Search - Bow Wow :: Price of Fame (Bonus CD)

The Price of Fame mustn't be too steep.

Pablo | 12/27/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"One-star reviews are something I rarely give out. I don't like reviewing a product if I have nothing remotely positive to remark about it, but I simply feel obligated to on Bow Wow's latest release, Price of Fame. Front and forward, I've gotta comment on the title of this release; Price of Fame. Bow Wow tricks unsuspecting buyers into thinking this could possibly be a mature, and introspective effort from the nineteen year old who dropped the "Lil'" in his name two LP's ago. Bow Wow's at a good age to offer wisdom from a youthful perspective, as Mobb Deep dropped The Infamous at the very same age.. however, while Mobb Deep were dropping knowledge over hardcore hip-hop backdrops aiming for classic status, Bow Wow's dropping club track after club track over poor, and overproduced beats hoping to rake in some cream with an album that, simply put, is well below subpar.



Firstly, Bow Wow's flow is horrendous. His breath control, or lack thereof, is abysmal. The beats he's chosen for his album are commercial rejects; much like everything Bow Wow's mentor, Jermaine Dupree, produces. Bow Wow doesn't even write his only songs, so I'm simply wondering, who the hell is ghostwriting this kid's lyrics, and why on earth does he still have a job? One reviewed quipped that the 'haters' who give this album negative reviews are jealous of Bow Wow's swagger; what swagger? Bow Wow doesn't sound comfortable on the microphone, despite having over half a decade in the game under his belt.



Bow Wow does offer a surpisingly insightful track in Outta My System, but even that one bit of insight can't save this abortion of an album. I didn't come into this release expecting anything more than a more mature, refined Bow Wow, and I came out seeing the same artist, and person he's been for the last six years; there's been no progress, and Bow Wow feels like little more than a persona created by JD, and his horrible entourage of ghostwriters. Even the likes of Nick Cannon could become a respectable artist in the hip-hop community, but Bow Wow isn't dropping any Can I Live?'s on Price of Fame. It's more of the same exact product you've been listening to since Bow Wow was telling you to "Bounce With Me." When Bow Wow says he's going to move all the 'old rappers out of the way' on Don't Know About That, you can't help but laugh at the sheer stupidity of that statement, and cringe at the disrespect. Bow Wow maybe young, but he's more washed-up than legends like KRS-1 or De La Soul, or even mainstream darlings like Snoop and Ice Cube; which is horrible, considering he was far below-average at his peak. If Bow Wow could dramatically, and quite frankly, miracuously, mature between this and his next release, then he maybe able to survive in the game, but if Bow Wow keeps going like this, it's time for this kid to hang up his hoodie."

Average at Best

gillettecourt | 12/22/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was excited for this CD when the single "Shortie Like Mine" was released. However, that's easily the best song on this album, and most of the other material is far below that level of quality. I'm a big fan of Jermaine Dupri's production, but most of the beats here are pedestrian and very similar to one another. The one beat by Nitti and JD, "Don't Know Bout That", is a nice break in the monotony (though not by a whole lot). The lyrics are the typical pop rap stuff...rims, jewelry, girls, etc. I usually don't mind that, but here it just sounds so worn out; there aren't really any clever twists or anything to keep your attention. Basically, you shouldn't pay more than a few bucks for this CD, and I'm being charitable giving this three stars...I'm hoping it'll grow on me a bit more."

Skip the Odds and Ends, Please

Person | across the street | 12/19/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Bow Wow. The last time (I think) I've heard of the dog (ok maybe not) was back around the same time in 2005 when he and Omarion came together and made the hit song "Let Me Hold You". That song was a definite favorite of mine, but that wasd the only song that I liked from his Wanted album. The lackluster "Like You" and the hardcore wanna-be "Fresh Azimiz" were not impressing me enough.



So, why did I buy this album? Three letters, RnB, and the new single right now. "Shortie Like Mine", the current single out right now is pretty good. Bow Wow is a lot like Ja Rule, they sound way better on softer beats and with R&B vocals (Omarion and Chris Brown for Bow Wow) than they do with pure hip-hop ("Fresh Azimiz"). When Bow Wow acts soft he sounds right but when he acts all ghetto it can be a real disaster. Which is similar to my problem with Akon, who is a great singer and terrible rapper.



This is obviously apparent in his latest album, Price of Fame. Now, I'm not saying all of the R&B tracks are good and the rap is all bad, but it's an obvious distant ratio. He can rap but usually his lyrics are lame and/or the production is terrible (So So Def and Dupri anyone?). For example, "Price of Fame" is suprisingly not a bad song, the production is really hardcore, bassy, and full. However, the song is pulled down by lyrics. Like I said, anyone looking at this album's page knows that this album before purchasing is not going to be a lyrical masterpiece, and if you do you need to look elsewhere, like the new Nas album (which is killer, by the way). But what I'm hoping for were some "tolerable lyrics", not "a relationship, a couple rumors get past me". Obviously this has to do with Ciara. But...rumors? The only rumor I've heard about Bow Wow is that he's only 18 and that he's not really from Atlanta which he claims why too many times.



But there are some the completely bad tracks. "4 Corners" is completely wack, just like its production, with annoying repetitive horns which are, yes, as bad as "Get Right" by J. Lo or "London Bridge" by Fergie. That is one of only issues I have with this song. Next, lyrics, totally ordinary and expected of a terrible title like 4 Corners (what drug was used when he wrote this?). Now he's from Texas and drinking crunk juice all day. It's bad enough he's rapping but worse when he continually makes up places he "wants" to be from. "How You Move It" has been done way, way too many times and better and sounds like another "Fresh Azimiz"."Don't Know Bout That" has a really good production; unfortunately it is destroyed with Bow Wow's lyrics like "Takin all of Usher's money. Being broke, yeah well I don't know bout that". (was that an Usher beef?) "Damn Thing" is not even tolerable ("Oh I think I like that" on every verse?) while "On Fiya" is as wack as its purposely misspelled title. "Bet That" talks about how much money he has, while "Give It to Me" is about, well, clubing basically. Yawn.



But, now the cream of the crop, the R&B, which starts with "Outta My System", which as a good set tone on production and is deemed best song on the album. It has a good 90s sound to it like it came from an old Notorious B.I.G. album, and really does sound a bit like his hit "Hypnotize".Bow Wow pulls this off grand, although definitely looking at corporate lyrics Bow Wow shows the best here.And again, "Shortie Like Mine" is a good song, especially Chris Brown's addition.



One standout track is "Tell Me" which is a dance song. I couldn't care about Bow Wow's weak lyrics at that point, the beat of that song was an instant hit.



Bow Wow's new album The Price of Fame would likely not be worth a purchase for those looking for a good, solid hip-hop album. Actually, there are a few good tracks sprinkled into a bunch of hip-hop wanna-bes. Bow Wow is good at attempting different genres like R&B and dance, but unfortunately he seems to not want to do what's best. Maybe a stocking stuffer for the Bow Wow fan, but otherwise download the below. 2 stars.



Track Picks:

"Outta My System"

"Shortie Like Mine"

"Tell Me""