Back in 2004, I’m sure most remember that feeling they got when Plug One kicked in with: “Up in the 5 star tellies, saying two mic rhymes”. I know I do. It was the first time in a while the lyricism of one of hip hop’s best got pushed to the curve for the ridiculously dope beat. The motive was to break our necks and did it ever. Also, for all you WWE fans, you know you loved the John Cena intro music. These are all courtesy of one of the dopest producers in hip hop today, Seattle native, Jake One. While he brings a West Coast-like thump to tracks, he also mixes up some East Coast soul with some southern crunk to formulate a very unique blend of production. Finally, after much demand, Jake One produces his own full length LP, White Van Music, with multiple features of up and comers and already established elite. Would the expectations be too high or would we be pulled into the white van and driven away with the rhythm?
The album’s opener, “I’m Coming”, is with two producers who should stick to production. Black Milk and Nottz are by no means Rakim on the mic, but they are even hardly Diamond D or Dilla on the mic. The beat is massive though; play this joint in the car and the trunk will fall apart. The Mash Out Posse help Jake out on another banger of a beat with the very entertaining and energetic “Gangsta Boy”. Jake One provides another massive beat that’ll keep the head nodding for days. From one consistent due to another, one of the standout tracks comes from North Carolina’s Little Brother. “Bless The Child” seems like a LB reunion with 9th Wonder because of all of that soul. Jake really does a great job throughout the album suiting the feel and comfort zone of each artist; this may be his greatest strength because even if the beat is complete ass, at least it is in the vicinity of what the artist would take.
Two other standout tracks come from ‘unlabelled duos,’ Pos and Slug, and Brother Ali and Freeway. The latter hook up on “The Truth”, which is great lyrically, but a little underwhelming with the beat. The former shows Slug out-rhyming Pos (yeah, never thought anyone would get Pos, did you?) on another underwhelming beat. But, the lyricism about rappers getting shafted because of online jacking and this generation not giving rappers their full due, saves the track and deserves repeat listens.
Because this is a producers album, I try not to focus so much on lyricism and emceeing, but it is hard not to. This proves especially difficult because MF Doom drops not one, but two gems of a track over not one, but two gems of a Jake One beat. “Trap Door” and “Get’er Done” are great in content, delivery, and execution and the track is evidence that the chemistry from “Rock Co. Kane Flow” never left. Blueprint lends some dope bars on “Scared” over a fairly haunting piano loop surrounding symphony like strings. And the Detriot duo, fresh off their “Motown 25″ glory, Royce and Elzhi hook up with Jake for “Glow”, a great beat with some ridiculous emceeing…holy smokes.
While all seems well and good, the bad tracks are really, truly, very bad. This is upsetting considering all the upside this album has shown. Jake stirs the beef stew with the Young Buck featured “Dead Wrong”. The song attempts to diss the G-Unit and Aftermath clique, but does nothing more than reaffirm the fact that Young Buck is a really bad rapper. The beat is lazy and typical, way below Jake’s potential. “Big Homie Style” has much too simple of a beat to have relatively unknown artists on it, the song is boring and the hook is laughable. I can’t even explain the Casual featured “Feelin’ My Shit”, where he says that so and so feels his shit. Sean Deez doesn’t feel your shit. The Keak Da Sneak featured “Soil Raps” is flat out awful and the album’s closer “Home” should put even the most energetic listener to sleep.
It would’ve been impressive for Jake to sidestep some of these weak guest spots, but he didn’t. However, there are times where the beat just overrides a rather mediocre guest spot, like on the Busta and Bishop Lamonte featured “Kissin The Curb” (this song comes right after the Young Buck one, and it is hilarious to hear these artist go at each other on the same album on different songs), or even the Alchemist, Prodigy, and Evidence feature with “White Van Music”. This album really was a shoe in for one of the best albums of the year until the worst was heard. The guest line up does garner enough reasoning to check the album out and all of the guests you expect to deliver, certainly do, however, the rather unexciting and unskilled guest spots are noticeable and also bring down the quality of beats that Jake has provided for them. Nevertheless, this album has more than enough material to make your white van turn a rustic copper.
Overall Score: 73/100
Standout Tracks:
“Get’er Done”
“Bless The Child”
“Trap Door”
“Glow”
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
This album kicks ass! Pre-ordered my copy already. Great review Deez!
Yeah, the score really doesn’t do my review justice.
I just felt that the bad songs really brought the album done. Regardless, the good easily outnumbers the bad. I surely hope a MF Doom/ Jake One album is in the books.
Also, I wrote this review a while ago.. the “underwhelming” beat of the Slug and Pos track fits it like a glove.
“I’m Coming” is one of my favorites on the album. And Black Milk of one of my new favorite rapper/producer. Nice review.
you should hear black milk on that track with Sean P and Premier..
sounds like royce wrote it for him
I agree with you 100%. I just listened to the album. Half the album is good, and the other half is awful. 20+ plus tracks, but it really could have been 10 tracks.
I also think Black Milk is dope, Nottz should stick to producing though
After listening to the CD again, i have to disagree with the review. Now I agree, keak da sneak is horrible, but i think the CD is overall dope, only 2 or 3 ok tracks. That Alchemist, Evidence, and Prodigy song is dope. The Freeway solo isn’t one of his best, Young Buck was suspect as well, but the rest is pretty dope
My favorite track was “God Like”, a banger all around with D Black surprisingly holding up with Ali and even Royce and El (kind of, these cats are especially fiery right now). Finally Jake One gets a whole album of his shit and only have to hear one G Unit member on it who happens to be the most appealing. The game has needed this album and I think it’s undoubtedly the best hip-hop producer album of the year (prove me wrong Black Milk) even though I slept through that pos and slug track. This review though? I stopped reading after it said the Keak track was terrible and “Home” was boring…
King Koopa… thanks for reading all the conclusion
As for best producer album of the year?
I think DJ Revolution has it beat and so will the DJ Babu. And I can’t rememebr my Faktz One score, but that could be stronger too.
Not only that, there are probably a handful of albums better on the production side. Jake is dope though, I think my expectations were fairly high
I seriously Dont see how u reckon this album is on a par with Elzhi’s. I want impressed with this at all, the production was average and pretty boring.
Im sorry folks..
I enjoyed this CD. I bought 2 copies.
1 for the PC and one for WHIP.
DOPENESS…
Creative..just was not a bunch of catz rapping and saying nothing..
NOW, Elzhi should have spit a whole track tho…
TRULY ONE OF THE DOPEST ALBUMS THIS YEAR!!! JAKE REALLY DID HIS THING ONE THIS ONE. CAN WE GET A JAKE ONE PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT?!?!?!