"Although I've been aware for the last few days about the fact that K-Fed's debut album, "Playing With Fire", has been released, it took me a while to convince myself to listen to it. Then again, can you really blame me? This is Kevin Federline we're talking about - "Playing With Fire" is the display of an untalented, coattail-riding, gangsta-wannabe poser doing his best to ruin real Hip-Hop with more misogynistic, radio-friendly trash. Hell, you can even go as far as saying that he's the hyper-uglified male Paris Hilton of BOTH Hip-Hop and Pop culture.
Ok, so I give him (if not his money-loaded *insert offensive insult here* of a wife) credit for employing producers with enough skill to distract listeners away from K-Fed's ridiculously stupid rhymes. Lead single "Lose Control" has a nice Hip-Hop/Pop/Rock feel to it with its piano loops, guitar riffs and rhythmic finger-snapping effects; "The World Of Mine" uses synthesizer-heavy production to conjure an eerily dark vibe; and the Middle-Eastern production is a nice touch to an otherwise horrific collaboration with Ya Boy (uh, who?) on "Dance With A Pimp".
Then again, hot beats come a dime a dozen nowadays (and the production here isn't even that ground-breaking or brilliant)! To make things worse, the fact is that no beat - NO MATTER how hot or cold it is, NO MATTER how fast or slow, NO MATTER how eclectic or bland - can hide the fact that K-Fed is a terrible individual ("rapper" is, in this case, too strong a word) who has nothing new or truly important to say. Although I knew I wasn't going to get something substantial from this effort, I was at least hoping I'd get something. And for a moment, I thought I was with "America's Most Hated", the title track and "Crazy" (feat. wifey Britney Spears breathily whisper-singing on the hook). Unfortunately, all three of the aforementioned tracks swiftly degenerate from potentially decent offerings into some of many moments of egocentric self-indulgence K-Fed shamelessly puts on display on this album.
Speaking of the track "Crazy", we hear Britney Spears saying "And they say I'm Crazy / For loving you, for feeling you". Once again, can you blame us? When you throw away a multi-million-dollar career (which, while mostly discreditable, was at least financially beneficial) for a backup dancer/multi-timing sleaze-bag and a reputation as a notorious tabloid target/Pop *insert offensive insult here*, of course people are going to call you crazy! What would be crazier for the rest of you, however, would be for you to spend hard-earned cash on an album that shamelessly promotes misogyny, intellectual degeneration/stupidity, materialism and everything else that's wrong with Hip-Hop, Pop and Pop-Rap!
YES, Kevin Federline disgraces all three of the aforementioned areas! While other critically and/or lyrically disdained artists like Chingy, 50 Cent, etc. at the VERY least had rapping skills, K-Fed clearly has NOTHING -and I do mean NOTHING- to offer! SKIP THIS! 1 star for production (and that's being sympathetic)!
"
The Ex
Ron | Jersey | 11/07/2006
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Hey Britney just filed for divorce. I guess she finally listened to his album. Total garbage."
At least, the reviews ARE hilarious
open ears | California | 11/11/2006
(1 out of 5 stars)
"There are over 150 comments under the "Uncensored" version here on Amazon.
Some of the funniest stuff I've ever read.
One of them calls this Federline CD "Music for Guantanamo".
At least, I must thank Kevin for causing hilarious critiques to be written."
Waste of money, time and obviously no effort
Scott A. Davis | Phoenix Arizona | 02/15/2007
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I must say this CD is not even worth the review. It is like one of those complimentary rap CD's they hand out at the State Fair for popping a couple baloons.
At times the soundtrack has some good bump, but the rest of the time it is like listening to retard meets nails on a chalkboard.
This brotha's studio time was done before he stepped in.
Too bad they force you to give at least one star.
Blah - don't waste 28 seconds listening to this CD"