Young Jeezy – The Recession – review

Artist: Young Jeezy

Title: The Recession

Label: Def Jam

Rating: 5.5/10

Corporate line:
Young Jeezy’s story represents the struggle, pain, and pressure that anyone living in the hood deals with. It also gives you the inspiration and motivation to make it out, be successful, and achieve your goals. His motto is “If you can think it you can do it” Young Jeezy is one of the premier artists to emerge from Atlanta’s ongoing “rap movement.” Not only does he have high performance energy, but he is also a great story teller. He has the ability to bring color and flash to a story that has been told so many times before. He’s a true digital age artist who doesn’t need 16 bars to develop a picture in your head. He has also worked with artists such as Kanye West, Lil Jon, Usher, Young Buck, T.I., Trick Daddy, Akon, Mannie Fresh, Lil Scrappy, Bun B, Lloyd, Slick Pulla, & Lil Will and Mariah Carey. On his second album The Inspiration, the first single “I Luv It” peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also later released the album Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 which debuted at #2 selling 172,000 copies in its first week. He also loves to give back to the community and donate to charity events. He presented a toy drive for the first annual Toyz n da Hood toy drive which provided 1,000 toys for 1,000 kids in his home town of Atlanta. He also opened his home for those who needed shelter to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. He has received many awards and nominations such as the American Music Awards nominations for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip- Hop Album The Inspiration. BET Hip-Hop Awards nominations for Hip-Hop MPV of the Year and Hip-Hop CD of the Year for Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards include nominations for Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist – Male, Top Rap Album for Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, and Hot Rap Track for “Soul Survivor.” He has won Dirty Awards for Most Bootlegged CD, Best New Dirty Artist, and Best Dirty Collaboration. He was also nominated for Dirty Boy of the Year, Dirty South Representative of the Year, and Dirty Song of the Year for “Soul Survivor”. His Teen Choice Awards include nominations for Choice Music: Rap Artist. Vibe awards include nominations for Hottest Hook for “Soul Survivor.”

The good:
“Put On” f/Kanye West – The one shining moment on the album.
“Amazin’” – The lyrics aren’t well crafted luckily the chorus is good enough to make the melody stick.
“Circulate” – Jeezy takes on some southern soul and actually pulls it off it a big way.
“Word Play – Jeezy tackles a song that sounds like it was written for Nas. This is the rare occasion where Jeezy shows what he could do if only he give it his best every time in the studio.

The rest:
“Welcome Back” – Jeezy is back from where? His voice sounds tight too bad he doesn’t have much to say.
“By The Way” – Jeezy is no Juvenile–by the way.
What They Want” – As weak as any Jeezy track ever gets. It’s funny to title a record about the recession while Jeezy brags about how he is going to teach us how to make a million dollars when he was lucky to make money himself. So what is the the lesson? Sell drugs or be lucky enough to be a rapper?
“My President” – Chuck D. has to be laughing himself to death. Here is a guy rapping about the recession and our president being garbage and then Jeezy raps about how his Lamborghini is blue, but don’t forget he is trying to make those of us suffering from the recession feel better. What a joke.

Finally:
Young Jeezy has talent to spare. If only it sounded like he tried harder. And if only he understood the meaning of irony. There are definitely tracks worth downloading and some to be avoided. If Jeezy ever gets it all right–look out.