Album: Based On A T.R.U. Story
Artist: 2 Chainz
Genre: Hip-Hop
Sounds Like: Boring As F*** Sonic Stereotypes o’ Swag, Swag, Swag, Swag (2.5 out of 5 sober, 3 out of 5 if you’re drunk as hell; copping the full album in the deep deep discount sale aisle or some mp3s)
Reviewer: DJ Fusion
Tauheed Epps a.k.a. Tity Boy of Playaz Circle a.k.a. his current incarnation as 2 Chainz has been in the Hip-Hop music world for a minute. Since the late 1990s, the College Park, GA rhyme representative has been on various mixtapes and official releases doing his thing.
While never a complex type of rapper topic or rhyme scheme wise, 2 Chainz usually has had that extra bit of…”it” that at minimum made the tracks he was on at least interesting to listen to. At his best, his rhyme & flow would be the one heads would get amped at yelling word for word while boozy off your liquor of choice.
Unfortunately, not too much of that vibe translates or carries over well at all on the majority of his 1st official solo album, “Based On A T.R.U. Story”.
The 14 track release (17 if you cop the deluxe edition) is the sonic equivalent of a VH1 “reality” TV show – tightly choreographed soap opera-esque ratchedness that while temporarily entertaining only every once in a while shows something that’s actually REAL and truly interesting.
With the exception of the relatively thoughtful John Legend & Scarface assisted “Ghetto Dreams” plus the smooth swag on deck and feeling great vibes of “Stop Me Now” with his Playaz Circle partner Dolla Boy along Don Cannon’s soulfully produced “I Feel Good”, 2 Chainz simply sounds bored as hell rhyming about drugs, cash & broads (and that’s basically it theme wise) throughout most of the album.
Everyone doesn’t have to be deep with whatever they’re rhyming about all the time – if at all – but damn. :/ If you’re going to dive into the shallow end of the topic pool, at least do it with some flair instead of belly flopping into musiclal mediocrity. Mary J. Blige was more emotional and excited singing about Burger King’s Crispy Chicken wrap than 2 Chainz sounds about most anything on “Based On A T.R.U. Story” .
While the guest lineup of the album is pretty star studded (including Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, Nikki Minaj, Mike Posner, The-Dream & more), most of them just do the “I’m getting a check” verse or hook singing action to get by. Nothing horrible but not too much to see here.
The production throughout “Based On A T.R.U. Story” varies from meh to good, with tracks on deck from Boi-1da, Bangledesh, Drumma Boy, The Dream and others.
At the end of the day, while this music can be “Based On A T.R.U. Story”, it sounds fake as hell paint-by-numbers rap. It’s perfectly fine to ride too or get your party on with, there’s just not much on here that’s truly memorable or worth a lot of replay value.
2 Chainz has some obvious charisma & personality that needs to be channeled in a more exciting way than what was presented on this album. He “Total Recall”-ed this release, creating something that makes people think of better music in his genre (including old school Southern Rap) than really focusing on what he’s about. Hopefully he’ll create something with more impact next time around.
* digs around for some Three 6 Mafia to get musical ratchet vibes done right *
Personal Favorite Tracks: Stop Me Now feat. Dolla Boy, Ghetto Dreams feat. Scarface & John Legend, I Feel Good, No Lie feat. Drake
Music Video: 2 Chainz feat. Scarface & John Legend – Ghetto Dreams
Music Video: 2 Chainz feat. Drake – No Lie
Album: Perfectly Imperfect
Artist: Elle Varner
Genre: R&B/Pop
Sounds Like: A decent CD if someone else was singing it
Reviewer: Beth Lanai
I wasn’t going to review this because I cannot stand that GAWD AWFUL Refill song! It’s like nails down a chalkboard! But apparently folks actually like that song and this child’s horrid way of singing it.
So I’m torturing myself to give this CD a review. Lawd help me!
If you haven’t figured it out I don’t think the child can particularly sing. And that’s evident on this CD. Her voice is screechy at times. I’m not understanding what she’s trying to do vocally.
This is sad cause she’s got some good songs on here. Like if she wasn’t singing them I’d be talking about this CD is kinda nice. But her voice takes away from the songs as far as I’m concerned. It’s almost like she has no vocal control which is kinda odd considering her education/training at NYU in the Clive Davis department of recorded music. It’s not easy to get into that department from what I understand. So maybe it’s just me and my odd taste in music. I may have it all wrong when it comes to Elle Varner.
The CD has a nice groove musically; mostly mid-tempo songs some more pop sounding than others but overall it’s not a bad CD but I personally don’t think I’d have it in my musical rotation.
Check out I only want to give it to you
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Thanks.
Elle Varner?….Ummm,no!I heard about her on some of the natural hair blogs and they hyped her up to be the next best thing since the invention of Bacon.Her'' singing ''truly makes me sad.IMO,On today's sea of non-singing heffa's,Rhianna is the Captain and I think we shall make Elle her Co-captain.This is one cd that won't be bought or borrowed and it's not even worth illegally downloading.
"Refill" sounds like nails on a chalkboard, though I like the song she did w/J. Cole…not sure if I wanna try to listen to her album, Heard she bit it hard on the EBT Awards when she 'sang' live…
her "singing" live on the EBT awards was HORRID!!!
Mary J. Blige was more emotional and excited singing about Burger King’s Crispy Chicken wrap than 2 Chainz sounds about most anything on “Based On A T.R.U. Story” .
Have I fired you lately?
if not, you fired for this
LMAO
Dunno why everyone's disliking her voice so much. On that Refill song, and the one above, I think it sounds just fine. I do not understand that at all. Love the idea of the fiddle in Refill – never heard that on an r&b tune before.
2 chainz sounds like he licks 9v batteries and pennies for fun.
ma'am