Bloggystyle -- The Greatest

I've heard some pretty good things about this Lil Wayne album. Before reviewing this, I have to admit that the only time I saw the words Lil Wayne and good in the same sentence was when my friend pointed out that Lil Wayne is a pretty good spitting image of Beetlejuice on the Howard Stern Show.

I'll be the first to admit that Go DJ and Bring It Back were catchy singles, but just when it seemed he was onto something, I heard that travesty he called a verse on that new Destiny's Child crap. So that brought me back to square one for this album.

Walk In

This intro track sure sounds a lot better after being subjected to intros from Diplomatic Immunity II and R.U.L.E.

Wayne's flow is all over the place. The beat could put me to sleep, but it's only an intro.

Go DJ

Is there another individual in the history of rap who looks like he should be less successful than Manny Fresh? But he still pulls production like this off.

Meanwhile Wayne does just enough to make the vocals work. At times he sounds manic, at other times he sounds like he's about to fall asleep. Lyrically this isn't mindblowing, but if that's what you're looking for from Cash Money, wow.

In the end, I guess the only thing this track really leaves a listener wanting is for Wayne's voice to undergo the normal processes associated with growing pubes.

This Is The Carter

Wayne's flow is like Cam's in that it never stays the same during tracks or even verses. Somtimes, like the previous track, this is ok. Sometimes, like this track, it just doesn't work.

Manny Fresh's hook is just weird but somehow it's catchy. The beat isn't his best.

BM Jr.

Just after I discuss Wayne's weird flowing, he keeps it pretty much the same throughout the first verse, and it's better that way. He gets a little different for the rest of the track; his last verse is pretty good by his standards.

The beat reminds me of Never Scared by Bonecrusher. The same sample couldn't have been used by two more different rappers, but this works.

On The Block #1

Why does an 18 second skit show up? To get the number of tracks to 20?

I Miss My Dawgs

Hearing Lil Wayne sing is one of those experiences only loved by someone who wants to keep their eardrums' immune system on their toes.

I can't hate on a guy for making a poignant song about missing his homies. The beat is suitable for this type of track. It's just that you can't help but laugh at the hook. Besides, Wayne's tribute to his dad on "Everything" was a cut above this one.

We Don't

Has any track ever survived an initial 2 minutes of nothing but Birdman? I don't think so. This one doesn't set that precedent either.

On My Own

In terms of lyricism, this is Wayne's most impressive track so far. I don't know how to describe the beat except that multiple listens could make my head hurt very much very fast.

Cash Money Millionaires

I bet you're wondering about the subject matter on this one...

Tha Heat

If Fresh did this beat, it's by far the worst one I've heard out of him in awhile. This track's beat is so stale that Wayne's everchanging flow and delivery is actually a much needed boost.

Inside

One of my biggest pet peeves is when an album intermission, skit or one minute freestyle track has a really tight beat that could have been used for a normal length track. This is one of those.

Bring It Back

This beat sounds so much like Get Your Roll On that it probably took Fresh about 5 minutes of editing that track to come up with this beat.

If there's anything Cash Money has been about over the past 5 years, it's that they're not going to change their formula when it's been so successful for them. These guys aren't exactly pushing the envelope. Get Your Roll On was a big hit for the group and this was a strong single for this album.

Wayne's flow and lyrics on this track are better than Go DJ. Anyone who's unashamed to rhyme "Cash Money Makaveli" with "Tom Petty" or brag about bagging bitches who have slept with the New Orleans Hornets (gunning for worst record ever) certainly doesn't have self esteem issues.

Who Wanna

When someone reaches that limit where they can't continue at the same pace they are currently at, they're said to hit the proverbial wall. Like Diplomatic Immunity II, this album just isn't diverse enough to keep the interest up for over an hour.

Wayne's presence on a track simply isn't enough to sustain 20 tracks or a solo album.

On My Block #2

I forgot about the two 20 second skits. It'd be hard to listen to Wayne straight for 18 tracks too.

Get Down

This track sounds like Wayne walked into a siesta and just started rapping as if it was a normal Cash Money beat. In otherwords, completely forgettable.

Snitch

Speaking of snitches, I just read on an ESPN article that a guy at today's Laker-Heat game yelled "You snitch" at Kobe as he shot free throws. I was looking for something to keep me awake for the rest of this album.

Then I actually paid attention to this track and realized that it's one of the few breaks from the usual Cash Money crap. Wayne actually talks about snitches and what happens to them. Personally I'd love to hear a Carmelo Anthony freestyle about snitching. It's also impossible to take Lil Wayne's ass seriously when he talks about intimidating and/or silencing snitches.

Hoes

Fresh begs "Let's just talk about __" Fresh pleads "Can we talk about __" It's back to Cash Money's regularly scheduled programming and producing.

Only Way

There are very few things more deflating in a rap track than hearing a tight beat and subsequently learning that the Birdman is about to grace the track with another appearance.

Earthquake

Remember the first scene between Marcellus and Butch in Pulp Fiction? Now, remember the song playing in the background? Imagine a couple of eccentric black guys sampling that and then singing and rapping to it. Hilarity definitely ensues.

Ain't That A Bitch

This track reminds me of about 12 other ones.

A few years ago, Lil Wayne dropped an album titled 500 Degreez, seemingly in response to Juvenile's popular 400 Degreez after Juve left. Wayne wasn't actually hotter than Juve then, and he probably still isn't, no matter how much self promotion he does on a long album.

Apparently a lot of people really like this type of music. But then again, I've never really understood the South in general. They can continue listening to Lil Wayne, and I'll just continue not listening to Lil Wayne.

# posted by Jay Dub @ 1:31 AM