Jackpot [PA] - Chingy

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	A few bangers
Disadvantages:	Lyrics aren't the best

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

"Jackpot" came in 2003 as the triple-platinum debut from the St. Lousi rapper, Chingy. Following on from the success of local, Nelly he bascially took on his Pop Rap style to attract great mainstream success.

1. "Jackpot Intro"

2. "He's Herre"

This one uses the beat from the introduction to boost him as he gets into some proper raps for the album. However I didn't think much the the opening, and so this one wasn't goign to do much else for me with simailr things being used for this oen too with identical production, and themes which echo the introductory track.

**One Star**

3. "Represent"

I was disappointed that Chingy even chose to do such a thing as this, especially due to the fact that he had the chance to see Nelly flop with a little Gangsta Rap. However he attempts it nontheless and fails quite blatantly with him chaning his voice to sound ruthless, but it is laughable. The support of Playaz Circle's Tity Boi, and Fellow Disturbing Tha Peace member, I-20 saves it.

**Four Stars**

4. "Right Thurr"

This was the breakthrough single for the rapper, and had him finally achieve mainstream success. It was a summer hit, and had him make it with a track to follow-on from the success of the big tunes which fellow Missouri rapper, Nelly's work. I have to say that I didn't like it to the degreee of success that it managed to gain at the time.

**Three Stars**

5. "Jackpot the Pimp" (Lude)

6. "Wurrs My Cash"

This one has material which is at the top end of the album as it has him on soem smooth beats, which take from the general soudn of the West coast, but also show some of his local style too with more energetic segments to break up the monotony of the laid-back sounding composition.

**Four Stars**

7. "Chingy Jackpot"

Ifr you are even somewhat familar with his music, you should recognise this one as it features at the end of the video to "One Call Away". Here you have him doing an up-tempo one to just get everyone moving. For lyrics, its not that valuable, but the energy level are high, and it gets you moving.

**Four Stars**

8. "Sample Dat A*s"

For the title of this one, I thought that it would be pretty predictable as to where it would go. However with only the hook supporting the type of thing which you expect from a tune of this sort, he and Murphy Lee go completely off-topic.

**Two Stars**

9. "One Call Away"

This was the top tune off the album, and established him as a pure Pop Rapper as you having performing alongside the unknown R&B singer, J-Weav. It has him slowing things down as he does one for the girls, as he reassures his that he's always going to be there for her.

**Four Stars**

10. "Dice Game" (Lude)

11. "Gettin' In"

You have a watery beat to this one (which will become appraent as you listen), and it certainly displays how varied his work is with a range of different approaches to come up with similar results of exciting the crowds with energetic club music. The role of the lyrics is merely to help you on your way as you sample the original beats.

**Three Stars**

12. "Holidae Inn"

This was one of the top singles off the album as you get him doing a collaboration with a pair of the top performers in the game. At the time, Ching-a-Ling was signed to Ludacris' Disturbing Tha Peace label, and so he comes to work with him, as well as Long Beach's Snoop Dogg, who get him making a hypnotic tune to mellow things out.

**Four Stars**

13. "Juice"

I'd say that this particular track improves with time, but it doesn't really reach its full potential no matter how many times you listen to it. It has him seemingly taking on the popualar techniques which took over the Dirty South, as he does a track which is largely built up upon a chating hook.

**Three Stars**

14. "F**k That N***a" (Lude)

15. "Madd @ Me"

I didn't particularly care for this one, and I didn't think that it had much to offer in the album. This one displays how he hasn't really got to where he needs to be yet, and it is evident through the way that he approaches the thing with a predictable flow, and very little to say (especially when it comes to something original).

**Two Stars**

16. "Bagg Up"

To end it all off, you get it done in the right way as you get him on some very strong beats to show that he knows what is required to get people moving, even when things are low-energy. It is a straight two-stepper, and just as Nelly did before him, he brings melodic raps which encorporate soem singing too.

**Four Stars**

I would say that if you like the work of Nelly, then you will enjoy this too. I would say that he lyrical ability is a stage further than that of Nelly, and it means that when he moves away from the club tunes, he's able to sustain the support of the listeners in a way that Nelly isn't.