Ridin On E (2 and 1/2 stars)
Nuisance | Miami | 06/07/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"What happens when you let the queen of pop(Puffy)gain full control of your album? You get a commercialized monstrosity called Ridin High. As long as I have been listening to 8-Ball & MJG I've never known them to make a bad album. Until now! The Good: Relax And Take Notes and Turn Up The Bump reminds us of the old school Ball & G that everybody is fond of. Cruisin (featuring Slim of 112 and Three 6 Mafia)grew on me and so did Pimpin Dont Fail Me Now(featuring Juvenile). Get Low and Stand Up are also slammin highlights. One last note: MJG floored 8-Ball on Turn Up The Bump and Get Low(not that 8-Ball's rhymes were bad its just that MJG's caught your attention). The Bad: Take It Off sounds like a forced song for the ladies, Killer Mike had the only notable verse in Runnin Out Of Bud, Pimp C had the only verse worth talking about on Whatchu Gonna Do(another song with a dumb hook) and Worldwide is the most obvious rush job track on the album. The Ugly: Ridin High is one the worst songs on here and to put southern giants like Ball & G over a clubby beat that would suit Ciara just fine is insulting to a fault. 30 Rocks is the worst song on here period! The sissy beat, the bland rhymes from Ball & G, the nonsensical hook and is Diddy that delusional that he doesnt realize how much he sucks as a rapper? Hickory Dickory Dock and Alcohol, P**** And Weed(Wow! What a title) are two wack tracks with dumb hooks and Clap On(featuring Yung Joc) should have been disposed of quickly. Memphis is halfhearted tribute to their hometown over a campy beat. Bottom Line: Ridin High is 8-Ball and MJG's worst album. They sound like they rushed a lot of the songs, the production was weak and 8-Ball and MJG sound like they're bored on most of the tracks. To 8-Ball & MJG: We forgive you for Ridin High. Just break camp from Bad Boy Records and that acne-faced freak of nature and we will pretend like this album never happened. PEACE!"