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Twista-Adrenaline Rush 2007… Twista decided to remake his classic hip-hop LP with a few changes. He decided to go without his money maker who produced the infamous hood classic Adrenaline Rush, but the album still gave you some musical satisfaction from the windy city legend. Tracks that sum up the CD: 7 Day Hustle, Pimp Like Me and Jazze Pha-produced “Trappers Delight.” All in all, Adrenaline Rush 2007 provides to good overall listening.
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T.I.- T.I.vs. T.I.P… The conflict T.I. has on his latest LP provides his listeners with a throwback feel of that of I’m Serious. The album comes across as “front heavy” and does not compare to that of King, Urban Legend or Trap Muzik. Key tracks to listen for are “help is coming”, “big s*** poppin,” “Tell ‘em I said it” and “Raw”. |
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Yung Berg- Almost Famous: The Sexy Lady EP…This Chi-town brotha may appear to be young but with his club banger “sexy lady”, you would never know it. Berg seems poised to make a steady run in the game with above average beats and production. Strong Songs: “sexy lady” and “almost famous”.
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Yung Joc- Hustlenomics… Platinum. That describes the motorbike mans first solo LP courtesy of Bad Boy/Block Ent. And he still has us sayin’ “it’s goin down.” Diddy was not stingy on the production efforts of Joc for his second CD with features from Gorilla Zoe, Ludacris, Bun B. The CD is full of bangers from start to finish! Production points on the album are that of DJ Quick, Cool and Dre from MIA. However, without his money man aka ATL hitmaker “it’s a Nitti beat”, Hustlenomic still packs the heat his first child did. Strong Songs: Play Your Cards, Bottle Poppin’, Hell Yeah, Cut Throat, I’m a G, Momma, Chevy Smile and Living the Life.
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The Empire & Lil Wayne- The Drought Is Over 2: The Carter 3 Sessions. Is Lil Wayne the king of the south? Is he the current king of rap? Regardless of your answer, he is on another level right now people. The Drought Is Over 2 lets him go off yet again with tracks titled “Something You Forgot” and “Prostitute Flange.” Cop it…
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Will.I.Am- Songs About Girls… After crankin out tracks for the likes of just about every bangin CD last year, pop and rap, Will decides to try his hand at a solo joint. Simple lyrics (like the Black Eyed Peas’) along with catchy beats allow for feel good music on tracks like “She’s a Star”, “Heart Breaker”, “The Donque Song” all provide “cute songs.” A strong pop influence is always close to Will’s heart which is always a refreshing change for your Zoom.
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Little Brother- Getback… All you Little Brother fans should not be disappointed with this release in that it breaks the thoughts of the sophomore jinks. Illmind, Hi-Tek and Nottz all provide a great foundation for LB to go off. Lil Wayne even stops by to grace the track. Strong Songs: “Good Cloths,” “Siren” and “Breakin’ My Heart”.
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Kanye West- Graduation…If you haven’t already heard it, where have you been? If you don’t already have it, go buy it. Its not quite The College Dropout but it still hovers right below a 5 mic classic. Key tracks: Good Mourning, Champion, I Wonder, Barry Bonds, Flashing Lights, The Glory, and Homecoming.
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9th Wonder- Dream Merchant… Sample and cameos help 9th release a decent LP with the likes of Sean Price, Saigon and Ness. He gives us all a little something lyrically which makes this CD with your red Penny, with its dope beats and catchy rhymes. True hip-hop fans have at it.
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Cassidy: B.A.R.S….Instead of being behind bars for a long time, Cassidy released the track B.A.R.S. (Barry Adrian Reese Story). This CD is stamped throughout with introspective rhyme schemes. Cassidy has always spit gilette by the mouth but this LP comes across a little over the top. IF you are lookin for bangin beats by the One Man Band Man aka Swizz Beatz in his Full Surface camp, go get a copy of B.A.R.S.
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Lupe Fiasco- The Cool…Def Jam should be ashamed of themselves for not doing a better job of pubbin’ this CD! Its classic Lupe from start to finish that has you listening to the same song over and over because he lyrically is just too much to digest all at once. With a plethora of grand tracks you will definitely text your boy or girl that “this new Lupe is Hot!” Don’t just burn it, but go out and buy this “Cool” LP, my people. Lupe does his best to put hip hop on his back and take it into the 08’ with a bang but the only problem is, Hov/his label hasn’t given him a 50 Cent budget… |
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Mary J Blaige- Growing Pains... Mary sounds off on track one professing that her life is much better then it was. Her production team gave her a tailor made blend of both hip-hop and an R and B blend that fit her to a “T.” A cameo from Ludacris also comes off as a smooth must hear track. She also goes off on the track “Roses”and insisting, “you work it out!” Classic new Mary provided a soulful blend that will not disappoint. If you like Mary, you will like Growing Pains. Key tracks: Work That, Grown Women, Feel Like a Women, Hurt Again, Shake Down Fft. Usher and Talk to Me (my fav).
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R. Kelly- Double Up…Kells where you been at playa! It has been a minute since we have heard that infamous “Mr. 12 Play” at his best. Robert comes through with a track that boasts some pretty hefty tag teams. The track Double Up with your uncle Snoop Dog, Get Dirty with Texas talent Camillionaire comes right after the intro done by none other than Half Man Half Amazing Swizz Beatz. Mr. Stuck In The Closet also gets Nelly out of the board room from an Apple Bottom meeting to drop a hot one titled Tryin’ To Get a Number. Im a Flirt, Same Girl are also on the disc but the apple itunes special edition also boasts must hears such as Rock Star, Roolin’, I Like Love, Ohh Baby and a mean windy city calbo with Twista Good Sex. In short, Double Up is in heavy rotation on my ipod touch!
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Chamillionaire- Ultimate Victory... After the wave of Houston rappers in 06 and 07 (Camillionaire sold the most) he tries to keep the cash flow rollin’ into 08’. Calabos from Slick Rick, Bun B, Lil Wayne and Pimp C headline this second mainstream release for one of H-Towns finest. Key tracks include: Standing Ovation, Hip Hop Police, Industry Groupie, Rock Star, and Welcome to the South. Its just an “ok” on the accounts of Flavor Of LA.com, I would rather listen to Paul Walls second drop Get Money Stay True.
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Gorilla Zoe- Welcome to the Zoo... 808 all throughout. D Boy music throughout is what you will find on Welcome to the Jungle and G Zoe does his best to replace Young Jezzy in Boyz N Da Hood. With calabos with Big Gee, Jody Breeze, Yung Joc and D. Woods, Gorilla Zoe drops a solid but not classic disc. Simple rhymes and that raspy southern flow (aka Young Jeezy) then you will like Welcome to the Jungle. I do. If your lookin’ for something to ride to on your way to the club, cop it… Key tracks… Do Something, Hood N****, Battle Field, Take your Shoes Off , Count On Me and Lil’ Shawty.
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J. Holiday- Back of My Lac’… Smooth talented brotha who speaks/sings from the heart. He opens his all or nothin’ LP with a track talking about how his Pops left him at a young age and words from the heart keep coming throughout. The soulful sounds makes you want to find someone to get next to and take to Bed. This brotha sings about being “one of Gods children” in Thug Commandments and follows that up with Bed lol. Nonetheless, I feel what he’s trying to do and I think the joint is full of FLAVOR. Its not quite on the Trey Day level just yet with VA native Trey Songz, but it’s a nice cool sound for the r and b. I would let Back of My Lac’ play through in the back of my lack with my special lady friend. Key tracks: Back of My Lac’, Thug Commandments, Bed, Betcha Never Had, Laa Laa, Suffocate, and Thank You.
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Trey Songz- Trey Day… No review needed, “Mr. Thanksgiving” aka “Virginia Slim” drops another BLAZZING JOINT for your ipod FLAVOR. There are few cd’s one can listen to from intro to the very end but Trey gives you that. This is one talented brotha that is positioning himself to make major moves in the future after label disputed delayed his latest drop. Ladies… fellas… this cat has songz for days and I can’t say enough about the man in that he wrote and produced many of his own tracks on his first CD Gotta Make It. I shouldn’t even give you key tracks because they are all hot! However, my favs are: Long Gone Missin, Wonder Women, No Clothes On, Sex for Yo Stereo, Last Time, Fly Together featuring Jim Jones, Store Run (classic song I tell you, you gotta hear it, we have all made one of these), Missin You and Role Play.
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Alicia Keys- As I Am …No Review needed ladies and gentlemen, she’s 4 for 4( I included her amazing Unplugged CD.) The only thing I will say about this talented sexy songstress is that keep doing whatever you are doing because it’s working. People try their entire career to drop “just 1 hot 1” but you have 4 in a row! Congrats Ms. Keys on another beautiful display of when passion and soul combine to form As I Am. No need to list key tracks, just get it…
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Keyshia Cole- Just Like You… Her second drop does not disappoint after her first one was off the chain! She hit the ground running and had all the women with Diddy and Last Night, then kept it coming when she had all the ladies yelling “O ish that my song” with Let It Go featuring Missy “I make hits man” Elliot. Her reality show on BET kept her on our mind even if she was not in rotation (genius move on the publicist tip.) Ms. Cole seams to have polished her raw and edgy sound in the studio and put together a very strong follow up to her first LP The Way It Is. She reminds me of MJB in that the her first disc was all her pain and struggles up until that point but it seams that life has gotten better for both young ladies recently. I strongly recommend that you go get Just Like Me, its worth your $9.99. Key tracks… Let It Go, Just Like You, Losing You, Should Let You Go, Didn’t I Tell You and Was It Worth It?
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