Through all the controversy at Cash Money Records, some things never changed. Birdman, Slim, and Lil’ Wayne never jumped ship. Birdman messed around on the mic with the Big Tymers, but he actually got better! Well, Weezy might have something to do with that!

Releasing his third solo LP, Birdman readies 5 * Stunna (or 5 Star Stunna), which comes off the heels of Like Father, Like Son, which scored a gold plaque for the best father/son tandem. Yeah, I know that Baby isn’t his real pops, but he raised the lil’ one.

But let’s get to the music!

“Intro”
Produced by Kelstar
You have Pain in da Ass making another appearance on the intros. The same typical Pain in da Ass intro, and he didn’t say “okay I reloaded” either!

“Fully Loaded”
Produced by Kane Beatz
Thunderous beat that thumps through the speakers. Birdman isn’t a lyrical genius, but he knows how to ride a beat. He did his thing on this one.

“I Run This”
Featuring Lil’ Wayne; Produced by Tmix
Weezy helped out on the hook, but needed a verse from him; it just would have made the song better. But the beat is slamming. Birdman put up a decent verse.

“The Money ‘So Fresh’
Produced by Young Yunny
This beat sounds like Out the Pound, but slowed up a little. But on this one you have baby with that slick talking, which is kind of funny in some ways. Like I said, you’re not getting “rhyme of the month” from Birdman. But this song is “So Fresh!” CHECK IT OUT!

“The Old Man #1 (Interlude)”
Produced by Kelstar
Another Pain in da Ass intro, this time he does his version of a mob movie. I don’t know which one, because the mafia thing is played its course in Hip-Hop.

“100 Million”
Featuring Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Dre, DJ Khaled, and Lil’ Wayne; Produced by Cool & Dre
This track has some heavy hitters on it, but the hook is irritating and the beat is too much. The verses are nice, but the beat is too much for the song.

“Believe Dat”
Featuring Lil’ Wayne; Produced by Tmix
This one has that radio feel to it, but the song is STREET at the same time. I like Weezy on the hook, and Birdman’s rhymes are nice on this one.

“Wet Paint”
Produced by Tmix
The production is nice on this one, and the hook is nasty, “Pu**y like paint, pu**y wet candy, b**ches wanna fuck my pu**y wet candy?” I don’t know what it means, but it sound good on the hook! BANGING!

“Grind”
Featuring Lil’ Wayne and Brisco; Produced by StreetRunners
This is not a typo, but Birdman killed this one, I never thought those words would come out my mouth after hearing some earlier material. But Brisco showed everybody that Weezy isn’t the only one that can flow on the team.

“All the Time”
Produced by Jim Johnson
I guess this is Birdman’s version of a club song, but I have a word for it…SKIP! He had a good album up to this point, time for the first deduction!

“The Old Man #2 (Interlude)”
We have another skit, and the same old story, no groundbreaking news here.

“Head Busta”
Produced by Young Yunny
He did it again; I guess he is getting bored at this point, because this song is BORING! He took a chance on the second string producer, and it cost him on this one. Birdman isn’t lyrical enough for the track. NEXT!

“Pop Bottles”
Featuring Jadakiss and Lil’ Wayne; Produced by Raymond Diaz and Steve Morales
Finally Weezy grace us with a verse, but he was outshined by his daddy! “From sitting in a cell, to sitting on a jet, from shi**ing in a cell, to shi**ing on jet!” The track is banging, just wonder if a remix is in the mix with Jada actually on the song instead of just doing the hook. But the song is still BLAZING!

“Love My Hood”
Produced by Tmix
Birdman gets a nice beat on this one, and he doesn’t disappoint his fans on this one. This one is for the N.O! I just wished I got to see the New Orleans before it was destroyed. But you got your typical Birdman…stuntin, fly talkin and more stuntin!

“I’m a Stunna”
Produced by Tmix
I wonder what this one is about. It’s alright; just get tired of hearing the same thing over and over again.

“The Old Man #3 (interlude)”
Here is another intro, and honestly these intros are not needed. I guess I need to see the movies to know the scenes.

“Make Way”
Featuring Fat Joe and Lil’ Wayne; Produced by Fliptones
Since Fat Joe has been rapping over southern beats, his career has taken off. He did his thing on this one too. Weezy came out with his “island” flow, I really hate when he does that! He redeemed himself later on with a short verse, but still he wasted time with the Beanie Man impression.

“So Tired”
Featuring Lil’ Wayne; Produced by Fliptones
Weezy is singing on the hook, and it sounds pretty good. But what is most noticeable is the track, it is HOT! But Wayne killed it on the hook. You got to hear this one. Birdman said he got his little Homie number one in the game! Well, he is right!

“Outro”
Produced by Kelstar
Another intro, what’s that five for the whole album? Come on Birdman! STOP IT!

“We Gangsta” (Bonus Track)
Featuring Star and Yo Gotti produced by Tmix
Bonus track, and there is a reason why this one was on the cutting room floor. The song is not hot to me, maybe someone will like it. Yo Gotti is not one of my favorite rappers.

“Bossy” (Bonus Track)
Featuring Jason Derulo; Produced by Fliptones
This is Birdman’s version of a love song. That is all I have to say.

“R.I.P” (Bonus Track)
This is a heartfelt song that I think should have made the album. I like it when rappers make songs that pain creates. That is when you get a good song.

Bottom Line:
This album was real good! I wasn’t looking for strong lyrics (maybe some Weezy ghostwriting), but I was surprised at what I got. Birdman put together some good producers that really complimented his style instead of outshining him. It was a couple of times where he got stuck in quicksand, but he bailed himself out quickly. Before you trash the album, because who it is, think about this, you can’t hold all MC’s to the same standard. Baby is an exec that rhymes, not a rhyming exec! So hold him to the same candle that you would hold Diddy. These albums has good beats and some tough lyrics, and trust me, it’s worth a listen!

nappy Picks: “So Fresh”, “100 Million”, “Believe Dat”, “Grind”, “Pop Bottles”, “Make Way”, & “So Tired”

Download: Birdman – “Love My Hood”