Album Reviews

The people said Kyle, you need to do an actual post and stop bullshitting'....so here I am. I told y'all i would talk about a lot of things. I'm just finding it hard not to steal from McCoy's Blog. So I will try to have quicker updates...with just random shit I think during the day. For right now I'm going to review two albums. The first two albums Def Jam has released since Jay-Z became president of the company...Memphis Bleek's "534", and the Young Guns' "Brothers From Another".

Memphis Bleek
534

The 534 for Bleeks album is his apartment number from Brooklyn's Marcy Projects, where he lived a few floors underneath his Sugar Daddy...um I mean mentor, Jay-Z. However, dont get confused this new album isn't an ode to his home, but much rather just another carbon copy album from an average rapper. For anyone who has followed Memphis Bleeks career, you pretty much know what you are getting before you unwrap the CD. Overdone braggodocio, stereotypical status references, tough guy posturing etc. This CD is no different.

The album starts off as most Memphis Bleek albums do, The Intro/title track is a hyped up 2:42 where Bleek tries to get the listener excited about the album. His aggressive flow fits well on this track but the song isn't saying anything new and the scratches and cuts on the hook are eerily similar to the intro for one of his previous albums "The Understanding". From this track the album goes into one of its few highlights and fortunately (or unfortunately if you are Bleek fan), it has absolutely nothing to do with Memphis Bleek. The next track on the album is the much ancticipated "Dear Summer" featuring Jay-Z. However this isn't really a feature as Bleek has no appearances on the track. It would be easy to say this is the best track on the album and while that statement probably isn't fair to Bleek, its the gods honest truth. After this jewel of a track comes lead single "Like That" featuring an above average beat from Swizz Beatz. This track is your typical club fare, nothing to see here. Bleek screams all over the hook and says nothing you need to take time remembering.

After these first initial 3 tracks the album takes a turn most other Bleek albums have taken, the cliche songs for the ladies. He's done it on his 3 previous albums. This time around its a song called "Infatuated" featuring Boxie. I'd comment on this, but theres nothing to say. I'll sum it up like this...If I was a girl, I'd be insulted that someone would think I would like something like that. He sticks with this "rapping for the girls" formula for a few more songs only to be saved by M.O.P. on the banger "First, Last and Only". On every album Bleek seems to enlist the help of the most hardcore rappers he can find to try to solidfy his place in the streets. On this album and years "M.A.D.E." he's called M.O.P. to help him out. And each time they have rapped circles around him, nonetheless this is still a quality track especially for those who are fans of M.O.P.

I wish I could say that there were more bright spots on this album, but the production isn't anything really extraordinary. The rest of the album is filled with...well...filler. The requisite Bleek track with a member of his Get Low Records label. One word, Yawn. There's a 'posse' cut with Young Guns and then the requisite 'Bleek talks about his struggles track' with the lone bright spot for the rest of the album being "Alright" a track that up and coming beat mastermind 9th Wonder produced. A very soulful track with better than average lyrics from Bleek. All in all this is another album that you could probably put in your cd player and forget its on, which is a double edged sword. Theres nothing on it that catches your ear, nor is there anything that makes you want to turn it off.


The Young Guns
Brothers from Another

This is the second offering from Philadelphia's Young Guns. An offshoot of the popular State Property crew that was once under the tutelage of Beanie Sigel, via Rocafella Records. A few years back Jay-Z discovered them and immediately fell in love with their cocky style. He thought it reminded him of a younger version of himself. Well those thoughts have yet to come to fruition, however the Young Gun's are no slouches. I will readily admit, I slept on last years "Tough Luv", it was a better than decent album with very good production and quality guest appearances, from Jay, Cam, Free and Beans. It had two radio friendly singles and showed a lot of promise. Unfortunately, just like in sports (ahem...Kwame Brown), promise doesn't always equal immediate success.

One of the problems the Young Guns have had in the past is a tendency to sound very lazy on their soungs. Part of it is their delivery, but at times they think their talent outreaches their need to actually work on their songs. The album intro starts with an average beat from in house Philly beatsmith Chad "West" Hamilton. Again, like the Bleek album, nothing to see here. The album is then rescued by the Swizz Beatz (sensing a pattern here) banger "Set It Off". Definitely club hit potential, and will probably end up being the saving grace for this extremely short album.

They follow up with the 112 assisted snoozer "Don't Keep Me Waiting". Two words. Sucks ass. Nothing of redeeming value comes out of this track. They then decide its appropriate to go back to the west side, and they seem to do very well on the Daz assisted "Tonight", featuring a very solid beat from Chad West. Not the greatest song ever created, but a definite bright spot on the album. After sifting through some more album filler comes the banger from David Banner "Same Shit Different Day", nothing incredibly lyrical from the duo here, but Banner gave them a crazy track to work with.

Kanye West makes an appearance soon after on the track "Grown Man pt. 2" also featuring John Legend. Unfortunately Kanye has done much better beats and the beat here kills the song. It's boring and uninspired. Also the song doesn't sound like anything the Young Guns should be on. From this point the album is littered with filler tracks. "Beef" has a solid beat, but they are treading on the same territory everyone else has, and havent added anything to it. There are two appearances from Pooda Brown (???) on the next few tracks, and then the album ends aburptly. Way too short of an album to have so many filler tracks. Hopefully Jay can point them in the right direction next time.

All in all, two average albums from the New Rocafella Records, whose new slogan is "We Get Busy". It sounds like something the WNBA would use to attract new fans, but whatever guess I gotta trust Jay on that one.

Final Reviews

Memphis Bleek (534): 3 out of 5, I couldn't honestly tell anyone to buy this album but, i don't think i could clown anyone for listening to it.

The Young Guns (Brothers From Another): 2.5 out of 5, A definite step down from their previous album, with not much to really carry it through.