YOUNG JEEZY - The Inspiration | Review By: Conan Milne


Release Date : December 12 2006

Label : Def Jam

Rating: 4/5

Dub Quotable: Young Jeezy has a talent that even the notoriously exclusive alternative crowd would be hard pressed to deny. Expect his allowance into their ranks any day now.

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When the alternative crowd, normally dismissive of commercial Hip-Hop artists, chooses to embrace such an act, it can come as a surprise. Last year, Clipse’s Hell Hath No Fury was hailed a classic LP by heads and hipsters alike, despite the duos tendency to glamorize the hustling of crack. Considering the vast amount of coke-referencing MCs in full view only makes Clipse’s crossover acceptance all the more baffling. Sure, their album was an excellent effort, but why specifically them? Why not equally unforgiving acts like the self-professed ‘snowman,’ Young Jeezy? With new album The Inspiration having recently debuted atop the Billboard charts, there’s no better time to get acquainted with ATL’s trap-rapper.

Like his alternative-accepted peers, Jeezy does drug rap well. He does it so well that his music rarely qualifies as a guilty pleasure. This is just as well since, like the listener, Jeezy isn’t feeling much remorse for his cocaine referencing. On the typically merciless “Go Getta,” his raspy wail dominates a swirling, seesaw production heavy on crisp drums and slight synthesizer punches. The track is a perfect showcase for Jeezy’s hoarse tones, and only proves that his distinctive voice makes any lyric fascinating. The Snowman is both hurt and good-humored when he laments, “Enemy of the state/They calling me Will Smith/Thing on my hip – you can call that Jada.” His dry punch-line delivered with a slow roll of the tongue, it’s hard not to raise a smile as you picture Jeezy’s own satisfied smirk. It’s equally difficult to condemn the posturing artist when he adamantly snaps, “I’ma stay thugging ‘til the cops come get me.” With ridiculous chants like this a common occurrence, the man walks the line between genuine gangster and pantomime villain and comes off somewhere in between, an affable menace.

Quite how he ends up with this unique persona is hard to pinpoint. Call it a confidence. Call it a voice that evokes images of scratches and skunk. Call it a presence that many a rap star would trade all the Maybachs in the world for. Call it a cut-the-bullshit, lets-get-down-to-business rhyme stance. Whatever it is, Young Jeezy has a talent that even the notoriously exclusive alternative crowd would be hard pressed to deny. Expect his allowance into their ranks any day now.









 

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