By Odeisel

With the release of his third major label project, Ace Hood stands ready to be accepted as a legitimate streets tested, market approved artist. The new project, Blood Sweat & Tears is a compact work for of passion, hard rhyming and genuine sentiment that may move a few of his detractors to the cosign list.

There are a few big records on the album including recent single “Go N Get It” and monster jam “Hustle Hard” (as well as its Weezy and Rick Ross remix). Both records are in the vein of those recent Ross/Lex Luger collaborations but Ace’s aggressive impassioned delivery give them a different energy than Ross’ laid back cool.

There is an air of finally-made-it as Ace gives you a peek into the life he led before the paper. His songs are laced with the desperation attached to eviction notices(“Lord Knows”), murdered friends (“Memory Lane”) paternal abandonment, the ice cold streets (“Bitter World”), babies on the way without a way to pay and other disparate elements that combine to put pressure on a man trying to find his way in the world.

Hood’s emotional intelligence and ability to properly convey that desperation is what sets him apart from other rappers in his weight class. These issues aren’t displayed as garnish to explain ignorant behavior, but set in plain view as the motivation for his work ethic. When he evokes the Higher Power it doesn’t feel empty or contrived, but a genuine gratitude for his deliverance.

Hood’s range is illustrated on the very slick “Letter To My Ex’s.” It isn’t the first song of its kind but Ace injects humor, a dash of rejection and bitterness into his aggressive flow as he recounts a relationship gone shit from sugar. “Beautiful” is a saccharine song for the ladies that skirts the line between credible and corny but stays on the right side for most of it.

The album does have some flaws. There is some repetition of themes, but that’s mitigated by the album’s brevity. He also has too much skill to rely on the slow Ross flow on as many songs as he does.

Blood Sweat & Tears is a strong, human album that emotes earnestly and bumps hard when necessary. Ace Hood has crafted a work that real people can relate to,the trucks and the clubs can knock to and radio can rock to. Salute him for it. Third time’s the charm.
 3.75 out of 5

Follow Odeisel on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/odeisel

Follow Us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/planetill

Join Us on the Planet Ill Facebook Group for more discussion