FILE UNDER: Eminem protégé.
CORPORATE LINE: The SECOND ROUND’S ON ME album title has multiple meanings. “First, it’s my sophomore album,” Obie says matter-of-factly, “and then I’m keeping the whole bar theme going from CHEERS to SECOND ROUND’S ON ME.”
SECOND ROUND’S ON ME afforded the Shady Records artist the opportunity to step up into the role of executive producer, overseeing the completion of the album and culling some of hip-hop’s most noted beat makers including, Eminem, J.R. Writer, Akon, and 9th Wonder, among others.
“I did this album myself as opposed to Em just being right next to me like he was on CHEERS,” the Detroit native says. “I did it at my studio, brought it to him and that’s how we got it done. It felt good.”
SECOND ROUND’S ON ME captures Obie’s lyrical maturation that not only includes some of the humor and bravado from CHEERS, but more serious topics as well. “If they are expecting CHEERS, they are not gonna get it,” Obie says. “I developed lyrically. I’m talking about a lot of things that are important in the black community. It shows my growth as an artist and as a person.”
THE GOOD:
“Violent” – Obie Trice does something not a lot of rappers can do—rap about violence while projecting the power.
“Ballad Of Obie Trice” – Trice’s flow is as melodic as a singer hitting each and every note. The beat is unique on an album that relies mostly on bass notes. This is a turnabout with a funky flow and synthetic sample.
“Obie Story” – Trice does a better job hitting the emotional nail-on-the-head with this track than on “Mama”. (“Dad ain’t around/He left a nigga saggin’ in them Superman draws that one Saturday/Is it my fault, shit got dark?”).
THE AVERAGE:
“Wake Up” –The message is simple—if you want to be cool by imitating rappers who deal with life in the ghetto by being hard—but you need to wake up.
“Mama” – How many songs can rappers put out with “Mama” in the title? It’s great that all these guys have a tender spot and love for their mothers—but it sounds hypocritical when the song before and after are about killing?
“Cry Now” –Trice hits on being a creation of the streets in the crosshairs of those like him.
“Kill Me A Mutha” – Trice sounds surprisingly like a Geto Boys song ala Bushwick Bill.
THE BAD:
“Wanna Know” – Obie rocking out a Kid Rock style song should have been cut loose.
“Jamaican Girl” f/Brick & Lace – A track that has no business here.
FRANKLY: Obie Trice produces a mostly solid effort aside from the painful “Ghetto” and “Jamaican Girl”. Then again Trice never leaves any grand lyrical remnants after listening to Second Round’s On Me. There are occasions of brilliance mixed with moments of par.
+ CC Morris
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