“Cupcake” – Review Of Fat Joe’s Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 (J.O.S.E. 2)
ALBUM REVIEWS By J. Tinsley on October 25, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Naming an album after a previously highly respected work (sometimes classic), can be a gift and a curse. Jay’s done it with his Blueprint series, Dr. Dre has The Chronics and Lil’ Wayne’s career has become synonymous for his Carter installments. Even Nas somewhat pulled off the feat with his 2001 release, Stillmatic. It’s a risky move, but if done correctly can have the artist resembling more genius than failure. Consider Fat Joe part of this list. In 1995, Joe released what many consider to be the pinnacle of his recording resume’ with J.O.E. (Jealousy One’s Envy). Six years later, he would release J.O.S.E. (Jealousy One’s Still Envy), his first platinum-seller, which boasted hit records “What’s Luv”, “We Thuggin’” and “My Lifestyle.” 2009 finds Don Cartagena attempting to recreate that same magic on Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 (J.O.S.E. 2).
Hitting hard out of the gate, “Joey Don’t Do It” proves to be the album’s standout equipped with a Jimi Hendrix sample and Joe’s most mafioso lines such as, “Just when you thought it was s-s-s-safe/ I ran up in the crib and cleared the muthafuckin’ safe/Got crates full of bass/Got pills, got ones/ And everybody knows that Joey’s got a gun.” Unfortunately, the best track is also the shortest as it clocks in at just under two minutes and 20 seconds.
J.O.S.E. 2 trudges along with failed attempts at commercial records with Akon and T-Pain, both of which seem extremely outdated. “Aloha”, his Pleasure P and Rico Love assisted single, fails to conjure memories his radio records of the past have. Lil’ Wayne has been a mainstay on several Fat Joe singles in the past and for good reason. He provides camouflage for Joe’s lyrical shortcomings on “Winding On Me” which also features the now defunct Ron Browz.
After disappointing records from Jim Jonsin (“Porn Star”) and Swizz Beatz (“Blackout,”) the album finalizes out with Crack addressing several personal topics. One of which being his ability to “share the wealth.” The reflective “Music” finds Joe vividly explaining “They say Joe too selfish, he won’t let us in the door/ I say shit, I coulda left Pun in front of that store/Coulda left Remy Ma ass in Castle Hill/Where every other day a nigga get killed/ They say what’s Cool without Dre?/I say shit, what if them niggas never met Jose?” Joe goes on to explain why he’s the reason DJ Khaled eventually became President of Def Jam South and why Scott Storch would matriculate into one of the game’s hottest producers. In all honestly, he’s right.
What Joe’s ninth solo album lacks in consistency, there are, however, decent tracks hidden beneath the layers mediocrity. The bouncy, feel good track “Congratulations” happens to be one of those, even despite lackluster guest verses. Raekwon also provides a respectable feature on the appropriately titled track, “Ice Cream”, which could have done without the verse from TA.
In the grand scheme of things, Fat Joe ranks as one New York’s more recognizable figures, for better or worse. With Jay-Z, Fabolous and Maino releasing quality records in 2009, their Bronx counterpart fails to deliver mainly due to a lack of cohesion and a forced sound which doesn’t compliment his rugged flow. With no disrespect to the Terror Squad frontman, not many are going to find themselves envying this release.
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24 Comments
LMAO @ “Cupcake”
The sad fact is that this album sold the same amount of album in its 2nd week as Paper Trial over half a year later. If thats not a clear indication that you need to cut your loses and move on, what is?
Brilliant post title lol.
^ he just needs to go on ahead and sell his deadstock sneakers on eBay, lol.
Well, they’re not really deadstock if he took ‘em out the box to lick the soles.
Joe tries to straddle that line between East Coast & Southern artist and it’s not working.
It’s to the point, neither side wants to claim him lol.
And I don’t give a shit how he spins it, the fact that none of his day one crew members are still around is very telling.
Damn Teef it’s hard out there and Joe needs all the money he can get. shhh on the shoe licking. lol
I agree with the reveiw; he was chasing that crossover hit so much. He forgot to make quality music.
He needed more “Joey Don’t Do It” and less “Aloha” and cupcakes.
Joe needs to invest in real estate. Go buy a used car dealership or something.
It’s time to think about doing something different.
The original album’s title one is Jealous Ones Still Envy…
so part two is Jealous Ones Still STILL Envy???
That’s rather redundant.
This album is poop as a whole.
Joey needs to jump back on the D.I.T.C. train, and stop messing with DJ Khalid and those Miami cats. Their music is theirs… not Fat Joe’s. It works for them… not Fat Joe. They’re from Miami…. NOT FAT JOE!
You’re too fat to be making songs for the ladies… your management should’ve told you that. They get some of the blame.
BTW… be more creative with the album titles bruh. You’re taking a classic album like J.O.E. Jealous Ones Envy and bringing down its credibility with all the damn sequels and sequels of sequels. GTFOH!
… and I actually like you as a rapper. You’re letting me down homey.
@ Teef… you going to see Foreign Exchange and Big Pooh tonight?
^ man, I wish. I can’t. I’mma try to catch Rakim in the middle of November though.
^ Oh really?! Where’s he coming? (pause)
Rakim is at Black Cat Nov. 15. Is Phonte an them in town tonight?
50 Cent in a British ‘gangster’ flick produced by Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole? Just saw the trailer, it’s coming out on cinema this week, looks pretty woeful, like most of these mockney gangster films. Denzel better watch out, because Curtis is here, ehem, ehem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfHrm8XBbH8
I agree. He needs to hook back up with DITC. He sounded at home on “That White” on the last album.
agree. He needs to hook back up with DITC. He sounded at home on “That White” on the last album.
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DITC fell off long time ago, Fat Joe and BuckWild are probably the only ones from the crew still making noise that people take notice of.
@ J. West… Yesssirrr.
^ @ Black Cat… mainstage… starts at 8:30PM
DITC fell off long time ago, Fat Joe and BuckWild are probably the only ones from the crew still making noise that people take notice of.
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With some production from Buckwild and Primo, Joey should be good. OC still has bars too homey.
With some production from Buckwild and Primo, Joey should be good. OC still has bars too homey.
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OC always has bars, it’s just his ear for sub-par beats (excluding Word Life and Jewelz) that let him down (not helped by the label pains he has suffered either).
A whole Fat Joe album produced by Diamond D would be a better formula (imho), but that would dependent on the label agreeing to it, and Diamond D firing on all cylinders (which he hasn’t been in all honesty for almost a decade).
Fat Joe is like Morph when he got shot in the X-Men cartoon and couldn’t hold his form. At this point he looks in the mirror and doesn’t recognize his self.
Joe has been straddling the line between East Coast MC & Southern rapper for a minute now. It hasn’t worked.
In fact, neither side is willing to claim him at this point lol.
And I don’t give a shit how he spins it, the fact the entire Terror Squad is gone speaks volumes.
Seems like the chickens are coming home to roost.
Word to Pun.
He needs to fire his yes men and get with some people who will tell him the truth. He can make quality music, but he’s too busy not being himself. Go get Alchemist, Scram Jones, Premo, etc to give him some NYC flavor.
this album is the pushed back’s pushed back..! still hope 4
next year the third and last terror squad disc (miami flava) a new story. 2011 tenth solo album “Crillz Mania” full of street bangaz like hey joe, that white, so much more, safe2safe, take a look at my life
etc and even a hit (lean back’s memories). come on joe ! you need a great comeback. one last great album, even !