That’s a name that will make some Christians uncomfortable. The first time I saw the title I was intrigued. I heard the track “U Are All”, and after the second verse I was hooked. Now I’m sitting here listening to HP2 and doing my best to give it a fair shake. I can honestly say that I never saw it coming.
Intro (Homecoming) feat. Eshon Burgundy
The Track This beat is phenomenal. It’s cinematic. It’s dark. It’s fitting. This is how you make theme music. It’s filled w/ subtle additives that heighten the experience of the listener without detracting from the overall fluidity of the track. They supplement the track, they don’t consume it. Take note post production people.
The MC Eshon does his thing on this piece. I’ve seen others call it spoken word…I guess you could call it that. I wouldn’t. I’m amazed to see how well Eshon lives in the music. He just feels natural. He makes it sound like he’s the only person that could do what he’s doing. His words are abstract…which is a good thing. Lyrics should make you think. I appreciate music that doesn’t cater to our short attention span. To steal something from someone on twitter, he’s like the “Hitchcock” of HP2. I agree.
Welcome to H-Town II (feat Lecrae, Shei Atkins, and Von Won)
The Track It’s nice to hear a beat maintain the punch of the original while demonstrating a clear “pick-me-up”. From dropping certain instrumentals at the right time, to adding some spice w/ a slightly more up tempo synth in the background of the hook, it’s clear that this is Weltcome to H-Town with a little extra sugar, spice, and everything nice.
The Singer I don’t know that I’ve ever heard Shei Atkins before. I honestly feel like I can’t give her a fair shake in this review. Her voice was highly processed, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but a different thing. I want to be honest here and say that I don’t like the flavor it added. More so at the end of the track than on the hook. I also want to add that my opinion is highly subjective. I have a very hard time listening to certain talented artists when they do this to their voice. My final thought is this: if you like that kind of a sound, you will enjoy the new flavor. If you don’t, it will take away from the Motown feel of the original that we all loved so much.
The Other Singer In Welcome to H-Town II, I feel like Von Won was able to show that he can actually lay it down w/ a silky bassy blues undercurrent. I’m glad that Wit dropped out the majority of the instruments for the beginning of the track. Sometimes you have to let a track breath so artists can be the BULK of what is being heard. Wit did that here and VonWon did his thing. I love that raw sound.
The MC(s) With lines like “The stories a little bit more than what it seems, it has some depth, It’s like I’ve waken’ up form a dream, quiet as kept”, Dre goes on to explain what some people may have criticized him about: Writing about H-Town while living in Oklahoma. I think he does a good job of explaining that his heart is in H-Town, but the Lord, in His providence has moved him elsewhere. To “explain anymore would be a waste of breath”. Dre paints a clear picture of concern and heartbreak for the city that produced him. I also really like the few bars that Dre used to keep you off balance until Crae came in…
Lecrae bodies his verse. To truly appreciate it you have to understand Houston. Having listened to a lot of Paul Wall and Mike Jones won’t cut it. Lecrae spits a 16 that proves he is truly a Houston native. Although he’s been to Texas, Memphis, and now the A, he’s still prayen’ that the Lord would “Intervene”.
Don’t Do It (feat. Jito)
The Track Dear Lord. This sample is on a hunned quadrillion. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Wit uses samples like they’re supposed to be used. More to come on that towards the end of the review. Let’s just say the sample drives the track. Like it should.
The MC(s)
Jito is refreshing. He sounds like he should be rapping. For that reason, I think it’s dope when I hear him and Dre on a track. With lines like “I refuse to steal from someone who’s doen’ as bad as me”, you can see why he’s on this track. That’s the type of lyric that comes from a man who’s lived a life. A man who has acquired wisdom. Perfect addition to a dope track. “It was either have faith, wait, or starve”. I’ve been there, Jito. Thanks for transparent music.
Dre brings the usual realness. “Forget a 9 to 5, I’m in over drive, what you hearen’ right now…this is overtime”. As an indy artist I feel that line like a blow to the diaphragm. It’s incredibly difficult to grind as a full time father, husband and employee. Add to that a passion like music, which has the potential to be all consuming, and you have a recipe for danger. Dre uses other illustrations to show us that “he’s doing all he can” in this crazy world. He’s just trying to stand. That’s grown folks poetry. If you’re 14 and reading this review on your moms laptop you won’t understand the depth of this track. You will one day, and if you still listen to it I promise you…it will be beautiful music to the ears of your heart.
Switch Me Up (feat. Swoope and Cam)
The Track I love low pass. I hate when people over do it. I think Wit used it VERY wisely. Low pass is best used like sprinkling on the top of the musical cupcake. It adds flavor and flair. I also feel like this track does what few can: create feelings of joy, hopefulness and melancholy. At the same time.
The Singer Cam put a sleeper hold on this hook. For some reason, when I think of Cam, I don’t think of him being the guy to be on this track. Well, he is the guy. He made this track what it is. He made it great. I’m so tired of whack hooks that are devoid of any meaning, skill, or consistency w/ the track they are put on. This one was refreshing.
The MC(s) Swoope did his thing, as usual. I’ve been a fan of Swoope’s lyricism since The Zoo. I tried to put cats on to him but they was acten’ like he was drawn. I’m glad to see his quadrupled metaphors/similes/double entendres are being recognized for what they are: sick lyricism. “Zombies whippen’ a herse w/ some rims on it / anytime he mentions the church they spit flim on it / them ballen’ / sippen the embalmen / in his grave but still feelen’ that him fallen”. Need I say more?
Dre: “Lies screaming at him ‘YOU WILL DIE HERE’”. I’m guessin’ that’s what Dre was told at one point. Why am I guessing that? Because, I was told the same thing. That’s the kind of line that is only written by someone who has lived that life. It’s lines like this one that set Dre apart from other CHH artists who are, honestly, just trying to play the part. Dre does a nice job letting us know that we can’t “Convince ourselves that we like it at the bottom”. Again, that’s the type of music that can only be written’ by someone who has lived in that reality. Sin is the bottom. The neighborhood that I grew up in is the bottom. Everyone who lived there, once they were convinced there was no way out, began to tell themselves they liked it there. Funny thing is, when dudes had the opportunity to jump ship, they ALWAYS did.
Dark Knight Rises
Track This is an amazing track. I don’t know what kinda drum kits Wit uses, or if he mixes his drums in a special way (yes, you mix your instrumentals too), but I’m not hearen’ cats with snares like this. Maybe they gottem’ but they just afraid to put in some serious work with ‘em. The sample, of course, is chiquita bananas.
MC This is one of the dopest hooks I’ve heard in a long time. S/O to Dre for maken’ music that sounds hood without maken’ music that sounds like he’s tryen’ to make it sound hood. Did I lose you there? His Bobby Brown bars are what we need more of. I’m sure they will be missed by everyone under the age of 21. The fact is, Dre murked this track and it was a great way to close HP2: Welcome Home.
Final Thoughts
There are so many reasons why this is a five star album. I’ll just list them in no particular order.
1. Wit’s instrumentals are phenomenal. He is making music that sounds NOTHING like anything else being heard right now. He avoids the mistake that many producers make: Using a dope sample and then killing it by mixing the track so that the drums overpower the sample. A dope sample should drive the track, not supplement it.
2. Dre writes real life music. He’s a grown man with a full time J-O, not a young twenty something full time rapper, so his real life music REALLY IS real life music. Did I lose you, again?
3. They have a synergism that I’ve yet to hear elsewhere (at least in CHH). Maybe Young Josh and Wes P….but that’s a different beast entirely.
4. Hell’s Paradise is an experience. It really is. You “live in” the music more than you listen to it.
5. Wit makes music that can convey emotion with no lyrical accompaniment. Beautifully powerful instrumentals that you can swim in…
6. I think this is music that can actually cross the ‘Secular’/’Christian’ divide.
Some of y’all may be thinking “Dang, this dude got feelings for Wit and Dre…a whole review with only one critique?” I understand that. So let me be completely transparent right now. I’m friends with Wit, he produced around eighty percent of my album “Chaos and Pain” (shameless plug), and I like….no…I love dark music. So, if you think that I’m not being completely objective, there’s something you can point to. Still, I stand by my thoughts.
Beautiful music, gypsies, beautiful indeed.
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kvngbbns reblogged this from deathbybillions
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iqwitmusic reblogged this from deathbybillions and added:
Sean Demars. So well-written. Not because it’s positive…but because...understood...
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