Trap music. Trap beats. It's been the new wave in hip hop at least for the last half a decade or more. But there's one thing that's always troubled me. The one man that made trap beats popular when debuting in 2005 gets no credit for it to this day. That man is Jeezy. Mostly known for his drug rap, his tales of the come up and his signature ad-libs, it's the trap music sound that made him what he is today. In fact, it's the one reason why his debut album, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, is considered a classic to some including me. Since then Jeezy has been the leading voice in the south's trap rap division. Here he is with album number five. Seen It All: The Autobiography. Coming off his fourth album, 2012's TM 103: Hustlaz Ambition, I expected nothing really but him to continue doing what he does best. As he did on that album. This time around, nothing has changed as predicted. I thought this album was a pretty good listen. Like I said, Jeezy is not someone that changes or switches up what he does. Nor does he experiment with sounds or anything like that. It's the same thing with him. Trap beats, coke rap, tales of struggle and hood survival, achieving success, enjoying the limelight and so on. One thing that does stand out about this album though is the fact that you can definitely hear the growth and maturity in Jeezy. You can tell from his words and emotions that he's learned so much and has matured a ton. It's probably why he decided to drop the "young" in his name. Anyway, here's the song by song break down:
1. 1/4 Block
Well to no surprise, this album begins in typical Jeezy fashion. Coke rap. Like I said this has been his M.O. since day one. It's why he's called the snow man. Anyway this is cool I suppose. He's had better intro songs but this wasn't bad. Sounds awesome in your vehicle as does majority of this album.
2. What You Say
This one is pretty cool too. Again, nothing special or new. More of that street thuggery over a cool trap beat. Another one to rattle your trunk too.
3. Enough
One thing that always found cool about Jeezy is how much of a motivator he is. He always try to uplift those going through a struggle and teach them how to make it out of that. This song is about that. He tells you in the hook things you can achieve or become "if you work hard enough". Definitely a cool song and another cool motivational message. Thug motivational that is.
4. Holy Ghost
On this track, it appears Jeezy is doing a lot of deep thinking. He talks about some of his biggest regrets and mistakes. Along with that, he's also addressing a former friend of his about the wrong he did and how it effected their friendship. At first listen it sounds like a subliminal diss but it seems as though Jeezy is deeply upset about the whole ordeal. Either way this is good track. I'm sure I'll come back and do some investigating on the story behind this song.
5. Me OK
If there's one rapper/producer pairing in the south that's a cut above the rest it's without a doubt Jeezy and Drumma Boy. These two have been making magic together since Thug Motivation 101 and it continues here. One of the best beats on the album and definitely the best trap beat on here. I even thought the hook was one of the best despite all the braggadocios attitude he throws all over it. Dope song.
6. Been Getting Money (featuring Akon)
After the success these two had on the hit record "Soul Survivor", it was only right Jeezy called upon Akon again to make another hit. Although not as good, this is still a pretty dope track. Again, like the last song, Jeezy's braggadocios comes to play as he boasts about his money and how he been getting it since day one. This was very well produced by Childish Major as well. Dope beat and a dope song.
7. Seen It All (featuring Jay-Z)
I gotta admit, for this to be the lead single, it's rather weak. Not weak in general but too weak to be a single. There are other songs on here that would have made much better singles that this. The song itself however isn't that bad. The beat is pretty cool (especially the flute playing). This almost sounds very similar to "The Devil Is A Lie". The Rick Ross song that also features Jay-Z. Anyway, it's a good song overall, just not good enough to be a single.
8. Win Is A Win
Only being a minute and a half long, this is pretty much an interlude. That's kinda disappointing seeing as how this sounds like it could have been a good song if it was a full song. Once again, he's reflecting back on some bad situations he was in the middle of regarding close friends of his. I wish I knew the story behind everything he's talking about on this album regarding that. But I guess this song is okay for what it is.
9. Beautiful (featuring The Game and Rick Ross)
This is probably the one song on the album that totally missed it's potential. Now that doesn't mean it's a bad song, it's just missed what it was trying to go for. They all describe things in life they see as beautiful. From women, to cars, to houses, to clothes. You know...all that materialistic stuff. This actually could have been a dope concept song if Jeezy gave this more thought. But then again...Jeezy isn't that type of rapper. The song is okay overall. Just wasted potential in my opinion.
10. Beez Like (featuring Lil Boosie)
Here's another one of those "thug motivational" tracks. But this one is a little different. He goes about teaching the young thugs and gangsters how to stack their money up through the street hustle game. Based on what he knows from experience. Also, I'm not a fan of Boosie at all, but this is probably one of the best guest verses he has ever done. At least that I've ever heard. Cool song though.
11. No Tears (featuring Future)
Remember when I said there were songs more worthy of being singles? This is one of them. First of all, it's produced and produced well by Mike Will Made-It. Who's been doing his thing with producing these radio hits. Then Future, despite my dislike for him, does a pretty good job on the hook and doesn't over do it. Now you may say it wouldn't make a good single considering the content (talking about overcoming all the hardships, pain and struggle in his life and career) but the beat and Future's hook changes that logic. I'd give it a shot a radio play myself. We'll see what happens.
12. How I Did It (Perfection)
This album closes out with what sounds like Jeezy just giving us a quick breakdown of how he got here. Sharing a couple stories from his days in the streets, the beginning of his rap career and where he is now. He shares with you how he perfected it all. Everything he's done and everything he has succeeded in. Kind of a good way to close out and overall solid album.
In closing, I thought this album was pretty good. Solid work. Jeezy hasn't missed yet with one of these albums and it doesn't look like he will anytime soon. I give this a final grade of a B. The hood, the streets, the trap. It needs Jeezy and Jeezy needs it. He's been the motivational speaker for them for nine years now and shows no sign of stepping down from that title. While he continues to rap about the drug game, his riches and success, he fully understands where he came from and knows it was not easy making it to where he is now. He also understands the struggle of those going through what he went through which is why he reaches out to them every time in his music. It's for this reason that makes me a fan of his. Hip hop needs more dudes like him. Motivators. Or in this case...thug motivators. End.
Final Grade: B
CREDITS
Executive Producers
Jay Jenkins
Kyambo Joshua
Shakir Stewart
Lead Artist
Jay Jenkins
Production
Don Cannon
Christopher Gholson
Michael Williams
Frank Dukes
Lyle LeDuff
Ernest Wilson
M. Randall
B. Forest II
Collaboration
Aliuane Thiam
Shawn Carter
Jayceon Taylor
William Roberts
Torrence Hatch
Nayvadius Wilburn
August Alsina
Label
CTE World/Def Jam Recordings
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