Warning: I didn't re-read this review because I can't stand my writing.
REVIEW (From 10/19/06)
Artist: Wiz Khalifa
Album title: Show and Prove
Release Date: ???
Rating: 3 out of 5
They say art imitates life, and in some cases, life imitates art. This has been the cornerstone of rap music since its inception. MCs talk about the streets; therefore the streets talk about the MCs. What about when art imitates art? I’m talking about what happens when you see or hear something and say, “Wait, I’ve seen this before”. You already know where this review is going… maybe. What if I was to say that these aren’t necessarily negatives, and that the formula actually works? The evidence is the newest album from Wiz Khalifa, Show and Prove.
Wiz Khalifa is an MC from Pittsburgh, so already he has your attention. The rap world is obsessed with new regions and their trademark “sounds”. Unfortunately, Wiz actually comes off as an MC from Harlem, and not Pennsylvania. To be honest, he sounds and raps very much like Juelz Santana. Same swagger, same voice, all he needs is the “HEY”. I’m already a bit disappointed that I don’t get any sense of what Pittsburgh is all about, unless its exactly like New York. Content is nothing new; guns, lanes, and getting brain are what the disc is about. Production is actually very good on this record. Most beats are covered by ID Labs, and they hit a homerun with every track their on. Their music is reminiscent of early Kanye, when his beats knocked more than were melodic. All in all, nice tunes.
You might get the sense that I’m not feeling the album, which is actually not true. Wiz sounds like other rappers, but fortunately, he sounds like good rappers. The production value is high and everyone can feel the swagger. This isn’t a great album, but it’s certainly not bad. Fans of the Harlem sound will probably feel this record even more, and that’s clearly the audience this record is going for.
No comments:
Post a Comment