9th Wonder was a big reason for some of Little Brother's haters as such elitists don't see making beats with stupid snare drums on a computer as being "hip-hop". However, 9th has done alot of quality shit over the years outside of LB including work with Jay, Murs, Boot Camp Clik, and many more. This album is a "producer album" which for me, being a beats>rhymes guy, are usually to my liking (i.e Marco Polo and Jazzy Jeff's '07 releases). How would this album stack up?
1. Mr. Dream Merchant Intro
A collage of rappers saying "dream" then a 70's soul type song about a dream merchant.
2. Shots (Feat. Big Dho & Sean Price)
A good opning track about being real and shooting people. The beat is nice and Sean P kinda kills it. Not sure whats up with the female freestyler at the end though.
3. Merchant of Dreams (Feat. The Embassy, Skyzoo, & Torae)
This beat is pretty typical soul-sampling 9th and the song is about nothing in particular. Skyzoo, a pretty dope BK MC who made a lack-luster album with 9th last year, comes with the best flow.
4. Brooklyn On My Mind (Feat. Mos Def, Jean Grae, & Memphis Bleek)
This came out like a year ago as "Crooklyn Dodgers 3" which I guessed those involved realized was sort of a joke. The beat is good but none of the verses were stellar. It is good to hear Mos Def rap anyway.
5. Sunday (Feat. Keisha Shontelle & Chaundon)
Just sort of a feel good track with some high pitched R&B girl. Chaundon raps for a little but nothing special here.
6. Baking Soda (Feat. Big Treal)
This is a pretty hard 9th Wonder beat but its ruined by an almost comically generic Southern rapper.
7. Reminisce (Take Time) (Feat. Big Remo & The Great Novej)
An okay track about losing homies and pouring out liquor and stuff like that. If I hadn't heard this sample used multiple times before I might've felt this one.
8. No Time To Chill (Feat. Little Brother)
9th brings back the old crew for the shittiest song yet. Actaully, Phonte, in one of his two bad verses, says "Khrysis on the boards" so I assume 9th didn't even do this. However, Khrysis (or whoever's) beat is terrible, and the rapping, especially Pooh's, may be even worse.
9. It Ain't Over (Feat. Jozeemo & Tyler Woods)
Jozeemo (who sounds less like Sha on this one) and Tyler Woods (?) rhyme about defying odds I guess. The beat is ok but if I'm not mistaken this sample was flipped on a One Be Lo track (by Majestik Legend if my iTunes is right). 9th gettin' lazy on us?
10. The Last Time (The D, The Chi, The Lou) (Feat. Royce Da 5'9", Naledge, & Vandalyzm)
I had heard this a while ago and while it's still a bit of a mess, its much less so than I remember it being. Royce Da 5'9"'s verse is very mediocre but Naledge (of Kidz In The Hall) killed it. Not a bad track at all.
11. Saved (Feat. Saigon & Joe Scudda)
Saigon, my favorite rapper in 2007, and Joe Scudda rap about how they have to be saved because life sucks. The beat on this is so boring its almost impossible to really get into this.
12. Milky Lowa (Camp Lo)
9th brings some heat on this as Suede and Cheeba rhyme about cereal and chincillas without losing any swagger.
13. Backlash (Feat. Sean Boog & Buckshot)
Basically a song about coming up in the game. Sean Boog and Buckshot don't come with anything special and the beat is ok.
14. Thank You (Feat. D.O.X. & O-Dash)
Yet another 'look at me now' type song although I guess this one is supposed to be thanking all the people that helped D.O.X. and O-Dash (easily the worst of the two) become nobody mixtape rappers.
15. Let It Bang (Feat. Ness & Skyzoo)
I would normally say that a song called "Let It Bang" should have a better beat but then there was that Papoose song and this might be better than that Scorch beat. Anyway, Skyzoo is less impressive on this than that other track and Ness brought some personality and one-liners but his flow is pretty elementary. A decent song overall.
16. What Makes a Man (Feat. Big Pohh & Buddy Klein)
I'm not sure what exactly makes a man, but Big Pooh and a poor man's Young Buck sure do make a lousy rap song.
17. Special (Remix) (Feat. Strange Fruit Project & Median)
A remix to a track on the SFP album, "The Healing". This is worse than the original though the addition of Median, an acclimed lyricist (but otherwise boring rapper) is good.
18. You Wanna (feat. NBS)
I'm sure a better instrumental would've matched the energy of this song better but its a solid track regardless. NBS, who I've never heard of, sound like they've got some potential.
Overall:
This was right about what I expected from the tracklisting: some soulful beats for a mix of good and bad MCs. It started off strong but for the most part sounded like a bad, Justus League, weed-carrier mixtape.
Best Tracks:
"Shots", "The Milky Lowa"
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