Birdman-Priceless

Birdman's Priceless is the first of four highly anticipated Cds to be released from Cash Money/Young Money. The #1 Stunna is the lead off batter for Drake and his highly anticipated debut, Lil Wayne's anticipated new album, and a group project that is to be released by Lil Wayne's Young Money label.

Lyrics
Priceless is typical Birdman as he talks about hustling, money, and being the top stunna. He enilists Lil Wayne and Drake to provide the serious lyrics and wordplay on this album. Mack Maine and Gudda also deliver some clever verses to help this CD have some lyrical content. To Birdman's credit his lyrics aren't horrible, he just won't be confused with a lyricist anytime soon.

Flow
Birdman will be the first to tell you he's not a rapper he is a stunna so his flow is very pedestrian and nothing that you haven't heard before from him. But again, Drake and Lil Wayne help out the label's CEO in this department as well. Lil Wayne relies on autotune a couple of times to do this, namely on the album's title track.

Beats
Where this CD excels is in the beat department. The title track has a slick rock beat backing it as Lil Wayne flows over this with the help of autotune. Other tracks that stand out as far as beats are:
Money To Blow ft. Drake and Lil Wayne
Money Machine
Bring It Back
Nightclub
4 My Town ft Drake and Lil Wayne
Shinin ft T-Pain
Mo Milly
Always Strapped remix ft Lil Wayne and Mack Maine

Fav Tracks
My favorite tracks from this CD are:
Money To Blow ft Drake and Lil Wayne
Money Machine
Nightclub
4 My Town
Hustle ft Gudda and Lil Wayne
Shinin ft T-Pain
Mo Milly
Always Strapped remix ft Lil Wayne and Mack Maine

Guests
Drake
Lil Wayne
Gudda
T-Pain (chorus only)
Bun B
Kevin Rudolf (chorus only)
Mack Maine

Rating: Dont Waste Your Time, Download It, Cop It, or Classic
I was pleasantly surprised with this CD. Great production and Birdman isn't half bad on here. I'm definetely going to have to go with Cop It.

DOWNLOAD PRICELE$$

Rakim The Seventh Seal

Rakim Allah is back!!! If I seem a little bit too anxious it's because I am. I have been waiting for this CD since he released The Master a decade ago in 1999. Due to departure from Dr. Dre and Aftermath Records this release has been constantly pushed back. Let's see if this release was worth the wait from the Godfather of Hip Hop.

Lyrics
The man who first mastered the multisyllabic rhyme scheme is definetely back and showing some serious MC skills. Someone who I think is an underrated storyteller constantly shows you that he has mastered this skill as well. The track You and I displays the same ill imagery while rapping to the ladies, reminiscient The 18th Letter's Stay A While and the classic Mahogany. This CD features some lyrics that will definetely be repeated amongst hip hop circles. With lines such as "Is he Moses or drugs? Either way it's a profit" and "Trying to rep the hardest//And make history so not even death can part us" Rakim proves that you can still mention his name amogst the greatest lyricist of all time.

Flow
For the majority of this CD Rakim still shows that he has that same ill flow he has always had. I'm not really sure if this is a good or bad thing because you can get easily bored with the same flow. When done beautifully he makes you hang on to every word as you imagine him putting together his words like a puzzle. On Message In The Song he proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks as he switches his flow on this song to one I have never heard from him before.

Beats You Can Bump To
As the production steps up to another notch so does his flow and lyrics. Tracks that this is evident on are:

How To Emcee
Holy Are You
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Still In Love

Fav Tracks
How to Emcee
Walk These Streets ft. Maino
Documentary of a Gangster
You and I
Holy Are You
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Message In The Song
Still In Love

Skip 'Em
Man Above
Psychic Love

Guest Appearances
Maino

Rating: Dont Waste Your Time, Download It, Cop It, or Classic
Cop It. Not a classic like The 18th Letter but definetely way better than The Master. An overall good disc by the GLOAT (greatest lyricist of all time).

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Wale Attention Deficit

When I started this post I wanted to give artists who I think don't get their fair amount of shine that platform. I feel that Wale is one of those artists. His rhyming scheme is slick and he rhymes to slick go-go beats that are native to his hometown PG County-Washington DC area.

Lyrics

Wale is a fresh new lyricist that is a change of pace from your Commons, Kwelis, and your Mos Defs. You can't necessarily put his brand of lyricism in a box either. It's not as concious as Mos Def or Common, nor is it really complex like a Nas or Lupe Fiasco, but it isn't simplistic lyrics like those of Kanye West. He is one of those artists that are able to reach a level with his lyrics that only a select few can reach. His lines are slick and witty such as "Chip on my shoulder big enough to feed Cambodia" and "I roam like phones without vocal reception". Not only does Wale brings great lyrics, guests K'Naan and J. Cole put their thing down on this CD as well

Flow

His flow is impeccable on this disc. It's almost as if you can use his a capella as an instrumental in and of itself. The way he rides the beat seemlesslyyou can get lost in the flow and miss some serious lyricism he put down

Beats You Can Bump To

Pretty Girls ft Gucci Mane and Weensey

World Tour ft. Jazmine Sullivan

90210

Chillin ft Lady Gaga

TV In The Radio ft. K'Naan

Fav Tracks

Pretty Girls ft. Gucci Mane and Weensey

World Tour ft. Jazmine Sullivan

Shades ft. Chrisette Michelle

Chillin ft. Lady Gaga

TV In The Radio ft. K'Naan

Contemplate

Diary ft. Marsha Ambrosius

Beautiful Bliss ft. Melanie Fiona and J. Cole

Skip 'Em

Nothing. Every track brings something different that you need to hear.

Guest Appearances

Bun B

Gucci Mane

Weensey (chorus only)

Jazmine Sullivan

Pharell (chorus only)

Chrisette Michelle (chorus only)

Lady Gaga (chorus only)

K'Naan

Marshia Ambrosius (chorus only)

J. Cole

Melanie Fiona (chorus)

Rating: Don't Waste Your Time, Download It, Cop It, or Classic?

I want to rate this a classic so bad but I'm going to go with Cop It just make sure you go and get more than one

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50 Cent Before I Self Destruct

Remember back in 2003 when G-Unit was just the hottest thing to hit hip hop? Well unless you have been in a coma you have realized that this isn't 2003 and G-Unit is far from the top. Internal squabbles have made three members leave (or Fif' kicked them out, whatever you believe). With Before I Self Destruct, 50 Cent is trying to restore the dominance of his crew and himself in hip hop.

Lyrics
If you are looking for some quotable lines that you can spit to your friends, this is not the album to get them from. They are M.I.A. on this CD. Not saying that 50 Cent is just spitting garbage on the mic but you will be hardpressed trying to use this CD to say that 50 Cent is a lyricist. You get the same formula that you have come to know from 50 Cent and any other G-Unit artist for that matter. You will hear songs with some straight-up hardcore lyrics and gunplay, the sensitive songs for the ladies, club jams, and bragging about how many Lambo's 50 has. On the track So Disrespectful 50 takes shots at former G-Unit soldiers The Game and Young Buck. Eminem comes through on the track Psycho and reminds us all why Em is still the boss and 50 is just a protege. Only line from the CD that comes from 50 that remotely stands out is "Any nigga out of order must get serviced" and unfortunately thats the best he comes with on the CD.

Flow
Even though his lyrics is subpar on this CD his flow at most points are just flawless, average at worst on this CD. His flow carries tracks that otherwise you wold want to skip, as evident on Stretch and even then you might want to skip this one because of the constant corny lyrics.

Beats You Can Bump To
He has a few tracks on here where the beat and his flow drives the song while his lyrics take a break. Tracks that stand out are:

So Disrespectful
Psycho ft. Eminem
Crime Wave
Get It Hot
Gangsta's Delight
Baby By Me ft Ne-Yo
Ok, You're Right

Fav Tracks
Psycho ft. Eminem
Crime Wave
Baby By Me ft. Ne-Yo

Skip 'Em
Strong Enough
Stretch
I Got Swag

Guest Appearances
Ne-Yo (chorus only)
Eminem
R. Kelly

Rating: Don't Waste Your Time, Download It, Cop It, or Classic
Download It. This CD is inconsistent and definetely not the 50 Cent that once ruled hip hop

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