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`Ahhh…The struggles at hand when crafting a generically dope album to solidify your status in the hip hop genre.
Obviously not all rappers are immune to these throes to the throne. Amongst these rappers is Nelly and despite his consistency and amazing record sales, Nelly’s staggering fall from grace hasn’t been more evident before his latest effort, Brass Knuckles.
Nelly’s relevance is currently in question despite his success and while his legend builds his allure falters.
You would expect Nelly to use this album as an opportunity to reinvent himself after the uneventful 2008 summer run of the album’s potential single Wadsyaname, which was subsequently dropped from the album. Nelly does little in this aspect except in some outings.
The introductory track features near street credibility casualty, Rick Ross almost sub -consciously making light of his CO situation with a pivotally gangsta Nelly.
The album face dives downhill from there, though it does cushion its fall a few times in mid-tumble.
On, LA, Nelly invites reputable guest appearances from 213 counterparts, Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, but what creative mind introduced the idea of giving Nate Dogg a verse over Snoop?
These are the mistakes that veteran emcees just should not make especially on such crucial records in their career.
The dull, Usher-featured Long Night is nothing but filler, which gives a welcome segue to the return of the St. Lunatics (who appear on Chill later in the track listing) on Lie, which is not anything musically atypical of a rap group but very ambitious.
Self-Esteem builds up false anticipation with Nelly verses that are average but bearable which lead to a Chuck D verse which only lasts (GASP!) twenty seconds!
You mean to tell me that I sat through 2:40 of Nelly waxing political in a way which lessens his intellectual debates on BET’s Hip Hop Vs. America, just to hear Chuck D deliver a mere eight bars?
The skid leads to an ultimate faceplant for Nelly this time around. Plenty of his disappointed fans will be quick to assess that Nelly should have turned his hat around in the cover art because this album was so much more likable three years ago when 50 Cent did it and entitled it The Massacre!
You mean to tell me that I sat through 2:40 of Nelly waxing political in a way which lessens his intellectual debates on BET’s Hip Hop Vs. America, just to hear Chuck D deliver a mere eight bars?
The skid leads to an ultimate faceplant for Nelly this time around. Plenty of his disappointed fans will be quick to assess that Nelly should have turned his hat around in the cover art because this album was so much more likable three years ago when 50 Cent did it and entitled it The Massacre.