Search - Mr Cheeks :: Ladies & Ghettomen

LADIES+GHETTOMEN....the new improved CHEEKS!!

gavin redmond | rep of ireland | 05/30/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Anybody that read my review of his last solo set "back again" knows that i was at my wits end when it came to this cat+wasnt wasting another cent on him. So imagine my suprise when after recieving this cd as a "gift" (god knows that person got the look of 1 very aggitated hiphop fan when this was placed into my hand) and it turned out to be.....quite good. A HUGE HUGE improvement from the last crap he dropped. For starters, gone are the annoying casio sounding beats+cheesy rhymes(for the most part)and in come harder head nodding beats with smooth funky basslines that CHEEKS seems happier on. The album starts off with a kick a** 2min opener called "mass homicide" where Cheeks rocks a tight verse which pretty much sets the tone of the album over a crunching beat. Then comes "tonight" (another banger),then the 1st of 3 PETE ROCK (yes, the 1 and the same) produced beats "all i know" which is a jazzy beat with an r+b hook sang by Babydoll (who pops up all over the album). Then we got another r+b laced banger called "its alright" this time with the hook by Truth Hurts (DR.DRE's singer). Unfortunately right about here is where the album starts to lose points as it takes you on a rollercoaster type ride with crazy ups+downs. The suprisingly weak 2nd Pete Rock joint "keep it movin'" is only average by his standards+Cheeks sounds rather tired on it. Then a really strong "whats happenin?" (deepest song on here) comes up next where our hero talks about how peoples perceptions of him have changed+how he distances himself from his past life+just kicks it with the people he trusts most. Next is the 3rd Pete Rock track "turn it up" which is a back+forth rhyme between Cheeks and his new co-hort Madman. Its a nice jazz number with a hard beat. However none of the Pete Rock tracks on show here are at his usual high standard, instead an unknown producer to myself called UNSEEN steals the show with his funky beats all over the album. Then there's 2 r+b weak tracks (str8 from his "back again" days) called "the girls mine" and "all nite long". 2 words....honestly why?? Next however, is 1 of the most original sounding Cheeks songs ive heard in years, it has a Kanye West type feel to it+he sounds strongest here. Then there is the posse cut "blind fold" where Cheeks doesnt even appear, its just his way of introducing his new crew. Finally there's "lb family" where he spits bars with Madman+Babydoll singing over a funky rolling beat thats a smooth way to end proceedings. With a bonus remix of "its alright" on the end it more than makes up for his lack of effort, in my opinion, on the last time out. My money may come back outta my pockets for this cat if he can keep these results up. Strong return to form."

Mr. Cheeks can't be stopped!

E.W. | NC | 11/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cheeks has done it once again. That grungy, party sound is pure CHEEKS. This latest album is proof that the Cheeks/LB style is still around in a major way!

"

LB fam!

pomattic | Canada | 10/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mr cheeks still doin his thing. THe tracks are tight and in the LB flavour! if you feel the work done by the LB fam then pick this up! must get!"