Lottery Ticket, the movie starring Bow Wow, premiered this weekend and I saw it. Not that this type of coon movie is the kind of film I’d pay $10 to see on its opening weekend (wait, did ya’ll know movies are $10 a pop now?), but my 14-year-old nephew wanted to see it, so I bit the bullet and took the kid to the movies, instead of running the risk of him hanging out with wannabe gang bangers and becoming one of those fake Bloods…Big Uncle R.E. went to see Lottery Ticket.
The second movie I saw this last weekend was the third movie in the Twilight Saga: Eclipse. And Block readers should already know, after seeing the first two Twilight flicks, I’m pretty much a Twilight stan, and I really don’t care what anyone thinks of that. I’ve been waiting on this movie more than anything else this summer. Twilight over everything…
I saw a couple movies this past 4th of July weekend, and I’m just now getting a chance to write movie reviews for them. The first movie I saw was Grown Ups, a comedy starring Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade and Rob Schneider. And to be honest, I’m still trying to figure out why the hell I went to see this movie. I think they got me with the previews…
I haven’t reviewed an album on The Block in quite some time, but since Drake’s highly anticipated So Far Gone leaked on the net a couple days ago and has been all the buzz on online communities, I guess now is as good a time as any to review a new album. So, here goes…
I’m not sure if you guys heard, or if you even care, but Wayne’s endlessly pushed back rock album Rebirth leaked to the internet yesterday. From what I heard, Rebirth was accidentally leaked by Amazon.com before it was schedule to come out. What had happened was the online retail company mailed 500 copies of Rebirth to some folks that had preordered the album. Which probably was a miscommunication between Wayne’s Universal label and Amazon. His album was pushed back more than Plies’ hairline, so I guess the release date got mixed up. I mean, like Young Buck said, “sometimes a n*gga gets confused.”
But since the Rebirth album leaked, I went ahead and listened to it. It seemed like a lot of people weren’t fans of this whole Lil Wayne rock album idea, but I was always like, hey, good or bad, it’s just music, it can’t hurt anyone. But after listening to this ish, I was wrong…it does hurt. My head if nothing else.
From opening to ending, Rebirth pretty much sounds like a bunch of noise. As if Wayne went in the studio, picked a bunch of rock beats, picked up his guitar and started making a bunch of bullsh!t (wait, that’s really what happened, didn’t it?). I’m not going to sit here and completely defecate on Weezy’s rock endeavors. You have to applaud the man for being confident in his abilities and taking a chance in trying something different. But look, Wayne, this ish sounds bad, man.
But for what it’s worth, I always thought the album’s first single “Prom Queen” was decent. And the collaboration with Eminem that leaked earlier this week is on there, and it’s pretty cool. There might be one or two more songs that you can stomach, but besides that, maaaaaan, this sh!t is wiggity, wiggity, wiggitty wack!
You Weezy stans can try to defend this project all you want, but c’mon, son. You know this is some bullsh!t son. I really see why this album has been pushed back so many times. But judging from the sound of it, you really can’t save this album, useless Wayne just start completely the fux over. At this point, I say just put the fuxing album out (no Rock City), don’t even waste time and money promoting it, and just act like that ish never happened. Just move on Wayne. Drop The Carter IV, and everyone will forgive you.
One the bright side, Young Money’s We Are Young Money leaked too, and it’s not nearly as bad as Rebirth. But to give Rebirth a rating, I’ll have to say, it’s 2 chicken sandwiches on an album (and I’ll throw in some fries, just cause its Wayne).
Rating:
After the jump, I posted the “Prom Queen” video. And if you wanna erase the thought of Rebirth all together, Young Money was on the Monique show last night, and they performed “Bedrock” and that video is below, too.
I really don’t know any other way to say this, so I’m just gonna come right out with it…this album sucks. Of course that’s just my opinion, but Relapse leaked to the internet last Thursday, I’ve given it about 3 or 4 listens since then, and I don’t like anyone of the songs None. My issues with the album are: 1) Eminem is rapping about some bullsh!t. 2) These have got to be the worst Dr. Dre beats I’ve ever heard. 3) Em does that freaking high-pitched Slim Slady voice throughout the entire album, and it gets on my damn nerves.
I was having this debate with my homeboy earlier today, and he thinks the album is great. Yeah, Em is a great rapper, I’ll give him that. But the subject matter and concepts on Relapse suck balls. You guys just have to hear it to understand. I can’t really speak about the high points on the album cause I don’t think there are any. But I will speak on the track called “Insane.” The songs starts: “I was born with a d*ck in my brain, yeah, f*cked in the head/My step father said that I sucked in the bed/Til one night he snuck and he said/I want my d*ck sucked, we’re going out back in the shed.” *Blank stare. Confused looked. Baffled. Dumbfounded. Speechless. Pause. Long pause.*
I refuse to go any deeper into that song, but that’s pretty much the theme for the track, and I have to take off a whole chicken sandwich just a gay line like that. Anyways, I could be wrong here (but I’m usually not), Relapse could be a masterpiece. “Maybe I’m buggin’ out, maybe I’m on a spaceship,” (c) Joe Budden. But I seriously doubt that.
Actually, it would be nice if you all left your thoughts about the Em album in the comment section. Lets discuss this. In my opinion, this has got to be the worst album I’m heard since Rocko dropped his debut album. But what do I know. What do you all think?
Fav Songs: N/A
Rating:
Asher Roth’s debut album drops today, so I hope people will go out and cop this, sit back and smoke to it today. I’ve been riding to this Asher Roth album for about a week or so, but I’m gonna go pick it up a physical copy a little later today, just to support good hip-hop. I’m really diggin’ the album, and I’m not going to go into a long review about, because I don’t think people really read anymore and you guys can just listen to the album yourself and give your own take on it. But yeah, I fuxs with it.
Fav Songs: “I Love College,” “La Di Da,” “As I Em,” “Fallin’”
Rating:
A. Roth’s ThisIs50.com interview is after the jump.
Update: I was going back and forth about giving this album a 3.5 or a 4, at first I said 4, then I said 3.5. At first I put 4 chicken sandwiches up on The Block, but I’m gonna go with 3.5 chicken sandwiches. The album is still dope but he needed a couple more bangers on here, instead of the more commercial stuff. The commercial stuff of course was to appeal to a particular MTV audience but I would have liked to hear a couple more edgier tracks produced by Don Cannon.
Bonus Track: Asher Roth ft. Slick Rick (UK Bonus track) props to HIF.
It’s been awhile since I have live blogged an album review. But since Deeper Than Rap is probably the most anticipated album so far this year, I thought I’d stay up and give you guys a track by track review as I listen to the album for the first time. I don’t really fux with Rawse like that anymore, but I’m still expecting this album to be pretty damn good. So, without further ado, here it goes. My live blogging review of Rick Ross’ new album Deeper Than Rap.
I actually listened to Flo Rida’s album today. Not because I wanted to, but because I thought I might as well review it for Ozone. Maaaaaaaaaan, that sh!t is gay. I really don’t know how else to explain it. Ya’ll just gotta listen to it for yourself. Either that or take my word for it.
I posted one of his songs after the jump. I’m not sure if it’s on the album, but it doesn’t matter. All of his songs pretty much sound alike.
I just got back from a private listening party for Asher Roth’s debut album Asleep In The Bread Aisle. Actually, I’m kinda tired, plus I had a few dranks, so I’m a little tipsy, but I wanted to get this up before I lay me down to sleep. First off, I want to let it be known that I was one of the first bloggers to give Asher Roth some shine. My first blog about him was back in May 2008…well the homie Sohh Gyant did put me on first, but I in turn put the homie eskay on, so that’s pretty much how the blogger network works. Not to mention I was one of the first journalist to interview him for a national publication when I interviewed him for OZONE, so I think I played my part in introducing Asher to the public (ok, enough patting myself on the back for now).
Almost a year later, with Asher Roth’s debut album only a few weeks away from dropping, his label gave a few peeps in the A a chance to hear the album before it comes out. See what labels do is get you out to these events, give you some free food and drinks, and by the time you’re liquored up, everything on the album sounds good. It’s kinda like when you wine & dine a chick, it lowers her inhibitions, and you have a better chance of hittin’ it at the end of the night…yeah, it’s pretty much the same concept.
Anyways, I had already heard from various sites that A. Roth’s album was pretty good, so I was really interested in hearing it. Asher wasn’t there himself, but his manager Scott Braun was there, and he was cool as fux (the homie Kenny Hamilton, who’s Asher’s road manager, if I’m not mistaken, was in attendance too), and they made sure we had a good time and really got an understanding of the production process for the album.
And I must admit, Asher Roth’s album is ill. I know people always want to compare him to Eminem, but not one song on the album gave you anything close to a Slim Shady feel (expect maybe one track but I can’t remember the name of it). The production on the album, which was handled mostly by Oren Yoel, is quite impressive. I know what I’m gonna say might sound strange, but Sleep In The Bread Aisle is hella soulful (sounds crazy for a white boy, I know). A lot of the beats on there are full of live bass and instrumentation, so it gives the album a real fresh feeling that’s complimented by Asher slick wordplay. Not to mention Cee-Lo (“Be By Myself”), Keri Hilson (“She Don’t Want a Man”) and Jazze Pha (“Bad Day”) are all on the project, so that helps put some southern swag into Asher’s college boy strut. And there’s a track called “His Dream” that has this new cat from LA named Miguel, and he’s blowing on the hook (*pause just in case*).
“Lion’s Roar” with Busta Rhymes and “La Di Da” produced by Don Cannon (which may be the next single) were bangers too. I didn’t even mention “I Love College,” which has singlehandedly made me miss my undergrad years, or “Lark On a Go Kart” which makes me wanna pick up a chick at a college party, bring her home, and take advantage of her. Plus, the bonus tracks have guest appearances from Beanie Sigel and Slick Rick, that were just stoopid.
I mean, I was eating and drinking while listening to it, but I don’t remember hearing anything that was straight up just wack, so based off what I heard tonight, I must say that Asher Roth has a solid debut album on his hands. Personally, when the album drops on April 20th, (which is national smokers day or something), I’m gonna go pick it up. That’s the least I can do, since they hooked me up with some good food tonight. But no seriously, the album is dope, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being one of the best albums of 2009, and one of the better debut albums to have dropped over the last few years.
Once again, Asher Roth’s debut album Asleep In The Bread Aisle will be in stores and online on April 20th, and I encourage you all to go out and get that.
*R.E. exits The Block and returns to bumpin’ “I Love College.” Oh, the “I Love College (Remix)” is coming soon, too.*
