I-20 - Self-Explanatory
Reviewed By: ULTIMATECDLINK
Album Rate: 3.75 out of 5 Stars
I-20 opened up eyes and ears with his baritone voice on Ludacris's hit single "Move Bitch" from the triple platinum "Word Of Mouf" album. Now it's time for the member of Disturbing The Peace to drop his long awaited solo project. The album features Three 6 Mafia, Juvenile, Butch Cassidy, Devin The Dude, Shawnna, Chingy, Tity Boi, & the hit single produced by Lil Jon, "Bread Bread" w/ Ludacris & Bone Crusher.
1. Eyes Open (Intro)-- this one comes with some nice ass beats right off top and I-20 isn't lacking for any confidence as he lets us know that nobody "has enough skymiles to be in his league". Short little intro in which I-20 drops a quick verse.
2. Meet The Dealer (f/ Ludacris)-- "when it comes to this money I'm the main receiver/snatch yo bitch then I aim to please her/lay back puffin on a pound of that cheeba/while I'm listening to the sounds of the dealer". This track has a hard hittin 808 bass pounding bassline. I-20 introduces himself to us once again as yo neighborhood drug dealer. Ludacris lays it down on the hook and is not really needed as the track is plenty tight without him.
3. Fightin In The Club (f/ Tity Boi & Chingy)-- this track was the buzz single released to radio over a year ago and it took off from there. The song was blasted in clubs all over the South and became a bonafide hit prompting I-20 to release a video even though the album was nowhere near completion. Fast forward to late 2004 and it seems as if the I-20 has released an album between now and then. It's a bass pounding track that has caused lots of ruckuses up in the clubs I'm sure. Tity Boi comes nice and Chingy drops a hard ass verse and shows you why DTP scooped him up in the first place. Tight track.
4. The Realest-- this one takes on an old school feel on the beats thanks in part to a "Let Your Hair Down" sample that we've all heard before. The theme remains the same as I-20 declares himself the realest nigga out there--"top 5 dead or alive, off of one 16." Now we don't know about all that but this track is worth checking out.
5. Backstage (f/ Butch Cassidy)-- this one takes you to the heart of the Mississippi blues on the guitar laced beats over the top of booming basslines. I-20 takes a different feel on this more laid back track and West Coast crooner, Butch Cassidy lends his vocals to form a nice collabo track about dealing with the groupies out there.
6. Break Bread (f/ Ludacris & Bone Crusher)-- this is the first official single from the album and what else but do you need but a tight ass Lil Jon beat to get your name out there. Well, I-20 followed that to a T with one of the King Of Crunk's nicest beats you've ever heard. Ludacris and Bone Crusher get ya crunk as fuck with their hypnotic hook "Heyyy, I'm a maniac, call and tell the whole world Mr. Pain is back, so get them thangs out, you better lock up your house, and tell the cops they let the animals out". I-20 comes really tight on the mic as well. Tight track.
7. May Sound Crazy-- this one takes you back old school on the fresh basslines with the sample of the Dramatics single "In The Rain". I-20 tells the tale of how dealin and hustlin is the only way out and to take care of his kids. Now he's decided to give that up and use his words and rhymes to make a more legitimate living in order to get by. Nice track.
8. Hennessey & Hydro (f/ Three 6 Mafia)-- this track has been out a while in Memphis (just like Fightin In The Club) so it's good to see it actually show up on I-20's album. You already know that DJ Paul and Juicy J laced the beat once you hear the tight ass electric guitars intertwined with their signature looping basslines. I-20, DJ Paul, and Juicy J all come correct on their verses and make the song one of the best on the album.
9. Point Em Out (f/ Juvenile)-- this one has a classic old time final countdown type beat featuring a Run DMC sample in it. A-Town hooks up with the N.O. when I-20 collaborates with Juvenile who only appears on the hook. Not really feeling this one too much.
10. So Decatur-- this one has a nice simple bassline and synthesizer beat. I-20 reps for Eastside Atlanta on this one and takes us inside his life in Decatur. From the cars to rims to hoes to the way of life, I-20 tries to make us understand why he's shooting straight from the dec. Nice track.
11. OG Anthem (f/ Butch Cassidy)-- this track also features Butch Cassidy who laces the hook for the second time on the album. I-20 lays it down lettin us know how the gangsters and street niggas do it. It's all the same no matter what hood you from--East, South, West, or North.
12. Slow Fuckin (f/ Shawnna)-- the song title tells you all you need to know what the track will be about. It's DTP's version of a laid back song all about sex and the hook repeating "in-out, in-out, in-out" will be stuck in your head for a while. Worth checkin out as Shawnna steals the spotlight on the track.
13. Kisha-- I-20 switches it up on this track and tells us about Kisha, a girl from the hood who aspires to do more with her life than her no-good family and hopes she doesn't get caught up in the system. Now with no money, she has to use sex to sell her body stripping and make a few dollars. Nice change of pace on this one.
14. Hey Shawty (f/ Devin The Dude)-- I-20 closes the album out with a song featuring the most underrated rapper in the biz, the smooth Devin The Dude. I-20 raps about hooking up, and then tying the knot with his shawty. I-20 and Devin come tight on the mic. One of the best songs on the album right here.
15. The Realest (remix) (featuring Styles P & Sheek Louch)
Overall, the production from Salaam Remi, Lil Jon, DJ Paul & Juicy J, Heatmakerz, Red Spyda, Joe Traxx, & more is definitely on point. In fact, many may say the highlight of the album. More than half of the album is filled with guest appearances which may question if I-20 can really hold down a solo project on his own. Well, this album helps to answer some of those questions as I-20 does hold his own on more than a handful of track but there are not enough solo songs to see if he will always be known as the "deep voiced guy on Luda's song 'Move Bitch'" or if he'll make the successful transition to solo artist and out from under Ludacris' shadow.
I-20 - Self-Explanatory