Search - Rhymefest :: Blue Collar

Excellent Debut From Rhymefest

Dorrie Wheeler | 07/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Everyone has been whining about how they want something different in hip-hop. Well something different and "brand new" has been delivered via Chicago rapper Rhymefest. Industry heads might say J Records/Allido was talking a risk by releasing Rhymefest's debut album Blue Collar without a strong radio or video single. What is clear is that the label believes in this project and rightfully so. Across the board Blue Collar has received stellar reviews and this reviewer was equally impressed by Rhymefest's 16 track (including an intro and a skit) debut.



Blue Collar is a solid album and despite having a few featured artists on the album it's Rhymefest who carries the album with his thought provoking lyrics. The production is on point. The set was produced by Rhymefest, No-ID & Matt Middletor.



Well what do we have here.



"Fever," produced by No-ID is a crazy track which uses an Indian style take on the classic song "Fever." One song on the set which has potential to be a radio single is "All Women Cheat," which features Mario. On this Cool & Dre produced song Rhymefest let's the fella's no that women cheat they just put a little more thought into covering their tracks.



Rhymfest won a Grammy Award for co-writing the song "Jesus Walks" with fellow Chicagoan Kanye West. Kanye makes an appearance on two tracks on Blue Collar. He is featured on "Brand New" which is an up-tempo song which was the first single and he is featured on the laid back track "More." "More" is a really good song in which `Fest spits about how people always want more and how often people emulate people who really aren't doing that well for themselves. Kanye West isn't the only Chicago rapper featured on Blue Collar. Mikkey and Bump J are featured on the street track "Chicago Rillas."



"Devil's Pie," is a real fly party type of a joint. "Sista" is a song in which Rhymefest speaks on the struggles some of these women up are going through. Vocalist Mike Payne is prominently featured on this joint. "Tell a Story" is an up-tempo song followed "Build Me Up," which features the late O.D.B. "Build Me Up," is such a great song and one of the better posthumous released O.D.B. songs.



"Blue Collar" is consistently solid and doesn't disappoint. Listening to "Blue Collar" almost is like reading a blue print of Rhymefest's life growing up in Chicago.



Must hear song on the set include "More," "Fever," "All I Do," "All Girls Cheat," and "Build Me Up."



Hands down Blue Collar is the best hip-hop CD of the year. Rhymefest is a unique character and he brings a lot to the game. For all you people patiently waiting for new releases from Kanye West, Common or can't wait for that Lupe Fiasco, pick up Blue Collar ASAP because Rhymefest will quell your thirst for that real Chicago hip-hop."

The future of hip-hop. He's Whack tose intolerant.

Matt Anness | Toronto, Canada | 07/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Che Smith also known, as Rhymefest is a Chicago native has finally released his first album "Blue Collar". Rhymefest used to be a janitor. One day he went to clean the bathroom and found that someone crapped all over the floor. He then walked out and said to himself "I'm going to make it." In 1997, Rhymefest beat Eminem in the Scribble Jam in 1997 in Chicago. After the birth of his first son in 1998, Fest' was forced to work many low paying Blue Collar jobs until his wife got a job to support them so he could devote time in his main passion of music. In February of 2003, Rhymefest signed a record label with Allido Records turning down the offer from long-time friend Kanye West for his record label G.O.O.D Music. At this time Rhymefest also co-wrote with Kanye with one of his singles for his first album "The College Dropout". You might know this single as "Jesus Walks". In 2005, Fest' won a Grammy for the work he did on the single. Earlier this year Rhymefest released his first single in the UK "Brand New" feat. Kanye West. The song was recorded many years ago as I heard it in late December of 2004. The video for the single was also made many years ago. The latest single from the album "Fever" was released on June 29th on Yahoo.



When I heard the album had an official released date after being delayed more times than one I was really excited. The part that disappointed me is that some of my favoutire songs like "These Days" and "Go Out Clothes" won't be on the final track listing but some great songs still remain like the singles "Brand New" and "Fever" and will also feature "Dynomite (Going Postal)", "More feat. Kanye West", "All Girls Cheat", "Chicago-Rillas feat Bump J and Mikkey", "Bullet" and, "Devil's Pie". Rhymefest will also be the only rapper to go commercial who has a lisp. It isn't noticeable at all except in the chorus of "Brand New". All the songs have a positive vibe, as the beats won't sound like beats a rapper would use. The beats have a jazzy blues vibe. If you like rappers from the Chi-Town like Common, Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco, you'll love to have this album in your CD collection. It is great to see the good rap and hip-hop get more popular because this G-Unit stuff just sucks.



I was very lucky to get a copy of this album a day before it came out so I've had enough time to listen to it, to review it. Here is a song-by-song review.



-1.Feel Free (Intro): N/A It's an intro. I don't rate intros

-2.Dynomite (Going Postal): Great crazy beat. The best song on the album to start the album off on a high note. Solid track. 10/10

-3.Brand New feat. Kanye West: The first single from Blue Collar. I heard this song a couple years ago and I still love it to this day. Lyrics are great and go perfectly with a beat. 10/10

-4.Fever: The second single from this album that was just released. Great song but not worthy of being a single among the rest of the songs. 10/10

-5.All I Do: The first `new' song for me to hear because I've heard the previous songs way before the album came out. Amazing song. This review doesn't look good right now because there's nothing bad about the album. 10/10

-6.Get Down: Ha, I would love to see a music video for this song. It's funny when you listen to it for the first time. 10/10

-7.More feat. Kanye: This is the song that made me buy the album. I still wish that Kanye had a verse. 10/10

-8.Chicago-Rillas: When I first heard this song a month ago I was wondering what was up with the pig noises at the beginning but now that I've been able to listen to the track a bit louder on my stereo, I've realized that it is part of the beat. Very creative. This is where the newest/future of hip-hop on the album begins. 10/10

-9.Stick: The party track on the album. If you put the beats of Missy's "Work It", Jay-Z's "99 Problems" and the main beat of the Ying Yang Twin's "Whisper Song" than you would get the beat to this song. The lyrics sound like they are written by the Ying Yang Twin's or David Banner and the when the lyrics are rapped by Rhymefest he kinda sounds like Bubba Sparxxx and sounds like they are part of Busta Rhymes "Touch It" as the verses are started with a low tempo that gets louder throughout the verses. 10/10

-10.All Girls Cheat: This was the second track I've heard from Rhymefest back in December. Great appearance from Mario. I though Mario was a thing from the past but he's still around. 10/10

-11.Devil's Pie: I also heard this song in December. The beat has dramatically changed sense then. This is where hip-hop and heavy metal meet. It's a new style of hip-hop that I won't expect to see in the future. Still made great by Rhymefest. 10/10

-12.Sister: The slow song on the album. It has a soulful jazzy beat that I've yet to hear on a hip-hop song. Superior singing from Mike Payne who in some way sounds like John Legend. 10/10

-13.Mr Blue Collar: No need for a interlude now.

-14.Bullet: When I first heard this song on sessions on AOL I knew that this would be a great album. This is what rap and hip-hop SHOULD sound like. Brilliant lyrics. The best song on the album. 10/10

-15.Tell A Story: It took awhile to get to this song because I spent so much time listening to "Bullet". This song has a great tempo to a simple beat. 10/10

-16.Build Me Up: I was very dissapointed that this was the last song and that there was no hidden track. Another solid track. I'm glad that ODB was NOT a singer. Very funny to hear him sing in this song. 10/10



If you haven't done so yet, go out and get the album today.

Thank you Mark Ronson. You've done an amazing job on this album.

"

Highly impressive, but potential is his greatest asset.

Pablo | 12/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'll be straight up, when I first listened to Blue Collar, I was not a fan. I'm not sure if it's the particular mood I was in, or not, but Rhymefest did little to capture my interest with his rather peculiar, and not quite polished, flow. I put the album down for awhile, and decided to check out other artists, as 2006 was still jam-packed with major releases. Now that 2006's dwindled down, and 2007 is merely days away, I decided to revisit this Chi-town native's debut album, and I was pleasently surprised on second listen. Rhymefest possesses more energy than I originally perceived, and his flow, while still a little off, is intriguing for its unique qualities.



While this album isn't likely to become a classic among anyone but hardcore Rhymefest fans, it shows than Rhymefest has more than enough potential to drop a classic before he's ever done emceeing. While not as comfortable, or sonically engaging as his Chi-town neighbor, Lupe Fiasco, Rhymefest is quite tight in his own right. Unfortunately, Kanye's contribution(Brand New) isn't as tight as his contributions to Doctor's Advocate and Hip-Hop Is Dead, but his presence isn't that missed, as No I.D. and Mark Ronson are the real bread and butter of production. Of course, Just Blaze and Emile also drop in for some dope cuts behind the boards, providing their usual heat.



So while this album is musically pleasing, and Rhymefest's flow is uniquely engaging, what about the lyrics? No need to worry if you thought Rhymefest came up short there, because this is where he excels. While the flow may not be perfect, and not all of the backdrops are overwhelmingly tight, Rhymefest consistently drops more hot bars than a coal miner, solidifying himself as one of the mainstream's premier lyricists on one album alone. Well-rounded, Rhymefest can kick fly stories(More, Bullet, Tell A Story), and braggadocious verbals with the best of them. While I won't be one of the people who jump on Rhymefest, saying he delivers a message with every opportunity he's given(while Rhymefest is an intellectual, he's hardly a conscious emcee; much like his friend, Kanye), but he does provide some great insight on his own life.



Rhymefest isn't the perfect emcee by any means, but there is unlimited potential that he didn't fully expose on this release. His sophomore album is destined to be better, and I'll be waiting patiently on that; in the meantime, I have no problem giving Blue Collar its share of spins, and you shouldn't either. Recommended."