Memphis Bleek - M.A.D.E.
Reviewed By: NOTORIOUS
Album Rate: 4.0 out of 5 Stars
Memphis Bleek returns with his first full-length
album in three years. After appearing on virtually
all Roc-A-Fella Records artist's records in the off
time, it's Bleek's turn to shine with his latest
release, M.A.D.E.
1. Roc-A-Fella Get Low Respect It - Memphis Bleek
returns and starts thing off with a pretty tight
intro type song. Pretty good flow and beat to
this one.
2. Everything's A Go (f/ Jay-Z) - This track has a
slight hint of "The Real Slim Shady" beat in it.
Pretty upbeat tempo to it. I'm kinda feeling this
one. Hova blesses the track with a short verse
showing he's still down with the R-O-C . . . at
least Bleek.
3. Round Here (f/ Trick Daddy, T.I.) - This is the
first single and what a single it is! This track
is blowing up in the South as well as the East
Coast. Very southern beat on this track. Memphis
Bleek can handle the beat as he kills his verse.
Trick Daddy kills his verse as well. T.I., The
King of the South, ends it off with a great effort
as well. Overall, it's a tight song.
4. Just Blaze, Bleek, & Free (f/ Freeway) - Very
tight beat and song overall. Freeway is the star
on this track. He is very underrated. He has
skills - period. Very good track.
5. We Ballin' (f/ Young Chris, Proof) - Very hood
track reminiscent of some 2Pac beats in his prime.
That's where the comparison ends. Everyone gives a
solid effort but not enough to hang with the beat.
6. Hypnotic (f/ Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z) - Beans starts
this track off with some lyricism. I have always
he's one of the tightest emcees in the game. He
doesn't disappoint on this one. This beat has some
ol' Dr. Dre "Lil' Ghetto Boy" type feel to it.
Bleek kills his verse as well w/ Jay bringing up
the rear with his always expected great verse. He
will definitely be missed. Great track. I hope it
becomes a single.
7. I Wanna Love U (f/ Donell Jones) - I know what
Bleek was going for on this track and can respect
it as well but it just doesn't work. It just
interrupts the flow. I mean, six street tracks and
then this cupcake song. Maybe, I'm just not giving
it a chance but I'm just not feeling this one.
8. War - This is what I'm used to. War - the
title says it all. It can be classified as fight
music. Beat and hook sounds like a Busta Rhymes
song. Pretty good song.
9. My Life (f/ Latif) - This track is tight. I love
all the tracks that show true lyricism. They are
usually the slow beat tracks and this is one of
them. Mem Bleek kills the track. Not much else I
need to say about it.
10. Need Me In Your Life (f/ Nate Dogg) - You know
you've made it as a rapper when you get Nate Dogg
to sing a hook on one of your records. Mem
accomplishes this on this record. Song needs to be
listened to a couple times to catch your ear but
when it does, you know it's a hit. Solid effort
from the King of Hooks and Bleek.
11. Murda, Murda (f/ Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel) - OK,
there is only one thing to say about this track -
IT IS TIGHT AS HELL! Beat is ridiculous! Jay rips
his verse. I am sure he wishes this track was on
The Black Album. Murda Murda/Marcyville/My nigga,
you heard we clap ya/ we certainly will/ south
philly motherfuckers kill at will/ We'll put the
mac milli in you . . . Jay kills the hook.
12. Hell No - Two street bangers in a row! This
track is blazing! Memphis Bleek shows the skills
on this track. Great effort.
13. Hood Muzik (f/ M.O.P.) - One of my favorite hip
hop duos, M.O.P., is on this track so I knew it
would rock. The beat on this one is truly hood.
Being the R.O.C.'s newest members, M.O.P., kill the
track just as I expected. Ya'll be on the lookout
for their new one because it is gonna be the shit!
14. Understand Me Still (f/ Rell) - Bleek slows this
one down after 3 straight fire songs. Good change
of pace. I'm really feeling this one. Slow beat,
good track.
15. Do It All Again (f/ Rell, Lil' Cease, Geda K) -
Another slow one. Not as good as the previous
track but still holds its own. Cease drops a
pretty tight verse. Geda K shows potential.
16. 1,2 Y'all (f/ Jay-Z, Lil' Cease, Geda K) - This
track has got an extremely weird beat to it. Not
feeling this track too much. The beat is such
where I couldn't focus on the lyrics and the beat
is annoying the hell out of me.
17. R.O.C. - This beat more than makes up for 1,2
Y'all. Memphis Bleek ends this one on a high note
because this track is rocking! Track has that
street anthem potential to it. Solid effort.
Overall, I was more than impressed with this album.
This album had it all, the club bangers, the
blatant radio songs (not too much of those and
that's a good thing), and the slow, lyrical songs.
That's basically all I need in a hip hop record.
Memphis Bleek comes with it on this album. Always
in the shadow of Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel, Bleek
finally takes a giant step forward with his latest
release, M.A.D.E. Solid beats, solid verses, solid
guest appearances - solid album.
Memphis Bleek - M.A.D.E.