Friday, August 17, 2012  

For the last year or so Tauheed Epps better known as 2 Chainz have appeared all over the show. Doing features on nearly damn well everybody's albums and songs. With witty lines and a distinctive voice, he immediately garnered himself fans and a record deal with Def Jam. Not to forget the co-sign from Kanye West and his G.O.O.D music outfit. 

After all the wait he finally steps out and brings us Based On A T.R.U. Story.

YUCK!
(feat. Lil Wayne)
Starting this debut solo outing off is a track done by Street Runner. Some heavy strings and a so stupid kick drum sprinkled with a dash of 808 makes for a perfect start to this debut. Lil Wayne pops up here to assist 2 Chainz with the hook. Lyrics so far on point.

CRACK
Go to trap beat maker Drumma Boy lays down this one. Above average track.

DOPE PEDDLER
This track features a vocal sample by Tom Lehrer song The Old Dope Peddlar. This is one of my favorites. A surprise track right here. Not a typical Zaytoven beat but it does the job quite well. The bottom ends (808) and drum track here is disgustingly good. A bit irritating in the beginning but you will love it later.  Tauheed  has punchlines for days. 

NO LIE
(feat. Drake)
The #1 Gold selling first single of the album features Mike Will from the Eardrummas on the beat. Drake adds a verse and the catchy hook. This is one of Drakes memorable sing-songy choruses.

BIRTHDAY SONG
(feat. Kanye West)
2 Chainz has this thing to do songs for strip clubs and trunks of cars. This one is no stranger either. This second single features a beat by fellow Atlanta native Sonny Digital. Also features a co-production credit for featured rapper Kanye West. 

I’M DIFFERENT
Another favorite of mine is this one. DJ Mustard who did Tyga's RACK CITY, did this one. Some familiar sounds here but it works for me. With a bare bones track and piano loop running through, 2 Chainz goes in hard and fast and rides the track like a pro. Dude sounds hungry right here.

EXTREMELY BLESSED
(feat. The-Dream)
This one surprised me. With The Dream on the hook and Lex Luger on the beat its a 360 degree turn from your usual Lex Luger sounding tracks. You can hear Luger's trademark 808 bottoms making noise here. Lovely drum track.

I LUV DEM STRIPPERS
(feat. Nicki Minaj)
Third single and video feature Nicki Minaj you can call this one Beez In The Trap prat II. This one sounds like its for the strip clubs/shake junts. Predictable.

STOP ME NOW
(feat. Dolla Boy)
Tauheed teams up with former Playaz Circle partner Dolla Boy on here. Besides this track they still work together managing a studio in Atlanta. A lil break from the "trapesque" beats this track is good to go.

MONEY MACHINE
The 2nd Drumma Boy cut. Laidback one here giving Chainz the chance to flip his flow about his riches and coming up in the rap/trap game.

IN TOWN
(feat. Mike Posner)
With so much trap beats you wanna take a break from it all. Mike Posner adds a beat and vocals to this right here. I love it, its this projects "sex jam" raunchy and hot. This starts of like a love ballad, but I love it though.

GHETTO DREAMS
(feat. Scarface & John Legend)
John Legend adds his vocals here while Houston legend Scarface lend his vocals on here.

WUT WE DOIN?
(feat. Cap1)
It producer of the moment and longtime 2 Chainz collaborator Mike Will delivers a solid track here. 2 Chainz truly feels at home here. Lol this song reminds me of Bands Make Her Dance. Solid track, make no mistake.

COUNTDOWN
(feat. Chris Brown)
A bonus track this one is for the dubstep lovers featuring Chris Brown. Not to bad.

At times this album reminds one of Lil Wayne's Carter III when it comes to lyrics and the overall concepts. This album also features bonus tracks on the deluxe version which have been previuosly released before ie. LIKE ME and RIOT.

In closing this offering is the ultimate trap album. 

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RICK ROSS - GOD FORGIVES I DONT (REVIEW)

RICK ROSS - GOD FORGIVES I DONT (REVIEW)

Thursday, August 02, 2012  

Rick ross delivers his much anticipated God Forgives I Don't (GFID). After much criticism for delaying it and a seizure, he finally brings us his fifth album after waiting almost for more than a year.

With only 3 "trap" sounding beats this album is well rounded. Here are my thoughts:

PIRATES
Straight of the bad Ricky flows like a fat mack over this produced track. Kinda a great change from the trap beats we have been fed for the last 2 years and so on.

3 KINGS FT. Dr. Dre & Jay - Z
Just having Dre on your track already says a lot. And on top of that you have Jay - Z also on that. At first rumoured to feature production by Dre but Jake One steps to deliver a solid offering. Debates are still abound who wrote the verse for the good Dr.

ASHAMED
70's funk gangster soundscape here. I love it. Love the vocal sample used on this one. Ricky flows ever comfortably over here like he has not a care in the world.

MAYBACH MUSIC IV FT. Ne-Yo
The J.U.S.T.I.C.E league comes back with the fourth installment of Maybach Music. One can immediately pick up that the production team have added a heap of live instrumentation to their production. It ups the game in the muddled world of producers. This track basically sets the tone for thus album. Very funky and so jazzy. LA Reid makes an appearance at the end. 

SIXTEEN FT. Andre 3000
Another J.U.S.T.I.C.E league beat! This is clearly my favorite on GFID. With 3 stacks oodling comfortably over this laid-back smoothie of a jam. "When sixteen ain't enough" he croons the hook. Clocking in at 8 mins its worth a listen. The best track on the album over here.

AMSTERDAM
A total 360 degree turn from his normal production style. Cardiak delivers a mid-tempo song with Ricky feeling right at home here.

HOLD ME BACK
When this track out it garnered criticism from every where. Trap logic/fruity loop sounding this track comes across very mediocre for an artist of Ross' stature. This track sort of grows on you the more you listen to it.

911
I love the 808 on this one. Riot inciting. Surprising that 2 Chainz didn't pop up on here. First Ross rapped about his Maybach, then his Aston Martin now he is on his 911. Not as smooth as the others. A lil sinister but good enough for me.

SO SOPHISTICATED FT. Meek Mill
When I heard this track I thought Jahlil Beats had a hand in producing this beat. But The Beat Bully did this one.

PRESIDENTIAL FT. Elijah Blake
Pharrel pops up here with this one. As you take listen further with this album you can see Ross had an idea of having a unified sound in mind for all the tracks. 

ICE COLD FT. Omarion
MMG newcomer Omarion adds his vocals to this ditty. The beat here slams and bounces. 

TOUCH N YOU FT. Usher
This one you all should have heard before. Something for the radio and MTV.
Production I have to say is good, not to much just right.

DICED PINEAPPLES FT. Wale & Drake
A piano loop runs through here as Wale flows his trademark style Assisting Ross. Drake does the hook - singing. This is more album filler to be frank.

TEN JESUS PIECES FT. Stalley
The JUSTICE League pops up again on the last track on Rickys 5th album. With drum rolls and great live instrumentation this track makes it a great ending to this album.


In closing 3.5/5 is what I think about this offering. A pity Mike Will didn't contribute to this offering. Its good. Continue Reading