Okay this is a rap review. I am taking 3 very good albums from late 2012 and breaking them down.
T.I.-Trouble Man: Heavy is th Head
9/10
Game-Jesus Piece
9/10
Big Boi-Viscious Lies and Dangerous Rumors
9.25/10
T.I.-Trouble Man: Heavy is th Head
T.I.’s latest album might as well be called his redemption. The
album features T.I. trying to channel his old style(Trap Musik & Urban Legend)
with his King of South style( King & Paper Trail). The album is just way
better than his horrible predecessor, No Mercy. His lyrics are much smarter,
and relevant unlike his previous album. The new blended style T.I. displays
makes him sound hungry again which is what a lot of rappers lack these days
that have found previous success.
Ball with Lil
Wayne is one of the best songs. It has a cash money feel to it with its uptempo
beat. The album seems to have a little bit of everything. There’s even skits
mixed in to some songs which helps with the cohesiveness. Sure there’s some
filler, but overall I am proud of T.I. for coming back strong. Songs like Can You Learn, Sorry, Guns and Roses, and
Wonderful Life are great additions to T.I.’s catalogue.
9/10
Game-Jesus Piece
I’m a little surprised that Game has released another album
so soon, but I’m not complaining. This isn’t one of the Game’s best albums,
instead its closer to Doctor’s Advocate. This is a hard album to review.
Lyrically Game spits really well, but I don’t feel he changes up his flow
enough to stand out from his guests like he did on the R.E.D. album. The beats are really good though. The album
also has a lot of cohesiveness. There are only a couple songs that aren’t great.
As far as the concept goes, Game does a decent job like with songs like Church, Jesus Piece, and Heaven’s Arms. The
album has some really cool collabos on it like Celebration, Ali Bomaye, and See No Evil. The album also ends on a
high note.
9/10
Big Boi-Viscious Lies and Dangerous Rumors
After releasing a certified dirty south classic 2 years
ago(Sir Luscious Left Foot), Big Boi returns with an album with a very
different feel. There’s a lot of Pop infused with his “Outkast” rap style.
Lyrically the album isn’t that inferior to SLLF, but the beats aren’t quite as
stellar. The album has a lot of guest features….perhaps too many. It’s rather
obvious that Big Boi needs Andre 3000 at this point, as this album has a lot of
“Old Outkast” style songs on it.
The album gets really personal right past the halfway point
with a couple long songs back to back. The album gets off to a decent start,
then hits you with In the A which
features T.I. and Ludacris. CPU and Mama
Told Me with Kelly Rowland are really good as well. Shoes for Running with B.O.B. is also great. Overall this album’s
approach kind of reminds me of Jay-z’s Blueprint 2. Its like Big Boi is trying
to try lots of different styles to match the previous album’s fire. The album
almost succeeds.
9.25/10