“I even went and got the live band…”
When people criticize the fall in quality of Hip-Hop albums, they usually cite the loss of the one artist-one producer format. That practice has been resurrected over the last few years not just for art’s sake, but because budgets have dried up and its become a necessity for cost-effectiveness. One artist I’ve always thought would benefit most from this is Jadakiss, whose never had problems with hot 16s, but always seems to falter when it comes to delivering a hot 16 songs. The latter isn’t a problem here, as we’re dealing with a focused Jada delivering a N.E.R.D. song remake of all things with “Lil Bruh.”
N.E.R.D. fans will recall this beat from the song “God Bless Us All.” Pharell has taken his far share of hits for some of his recent production, particularly the lead tracks for Game’s R.E.D. album. They were so poorly received that Game’s LP has remained in purgatory for over a year. But with his N.E.R.D. projects, Pharell is just a little more daring and free creatively. The pressure of crafting that contrived, radio-friendly single is not there. This beat has the things that we loved about the Neptunes/Pharell: catching melodies and easy-going choruses. The music is something you can easily envision The Clipse rhyming over, particularly circa their first album.
Far as the lyrics, Jada goes with the original song’s motif of schooling a young boy on the rules and pitfalls of the game. The first verse has you thinking he’s talking about the music business. By the second it becomes evident the advice is about more illicit activity. It’s Jada, so you can excuse the D-Block founding member for not speaking much on an exit plan besides “save your money.”
Do I think Pharrell is the one producer Jadakiss needs? It’s hard to say. A lot of his recent work hasn’t set the world on fire. But with the Clipse, he has a track record of showing he can deliver quality production with emcees in the vein of Jada’s style. And Pharrell’s name is known enough for Jada’s label, Def Jam, to allow it. We know him linking up with a Premier or Pete Rock is not happening.
JADAKISS X PHARRELL “LIL BRUH” [TAGS]
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 