JadaKiss “The Last Kiss” Album Review

There comes a time in every artist’s career, when they reach a point where they know that where they’re at, is probably the best that they will ever be. It may not necessarily be because they don’t have the skills to excel to higher heights, its just the way that things are for them. Jadakiss is one of those artists. With lyrical and song writing skills that should have pushed him into the elite iconic status of the Hip Hop world, Jada has slugged his way through the under appreciated middle class level of raps misguided class system. So while he excels and continues to put up A+ performances, the artist who constantly put up D’s, continues to ascend higher into the class system then he can ever imagine. But instead of following the steps of the D students, Kiss has decided to be happy where he is at and put out the music that he wants. He no longer competes with the achieving under achievers, and instead competes with himself. So with his third album The Last Kiss, this Yonkers rapper puts together an album that he and the listeners can be proud of. Successful or not.

Lyrics-9

Despite being in the game for years now, Kiss has failed to lose a step in his lyrical prowess, with more experience than just raw talent, and a bigger vocabulary than the average artist. Kiss is able to stay aggressive on the microphone ripping beat after beat on this album, while still keeping the lyrics simple enough for the common listener to understand. Unlike some artist who make their lyrics too simple and sometimes out right annoying, Kiss keeps an air of skill to it, adding some cockiness to the act as he keeps the same smooth flow that has gotten him to this point in his career so far. Lyrical highlights include Pain And Torture, Death Wish, Something Else, and Come And Get Me Feat Styles P. Listen closely or you may miss a piercing punchline and if you’re not the type of listener who can read between the lines, there will still be enough to keep your finger on the rewind button.

Production-8

The Last Kiss, unlike many other albums, takes a very diverse approach towards the production of this album. While most kiss albums can expect to have street heavy beats, and a couple of slower R&B based beats to show a softer side, this album shows Kiss mixing up all of the production styles in hip hop. Production styles vary from a southern flow, such as the banger Something Else. He then switches it up with an R&B type beat when he gets together with Neyo for By My Side. The producers used on this album were very diverse as well, as they varied from Da Matrix, Don Cannon, Pharell and even The Alchemist. With a good mixture of fast paced, slow, and mellow songs the production matches the lyrics which obviously set the mood on the album. Death Wish stands out as a speaker banger, as well as Who’s Real produced by Swizz Beatz. Overall, Kiss does a great job choosing the production for the album, making for the musical experience to run seemlessly into each other.

Songs-8

Kiss has never been known as a rapper that will talk about too many diverse topics….he usually keeps it very simple for the fans and casual listeners. There’s the handful of thug tracks, there’s the struggle track, the track where he tries to put all of his friends on, the attempt at a commercial hit, two or three introspective tracks, and then of course the Styles P collabo. The Last Kiss has all of this, but still seems to offer a little bit more than usual. In this album, more than any other album of Kiss, you will be able to get a better understanding of him. Believe it or not, if you’re listening hard, you will see that Kiss opens up a lot on this album. Songs like Smoking Gun, Things I’ve been Through, and Letter To Big. Show Kiss’ innate respect and admiration for women, chronicle his growth through the industry, and display his love, respect and friendship with deceased friend, Notorious B.I.G. The topic and quality of songs would be a perfect ten if not for the failed attempt at remaking the song “Why”. The track “What If” is clearly a rip off of the previous song and fails to offer the same introspective and social fire that “Why” was able to do for kiss. Grindin Hard, Feat Mariah Carey will be nothing more then a repetitive hook and annoying lyrics to hard core hip hop fans. “Who’s Real”, although catchy and great for the speakers, is just as corny as Soldier Boy’s “Kiss me through the Phone”

Conclusion-8

Now three albums into his solo career and over ten years in the game, we all should know, just like Kiss should, that his status as an artist will probably not raise any higher than what it already is. It is highly unlikely that this album will come out this Tuesday April 7th 2009 and sell two million copies at the end of the week. It is highly unlikely that he will have the same pop status as a Jay-Z or a Little Wayne. But one thing that can be guaranteed is that he will still be a great artist and continue to put out great music. The Last Kiss is not Kiss’s best work. It is not the classic album that many Lox stans will call it, but what it is, and will be, is a look into one of the most consistent rappers in the industry. One who is under-appreciated and not as successful as he should be. Being comfortable in his own space, he is putting out music that he loves. If this is the last kiss…it’s a hell of a way to go.

Lil Wayne: The Carter III Album Review

So for three years, this young man has had the opportunity to work on an album that would verify his deceleration as best rapper alive, and for three years he has fed his fans with countless songs, features, mixtapes and, interviews while growing a following that no one ever thought he could ever achieve. From the moment his popularity rose there have been arguments in which hip hop fans of all corners of the world have argued about Waynes lyrical status. Some say he’s the best, some say he’s over rated, others just refuse to hear from him, but no matter what the reaction or the belief he has been the dominant voice in hip hop over the past couple of years. So now with the release of The Carter III Wayne has the chance to finally establish himself as not only an entertaining artist with a cult following but also as the super rapper that he claims to be.

Lyrics 6.5-I thought he would step it up for his album but not really, its the same nothing outrageous a lot of corny Simile’s, great flow, great delivery, high energy, a lot of mumbling, he takes pauses in some of his verses which can be very annoying but he isn’t as painfully bad as some may claim. Wayne is by no way near a lyrical monster but his verses are enjoyable and he has moments where you will catch a line or two that will stick out, but if your looking for complex lyrics your probably looking at the wrong album.

Production: 7.5- The production is a lot like the lyrics, nothing horrible, but nothing breath taking either. Never the less the production is solid, with enough uptempo production to keep the heart pumping, a soulful track or two, the smooth mellow tracks which are usually used for the ladies, and and of course the production style that wayne is usually known for.

Songs/Content 7- In the eyes of many this album was supposed to be a statement album. The Carter III would finally prove that Wayne is by far the undisputed Number one rapper in the hip hop game. There would be no more arguments there would be no more criticism because after hearing this album, even the harshest wayne critics would be convinced. So every song on here had to be on an entirely different level from anything you have ever heard from him, including the mixtapes that have come out from him, this had to be on an entirely different level… and it wasn’t. There really is no point to this entire album there is no general feeling there is no direction, it could have honestly just been another mixtape. Songs like Mr. Carter, 3peat, Tie My Hands, and Dont Get It, grab you and make you want to listen, but Hov outshines him on Mr. Carter, in don’t get it he raps for three minutes and talks for seven, some listeners may be turned off by Tie My Hands content (introspective) but it shows that lil wayne isn’t all drugs money and sex, Dr. Carter is a fun song depicting what wayne feels he is to the game, but out of these outlined tracks everything else is enjoyable but easily forgettable. “La La ” is a total disaster, and “Nothing on me” is a mixtape material and filler”

Conclusion 7- As the last song plays and the music comes to an end two things will remain the same. Grass will continue to be green and Lil Wayne will still not be the best rapper alive. This album is by no means a throw away, but with the same regards it is not, and should not be considered a classic. Does he have good songs on this album yes, is the production good yes, can you listen to this album straight through, thats up to the individual listener. But to label this a classic or to give him the thrown as hip hops ultimate Elite Emcee would be a mistake, Lil wayne puts up a great effort, but leaves listeners with a decent outcome, better luck next time.

Wu Tang Clan “8 Diagrams”

The downfall of all great relationships is usually the point in which the communication stops. When one doesn’t know what the other is doing, it leaves openings for miscommunications, misunderstandings and separate agendas. What was once considered a dynasty, can then turn into nothing but argument sessions and shouting matches. From there, the relationship slowly deteriorates until there is nothing left but fond memories and bitter grudges. The members of Wu Tang have not yet made it to the point of no return. But with their new album and the war of words that have occurred over its release, it makes you wonder if this is Wu of old or just a compilation of disagreements.

Lyrics 9- If this album review was based solely on lyrics, this Staten Island crew would have a near perfect album. The lyrics are clearly the strongest part of this album. If you are capable of blocking out the sporadic beats and just focus on the actual words then this album has the ability to take any listener back to the 90’s when Wu Tang ruled and everybody knew about The Killer Bees.

Production 4- To say the production was bad would be too cruel. However, to say that the production was boring, repetitive, confusing, and a bit cluttered would be down right true. Some of the beats were so off that it felt more like spoken word than a song. Casual listeners will more than likely make it through 3 tracks before they toss this cd from their musical rotation. To add to the futility of the beats, most of the hooks are either non existent or just down right annoying, leaving several songs with horrible transitions. On the ODB tribute the beat totally switches towards the end of the song. This will leave many listeners scratching their heads, and wanting to smack the producer.

Songs 7- After going through two mainstream concept albums this past year, 8 diagrams is a breath of fresh air in this category. It offers no concept, no main topic…just strong words, somber stories and blunt declarations from an elite Hip Hop group. The Beatles sampled “Heart Gently Weeps” is a great example of the Wu’s story telling abilities and with the mellow beat, it offers listeners a chance to be introspective and doze off into their own thoughts.
Conclusion 7- If everyone on your team is against going left, what direction will you choose to go? Although this album wasn’t a complete disaster, it is a far cry from what it could have been. 8 Diagrams has its moments, but even a casual hip-hop fan who has never even heard of Wu-Tang can tell that no one was on the same page when this album was in the works. So for the Wu-Tang fans that were waiting for their triumphant comeback, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer. This album won’t be a complete disaster, but like Jay-Z’s “Kingdome Come” it will be labeled as the album that just didn’t cut it.

Elephant In The Room

Consistency is the ability to remain at the same level that you started on– which essentially means that no matter what you do, the performance level should never be able to change.

As a rapper consistency can a double edged sword. If you put out a great album when you first burst through the scene and have continued to do so ten to fifteen years later, that is always a plus.

With a good track record, fans will always want to buy what you’re offering. But if you have always been known to be average and have continued to offer the same type of average work, fans can become tired of the broken record. Things can get worse for you, if you’re the type to champion the lyrical and artistic growth you have gone through as it becomes a big contradiction, like the paraplegic that says he’s going to kick your ass.

With Fat Joe’s latest offering “Elephant in the Room,” the contradiction seems to rein supreme, as the Southern rapper, aims to prove the critics wrong. After listening to this album about ten different times, here is the breakdown for Mr. Make It Rain, him self.

Lyrics 5- Over the past couple of years, whenever Joe is asked about one of his albums, or where he feels he stands when talking of the hip hop elite, he has been very fast to say that he feels like he’s getting better over time.

Listening to the lyrics on this album, I would seriously have to beg to differ. With a rhyme scheme that has yet to do anything to impress or intimidate anyone, Joe continues to spit average lyrics that tend to do nothing but keep listeners from thinking his album is an instrumental CD. There are no punchlines, no metaphors, no multi’s, no subliminals.

He never changes his pace over the beat, has a very limited vocabulary, and seems to run out of things to say on certain songs. His lyrics aren’t horrible, they aren’t bad either, but it’s nothing that will have you repeating his lines for days and weeks to come.

Production 8- The production is what will keep you listening to this album, with producers like, Cool & Dre, DJ Khaled, and Scott Storch as well as many others, the hits keep coming.

Most of the beats are up-tempo so there won’t be too many introspective sessions while listening to Elephant in the room, as every beat gives you a club feel. If you have never heard a Fat Joe album you’ll probably think he’s from somewhere in the south, as most of his beats, had a southern flair to it, but believe it or not he’s from New York

Songs 6- Once again Fat Joe swings and misses, there are twelve songs on this album and nine of them have a feature on them, on 6 out of those nine songs, it seems like the featured artist outshines Joe himself.

While listening to this album I fount myself more interested in listening to Wayne’s hook on Crack House than to what Joe was saying on all three verses.

If he isn’t outshined by the beats he’s outshined by his features, it’s actually quite sad. He also seems to have a hard time staying on topic, songs like “The Fugitive” are a great example of that, he starts off reminiscing about cutting coke in his apartment and getting ready to flee the cops, but somewhere in the song he finds a way to start discussing his ring tone sales. To make things worse he constantly makes references to cooked crack or hustling but has no in depth story to prove his point. Songs like “My Conscience,” ” I wont tell,” and “You Isn’t Saying’ Nothin,” will help to keep this album from being a complete throw away.

Conclusion 6.5- If you have been a fat Joe fan for a while, you will get exactly what you wanted from him, just with a southern twist.

He has stayed consistent in every way possible. His lyrics are still average, his delivery is still predictable and unoriginal, and he still mentions cooked crack after every other line. If you were expecting to hear some sort of growth, then this album will be an utter disappointment as it does nothing to stimulate excitement via lyrically nor does it expand content wise.

Fat Joe seemed to be trying to prove something to his fans and critics with this album, unfortunately he probably did nothing but reinforce a lot of what they were saying. He does sound like a southern artist, he has not improved lyrically at all, and other than some pretty impressive features and some head nodding beats, Elephant in the Room is utterly average.

Fat Joe gave it his best, but after this effort he should really stop telling people that he gets better after every album, because this is just another example of him staying the same, and once again providing average music with above average expectations.

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Snoop Dogg Ego Trip

Record sales continue to suffer, sub-par artist continue to come out, and the ones who are not given a chance still blame the older artist for not giving them a chance. The Hip Hop reconstruction period is still in full effect.

But somewhere out there in the vast universe of Hip Hop there is an artist who seems unfazed by all that is going on. He has had troubles with the law, and even a couple of run ins, with the alledged Hip Hop Police, he has seen his friends and fellow artist suffer from the soundscan slump, and he has survived every era of Hip Hop. When things get tough he simply takes a puff from his blunt, exhales the thick smoke and lets out a sigh of confident relief. This artist is Rapper Snoop Dogg, and with the reconstruction of Hip Hop changing everyones musical ear and behavior, this old dog seems to stay stuck in his ways.

Lyrics 7- What do you expect from snoop, mind blowing punchlines, subtle metaphors, and an animated delivery? If so this isn’t the album or the artist for you.Snoop stays true to his smooth baritone voice, spitting lyrics that slide onto the beat like a hot knife through butter. Even when he is imposing threats, his demeanor is so cool that even the hardest conservative would enjoy the lyrics.

Snoop doesn’t try to be something that he isn’t and it works for him. Don’t expect a barrage of similes, or an attempt from this veteran to overload a track with multi-lyrics and alliterations, Snoop is what he is and will always be. Never the less we appreciate it.

Songs 8- It doesn’t seem plausible that someone can listen to this LP and not be able to find one track they like.

In “Ego Trippin,” Snoop rides the gray line that differentiates commercial and hood. In “Cant Say Goodbye” He reminds you that he is older now and has priorities, but also reinforces his eternal love of the hood. While singer Charlie Wilson swoons in the background “I cant say goodbye” Snoop reminds everyone that the streets were there for him before his fans, so he can never ignore the streets. In “Been around the World” Snoop dedicates this song to his wife, proclaiming no matter where in the world he goes, nothing in the world will ever compare to her. Outside of “Sexual Eruption,” Snoop also has a ladies favorite in the making titled “Why Did you Leave Me,” spewing heartfelt lyrics, in tribute to a lady that may have left him this song is bound to get a large portion of spins if it hits the airwaves.

Production 8- Production is usually the hardest part of an album to judge because everyones musical ear varies.

What one might consider a great beat, another might consider boring and over used, and while one might be able to get a better feeling for a song in one production another listener may feel that the beat selection was totally off key.

But “Ego Tripppin” offers a variety of beat selections, giving the listener a different feel for every song, he even goes as far as giving a country beat. Props to Snoop for trying to be different, but he should never do that again. There are a couple of beats that will get the blood going but nothing that will make you seizure with excitement.

Overall 7.5- The original Concept for “Ego Trippin” was supposed to be an album in which snoop did not have a single guest, he had plans to hold down the entire album on his own.

Unfortunately this didn’t happen as Snoop ended up having a couple of collabos make the final piece of work. Luckily enough for everyone this album does not turn into a compilation cd, it once again rides the gray area, supplying to the pop fans the mainstream songs needed “Sexual Eruption”, while at the same time sticking to what he knows best. He has guest but never does any of his guest outshine him on his own album.

This Album is once again states what so many should have already know, he’s not going anywhere until he’s good and ready.