When Young Jeezy’s finished rapping, maybe he should take up teaching. He did in fact convince half a million people that U.S.D.A. stood for United Streets Dopeboyz of America. Among those that assisted him on his Cold Summer pedagogy last year where the only beef cooking was in the streets was Panama City’s own Blood Raw. Stepping out to do some “Corporate Thuggin” of his own, Blood Raw pens his memoirs on his debut My Life: The True Testimony. While the project occasionally shapes into an intimate affair, Raw doesn’t quite author a best-seller as the album is bogged down by sluggish production and repetitive themes all too frequently.

Lacking the charisma of Jeezy and lyrical firepower of fellow U.S.D.A. cohort Slick Pulla, Blood Raw’s strength’s lie in his willingness to bare the inner remnants of his soul, displaying the form of geniality revered in most rap music today. Over a somber melody, Raw relives his painful childhood on the touching “Get Away” and proceeds to dedicate vivid eulogies to his dearly departed mother, father, and grandmother respectively on “I Miss You.” Big Rube even dishes an assist on “I’m The Truth” to help Raw drive home his point that he is indeed “real.”

It’s when Blood Raw’s Testimony… neglects the “skill” component, does the album becomes run-of-the-mill. “I’m Fly” and “Go Head” are virtually the same song as Raw lets swag get the best of him, dropping predictable rhymes galore. On the production tip, Drumma Boy furnishes a primitive beat on “It Feels Good” that drags along as its chocked with the requisite high hats, kicks and snares while Mannie Fresh offers up an equally tiresome stomp heavy track that features the unbearable chorus “I’m almost there/I’m almost there/I’m almost there/I’m almost there.” Likewise the first single “Louie Bag” which made its rounds on the mixtape circuit beforehand, utilizes the chorus “It’s in my Louie Bag/yeah it’s my Louie Bag/It’s in my Louie Bag/yeah it’s my Louie Bag” and highlights just how far the creative apples have fallen from Hip-Hop’s proverbial tree.

The True Testimony will likely tide over die hard fans until the next Jeezy album but with his screechy vocals combined with monotonous production, it’s doubtful Blood Raw will be converting any new d-boys with this release. Hopefully next time he incorporates a little variation in his flow and production because unlike most trapstars turned rap stars, this one’s actually got something to say.

2.5 CIGARETTES

Blood Raw Feat. Young Jeezy – “Louie Bag” Video

For more info, visit www.myspace.com/bloodraw.