“Chill” – Review Of Nelly’s Brass Knuckles
ALBUM REVIEWS By TC on September 30, 2008 at 8:32 am
Imagine the fundamental adversity you’d face as a musician blowing up to megastar status. Sure at the end of the day there’s the fame and the fortune, but the toll from the various side ventures accompanied with the success can usually become a burden on the artist’s recording career. Such is the dilemma Cornell Haynes Jr. is faced with going into his fifth solo album Brass Knuckles.
Better known as Nelly to most, the St. Louis native’s first two albums sold more than most burgeoning record labels, ensuring him roles in movies and high-end celebrity functions without ever having to worry about rap again. All but counted out as far as the music is concerned, Nelly proves he still packs a punch in some areas despite side stepping around plenty of questionable musical selections.
When catering to his strengths, Nelly is effective as he ever was, at times showing he’s more than a melody driven rapper. His affection for Cali helps make for some of the album’s strongest cuts with Neff-U doing his best Dr. Dre rendition on “L.A.” and the ingenious “Bay,” where Nelly mimics some of the Area’s notable personalities to near-perfection. Tracks like “Body On Me” featuring his beau Ashanti and everyman Akon are expected but the Chuck D. assisted “Self-Esteem” is sure to raise some eyebrows. Not quite vintage P.E. but there’s still messages throughout that delves outside his typical persona. As he proudly quips on the stagnant Neptunes produced “Let It Go (Lil’ Mama)”: “I might not get 5 Mics Cigs or a XXL/but fuck it/you keep it/I’ma take the 100 mil…” he knows his lane and strives to master the speed bumps within.
The problem with Brass Knuckles is that it was composed with an aimless approach. Whether he’s recreating songs he’s already done (“Stepped On My J’z”), or wasting time gangsta posturing (“Hold Up”), rarely is a level of consistency formed and therein lies the corrosion of the Brass. All of Nelly’s biggest hits have come courtesy of the solo end so the enlisting of big names such as T.I., Usher, Rick Ross and LL Cool J seems like the shadow of uncertainty. Combine that with the cornball face-off with Fergie on “Party People,” and the LP’s respectability becomes considerably porous. It’ll take a stronger effort if Nelly’s ever to regain his spot as Hip-Hop’s biggest Pop star.
Ultimately, the scales containing the pros and cons end up parallel resulting in no eminent decline for Nelly with no real leverage gained either. He may no longer be the life of the party but he’s still guaranteed a spot on the guest list.
Nelly – Brass Knuckles (Bonus Tracks)
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, GENERAL, MUSIC — Tags: Brass Knuckles, Keri Hilson, Nelly, Polow Da Don
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13 Comments
A $14 frisbee.
2.5/5 Cigs
This joint is weaker than his other joints & with Nelly, that’s really sayin’ somethin’.
I wouldn’t waste a frisbee on the album. It might not even stay on the hard drive.
After watching the Rap City freestyles from this dude, I was actually tricked into downloading this bullshit….
This album is poop (C) one of my 9th grade students
@ Amp: You’re a cold-ass ninja!!! “A $14 frisbee”???!!! HA HA HA!!! Shit, I wouldn’t even use this as a coaster on my coffee table!!! Nelly has had club-bangers and party anthems in the past, but it seems to me that he has lost the Midas Touch in that department. If he includes a bonus dvd of Ashanti modelling bikinis or soaping up in the shower, but better yet a raunchy sex tape, then I’ll cop it for sure. Otherwise, I have a feeling that this album will be making its inevitable voyage to the “2 for $25″ or “$9.99″ sale rack at HMV rather quickly due to over-stock.
Thank God he is still raking in that Bobcat money; cause this album aint cutting it.
TC why did you waste your time listening to that bullshit. I hope you get a raise having to go threw that torture.
I think TC has been a POW before or somethig. But he does go through terrible album with ease. But hey, he has the ear of a critic.
Haven’t even downloaded it, && I enjoy me some Nelly from time to time.That must be saying something.
-The 2008 TSS Fantasy Baseball Championnnn.
Thanks for not putting up that cover where he looks like LL Cool J, Jr.
Thanks for not putting up that cover where he looks like LL Cool J, Jr.
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Yeah that cover just didn’t look right. I haven’t even bothered giving this album a listen based on the tracks that leaked earlier.
Amp’s right, $14 dollar frisbee/drink coaster/ghetto mirror/etc.
Didn’t bother downloading it neither.
Nelly didn’t try on this one not even 1 hit-IMO He dropped this one without caring I think he’s too comfortable……
he still makes music?
who knew?
“beau” means boyfriend