Young Jeezy is hardly breaking new ground in rapping endlessly about the similarities between the trap game and the rap game. He joins a distinguished line of former 'caine slangers turned MC--Scarface, Jay-Z, the Clipse, ... more »Biggie, etc. However, despite the familiarity of Jeezy's topics, this Atlanta rapper has managed to make a bi-coastal splash through the strength of his mic presence and charisma. As the stand-out member of ATL's Boyz N Tha Hood, Jeezy has distinguished himself against the field of contemporary rappers. More rugged than the Game, though not as charming as Cam'ron, Jeezy's work-horse flow and lyrics are draped into evocative street-level realism. Though the Southern influence is obvious in many of the album's bounce and crunk-influenced beats, he shows an impressive diversity of sound selection including on his current street anthems for this summer like"Trap Star," "My Hood," and the sublimely melancholy "Go Crazy." -- Oliver Wang« less
Young Jeezy is hardly breaking new ground in rapping endlessly about the similarities between the trap game and the rap game. He joins a distinguished line of former 'caine slangers turned MC--Scarface, Jay-Z, the Clipse, Biggie, etc. However, despite the familiarity of Jeezy's topics, this Atlanta rapper has managed to make a bi-coastal splash through the strength of his mic presence and charisma. As the stand-out member of ATL's Boyz N Tha Hood, Jeezy has distinguished himself against the field of contemporary rappers. More rugged than the Game, though not as charming as Cam'ron, Jeezy's work-horse flow and lyrics are draped into evocative street-level realism. Though the Southern influence is obvious in many of the album's bounce and crunk-influenced beats, he shows an impressive diversity of sound selection including on his current street anthems for this summer like"Trap Star," "My Hood," and the sublimely melancholy "Go Crazy." -- Oliver Wang
Trevor Cotton | Penzance, Cornwall, England | 04/19/2006
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I mean seriously Jeezy is a borderline retard, how can someone with such an obvious lack of talent shift millions of albums. It seems all you need in the rap game these days is to either have been shot, or have sold coke and with the right promotion you can become a millionaire. I have heard enough of Jeezy to know that he is s**t, he raps slower than most people speak, his songs all revolve around the fact that he used to sling caine and his rhymes are weak as hell. I'm only 22 but already I sound like an old man, I long for a return to the early to mid nineties, when talent and subject matter actually mattered. A catchy hook by an R&B singer and a club beat combined with earlier said reputation is enough to ensure sales now, a damn shame.
I'll leave you with the words of Jeezy himself, on Sky's The Limit watch how this genius rhymes opportunist with opportunist, and John Madden with John Madden, all in the space of a few bars. Also note the jeah's at the end of nearly every sentence, something MC Eiht was doing about 15 years ago.
I see opportunity, I'm an opportunist
Nigga ya heard what I said, I'm an opportunist (jeah)
Off the hard white and the cream (cream)
All these free agents, ya better build ya team (that's right)
I come and take the game like John Madden (jeah)
Cause I played in the game like John Madden (ay)
Amazing!
"
Over priced frisbee
Constant Elevation | From NY 2 FL | 01/16/2006
(1 out of 5 stars)
"This is not worth the 15 cent raw material cost that the CD was created with. The rhymes & beats are the worst I've heard in a long time. I also hate fake thug images... It's not that you have to be gangsta or thug to be good; it's just that you should be whatever you really are and not put on a studio act. terrible.. The only reason I even owned this is becuase some music club sent it to me automatically.. It really amazes me the crap that some artists try to pass of as "hip hop" and the dumb people who don't know what good rap sounds like.."
It sucks
Real Deal | 01/15/2006
(1 out of 5 stars)
"jeezy is overhyped in the south he gets no love in the north he sucks he can't make a whole verse without a punchline"
THAT'S RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT! One of the best albums of the
Eastside Playa #15 | Stone Mountain, GA | 08/17/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Jeezy has def. delivered on this album. I listened to it the whole way through and my expectations were met and they were good expectations.
1. Thug Motivation 101: Decent track. Not really much to say about it. 7/10
2. Standing Ovation: If Jeezy went to the hood, that's what he'd probably get b/c of his street cred. I don't know one person that doesn't like him, and I know a lot. Good track. 9/10
3. Gangsta Music: If you ask me, the intro was sort of a stab at Coochie, I mean Gucci Mane. OK track. Same old, same old. 7/10
4. Let's Get It/ Sky's The Limit: A good inspirational song, no matter if you trap or if you are a square trying to make it in the corporate world, or in between. 9/10
5. And Then What: This single is still going strong, despite being out for three months or so. Typical Mannie Fresh beat with decent Jeezy lyrics. However the intro is off the chain(It's bout to burn like a bad ass perm, absolute genius by Fresh, Fresh, errrie Fresh.) Still a good song. 8/10
6. Go Crazy........which is exactly what I did when I first heard this joint. Crazy beat with good flow by Jeezy. Single material and by far the best joint on the album. Nothing else to say. The 1'st 10/10 on the album.
7. Last of A Dying Breed: One of the only songs you can skip over and not miss anything special. Jeezy makes a point with the title but could've picked a better beat and someone else to guest on it besides Young Suck. But it still is decent. 7/10
8. My Hood: One of those songs that is so below average that is just grows on you and you all of a sudden like it. A typical beat with a catchy hook and average Jeezy flow. But regardless, you can still ride to it. 8.3/10
9. Bottom of the Map: If you ask me, it's a spinoff of "Do Tha Damn Thang" with F-A-B-O-L-O-U-S. Good flow, good hook that is one of the most repeated ones that I hear in the A, and a decent beat. 8.5/10
10. Get Ya Mind Right: Before "Go Crazy", it was my favorite Jeezy song. Nice flow, crazy beat and catchy hook/intro that gets repeated often. Thumps well in the whip. 10/10
11. Trapstar: Good album cut with a good hook. 8/10
12. Bang: This joint is crazy fi(fire for those of you not from the A). Good hook with some Usher stabs(Peace up, A-Town down; I was saying YEAH before Usher), but it's all A-Town love, especially with T.I. and Scrappy. Should be the 4th single. 9/10
13. Don't Get Caught: The reason that I like this song is b/c it's shows off Jeezy's narrating skills. This happens everyday in the A and everywhere else, so it's "Real Talk". Good song. 8.5/10
14. Soul Survivor: The supposed 2nd single from the album. Great hook by Akon, nice flow from Jeezy and a good beat. Should help sell some more albums. 9/10
15 Trap or Die: Nice song from the mixtape. Slick Pulla verse wasn't on there, but if it was, it would get a 10 out of 10. But it is still a banger down here. Nice verse from Bun B, the rap version of Nate Dogg. 9/10
16. Tear It Up: THE MOST UNDERRATED SONG ON THE ALBUM! It shows us that Jeezy perhaps does like girls, since he never talks about it in depth. Every other line is a memorable snap, good laid-back beat and decent verse from Slick Pulla. But....I must admit....though some may disagree....Lloyd killed it on the hook. He finally doesn't sound like a girl while singing, and compliments the verses good with the words in his hook. And the conversation on the chirp with the female at the beginning is good and original, since I've never heard a conversation on a chirp in a song(correct me if I missed anything). It's my second favorite joint on the album. 3rd 10/10 of the day. Some may disagree, but so what.
17. That's How Ya Feel: I thought that this would be a spinoff to Tear It Up, considering that Jeezy says the same exact thing at the beginning of Tear It Up. I guess not. Just another one of those gangsta joints. Good joint to ride to. 9/10
18. Talk To Em': Nice for Jeezy to express his feelings. Another version of "I Miss My Dawgs" by Lil' Wayne, aka Weezy F. Baby, Please Say The Baby. Anyway, nice sample and good lyrics. 9/10
19. Air Forces: Best beat on the album, with good lyrics and catchy hook. Glad Jeezy put it on the end of "Over Here", which was not on the album but should've been with some more lyrics replaced by Jeezy. Thumps in the trunk and is my 4th Fav. 10/10, no question.
My Favorites, In Order:
Go Crazy
Tear It Up
Get Ya Mind Right
Air Forces
Let's Get/Sky's The Limit
Bang
Soul Survivor
Talk To Em
Standing Ovation
Trap Or Die
Bottom of The Map
That's How Ya Feel
My Hood
And Then What
Don't Get Caught
Trapstar
Thug Motivation 101
Gangsta Music
Last of A Dying Breed
However, there's only one problem that I have with the album. The "thugs" out there that Jeezy is trying to "motivate" may infer that it's still OK to trap(sell drugs for those who don't know), tote guns, smoke weed, get slizzard, mess with hoes and catch who knows what, and etc. That will only get you messed up in the long run. Also, some young kids out there who have no idea what it means to really be in the trap may become fascinated about what they here, and may just simply look at the title of the album and say, "I wanna be a thug!" Some people may not be able to just hear the lyrics and not live out what says............., but I ain't one of them. The album is just something to listen to and I enjoy doing so. Jeezy, hopefully people won't get the wrong message. Stay out of trouble and don't hit the sophomore pop jinx like 50 Cent did.(G-G-G-G UNot!!!!!!!!! By the way, The Massacre sucks!)
OVERALL RATING: 8.7/10
P.S. Did I mention that the ad-libs are off the chain. Very Original. And one more thing, to give the people who didn't hear the mixtape Trap or Die a chance to see what they missed, here's one word of advice:
"And don't talk to square niggas, you know, spongebobs/Kayne West niggas,talkin' through the wire dawg."
-Slick Pulla, on the REAL "Trap or Die"(You can find it on the mixtape Trap or Die. I told y'all that Jeezy and the powers that be should've kept him on the joint. He straight snapped on that didn't he........???????? YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!)
"
THE TRUTH
Devoted | Atlanta, Georgia | 07/28/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I usually burn cds but i spent my money and bought this one. Young Jeezy's album has some prety tight beats produced by Mannie Fresh, Jazze Pha, and Shawty Red- and cool guest apperances by Trick Daddy(on 'Last of A Dying Breed'), Lil Scrappy(on 'Bang'), and T.I.(also on 'Bang'). Everybody loves Jeezy's style- but if u dont, itll problly grow on you, pick it up."
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1
