The Dan Rather of the ‘hood is back. After two major label albums, Young Jeezy has built a reputation as hip hop’s number one rapping analyst, reporting directly from the front lines of traps in his hometown of Atlanta and abroad. On his third album, The Recession (Def Jam), the thug motivator is staying true to from, encouraging blue-collar workers to keep their heads above the economy’s high waters. He endorses Barack Obama, rides Lamborghinis, smooth talks women, and of course, says hello to a bevy haters on the 18-track set.
On “What They Want,” Jeezy plays professor to the streets. “This is what they want. They know that’s what they gettin’. They ask me what I do. I tell ‘em I’m teaching for a living,” he raps during the chorus.
The highlight of the album is the sample-laden “Let the Dollar Circulate”. Produced by Don Cannon, the ‘70s soul track is driven by horns and Motown era drums in addition to Jeezy laying down the code of the trap, line by line.
“Look out for my boys/No homo/Can’t tell ‘em what you’re told/That’s a no-no,” he says in his signature gravely, southern drawl.
There are songs that whip the club in to a frenzy like the triumphant, Kanye West assisted “Put On,” but when it was time to make the song for the afterparty, Young Jeezy turned to R&B wonder Trey Songz. On “Takin’ It There” he and a pretty, tipsy woman move from a rowdy club to get to know each other a lot better at a more intimate location on.
Jeezy’s improvement as a lyricist is obvious. It’s almost hard to believe that there was a time when the highlights of his songs were his adlibs. This time around Jeezy the Snowman has proven he won’t melt under the pressure of flashing lights. Is this an album we should be checking for when it drops on September 2? Yeaaah.
Tracklist for The Recession
1) The Recession (Intro) – (Produced by Toomp)
2) *Crazy World – (Produced by Midnight Black)
3) By the Way – (Produced by TA)
4) What They Want – (Produced by Midnight Black)
5) Amazin’ – (Produced by Drumma Boy)
6) Hustlaz Ambition – (Produced by Drumma Boy)
7) Who Dat – (Produced by Shawtty Red)
8) Don’t You Know – (Produced by Midnight Black)
9) Let the Dollar Circulate – (Produced by Don Cannon)
10) Word Play – (Produced by Justice League)
11) Takin’ It There (Feat. Trey Songz) – (Produced by Fat Boy)
12) Errything (Feat. Anthony Hamilton, Lil Bootsie) – (Produced by Street Marketing)
13) **Vacation – (Produced by DJ Nasty)
14) Don’t Do It – (Produced by Lavish Life)
15) Get Allot – Produce by CKP (Produced by Crown Kingz Production)
16) *+Put On (Feat. Kanye West) – (Produced by Drumma Boy)
17) My President – (Produced by Da Bizness Productions)
18) Done It – (Produced by Justice League)
Bonus
19) *Put On (Remix Feat. Jay-Z) – (Produced by Drumma Boy)
ITunes Extras
20) Showtime – (Produced by Midnight Black)
21) Welcome Back – (Produced by Speedy)
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*Click on the song title listen to these select tracks
*+Click on the song title to watch the video for these select tracks
** Listen to "Vacation" by Young Jeezy
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