Review: 15 Thoughts On MMG's 'Self Made Vol. 3' LP
Like Jewish holidays, compilation albums from Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group have become a yearly thing. And with that, the crew is already back with the third installment of their Self Made series. But perhaps there is more riding on this project than in years past, because Ross is still feeling the after-effects of the fallout from his “U.O.E.N.O.” rape lyric controversy, Lil Snupe, a member of Meek Mill’s Dreamchasers label, was shot and killed in June, and the collective’s newest member, Rockie Fresh, hasn’t really caught on with listeners yet. In general, you get the sense that MMG, while certainly still dominant, has cooled off a bit. Will Self Made Vol. 3 get them back on track? —Paul Cantor
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1. You have to appreciate the inclusion of the recently-deceased Lil Snupe right at the beginning of the album. “Lil Snupe Intro” is a reworking of “Made It The Top,” a Snupe song which has been floating around for a few months. The original version might actually be better—it’s more soulful and organic-sounding—but this is still a tough record and a great way to kick things off.
2. Unlike most music critics—particularly goofy white ones who champion rappers who display a certain degree of youthful ignorance and recklessness in real life—Gunplay’s one artist whose bandwagon I’ve yet to jump on. He’s just never been that compelling to me. That could soon change. He really makes a case for himself on “Gallardo,” with a stellar verse, and later he outshines Fabolous, Rockie Fresh and Ross on “The Great Americans.” These are two of the better songs on the LP.
3. Meek Mill is still yelling at me and “Levels” is still great.
4. Omarion seems really preoccupied with cunnilingus. He references it in “Say Don’t Go,” and and also in “Know You Better." “Are you the type to kiss me, right after I eat it?” he asks in the latter song. Great question. Well, will you?
5. Not quite sure how MMG secured Lil Boosie’s verse on “Lay It Down,” but presumably it’s something that was either rapped over the phone (doubtful), already released (plausible) or recorded years ago and was sitting on an old hard drive (probable). I’m far from a Boosie scholar so I’d be hard-pressed to tell you if the verse was already out there. “Lay It Down” is a tad formulaic—think minor fifths, harmonically—but it has just enough variation to keep things interesting, which seems to be a trend here.
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6. Wasn’t expecting much from him but Stalley surprisingly shows up. “Coupes and Roses” finds him remembering his days hustling for sneakers and the like. Now he’s moved on to finer things. The song really breaks up what could be perceived as a monotonous project. Never thought I’d say this, but MMG could be utilizing his talents, particularly his natural propensity for introspection, much better. They do it on occasion (“Fountain of Youth,” on Vol. 2), but could be doing it more.
7. What distinguishes one Maybach Music Group album from another? Tough to say. The sound of rap music hasn’t changed all that much in a year—really, it hasn’t changed that much since “B.M.F.,” in 2010—and you really do get the sense here that they’re taking a workmanlike approach to the records. Just pumping them out, basically.
8. “Poor Decisions” leaked a while ago but Lupe Fiasco’s verse is still poignant as ever and Wale is still, well, Wale. “I can’t tell you about that H, dude/ But I can tell you about this hate, dude.” Do tell, sir. Because people really fucking hate this guy. I’m not one of them—I think he’s alright—but I really wish he would have went in here about what it feels like to go from most celebrated to most hated in such a short period of time. He’s done it before, but it wouldn’t hurt to hear it again. That topic never gets old and would give people more reasons to talk shit about him. Which they love to do.
9. Not terribly mad at the Rockie Fresh songs. “What Ya Used To” is somewhat forgettable—the beat is really not very inventive—and so is “God is Great.” And yet still you can’t help but hear the lyrics on the latter tune and be sort of amused. “Yeah, oh man, look at me/I'm becoming everything I wish I be/I got bitches, I got cake/Wake up everyday and I say: 'God is great.'” Cute!
10. “Black Grammys” sounds like some soulful Roc-A-Fella shit from 2003. I almost thought I was about to hear Beanie Sigel, Freeway and Young Neef come on after Wale. No dice, though. Had to settle for Meek Mill, Rockie Fresh and J. Cole. Not mad (okay, maybe just a little).
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11. I like when Meek Mill invokes the term “Bout That Life” much more than when Miley Cyrus does it. The song bearing the same name is pretty great.
12. Ross’ makes his presence felt without wearing out his welcome. He offers ad-libs on many of the tracks that he doesn’t rap on, and the ones that he does are typical bawse fare. Lots of boasting and bragging about his extravagant lifestyle. I often wonder about when his schtick will get tired, and yet it never does. See: “Stack On My Belt” about—you guessed it—spending a stack on a belt.
13. The beats on the whole could have been better. Hit-Boy, Jake One, and Boi-1da, among others, get behind the boards, and yet you really get the sense that there isn’t one truly memorable beat here. “Levels” is probably the closest thing you’ll get to that. They’re all good, just not particularly amazing. You’ve heard all these beats before. Not the exact ones, but similar. On the last MMG album, and a variety of the crew’s other projects.
14. Is Fabolous going to become a member of Maybach Music Group? He shows up on two songs here (“Know You Better” and “The Great Americans”) and doesn’t sound all that out of place. He could add some New York flavor to the collective, and all things considered, his career could really use a reboot right now.
15. Conclusion: It’s a compilation album and compilations are notoriously hit or miss. You can’t even judge them the same way you might judge a traditional album. Vol. 3 is not unlike Vol. 1 and 2. If you’ve heard those albums and were a fan, you’ll probably like this release. If you’re looking for something different from MMG, you’ve really come to the wrong place. And ultimately that may be why the crew is starting to show its legs. There’s only so long you can do the same thing before people invariably want to hear something else. Vol 3. isn’t bad—it’s pretty good, in fact—it’s just not going anywhere these artists haven’t already been. And that’s disappointing.
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