"Suit" is the second half of a double album by Nelly released in 2004. It has him work in his smoother form, with music which is more R&B-like, than suited to rap. This means that you have a choice with Nelly's music, whether you enjoy his grittier side, or his singing side, to then pick a ... Read review
Suit - CD
Play it Off F/ Pharrell Williams Pretty Toes F/ Jazzy Pha and T.I My Place F/ Jaheim ... more
Paradise She Don't Know My Name F/ Snoop Dogg and Ron Isley N Dey Say Woodgrain & Leather Wit A Hole In My Life F/ Avery Storm & Mase Over and Over F/ Tim M...
A review by XICripZ on Suit [PA] - Nelly September 24th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Originality
Lacking inspiration
Lyrics
Mediocre
Quality and consistency of tracks
Mixed
Value for Money
Satisfactory
Advantages:
Great production
Disadvantages:
Poor rhymes
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
"Suit" is the second half of a double album by Nelly released in 2004. It has him work in his smoother form, with music which is more R&B-like, than suited to rap. This means that you have a choice with Nelly's music, whether you enjoy his grittier side, or his singing side, to then pick a CD to match your preference.
1. "Play It Off"
To set the scene for this album, we get a massive collaboratiion by Nelly as he gets a chance to rp as Pharrell does the production and singing for him. Although their work rarely comes together, when it does, such as in "Flap Ya Wings" (off "Sweat"), it is always top-quality. The pair work together amazingly, and with the futuristic Neptunes beats, and Pharrell's great falsetto singing, it all came together nicely.
**Four Stars**
2. "Pretty Toes"
I was extremely impressed by this tune on the album, and it showed a different side to Nelly which I didn't expect to come out. Here Nelly comes with a club-suited track which sounds as if it should be on the other album, "Sweat", as he directs this one to the girls aroudn the world, as he describes his ideal females from the countryside to the cities.
**Four Stars**
3. "My Place"
Here was the first hit from the album and has Nelly rapping, and has him performing music along with Jaheim, who does all the singing for this piece. As Jaheim's Soul recordings of the past have been of such high quality, I knew that he would coem with something special here, and he certainly did. However at tiems during this one can tell that Nelly's lyrical talent is far below the standard which should be acccepted with him just letting the music play, and filling it up with little words to hide it.
**Four Stars**
4. "Paradise"
Thsi one is simply terrible, it has Nelly reverting to his old ways of attempting to escape lyrics by calling out exclamation and mumbling his words so you aren't able to really understand what he's about.
**One Star**
5. "She Don't Know My Name"
Here you have a big tune which has Jazzy Phizzle return, however, unlike with earlier collabs, he actually sings in this one, and on numerous occassions I've said how much this annoys me. However, if you ignore the painful vocals from Jazzy pha, you still receive a nice tun from Nelly as he raps along with the West Coast's best rap talent, in the form of Snoop Dogg.
**Four Stars**
6. "N Dey Say"
It should be quite clear by this poitn that this labum marks a significant change in the approach of Nelly here, and it has him doing raps to things that he would never have done before. here you can tell that he's changed as he uses the beat from Spandeau Ballet's "True" for his backing, but I didnt think that it worked at all, especially since Lloyd showed that urban music can make it work with his single "You", which used it just as Nelly does here.
**Two Stars**
7. "Woodgrain & Leather Wit a Hole"
Thsi one has a long skit to get it started, but I haven't got a clue how it relates to the track in any way. However, getting into it, this is a laid-back tune which has him rappign out all the typical thigns you would be expected to here from a southern rap artists, particularly those who come from Houston, Texas.
**Two Stars**
8. "In My Life"
Here you have what has to be some of the best production on the album coming from Kuya Productions, and I expect that this is what won me over here. I found that the additional raps by New York's Mase were another thing which made it appear as if Nelly's material was improving over the course of the album, and in this track.
**Four stars**
9. "Over and Over"
There's just so much wrong with this one that I can't find anothing good to say about it. This one has Nelly crossover his genre boundaries by performing alongside the country singer Tim McGraw to perform a song which favour the latter musician. However I didn't think that either did this one any justice as it was sang terribly (espcially in Nelly's sections) and it just didn;t make sense in general.
**One Star**
10. "Nobody Knows"
This is a nice one from nelly as he works alongside the quality R&B artist, Anthony Hamilton, whose soulful vocals add a new dimention to the album, and one which you would't really expect to find from such a release (since it is from Nelly). I foudn it to be an unexpected piece of quality within the album, however it didn't have that much to it to make it stand out amongst the rest.
**Three Stars**
11. "Die For You"
I respect the fact that hhe expressed this through music, rather than enjoying it for its content, as the msuic itslef isn't really that good,. however I felt as though I was focred to stay engaged with the tune as Nelly talks about the frantic situation in which his child was born, and faced various complications. The skit to start it off reinforces the feelings which he faces when performing it.
**Two Stars**
"Suit" is quite varied, as with "Sweat", and it is certainly a step in the correct direction for Nelly, as it is as if he's gradually getting towards the standard of those rappers who he's already outdoing with hype, despite consistently poor quality rhymes. I wouldn't be able to compare this in terms of quality against "Sweat", so if you are a fan of him music, then you have to get both, but if you just wish to see if he's really on the way to being a top rapper in the game, then get the mashup of the two albums, "Sweatsuit", which uses the best tacks off both releases.
Advantages: A Handful of Good Songs Disadvantages: Everything else
...did, with SweatSuit. Suit is the second half of the two-disc journey through intense torture that one Cornell Haynes insists on putting us through. While Sweat was advertised to be a more light-hearted, club-influenced album with no signs of intelligence or emotion. So if you're a gullable female who enjoys to show off her private parts in front of horny, drunken men who only care about what's below your neck, then by all means, spend your stripper ... ...in a row. Even though Suit is Nelly's best and most complete album, it's still mainly garbage. Nelly's lyricism and writing skill are still as low as can possibly be. Nelly refuses to stay on topic, and far too often tries too damn hard to appeal to his female fans by making essentially the same song over and over again with different lyrics, and that folks, is boring. So all in all, SweatSuit was a failure, but are we really surprised? Did we really ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Some decent songs Disadvantages: Some not so decent songs
...at least three other albums. Suit was released at the same time as another Nelly album, Sweat, this was an adventurous action releasing two albums at the same time and some people began to claim that Nelly was getting too cocky, but they were both successful. Suit claimed to be an album containing his smoother, sexier songs, while Sweat, as the name indicates, was to have his faster, more dancey songs. I chose Suit, if I had been richer I might have ... ...am quite content with Suit.
Nelly's music is a mix of R&B with a hip-hop vibe, popular with teenagers and youths of today - including ME! Obviously not all youths like it, but what I try to say is that rarely an adult of say over 35 (don't take my word as complete truth, it was a guestimate) enjoys this type of music, obviously some may enjoy it but enough of my ramblings. Track listing for album:
1. Play It Off 8/10 2. Pretty Toes 7/10
3. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Original Music Disadvantages: Quite Explicit
Nelly has produced yet another great original album. His raps are original along with the well co-ordinated beats behind it. Nelly has yet again prevailed upon pleasing the fans with this production of his album. If you expect the best of Nelly you will find some of his best work featuring on this marvellous album. Overall I was exceptionally pleased with my purchased as it was value for money and not one of those cliche albums in which you hear ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: its got loadza good tunes Disadvantages: a couple r just poor
like his other album its catchy, good base to it but this time its even better!. it has a modern beat, much more bass, much more different styles. personally i liked it. ive only just bought this album and usually it takes me a while to get used to new songs before i can say i do or dont like the song. i liked them instantly! it feats pharell who is fine! and is really gud at make tunes sound good but somehow his dont sound too good lol. the one ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Some Great Songs with great variety Disadvantages: A couple to fill up the album
I bought this in conjunction with Sweat, and this is definitely better. With so many tracks featuring so many other hip-hop stars, such as Snoop Dogg, Mase and Anthony Hamilton, the tracks are all unique, making it such a quality album. My favourites have to be In My Life (featuring Mase & Avery Storm) and Paradise, but there are so many great tracks. The only let downs would be She Don't Know My Name (featuring Snoop Dogg and Ron Isley) and Woodgrain ... ...The variety has to be what distinguishes him from so many others for me, making this such a good album, and one that I would definitely recommend to and hip-hop fans.
Here is my opinion of each track:
1) Play It Off - A great start to the CD. A nice up-beat track with a great contrast of Nelly's rap and Pharell's singing, making it a very good track.
2) Pretty Toes - Also a nice, catchy up-beat track, with some great singing and lyrics. T.I. and ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: A few big tunes Disadvantages: Inconsistent
...Nelly released ?Sweat / Suit? in 2005, a few months after dropping a pair of albums at the same time in 2004. This release compiles the best of both records from the St. Louis rapper.
1. ?My Place?
Here was the first hit from the ?Suit? album and has Nelly rapping, and has him performing music along with Jaheim, who does all the singing for this piece. As Jaheim's Soul recordings of the past have been of such high quality, I knew that he would come with something special here, and he certainly did. However, at times during this one can tell that Nelly's lyrical talent is far below the standard which should be accepted with him just letting the music play, and filling it up with little words to hide it.
**Four Stars**
2. ?Flap Your Wings?
This was the first track off "Sweat", and from the two albums collectively as Nelly goes back...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Album Notes: Nelly broke out in 2000 with his debut, COUNTRY GRAMMAR, and its infectious summer-anthem title track. Two years later, the St. Louis rapper dropped the multi-platinum NELLYVILLE and another summer anthem, "Hot in Herre," which balanced raw carnality with a deft pop hook. Nelly has always possessed this duality of unrefined energy and a melodic sensibility, and, in 2004, he decided to break the two aspects of his music into separate albums, SWEAT and SUIT. On SUIT, he focuses on his more cultivated side with a constantly engaging, tightly produced record, filled with memorable singles. Just because there's a measure of manner pervading the record doesn't mean that Nelly's not having fun, as the disc ranges from the inspired balladry of "My Place" and the borderline-chopped-and-screwed haze of "Woodgrain and Leather wit a Hole." SUIT is still a party, and, as it's a Nelly party, there are tons of VIP guests crowding in. Most excitingly, both Snoop Dogg and Ronald Isley appear on the sly "She Don't Know My Name," and Nelly shows off his versatility with the odd mix of country and rap on "Over and Over" with Tim McGraw. Nelly knows how to go pop without losing his street edge, and SUIT is a prime example of this prowess.
Album Reviews: Rolling Stone (p.97) - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 - "Nelly mixes hip-hop energy and pop ebullience like it's no sweat at all." Entertainment Weekly (p.75) - "Nelly sounds more convincing and appealing on SUIT..." - Grade: A- Vibe (p.184) - 3 1/2 discs out of 5 - "Nelly shows that a rapper can actually hold a note without losing credibility....There are plenty of surprises on SUIT."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Play It Off - Nelly & Pharrell Williams
2.: Pretty Toes - Nelly & Jazze Pha/T.I.
3.: My Place - Nelly & Jaheim
4.: Paradise
5.: She Don't Know My Name - Nelly & Snoop Dogg/Ron Isley
6.: N Dey Say
7.: Woodgrain And Leather Wit A Hole
8.: In My Life - Nelly & Avery Storm/Mase
9.: Over And Over - Nelly & Tim McGraw
10.: Nobody Knows - Nelly & Anthony Hamilton
11.: Die For You
12.: Ride Wit Me (remix) - Nelly & City Spud
13.: Dilemma (remix) - Nelly & Kelly Rowland/Ali
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Listed on Ciao since : 24/09/2004
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