In 2002 Freeway dropped his classic debut album Philadelphia Freeway. If you don't have it, you're missing something great in your life. I remember when I first heard Freeway on the Dynasty album on the 1-900-Hustla cut; and he held his own with Jay-Z and Beanie AND just outshined Memphis Bleek into obscurity. I been a fan since then, and the first album didn't dissapoint. What we do, Flipside, and Alright were the singles but the whole album was just CRAZY. Go cop that! Freeway's unorthodoxed rhyme scheme, his voice, and the way he tackles the beats (which are always bangers)...just makes for ear candy. So I know you're thinking, if I speak so highly of Freeway, where has he been for 5 years...well. When the ROC dynasty fell, it left a lotta people out in the cold trying to pick sides, a lot of the members of State Property fell through the cracks. So...after a lot of red type...finally here brought to you Shawn Carter and Curtis Jackson.
Now we've all heard about sophomore slumps...but yea...It doesn't apply here. Free is back and better than ever. Now I shall break it down.
This Cant Be Real ft. Marsha Ambrosious: For those that don't know Freeway's story, this track lays it out for you. More than rhyming, he's pretty much just bringing everybody up to speed on what's been going on but it blends so beautifully with the smooth track (they unleashed the flutes on this one) and the soulful stylings of Marsha chiming in with the adlibs and the one line chrous..."this can't be reaaal" followed by Freeway's assurance "Swear to G-d its all real!" *****
Its Over: Horns + drums + strings + voice sample = banger. This is pretty much the "IM BACK BITCHES" track. He starts out each verse by flipping Jay lines ("Things just ain't the same for gangsters"and First Jay and Dame break up") and then gets into his own shit to the point where you almost think the lines were alwyas his. This is just straight spittin classic rap bragidocio (but like the scripture say they quickly forget/ so quickly let me reminisce/if a nigga ever try me we'll see who can spit/any rapper anybody ill body the list) but at the same time, dropping subtle shots at two of the hottest ROC producers; Just Blaze and Kanye for not being parts of the album, but from the sounds of it he doesn't need em, and he isn't phased. Oh yea he made a video for this one too. *****
Still Got Love: Anthem! The title says it all. Its all about getting love and showing it back. The beat makes you roll down the windows and turn it up (even in the winter) and Free proves that he still got it with lines like "and i still got love, like a father for his son, when his son six feet deep/ [damn!] and he just got the call, outta nowhere with no time to grieve." So many punchlines in this track you gotta put it on repeat, cause...ITS THE ROC! Oh yea they made a video for this one too...this is definately a hot single that SHOULD get plenty of radio spins but...who knows. *****
Roc-A-Fella Billionaires ft. Jay-Z: I was a bit unsure about the "hey big spender" sample at first, but it fits the track (which sounds to me a lot like Dirt off you Shoulders). Pretty much just Freeway and Jay-Z braggin on their chip amount. Can't hate that, but for me, it gets a bit old...Cars, jewels, houeses, champagne, blah blah blah...But hey, the kiddies like it. ***1/2
When They Remember: When you intro a track with Gladys Knight, you gotta it justice, and he does. This is just Freeway spittin, tryin to leave his mark on the game. This is a track you just get lost in; you can zone out to the beat or Free's lyrics, you definately have to listen more than once to catch all of what he's spittin, BUT I LIKE IT THAT WAY! *****
Take it to the Top ft. 50 Cent: For all the flack he gave Ja Rule, 50 cent sure knows how to write a great hook for a HipHop love track, and he's done it again! Every girl who has a guy who's makin moves has some insecurities, so Freeway uses this track to try to put the doubts to rest. "Cause I'm/24 hours a day stuck in the war, at least 8 hours or more cookin them rhymes/ hustle 16 hours just so you can hit the stores, and you complain you want more FREEtime!?" He's pretty much sayin, I work to provide, you can't have it both ways and trying to convince the chick that he's working to give her what she deserves. Now, I'll leave my personal opinions out of this cause I know a lotta people gon dig it. Plus, how can you hate 50 singin sweet melodies!? ***1/2
Spit That Shit: With a track reminiscent of "The Truth" Freeway examines the love hate relationship he has with the world claiming, "muh-fukkas hate when they seem me pullin up in the benny/but they love it when i spit that shit!" I agree, I love it! ***
Rep the Streets: Freeway just solidifies his position as a Philly Nigga. The track is all about Philly and how Freeway came up in the city of brotherly love, the track makes you feel like you're taking a trip down memory lane. ***
Free At Last: Shout out to Double-0 on the beat for the title track (Kidz in the Hall stand up!). On this short and sweet track, Freeway's just ridin it and pretty much askin the infamous question "can I live?!"***1/2
Baby Don't Do It ft. Scarface: The track starts off slow with Freeway sounding suprisingly laid back over the vocal sample and a nice string arrangement; then the horns and drums kick in and it picks up, with the sample chiming in with "baby don't do it" right on time when it's fitting. Then, Scarface bodies the track. Not sayin that he murdered Freeway on his own shit, but, its FACE, spittin real shit that only a vet in the game can talk about, "I gotta live with my mistakes so im a take them/put em into words so everyone aint gotta make them/take them words, i put off in this song/nigga live yo life by it or take your chance, youre on your own." *****
Nuttin' On Me: More straight spittin over hot beats. In the words of Phonte, "Dope beats, dope rhymes what more do yall want?" ***
Walk Wit Me ft. Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss: I guess death threats over wax never get old...in this case its not what you say but HOW you say it. Same ole, "don't fukk with my crew" sentiment, but Freeway expresses it better than most. Add Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss, and...its a decent track; the hood gon LOVE it though. ***
Lights Get Low ft. Rick Ross: This is the lowlight of the track for me, seems like a forced "club banger," maybe because its of Rick Ross and the space age track. So, the biggest beards in the game got together and made an ok track, I'll prolly skip it most times I listen to this album. *
I Cry: Grown man shit, cause grown men cry. A short and sweet ending to the album with Freeway just sharing some experiences in his life that made him cry. ***1/2
Overall score = 3.7
Man I'm just happy that Freeway finally came out with another album, and its dope. On the level of his classic Debut. It's temporarily displaced American Gangster in my ipod touch rotation. Now if you don't LIKE Freeway, you won't like this hahahaha. But if you like good HipHop, you'll bang it, and if you LOVE HipHop, you'll BUY it.
~Charity
