READ THIS CAREFULLY AND U TELL ME . ..
After selling like over 6 million rap albums, one has to wonder if JA RULE would be able to do it again. I mean with IRV GOTTI and 7 AURELIUS hit making recipe servicing everyone from MARY J BLIGE, JENNIFER LOPEZ, ASHANTI and FAT JOE, one wonders (again) if they can keep the public still listening. The Murder Inc. formula has to some extent become very stale. I have to admit and say that the last JA RULE album was good. THUG LOVIN´ the first cut and single and video features BOBBY BROWN, which is very top 40ish. Now remember 7 AURELIUS has left IRV GOTTI due to the two not being able to agree on production credits and that. (7 claims that Irv does nothing and that he does all the production) So IRV now has a new dude CHINK SANTANA doing co-production with him. Gossip aside, MESMERIZE with ASHANTI has the makings of a hit radio song written all over it. I dig it, it´s cool and smooth like rolling in your X5 down 5th avenue.
Those Virginia natives, Messrs. HUGO and WILLIAMS provide the sonic soundscape on POP NIGGAS. They use their trademark, yet played out snare and base kick they are known for. And it´s always good to hear JA over some different shit. Nas and 2PAC appears on THE PLEDGE remix, which samples 2PAC´s SO MANY TEARS. Quite interesting with JA RULE saying "whut up Suge". Is it just me or does CHARLI BALTIMORE sound like EVE? She plays tag with JA on the bouncy title track. Thing with JA RULE is he does not need a NATE DOGG or a BEYONCE to sing hooks for him as he has got his own gruff voice to give his tracks flavor. Seems like every track has a sample on here. From TOTO to LENNY KRAVITZ gets sampled here, damn! Latest inmates on THA ROW, EASTWOOD and CROOKED I also pop up on the filler cut CONNECTED.
My fave on this disc must be the rock influenced ROCK STAR. Probably because it samples the LENNY KRAVITZ hit I BELONG TO YOU, which reminds me of a chick I had bonked a couple of years ago. So far this here cd has gone platinum in the states and still selling. Before I say anything naughty i´mma end it right here.
THIS ALBUM WAS HOT ON THE STREETS OF MITCHELLS PLAIN AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS,
SO WTACH YOUR MOUTH!