Born to Reign

[DevilsJim89]

[url="http://www.rapreviews.com"]http://www.rapreviews.com[/url]

Will Smith :: Born to Reign :: Sony/Columbia Records
as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon

If you don't know his name, you've probably either been living on the moon or hiding in an Afghanistani cave. Arguably, he is the most well-known entertainer in the whole world other than a Michael named Jordan or Jackson. Who would have guessed from his modest beginnings as one half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince on the album "Rock the House" that he would go on to multi-platinum albums, a long-running hit sitcom on NBC, and some of the biggest movie blockbusters Hollywood has ever seen? Some would have said Smith should give up his rap career after films like "Independence Day" and "Men in Black," but since that time he recorded both the smash hit "Big Willie Style" and the somewhat less successful but equally significant "Willenium." To Smith it doesn't matter how much money he makes, he's not about to give up the microphone.

Most of his critics seem to miss this point or think that Smith could not possibly that talented in two areas at the same time. Why not? His acting career evolved out of the charisma and personality he displayed in concert and through music videos, so in reality everything he's done is the logical extension of his Philly born-and-raised hip-hop roots. Releasing new albums every few years keeps that tradition alive, and a man with seven albums and hits in two decades from "Parents Just Don't Understand" to "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" has nothing to explain to anybody. With his new album "Born to Reign" and the first single "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)," Smith can say he's had rap hits in three decades running. How many entertainers in ANY music genre can you say that about?

At the same time Smith still has to prove he has the credentials every time out. It really doesn't matter whether Smith records an album at this point that sells diamond or just goes gold, he's got money in the bank either way. The only thing Smith needs to do these days on a record is have good beats and quality rhymes, with or without the smash hits. The old school roots Smith has are shown on tracks like "How Da Beat Goes" (borrowing from "Jam On It" by Newcleus) but he's also thoroughly blended into modern urban contemporary with the Track Masters produced "1,000 Kisses" featuring vocals from his wife Jada Pinkett Smith (she's aight). On the whole album, the only song that seems out of place is the title track that opens it, produced by Rick Rock. True to his form it's a powerful beat that's suprisingly symphonic, but actually seems too boombastic for Smith. He tries to rhyme louder and more aggressively to compensate, a style that's never fit his laid back and witty style.

"Act Like You Know" is more Smith's groove. Built on a sample from "Trans-Europe Express" and featuring a sung chorus by D. Banga, the song is an ode to dancing and partying in which Smith may be borrowing a bit from Bobby Brown; he's certainly "too hot to handle" at any rate:

"Yo look here dunny last weekend was a mistake
That mami tryin to dish it out when she couldn't take
Come at me dancin wild like this thing is a game
One little move on her and she burst into flames (WHOOSH!)
The whole club runnin, tryin to ruin my night
I told her roll around a lil', she be aight
Then everybody mad at me, all up in my face
Somebody shoulda told that girl to stay in her place
You feel a little heat baby girl I'm behind ya
And hopefully your burnt Gucci dress'll remind ya
of how serious I am, maybe it's crazy y'all
But if you wanna play honey, go get a baby doll"

Smith plays around with his flow on a few tracks, mixing a little salsa into his breath control on the snappy "I Can't Stop," sing-rapping his lyrics over the Timbaland style "Willow is a Player," and even putting a little Jamaican riddim into his music on "I Gotta Go Home." It all works simply because Smith is relaxed, enjoying his long-time experience at flowing rhymes effortlessly to the fullest. While the album ostensibly serves to introduce a protege named Tra-Knox, Smith is the star of the show like any motion picture he appears in. Some people will automatically presume there's no reason to buy this album other than it's tie-in to "Men in Black II" but that's their loss. Has Smith become a better rapper over the years to the degree he has improved as an actor? Probably not, but he hasn't regressed in finesse either. From the smooth Summertime-like odes of "Maybe" to the pure party-starting hip-hop deconstruction of "Give Me Tonite" Smith proves that his albums are still just as interesting as his films, and either way the ubiquitous entertainer aims to please.

[JumpinJack AJ]

I remember reading that when the album 1st came out. Thanx 4 posting it again. Born To Reign is very much a summertime album for me. Of all the times i've listened 2 it for long periods of time, 90% of it has been in the summertime. His other albums kinda serve a certain season 4 me, but Born To Reign strongly sounds better 2 me in the summertime. Just listening 2 it takes me back 2 the summer of 2002. I think it's u-neek sound which makes some people think it's his worst album is what makes me associate with the summertime so much.

[TopDawg14]

We've had this discussion before about BTR but what the heck, let's do it again. Born To Reign was possibly the most slept-on album of 2002. A lot of people thought this album wasn't all that good because Will didn't follow the formula that got him so much success in previous albums. I loved the album for just that reason. Will was eager to experiment and try out different things.

I love the title track. It really speaks about the state of rap today(Are you listening 50 Cent?). My favorite tracks on the album are Act Like You Know, Block Party, I Can't Stop and Nothin' On My Mind. I think Will could have added another song and dropped the BSC remix but all-in-all Born To Reign was a really good album.

[Da Brakes]

It was ok but i still stand by my thoughts that it was his weakest album

[DevilsJim89]

I still thought it was he weakiest album yet I'm totally feeling it right now...My favs are Give Me Tonite, How Da Beat Goes, Act Like You Know...some good stuff.

[WildWildWillennium]

Thanx 4 the review...my fav trax on the album are Block Party and Act Like You Know. I don't think it's Will's worst tho', it's just the most different than anything he's ever done. He took another approach 2 this and it's 2 different from any of his albums 2 say it's the worst!!

[3cookies]

[font="Arial"][color=blue]Well...of all Will's albums, I can definitely say (in my opinion) that it wasn't his absolute BEST...cuz the "title" of Will's Best album belongs to none other than my baby...

[b]Big Willie Style[/color][/b] woo~hooo! :music: :thumb:


NOW! :toetap: ...

yall can holla Code Red, Willenium, or which :poke: EVER album u want,..but the BEST album is BIG WILLIE STYLE... um, to me that is

yeppers! :music: besides, ...it was the album that made me a huge fan, after "Chasing Forever" ...with insights, that I still hold onto... :thumb:

peace,
3cookies[/font] Edited June 29, 2004 by 3cookies

[Da Brakes]

I'm wid u Cookies!! I agree!!

[bigted]

From a lyricist's point of view it's the weakest FP album 'cause there was too much of Tra-Knox on it and not enough rhymin', but at the same time though the envelope was pushed when no other albums recently sound like that so you gotta give him credit for being creative! I personally rather hear him sing than a lot of other rappers that try to sing! But seriously though his next album has to be going back to the lyricism like when he started his career, songs like "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper" where he's freestylin' and Jazzy Jeff is cuttin' would be deadly to these young cats out right now!

[DevilsJim89]

[quote=bigted,Jun 29 2004, 06:41 PM]From a lyricist's point of view it's the weakest FP album 'cause there was too much of Tra-Knox on it and not enough rhymin', but at the same time though the envelope was pushed when no other albums recently sound like that so you gotta give him credit for being creative! I personally rather hear him sing than a lot of other rappers that try to sing! But seriously though his next album has to be going back to the lyricism like when he started his career, songs like "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper" where he's freestylin' and Jazzy Jeff is cuttin' would be deadly to these young cats out right now! [/quote]
I'm feeling Born to Reign right now though, I actually can listen to "I Can't Stop" without cringing...lol...I love "Give Me Tonite" that sounds like the type of song Kanye West would do. Great song.

However, I love Big Willie Style because it totally proves that Will can rap. Even though it maybe egotistical, its a great rhymining album to let these cats know that Will has still got it coming back off a 4 years hiatus from 1993's Code Red. Theres some meaningful stuff though on that CD, I love "Candy"...that sounds like though 2pac's "All About U"...hmm....every sing on Big Willie Style I like...my least fav track is "Just the two of us". Other than that, I can listen perfectly through that CD.

[JumpinJack AJ]

Just cuz Tra-Knox is on Born To Reign dosen't mean that it's lyrically weak...it just means there is less rapping on it since he waz sharing some of the limelight. He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper had alot of DJ trax...dose that make it lyrically weak. The lyrics on Born To Reign are definitly on point. It's just the sound that many of us would like tweaked.

Oh yeah, Jim...the reason "Candy" and "All About You" sound similar is cuz they both sample Cameo's song "Candy"...ha ha...just like Mariah Carey did with "Loverboy" and 100 other artists. It's one of the most heavily sampled songs ever. The beat just naturally has a feel-good kinda vibe, that's why the song waz a hit and why so many people sample it.