As a founding member of Bad Boys’ Boyz In The Hood collective, Young Jeezy is the first from the crew to go solo, landing a deal with Def Jam after Jay-Z signed him to the label. Since the July release of his debut, we’ve seen Jeezy land rave reviews and chart topping singles, so what’s all the fuss about? There’s not much that separates Young Jeez from many of his other commercial rap contemporaries. He likes his bling, he’s a former (?) drug dealer, he’s a hustler on the grind, and he’s flossy. So again, what’s all the fuss about? 

     Jeezy is pretty much interchangeable with most of the guys you see on Rap City every damn day, however his strengths lie mainly in his adlibs and hooks. Despite the fact that he’s not the most able of lyricists, he makes up for it in good song structure, solid production, and addictive adlibs that will have you singing along (whether you like it or not). Truth be told, when it comes down to it, and summer & fall anthems such the Mannie Fresh assisted “And Then What”, the Jay-Z helmed “Go Crazy”, and the Akon driven “Soul Survivor” come on, you’ll find yourself joining in on the “heeeeeys” and “yeeeeeeeahs”.

     Much of what you haven’t heard on the radio keeps the album together, littered with tales of the infamous struggle and how he’s pulled through it. Unfortunately, he’s done so by posting himself up on the block late at night, and uses much of his album to tell the tales. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting perspective, and with such one-dimensional subject matter, Jeezy finds humorous and interesting ways to describe it. Case in point is on the ceremonial “Standing Ovation”, where he delivers classic lines such as “It flows through my veins, I can’t understand it / infatuation with the birds, I watch Animal Planet”. Again, later on “Go Crazy” he confesses “Like Krispy Kreme, I was cookin them O’s / Like horseshoes, I was tossin’ them O’s”. Not rhyming brilliance, but funny in a sick, detrimental-to-society sort of way. 

      Jeezy plays his position like a young Scarface – the rapper and Pacino’s character. First on “Last of A Daying Breed”, where each he, Trick Daddy, and Young Buck (Cashville, Ten-A-Ki) lend their perspectives on the hustler’s lifestyle; as well as on the title track where a classic sample from the inspirational feel good movie of the 80′s is freaked. He finds time to give the lighter side of the game on the sunny “My Hood”, where he paints a great visual: “Ford Taurus pull up? Everybody ruuuun / White boys jump out, pointin’ with their guuuuuns / Ford Taurus leave? Everybody came back / hope them boys didn’t find my sack!” “Don’t Get Caught”, with one of the best beats on the album – paints a more serious picture of him maintaining his cool when pulled over by a cop with a trunk full of shit. The soulful “Talk To Em” also stands out, as Jeezy remembers his dead homies over a well utilized Frankie Beverly sample. 

     But while Master P got us with the “uuuugh” and Lil Jon got us with the “Yay-Yuh”, Jeezy’s adlibs will only take him so far. While he does have some great lines from time to time - and doesn’t miss on the production tip - he’s easily one of the laziest emcees in the game. Whenever stuck on a rhyme, he spits utterly predictable drivel (“Now I’m your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper / and I’m your favorite trapper’s favorite trapper”) or sometimes doesn’t even try at all (“I come and take the game like John Madden / Cause I played in the game like John Madden”). This unfortunately happens many more times than once throughout the album, making it easy for his guests, such as T.I. (“Bang”) and Bun B (“Trap Or Die”) to steal the spotlight. 

     So, treat this as hip-hop junk food, or a big budget summer popcorn flick. We all know there is better stuff out there, with more time, thought, and honor put into it, but if you want something that is quick, easy, and not that good for you, it’s either this or crack, both which can be obtained from Jeezy.