Juicy J – Hustle Til I Die (6-16-2009)

Posted on Jul 19 in Reviewsby adminPrint

As one of the founding members of the Three 6 Mafia Juicy J has enjoyed a rather successful career on top of a lengthy run at the top of the music charts. Alongside the likes of DJ Paul, Project Pat, Gangsta Boo, Lord Infamous, Lil Wyte, and a slew of others Juicy J has helped completely alter the perception of Memphis rap music for the last decade and a half. However ironic Juicy J is just now releasing the second solo offering of his storied career. Hustle Til I Die not only serves as a piece of music it obviously serves as a testament to Juicy’s intentions from here until the end!

Juicy begins by professing his love for the grind on the opening “Hustle Til I Die” over a standard bass heavy Three 6 backdrop. Before you get a second to blink your eyes Juicy serves up the album’s sensational first single “30 Inches” alongside the likes of his older brother Project Pat and hood star Gucci Mane. Besides an obviously sampled hook the Project Pat assisted “Fiyayaya Weed” could turn out to be a smoker’s favorite depending on ones tolerance for repetition. HCP newcomer V-Slash sounds a little too similar to Yo Gotti but other than that he manages to hold his own on the retro Triple 6 anthem “North Memphis Like Me.”

In a move not yet employed by other rappers Juicy actually denies selling or possessing cocaine or its cousins on the melodic “Ghost Dope.” Though Juicy claims to not be anything close to a dealer he proves to be an avid user as he spits about drink, pills, and weed on the bass heavy “Let’s Get High.” Towards the middle of the album beginning with the Webbie and Project Pat assisted “Ugh Ugh Ugh” as well as the Project Pat assisted “You Niggaz Pussy,” things really start to get boring due to Juicy’s overly repetitive ways.

Things make a turn for the better on the hazy “Purple Kush” where guest Gorilla Zoe does some funky shit to his voice to add to the THC effects while Project Pat’s bars are backed by a much appreciated piano stroll. On the well delivered “That’s What A Pimp Does” Juicy J manages to get back in the frame of his self from earlier in the decade as he writes out the script for modern day mackin. From there Juicy proceeds to lift up skirts on the bruising “You Can Get Murked.”

While Hustle Til I Die is nowhere near a classic album it proves that at least Juicy J still possesses the raw energy and talent to craft the type of Three 6 Mafia songs we’ve all come to love. Of course a little bit of innovation to the bass heavy Memphis sound would do some good every once in awhile. Either way, a true Three 6 fan can’t complain about the overall consistency and deep rooted nature of Juicy J’s second solo album. Unfortunately, in the end this will fall into the camp’s bottom half of offerings!

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