Jeezy – “Still Snowin’” review

Brand new mixtape & the 15th altogether for Atlanta, Georgia rapper, songwriter, trap pioneer & actor Jeezy. Emerging in the early 2000s off his full-length debut T.U.I. (Thuggin’ Under the Influence) & the sophomore effort Come Shop wit Me, his biggest breakthrough wouldn’t come until 2004 where he began a partnership with Def Jam Recordings that’s going on strong to this very day & dropped the classic Thug Motivation 101: Let’s Get It the following summer. Subsequent discography highlights would include Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration, The Recession, Thug Motivation 103: Hustler’z Ambition, Seen It All: The Autobiography & even The Recession 2 that came out the day after his Verzuz battle against longtime rival Gucci Mane during the COVID-19 pandemic. He went back to basics with the help of DJ Drama on Snofall fulfilling his Def Jam contract & is looking to do it again with Still Snowin’ a couple years since I Might Forgive…But I Don’t Forget.

The funky instrumental on the title track produced by DJ Toomp & Don Cannon took me by surprise to start the tape although Jeezy nonetheless comes correct flexing that he’s still making it snow whereas “Slide for Sho” turns up the funk to turn the clubs up. “Treason” works in some sampling so he can refuse to waste his time on the people who’ve betrayed him while “Snowman Party” has a bit of a jazzier tone talking about his parties being unique.

“Inside My Soul” continues the incredible choice of samples making his grandmother proud maintaining the plug motivation while “My Friends” brings back the funk talking about not being the kind to cheat on his homies. “Another Sad Song” discusses the truth of it taking a coward to shoot up a school referring to the Evergreen tragedy in Colorado earlier this month while “Bruce Wayne” likens himself to the Warner Bros. subsidiary DC Entertainment franchise’s protagonist.

Kicking off the 2nd half, “The Whole Town” soulfully dedicates itself to all the 80s babies just before the funky “Don’t Play ‘Bout Me” cautions everyone to not fuck around with him. “Head to the Sky (You Can Win)” takes an optimistically uplifting approach conceptually over chopping up more soul samples while “Anything” returns to funkier territory taking aim at people who’ll say whatever about him.

“Hustler’s Paradise” hooks up some slick sampling to give some peace of mind since God has done him some favors over the course of his life while “Keep That Same Energy” talks about feeling like Kanye on the night of the 2009 MTV VMA Awards when he notoriously interrupted Taylor Swift’s Best Female Video acceptance speech & later put out his 2nd best album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy behind The College Dropout.

The song “Thug Life Again” nears the conclusion of Still Snowin’ soulfully making it known that he’s still living that Corporate Thug lifestyle now that CTE World is no longer distributed by a major label while the funky “Back for More” talks about his entrepreneurship. “If You Don’t Know Me” dabbles with drumless for 107 seconds to ends by reflecting on giving the streets everything but his life & time everything except for tears.

Commemorating 2 whole decades of both Trap or Die & Thug Motivation 101: Let’s Get It respectively, both Don Cannon & DJ Toomp give Jeezy a more jazzier sound than some of output in this current decade & it’s welcomed as much as I loved The Recession 2 alongside Snofall & I Might Forgive…But I Don’t Forget. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll have to make a Recession 3 at some point within the next few years & if that’s the case, this is a mature prelude to it.

Score: 4.5/5

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Jeezy – “I Might Forgive…But I Don’t Forget” review

Double disc 13th full-length LP from Atlanta, Georgia rapper, songwriter, trap pioneer & actor Jeezy. Emerging in the early 2000s off his full-length debut T.U.I. (Thuggin’ Under the Influence) & the sophomore effort Come Shop wit Me, his biggest breakthrough wouldn’t come until 2004 where he began a partnership with Def Jam Recordings that’s going on strong to this very day & dropped the classic Thug Motivation 101: Let’s Get It the following summer. Subsequent discography highlights would include Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration, The Recession, Thug Motivation 103: Hustler’z Ambition, Seen It All: The Autobiography & even The Recession 2 that came out the day after his Verzuz battle against longtime rival Gucci Mane during the COVID-19 pandemic. He went back to basics with the help of DJ Drama last fall on his 14th mixtape Snofall & a year later, Jeezy’s departing Def Jam after nearly 2 decades to state that I Might Forgive…But I Don’t Forget.

“I Might Forgive” sets off the 2-disc effort with a triumphant trap instrumental addressing those who say the Snoman fell off & that he needs another hit whereas “My Name” hooks up some melodic background vocals & hi-hits talking about not letting anyone throw dirt on his name hence the title. “No Complaining” gives off a ghostly trap vibe thanks to the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League & TM88 making it clear that he ain’t buggin’ since he came a long way that is until the orchestral-trap “They Don’t Love Me” produced by ATL Jacob admits he feel like the streets don’t love him anymore.

Moving on from there, “Trust No One” says it all hoping over pianos & hi-hats to declare that he ain’t trusting nobody since everyone out here’s getting killed just before “Sad” brings these unexpected bagpipes into the fold talking about the way his competition is going out. “Couldn’t Lose If I Tried” shows plenty of charisma for 3 minutes flexing that he can’t take no L’s, but then the piano-trap driven “Rewrite History” talks about still celebrating of his victories to this day.

“Never Had a Bad Day in My Life” pretty much says it all as it’s simply a W for him to wake up in the morning over a reversed loop & hi-hats from Cubeatz while “This Too Shall Pass” has this chilling vocal sample throughout providing advise to those that don’t wake up without a bag. “Don’t Deserve Me” gives off an ominous trap flare saying he feels like the rap game don’t deserve him prior to the victorious “If I’m Being Honest” once again talking about how it’s a win he isn’t dead or in jail.

The smooth “Don’t Cheat” has to be the most mature song on the first disc declaring that real ones aren’t unfaithful to their significant others & the soulful “Shine on Me” promising that it’ll be ok in the end. “Keep the Change” ends the first disc of I Might Forgive…But I Don’t Forget on spacious note calling out someone he always thought the best of & how much of a real shame it is. To start the 2nd disc or the But I Don’t Forget half of the album with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League production top to bottom, “Delusional” is a jazzy start asking why they let the submarine implode.

“Nothin’ to Prove” blends in these horns & hi-hats asking what’s the matter since he ain’t letting them have it their way while the epic trap banger “Titanic” advises that this type of shit isn’t for the weak. “Everything About Me is True” asks what if he told y’all exactly that over a shimmery trap beat while “Expectations” gives of a mystical atmosphere declaring the first mistake is actin’ like you really enemies with him kinda sounding as if he was almost trying to do a 2Pac impression when he said that.

The sample throughout “Claim to Fame” is absolutely stunning explaining that winning, losing & bouncing back is all part of the game while the groovy “What I Gotta Do” talks about how this is a real song as opposed to a chill song oxymoronically. “My Intentions” is more of a slow jam dissing those who be throwing shit his name all day & the spacious trap cut “Never Be a Fan” cutting off those who he ain’t vibing is or even going as far as to telling them the truth if they really don’t know what love is.

“Sade” shows a more sensual side to Jeezy talking about bumping the smooth soul icon & sampling her own music appropriately on top of that, but the cloud rap/trap hybrid “Don’t Let Up” talks about being fucked over as a youth & that it left him with too much trauma. “Since Pac Died” glamorously confesses he hasn’t shed a year since the day 2Pac passed while “Free Champagne” mixes these pianos, guitars & hi-hats declaring a toast to tomorrow. “No Choice” ends the 2-disc full-length by warmly telling y’all to go get it.

I personally like to refer to Jeezy, Gucci Mane & T.I. as the Big 3 trap pioneers & I already went into I Might Forgive…But I Don’t Forget expecting it to be a step above Gucci’s latest double album Breath of Fresh Air from a few weeks ago especially considering that the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League fully produced disc 2. Sure enough, that’s exactly what we got. The first half of it is cool, but man that 2nd disc joins The Recession 2 & Snofall amongst the best material Jeezy has done this decade. Now let’s see how T.I.’s upcoming double album & supposedly his last Kill the King does.

Score: 3.5/5

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Jeezy – “Snofall” review

Jeezy is a 45 year old rapper, songwriter & actor from Atlanta, Georgia who came up in the early 2000s off his full-length debut T.U.I. (Thuggin’ Under the Influence) & the sophomore effort Come Shop wit Me. Both of which were mediocre, but his biggest breakthrough wouldn’t come until 2004 where he began a partnership with Def Jam Recordings that’s going on strong to this very day & dropped the classic Thug Motivation 101: Let’s Get It the following summer. Subsequent discography highlights would include Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration, The Recession, Thug Motivation 103: Hustler’z Ambition, Seen It All: The Autobiography & even The Recession 2 that came out the day after his Verzuz battle against longtime rival Gucci Mane during the COVID-19 pandemic. So when Jeezy announced that he was linking back up with DJ Drama & Don Cannon for his 14th mixtape right here, anticipation was pretty high from me.

The title track sets things off with a drumless yet triumphant instrumental from Cool & Dre as Jeezy talks about being in a billionaire’s mindset whereas “Bruh” takes a more horn-laced trap route talking about how we already know the deal. Lil Durk tags along for the boisterous “Most Hated” produced by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League (who did nearly half the album) to call out those who despise them prior to “Street Cred” blends some keys & hi-hats thanks to Don Cannon talking about the credibility that the Snowman has in the streets.

Meanwhile on “Kolors”, we have Jeezy returning to a more victorious sound to brag his riches to everyone that’s listening just before “MJ Jeezy” dives into cloudier territory courtesy of FNZ talking about handling his business & speaking that fluent trap shit. “Plug on ‘Em” has a more vibrant tone to it boasting that he does it best leading into the lead single “I Ain’t Gon’ Hold Ya” jumps on top of a rubbery trap instrumental from Helluva reminding us of his rightful place in this culture as one of what I like to call “the big 3” trap pioneers.

42 Dugg comes into the picture for “Put the Minks Down” to deliver a ratchet summer anthem while “King’s Crown” shoots for a more ghostly aesthetic paying tribute to all the fallen soldiers who couldn’t be here with us today. “Still Havin’” weaves some synthesizers into the fold talking about living right while “Scarface” with EST. G luxuriously finds the 2 watching the titular movie with the sound off, being bosses & showing off their girls being stronger than WWE Hall of Famer & 7-time women’s champion Trish Stratus.

Continuing from there, the vocal sample on “How Deep” was flipped very well if you ask me with Jeezy continuing to brag lyrically while “Grammy” fuses more horns & hi-hats together to talk about how he deserves the titular award at this point even though it’s the most rigged popularity contest ever. The song “My Accountant” cinematically rubs his wealth into everyone’s faces while the penultimate track “Big Sno” hooks up a high-pitched loop talking about his status. “100” though ends the tape with a victory lap encouraging to stay true.

If you’re of the few heads that I know who were disappointed with The Recession 2 even though I personally thought it was his best in a while, then I think you’re gonna like Snofall just as much if not better because Jeezy went back to back with it. He & Drama pretty much return to basics in an entertaining fashion from the production being as equally consistent to the return of the Snowman persona.

Score: 3.5/5

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Jeezy – “The Recession 2” review

This is the 12th full-length album from Atlanta, Georgia veteran Jeezy. Dropping 2 mediocre albums at the beginning of the 2000s, it wouldn’t be until 2005 where he completely revolutionized trap by dropping Thug Motivation 101: Let’s Get It. Last we heard from Jeezy was a little over a year ago when he dropped his “retirement” album Thug Motivation 104: The Legend of the Snowman but after becoming the senior advisor for Def Jam Recordings’ chairman & given the times we’re currently in, we are being treated to a sequel to the 2008 classic The Recession.

Things kick off with “Oh Lord”, where Jeezy opens up on how nobody know his troubles but God over angelic instrumental. The next song “Here We Go” talks about keeping faith when times get hard over a gladiator-sounding beat from Don Cannon while the track “Modern Day” talks about how being black is a crime these days over an maniacal instrumental. The song “Back” with Yo Gotti sees the 2 talking about carrying their hoods over a vibrant beat while the track “Da Ghetto” with E-40 finds the 2 talking about getting their blessings in the streets over a hair-raising instrumental.

The song “Niggaz” talks about lame ass people over a wobbly beat from Charles Hamilton of all people while the track “Death of Me” talks about needing this woman over an easing instrumental. The song “Stimulus Check” gets on the woke side of things over a soulful boom bap beat while the track “My Reputation” with Lil Duval sees the 2 getting back on the romance tip over a Silkk the Shocker sample.

“The Glory” talks about g-stepping over a Marvin Gaye sample while the song “Live & Die” talks about life in Atlanta over a serene instrumental. The track “Praying Right” gets spiritual referencing the Comcast Corporation owned Xfinity over some keys & synths while the song “Therapy for My Soul” is a diss towards 50 Cent & Freddie Gibbs backed by a wavy J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League instrumental. The penultimate track “Almighty Black Dollar” with Rick Ross finds the 2 calling out big name designer brands over a horn-inflicted beat & then “The Kingdom” talks about giving them his heart over a fancy boom bap instrumental.

We all know everybody says they’re gonna retire, but I can’t even mad at this album because I think it’s Jeezy’s best album since Seen It All: The Autobiography. The production has stepped up tremendously in comparison to his last few studio efforts & his maturity really shines through.

Score: 3.5/5

Jeezy – “Thug Motivation 104: The Legend of the Snowman” review

Jeezy is a legendary 41 year old rapper from Atlanta, Georgia known for being one of the Big 3 pioneers of trap music alongside T.I. & Gucci Mane. He dropped 2 mediocre albums at the beginning of the 2000s, but it wouldn’t be until 2005 that he made his 1st big break with Thug Motivation 101: Let’s Get It. An album that completely revolutionized trap, spawned 2 sequels that’re both solid in their own rights & just celebrated it’s 14 year anniversary last month. In light of the latter, Jeezy has saw fit to deliver his 11th & allegedly final full-length album.

It all begins with “the enTRAPreneur”, where Jeezy proclaims himself as just that over an orchestral trap beat from MP808. The next song “Big Shit” charismatically brags over a nocturnal trap beat while the track “Look Like” gets confrontational over a rowdy beat. The song “Better Tell ‘Em” flaunts over a generic beat while the track “Mr. Pyrex” speaks for itself over a nondescript beat.

The song “Already Rich” speaks for itself over an infectious J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League instrumental while the track “1 Time” gets celebratory over an unexpected JAY-Z sample. The song “Oh Yea” with Ball Greezy is completely redundant despite the rhythmic beat while the track “White Keys” talks about the drug game over a piano-inflicted trap beat.

The song “MLK BVLD” with Meek Mill sees the 2 boasting over a haunting Lex Luger beat while the track “‘06” with Rick Ross sees the 2 over a luxurious instrumental. The song “Don’t Make Me” talks about designer material over a somewhat jazzy beat while the track “Fake Love” talks about just that over a smooth beat.

The song “All Night” with Gunna sees the 2 flexing over a wavy beat while the track “4Play” is of course a trite sex anthem. The song “Play It Safe” is a sensual follow-up to the previous cut that actually works a lot better while the penultimate track “Don’t Forget” gets reflective over a somber beat. The album then finishes with “The Real MVP”, where Jeezy pays homage to his mother over a beautiful instrumental.

If this truly is the last time we’ll ever hear Jeezy in a full-length capacity, he went out decently. He sounds focused, but the production is hit or miss with me.

Score: 3/5