Rating:
Genre:
Rap
Release Date: 09/02/2008
Dropping the sequential album titles for his third release,
Young Jeezy's
The Recession introduces itself as anything but Thug Motivation 103. The opening title track features a collage of some very 2008 news reports where America is going broke while the "they just don't care about us" feeling sweeps the nation. Then
Jeezy enters trading his non-stop swagger for social commentary, and while the singalong thug chorus is as strong as ever, the rapper's transformation from cocaine-slinging king to voice of the people is unconvincing, especially when he mentions his personal driver and how his "make it rain" sessions at the strip club are getting more conservative. The Barack Obama shout-out that closes the album --
"My President" with special guest
Nas -- works much better with flippant verses ("We ready for damn change/So you all let the man shine") more suitable for a man who prefers to be called "The Snowman." Same goes for
"Circulate" and its great line about oil prices ("Gas higher than me") but
The Recession abandons politics often enough that you can't call it ponderous or even a concept album. With those great drums and fake trumpets producer
Drumma Boy loves so much, trap star anthem
"Amazin" is simple, feel-good music for pimps and players, while the soul-filled
"Word Play" finds
Jeezy and the
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League celebrating the power of rap with warm nostalgia in their hearts.
"Put On" with
Kanye West singing through an Auto-Tune is the usual second-line goodness that
Jeezy normally rounds out albums with, but there's more forgettable filler than expected, most of it sounding like mixtape leftovers or in the case of
"Vacation," lackluster and forced club tracks. Of course with 18 songs the album allows for some dead weight and trimming. Even if it falls a distant third out of the first three, the scattershot
Recession is still a welcome and even risky step forward, one carried by its highlights and the newfound awareness that the cocaine grind isn't everything.
~David Jeffries, All Music Guide
Average Review:
Number of reviews: 3
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A reviewer
from Birmingham, AL
Mad Street Credit
What can I say....the CD: It is what it is: Amazin...This CD was made for the streets, by the streets,and has all the street credit it needs..The only reason I didnt rate it a 5, was because Jeezy will keep improving and getting better so thats something for him to improve upon. Please tell the cat that wrote this overview not to listen to a few songs and make his/her judgement, but listen to the whole cd and the message that the artist is sending. And like Jezzy says he "Get Allot" of haten...My personal favorite. Go Jezzy Go Jezzy!!!!!!!!!
A reviewer
from Mississippi
Overview?!?!?!
This guy that wrote the overview is crazy. This is a great album. Jeezy actually steps outside his dope boy delivery and adds some versatility to his style. This album only got 2 and a half stars because of the people who think they know music, but not the people who made "JEEZY...JEEZY". This is a time of recession, and he delivers. I think the second album wasn't as good as this one. At the end of the day, we are all critics in a sense, but what really makes music the artist or the struggle... Jeezy keep pushing it, and if they say they don't like it... "You Amazin"... That's real talk!!!!
A reviewer
from Chicago, IL
Dont Listen to the guy that wrote the overview
This cd is the best cd young jeezys ever made, and quite possibly the best cd of 2008. I love Jeezys slow delivery and the bass on each and every song. If your looking for a good cd to play during a party or a cruise, put this on. The best song on this cd is Amazin'.
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