J-Ro Ika Bod - People Person
Reviewed By: ULTIMATECDLINK
Album Rate: 4.25 out of 5 Stars
Southmade Records outta Dallas, TX drops the debut album of J-Ro Ika Bod. After being featured on the debut CD by Throwed Off, J-Ro brings his talents to the table and is joined by T-Bo, Currensy, South Coast Coalition, Lil Witness, Mr. D, 3AD, Lemo, Mookie, & more.
1. Intro (f/ Lemo)-- this track has a nice mid tempo beat. The track title is a little misleading because it's more than an intro. J-Ro actually spits a few bars to start the album off with and give you a sign of what's to come.
2. It's J-Ro-- this track has a bit of a gangsta symphony sound on the beats. J-Ro comes correct on the mic with verses about how he's livin life. The hook is catchy and will have you singin along to it by the end. Nice track.
3. Family Thang (f/ 3AD & Mr. D)-- this track has a nice mixture of pianos and basslines. J-Ro shows love for the label, Southmade Records, on this one. Labelmate 3AD comes tight as well with a gruffy rap style that's reminiscent of David Banner. Mr. D also drops a nice verse to end the track. J-Ro drops a catchy hook and overall, it's a really tight song.
4. What's Going On (f/ Lemo)-- this track has a mid tempo symphony type beat. J-Ro comes to the mic with verses about the real world issues from race to kids fucked up on drugs to attacks on the USA on 9-11. It's a real deep track that you can bump over and over.
5. Fire-- the beat on this one can just be described as straight dirty south. J-Ro raps with a nice tempo with lyrics bout how he came up in the rap game. Nice beats and nice rappin on this one. You'll definitely be hittin replay on the CD player on this one.
6. Plano-- this track has a simple beat that's really not that tight. J-Ro plays on the name "Plano" using it instead to describe "plain old" things. He comes with some funny and catchy phases in the track. It's a decent track.
7. People Person-- this track has a feel of something that Eminem & D-12 would spit over. J-Ro spits some clever lyrics on the track in an Em-like manner. It's a really nice track that's definitely bumpable.
8. Shit Talkers (f/ 3AD & Mr. D)-- this track has a nice laid back beat over a bassline. J-Ro raps about showcasing his skills on the mic and tells all the shit talkers out there to shove it. 3AD shines again on his bars while dropping the clever line "I ain't Ron or Michael Watts but I chop and screw". Tight track.
9. South Shit-- this track has a darker midtempo beat of pianos and basslines. J-Ro comes correct on this one about gettin it crunk up in the clubs although the tone of the track isn't really comparible to your typical booty shakin song because of it's dark nature. Still a really tight track.
10. Hold Me Down (f/ Lemo)-- this track has a slower feel on the beats. J-Ro talks about how nobody going to bring him down and some deeper personal stuff that's in his past but causing him pain in the present. J-Ro also addresses Pres. Bush and the terroists on the song. Nice song that's worth checkin out.
11. How The Game Goes (f/ T-Bo, S.C.C., Currensy, Mr. D, & Mookie)-- this track has a bit of a uptempo feel on the beats. T-Bo starts it off with his patented firecracker style. Pretty much everyone comes really tight on the mic. Currensy The Hott Spitta drops a nice verse with his lazy flow. There's a couple of "Free C-Murder" references on here as well as a reference to the 504 Boyz "Tight Whips". Overall, a really bumpin track.
12. The Drug Song-- this track has a mid tempo beat with the snares snappin on the bassline. The title tells you all you need to know about the song. It's a decent song.
13. Thang Called Love-- this track has a laid back bass guitar beat over a bassline. J-Ro raps about how basically loves the pussy but he ain't trying to get mixed up in this relationship thang cause bitches wanna spend all his money. It's an all right track that a lot of guys are gonna relate to.
14. The Mall (skit)
15. Fifteen-- this track has a laid back beat with horns mixed in. J-Ro raps about he fucks this chick who lied about her age and she turned out to be 15 y/o. The girl turns out to be his downfall because now the girl's mother is trying to get him prosecuted. Funny track--Can anyone relate to this one?
16. P.D.-- this track has a mob style midtempo beat over a bassline. J-Ro raps about how he's gonna fuck up the cops who are basically bullies with badges. Decent track that I'm sure you'll relate to if you've ever been harassed by the cops.
17. It's Not Me-- this track has a simple beat that consists of a snappin bassline. J-Ro comes correct on the mic with his rhymes about his split personalities. Really catchy track with a nice tempo to it.
18. Spring Break-- this track has a nice midtempo beat that'll have ya head bobbin along to it. J-Ro spits about all the sins that come along with Spring Break-- gettin laid, weed, tits, getting wasted, Girls Gone Wild, etc. Catchy track.
19. Who Can You Trust-- this track has a slower piano laced beat. J-Ro takes time out on this track to address political issues and asks the question 'who can we trust in these times'. The corruption of the government is also a topic addressed by J-Ro. It's a decent track that's definitely making a political statement.
20. Family Thang: BR Remix (f/ S.C.C., Lil Witness, & Mr. D)-- this track is a remix to Track #3 and even uses the same beat and hook. The additional vocals by South Coast Coalition makes this version even tighter than the original. This is a great track to end the album off with--they saved the best for last.
21. (Hidden track)-- there is a hidden track after the end of track 20 where J-Ro lays into Nelly, Ja Rule & Murder Inc, & Cash Money Records with a lot of disses. J-Ro basically talks about how it's a win-win situation for him because if any of the rappers respond, then he gets the free publicity. It's worth listening to just because so many rap fans these days feel the same way about these rappers as J-Ro does.
Overall, the production on the album is a lot better than the first release on Southmade, Throwed Off "Game Rearranged". Tomi Gran, Brian Prier, & Chaotic "K.O." came with tight beats for the majority of the album. J-Ro gives you lyrically what most rappers won't touch--rhymes about political and world issues that dominate television and print news headlines across the country. It's a solid debut for an artist (and record label) that bucks the bling-bling trend so popular in hip hop today.
J-Ro Ika Bod - People Person