J-Kwon – Hood Hop 2 (2-24-2009)

Posted on Mar 20 in Reviewsby adminPrint

So far 2009 seems to be the year that all rappers who haven’t dropped in a half-decade or so are finding the time to finally put in some work. J-Kwon, whose last effort was his 2004 debut Hood Hop hasn’t even been on the minds of basically anybody since everyone managed to survive that horrific summer 2004 forced hit “Tipsy.” Back then a catchy single could be a predestined catapult to a million records sold, now it just means that you might be the subject of a million and one  message board posts. 

J-Kwon starts his sophomore set off on a half way sour note as he comes with that annoying ass “er” pronunciation that them St. Louis boys come with. The production behind “Welcome 2 Da Hood Hop 2” makes it a certified trunk pleaser, which nearly saves all of the tracks credibility. Another 90’s certified beat is the catalyst for any forward progress on the encore track “Problemz He Don’t Wantem.” Even rock solid production can’t save tracks such as “”Fuck What You Tell Me” and “Rapper Of The Year” from the depths of J Kwon’s injured ass lyrical delivery.

It’s clearly evident, to me at least, that this album will serve a great purpose as a very intoxicated, blowed, rollin, and utterly annoying masterpiece of sonic soundscapes by the album’s midpoint “Jockin.” It’s the repetitious “Money” where the strong production halts and J-Kwon’s elementary concepts are very exposed to a rather disgruntled listening party. On the aforementioned “Money” J-Kwon shows just how fucked up his perception of his life is when he speaks, “It’s only four rappers Kwon, Tip, Jigga, Carter!” Fool get for real!

After that last slip up of a track J-Kwon comes back with the album’s most appreciated yet shortest effort with the heavily 90’s laced “Food 4 Thought.” For the most part the album’s beats make up for J-Kwon’s severely lacking skills but that feeling can’t be felt on tracks such as “I Told You” which actually has a bangin beat, nor the all around shit cake effort “Aint Shit.” The album closes out in pretty much the same fashion it opened up in. Great beats and garbage man swagger is the story on both “Promotions” and “4 Sho I’m From St. Louis.”

Throughout Hood Hop 2 J-Kwon refers to himself as the best rapper out, of course this is a method we’ve seen work well for the likes of 2 Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, TI, and Lil Wayne; unfortunately however, when it’s all said and done we wont be saying the same for J-Kwon.  His sophomore effort is filled with beats that pack enough punch to take out Kimbo Slice’s big butter soft ass. Yet at the end and the beginning of the day it’s J-Kwon’s silly, sloppy, sorry, sucked up, and salty ass rap lyrics that will probably make this the best worst album of 2009!

VERDICT –  10 / 20
LYRICS: 1
PRODUCTION: 4
DELIVERY: 2
CONSISTENCY: 3