Rhymefest - Blue Collar: Album Review
Rhymefest, Blue Collar (Trustfund, 2005 2006)
As I recall, this album was due to be released in late 2005, but I guess there were issues. Now it should be in stores in about two weeks. Was there ever another single released from this, or are they just expecting it to sell on the strength of that amazing video for "Brand New?"
Him and Kanye must not be cool anymore.
DYNOMITE (GOING POSTAL)
Just Blaze did this beat. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot to it, but it bangs anyway. I like it more, in fact, than either of the beats he did on the T.I. album.
GO OUT CLOTHES
The beat on this one sounds suspiciously similar to the beat Timbaland did on that Game album, way back in early '05. He must have cut Rhymefest a discount rate for this reheat.
CHICAGO RILLAS
Just what I wanted to hear this afternoon: a song featuring a weed carrier's weed carriers.
BRAND NEW
The ill-fated single with Kanye. Maybe you saw the video the one time it came on MTV. Interestingly enough, when Rhymefest does this live, he does both his and Kanye's verses by himself.
GET DOWN
I was wondering when someone would come out with a rap song called get down.
FEVA
This is the kind of shit Common would be rapping over today if Erykah Badu hadn't ruined his career. Instead, he's doing all kinds of public service announcements and starting a hat company. What is he trying to tell us?
ALLIDO
Did you know Rhymefest's mother tried to abort him when he was 15? That's what I call a cold bitch.
ALL GIRLS CHEAT
It ain't particularly creative, but I can appreciate the Isley Brothers flip on this chorus.
MORE
As it turns out, there's two Kanye tracks on this. I notice it sounded better live when Rhymefest was doing the chorus and not Kanye.
DRIFTER
The sung chorus on this didn't do it for me. I suppose they at least managed to consolidate multiple weed carrier appearances into one track.
THESE DAYS
I remember hearing this what seems like years ago. Also, it's a staple of 'Fest's live set. I like it, but in the context of the rest of these songs the production is kinda cheap-sounding.
DEVIL'S PIE
The one that samples a Strokes song. "Someday," I think. I can get with the idea, but end result comes out kinda gimmicky and weird-sounding.
BUILD ME UP
What's left of the Ol' Dirty Bastard is trotted out for what could very well be the last time. This is certainly no hight point in the Dirt McGirt oeuvre, but you can't help but like it.
LSD
And you thought Carl Thomas was done ruining songs on rappers' albums back in 2001.
TELL A STORY
Sick! You know I like it when rappers tell stories anyway, but you should hear Rhymefest's verses on this.
COMMENTS: This is what those two Kanye West albums would be like if Kanye could rap and wasn't a closeted homosexual. Alas, this album probably won't go gold, while both of them are multiplatinum. There's a lesson in that somewhere. Feel free to speculate on what it actually is in the comments.
BEST TRACKS: "Dynomite" "All Girl's Cheat" "Tell a Story"
