Sheek Louch - Silverback Gorilla (2008)

Da-da-da-da-damn! How did I manage to forget about reviewing this album? Well, if you like D-Block, or anything by the LOX, or anything out of NY lately, you should feel this CD. You might even like it if you just like rap in general, but this is a special CD. The first real track, Think We Got a Problem, features a hybrid NY/Dirty South type of sound with Bun Bee-da and Hurricane Game tearin it up. This track is so hard that the rest of the album could suck and it would be worth it. Of course, the track that follows is a little weaker, but that won't last long as the album moves to Good Love, which features a Betty Wright sample, smooth beat, and a general feel-good vibe. From there we get D-Block/Dipset, a super collabo that pretty much speaks for itself. We at War and Scrap to This are pretty hard jams with that classic, gritty NY D-Block type of feeling, while Don't Be Dem reminisces about Hip Hop pioneers and the lack of creativity in the game these days. Getting Stronger is the obligatory LOX track that just gets you pumped for a new album. Is there one in the works? I don't know, but we can only hope. The rest of the album goes up and down in energy as well as depth, touching on real issues while keepin it gangsta at the same time. If you want some realness, peep this CD.

8.5/10

Jamie Foxx - Intuition (2008)

Mr. Foxx, what do you have for me this time around? The last album, I thought, had some gems, but also had some misses. There is no question that he is an extremely talented as an actor, comedian, musician, and R&B singer (just as long as he doesn't rap. See Steamin Beamen). However, that doesn't always translate into a good album, so what does this mean for Foxx?
The album starts right in, no intro or other time-wasters, with "Just Like Me" with T.I. However, he loses some of his momentum with the second track, "I Don't Need It". He picks things back up a bit with "Number One (Let's Get Dumb)" with Lil Wayne, but, as you might expect, this track is a little annoying and best in small doses. Some of the more memorable tracks were the ones that were more contemporary. For example, the Kanye West and The Dream track "Digital Girl" or the T-Pain track "Blame It (On the Alcohol)". And don't forget the "Miss Independent" remix "She Got Her Own" featuring Ne-Yo and Fabolous, which starts off sounding great until Ne-Yo steps up and steals the show on the second verse...sorry Jamie. "Why" is another good track, but is during the trail-off part of the album. There definitely are some gems and I feel this one more than the last one.

7/10

Chrome - Project Landlord (2008)

I first discovered Chrome when he dropped his debut album, "Straight to the Pros", which was based on the idea that he skipped playing in college and went straight to the major leagues. These days, that's not really much to brag about because people like Soulja Boy can skip high school and go straight to the top of the pros with no real talent, a silly dance, and a youtube/myspace account. Now that he has been "in the pros" for a few years and still hasn't really made a splash, how has Chrome developed?

Well the real answer there is that he hasn't developed...much. His newest album is pretty unexciting. Comprised mostly of songs about the dope game and being a gangsta (see "Cocaine and Robbin" or "Brick House"). This is an album without a real banger, but the closest you can get is probably "Big Wheels" with a not so inventive hook and decent beat. This is one of the big problems with this cd, the hooks are pretty simplistic (e.g., "Mr. Mack, Mack, Mack, All dressed in black, black, black") and the beats are not very exciting. Join these elements with a poor rhyme skills and boring style and you have a mediocre at best album. Not very memorable. He's a role-player at best in the pros.

6/10

Cory Gunz - Best Kept Secret (2008)

Well, I usually don't waste my time on mixtapes, but if you don't have anything else to comment on, then I guess you have no choice. Lil Gunna here hasn't put out much official material, so I checked him out on his mixtape. It's not much to judge, but at least it should be a pretty good sample of his skillz. There are 4 possibilities here: either he writes for Weezy, Weezy writes for him, the same person writes for both of them, or they just happen to have the same rhyme style and very similar flow. I very highly doubt that this is a coincidence.
If you listen to them on the "A Millie Remix" I think it says it all. They have the same type of rhymes and flow, but Gunna has a far superior delivery and can actually string together some decent thoughts. He can rhyme a little bit, but his freesteez are def written. He can repeat them on command, so how's he comin off the top? Some of his written stuff is alright though and he did use some pretty good beats. So how bout an album then? Or were you bitin Pap on that front too?

6/10

Method Man - 4:21...The Day After (2006)

This album's old, but bottom line, Mef gets love. Well, who knows what to expect these days from an album from Mef. I def didn't expect this one here. Mr. M-E-F ("cuz black people don't use the 't-h'") brings it for real on this one.
"Is It Me" no doubt highlights the album with production by Scott Storch, this track just fits Meth's style perfectly. He continues with classic Meth sounding tracks with beats that capture your full attention and completely surround his smoothed out and slightly less gritty flow. He eventually gets to "Dirty Mef", which of course features the late ODB and just brings back memories. Dope features from Streelife, Raekwon, U-god, La the Darkman, Redman, RZA and of course the Inspectah. Ginuwine contributes a great smooth R&B hook on "Lets Ride" while a Lauryn Hill sample on "Say" provides a hook for Mef to attack his critics. "Gotta Have It" is a fun track about all the things Mef loves, while "Ya'Meen" is a hardcore NY anthem with Fat Joe and Styles P. If it seems like this is an all-star album, it is. This goes down as another Wu-tang classic.

9/10

Ky-Mani Marley - Radio (2007)

Yeah, this album dropped over a year ago, but most people have never heard of it or him, so I'll let ya know. Ky-Mani is one of the younger Marley kids and has a different mother than most of the others. He grew up in Miami from the age of 9, so has a more Americanized, gangsta swag to his music.
while his tracks clearly have a Jamaican Reggae influence, it would be difficult to classify these tracks as Reggae. While they have elements of Reggae to them, they are generally set to hip hop beats and feature rapped verses. "The March", which is also featured in Spanish at the end of the album, shows Ky-Mani's rugged, unforgiving flow. However, on tracks like "One Time" "Jezebel" and "Royal Vibes" he manages to showcase that honey voice that we all knew he would inherit from his father. He features Mya on "I Got You" and tells his ghetto story with little help from his legendary father on "Ghetto Soldier". This is a solid album with a laid back vibe and a good, upbeat sound.

8.5/10

Daz Dillinger - Only on the Left Side (2008)

Anyone who thinks Daz fell off or hasn't been in the game clearly hasn't had their ear to the streets over the past few years. Ever since the infamous West Coast Conference that saw the reunification of the Dogg Pound, and even before that, Daz has been extremely busy with two Dogg Pound albums and five of his own. Well, this is probably the hardest he has dropped in a minute as a solo artist.
The album starts with the Classic West Coast Gangsta style banger "Sqeeze" and continues with the gangsta carnival sounding Swizz Beats track "I'm From The Hood". This just builds to the title track, which happens to be the hardest track on the album. The rest of the album flows together with the classic WC Gangsta Funk tracks including a Krayzie Bone feature and an NWA "Dopeman" remix. I think it's mandatory to have a SoCal-NorCal collabo track whether it's hyphy or gangsta, so of course "Dip Drop Stop Dip" with Keak Da Sneak is a hard gangsta track despite Keak's growled verse. "Me and My Cuzzin" is a weird, pseudo-sentimental track featuring Snoop about brotherhood (read gang banging), while "Regretz" features Tyrese and is about his domestic violence issues. Obie Trice and Kurupt make decent appearances toward the end of the album as well. This album is very good and hardcore for all the hardcore fans.

8/10

Ice Cube - Raw Footage (2008)

Ice Cube has a new album? Really? What do you mean it's good? How is that possible? Isn't he like 50? Yes, Yes, it really is, Yes, and No, he's not even 40 yet, he just got a really young start. I'm just as surprised as anyone else, but Cube really brought it on this one. His flow sounds about the same as it used to, but his political rhymes are more studied and informed than they used to be and he uses more sophisticated satire than he previously did (e.g., claiming to be the only rapper that wants to fist fight the president).
The first real track on the album, which happens to be my favorite, sounds like some Manny Fresh production, but it's not. "I Got My Locs On" features Young Jeezy and is somewhere between Dirty South and West Coast Gangsta Rap. Of course there's the single "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It", which is fittingly true Gangsta Rap style. A great Gangsta/Soul collabo was created on "Why Me?" with Musiq. Don't forget the West Coast Banger "Get Used To It" with Game and WC. "Stand Tall" remixes the Diamond In The Back beat in a whole new way. Out of 21 tracks at least 14 of them are very good. Although Cube's "Pyroclastic flow" is still a little simplistic at times, he rides the Gangsa beats as smoothly as ever and keeps it Raw.

8/10

Lil' Keke - Loved By Few, Hated By Many (2008)

Lil' Keke, one of the best Southern rappers, but the least recognized. I'd say Lil' Keke is today what UGK was in the late 90s in that he is great, but still somewhat underground. Well, his new cd is tight and he makes a convincing case for a Bun B-Lil Keke super collabo album. Now that's just my own fantasy, I don't want to start any rumors here. Anyway, this is a really good cd.
The album starts out with the laid back Houston-style gangsta cut "Act a Fool With It". The album stays hard from there, but just builds. The Houston all-star track with Paul Wall, Slim Thugga, and Tre Virdure, "Money in the City" is dope with a hard beat and gritty H-town verses. He shows his emotional side, if you can call it that, on "I Miss My Boyz" and "4 Doors and Coupes", but then quickly brings it back hard with "I'm a G" a hardcore track about growing up and into the game. This is a hard album. The track "She Love Gangsta's" sort of reminds me of some old No Limit/TRU stuff, but with better rapping and production. The whole album is good, so enjoy it.

7.5/10

Nelly - Brass Knuckles (2008)

Here's the new Nelly album, everybody sing along. But seriously, is Nelly auditioning for a job as an Abercrombie and Fitch model? He must have just completely given up on male fans by this point because nobody wants to see all that going on. Well, of course the expectations weren't very high for this one, but here goes.
The best track is the single "Body On Me" with Akon and Ashanti. If you've heard this track, it's just alright, nothing amazing or memorable, but that is really the best track. He's got quite a cast on there including a track with Snoop and Nate Doggs. Well, I guess there's really no point in wasting the time here, so let's just get to the point. Nelly isn't much of a rapper and his little sing-song flow got played around 2003. When he doubles up his verses it just sounds like someone is trying to rap along with him in a loud, yelling voice. Pretty bad. His beats were not very good either. Well, maybe next time. Nelly is another supporting cast member, but doesn't usually stand well on his own. Hence the ridiculous number of features that couldn't even save him.

3.5/10

Joe - Joe Thomas, New Man (2008)

Well, well, well, if it isn't Joe Thomas. Whether or not you like Joe, and how could you not, you gotta peep this album. Joe is an extremely consistent artist that has been around a long time and hasn't changed his style up more than he has had to to stay contemporary. He's been particularly busy over the past few years with a flurry of albums and seems to have more planned for the next two years. That being said, this is another solid contribution from a very solid artist.
The opening track is an annoying ER skit type of thing, but get past that and you have a very modern and young sounding Joe singing over a great beat that could just as easily be used for any of the new under-21 R&B kiddies. The next track (Why Just Be Friends) is probably the best on the album and has a much more mature feel to it, but the kids can still relate to it. The theme of the album is that he is a changed man and he frequently compares this transformation to an alcoholic coming out of treatment. The album is pretty good throughout, but I was initially confused by the snippets at the end and thought that my copy was just defective or a promo version or something like that. But no, he really just wanted to do some advertisement for what he's got up next. Well, it is what it is. Good cd and should set him up nicely for the next project.

7.5/10

T-Pain - Thr33 Ringz (2008)

It's a good thing that there are 21 tracks on this album cuz that just increases the odds that there are at least a few good tracks somewhere. Well, there are, but they are few and far between, despite the ridiculous star power involved with this project. Nevertheless, it's a lot better than Akon's album.
Of course the first hit single "Can't Believe It" with Weezy is the best track. The beat is dope, very relaxing, Lil Wayne behaves himself pretty well and the track comes together very nicely. The other single,"Chopped and Screwed" with Luda is a little annoying, but more tolerable than most of the tracks on the album. The main problem with T-Pain's songs is that he really doesn't have anything to sing about. So he tend to pick stupid topics for his songs that really have no depth to them. For example, he lines up an all-star R&B cast consisting of Musiq, Raheem DeVaughn, and Jay Lyriq for his track "Reality Show" which really isn't about anything meaningful. Why get some of the deeper R&B cats to do a meaningless waste of a potentially dope track? Anyway, Pain delivers a scathing rap track on "Karaoke", eating up other emcees and proclaiming that the only Kanye and Lil Wayne are cool, despite featuring a number of other rappers on his album. There are a few other tracks that are alright, like "Phantom" and "Freeze" with Chris Brown, but again, there is a lack of substance to any of this.

5/10

Akon - Freedom (2008)

Hmmmmm. We all coulda seen this one coming. Akon has been slowly transitioning from his more gangsta R&B hybrid genre to a more pop-oriented, something new type of thing. I say slowly because, although it has actually happened pretty quickly over the past few years, it has happened in the context of his complete domination of the radio play. A member of Konvict music has been featured on just about every major cd that has come out in the past few years and it is usually the hit song from the album. Akon's newest cd reflects his transition to a pop artist.
If you like the song "Right Now (Na Na Na)" then you'll probably like this album. Otherwise, it's pretty bad. There are a ton of those new pop-ish songs that seem to be in style these days with the dance/techno sounding beats that make me sick. There were a couple of decent songs, but no real standout. For example, the song "Birthmark" is an alright, heartfelt song. Also, "I'm So Paid" with Jeezy and Weezy is a pretty good song and sticks to the rap song with Akon on the hook. He can even have a verse, but this album is proof that Akon needs a supporting cast and can't stand on his own. The usual T-Pain and Akon song was, well the same as usual, not very impressive. Pretty whack album overall. Akon should stick to playing with others.

3.5/10

Boss Hogg Outlawz - Back By Blockular Demand: Serve and Collect II (2008)

It's the Boss Hoggs, but where are they back from? I didn't realize they had gone anywhere. Seems like they've been around pretty consistently. After listening to this one though, I think I get it. They're back on their game fo-sho. The opening tracks, "No Ceilin" and "Like Me" are hard as they come. They follow with a pretty classic Houston-style lookin clean that mixes some vocalization with some choppin and screwin. After that though, things slow down a bit before they come hard again with "Serve & Collect" and keep it bumpin with their "Rap Reality Show". They bring in Ray J for "Keep It Playa" which works better than most of what Ray J does on his own album, but still nothing too exciting. Other examples of hard, gangsta tracks include "Cost 2 Be" and "Wet Paint Drippin". This album is decent and has some pretty serious highlights. It's definitely Houston style and keeps it gritty. There are some of the slower, kinda boring tracks mixed in though, so if you're not into those, get ready to skip around.

6.5/10

Q-Unique - Vengeance Is Mine (2004)

Just so you all know, this album is sick. Yeah it came out in '04 and he has a new album out this year, but I don't have that new album yet cuz I haven't been able to find it. This dude has always been able to rhyme at will and brings it on this cd with track after track of resume-building, pain-bearing, and hip hop-dedicating rhymes. Q displays his rhyme skills while taking credit for his production skills, citing the two arsonists albums. Oh, that's who made all those dope beats. As if you didn't know. Anyway, with five, three or one member, Q proves he can rock the solo tracks. He bears his soul on tracks like "The Set Up" and "Father's Day", among others. Lyrically tight, sick beats, but some of the hooks are kinda whack chants. This is a hip hop album in it's pure form though. And to think, a Boricua did it. For all you who think that hip hop isn't for Latinos, take a look at who lives in the South and East Bronx where hip hop came from and you'll find out that Q fits right in with the pioneers of the art.

7.5/10

Slim - Love's Crazy (2008)

For a debut album, you would think Slim had a lot more practice as a solo artist. He proves on this one that he can do good all by himself. This is a solid album that I actually prefer to most of the 112 group efforts. It feels kinda like what i wish Lloyd would do more of, but he's on a whole other somethin.
The album ranges in styles from more upbeat, party music with the hit single "So Fly" to more classic R&B tracks like "Sweet Baby". He, like many of the newer R&B artists, works well with rappers and can create some very catchy, crossover songs that seem to be eating up the radio play these days. The not so favorable duet with Faith Evans is largely ruined by an annoying electric guitar solo. He gets very adult-oriented on "Heels On" and "Bedtime Story" and keeps it fun on tracks like "Don't Say It", "She Got That", "Good Lovin", and the title track, among others. The album lacks a real slow jam and the closest probably comes on "U Got Me (Addicted)". It's a fun cd with some really good production that came together well.

8.5/10

Ne-Yo - Year of the Gentleman (2008)

Ne-Yo's albums have progressed such that he, somehow, continues to outdo himself in ways that probably amaze even him. It's hard to call it, but this album might be just a little better than the last one in that, he doesn't feature a single artist. That's right, solely his album, he brings it at least as hard as an album that featured one of the best rappers of all time and one of the most up-and-coming R&B singers of this era. Now that's impressive.
The weakest tracks, in my opinion, open the album. I'm just not a fan of that pop-electro-techno influenced stuff. Didn't like it when Lloyd did it and still don't like it on Ne-Yo's album. However, by the time you get to "Single", you got a jam right there. Ne-Yo knows just what the ladies want to hear with sentimental songs like "Mad", "Part of the List", and "Why Does She Stay", the latter of which probably jammed up just about every dude out there. He makes songs most can relate to with "Back to What You Know", "Lie to Me", and "Fade Into the Background". On the latter of these tracks, Ne-Yo seems to continue with his boundary issues-songs that I have noticed across his albums on which he seems to cross the line with an ex (see "It Just Ain't Right" and "Do You" among others). He even shouts out the independent ladies and explains how they are more attractive to most guys. This album is tight with the exception of the first two tracks.

9.5/10

Musiq.Soulchild - OnMyRadio (2008)

Another solid album from one of Neo Soul/R&B's most productive and consistently good artists. Musiq has been at it for a while putting out five good, if not great albums over the past 8 years. He has a soulful yet rhythmic flow that blends well with slow jamz or more upbeat party hits. His story-telling ability, while keeping the skill level high is impressive to any. The instrumental feel to his songs keep it classic, but his clean voice keeps it fresh. While he's not as gritty as artists like Anthony Hamilton, Musiq can almost always keep it real without getting whiny on the track.
This is another great album full of great songs. It opens with the upbeat "backagain", which is nice to hear and has a good energy. Staying with the compound-word song titles, "ifuleave" is a soulful duet with Mary J. Blige, but gets a little whiny for my taste. Then again, I've never been accused of being a fan of female vocalists. The way too pop-ish "moneyright" falls pretty flat in my opinion, but then again, I'm definitely not a fan of these types of tracks. The Damian Marley collabo "iwannabe" is a nice upbeat jam though and "someone" has a nice soulful feel to it. For a slow jam for the ladies, see "beautiful". And if you thought Neo Soul cats couldn't swag like the R&B/Rap cats, peep the final cut Radio for something a little different, but somehow hot! I really like this cd and think that it is all in all solid. In comparison to the last album, I can't call it, they were both very solid. Peep this for real doe.

8/10

EPMD - We Mean Business (2008)

Eric and Parish must have been low on Ducats, cuz they're back with another one for the record books. "Don't call it a comeback", but it really is. After 9 years, EPMD picks right up where they left off. Hot beats, dope rhymes, and a'90s NY all-star line-up that keeps them sounding dominant in these uninspired days of Hip Hop. It's not even just they're line-up that is reminiscent of the 90's, but they're beats, rhymes, the whole album feels like it should have come just after "Out of Business", which was even a little past due when it came out.
Tracks featuring Raekwon ("Puttin Work In"), Havoc ("What You Talkin"), KRS One ("Run It"), Redman ("Yo"), Method Man ("Neva Defeat 'Em"), Keith Murray ("They Tell Me"), and others are hard tracks. But, like before Eric and Parish really don't need any featured artists and actually might shine even more on their own tracks like the highlights "Roc Da Spot" and "Bac Stabbers". If a track named Roc Da Spot doesn't remind you of the mid 90's then you don't remember the 90s. This cd is type off the meat rack if you're down with the East Coast 90s rap style. Don't sleep!


8.5-9/10

Common - Universal Mind Control (2008)

Now, there's takin it back and then there's takin it WAY back. Common does both on this new album, which scorches the past couple albums, despite them being pretty good. Whether or not you enjoy trips back to "Planet Rock" or if you were even alive in the '80s, this album is pretty undeniably sick wit it doe. It's tough to find a track to skip on this one. The bottom line: you can't go wrong with "the N-E-P-T-U-N-E-S, the way they lace the beat like one of the best." It was the same then as it is now, they put out fire for you. And when you got a lyricist with skills like Common, now you got the bump.
Whether rapping to the ladies on "Sex 4 Suga" or commenting on the state of hip hop on "Gladiator" he brings it with witty lines like "you easy to take out cuz you hot garbage." "Announcement" is another hot track that kills it in the spirit of the 90s, during Hip Hop's Golden Years. Common understands hip hop and stays true to it. He's not trying to exploit it for his own cause, but to bring it back to the roots and raise awareness about where it came from back in the day. Peep the whole cd for some serious rhyme skills and some knockin beats.

8.5/10

Anthony Hamilton - The Point of It All (2008)

Another solid album from one of the most consistent dudes in the game. Anthony Hamilton is one of those artists that you can put on shuffle and listen to all of his tracks together. He is consistently down to earth, real, soulful, gritty, and clearly talented. He is a relatively young artist with an old style. It says something when a legend like Al Green taps you for his new release and features you on more than one track. This album is no different form Hamilton's previous works in that he brings the same soulful style of singing with instrumental tracks that you can feel.
One of the things I love the most about Anthony Hamilton is that he isn't just stuck on making love songs. Nope, he sings passionately about food, his beloved South, family, pain, and stressful times just as he does about love. The best part, you can feel the upbeat songs just as much as the downbeat in terms of raw emotion. Another strength of his is that his style is so consistent. On his track "Cool" I was worried when I saw it featured David Banner, who seems to change his style and message from minute to minute. This track is hard though. I still think they could have done without the Banner verse, but they still keep it tight. "Diamond in the Ruff" is a stylistic slow jam, while "I Did it For Sho" has a more upbeat feel to it, and "Soul's on Fire" brings you back to old school jams with it's soulful vocals and jammin beat. The whole cd is hot and should be listened to. Or throw it in the mix with the other albums as it blends seamlessly. This on is up there with "Soulife" and "Comin From Where I'm From". While I love "Southern Comfort" I recognize that others didn't feel it the same way I did, so this new album should be a pleasant surprise. Again, this album is very mature and is grown folks music, not the party R&B that's dominating the airwaves. "Don't bring your kidz!"

8.5/10

The Wu-tang Clan - Enter the Wu-tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

What? Wu-tang has a new album with the same name as their debut? Is it a remake or their final departing project? No, this is just their debut album. It just happens to be one of the best albums of all time. I hadn't listened to this album in a couple of years, but pick it up every so often and just relive how hot this album was. It surprises me every time that they were able to come up with this album in '93! Talk about being ahead of your time, Wu-tang revolutionized the game with an unstoppable team that put up hot numbers like nobody has done it before.
Every track bumps and sets the scene for the way the Wu-tang saga unfolded. C'mon peep that album and tell me that Mef wasn't destined for super stardom. Then try to tell me ODB was not a foreseeable casualty. This crew from Brooklyn and Staten brought the gritty, NY rhymes at street level that others seemed too scared to bring. At the time, people seemed caught between old school party raps and hardcore gangsta personas. Wu-tang merged the two with their grimy, drug using, heart-felt, real, hardcore, and rhyme-skilled style of tag team onslaughts. This album tells the story of where hip hop came from and where it was going at the time. It shined a light on the fake, corny rap groups that were capitalizing on the genre at the time and took it back to the realness of the slums and communities that gave birth to the genre. "Wu-tang again?" "Aww yeah. Again and again!"

10/10

Keanthony - A Hustlaz Story (2008)

Wow! What can I say. This album is tight for a pretty much unknown ex-con. He kinda reminds of Lyfe in the beginning because he's got that gritty attitude that comes with time-served, but his style is completely different. He sounds like a little bit of Jaheim mixed with some Kels, and maybe a little Ron Isley. In other words, this is grown folks music, the kiddies can't relate. Keanthony has amazing soul and a honey voice that is very calming and real. You can hear the emotion and feel the words. In the R&B world, that's called skillz. Pretty much every track is hot, depending on your mood. "Down Girl" is fun and upbeat, "That's What I'll Be" is deep and keeps it real, "Forever My Homie" is a tale of a backstabbing homie we can all relate to, "My Song" and "This Feeling" show his maturity by bringing it back to true love songs. This guy is smooth and sings what the ladies want to hear, so relax and take notes.

9/10

T.I. - Paper Trail (2008)

My feelings about TI are hot and cold. I am not a big fan, but also don't dislike him the way I do with others. This album is about the same as most of his others that I have. I really feel some songs, don't feel others at all, and I'm indifferent to some. I have to say that I've never really been a big fan of TI's flow, but at least I understand why people do like it, unlike with Weezy. Well, I like tracks like "56 Bars", "I'm Illy", "My Life Your Entertainment", "Swing Ya Rag", "Slide Show", "You Ain't Missin Nothin", etc. However, when I have to hear Rihanna yodeling on the radio nonstop, I begin to cringe when this album comes on. Clearly, I don't know why they did that track. "Whatever you like" is not as bad, I can listen to it, but definitely do not enjoy it. "Swagga Like Us" reeks of Kanye, but is a decent track overall. I was a little thrown off by the marching band-ish drum beat, but listened to it on better speakers with more bass and was able to appreciate what Yeezy was doing with the beat. All in all, this is a decent album. It still doesn't touch "King", but it's not nearly as bad as "TI vs. TIP". If you're a TI fan, you'll love it. If you're like me, you'll appreciate it. Even if you hate TI, you'll probably tolerate this album pretty well.

6/10

Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak (2008)

What can be said for Kanye these days? Boooo! Sorry homie, but nobody wants to hear you whine over bad tracks using that voice machine that T-pain should've never made popular. In fact, nobody wants to hear you do anything except make beats. Unless Kanye goes back to what he was doing on his debut, he can keep the raps and just stick to production. This newest album, I know he meant to do it that way, but why? Pure garbage and anyone who tries to argue that it has any link to his first album other than the name of the artist is just lying to themselves. Kanye has become this little rap brat that cries whenever he doesn't get his way and that is clear with his new album. He doesn't care what anyone else thinks, he's gonna put out what he wants to and forget everyone else. I saw his show a few years ago and he threw one of famous temper tantrums because the crowd wasn't paying enough attention to him. I gotta say, I still bump the first album and a few songs off the second album, but the decline of Kanye is more evident that ever with this new stinker. The only light, but not bright, spot on the album is "Heartless". Back to the drawing board Yeezy.

2/10

Ludacris - Theater of the Mind (2008)

If you haven't peeped the new Luda album then start with track 14 and "Wake Up!" This cd is off the hook and probably the best Luda had brought in a minute. The album starts off with the usual Southern swag on "Undisputed" borrowing from the "2nd Round Knock Out" concept used by Can-i-bus only featuring Floyd Mayweather in place of Mike Tyson. This actually works out because, even back then, Iron Mike was pretty washed up and his words were more comical than convincing. Anyway, this track is pretty hard despite Money Mayweather loquaciously talking over the track. He continues to bring it hard with T.I. on "Wish You Would" before switching to a more laidback party track with T-pain on "One More Drink." Throughout the album, Luda maintains his comical, fun rap style, making jokes and clowning, while still coming up with intelligent and new rhyme schemes.
In my opinion, low points on the album include "Southern Gangster" with Rick Ross, which was just too slow and uninspired for my taste. Although "Everybody Hates Chris" is an interesting concept, a rapper cussing himself got played as soon as Eminem stepped on the scene. Finally, "Contagious" just sounds off. I think Jamie Foxx was pressed for time and had to do that one on a single take because that track coulda been hot if they did some things different.
In any case, Luda is able to adapt to the styles of his featured guests as evidenced by "What Them Girls Like" and "Nasty Girl" with Chris Brown and Plies respectively and plays well with others on "Call up the Homies" featuring Game and Willie Northpole and "I do it for Hip Hop" featuring Nas and Jay Z. Actually, the latter track, which is one of the best on the album is interesting as part of a series of very 90s East Coast/NY rap sounding and feeling tracks of course feeling two of NYs best. Luda hangs with both, while each of the three proclaim to be "the best that ever did it" on there respective verses.
The other tracks from this end portion of the album include "Last of a Dying Breed" in which Luda keeps it Tru school with the Eric B. and Rakim sample and some fresh lyrics. Meanwhile, Lil Wayne adds a bit more rap to his usually growled verses on this track, but clearly cannot keep up with Luda. The whole "I mean...I mean" thing is played. Time for a new idea Weezy. I guess I just don't really feel him and still don't get how he's gonna promote himself as in the "Best Rapper Alive" conversation. It's about quality not quantity. Anyway, this track is followed by, who? Premier? On a Luda cd? Dope! Also, the Spike Lee inspired "Do the Right Thang" with Common is fun and makes you wanna go back and watch all the old flix again. This is a well put together album and is right up there with "Chicken and Beer", but with more a hip hop feel to the ending. Props to Luda for keepin it real and bringing it back on the same album!

8.5-9/10