Search - Paul Wall :: Get Money Stay True

Are you guys hearing the same album?

Pablo | 04/05/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a big fan of Paul Wall. In 2005, when he released The People's Champ, he released one of the best albums of the year. In my opinion, People's Champ was in the same class as the year's best hip-hop albums(GZA's GrandMasters, Bun B's Trill, DANGERDOOM's The Mouse & The Mask, Kanye's Late Registration, Chamillionaire's The Sound of Revenge, Lil Wayne's Tha Carter II), but this follow up lacks that same energy found on his debut. While Paul Wall was a punchline monster on People's Champ, and was backed up by some of the best production found on any album in '05, the sophomore slump has definitely hit him with Get Money, Stay True.



It's not that I'm upset with the subject matter. When you listen to a dude who titles his album "Get Money, Stay True", has a diamond grill in his mouth, and is signed to Houston powerhouse label, Swishahouse, you don't expect a dude to come through with revolutionary topics, and challenge the Bush administration, or some ****. I love listening to dudes swangin' on candy red slabs with wood grain wheels as much as the next Southern rap fan, so nothing on this album, lyrically, offended me. In fact, Paul Wall, in my opinion, is one of the better Southern emcees in terms of the actual definition; while he may not be as well-rounded as Ludacris, as creative as Weezy, as hypnotizing as Chamillionaire, or as profound as T.I., he is the most believable pimp in the Southern hip-hop game; which is ironic, considering he's taken over Bubba Sparxxx's spot as the staple white boy in that sub-genre. His ballerific ways are as entertaining as can be, and his metaphores are some of the most creative in the game.



In fact, since The People's Champ, I'd actually go out on a limb and say that Paul has IMPROVED as a rapper. The flow's tighter, and the punchlines are sharper. The problem with this entire album - and where the mediocrity really lies - is in the production. While the lead single, "Break 'Em Off," is one of the hottest tracks heard in the first quarter of 2007, the rest of the album is rather poor musically. Unfortunately, with the poor selection of beats, Paul lacks the same inspiration, and motivation to really burn up the tracks like he did on People's Champ. Make no doubt about it, while Break 'Em Off is dope, there's no Sittin' Sidewayz, They Don't Know, or Sip-N-Get High on Get Money, Stay True.



I've heard Paul is considering retiring if this album doesn't fair well commercially, which is a real shame; an emcee of his talent needs to leave on a far better note than Get Money, Stay True. With the lack of promotion this album and its first single has gotten, and the severe decline in popularity of Houston rap, and hip-hop sales in general, this album would be very lucky to even go gold; it won't come close to exceeding his debut's platinum status. Despite this average sophomore slump, I'm not going to give up on dude; he's still a fly rapper with ill metaphores, and more charisma than a dozen other rappers put together. I just hope he sticks around, and comes much tighter on the next release."

Excellant-Transaction:

Curtis Lucero | detroit michigan | 05/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hey the CD was evething I expected and the service exceeds expectations!!,Thanx very much!!"