Scarface - Balls & My Word
Reviewed By: ULTIMATECDLINK
Album Rate: 4.25 out of 5 Stars
J. Prince reaches deep into the vaults of Rap-A-Lot Records to bring us the latest effort from rap legend Scarface. The album features Z-Ro, Bun B of UGK, Devin the Dude, Tela, Dirt Bomb, & more.
1. Balls & My Word-- intro sampling Al Pacino's line from the movie "Scarface"
2. Recognize-- this track has a tight laid back, funky beat. Scarface does a really job on the mic rapping bout the don of the hood and being loyal to J. Prince. Great track that ranks up there as one of the all time best from Face.
3. On My Grind (f/ Z-Ro)-- this track has a midtempo piano laced beat. Face tells us about his life growin up in the hood as a drug dealer. Z-Ro lends his vocals for the hook instead of droppin a verse. Scarface has always been great at painting a picture with his words and this time is no different.
4. Bitch Nigga (f/ Z-Ro, Bun B, & Dirt Bomb)-- the controversial and much hyped 50 Cent diss track by Scarface turned out to be just that--hype. In this song about snitches, Scarface never calls 50 Cent out by name leading many to believe to it was an old verse added to make it sound as if 50 was the target. Even the verse by Z-Ro was changed from the radio version so that 50's name no longer resonated from his mouth. It's a decent track but makes many wonder why the changes were made considering the 50 Cent disses were already playing nationwide on the radio.
5. Stuck At The Standstill-- this track has a simple midtempo beat. Scarface tells us about the up and downs that come with being a force in the music business and how the rules of the streets no longer seem to apply.
6. Strapped (skit)
7. Only Your Mother (f/ Devin & Tela)-- this track has a old school West Coast feel on the beat. Scarface starts it off with a nice verse. Devin is up next and he sounds young as hell leading me to believe that this one sat in the Rap-A-Lot vaults for a while. Tela holds it down to finish the track out. It's a smooth song that one of the best on the album.
8. Make Your Peace-- this track has a slower beat that puts you in a somber mood. Face tells us the story of making peace in the streets because once the gun goes off, you can't go back. Powerful stuff that can't be told by anyone other than Face.
9. Spend The Night (f/ Aries)-- this track has a funky bass guitar beat over a bassline. Scarface sounds pretty young on this one so it's probably one of his older tracks and raps as though he's tip-toeing through the verses. It's not one of the better songs Face has done but still bumpable.
10. Mary II-- at first glance, I thought this would be the remix to Scarface's classic "Mary" using the same beat with different verses. But Face comes with some laid back beats that make you feel like you're in a cult. The content of the lyrics are the same though--the ode to that sticky green aka Mary Jane.
11. Dirty Money (f/ Tanya Herron)-- this track has a really tight guitar laced beat. Tanya lends her vocal cords for the hook. Face comes correct on this one and shows why he's considered one of the greatest Southern lyricists.
12. Fuck'N With Face-- this track has a west coast type beat that kinda reminds me of KnocTurn'al's "Knoc" single. The track title tells you all you need to know about it. Face spews his fury and warns those who might think about fuckin with him.
13. Invincible-- this track has one of the worst beats I've ever heard Face spit on. The even worse chorus sinks this song so fast that even Scarface couldn't save it.
14. Real Nigga Blues (f/ Lil Papa Roach)-- this track has a midtempo beat with a military drumbeat bassline over which Lil Papa Roach tells us his version of "the blues". It's done in a style similar to Def Poetry Jam instead of rappin. Face isn't even on this one so looks like J. Prince is trying to give some shine to his up-and-coming artists.
Overall, the production by Mike Dean, N.O. Joe, & Sam Sneed is decent for the most part. The album doesn't live up to "The Fix" but then again, that album is damn near classic so not many albums will. Scarface fans will enjoy this album even though the verses have that retro feel at times. It's still worth checkin out til Face gives us another album with more recent material.
Scarface - Balls & My Word