Yelawolf - Radioactive

Seeing Yelawolf supporting Wiz Khalifa earlier this month pushed my anticipation for his debut into overdrive. Now the fateful day is upon us, I have been feverishly listening to Radioactive in order to find out whether the Shady Records signee is worth the hype.


'Radioactive Introduction' kicks off proceedings, the subdued beat allowing the listener to focus on the Alabama MC's complicated rhyme patterns. 'Get Away' follows, the track settling into a standard Southern banger with a welcome guest verse from new Cash Money Records member Mystical. In general, the features on the album are a surprise. There is no appearance from any Slaughterhouse members, Yela relying mainly on newcomers such as Shawty Fatt and Rittz to assist his project. This is not necessarily a drawback of the album, the effect achieved is that of a rough and ready Southern collection of songs. Rittz in particular shines on the blaring 'Growin' Up In The Gutter', the track used as an opportunity for the two MC's to explore darker, experimental themes. That is not to say that all the guests are as obscure. Eminem (as well as Gangsta Boo) drops by on 'Throw It Up'. The catchy, piano driven beat compliments the two white MC's, though the Gangsta Boo verse and chorus seems slightly out of place. Eminem's effort doesn't rank among his best work, though as expected there are plenty of quotable lines. The best collaboration is undoubtedly with Killer Mike on 'Slumerican Shitizen'. Here Yelawolf engages with deeper subject matter, discussing the political alienation he feels from the state. Less successful, but with similar themes, is 'Made in the U.S.A'. Yela laments the materialistic nature of modern America, but his serious message is undercut by a poppy hook. A drawback of the project is that it occasionally seems tailored towards radio exposure, sometimes at the expense of musical quality. Better examples of this are the Diplo produced 'Animal' and Kid Rock assisted 'Let's Roll'. Both of these tracks would not be out of place in a club or on the radio, but neither feel like cynical cash ins.


Lead single 'Hard White' is a tribute to the heyday of crunk, with Lil Jon producing his most compelling beat in years. The best track on the album, however, is 'The Last Song'. Over a mellow instrumental, Yela laments the fact he cannot celebrate his success with his absent father. The song also contains some touching reflections on his relationship with his mother, similar in tone to J Cole's 'Breakdown'.


Track by Track:


1. Radioactive (Intro) 7/10
2. Get Away (Feat. Shawty Fatt & Mystikal) 7/10
3. Let's Roll (Feat. Kid Rock) 8/10
4. Hard White (Up In The Club) (Feat. Lil Jon) 8/10
5. Growin’ Up In The Gutter (Feat. Rittz) 8/10
6. Throw It Up (Feat. Gangsta Boo & Eminem) 7/10
7. Good Girl 7/10
8. Made In The U.S.A. 6/10
9. Animal (Feat. Fefe Dobson) 7/10
10. The Hardest Love Song In The World 7/10
11. Write Your Name 7/10
12. Everything I Love The Most 8/10
13. Radio 6/10
14. Slumerican Shitizen (Feat. Killer Mike) 8/10
15. The Last Song 9/10


The Verdict:


Despite some ill advised pop leanings, Yelawolf has created perhaps the standout debut of the year. The album showcases the enormous potential of the Alabama born MC, while also displaying a surprisingly mature approach on certain tracks. The future certainly looks bright.


8/10

Busta Rhymes: Comeback King?

Browsing Hip Hop DX today, I came across the first bit of news that has interested me in a while. Busta Rhymes has signed to Cash Money Records, joining Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj on what is currently the hottest label in the rap industry. This has capped off a fantastic year for an MC whose career seemed to be nosediving after 2009's terrible Back On My B.S. This was the result of a poor 7 year run that started with 2002's It Aint Safe No More, picking up slightly with The Big Bang, but an acrimonious departure from Aftermath Records seemed to be the beginning of the end for the Brooklyn native. Back on my B.S flopped both with critics and fans, poor sales reflecting the lukewarm reception for the project. In response, Busta promised a new album, Chemo, suggesting that hip hop needed saving. The more unkind among us may suggest that hip hop needed saving from faded stars devoid of enthusiasm and happy to pick up a cheque without a shred of artistic endeavour, but Busta had other ideas.
After the project was pushed back and eventually faded as a concept, the rapper proposed a new album: Extinction Level Event 2. This is intended as a sequel to the 1998 album of the same name, but as yet has no firm release date. Instead, Busta has had an incredibly productive year in terms of guest appearances. Earlier in 2011, the rapper caught the ear with a charismatic verse on 'Crane Style' from Raekwon's Shaolin vs Wu-Tang. Wu Tang brethren Ghostface Killah also recruited the fellow New Yorker for his Apollo Kids.
Busta seemed to be reveling in his freedom after leaving a major label, dropping well received collaborations with LL Cool J on 'Killin Em', Tech N9ne on 'Worldwide Choppers' and Styles P on 'Harsh'. The standout appearance, however, was when the MC secured a verse on the Chris Brown mega-hit 'Look At Me Now', alongside Lil Wayne. Busta steals the show with his improved quickfire delivery, spitting rhymes at a breathtaking speed on the catchy track. The video has accrued 130 million hits and counting on youtube, and eventually secured the rapper a spot closing the Lil Wayne behemoth Tha Carter IV.
The increased exposure resulted in a BET cypher appearance, the veteran delivering playful battle rhymes in a memorable verse, fully cementing his position back in the rap lexicon.
Taking all this into account, it was still a surprise when Busta announced on his twitter feed that he had signed to Cash Money records. It is as yet unclear which branch of the label he will yet appear, Cash Money or subsidiary group YMCMB. Either way, the news is welcome for those of us who were saddened to see a talented MC lose his touch. A new single 'Why Stop Now' has been leaked onto youtube, again collaborating with Chris Brown. If I'm honest, it's unlikely to set the radio alight, but it is another step in the right direction for an MC about to take back his rightful hold on the rap game. WOOHAAA!!!!