Over the last decade St. Louis has staked its claim in the rap game through the efforts of rappers such as Nelly, Chingy, and the St. Lunatics. After a few slumping years the STL has finally put a new face on the screen this summer. With his first single “Pop, Lock, and Drop It” 19 year old Huey has proven he is here and ready to put a new spin on the game. Of course tough critics will be quick to dismiss the teen sensation as just another one of this year’s one hit wonders, but if Huey has his way then you’ll be hearing more and more of him inside and outside of the club.

The album’s intro suggests that this will be another happy-go-lucky STL release but on the first official track “Bout Dat” Huey sets a much darker and more commanding tone. The Bakery Productions who are responsible for the aforementioned “Bout Dat” are subsequently the individual’s who managed to hit the summer with one of its biggest hits in Huey’s infectious first single “Pop, Lock, and Drop It”. Even strong production can’t stop Huey’s lyrical deficiencies from bleeding through on the watered down “Closet Full Of Clothes”, yet he finds a way to keep his listener tuned in by taking the attention off his lyrics and placing it on the beats and his delivery on satisfactory tracks like “Tell Me This” and the Yo Gotti and Diamond (Crime Mob) assisted “Money Ova”. On the horn heavy “My Zone” Huey details some of the struggles he encountered during his recent childhood in a very convincing and grown tone. The bassy and sappy Raw Beatz produced “Luv N Ya Life” has the capability of smashing the 106th & Park countdown for at least a few weeks. On “Nobody Loves The Hood” producer Stargate uses the General Hospital piano riff as Huey successfully pens his most socially conscious gem on the album. The disc closes out on a very strong note as Florida crooner T-Pain lays down a smooth hook alongside Huey’s refreshing new deal on life on “Glad 2 Be Alive”.

Mr. “Pop, Lock, and Drop It” may have just turned in one of the biggest surprises of ’07 with his rather delightful debut set. Unlike some of his rookie counterparts Huey managed to not only lock down some ring tone sales, he was able to display his unadulterated hit making abilities on a number of Notebook Paper’s cuts. While artist such as Rich Boy and MIMS held things down with only one monster single Huey has at least three more solid tracks that could make just as much if not more noise than his current single. Though he is not as lyrically gifted or as charismatic as fellow STLien Nelly, Huey will be able to cement his name in the forefront of the Louie scene because of his aggressive delivery and his keen ear for what works beat wise. After this one Huey should be hard at work flipping through a different kind of paper!

VERDICT – 12 / 20 
LYRICS: 2
PRODUCTION: 4
DELIVERY: 3
CONSISTENCY: 3