Houston, Texas emcee, DJ & businessman Paul Wall returning with his 15th full-length studio LP. An affiliate of Swishahouse Entertaimment & a co-founder of The Color Changin’ Click, his 2005 sophomore effort albeit major label debut The People’s Champpropelled him as an H-Town veteran & has since been steadily dropping music whether it be Bounce Backs Over Setbacks becoming the best album of his from the previous decade to the mixed reception of The Great Wall last winter. Ahead of the latter’s 1-year anniversary this weekend, he’s got a story to tell Once Upon a Grind.
“Woke Up a Millionaire” produced by DJ Fresh perfectly starts with a spacious beat talking about how amazing it is the way he be stackin’ up his paper whereas “Platinum Playa” fuses Mobb & trap flexing his aptly titled status. “I Get Down” takes the ominous trap route instrumentally dedicating this one to all the go-getters listening worldwide just before “Can’t Talk, Chasing a Check” featuring Lil’ Keke & Slim Thug finds the trio tryna collect paychecks refusing to chit chat.
As for “All Money Good”, we have Paul heading for a soulful trap direction letting it be known that all kinds of money around his parts is good money as far as he’s concerned leading into “Way 2 Wet” reconnects with DJ Fresh once more for an anthem built his candy-painted whip. “Swang Down” featuring Z-Ro shoots for a laidback approach advising the soldiers to slowly do exactly that, but then “All Night” is another DJ Fresh banger getting what’s his throughout the whole evening.
“Underground Ambassador” featuring Berner, Big K.R.I.T., Freeway, Rich the Factor & Termanology starts the encore of Once Upon a Grind with a nearly 5 minute posse cut while “Pocket Fulla Money” brings the Mobb flare from earlier back in the equation talking about his pockets being swole. “Run to the Money” featuring Yung Al sees the pair getting in that mode soon as they hop out of bed & “Love 4 Rent” sends it all off spreading the word of money being unable to buy love.
Once Upon a Grind redeems Paul Wall from the mixed reception of it’s predecessor almost 365 days ago & I’ll even make the argument that it’s the most I’ve enjoyed a solo effort from him in quite a while. It’s more well-produced, the guests’ performances stick the landing for the most part & Paul himself coming off more focused all culminates in this 41 minute LP that he conceived out of love for the very city that made him.
Score: 3.5/5
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