2008 Woodie Awards
Rocko's album 'Self-Made' sounds like everything else
Trent Dilts
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Entertainment
Currently, throughout the hip hop community; there is a lack of lyricism and thought put into each album released. More ring tones and singles are being sold than actual albums. Artists today aren't going platinum off of album sales; they're simply creating one corny single and selling over a million ring tones. The digital world has definitely had its effect on the music industry, just look at the declining number of artists with platinum album sales.
Rapper Rocko hails from Atlanta, and is a southern emcee who takes his latest release, "Self-Made" and disappoints the listeners, further discrediting the dirty south with another disappointing southern release. The southern region of hip-hop has had a lot of disappointing albums in the past four or five years. Only stellar albums like UGK's "Underground Kings," Ludacris' "Release Therapy," and Devin the Dudes "Waiting to Inhale" have really stood out from the heavily criticized south.
Rocko doesn't seem to notice what makes these albums so great: the creative song ideas, the thought put into each and every line in each verse and the overall great music that made those albums classics, or pseudo-classics, that listeners will remember for years to come.
With his first single, "Umma Do Me," Rocko has all the ingredients for a hit single, a catchy hook and a bass driven beat. Despite the two upsides to this track, the lyrics are horrible, horrendous and terrible. Yes, all three at the same time.
Every word is so simple, and his flow sounds exactly like fellow Atlanta rappers Shawty Lo, and Young Jeezy. This being said, it is ironic that Rocko talks mostly about doing his own thing, and having his own style on this song. Yet, he continues to do what every other southern rapper has done, and talk about his women, cars and money. Sorry Rocko, that's not you doing you, that is you doing everybody else.
Despite the lack of effort on "Umma Do Me's," lyrics, the next track on the album tries to slow things down a bit with a guest appearance by R&B singer Lloyd called "Hustle Fo." On this track Rocko attempts to explain how he made it in the rap game but there's one flaw and that's the beat sounds exactly the same as his first single, poorly disguised by adjustments on a couple bass lines and sound effects. Lloyd's singing on this track is the standout, but Rocko flops in his non-creative rhymes. He does however get his point across, by perpetuating the lack originality, which seems to be missing in hip-hop.
Rapper Rocko hails from Atlanta, and is a southern emcee who takes his latest release, "Self-Made" and disappoints the listeners, further discrediting the dirty south with another disappointing southern release. The southern region of hip-hop has had a lot of disappointing albums in the past four or five years. Only stellar albums like UGK's "Underground Kings," Ludacris' "Release Therapy," and Devin the Dudes "Waiting to Inhale" have really stood out from the heavily criticized south.
Rocko doesn't seem to notice what makes these albums so great: the creative song ideas, the thought put into each and every line in each verse and the overall great music that made those albums classics, or pseudo-classics, that listeners will remember for years to come.
With his first single, "Umma Do Me," Rocko has all the ingredients for a hit single, a catchy hook and a bass driven beat. Despite the two upsides to this track, the lyrics are horrible, horrendous and terrible. Yes, all three at the same time.
Every word is so simple, and his flow sounds exactly like fellow Atlanta rappers Shawty Lo, and Young Jeezy. This being said, it is ironic that Rocko talks mostly about doing his own thing, and having his own style on this song. Yet, he continues to do what every other southern rapper has done, and talk about his women, cars and money. Sorry Rocko, that's not you doing you, that is you doing everybody else.
Despite the lack of effort on "Umma Do Me's," lyrics, the next track on the album tries to slow things down a bit with a guest appearance by R&B singer Lloyd called "Hustle Fo." On this track Rocko attempts to explain how he made it in the rap game but there's one flaw and that's the beat sounds exactly the same as his first single, poorly disguised by adjustments on a couple bass lines and sound effects. Lloyd's singing on this track is the standout, but Rocko flops in his non-creative rhymes. He does however get his point across, by perpetuating the lack originality, which seems to be missing in hip-hop.
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Rich Girl
posted 4/04/08 @ 6:55 PM EST
I agree the only song I like is Thugs Need Love.The only reason I like it is because my girl Monica is singing on it.As a matter of fact that is the best part. (Continued…)
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