NobodySmiling.com Blog

Styles P is a man whose spirit is defeated, at least that’s what foes would want you to believe. They want you to think that the Yonker’s native has no more left in the tank after the war with G-Unit and seemingly backing by Interscope. But the man known as The Ghost is far from over. A little tired with the label B.S., but not over. If Time Is Money, then Interscope and Hip-Hop is going to have to ( in Reilly from Boondocks voice) “Pay what you owe”. Styles is no joke on the mike, and instead of giving in and making pop records like he’s counterparts, he provides a intense lyrical voyage for True Hip-Hop heads.

This album shouldn’t be taken as just some run of the mill record, but an statement. Laced with lyrics so deep, you’d swear they were pulled from the foundations of the Earth. Maybe more like the foundations of the streets that he dwells. The first song of his sophomore album is called “G-Joint”, which is over an electric 80’s rock band sounding track. Holiday Styles spits his gutter street fury with lines like “I’m a Gangster and a Gentlemen dawg, I got class/ I’m a send a bunch of roses to you morgue/” or “beef with New York rappers, I’m killing them all/ on my Slick Rick shit, lick my balls” very classy indeed. The D-Block soldier Jae Hood also appears and adds some swipes at G-Unit when he says “How a rat gonna give you thoughts of a predicate felon”.

I could be wrong seeing how lyrical Styles is, but I’m assuming that “G-Joint” is the only time he makes any references to the unit. Moving on he shows his growth as not just an artist but also a man. Devilling into more socially conscious concepts with this album. The brilliant horns ring on “Testify” which reunited Hi-Teck with the Brooklyn Lyricist Talib Kweli. While without a doubt Styles does his thing, it’s Kweli feeling right at home that shines most with rhymes like “to many snitch niggas testify/ worry a King, sent to the Bing and left to die/ girls confused sex with love/ so they extra dry/ and got birth control stuck to they necks and thighs”. You can tell the song is a little dated though, as Kweli makes references to Pimp C still being locked up, even though he is free now.

Styles plays the role of tour guide on jams like “Real Shit” and “How We Live”. Captivating the listener through the severe realities of the streets that raised and shaped him into the man he is today. “Real Shit” features the now late Great Gerald Levert, which kinds of adds a eerie feel to the song. Yet “How We Live” is the most awkward seeing how the skillful flute dancing on the beat is produced by G-Unit’s very own Havoc of Mobb Deep. Have did mention in an interview a while ago that Curtis had no effect on whom he choose to produce for, and thankfully so. This song is utterly instant replay material. We find a more observant Ghost as he drops his feelings “I’m the spiritually outta this world/ make my lyrics on the dark side/ come back when the dutchie get twirled/ I’m the alpha and omega of nice/ I’m the messenger, sent by the force at the head of the light”. My favorite line has to be “school little niggas, you can buy jewels/ but I can play with words” pretty much a nice way to say step you game up.

Damn It there just had to be a Swizz Beats involved track didn’t there! Well while the beat is hot on “Who Wants A Problem“, The Monster’s need to make his presence know all over the track is not. Almost ruining another hot Lox collabo, yet The Ghost, Sheek Louch and Jadakiss still deliver. “I’m coming in the 4th quarter/ so i’m a just give you the summer to tred water/ way they wrote it down on the paper it read slaughter/ found him in the tub with noting but red water/” Mr. Raspy unquestionably had the best verse on the song but everyone brought it.

It’s irrefutable that Styles has been screwed over ruthlessly by Interscope when you hear the flames on this album like “Burn One Down”. Please be for warned if your system isn’t that strong, the bass will obliterate your speaker. “Leave A Message” is Styles creatively expressing his most profound feelings and views on society. And the anthem “I’m Black” featuring the ever so Soulful songtress Marsha Ambrutious is gratefully on this album. We should of really took Nas charge to “Roll to every station and murder the DJ” when this song was seemingly black-balled at Clear Channel stations. It’s like “Black Magic” taken to an elevated level as Styles spills the truth “(I’m Black) So I got a heart full of bravery/ do it for my people that went through slavery/ (I’m Black) So you know I’m gone get into sports/ 90 percent chance I get hung in a court/ (I’m Black) Don’t you be scared of me mister, cause you don’t really seem to be scared of my sister”. This song stays bring chills, especially when Marsha pours out the passion. You want a real Hip-Hop album, full of great lyrics then Styles is the man. Support and don’t let The Ghost fade away. But wait he isn’t going by The Ghost anymore, now it’s The Phantom!

Share This