cdreviews
JUVENILE REALITY CHECK UTP/Atlantic
SCARFACE MY HOMIES PT. 2 Rap-A-Lot
BUBBA SPARXXX THE CHARM Purple Ribbon/Virgin
When Juvenile hit the mainstream with his instantclassic 400 Degreez in 1998 he set the stage for critics and fans to expect nothing but straight heat for the rest of his career. Even though his next three albums were solid efforts, they lacked the power punches their predecessor. But now with a forced fresh start and new recording environment, Reality Check shows has New Orleans’ finest coming out swinging like a veteran fighter with something to prove.
Making a sequel is always a risk. It has to be just as good as its predecessor to justify its existence and it has to be twice as good to be respected. And with its precursor being heralded as somewhat of a classic, My Homies Part 2 has pretty big shoes to fill.
They say the third time is the charm, and Bubba Sparxxx’s latest offering, The Charm, keeps that phrase in good standing. The album opens with “Represent,” a dry-drummed track that plays as the perfect compliment to Bubba’s beat-for-beat flow patterns. While the hook sings: “It’s your turn, you’re supposed to represent,” he makes sure that that is not the only song he does it on, even if someone else is on the song.
The album opens with the Hurricane Katrina aftermath inspired “Get Ya Hustle On” where he spits that now infamous line: “Everybody need a check from FEMA so he can go and score some cocaiena.” From that point Juve uses his energy to create great music, rather than harp on the obvious despair of his hometown. “Sets Go Up” has Juve and Wacko doing what they do best, making grown man gangsta shit with undeniable hooks. He stays in that mode on “Rock Like That” with Bun B and the Scott Storch-produced “Why Not” where he revisits his trademarked ‘Nolia Boy flow pattern (think the chorus of “Ha”). However, Juve makes some instant vintage with “What’s Happenin” when he flawlessly borrows Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s cadence from “Posse On Broadway.” Juve also satisfies his bounce music and strip club devotees with playa shit like “Loose Booty” featuring Skip and a seemingly rejuvenated 8Ball. Then he gets on some straight Uptown shit with “Holla Back,” giving the P-poppers a new anthem to move to. Not known to take too many risks, the former Hot Boy cools down and makes some R&B flavored cuts as well. “I Know You Know” with Trey Songz has Juve pleading to his significant other that he’s being faithful without being too whiny. On the other hand he warns ladies about falling in lust on the Brian McKnight-produced and assisted “Addicted.” He takes another step out of his comfort zone by allowing more high-profile guest appearances. “Pop U” features Fat Joe and an always engaging Ludacris, but it’s the N.O.-meets-Houston heater “Way I Be Leaning” featuring Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Wacko and Skip that proves to be the highest-point of the album.
Things start off with a bang on “Definition of Real,” where Scarface, Z-Ro and Ice Cube all do a good job of proving why their faces should be next the word in the dictionary. Another banger comes courtesy of “Never Snitch” with ‘Face, Beanie Sigel and The Game letting it be known that they will never talk to cops and don’t mind regulating those who do. As hard as that track is, the strongest song on the album is also the most vulnerable. Z-Ro’s “Man Cry,” a remake of ‘Face’s “I Seen A Man Die,” has the always introspective and lonesome Z-Ro playing the role of the man wasn’t “at peace with God” and needing “to patch it up.” Unfortunately, the highlights are few and far between after that point. “Gotta Get Paid” is vintage ‘Face story telling over slow-rolling Tone Capone production and “Street Lights” featuring Yung Redd and Lil Ron is a traditional Rap-A-Lot cut, but both get lost in the mediocrity that make up the rest of the album. “We Out Here” with Skip and the Ghetto Slaves borrows from some fairly recent Swishahouse production and has a usually entertaining Skip scraping by with a reworked version of his verse from “Nolia Clap.” “Platinum Starz” by Lil’ Flip, Chamillionare & Bun B has dust from 2003 all over it while tracks like “Always” and “Club Bangaz” do little to stand out. The only songs that may catch your attention towards the end of the album are the Geto Boys helmed “My Life” and “Southern Nigga” featuring 8Ball & MJG, Lil’ Keke, Slim Thug, Mr. Lee, Rell and E-Rock.
On what may easily be the album’s best cut Bubba conjures some authentic Dungeon Family magic with Sleepy Brown on “That Man,” where Bubba’s protégé Duddy Ken actually gives his mentor a run for his money. Sparxxx gives another standout effort on “The Other Side” featuring Petey Pablo on the hook, giving listeners an easy-to-consume blend of braggadocio and club talk. Bubba also showcases his introspective skills on the thought-provoking “Ain’t Life Grand” featuring his Purple Ribbon labelmate Scar. He continues in that trend on the soft-guitar laden “Run Away” with pop crooner Frankie J, which has TRL written all over it. Mainstream audiences will also flock to the Mr. Collipark-produced “Ms New Booty” featuring the Ying Yang Twins and the sing-songy “Wonderful.” The only drawback to this solid CD are a couple lapses of reincarnated beats. Bubba reunites with Timbaland for “Hey” which sounds like the skeleton for Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” and on “Gotta Girl” he spits over the beat from TCP’s 2001 single of the same name.
Juve ends with the eerie testimonial “Say It To Me Now” where he answers every question about his career and relationships with one breath. Hands down, this is his strongest effort since 400 Degreez.
While My Homies Part 2 has some pretty decent cuts, it ultimately suffers the same fate as most sequels: It’s not as good as the first one.
Never at a loss of words, and hardly ashamed of his brashness, Bubba deviates from the guitar twang and harmonica formulas of his last two offerings to recreate and reintroduce himself to people who may have counted him out.
- Maurice G. Garland
- Maurice G. Garland
- Maurice G. Garland
104 OZONE