Lets Get It: Thug
Motivation 101:The album that solidified Jeezy as a true rap star. This was
one of my favorite albums back in late 2005(that’s when I copped it). Jeezy
raps slow and some of his punchlines are predictable. Also the album is tad bit
too long. Complaints aside this is a really good album. Jeezy has an impressive
guest list here: Jay-z, T.I., Bun B, and Trick Daddy, Lloyd, and Young Buck.
The beats are also fairly impressive. Some songs are a little too similar but
this is a great start to a career regardless.
B+
The Inspiration: Thug
Motivation 102: This has got to be one of the most difficult albums I have
ever reviewed. The first few songs are completely lacking in creativity. Then
the album picks up with I Luv It, Go Getta, 3 AM….well it actually just goes up
from there. This album has a different sound than TM101…and for the most part
that’s a good thing. Jeezy’s guest list
includes Keyshia Cole, R.Kelly, T.I(again)….this is a good album but its not
his best. Some may say TM102 is superior to 101 and in some ways it is, but
ultimately the lackluster beginning drags it down.
B
The Recession:
Arguably Jeezy’s best album….I think it’s his best. For one Jeezy’s lyrical
ability has progressed. He really doesn’t do that “slow as molasses” rap here.
Also the beats are varied, yet they all seem to blend together really well to
give you that cohesiveness that every great album has. The guest list is short
also, but every spot is used very well. Kanye steals the show on Put On, while
Nas joins Jeezy for the anthemic My President. There’s just so many great songs
here, with only a few that don’t really stand out.
A
TM103: Thug
Motivation 103: This isn’t a difficult album to review, but it is
constructed a lot differently than Jeezy’s other albums. I suppose its more
similar to his first album out of the previous 3. Jeezy holds his own on most
songs, and he has a few songs dedicated to the ladies, but none are raunchy
like Takin it There and Tear it Up from Recession and TM101 respectively. He is
joined by T.I.(again), Jay-z(again), Andre 3000, Fabolous, Lil Wayne, Plies,
Jadakiss, Jill Scott, and some others….Overall Jeezy is still a lyrical force
to be reckoned with, but the beats are nothing special…but they are effective.
B
Seen it All:The
Autobiography: This is one of the more balanced albums I’ve ever heard. The
beats are simple, and Jeezy spits some really raw rhymes. There’s a decent
sized guest list: The Game, Rick Ross, Jay-z, Boosie BadAzz, August Alsina, and
Future. All the guets do a good job. Overall it’s a dope album, even if it’s
very different from the first 3 albums.
A-
Church in these
Streets: For his 6th album, Jeezy relied less on guests and got
back to his old style…but he mixed that with his new faster rhyming style. There
also aren’t many guests, just 2 to be exact; Janelle Monae and Monica. Both do
an excellent job. The album’s songs sound very cohesive, maybe a little too
cohesive. Either way you look at it, the album is proof Jeezy is a great rapper.
A-