The Real Joe
Long ago he emerged from the shadows of the late Christopher Rios. For a while
it was Big Pun and that other fat dude but Joey has since created an identity
all his own. This is his seventh album and the way it sounds, his best yet. I
doubt it will be his best selling (for lack of commercial appeal) but he’s
commercially stable so let’s see what the Bronx Bomber has to offer.
How many times have I said it? The intro is that first fix that makes you want
to try some more. And on Me, Myself & I,
Pendemic makes a statement of what’s to
come. Not only did Streetrunner represent, the evolution of Joey continues with
his lyrically progression. When I first heard
No Drama, I was thinking that the song was hot but I swear I heard it
before. It sounded like a Ross remix. Excuse me while I rant. I listen to
Where My Money from the Rick Ross
album. Which reminds me…I listen to Money on
My Mind from the Lil’ Wayne album. This reminds me…so I listen to
Hustlin’ from the Rick Ross album.
Apparently The Runners are in a scam selling the same beats to multiple MCs. Get
money, I guess. Anyway…back to Joe. Make it
Rain features Lil Wayne (for the second time on the album) on a Scott
Storch production. Fat Joe gets back with Streetrunner on Bendicion Mami. The
baseline hits beautifully with the sample and sets the mood just right for The
Don to talk about his mama.
The new Fat Joe is really good, but he flies dangerously below the radar
nowadays. Lately, I haven’t seen him jumping in swimming pools draped in baby
blue minks or licking the bottom of a fresh pair of footwear. A good thing. Nor
have I heard the leader of the TS BS’n with R&B i.e. Ashanti, R. Kelly and J.Lo.
Also a good thing. The album is lyrically surprising and the percussion is
superior. Never have I been so indifferent about an album’s release yet so
impressed about the outcome. It’s currently in contention to be one of the best
rap albums of the year. Me, Myself & I
gets away from the glitz and glam and gets back to rap and that’s what we fans
like to see.