August 03, 2005 @ 2:06 pm

Joe Budden - The Growth (Def Jam)

Jayson Rodriguez

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On the first single, “Gangsta Party,” Budden attempts to move the masses. But the brooding production, along with Nate Dogg’s unusually insipid singing, makes it hard to boogie to the beat. The cheesy “Sacred,” featuring Marques Houston, fares no better with its synth-heavy sound. And while a slew of top-notch beatsmiths including Timbaland and Kwame, contribute, their selections are uncharacteristically sparse and listless.

The Jersey MC rebounds nicely, though, on the rock-influenced “Knock Knock” as he fires off verbal warning shots: “If they certified gangstas, who’s giving out the certificates?” And the gripping “Three Sides” finds him delivering a twisted saga from the perspectives of three different observers.

Budden’s delivery on The Growth remains solid, but weighted down by poor production and shallow material, he doesn't show much expansion at all.

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Article tags: Joe Budden, Nate Dogg, Marques Houston 

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