Keri Hilson often delayed debut album In A Perfect World… finally makes it’s way on to the sales rack and the results were pretty good. It debuted at #4 and almost moved 100,000 copies. I mean, I don’t know if this is the birth of another R&B diva powerhouse, but good work all the same (Click here to see what nappyafro alum Dark Angel had to say about Ms. Keri). This week we also saw the major label debut of Jim Jones hit the charts and land at #9. Pray IV Reign sold around 40,000 copies. This can be looked at as a dissapointment because a lot of people thought with major label backing, Jimmy would sell better than his previous outings. Guess not. Houston’s own Slim Thug sophmore album Boss Of All Bosses lands at #15 and pushed 30,000 units. Bringing up the rear at #52 is Doom with his new album Born Like This. Sorry for not reviewing this one last week, but I can say that track with Raekwon is fire (If you been to the forums, you know I’ve already said this). Bringing up the rear-rear is Case with his new album The Rose Experience at #111. I’m not gonna front like I knew it was coming out; I haven’t sang a Case song since he had that video with Beyonce in it.

#4 Keri Hilson/In A Perfect World… (Last Week: NA) – 94,497; Total: NA [Debut]
#9 Jim Jones/Pray IV Reign (Last Week: NA) – 42,982; Total: NA [Debut]
#14 The-Dream/Love Vs. Money (Last Week: #4) – 35,967; Total: 242,943 [3 Weeks]
#15 Slim Thug/Boss Of All Bosses (Last Week: NA) – 32,721; Total: NA [Debut]
#21 Beyonce/I Am Sasha Fierce (Last Week: #9) – 22,798; Total: 2,026,699 (2x Platinum) [20 Weeks]
#22 Jamie Foxx/Intuition (Last Week: #10) – 21,800; Total: 786,800 (Gold) [15 Weeks]
#24 T.I./Paper Trail (Last Week: #12) – 20,100; Total: 1,836,800 (Platinum) [26 Weeks]
#33 Gorilla Zoe/Don’t Feed Da Animals (Last Week: #8) – 15,498; Total: 46,823 [2 Weeks]
#36 Kanye West/808’s & Heartbreak (Last Week: #18) – 12,100; Total: 1,459,500 (Platinum) [17 Weeks]
#41 Keyshia Cole/A Different Me (Last Week: #26) – 12,100; Total: 813,500 (Gold) [15 Weeks]
#47 Ne-Yo/Year Of The Gentleman (Last Week: #30) – 11,000; Total: 998,300 (Gold) [28 Weeks]
#49 Akon/Freedom (Last Week: #35) – 10,900; Total: 577,200 (Gold) [17 Weeks]
#52 Doom/Born Like This (Last Week: NA) – 10,895; Total: NA [Debut]
#111 Case/The Rose Experience (Last Week: NA) – 5,000; Total: NA [Debut]

Harlem’s own Jim Jones returns with his fourth studio album titled Pray IV Reign. This is coming off the heels of Jim’s musical experience The Hip-Hop Monologues a stage play that was co-written by Jim using some of his music as the platform. But before Jimmy was an off Broadway star, he was and still is the DipSet Capo. Jim is still keeping the flame for NY alive, but after this release, his first with Columbia Records, will that flame sizzle or become an inferno? Let’s go in and see.

Intro
Featuring Starr; Produced by No I.D & Chink Santana
Jim starts the album out with a beat that would have been featured in a 70’s flick. Jim gives you his slick flow over the smooth production. If this is a taste of what’s to come, Jimmy got some heat in store.

Pulling Me Back
Featuring Chink Santana; Produced by TrackSlayerz & Chink Santana
Jim goes into storytelling mode on this one over some theatrical production. Jim is not going to wow you with lyrics, but he gets his point across when he raps.

Let It Out
Produced by Supa Dave West
This production is not your typical Jim Jones beat, but that doesn’t stop him from delivering a good song. Jim speeds it up a notch and shows SOME versatility on the track.

How To Be A Boss
Featuring Ludacris & NOE; Produced by Ron Browz
Jim got Jay-Z to do the hook on this song? No, he didn’t but NOE sounds a little like Jay. Jim and Luda make a good collabo on this song. Luda of course did his thing, but don’t sleep on Jim he did his thing on the song too!

Medicine
Featuring NOE & Chink Santana; Produced by Chink Santana
For some reason the song sounds like “Originator 99” but maybe that is just me. Jim speeds up the flow on the track. I respect the flow, but I’m not really digging the subject matter.

Frenemies
Produced by Chink Santana
This song gives us some background information on the relationship between him, Cam, and Max B. Call me crazy, but this song sounds like “A Week Ago”. But maybe this is just me. The song is tight though.

Precious
Featuring Ryan Leslie; Produced by Ryan Leslie
R. Les lends a hand on this one that is aimed at the ladies. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of the “goons” singing this to their boo’s. The track is real smooth and is on the infectious side. BANGER!

Blow The Bank
Featuring Starr & Oshy; Produced by Magnedo7
This is another song for the ladies…damn what’s that three? I don’t like the beat on this one, but the hook is nice. Nothing major here, this is what is called filler.

This Is For My Bitches
Featuring Oshy; Produced by Young Yonny & Lemael Ervin
Jim is pushing the envelope with this one. The song is something you would expect from Soulja Boy, not from Jim Jones. I’m sure this song is going to ruffle some feathers, but this is Jim Jones we are talking about.

Girlfriend
Featuring Juelz Santana & Oshy; Produced by Chink Santana
This album took a turn to the ladies; maybe Jim is taking his “sex symbol” swag to another level. The song would have been better had they had R. Kelly doing the hook. The song is OKAY but it’s barely tolerable.

This Is The Life
Featuring Starr; Produced by Triple-A
This one sounds like a mixture of “I Know” and “Hero”. Jim is back on his grind again on this one, going back to what works for him best. When Jim is given production like this, he usually does well.

My My My
Featuring Rowana; Produced by Teraike “Chris Styles” Crawford & Ayinde “Cylia” Thomas
The production on this one doesn’t really mesh well with Jim’s style. It actually bores the listener. Jim isn’t that strong of a lyricist to have a beat like this.

Pop Off
Featuring NOE & Mel Matrix; Produced by Young Seph
This sounds like a song that you would hear G-Unit on, but Jim and the crew give you that same vibe on this track. Maybe hanging with 50 rubbed off on Jim just a little bit. Jim didn’t deliver one of his best rhymes on this one, but Jay, I mean NOE did alright on the song.

Pop Champagne
Featuring Juelz Santana & Ron Browz; Produced by Ron Browz
This was the first single off the album that shot to #1 on the urban charts. Who knew in a recession that people would love a song like this? You can’t front on this song; if the beat doesn’t make you nod your head…you are dead already!

Rain
Featuring Rell, NOE, & Starr; Produced by Ron Browz
I have to say that I am impressed with the production by Ron Browz on this album. This is the kind of production that accents Jim’s rhyming ability. Jim is talking to his son on this one, and you have to respect that. Jay…I mean NOE shows up again along with former Roc-A-fella crooner Rell.

Na Na Nana Na Na
Featuring Bree-Beauty; Produced by ILLFONICS
I can see this becoming a hood saying, but the hook is on the dumb side. I wouldn’t end my album like this, but the Capo does what he wants to do. I think that this song would have been better had Cam been on the song.

Bottom Line:
This album started off good but then it had some dull moments on it in the middle and tapered a little towards the end. But still, Jim should be pleased with his effort on this album. This is not the album that will elevate Jim Jones to the King of NY status, but it still can be considered a win for the DipSet Capo, because he’s still releasing HIS type of music.  I’m sure Jim is glad that this album didn’t get released with Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 and 50 Cent’s Before I Self Destruct because this would have gotten lost between those projects. Maybe if the Dips would have been at full force on this project, the album would have been better.

nappyPicks: “Intro”, “How to Be a Boss”, “Frenemies”, “Precious”, “Rain” , & “Pop Champagne”

Download: Jim Jones feat. Ludacris & NOE – “How To Be A Boss”

Here at nappyafro, we are committed to being the BEST HIP-HOP SITE…EVER. The latest person to be featured in our Independent Spotlight is a female reppin Harlem named Starr. You might have heard of her you might have not, but she is the lone female on Juelz Santana’s Skull Gang Records. If King Jerm is cosigning it…YOU KNOW IT HAS TO BE HOT. Check out the bio, then check out her song “Rockstarr”, featuring Juelz and Lil’ Wayne. Props to my girl Aaliyah over at RA Management!

Who’s the girl holdin’ down Juelz Santana on the hot new SKULL GANG single “ROCK STARR”, featuring Lil’ Wayne? Her name is Aqueelah McCummings, better known as STARR, the “first lady” of Juelz Santana’s SKULL GANG label. STARR grew up in Harlem USA, with all of the benefits of a loving family, an early realization that music is her life and all of the cultural stimulation a budding young artist could ask for. She began performing at the age of 8 inspired by SWV, Mariah Carey, Xscape, and Aaliyah. She studied dance, drama, and trained vocally from the age of 12 until she graduated from Performing Arts Repertory High School. At 15 she began writing songs, while still in high school, STARR auditioned to sing the National Anthem for the 76ers in Philly and beat out thousands for the honor. A packed Wachovia Center witnessed an undeniable performance; their enthusiastic applause confirmed for us all that Aqueelah was truly a STARR.

STARR’S ability to write and arrange music attracted industry talent scouts, and management companies. She began writing for hit making recording artist, but her real passion was in writing/arranging and singing her own songs. After all, her goal is to be a Platinum selling hip-hop/R&B/pop/rock artist. Starr says, “when I’m not in the studio I’m listening to music…music is my therapy” Being in the “matrix” as Starr calls it, led her to record with Cassidy in 2005. 2006 bought countless performances, and a feature on Juelz Santana’s hit single “Secret”. In 2007 STARR featured on the Jim Jones’ Pray 4 Rain album. In 2008 Starr was a cast member of Jim Jones Hip-Hop Monologues, featured with Julez on the Jim Jones Christmas album on “Jingle Bells” and signed with SKULL GANG. Now at the top of 2009, “Rockstarr”  has radio listeners asking; who’s’ that girl?

You haven’t seen her? Brown eyes, dimpled smile, long black hair give Starr’s pretty face an angelic appeal. She’s young, hot and sexy! 5’9 and quick to put on thigh high boots with a 6 inch heel, a little tee or hoodie and some Robin jeans. She has the look every young girl wants, she’s a guys fantasy girl. But Starr is all business and very serious about her music. When I asked what’s the one thing she wants the world to know about her, she replied “I want people to know that I’m a hard worker, I always give 100%. Being the only girl in a all boy camp (Skull Gang) I get looked at in a certain way. But I write and arrange my own songs and far from what everyone thinks about a girl around a bunch of guys in hip-hop and no, I don’t get disrespected, I’m not a sex toy to the guys, please! They are very supportive and protective”

STARR looks forward to working with Timbaland, Luda, Dream and Missy in the near future and to putting her dramatic training to use in films; we look forward to watching her journey.

Download: Starr feat. Juelz & Lil’ Wayne – “Rockstarr”

Killa is back! Not to say I’m too excited. Cam’ron finally comes out of hiding and breaks his silence in the next issue of XXL. Two back to back Diplomat covers? I guess it seems only right since Jim Jones, Juelz, & Zekey are in this month’s issue talking about the internal problems in DipSet (See that cover here). I guess Cam is trying to make a push back to the spotlight since he just released a video for his new song “I Hate My Job”.

Jay-Z/ Roc-a-fella
Bleek, Freeway, and Beans never really made it over the hump, but I’ll give you Kanye.

Eminem/ Shady
D-12 were looked at as a novelty, and Obie had the lyrics, but was catering to the wrong audience.

50 Cent/ G-Unit
Curtis and the Unit are more popular than the Set, but 50 always was at the top, never on the side.

Fat Joe/ Terror Squad
Come on, Joey was barely even making it. Cuban Link and Remy are irrelevant now.

Check out some of these videos and tell me that the Dips were not the hottest crew out at the time:

Let’s not forget the best performance at The Source Awards.

Check out Cam in this video

After seeing the response of my last column, I decided to bring it back again. This time we are discussing why Hip-Hop needs Cam’ron. I know a lot of you are shaking your heads right now, but trust me, WE NEED CAM! That is what has been missing over the last year. A lack of Cam spells a lull in Hip-Hop, and he might just be what the doctor ordered to get the game going back in the right direction.

1. Swagger is at an all time low. With all these rappers talking about “Swagger Like Us”, no one has swagger like Cam! We all know Cam invented “Swag Rap” so how can they have swag if they don’t have Cam? Maybe Jay needs to holler at Cam for his version of “Swagger Like Us” if he really wants to do big numbers. Cam used to rock seven chains at any given time with a purple mink coat, with some fur lined Air Force Ones, and driving a purple Lambo! Now who has swagger like that?

2. Rappers need a makeover. Look at the current trend in Hip-Hop, you have the “Rockstar” look, the “Hipster” look, and you got that “80’s” look, but neither one of these styles can compare to the style that Cam brings to the table. Who else had the hardest dude on the block wearing pink? In fact, who is the reason that pink became fashionable for guys? Cam is the answer to both of those questions. Dudes wasn’t wearing purses when Cam was the “epitome” of fashion in Hip-Hop!

3. There isn’t any comedy in Hip-Hop anymore. You people remember when Cam was beefing with someone. Why was that some of the funniest material you ever heard? “How is a camel riding another Camel?” Or this one: “you look like a gorilla with rabbit teeth!” Say what you will about Cam and his rhymes, but the guy comes with straight comedy to his foes. Remember when he had O’Reilly all hot under the collar on his own show. “You mad…you mad…you mad!” The game needs this humor again.

I gave you my reasons why we need Cam’ron, and I hope he is reading this and gearing up for his big comeback. After hearing some of his latest material, I hope he takes it back to the blueprint on what made him a household name in the first place. Cam if you are listening…WE NEED YOU BACK! COME BACK AND SAVE HIP-HOP!

Jim Jones of “We Fly High” fame has been notorious for his beef with Jay-Z and also for being a mediocre rapper. But this time he knows he crossed the line with what he said. Last week, he dissed both T.I. AND Jay-Z for not including him on their radio hit “Swagga Like Us” with Kanye and Lil’ Wayne since: “You can’t have a song about swag unless I’m on it.” I don’t know if those are his exact words, but it was something like that. T.I. responded kind of mildly to Jones’ comments, not really talking about it. Then Jones took the cake with this one: he dissed Nas!!

The Comments:

“Fuck Nas. I don’t give a fuck about Nas. He’s a rapper that just lost his pizazz. When I was in high school, he was the sh*t. He was the n*gg* that got us hyped. ‘New York State of Mind’, Illmatic and all of that” said Jones.

“I was never cool with him. I seen Nas a few months ago in L.A. with Dame. We was staying in this hotel right above the Ferrari dealership. Dame seen him and was talking to him. I was laying back on a couch laughing. He didn’t know what to do. I was looking dead at him. [Laughs.] And then Dame was like, “You know Jim?” He started [stammering], “Ah? Ah?” Dame is just burnt out. He not thinking about none of that frivolous [beef] sh*t. Me neither, for the most part. Nas was never on my level ever. Ever.“

I am speechless. Never on Jones’ level?? Nas is probably the reason this nigga ever even touched the mic!! I don’t think I even need to talk about the number of classics under Nas’ belt, since Jones has none and only has released one album (We won’t count the first two). I just hope that Nas doesn’t go the way Jay did and release a song called: “We Fly High (QB Remix)”: even though Nas’ album Untitled STILL hasn’t gone Gold yet (Support people!!), I doubt that the legendary MC would respond to this. But on the other hand, Nas has made a lot of mistakes in his career; this would take the cake!

Congratulations Jim Jones, you are the DMF of the WEEK!

I was on the internet and I saw a thing Vibe was doing to settle once and for all who is the best rapper alive. They made a bracket type thing to have the readers vote on who is the best; it’s like the March Madness brackets. They’ve got the four brackets based on some of the legends in Hip-Hop: The Notorious B.I.G. Bracket, the Tupac Bracket, etc. On the surface it seems cool, right?? WRONG!!

Vibe seriously fucked this up! Man, this could have actually been the official thing to prove who was the best rapper alive, but I’m like “what the fuck” for real! They had the nerve to put niggas like Soulja Boy and Rich Boy on here, but no mention of Freeway, Young Chris, or Blu. Not to mention they seriously messed up the match-ups: Shawty LO versus T.I.? We all already know who won that, but maybe the votes will snap Shawty LO back into reality. Kanye versus FOXY BROWN!?!? Oh come on!

I bet you can’t wait to hear who came out as the 1st seaters: Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, Eminem, and Andre 3000. Eminem beat out NAS!?!? What kind of bullshit is that? Nas has at least dropped 2 hot albums in the last four years. Nas has been in the game longer, and everything. I could go on and on with this. #2 Seaters are Kanye (Not bad man!), T.I. (He edged out Luda!), Nas (Boo!!), and Snoop Dogg (Fair).

But you really can’t fuck with these match-ups: Jay-Z gets a BYE!! (He either has to go against Jim Jones or Diddy…). He’s too good for that! Then in the second round, he goes against Lauryn Hill!!! How ’bout Missy Elliot versus Lil’ Mama! Or Mos Def versus Talib Kweli! Lil’ Wayne versus Trina! I could really go on and on, but you can look at these fucked up match-ups yourself.

You can look at the brackets here

Below, I made a list of rappers that got robbed. I didn’t get everybody, but I got a quick list off the top of my head.

Freeway: You got Soulja Boy and Rich Boy up there, but this nigga has serious skills and they overlooked him! Two albums out, in the game for almost 10 years…

Blu: He’s got more skill than most of the niggas on that list, and that’s real.

Styles P: Man, where the fuck was he?? I can’t believe they overlooked him. They had Jadakiss on there, but they forgot P!

Rakim: Do I have to say anything here? He’s still alive people!

Dr. Dre: No Words here…

KRS-One: No Words here either…

Vibe seriously fucked up on this one. Here’s my prediction:

Final Four: Nas, Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, and Andre 3000

Top Two: Lil’ Wayne and Nas

Winner: Lil’ Wayne

That’s a realist prediction. Personally, I think either Jay-Z or Nas is the best rapper alive, but Lil’ Wayne is going to win, and we all know that. And if he does, it truly shows how fucked up Hip-Hop in my opinion; that a rapper with no classic albums under his belt (unless you consider C3 classic…yeah, right…) could take it all away from 3 rappers with at least 3 classics under each of their belts. Just my opinion though.

You can vote right now to see who is better right now out of Jim Jones and Diddy. So far, Jim is winning…yeah. Anyway, if you want in on this, go to Vibe.com and vote starting July 21st. Let’s see how this plays out: any predictions?

When I reviewed Jim Jones’ Harlem’s American Gangster album in February, I honestly thought that I had filled my Jim Jones quota for the year. Not to say that I don’t like Jimmy; he a charismatic fellow. With all the flack the South gets for not having intricate lyrics, it’s funny that a guy who is currently in the fore front for New York is lacking in that category. With all that bullshit aside, I think everyone is waiting to see what Jimmy does next. Well, for one he’s bringing in his own crew that’s not called Diplomats; ByrdGang. Its members consist of Jim Jones, Mel Matrix, NOE, Freekey Zekey, Chink Santana, Sandman, as well as recently deceased Stack Bundles (R.I.P.). After being a capo in the Diplomats, can Jim Jones lead this team to a successful official debut? We’ll see…

1. I’m The Man
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Mel Matrix
The album starts off the album with an electric guitar laced track. Jones is first and gives you the standard ad-lib heavy verse. After him is NOE then Mel Matrix. If you haven’t heard or read about NOE, it’s they guy that sounds just like Jay-Z (In voice and flow). No lie. The song is average to me and does what it supposed to.

2. Mobbin’
Featuring NOE, Mel Matrix, Juelz Santana, & Sandman
The beat is hard on this one; the simple piano makes it sound menacing. Julez jumps on the hook and does his thing. And just to be clear, the Sandman here is not the same one down with The Clipse’s Re-Up Gang.

3. Only 17
Featuring Jim Jones, Stack Bundles & Mel Matrix
I really wasn’t feeling it at all when I heard how terrible the hook was. The beat has an annoying quality to it also. I will say this; Stack Bundles may have delivered the line of the album: “We don’t get breaks like 2 15’s and an hour/We sell 2 for 15 and move powder”. When you think about, it’s ironic to have Stack on a track about getting killed at a young age.

4. Blasphemy
Featuring Mel Matrix, Stack Bundles, Jim Jones, & Sen
The production on this isn’t really bad or anything; it’s actually good. It isn’t that the subject matter is old (Drugs, thugs, flossing, & sex is but I’m already over that). The problem I have is when you do something to death but don’t do it creatively. That’s the problem here.

5. Money Right
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Sen
NOE begins talking in the beginning of the song and I’m still having a problem getting past the Hova impersonation (“I got my money right!”). Jim Jones tries out a faster rapping style that surprisingly wasn’t half bad. Sen sings his verse and NOE does the hook.

6. Throwin’ Bg’s
Featuring NOE, Sandman, & Chink Santana
When I first saw the title of this album, I wondered; what the hell was “throwin’ bg’s”? Well, the answer to that question is…I guess it’s some sort of ByrdGang gang sign (Correct me if I wrong though). This is another track that I feel suffered from an annoying hook. As far as lyrics are concerned, nothing much more than banter about having bottom bitches and money. Eh…

7. She So Gangsta
Featuring Chink Santana, Jim Jones, NOE, Oshy
The sad thing about this song is that in the beginning, it tells you what the “ideal bitch” is. Besides using the word bitch, I actually agreed with most of it. Now, that’s the good part. The bad part is the hook, the generic and derivative ass lyrics, and the fake ass southern accents.

8. Splash
Featuring Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, NOE, & Chink Santana
This was the first single for the album and I’ll have to admit that at first when I heard it I hated it. But after you hear that hook a few times, that shit gets stuck in your head (Seeing the video adds to this). The beat is simple and is probably one of the best on the album. Juelz feels like he wasn’t even trying hard but still easily outshines everyone on this track by leaps and bounds.

9. Hustle
Featuring NOE & Jim Jones
I know I should let this go, but even NOE’s ad-libs sound like Jay-Z’s; it’s crazy! More to the point, Jim Jones does the hook in a higher pitch for some reason. It’s sad because the beat really wasn’t that bad.

10. Oopsy Daisy
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Mel Matrix
What’s up with Dipset members and funny words (You all remember “Holey moely”)? The song subject matter is actually more serious and deals with having an absente father; It’s like when you father threw you up in the air and didn’t catch you; that’s where the title comes from. The song has a deep message but it suffers from another silly hook and uninspired lyrics (And I feel like I’m repeating myself).

11. Heartbeat
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Hell Rell
After you looked past the common R&B singer on the hook, the beat is okay. The song deals with repping for your hood/crew. Hell Rell (probably my favorite Dipset member) turns in a good performance; “It don’t looked cool with you the coup/Riding around the hood your whole crew on the stoop.”

12. ByrdGang Money
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Mel Matrix
This song also appeared on Jim Jones’ Harlem’s American Gangster that was released earlier this year. I thought it was irritating then too. Skip!

13. Gizzang
Featuring Chink Santana & Jim Jones
Over a slow minimalist beat, Jones goes at it all alone (Chink Santana just does the hook). It works a little but then you realize that Jimmy really isn’t saying much. With a beat like this, it works better with a lyricist because all the attention is on his delivery and word play; you see why this might not work with Jim Jones.

14. We Flying
Featuring Jim Jones, NOE, & Mel Matrix
The bass line as well as the whole production on this one is pretty good. At first I thought it was the sequel to “We Fly High” (I still don’t know if that would have been a good thing). It had something that made me not really want to get into it though.

15. So Cold
Featuring Chink Santana, Jim Jones, & Sandman
We close the album with an ode to a chick that “suck a bomb ass dick”? Okay. I just didn’t think they would end this album with a song about a “down ass chick”. Well, the beat is a better quality but nothing that stands out (This is true for the lyrics too).

Bottom Line:
After listening to this album a few times, I realize what’s wrong with this crew (As well as a lotta crews in Hip-Hop/Rap). No one really stands out. I didn’t see any star quality in NOE, Mel Matrix, Chink Santana, or Sandman. I know most rapper wanna put on their homies and become moguls, but come on, it’s just too much of that shit. At the end of the day, this is a side project for Jim Jones and Dipset fans to buy until a main or more popular Diplomat member releases an album (Juelz, Jim, and maybe Cam’rom). Back to the drawing board Jimmy.

nappyPicks: “Spalsh”

Download: ByrdGang featuring Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, NOE, & Chink Santana – “Splash”

Since 1987, Pete Rock has steadily carved his place in Hip-Hop and collected legions fans along the way. First as one half of a duo with CL Smooth (“T.R.O.Y.”), then as a producer of other artists as well (Nas’ “The World Is Yours”). Well, it’s 2008 and Pete Rock is still grindin’ as he releases his 6th solo album in 10 years, NY’s Finest. As you can tell by the name, the album features fellow New Yorkians and has Pete Rock producing most of the album as well as rapping. Let’s see what the Soul Brother cooks up this time.

1. Pete Intro
Produced by Pete Rock
This is a short intro that sets up the tone of the album complete with clips from movies and such. This is continued through the album and precedes and ends each track. Nice touch; increases the album’s cohesiveness.

2. We Roll
Featuring Jim Jones & Max B; Produced by Pete Rock
The album officially starts of with Jimmy Jones and Max B. Now, if you read my unfavorable Jim Jones review last week (Harlem’s American Gangster), you probably think I won’t like this song either. Well, you’re wrong. It always surprises me how well Jim Jones and Pete Rock sound together (Remember “G’s Up”?). All in all, it’s a good song that combines Jim Jones and Max B usual rhymes over a well produced smoothed out Pete Rock track.

3. Til I Retire
Produced by Pete Rock
Pete goes solo on this one and it uses samples of Run DMC’s “King Of Rock”. Even though Pete Rock isn’t known much for his lyrics, he does his thing here with lines like “More bars than Alcatraz, just call me The Rock”. It’s basically talking about various things like his place in music and how he’s not going anywhere. Good song.

4. 914
Featuring Styles P & Sheek Louch; Produced by Pete Rock
It gets gutta when Pete Rock and D-Block get together on this one. This track has an old school 90’s feel but that not a bad thing here. This is basically a song reppin’ 914 (New York’s area code). If you a D-Block fan, don’t worry they didn’t hold back on the gangster talk here

5. Questions
Featuring Royal Flush; Produced by Pete Rock
Damn, I ain’t heard from Royal Flush since like 1995 when he had that song “Iced Out Medallions”. Well he’s back and still doing his thing. He even goes into talking about his divorce and how he had to “get rid of that bitch”. Along with the track, he sounds like he did back in ‘95, so I can’t hate on that. It’s an all right track.

6. Best Believe
Featuring Redman & LD; Produced by Pete Rock
Redman jumps on the track like always. Doesn’t seem like Redman flow is always unswerving? The hook, done by Pete Rock, is kinda lazy though. I never really heard of LD but he and Pete Rock’s verses don’t sound too bad here. The beat is okay, not great, but okay.

7. Ready Fe War
Featuring Chip Fu & Rene; Produced by Pete Rock
This is basically a Reggae song. For those that don’t know, Chip Fu is from the group Fu-Schnickens and Rene is from the R&B group Zhane. Don’t get it twisted, Chip Fu is not rapping like he was with Shaq (“What’s Up Doc?”). I thought dude was Maxey Priest. It’s alright; more Reggae than Hip-Hop though.

8. Don’t Be Mad
Produced by Green Lantern
This is the only track on the album not produced by Pete Rock. Green Lantern provides a track that sounds…just like Pete Rock. The beat isn’t bad but this song is slightly brought down by Pete Rock. I mean he’s good sometimes (like on the previous “Til I Retire”), but he’ still not a lyricist.

9. Bring Y’all Back
Featuring Little Brother & Joe Scudda; Produced by Pete Rock
Whoa. This beat on this one is a banger. Little Brother with help from Joe Scudda do damage here. The funny thing is, since Pete and 9th Wonder’s beats sometime sound similar, the track reminds me of stuff Little Brother did before they became a duo.

10. The Best Secret
Featuring Lord of the Underground; Produced by Pete Rock
The parade of 90’s New York rappers continues as Lord of the Underground comes through. Did you know that Lords of the Underground came out last year? Me neither. They unexpectedly do a good job here. They sound inspired and ride the Pete Rock piano laced track like youngsters.

11. That’s What I Am Talking About
Featuring Rell; Produced by Pete Rock
I guess this is the closest you’re gonna get to a club record on this album. The song features ex Roc-A-Fella artists Rell doing the hook. The beat is the usual smooth Pete Rock style. It’s a nice laid back sound.

12. The PJ’s
Featuring Raekwon & Masta Killa; Produced by Pete Rock
Is it me, or did after the buzz of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II died, Raekwon fell off a little? He sometimes just goes on and on about nothing. Well, Pete Rock provides a sufficient track but it kinda sounds boring after Rae and Killa jump on. Kinda sad to see what Wu Tang has become.

13. Made Man
Featuring Tarrey Torae; Produced by Pete Rock
On this track Pete Rock reps NY hard on this track with lines like, “I rep New York like I play for the Knicks”. He once goes solo on the rap side with Tarrey Torae singing the hooks and ad-libs. The beat get’s kinda redundant but it’s serviceable.

14. Let’s Go
Featuring Doo Wop; Produced by Pete Rock
Damn, the pace picks up real fast when it gets to this track; it woke my ass up. Is this DJ Doo Wop? If so, he ain’t bad on the mic at all. The song is about a minute and a half so it’s short but to the point. There are talks about Pete Rock and Doo Wop doing an album together under the name Tango & Cash. Now, I’m thinking it might be worth a listen.

15. Comprehend
Featuring Papoose; Produced by Pete Rock
Papoose comes through for the last track on the album. Pete Rock does well to make a track that sounds good under Papoose’s voice. The one problem I have with this track is a line Papoose says at the beginning; “When that storm hit the South in New Orleans up, me and Kanye the only MC’s who spoke up”. Damn, David Banner, Mos Def, and other didn’t? Other than that, it’s an alright way to end the album.

Bottom Line:
Pete Rock is mostly consistent when it comes to his beats; on this album it mostly the same. The sound of the album itself is unified and that says a lot in today’s market of albums full of solitary singles. Although there are some slip ups and the wheel doesn’t get reinvented, it’s still just Hip-Hop baby and Pete Rock brings it.

nappy Picks: “We Roll”, “Bring Y’all Back” & “Let’s Go”

Download: Pete Rock feat. Little Brother & Joe Scudda – “Bring Y’all Back”