|
Memphis Bleek
'Coming Of Age' "Hmmm... 'Coming Of Age' by Memphis Bleek? Allright let me check this album out, I heard a lot about this guy". That was my first response after AQ handed over a copy of the bio and the above mentioned album we received from Rocafella Records and Def Jam. Now what does that tell you? Rocafella? Couldn't be from any other camp than platinum selling artist JayZ...."Jiggaaa!!!! what's mah mothaphuccin' name? Jiggaaa!!! So who I'm rollin' with huh? mah niggaz!!"  No question, Memphis Bleek is one of the niggaz who is rollin' with the Jiggsta, so when I read in a magazine that he is supposed to be "A new and improved Jay-Z" I had high hopes for his debut release: 'Coming of Age'. When I finally got home after chatting and discussing the current state of HipHop with ART12's AQ , I was looking kinda forward to hear some bumpy street-sounds. Unfortunately I was pretty disappointed to hear an artist with those same played out ghetto-style street-tales, instead of hearing the next level Jay-Z. Ok, so I expected a little bit too much from this 'silver disc of sounds'.But the next day when I listened to Memphis Bleek again I found that I had jumped to conclusions, 'cause this album stings with the realness of street-life like the track 'Stay alive in NYC' perfectly portrays. This album has got some hot material. I was pleased to hear a track I had already heard on DJ Clue's mixtape :'I Won't Stop' cause this song had me chillin' and nodding my head to the beat when I was riding in a car with some friends bouncing to the loud sounds(some tracks do sound hella hot in a car though)! Bleek used to be a street-hustler like so many brothas in the urban ghettos, just trying to make ends meet. So the street tale Memphis tells on 'Regular Cat' is nothing but his life-experience expressed in a song. The layback flow on a narrative tone and the soothing jazzy groove are in perfect harmony. I would say this is one of my favorites on his album, he paints a vivid and clear picture plus you can feel the pain of him growing up in the hood. He puts it real simple:  "Yo I grew up like a regular cat/some nigga hit me wit a signing Shit, yo I'll settle wit dat/Went to my block, got it off and copped metal wit dat/So if a nigga ever frontin, I'ma wet him wit that"Bleek proves that he has got some good chemistry with labelmate Ja Rule on the sure shot Southern riot-starter Murder 4 life, Ja Rule: "Nigga's live with it money,drugs and murda for life/Bitches deal with it, only lovin' them hoes for the night." Another gem on this album is the collaboration with Beanie Siegel, 'My Hood To Your Hood'. Da Rainjahz and Sauce Money also appear as guests on Memphis' album, along with our "whut/whut" superthug Noreaga, the track 'Why You Wanna Hate For' with Nore is one that is sure to get the headz open at your next hiphop jam, like the Freshmode parties and the School Of HardKnocks in Amsterdam. My overall opinion of 'Coming of Age', is that if you're looking for deep lyrics like a Nas or Blackstar or even a Pharao Monch, you're looking at the wrong spot. This album has more than enough joints for the fans of a straight up street-thug style and is less for the party people than Jay-Z. Not a masterpiece or even an elevating piece of HipHop art, but good head-nodding and real street life thug mentality. Go check it out! Jigga's young lion is ready to strike! "Nigga smoother than my shirt/Spit a couple of words, a pound, then he merked/Shit he left skid marks/I let the clip spark/When off in the hood/Played the bench till it's dark" Combo.
|
