Subtract Pill, add Omarion and Stalley (and Gunplay in a recurring role) to the already strong core of Rick Ross, Wale, & Meek Mill, and now you have the new main cast of Maybach Music Group.
Last summer they dominated the airwaves with the release of the 1st compilation under the Maybach Music moniker (Peep the review here & here). The project was a respectable effort featuring a few standout singles including “That Way”, “Tupac Back” & the smash “Ima Boss”.
Compilations differ from a regular full length album because compilations never really display a fluid story or concept. It’s more of a showcase of the talents of the collective to make the listener believe in the product. Well let’s see where this compilation takes us, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s the same exact place as the first compilation.
1. Power Circle
Performed by Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, & Kendrick Lamar; Produced by Lee Major
Well here we go… young model Jessica Gomes who says “Maybach Music” starts, and we enter a really strong intro to this compilation. I guess you really can’t call this an intro since it clocks in at over 8 minutes.
Kendrick Lamar’s verse is the winner on this record:
Look inside the eyes of the last Mohicans survived
You won’t last a weekend outside
Seen a pastor tweaking, then sunk his teeth in a rock his demise
Later on that evening you heard the grieving of angels that cried
See a demon don’t compromise
And so I walk alone with a cross and a diamond stone
I’m a diamond inside the rough that’s too mighty for mar icons
I might as well put all my killers in YSL
Put my voice on this microphone, put you pussy niggas through hell
Hell’s fire, I never lie, you will never grind
I know the priors they running by us when we do crime
I know that section eight wanna discontinue my Moms
When they heard that Ohio state gave me 30 racks in July
Oh Lord, this can’t be life, no it can’t be life
When they day breaks and you earned them stripes
And you learned that strike
From upstate will adjourn that life and confirm that life
It’s good bait for the warden that might get awarded and write
Now your fate can record it denied a reporter replied
The death rate will eventually climb, so eventually I’m
On a track race for the dough before time get a clock that resigns
So about face if it ain’t business, I get offended, I mind
Now one fake, I’m a realist in strive, I’m a bilion in five
Well a billion cause the limit is the sky and I live on cloud nine
And I recognize my nemesis gon’ try to put a finish in my shine
But pussy, where it hurt you
Life in the power circle
2. Black Magic
Performed by Meek Mill & Rick Ross; Produced by Young Shun
What will Rick Ross come up with next as his simple repetitive hook?
Poof! There go the car
Poof! There go the crib
Poof! A hundred mil, David Copperfield
David Copperfield, David Copperfield
Besides the repetitive hook, the song is okay. Meek doesn’t drop any tremendous lines. I think based on the title, this song could’ve been so good and heavily anticipated, but comes up disappointing. I like Meek’s flow on this one though.
3. This Thing Of Ours
Performed by Wale, Omarion, Rick Ross, & Nas; Produced by Don Cannon
I thought Omarion was a terrible fit, but I think he did a good job on the chorus for the song. This one has some really good replay value. Everyone involved came through with some good verses, especially Wale & Nas:
Wale’s Verse:
This reefer the sweetest, got me thinking much deeper
They don’t rap for a reason, this is rather convenient
Spend money with my team, make my money from hustle
Women love you for fee, niggas hate you for nothing
Never hate you in public, better let they eyes tell it
Ain’t even 5’11″, what the fuck you guys scared of
I’m a loose cannon, screws damaged
And I do think hip hop music needs some newer standards
Hardest working conglomerate, and that’s word to my mama
Getting up in they mental, get ‘em outta their garments
Adamantly coming at whoever call up for drama
Just know that DC, Philly, Ohio, Miami got us
Private jet over water, natty dread, got no barber
I see Feds, I go that way, that DMV shit taught us
When you young and you black, they see you as a target
So before them Foamposites get ya lawyer in order
Nas’ Verse:
The don of all dons, since y’all wanna call me something
All of a sudden, niggas ball and stunting
Y’all just started pulling on Havanas
Pull ya card, ya spineless, where ya heart, I know where mine is
A don is one who accept things he cannot change
Only thing I accept I cannot change is getting old and dying
Gold medallion over my son chest, he’ll hold it down when I sunset
What does death mean to me? I never owned the concept, I was here
I’m just a spirit, let’s get one thing clear
Everything segues into each other
One thing is just an extension of the other
My kid to me, I am my children through history
Upstanding men and stand up women
I am existing
I was conceived to break bread with kings and make connections
We haven’t met yet, my reputation you’ve stuck with
Until we have our formal introduction, that’s enough
But every male is not a man
So some of those that will hold out they hand won’t understand
This thing of ours
4. All Birds
Performed by Rick Ross & French Montana; Produced by Beat Billionaire
This song just fits Rick Ross and the theme he’s been following the past few years. The song does it’s job, but it’s not something I see myself playing at an alarming rate.
5. Actin’ Up
Performed by Wale, Meek Mill, & French Montana; Produced by Rico Love, Earl Hood, & E
That chorus is so annoying and I really can’t get over it despite the solid verses from Meek and Wale. It’s just a really stupid hook that has no real meaning or staying value. I just don’t see myself constantly repeating “These hoes be actin’ up”.
6. Fountain Of Youth
Performed by Stalley, Rick Ross, & Nipsey Hu$$le; Produced by Cardiak
“Fountain of Youth” is a really smooth slow track. It definitely works, and fits more of Stalley’s style as a rapper. It’s a pretty good track.
7. I Be Puttin’ On
Performed by Wale, Wiz Khalifa, French Montana, & Roscoe Dash; Produced by Boi-1da & The Maven Boys
Not one of my favorite tracks on this album. It has a really lazy hook from Roscoe Dash, and with the artist list, I would’ve expected lot better than this chorus and some sleepy verses.
8. The Zenith
Performed by Stalley, Wale, Omarion, & Rick Ross; Produced by Harry Fraud
I really like the beat on this record. Stalley’s flow on this one is really dope. The chorus is whack, but the verses are pretty solid. I definitely see a recurring theme with these whack choruses which was never a problem on the previous compilation.
9. M.I.A.
Performed by Omarion & Wale; Produced by The Beat Bully
This is more of a traditional R&B song compared to the rest of the album so it sort of sounds out of place. The song sounds a little dated, but it’s not that bad. Wale’s verse is average.
10. Bag Of Money
Performed by Wale, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, & T-Pain; Produced by Beat Billionaire
This was the 1st single and I remember seeing there was a video for it, but I never ever listened to the song. Just reading the title made me lose all interest in the song. Hearing T-Pain croon in 2012 just isn’t fun to listen to. In 2006-09, it was passable, but that ship has sailed. Major skip on this song. Who came up with the idea to make this the lead single? “My bitch is bad looking like a bag of money”.
11. Let’s Talk
Performed Rick Ross & Omarion; Produced by Ayo
This record is actually a lot better than the other Omarion-led track. It features a sample from “Big Poppa” in the chorus. It’s mid-temp, but it doesn’t sound as dated. It’s not an overwhelmingly strong track, but it’s respectable.
I can’t believe Ross started off saying, “she looking like a bag of money”. His lines are getting lazier and repetitive by the moment.
12. Black On Black
Performed by Gunplay, Ace Hood, & Bun B; Produced by Beat Billionaire
I think this record would identify as the ratchet record of the compilation. It’s an okay record. It’s definitely a street record, but it’s just regular for me.
13. Fluorescent Ink
Performed by Stalley, Wale, & Rick Ross; Produced by Cardiak
I really like this record. It’s really smooth, and the minimalist beat really allows the verses to shine through on this record. Wale & Stalley deliver dope verses, and I’d have to say Wale’s verse was better, but Stalley does his thing.
Wale’s Verse:
I just want my mind to be free
Never mind if they fond of me, I’ve been a beast
I recline in my seat, number nines on my feet
Womanizer admittingly, but mind you I’m deep
Although they inclined to critique
Motherfuck ‘em, they couldn’t lace up a nigga’s Chukka’s
‘Cause money talk and I make them bussa’s pay for discussion
Chasing duckets, chasing dreams, got me praying for foes
Chasing hoes, dick ‘em good enough to make ‘em propose
Winning, the feeling is so incredible
Something that’s forever true, my niggas over revenue
Little bit of Chanel, decorate your appearance
Double C’s on your purses, perfect I get the message
Isabel Marant I get you some, you give me that
All of my thoughts fluorescent ink, though I’m always thinking black
Sitting back, cognac, sixty-two behind the pack
I ain’t thug, but I ain’t stupid four niggas, five ?, hold up
Fire shots for the winners
And as long as I’m delivering, this genre’s gon’ be winning
Double M-G pimping, my relevance never ending
My penmanship ain’t too pretty, my ink is why they gon’ feel me
14. Bury Me A G
Performed by Rick Ross & T.I.; Produced by Beat Billionaire
Rick Ross sounds so defiant on the hook, and his verse is was serviceable. T.I. was tailing that realness, and it was really interesting to see him refer to his past issues with guns, and the reality that he has received threats on his life.
Bottom Line:
MMG seems to have a bright future, and this is just a compilation, but it really pales in comparison to the 1st compilation just based off of the overall strength and quality of songs. The hooks on this compilation were really repetitive and I define that as lazy.
The 1st compilation had a breakout star in Meek Mill who brought an aggressive style in delivery that represented hunger and talent being meshed together. Meek was not as present on this compilation and he seemed a lot less hungry on this compilation, which actually is understandable considering the level of fame and praise he has received in the past year.
Although, some of the songs were wack, that doesn’t make me think that MMG is on a path to fall apart. I think creatively as musicians (if you want to call them that), they have to innovate and generate some new concepts because their current concepts and themes are just stale and can tire the listener. I can only listen to “these hoes be actin’ up” and “my bitch is bad looking like a bag of money” for so long, before I skip everything entirely.
Other then that, MMG definitely has a chance to step it up because of the strong fan base they already have, and their ability to release an amazing amount of music which can be a gift and a curse at the same time.
Note: A big thanks goes out to Rafelito for sending us this review and letting us re-run it. The original post is located on his site whatuknowaboutthat.com and can be seen here. – B-Easy
