“Next To You” - Review Of Mike Jones’ The Voice
ALBUM REVIEWS By MZ on May 11, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Back in 2005, Mike Jones was the talk of the Houston mainstream rap scene. Riding high with “Still Tippin’” & “Back Then” off his debut album Who Is Mike Jones? to double platinum sales, he was one of the few to capitalize off the city’s moment in the spotlight. Relying on savvy marketing (281-330-8004 is unforgettable) and an infallible grind, he was able to overcome his lyrical inadequacies to become a household name. Four years later, after several singles that failed to connect and shelved album/movie (The American Dream), Mike Jones is finally back with his sophomore album (and new phone number) The Voice. Although we know who Mike Jones is, the question is in the wake of this overly sexed release, is he the voice of the streets or the sheets?
After a brief intro, where Mike tells us to be on the look out for his next album (before this one is even digested), “Swagger Right Now” gets the show going while proving he’s kept up with the current slang during his absence. As with any song dealing with swag countless references to whips, chicks, & flossin’ ensue as he adds nothing new to the equation. He fare no better on “Boi!” featuring Young Problemz, where Mike does his best “A Milli”/”Move” rendition. Mike just sounds lost on here as these types of songs require clever metaphors and punchlines which is not his strength.
Things briefly pick up on “Cuddy Buddy” featuring Twista, Lil’ Wayne, & T-Pain, a syrupy ode to late night encounters, with Jim Jonson magic not even Mr. Repeat could manage to ruin. From that point on, Mike goes out of his way to prove his pimp hand is way strong. He walks the delicate line of devoted partner (“I Know”, “Next To You”) and club-going player (“Happy Birthday”, “Drop And Gimme 50”) with equal aplomb, giving us a seven song block with are variations of the same theme. Almost every track, with the exception of “Give You A Call” featuring Devin The Dude, were made with potential airplay in mind. Three or four interspersed throughout would have been tolerable, but seven in a row is overkill and none rise above mediocrity.
On top of that, he morphs into Charles Spurgeon on the self-righteous tip with “Scandalous Hoes II,” despite the fact he just spent close to 40 minutes pandering the same people he’s now admonishing. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde would be proud, but the average listener would be hard pressed to sympathize with him.
It’s easy to see why the album title was changed from The Voice Of The Streets to The Voice, dude never leaves the bedroom. Mike Jones may be a decent rapper, but he’s lyrically only a step above Dick and Jane. Meaning his production and guest spots have as much to do with whether a song is good as he does. Sadly, in what would usually be a commendable feat, he goes for dolo most of the album. Factor in a slew of generic cuts that cater predominately to females, equates to Mike Jones still in search of his voice.
Previously Posted — Mike Jones Feat. T-Pain - “Scandalous Hoes II” Video | Mike Jones - “Swagger Right” Video | Mike Jones Feat. Nae Nae - “Next To You” Video
BONUS
The Voice Bonus Tracks
Download — Mike Jones Feat. UGK - “I Got It”
Download — Mike Jones Feat. King Mello, Lil Flip, & Killa Kyleon - “Shit On Boyz”
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, AUDIO, GENERAL, LOOSIES, MUSIC, REVIEWS — Tags: Hurricane Chris, Jim Jonsin', Lil Wayne, Mike Jones, T-Pain, The American Dream, The Voice, Trey Songz, Twista
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20 Comments
2.5 cigs? That’s generous. I had the unfortunate experience of hearing this in my guys whip Saturday while we rolled around the city. Horrible. Shoulda got 1 cig real talk.
Terrible photoshop work there with those corny ass rays coming out of the speakerphone. LMAO
man, fuck the haters. Mike Jones is that dude.
i can not believe that mike jones is only one cig away from Brooklynati
No, he’s not really.
the fat mike jones >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the slim mike jones
back then > his life now
Tom Jones,
Indiana Jones,
Tommy Lee Jones,
Fifth Avenue Jones,
Catherine Zeta Jones
Howard Jones
Norah Jones
Davy Jones
LMAO @ Greums
These dudes from Houston won’t go quietly into the night. It’s clear their time is up but they keep trying to force their music on us.
FO FO’S IM TIPPIN
WOOD GRAIN IM GRIPPIN……
what happened to that dude?
“It’s So Cold In The D” is on Shade 45 right now…. gotta love it.
These dudes from Houston won’t go quietly into the night. It’s clear their time is up but they keep trying to force their music on us.
===============
i feel sorry for folks that don’t understand Houston music…
You know, until i read this review I had actually forgotten the brother’s phone number. Sounds like he ain’t got nuthin’ to fill that void in my head. I might have to read a book or something.
Nice track here some of y’all might like
Random - Push
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qsOfS29P7E
First time I’ve heard it.
anyone ever hear the old Mike Jones/ Papoose freestyle from like 5 years ago on Paps Sharades mixtape? fucking hilarious… Never heard two more opposite rappers on a freestyle… Pap had to dumb it down for the first few bars….
http://www.zshare.net/audio/598933866aca4b54/
truthfully Mike Jones isn’t the worst rapper in the world but his marketing strategy made everyone hate him, “Pouring Up” with Pimp-C and Bun B still goes real hard pause…
“Shit on Boyz”?
That title was a mistake.
Damn that’s so interesting that he became a lady crooner and stayed in the bedroom. I can recall reading rumors last year that he was hiv+ and was losing mad weight because of it… now wouldn’t that be some irony for his sophomore album.
@ Paw
add Nasir Jones !
I seriously can’t believe that Curren$y got no love at all. I have yet to see an album review of This Ain’t No Mixtape anywhere. And TSS yall should have been the first ones to review TANM seeing as you guys did the Mythblazers series (which by the way is the shit and needs to come back). Instead you are reviewing this trash? SMH
^ Why should we be “first”? So we can rush in and try to give a half-assed review?
We’ll work at our own pace but don’t worry, you’ll see a TANM review.
^Gotty im sorry if I sounded like an ignorant asshole. I love and appreciate the work that you and the TSS crew does. It was just that I saw TSS reviewed “Asleep In The Bread Aisle” and “Deeper Than Rap” the days that they came out, and I figured you guys just weren’t gonna review TANM. I live in New Orleans, and this album should be bumping, but it seems like 8.99 has discouraged some from purchasing the album. I felt like no one was giving TANM it’s just due. I see that ya’ll have reviewed it and I wanna thank the whole TSS crew.