Have to reflect and relisten to this album this week, it's almost shocking it's been more then 10 years since I copped this that summer, when I was 15. The roll out and anticipation to this album was only slightly overshadowed by Jada's, I remember the snippets leaking in real audio, and everyone was already comparing the two. I feel there about neck and neck, but that's another thread.
Beanie was coming off his acclaimed debut, and the runner up to Jay later in the year, SP was just coming together, he was battling Kiss, it was a pitched climate to release his sophomore. I still remember tearing this out of the wrap and listening to it on a discman in the car while my Mom drove. Went down to Mexico for a week, listened to this all the way down.
'Nothing Like It' was a classic opening track, and was my wake up alarm for years in high school, 'Mack bytch' was a serviceable enough single, with that 'Change the Game' style production that never suited the Roc, imo. 'Get Down' was just raw as fukk, with Sigel recycling some of the Hot 97 freestyle verses, and a ill Just Blaze beats with scratches.
'Think It's A Game' everyone was trying to hear Jay's verse, and he didn't disappoint, the last 4 tracks were the strongest, maybe in Sigel's catalogue. 'Tales Of A Hustler' with Sparks coming right from the heart, and Beans spitting that gutter shyt, practically snarling into the mic. 'Mom Praying' with Scarface, and the sequel to 'Where Have You Been' over a classic sample, 'Still Got Love For You', closing with another sequel, 'What You Life Like 2', with the haunting Just Blaze beat and bleak lyrics...just a compelling album, with some lackluster tracks towards the middle.
Beanie was coming off his acclaimed debut, and the runner up to Jay later in the year, SP was just coming together, he was battling Kiss, it was a pitched climate to release his sophomore. I still remember tearing this out of the wrap and listening to it on a discman in the car while my Mom drove. Went down to Mexico for a week, listened to this all the way down.
'Nothing Like It' was a classic opening track, and was my wake up alarm for years in high school, 'Mack bytch' was a serviceable enough single, with that 'Change the Game' style production that never suited the Roc, imo. 'Get Down' was just raw as fukk, with Sigel recycling some of the Hot 97 freestyle verses, and a ill Just Blaze beats with scratches.
'Think It's A Game' everyone was trying to hear Jay's verse, and he didn't disappoint, the last 4 tracks were the strongest, maybe in Sigel's catalogue. 'Tales Of A Hustler' with Sparks coming right from the heart, and Beans spitting that gutter shyt, practically snarling into the mic. 'Mom Praying' with Scarface, and the sequel to 'Where Have You Been' over a classic sample, 'Still Got Love For You', closing with another sequel, 'What You Life Like 2', with the haunting Just Blaze beat and bleak lyrics...just a compelling album, with some lackluster tracks towards the middle.
