“Remember My Name” – Review Of Maino’s If Tomorrow Comes…
ALBUM REVIEWS By MZ on July 5, 2009 at 6:32 pm
As far as back story’s go, Maino’s definitely is one of the most interesting from a new rapper since 50 Cent. Jailed for kidnapping at the age of 16 and locked up for 10 years, he’s got the credentials most gangsta rappers could only dream of. So upon entering the rap game, it’d almost be a no-brainer to fabricate a caricature and get by on his rep alone. Thankfully, he took a more cerebral approach and chose to elaborate on the path he took at the proverbial fork in the road. Although the future is something most people take for granted on a daily basis, it’s all Maino had to hang his hopes and dreams on as he presents his debut album If Tomorrow Comes…
Even though he hails from Kings County, Maino isn’t going to wow you with his lyrical dexterity. But for what he lacks in constructing mind-blowing metaphors and punch lines, he more than makes up for in terms of song structure and effectively getting his point across. On “Back To Life,” featuring Pusha! Montana he narrates the euphoric experience of being released from a bid. Backed by redemptive sounds of a Sunday morning service, he depicts the first encounters with a partner in crime, bottom chick and parole officer. The theme of redemption continues throughout the album as he’s tugged by both the trappings of the streets and the promise that obtaining a recording contract holds in turning his life around.
The hard-hitting “Gangsta” finds the tatted soldier answering the call of the streets alongside B.G. Backed by the voice of oft-sampled Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Maino effectively justifies his thug. While never glorifying the street life, it’s quite obvious he still identifies strongly with the lifestyle. And by the effervescent sounds of “Hood Love” he shows the sentiment is mutual between him and the hood. “Remember My Name” shows his desire to leave it all behind and create a lasting presence long after he’s gone. Come hell or high water, it’s music or bust as Maino pushes all his chips to the middle of the table.
While last summer’s ubiquitous hit “Hi Hater” became an anthem for flaunting in the face of detractors, the effusive contempt of “Kill You” better illustrates the frustration when those closest to you demonstrate a total lack of faith in your ambitions. The triumphant elation of “All The Above” when Maino taps into his core only helps to heighten the internal deliberation of songs like “Runaway Slave” & “Floating” when doubt begins to creep in. The latter shows how the isolation the dogged pursuit of a singular goal can break one down when the output doesn’t correlate to what’s being put into it.
The entire album is sequenced in a way that it tells Maino’s story from the time he’s released to the point when he’s offered a deal. Playing the narrator, he details both the highs and lows of his path. With this being his story, Maino keeps the features mainly to a minimum as he handles a bulk of the rapping his self. This results in the listener gaining a complete portrait of who he is. He maintains a creative vision throughout and rarely strides off the path. “Let’s Make A Movie” is one such instance, when the obvious song catered to the females is inserted. While it doesn’t have anything to necessarily do with his journey, it’s inserted in the right spot so the story can continue on it’s natural course. The closing number “Celebrate” clocks in at just under eleven minutes and a majority of the song just reveling in the moment à la Kanye West’s “Last Call.” If Tomorrow Comes… is a more than solid debut that blows a breath of fresh air into New York on a mainstream level. Now that tomorrow has indeed come, it’s up to Maino to determine where he’s going to take us next.
Previously Posted — TSS Presents Fifteen Minutes With Maino
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, GENERAL — Tags: All The Above, Hi Hater, Just Blaze, Maino, T-Pain
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24 Comments
REALLY?!!! … Well damn. :/
This has been on repeat since it dropped. I co-sign 4 cigs all day.
co-sign completely….I was almost inclined for a 4 1/5 cig rating myself….but then I’d be called crazy.
Album is dope….for what the lacks in lyrical potency….he makes up for in sheer determination, will and passion…along with excellent sing structure to boot!
though I find it intriguing that….”Runaway Slave” is the same beat from “Pray For Me” off Glass Joe’s latest album…Padded Room.
^ I’mma give this a listen and see for myself … I reserve my judgement for a couple of days. I’ll get back to ya’ll on this one.
I gotta agree. Maino surprised the shit outta me with this one. I wasn’t expecting a cohesive effort at all and that’s exactly what If Tomorrow Comes is. The narrative keeps the “story” moving and helps lift the veneer and expose Maino, flaws, insecurities and all.
For a cat who is merely a competant MC at best, it doesn’t make sense that his album is this good.
I passed a few of the dropped tracks over cause my general rule of thumb is: “I don’t fuck with cats called maino”, BUT I decided to fore go it this time based on someone’s rec..
Anyways he definitely puts his heart in to this.pause. and in the end comes out with a real good debut.
The production is top notch, while the lyricism obviously lacks at times but his determination is there and in the end makes up for the rest. Great album from a guy that had no chance from the get go with me.
Xilla tells me that I smacked the shit out of Maino’s hand @ the award show. He touched my lens.
Maino, if you’re reading, I’m sorry. I’m heavy handed & never realize my own strength.
@ Maino:
Gotty™ “Didn’t Know His Own Strength” ©Whitney Houston
I shall pass like Peyton Manning… until I take a long drive and can REALLY listen.
Lol why did he touch it
I wanted “However Do You Want It” on there, but I’m not sure it fit the “story”.
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ag9c251/n/Maino-If_Tomorrow_Comes-2009-H3X_zip
TRA – good one lol.
A – ahh, I’ll throw a pause in for you lol. Anyways, we were snapping pics, probably violating his personal space. It was all playful, I just didn’t think I hit his hand hard until Xilla told me the other day “I thought you were mad @ Maino. You slapped his hand hard” lol.
Musically, I wasn’t on the “Hi Hater” bandwagon so I was surpised the album did sound ok.
http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&&mediaKey=40aee77a-ff06-433d-957b-8a6f25c026bd&isShareURL=true
i kno how yall judge albums an dnt jus give everybody a XL like XXL magazine so if i see 4 cigs that means it deserves a listen
im gonna fuck with this on yalls advisement…yall have never steered me wrong before i kind of hated on this dude because he was part of lil kims lil click a few years ago.
Good album, but the narrative kinda detracts from the replay quality. I can’t let that shit ride when I know I’m going to get distracted by a mini-radio play.
i’ll listen that. but drop ya somophore lp next year homie, remember that.
hi…
i like the album an im not trying to b a hater but im mad he jacked joe buddens pray for me beat off padded room with the song runaway slave – plus to b honest joe buddens song was more conceptual an alot better other then that tho a solid debut by maino good for east coast hip hop
I don’t understand how he is good for east coast Hip Hop when half his album sounds like it’s from the south, and besides it having a “story” it fails by having the same weak production that every other album out there has.
I think fools are jocking his “story” and his “cred” a little too hard. It’s to the point where it’s influencing their judgement,
TSS has the best reviews in rap media bar none. I’ve agreed (sometimes after some resitance) to every cig rating you guys have handed out in recent memory, and the written critique is always dead on.
If Tomorrow Comes was the big test though. I felt so strongly that this album deserves 4 cigs I’ve been checking since its release for the review.
You have cemented my trust permanently. Much love.
hahaha
They are probably just worried Maino is going kidnap and whup their asses, so they made sure the rating was high.
Sheep mufuckaz!
Don’t agree with the rating. I wasn’t entertained by this album.
after having the album marinate in my head for a second i think it was good not 4 cig good but maybe 3 cig good – An maino is good for east coast hip hop because he brung a little mainstrean excitement over here without selling his soul with sum type of dance record
STRONGLY disagree with this rating. Production’s mediocre, flow’s terrible, lyrics are generic. His real-life bio aside, he doesn’t sound any more heartfelt or “authentic” than the studio gangstas out there. I can’t help but feel that people are being way too influenced by his back story…