It's so sad yet strange that majority of the media today treats Juicy J as if he debuted last year. This man is a 15+ year veteran and still mixing it up with the young ones today. Most know of Juicy J because of his long time affiliation with Three 6 Mafia. One of the best underground southern rap groups of all time. They were known for their rambunctious and yet dark toned hood music mixed with infectious trunk blasting production. But in recent year the group started to deteriorate. It went from four (2003's Da Unbreakables), to three (2005's Most Known Unknown), to two (2008's Last 2 Walk). Now it seems as thought the group is done. At least for now. Today Juicy J is doing his solo thing as a member of Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang clique. But despite his departure from Three 6 Mafia, he's still the same Juicy J. Here is his third album Stay Trippy. Now because he's with a new squad, I kinda expected things on this album to sound a bit different from his previous two albums. 2002's Chronicles Of The Juice Man and 2009's Hustle Till I Die. Both were during his time with Three 6 Mafia. He's now with newer producers and newer collaborators so going into this I pretty much expected everything but his lyrical content to be changed. Looks like my expectations were met. I thought the album was average. Here's the thing: Those who have been following Juicy J and Three 6 Mafia all these years know that when it comes to their music you do not get lyricism, you do not get creativity, you do not get originality or any of that jazz. That's not who Juicy J is. With that said I had to judge this album based on the purpose that it serves as. The ultimate party album. So if it's on the grounds of "real" hip hop then this is a bad album, but if you're judging it on the quality of entertaining party music, which I did, then this is a good album. Now like I said, this is the perfect bump-in-the-whip/party album. Everyone from stoners, drinkers, street thugs, club hoppers, molly poppers, twerkers and strippers will enjoy every minute of this album. That's essentially all that's being talked about on the album. You do still get that old Three 6 feel of the southern hood/street music and at the same time you get the entertaining party/club music. Courtesy of well known trap rap producers like Mike Will Made-It, Young Chop and Lex Luger all over this album. Before I point out my notable tracks I want to say that while listening to this I didn't try to go in depth listening to these songs. In other words listening closely to lyrics and such trying to break down what's being said like I do with other albums. Simply because again, that isn't who Juicy J is. I listened to it from and entertainment aspect. That said, my notable tracks. I really liked the song "Wax". Might have been my favorite on the album. This is one of many bump-in-the-whip trap beats on here that I found myself enjoying the most. I liked the Freda Payne "I Get High" sample on there too (the same sample Styles P. used for his song "Good Times"). He teamed up with his brother Project Pat on "No Heart No Love". I liked this one because of every song on this album this one really took me back to the good old Three 6 Mafia days. Another dope feature was Yelawolf on the track "Gun Plus A Mask". This is one for the street thugs to piss the neighborhood off as you drive pass. Yelawolf's verse was super dope. The interesting collaborations kept coming on "The Woods". He links with Justin Timberlake for a more subtle song for the ladies. The track was well produced by Timbaland. Now he doesn't get all romancy with the lyrics. He basically breaks down the thug way of dating a girl. I mean a lot of women do like thugs right? Stoners will rejoice on the track "All I Blow Is Loud". The track is cool. I probably would enjoy it more if I too was a stoner. I couldn't help but laugh at his opening line: "smoking gas in a rental/she giving me mental". That's Juicy J for you. The tracks "So Much Money" and "Money A Do It" is for all you hustlers and paper chasers. Something else Juicy J likes to rap about a lot. I like the beat switch up on "Money A Do It" too. Again, just more bump-in-the-whip songs. "Smokin' Rollin'" features Pimp C and was a much more smoother relaxed speaker blaster. Gives you that perfect blend of Memphis crunk and Houston chopped-n-screwed. Now my dislikes. Majority of my gripes for this come from the singles believe it or not. Now "Bandz A Make Her Dance" came out late last year. I actually had totally forgot about this song (thanks in large part to Rihanna's remake of it). My issue with the song? You guessed it...Lil Wayne's verse. Wayne just gets more and more less tolerable with each guest verse I hear from him. Then there's the second single "Bounce It". I honestly can't put my finger on what it is about this song that just rubbed me the wrong way. It may be Trey Songz half sleep hook or Wale's below average verse. The thing about it, these were the two songs targeting the strip clubs and internet twerkers. I personally couldn't see myself getting hype or dancing to it in the club but I could definitely sit back and enjoy watching the ladies dance to it. Speaking of, if you're a stripper/twerker in college then I'm sure you'll get a kick out of the track "Scholarship". What it sounds like to me is Juicy J is rapping about making college girls twerk or strip for scholarship money. Yeah...I didn't agree too much with that. That idea was so bad that I laughed the whole time listening to it. A$AP Rocky's verse makes it somewhat tolerable but man I don't know. It may grow on me. But again, the booty shakers will love it. "Talkin' Bout" features Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa and boy I wished he left both of them off of this track. Just like Lil Wayne, Wiz's guest verses are getting worse and worse (same goes for the song "Smoke A Nigga") and Chris Brown gets on here rapping. I can just barely tolerate him singing let alone rapping. He sounded like he was imitating Kanye West not only in his voice and flow but the arrogance and cockiness. I could really do without that song. Well in conclusion, if your'e looking for "real" hip hop, don't look this way. However, if you looking for that perfect party/club music, then this is the album for you. I give it a final grade of a C+. While there are many rappers in this crunk/party/club division in hip hop, only few are tolerable. Juicy J continues to show these you guys how to really have a good time. No matter if you're in the streets, you whip or the club. We all love (and some prefer) "real" lyrical hip hop but there's a time and place for everything. You gotta also have fun and party in hip hop. That fun and party atmosphere will always be around as long as rappers like Juicy J are hear to get the party started. Stay trippy my friends. End.
Final Grade: C+
No comments:
Post a Comment