R&B the mainstream has given us over the past 10 years, and his next two had their moments as well.
There are too many weak features on this, with the best tracks being solo tracks. It doesn't help when I only really like one of the featuring artists in Cassidy. In saying that, 'Mirror' is pretty good, but it would have been much better without Wayne who misses a lot more than he hits with his features these days. While I'm on this topic, I've never really been a big fan of a quick 16 in R&B songs. There are exceptions to the rule, but a lot of the time I find it to be a bit pointless. For his 6th effort, Bobby would be better off just having one or two features for radio play and keeping the rest for himself.
Hit or miss but the hits are fantastic.
Best Tracks: Before You Break My Heart, Nothing on You, Save Me from Me