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For
most teams, it’s hard to overcome the loss of star players.
Just look at the Bulls without Michael and Scottie. For
record companies, it’s even harder to rebound when
platinum-selling artists bounce. 19 year old Dwayne Carter
aka Lil’ Wayne attempts to put Cash Money back on track as New
Orleans’ #1 record label with his latest release 500
Degreez. Just a couple years ago, Juvenile had chicks
backin’ that azz up, and B.G. was bling blingin’ Cash Money to
multi-platinum success. Now, with their two top artists gone,
and a totally revamped lineup, can CMB still bring the heat?
Recent signings of Mack 10, TQ, and Major Figgas can only help
overcome the loss of Cash Money’s two most popular MC’s. With
the additions of producers Jazze Pha (Too Short, Nappy Roots,
Snoop Dogg) and Rodney Jerkins (Mariah Carey, Brandy,
Destiny’s Child), CMB should find themselves back on top in no
time.
500 Degreez is classic Cash Money with super producer
Mannie Fresh droppin’ fire instrumentals to go along with
Wayne’s steadily improving flow. CMB always had the dopest
intros for their CD’s, and “Fly Talkin” featuring the
Big Tymers continues this trend. Lil’ Wheezy proves that
he’s still “the heart of New Orleans” on “Gangstas and
Pimps”, one of the albums standout tracks. On “Young’n
Blues”, Wayne explains the ups and downs of young love over a
bluesy Mannie Fresh track. Wayne shows his skills have gotten
better as he spits lines like “streets make the hustlas/
hustlas make the world go ‘round/ the world is made of keys,
ounces, and pounds” on “Bloodline”. Other bangers on
the CD include “Look at Me”, and the title track.
One of the albums’ few drawbacks are the two Big Tigger
interludes (“Big Tigger Live on the Radio”) and songs like
“Lovely” and “Worry Me”, which are just lukewarm
compared to other joints on 500 Degreez. Wayne gets
help from TQ and the Big Tymers on the albums’ first single
“Way of Life”. Using his first sample ever, Fresh takes
that familiar beat from Dennis Edwards’ “Don’t Look Any
Further” that 2Pac, Junior Mafia, and D12 made famous. NC’s
finest, Petey Pablo joins the Birdman Jr. to kick some
“Gangsta Shit” over some blistering hi hats straight from
the Dirty.
Another sign of Wheezy’s
maturity is the few guest spots on the CD. Wayne is able to
hold his own for 48 bars on most of the 21-track album. The
production (mainly by Fresh, with a couple Jazze Pha joints)
is on point, rivaling both 400 Degreez and Chopper
City in the Ghetto. Cash Money needed to make a
statement with 500 Degreez, and that’s what they did.
With the new artists and producers on their team, Cash Money
should still be stunnin’ for a long time to come.
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