Philadelphia Freeway [PA] - Freeway

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Great production
Disadvantages:	A couple of boring tracks

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

"Philadelphia Freeway came as the debut album from Freeway in 2003. The Roc-A Fella rapper comes with something fresh for Hip hop as he performs an underground styled verion of it all with a destinctive Philly sound (which never went mainstream.

1. "Free"

Starting the album off in the right way, Freeway introduces himself by letting the raps speak for him (if you get what I mean) as he makes sure that it is the skills of writing lyrics and delivery which introduce the listeners to him, rather than a short biography by him.

**Four Stars**

2. "What We Do"

I have heard this one so many times, but I never really picked up on how good of a trakc it was unitl recently as I could finally appreciate all of the tune with the whole arrangement of having the best talent of Roc-A-Fella together with freeway collaborating with Benaie Sigel and Jay-Z on some Just Blaze beats.

**Five Stars**

3. "All My Life"

This is a big one on the album, and I can't see how anyone could think any other way towards it as it has him working incredibly well to some beats from Bink (who has worked with Memphis Bleek, Rick Ross and Xzibit in the past). Also with Nate Dogg on the hook, he comes with something truely engaging to get you to take notice.

**Four Stars**

4. "Flipside"

I saw this as the biggest track on the album as it has him doing an up-tempo tune alongside Peedi Crack, and the support of this fellow Philly rapper, who provides some of the most exciting speed flows, is what makes this such a banger. it is fun Hip hop from him, and stacnds right out in the album with its heavy percussion and high energy.

5. "On My Own"

Here you get an unexpected collaboraion as the underground MC, Freway is given a chance to wst Pop Rapper in the game, Nelly. I thought that this one was only in place in order to promote Freeway and show that he has support from the top names, but this commerical work was a big out of the ordinary for it all.

6. "We Get Around"

Straight off one big collaboration to another, the uality levels are immediatey just from reading the name 'Snoop Dogg' as a guest on this one. Just Blaze comes with a funky composition for this one, and it is the perfect backing for this one as they do one where they are simply just having fun and hyping the fact that they have a way with the females.

7. "Don't Cross The Line"

This is one where Freeway is given a chance to show exactly what is so good about his MCing abilities as he raps with great cofidence apparent straight off the hype of the prduction. It seems as though he had wrote it after hearing it as it fits the compostion in every area, and it leads to great results.

**Four Stars**

8. "Life"

Free gets Beanie Sigel to work with him again on this one, and although I don't usually think much of his work Sigel was fairly strong on this track, and he definitly took over the track with the heading performer being placed in a secondary role. I thought that it was alright, but nothing special.

**Three Stars**

9. "Full Effect"

I knew straight away that it was Just Blaze who as responsible for this one as he comes with some of the biggest beats in the whole thing for this one. Freeway turns to 2Pac for inspiration on this one as he re-words the Phil Collins-based "Staring Through My Rearview" before coming with fresh words for the listeners. The production for the whole album is great, and this is one of the times where the raps match the quality of the beats.

**Four Stars**

10. "Turn Out The Lights"

In the first of two Freewest collaborations (with Freeway working on some Kanye West beats) you get them doing some big things to show that we are in a new phase of Hip Hop, and the 'Ye beats are the way forward. It is one of the strongest tunes hear, and is representative of the whole thing.

**Four Stars**

11. "Victim of the Ghetto"

I was well into this one as the rapper is able to take a step back and look upon his life, and how he fits into everything. It gets him talking about how he is simply a victim of circumstance, and he was unfortunate in being born where he was, as it led to a poor start to his life. It is some thought-provoking work, and indirectly influenced others to do similar work.

**Four Stars**

12. "You Don't Know"

Working off similar themes to the one which came just before it, you have a cold track from the artist, in a tune which you would have expected for an outro to the album. It gets him speaking on how dark life can be out on the Philly streets, and wha he comes across on a regular basis.

**Three Stars**

13. "Alright"

The title to it is the perfect description to the tune as it is just " Alright" and not much more than this. It as the rapper seemingly do a secondary introduction as this one is a lot more personal in terms of how he chooses to do one were he speaks upon his own experiences 9rather than genreal things).

**Three Stars**

14. "Hear The Song"

The then Roc top name (alongside Just Blaze), Kanye West is on the beats hear as he takes on some old Chic work (which was then used once again by Nas the following year. It is a big one, and I liked that we ended it on a high without some dark material, which many often fall sway towards when struggling for a finale to the release.

**Four Stars**

This is a big debut from Freeway, and an alternative one which you should sample. Although he hasn't made much of an immpression on the Hip Hop world up to this point, this album is a big one, and a tune which you shouldn't just ignore. The beats in it are amazing as he was fortunate to be with Roc-A-Fella when two of the best ever Hip Hop producers were at the top of their game and at this label as in-house beatmakers.