It’s funny. I never particularly liked Dipset but for some reason it seems like I’m always the one who gets stuck reviewing their albums (And believe me, those dudes stay putting out albums). But hey, you do what you must right? Hey, at least it an album from my favorite Dipset member, Hell Rell. I actually reviewed his debut album, For The Hell Of It, last year and although it wasn’t all that good, it still showed flashes of promise. To me, the thing that makes Ruga Rell stand out for other 2nd tier Diplomat members (Like 40 Cal, JR Writer, etc.), is his voice. He may style like Cam, Juelz, and Jimmy, but he don’t sound just like them. It the last few years, he’s also has gained a reputation of being one of the hardest rappers out. With all that said, let’s take a look at Rell’s sophomore outing, Black Mask Black Gloves (The Ruga Edition).

1. Intro (Black Gloves)
Produced by A. Raab Muzik
“I ran through thousands, I need a couple millions”. Ruga Rell gives you more of that gangster style he’s known for. I’ll give him that; on his last album he started out with a good intro also. The beat is something is you’d expect from a Dipset member.

2. Get Ready
Produced by A. Raab Muzik
The feeling of the track reminds me of something you would of heard in the early 2000’s; that not a bad thing. Over a heavy electric bass heavy track, Rell talks about ways he’ll get money; “I’m living by the mafia rules like Gotti would/I go broke do a sex tape with Megan Good/And sell it to Hollywood”. Funny, I would too.

3. Take An Oath
Produced by Manti
I guess it’s good to hear Rell talk about how money is not everything. Don’t think he didn’t cut the flossing talk though; “My birth certificate is a hundred dollar bill! My social security card is an ATM card!” He goes on the rap the not snitching rule and putting family and friends over everything else.

4. Think Of A Problem
Produced by A. Raab Muzik
This is Ruga at his best. Over a grimy New York beat, Hell Rell is materialistic and misogynistic as ever. But it’s a well done materialistic and misogynistic song. The hook is hard, the lyrics are hard,  and so is the track.

5. Come On Baby Girl
Produced by Hassiditty
With a title like “Come On Baby Girl”, you know this is a song for the ladies. The production sounds like something 9th Wonder would do. I think for Rell’s voice may be too pverpowering for the sample they use here also. When we get to the weak hook thought, that’s where he lost me at.

6. Realest Nigga Doin’ It
Produced by MGI
I don’t wanna sound like a broken record, but this sounds like something straight from Killa Season. Nothing really stands out here. I know more rap dudes lie about there reputations, but when you talk about shooting cops in the head or riding through the hood in a “’08 armor truck”, it gets to be a little much.

7. True Colors
Produced by Kajmir Royale
Erase my last statement abut the last track, this track sounds like something straight from Killa Season. But, with all my hating (Your words not mine), I can’t hate on the sample. It’s on some Rocky Balboa shit. One question though: Is every brother from Dipset a blood now? “Me and cash are like the Blues Brothers, but we play on the red team”. Just a question.

8. I Luv Stuntin’
Featuring Sen; Produced by Kajmir Royale
It’s funny; this song is supposed to be about stuntin’, but most of the verse is about fucking somebody up. The carnival beat is okay, but the song just has something missing. I could of done without the Max B impersonation on the hook though.

9. What Up
Featuring JR Writer; Produced by Hell Rell & Hassiditty
With all the questions surrounding the Dipset’s unity, I guess it’s good to have a collaboration with a member. Too bad the song is boring. The beat has a generic feel and the lyrics aren’t anything we haven’t heard before.

10. Push ‘Em Back
Produced by Goodwill & MGI
I guess this is Rell’s attempt at a club track…or maybe it’s an attempt to get ringtone sales. I swear if you combine “Lip Gloss”, the Beastie Boy’s “Paul Revere”, and dumb down lyrics, you’ll have what Hell Rell tried here, Not a good look at all.

11. Rumors
Produced by A. Raab Muzik
Just like JR Writer did earlier this year, Rell tries to clear the air about his crew’s current status. I applaud him for actually admitting that there was a problem. But at the end of the song though, you realize he really didn’t put any rumors to rest. The beat and the lyrics sounded kinda thrown together too.

12. Million Dollar Plan
Produced by Kajmir Royale
Hey, at least Rell didn’t end the album with an obligatory “I know I just killed a 100 niggas on this album but thank God for helping me make it” track. He sticks with what works for him and at the end he has a solid track. The horns on this one and the loop work well.

Bottom Line:
Hey, I won’t shit you here. Most of the Diplomats affiliated albums released in the last 2 years have not been groundbreaking and the same can be said about this album. Not saying it wasn’t good. Ruga Rell definitely had some good parts. The one problem here is that Rell has yet understand that the outstanding rappers rhyme about more that just guns, sex, and money. Rell has style, reputation, and talent. But until he stretches outside his comfort zone, he’ll never get past where he is now.

nappyPicks: “Get Ready”, “Think Of A Problem”, True Colors”, & “Million Dollar Plan”

Download: Hell Rell – “Think Of A Problem”

Dipset has a fiercely loyal fan base. I can’t lie though, outside of Juelz, I don’t really dig most of them. They are pretty damn entertaining though. They rep hard for each other and that’s wassup. So, we have another offering from JR Writer who seems to never leave the studio. Is he making the most of his time, or wasting tracks? Let’s find out….

It’s Like A Jungle
Produced by Spectacular
Writer comes in riding a smooth ass laid back groove. The title pays homage to the classic “It’s Like A Jungle” but does little beyond the name to praise the song. Nothing more than a simile flip song over a decent groove. It gets boring by the end of the song and seems to set the tone for the album to stall out the gate.

Hate On Me
Produced by Mec-One Productions
A SICK rendition of the hook from The Who’s song, “Love, Reign O’er Me” is the backdrop to this track, only flipping it to say “Hate On Me”. This shit is dope as hell despite an odd change in the background chord. I can’t wait to hear the freestyles over this shit. Anyway JR does alright as he keeps it Dipset with the swagga splashin’ on this track that should have been the first song.

Come With Me (Freestyle)
Produced by Heatmakerz
The Heatmakerz have produced tracks for Weezy, Juelz, CL Smooth, N.O.R.E, and Cormega chime in and offer up a decent track. Lyrically, JR talks about everything and nothing and all points between including him saying “Once I shit on a nigga, he neva gonna smell the same”. Wow….overall, I’m not impressed with this one.

Change
Produced by IKD
We get a lot more melodic track that features some ill chords and a chior inspired “ah ah” chant in the background. The base of the track sounds like some 8-bit Nintendo music, but it works quite well. “Duck hunt with all these birds in the game”. A hint I guess.Ha! “If I was Superman the S would be a dollar sign.” Me too fam, me too.

Serious B.I.
Produced by Trackdealerz
I think it may be a Beatles or Monkeys sound bite (I’m pretty sure I’m way off) for the intro, but the track is fantastic. It is, however, a victim of the same bug that bites this entire album, it’s too damn short (see bottom line). This could very well be the best track on the album, and it is nothing more than a lyrical interlude. Damn shame.

Dimelo
produced by M.Dot Murda
M.Dot Murda, who most recently did some tracks on the Gangsa Grillz album, brings us this Latin influenced track complete with mariachi horns. “Dimelo” is a Dominican word that, loosely translated (ie I googled) means “tell me about it” or “What’s good”.  Now, with that understanding, this song makes no fucking sense. I think he just grabbed a dictionary and started to rhyme any word that made sense. “Blow me like a hankerchief?” That’s not gangsta. Dimelo with that?

Do Dat
Produced by GM Productions
Look, I try my best to be productive, but if you are producing a dance/club track and it’s not a banger, then it’s worthless. “Do Dat” does nothing for me. SKIP.

Let It Rain
Produced by Dame Grease
Goon Music got 1 star as Dame stepped in the booth and played rapper. However, on the boards, he has been a part of a 3 and 4 star rating (Sheek Louch & Freeway).  So, what does he give us on this track…from the boards? 4 STARS. The track is incessant with the “Let It Rain” chant and the anthemesque (new word) quality of the synth and bass.  Again, JR offers up some lazy ass lyrics; I let it rain, who gonna rain check me/I keep a bucketful, I ain’t talkin’ bout KFC. I could offer up more, but you get the point.

Uptown Girl
Produced by Spectacular
With his teeth in the Billy Joel classic by the same name, Spectacular produces a fun track infused with the bounce. This is a song for the ladies, it was about time right? Shout out to all the uptown girls. Clocking in at 1:52, there isn’t much to say, if I type much more it will be longer than the damn song.

Killer Crack
Produced by B-Rocc & Piff Perweiler
When it comes to this rap, I’m a Silverback/I got gorilla raps/Grab ya’self an ice cold drink and chill with that / ………these cats harmless/They look like shit/Look at me, I’m the shit. I’m starting to see right through JR Writers wordplay. I try not to expect lyricism from everyone, but damn, you gotta try harder than that.

How You Want It
Featuring Fred Money; Produced by Hood Ghanndi
No sooner than I ridicule him, he comes with some better lyrics. The track is…myspace-ish, but it’s not bad. The sound quality is great and it’s layered and busy, in a good way. It has a haunted house quality to it; Castelvania style. The hook is hard as hell though; How you want it bitch/Nigga/(4x) I be with the gutta clique/A hundred guns, a hundred clips/Sit you in a fuckin’ ditch/So tell me how you want it bitch … It’s hard to listen to this shit and not feel like punchin’ someone in the face. The beat is hard and hype and is a certified banger. He clearly knew it this time as this is the longest song on the entire album. Fred comes on and gives us a little more delivery quality with his flow, but the “I’m on your ass like hemorrhoids line “rendered the rest of his flow mute to me.  Song still will break necks.

You Know I’m Nice
Produced by YH
YH loves the keyboard. I am speculating but when you hear this track, you will agree. Chords…chords…and chords. Loop. Chords…loop. It’s really a simple track that has its most interesting moment around the 1:50 mark when JR ain’t rappin’. Sad part is that the track is only 2:07 long. By this point, I am very biased against JR’s style so you may want to stop reading this review right here. Just skip to the bottom line.

We Ride Or Die
Produced by Soul Professa
Soul lives up to his name on a very fly track. We get more blizzard, swagga, and Aston talk…oh, and talk of asparagus pockets. Decent…song?

On My Way 2 Space
Produced by Trackdealerz
The track, one word, Ominous. Hands down, the best song on the album. From track to lyrics, this shit is a winner. Soon as I’m finished forensics couldn’t make the trace (nope)/Who you kiddin’ you be singin’ like you Babyface /…I wash these lil’ monkeys up/Now these niggas Bathing Apes/…I step in the ring in reptiles like I’m Jake the Snake. By far some of his best wordplay the entire album. Did I mention the beat is Kah-razy? Cause it is.

Hands Up
Featuring Fred Money; Produced by GL Beats
The build up on this track is dramatic as hell…but then it never seems to cross the mark. It builds and builds and seems like they forgot the bass. On top of that, without something to ground it, the rappers seem to get lost in an orgy of sound…and no one is cumming. JR sounds even less inspired than he has on any other track. Fred’s’ vocals are way too high and lyrics are typical. I guess I’m one of the hatin’ ass bitches he talks about in the song, I’m sure some of you will agree.

Bottom Line:
JR is clearly influence by his label mates and has become a “Cam Santana” hybrid. For those of you who know how to write rhymes, he flips the same sound of each last bar too many times. Like, each song has ONE word to rhyme with. Car, far, bar, star, are, tar, etc. I think there are ways to do this that can come off clever and I realize that in certain settings, but when you only have 2 songs out of 15 that are longer than 3:10 and the average being 2:30-2:40, it starts to sound like a crutch…to me anyway. Speaking of the clock value, most of these songs are so short they don’t have a hook, not as a concept, but as a handicap considering the entire album clocks right at the 40minute mark. Essentially, this is an album that will be the background for a lot of mixtapes in the near future as the tracks are the clear stars on this album. I am POSITIVE I will be considered a hater for this review, so I put on my heat suit. Most Dipset lovers will love this, album as the innanets are a buzz with folks crowning HIM as the best rapper alive. Hey, not me, I’ve read it more than once. Anyway, the beats really do have the ability to carry the album and his funny and clever moments are scattered around just enough to keep you busy.

nappyPicks: “On My Way 2 Space”, “Hate On Me”, “Change”, (most any of these as instrumental are pretty solid)

Download: JR Writer – “On My Way 2 Space”

Another day, another Diplomat member releases an album of some sort. Even though Dipset has had some inner strife as of late, it doesn’t seem to have slowed down their album releases. This year alone the Dips have released six official albums (We reviewed albums from Hell Rell, 40 Cal., Freekey Zekey, & DukeDaGod); and don’t even get me started on the mixtape scene. Well, today we are checking out JR Writer’s new one Writer’s Block 5. Now the question we had here at nappyafro.com; is this an official release or a mixtape? Well, it’s supposedly in stores right now and there are iTunes ads for it, so I guess so; it’s his debut Babygrande Records. Another question? Okay, you in the back with the baby blue suit. Has B-Easy ever listened to any of the Writer’s Block series? No. Has B-Easy ever listened to any of JR Writer’s albums (This IS his second “official” album after 2006’s flop History in the Making)? No. But come on, I know who the dude is! I mean, he has been bigged up by Cam’ron for a second. I think he has some talent. As a matter of fact, I think his voice sounds just like Cam’s with more talent. So with that weird exchange out the way let’s check out Writer’s Block 5.

The album starts with the obligatory “Intro” track complete with “This sound like some Rock music right here” line. Even though you may feel like you heard it before, the track is not bad as JR shows his wordplay; “Try and get his records shopped, it’s like throwing his album in space, it ain’t gonna never drop.” “Major” is up next and it follows the Dipset blueprint that they never threw away after Cam’ron’s “Get ‘Em Girls”. Clocking in at 1:29 minutes, it has me wondering why is this the second track on the album? “Got It Covered” featuring Fred Money is another cut that suffers from sounding like it’s from a mixtape. Not really no point; just rhyming about what he already covered in the previous songs. The old school feel of “We Getting’ It A Baby” is a welcomed change as JR Writer gets some inspiration from LL Cool J’s “Jingling Baby”. “They Don’t Really Want It” is another song highlighted by the anthem like beat that gives Writer room to talk tough; “Listen youngn’ I can bet you can fit in this trunk, swear I’m running out of breath how I pick up the pump.” JR Writer tries to go for the down South with “Heavy Jewelz” (complete with a chopped up chorus), but for some reason I think the beat would service Rick Ross or T.I. better. “Dear Hip-Hop” has JR more in his element; but it suffers from him not staying on subject (A problem a lot of rappers have these days). Time to get at the ladies now right? Every rapper does it. JR Writer attempts to do this on “Make A Move” and gets help from R&B singer…Slim of 112? Yeah, it sounds like you think it would sound. SKIP! “Beast Mode” is probably the hardest of the entire album (Maybe it’s just that I think the name is hard. Beast Wars or Altered Beast; take your pick.). The beat on this is raw and has JR spitting as such; “I’m so piff I could put my grammar in a slab, a couple bags have them fiends dancing on the ave.” “Where You At” is up next; the beat is okay but it’s sounds like the intro and suffers from a weak hook. “You Ain’t Know” is another track that running time is around 1:30. Plus, I starting to think JR can’t really rap about anything but guns, money, drugs, and women; so-so track. JR rebounds with the next “Runner” by using Road Runner sound effects in the beat. It’s surprisingly creative and a nice alteration. “Don P (Phone Call From Jail)” is an interlude that has JR conversing over the phone with an incarcerated Don P. I understand you gotta give your locked up homie some shine but damn, this shit goes on for almost five minutes. The last track “What A Thug About” sounds the most un-mixtape of the whole album. The song as a whole is average at best, but I guess he had to save the real sounding stuff for the end.

Bottom Line:
After listening to this album, I’m convinced that this is a mixtape trying to be an official album. There’s not much here if you looking for real, well crafted songs. But on the flip side, it’s not that bad either. While it won’t get my vote for album of the year (or album of the week for that matter), the songs that are mentionable are actually good. If you like freestyles and straight rhyming just to rhyme; you might like this. Then again, why would any go into the store and buy part five in a series of mixtapes when you can the previous ones have been available in the streets?

nappy Picks: “We Getting’ It A Baby”, “They Don’t Really Want It”, “Beast Mode”, & “Runner”

Download: JR Writer – “Runner”