534 (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Memphis Bleek > Reviews > Memphis on top

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Very good beats
Disadvantages:	No consistency

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Flowing fresh out of the oven with his fourth solo effort, Memphis Bleek's new album, 534, is blessed by one of the sweetest songs of the summer with the help of Jay-Z. "Dear Summer" has become an anthem, yet the album fails to follow through with the single, which comes at an early third on the track list. While the album is not groundbreaking or terribly concentrated, it is a complete and valid project. With "Dear Summer," Jay drops in to lay a lyrical lick and some acappella poetry to set off the perfect joint for a ride around the neighborhood. Just Blaze drops a dope beat to add to the harmonic soulful sample. While the album does read Memphis Bleek, he's an absentee landlord on "Dear Summer." Jay takes his time on the track to show love to the game for his fame and reminds us that S.Dot is doing his thing in Corporate America. Backtracking a bit to the album's title track, the first track, Bleek announces that he has arrived as "the next in line for the kind of New yiddy." An energetic flow, over another banging beat from Just Blaze, makes for a song which should have been "Rocky" in the third movie. Ripping real gangster lyricism over a world championship beat, Memphis Bleek uses his best effort in the first 2 minutes and 42 seconds. Other tracks aren't as well put-together. Tracks like "Infatuated" featuring Boxie and "The One" featuring Rihanna seem somewhat uninspired and redundant. The two tracks are somewhat less creative and endearing to the listener. The next joint offers nothing new. "The One" sports clichés that catch Bleek coughing up an abundance of redundance like most of the album's 14 tracks. However, Rihanna's vibrant vocals compliment production from Bink of One Shot Deal Muzik. "Oh Baby" features well put together punch lines from Bleek, who pairs with the Young Gunz to rap over the guitar samples and hard hit high hats. M.O.P also weighs in to support Bleek's wordplay on "First, Last and Only." Besides the presence of Jay-Z on the album, M.O.P and the Young Gunz are awesome additions to Bleek's fourth album since his 1999 debut Coming of Age,/I>. To both their credits, Bleek matches his better takes with 9th Wonder's production on "Smoke the Pain Away," and they continue on together with "Alright."