The Atlanta based trio drops their debut album titled Rockstar Mentality, citing the recent change in the Hip-Hop genre. While all music revolves in cycles, the rock/rap marriage started over 20 years ago. Let’s see if the gimmick can sell in the shaky industry now.
1. Party Like a Rockstar
This is their breakout single. Supposedly this has been banned from certain clubs in Atlanta, not because of the behavior of the listeners, but because the song is garbage. But somebody likes it. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
2. Bowen Homes
The song is definitely different than the first. This one actually sounds like an Atlanta song; I like this one. It has a nice beat and the Boyz ride this one to the end.
3. Baby Girl
This song is an attempt to catch the females but they fall short on this one. This is one of those where I press SKIP!
4. They Like Me
David Banner resurfaces to produce this one. It has a child-friendly chorus. This one will be playing at all the teeny bopper clubs. The club crowd will love this one. The beat sounds like “Rubber Band Man” a little bit.
5. Next to Me
This song is about having a good woman to hold you down. I like the beat and what they’re trying to say. The lyrics could’ve been better. Check it out.
6. Rollin’
This one is a marriage of country and Hip-Hop and they dropped the ball on this one. Press fast forward immediately! The song is horrendous.
7. Rockstar Mentality
The title track is next up and it is not impressive either. I thought they had a rockstar mentality? This track is terrible and the rhymes are garbage; do yourself a favor, SKIP!
8. Flexin’
This song finally brings the rock & roll element back to the album but it fails to deliver a good song. The song is about showing out, but I wish they showed up with some decent lyrics.
9. Totally Dude
Another rock/rap song uses the “totally dude” from “Party Like a Rockstar”. This one sounds decent. But it sounds just like “Party Like a Rockstar”. Maybe it’s the remix. The violins at the end are sick though.
10. Showin’ Me Love
They say all over people are showing them love but not with songs like this one. I will show them something..the fast forward button!
11. My Car
The beat on this song is alright, but how many times are we going to hear rappers talk about their cars? Get some better subject matter. I’m sure there are better things to rap about.
12. Sumthin’ To Talk ‘Bout
Another rap/rock song, but I like the beat on this one. The guitar riffs are sick. This one isn’t that bad; worth checking out.
13. World On Fire
They use the rap/rock formula on this one also. It’s where they say they set the world on fire and now everybody hating on them. Maybe if you all were better lyricists they wouldn’t hate you.
Bottom Line:
This album was not what I expected. I thought I was going to get the Run DMC/Aerosmith treatment. While they did offer some rap/rock songs, the way they were marketed you thought that is all they were going to do. But while some offerings were decent, most of them were garbage. The Shop Boyz may wander into the Hip-Hop’s version of the Bermuda Triangle, never to be heard from again! This album may win over some people, but real fans will not buy into the gimmicky Hip-Hop.
nappy Picks: “Bowen Homes”, “Totally Dude”, & “Sumthin’ To Talk ‘Bout”.
Download: Shop Boyz – “Totally Dude”
