This is the first commercial album from Chicago's Rhymefest, overall it's a decent album full of good styles and beats, as you would expect from a Kanye West Protégé. Produced in conjunction with Mr West, this is a breath of fresh air, it is inventive, fun and funny, Rhymefest is a skilled orator who controls the song perfectly with help from a number of gifted collaborators, this is a fun album for people who love hip hop or pop.
Feel Free (Intro) - This is just a start to the album and has no real musical impact.
Dynomite (Going Postal) - This starts with a banging Wu-Tang style bassy beat, there are some jazzy brass instruments, it has a feel of Armageddon in New Orleans with the doom laden beats and jazzy backing, the rhymes are solid, well thought out and angry, this is a fantastic album opener, full of invention and dynamism.
Brand New - Again this has a wicked beat, loved the sample on this one, its repetitive but its big, bold and inventive, the rhymes work, Rhymefest is wicked, Kanye West guests on this and he's enjoying himself freestyling
over these inventive beats. This is an album highlight.
Fever - A remake of the Fever classic, with a brassy backing and latino singing chorus this is funny, charming, full of funk and huge styles, Rhymefest keeps it slow and inventive, the pace is slow and banging, the backing vocals are great, the chorus is so catchy its funny and hot at the same time, another great track.
All I do - This is a shout out to the streets and as such it has a bit more of Rhymefest to it, the beat is standard Kanye for this kind of tune, its decent enough with the seventies style song but its not one of the best songs on the album by any means. The words are thoughtful and melancholic.
Get Down - Huge beats, haunting backing vocal, this is another great tune it has a great hook but also feels very different, Rhymefest can say the most controversial things but the tune allows him to get away with it, this is a party song with a real quirk to it, cool tune for driving to.
More - This is a cool song, its about wanting a bit more no matter how much you've got, unfortunately its something we can all relate to, this is lyrically strong, the music is plain with a beat allowing Rhymefest to control it totally.
Chicago-Rillas - A fine tune it builds up for Rhymefest and his crew to really get going the beat is catchy but underwhelming, the key to this tune is the great lyrics and delivery, a well constructed song full of verve and personality.
Stick - Love this old style beat, it sounds like Missy Elliott with the beat but then we have the deep Rhymefest skills, this is a fun song, great lyrics, great beats and a banging tune, this is a decent song.
All Girls Cheat - 70's souly start, followed by a story about women being just like men, but that they are just better at cheating and lying, love the beat and the story for this one, it's a really cool song, got a great philly sound to it, with some good lyrics, a good story with a decent set of values.
Devil's Pie - Sampling the Strokes this is a mad song, as it then subverts into a layered version of that song with a smooth chorus and a totally different song, this is a wickedly inventive song and it works really well.
Sister - This is wicked, the beat sounds like Common or Jill Scott, its intelligent, thoughtful and supporting all the women out there, this is a funky, thoughtful tune, Rhymefest really builds this story and shows an emotional side which is impressive.
Mr Blue Collar (Interlude) - Nothing but a bit of filling
Bullet - This is a song about the army, nice beats with a soulful chorus, this is a smart song about a man out of his depth, dying for the flag, without knowing what for, this is a really sharp adult song, almost a rock rap hybrid, the lyrics are cold and harsh but totally appropriate.
Tell a Story - Crisp opening, this sounds like Gwen Stefani beats, but then you get a smooth barbershop style chorus and a thumping beat, its indefinable and different to other rappers, I love this guys style and beats, its fun and funny but intelligent and danceable.
Build me up - The most famous song on the album with the 'Build me up Buttercup' beat and chorus its about getting a girl to notice you, the beats and tune are wicked, as catchy as ever, Old Dirty Bastard sings the hook in a way only he can, this is just a fantastic tune and a real dance floor filler, funky, fun, catchy, for kids adults and Oap's this is just a fine song.
Down by Law - With a western feel, this is another innovative move the rap sounds like a shootout as do the rhymes, this is a great finish to the album.
My View
This is simply a fantastic album, the influence of his mentor Kanye West is apparent, but there is so much more than that to this album, the beats and hooks are different to anything else you'll hear their catchy, well thought out and should not work with the rap at all. This is an inventive album which is diverse, featuring hooks from the Strokes and build me up buttercup, alongside songs about cheating, lying and death. It's a great debut and an album which establishes Rhymefest as a great new talent.
How Much does it cost?
The album is available for as little as 89p on Amazon Marketplace, that is a heck of a bargain for what is a superb album.
This review has also been listed on Dooyoo under the same username
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