By Craig Frazier
Joseph Cartagena has been a major figure in Hip-Hop since he first hit the scene with his 1993 debut album Represent. This year, saddled with IRS woes, the Terror Squad boss is back, both gut and pockets lighter, with a new album, Dun Got Slim. Joe remains one of the busiest artists in Hip-Hop, with a long resume of accomplished work, who has always been able deliver a great street anthem while blending Hip-Hop with R&B.
The album begins with Joe doing his thing with R. Kelly on We The Best, a return to the aesthetic of We Thuggin, from his 2001 a critically-acclaimed, platinum selling album: Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) and one of Joe’s biggest hits. Aside from this, the only other song that comes close to Joe’s former hit-making glory is All I Have, a rhapsodic love rap and one of the better tracks on the album.
The majority of the album is weighed down by typical Fat Joe content from his earliest incarnations, filler songs that feature raps about guns, money, and drugs. Add a couple of throw back tracks and guests appearances by guess rappers including Young Jeezy, Nas, Jadakiss and it makes for a typical Fat Joe Album, minus the hit-heavy songs of his mid-career run.
Enimen, Mase, Lil Wayne and Lil Jon do their thing on Freestyle, a reworking of the Joe’s monster hit Lean Back. The song is a decent attempt to recapture a time when Terror Squad was one of the crews synonymous with New York City Hip-Hop. Similarly, Wu-Tang meets Terror Squad on Free Flow, with Big Pun and Raekwon sampled on the hook.
Winding Me Up is a contemporary club joint that featuring, Lil Wayne and Ron Browz on the auto-tune. Haha, featuring Young Jeezy, is one of the hottest songs on the album as Joe leans back into 2010 waters. Joe also shouts out the Harlem 145th Street ball Tri State classic on The State, narrated by T.A.C. and stays connected to the streets as he takes us back to his D.I.T.C. Days with Hectic.
Dun Got Slim is a perfect name for this album, as the album resembles a greatest hits/mix-tape work short on new ideas and creative effort. Luckily, Fat Joe has a long resume of quality music. He is definitely politicking with this album released at a good time, to take some new material and possibly do a summertime tour thing.
Out of 5
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