4.0 out of 5
Rhymesayers Entertainment
Rhymesayers Entertainment
Freeway's aesthetics are endearing: the gruff, Sunni-living, underdog rapper from the Philadelphia neighborhoods they set crime dramas in. He's been betrayed by his loyalty, left without a home. His bravado and throwback muscle, V8-style of rapping is instantly appealing and seldom dynamic. He goes hard. He spent December of 2008 releasing a song a day, a gesture specifically to hold down the proverbial streets. He's for the people.
Rhymesayers, the Minnesota-based independent label most known for spawning interest in emo rap acts like Atmosphere, understood this appeal and gave Free a good home. They built him an audience, matched him with an in-house producer best at channeling the signature Freeway snarl. They revitalized Freeway's pull by appealing to aforementioned aesthetics, packaging comeback LP, The Stimulus Package, like a collector's item, and letting their new starter bring back that '98 sound.
The Stimulus Package is the best hip-hop release of 2010.
Free will never be the wordy intellectual new labelmates like Blueprint or the dudes in Grayskul are, but his heart bleeds through every take. It's a spirit that allows for simple lyrics that only rhyme because their phrasing ends with the same words to resonate, shine:
"I'm on my 'hood shit, that bullshit."
"I'm on my Pac shit, that glock shit."
Again, it's Free's style that allows us to care about a song called "Microphone Killa." Rapping about rapping hasn't felt this on in a minute.
Jake One's standard soul bangers are in full effect, and while they lack the brimstone of a period wherein Freezer could count on consistent sonic booms from Just Blaze and Kanye West, they provide a calculated, satisfying attempt at recreating Freeway's natural environment: thumping soul, subtle bells and piano lines, big drums.
There's a few missteps, namely the snoozer with Birdman, "Follow My Moves," wherein Jake's template is a cheeky Cash Money circa 2000 tribute beat made sans required understanding of era, but the feel-good guest list makes up for occasional throwaway boasts like, "I am Puff Daddy bad." Beanie Sigel does the intro, Young Chris is refreshing, Bun B is reliably smooth, Raekwon's spot nets a premier song, "One Thing," a kiss off to informants, snitches, fakers.
Let's see, other standouts: "She Makes Me Feel Alright" is the 'hood love ode to the lady that helps you move weight during recessions, "Throw Your Hands Up" is the bombast siren that self-references title of album repeatedly in its hook, "Stimulus Outro" closes the record by detailing the manifesto and sweetly answering fan mail, "One Foot In" bangs the hardest.
Make no mistake, Freeway is a smart guy, but he doesn't over think great rap.
- Ramon Ramirez
Rhymesayers, the Minnesota-based independent label most known for spawning interest in emo rap acts like Atmosphere, understood this appeal and gave Free a good home. They built him an audience, matched him with an in-house producer best at channeling the signature Freeway snarl. They revitalized Freeway's pull by appealing to aforementioned aesthetics, packaging comeback LP, The Stimulus Package, like a collector's item, and letting their new starter bring back that '98 sound.
The Stimulus Package is the best hip-hop release of 2010.
Free will never be the wordy intellectual new labelmates like Blueprint or the dudes in Grayskul are, but his heart bleeds through every take. It's a spirit that allows for simple lyrics that only rhyme because their phrasing ends with the same words to resonate, shine:
"I'm on my 'hood shit, that bullshit."
"I'm on my Pac shit, that glock shit."
Again, it's Free's style that allows us to care about a song called "Microphone Killa." Rapping about rapping hasn't felt this on in a minute.
Jake One's standard soul bangers are in full effect, and while they lack the brimstone of a period wherein Freezer could count on consistent sonic booms from Just Blaze and Kanye West, they provide a calculated, satisfying attempt at recreating Freeway's natural environment: thumping soul, subtle bells and piano lines, big drums.
There's a few missteps, namely the snoozer with Birdman, "Follow My Moves," wherein Jake's template is a cheeky Cash Money circa 2000 tribute beat made sans required understanding of era, but the feel-good guest list makes up for occasional throwaway boasts like, "I am Puff Daddy bad." Beanie Sigel does the intro, Young Chris is refreshing, Bun B is reliably smooth, Raekwon's spot nets a premier song, "One Thing," a kiss off to informants, snitches, fakers.
Let's see, other standouts: "She Makes Me Feel Alright" is the 'hood love ode to the lady that helps you move weight during recessions, "Throw Your Hands Up" is the bombast siren that self-references title of album repeatedly in its hook, "Stimulus Outro" closes the record by detailing the manifesto and sweetly answering fan mail, "One Foot In" bangs the hardest.
Make no mistake, Freeway is a smart guy, but he doesn't over think great rap.
- Ramon Ramirez
Subscribe to 1000G Reviews
Leave a comment