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Pharrell - In My MindAlbum Review by:
Jason Fleurant
Thursday, July 20, 2006
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If you were expecting a half ass hip-hop album with hot beats from some N.E.R.D, you are sadly mistaken. Pharrell a.k.a “Skateboard P.” Williams first solo project 'In My Mind' is something I can only refer to as “Interesting Peak”. Peak of what? A peak into a well of potential. This album is a true display of flexibility and artistic talent, but limited by that same gift. I know that doesn’t make sense right, follow me into the mind of Pharrell for a minute.
I’d be lying if I said that Pharrell didn’t impress me with his first explosively catchy single “Can I Have It Like That”. A track that really boasted a useless appearance by everyone’s favorite down white girl Gwen Stefani ( one that was obliviously there to ensure MTV play ). Pharrell brought it to the table lyrically giving you a taste of what he could eventually become “On and on and/ the temperatures warmin’/ I spit heat flashes, n*ggas get nautious / bright as a bitch so analyze with caution/ when the light hit’s the ice/ but a hundred that you vomit/” or “should I mention the transition is the track/ No one change into the vision just to get me where I’m at.” Pha Real as Jay-Z had dubbed him, raises an eyebrow or two.
But wait there’s more where that comes from! On the second track “How Does It Feel”. Over a triumphant trumpet blazed track, Pharrell impressively switches up the flow with almost a young Jigga swag to it. Its crystal clear here that Skateboard P has been doing his homework. “N*gga you don’t know me/ I’m Howard Hues, part horny, part holy”. On the track 'Best Friend' we see an more introspective P, telling about childhood struggles of him and people in general. Almost inviting you into a session of therapy if you will. “Mama working all day/ daddy out in the streets/ imagine 10 years old, filled with doubt and decet/ My grandma Lucile use to tell me/ you about what you eat/ “ “Jesus will arrange, but Jesus won’t change it/ hold yourself responsible/ on yourself you blame it/.” He continues on this conscious path with the track 'You Can Do It Too'. A more sinister vibe as Pharrell shows off his ability to paint pictures with words. Trying to give an inspirational track, he displays a Lupe Fiascoish performance “ It’s kinda weird/ cuz this I dreamed/ prophetic, you get it/ cuz this I seen/ these type of visions/ since I’s a teen/ “.
Just when you though you were witnessing a possible great Hip Hop album, The Gift and The Curse of Pharrell’s artistic talents are displayed. Yep, you knew it was only a matter of time. But after the collabo track with Snoop Dog on 'That Girl'. The album all the sudden turns into a late 80’s early 90’s R&B album. On 'Young Girl/ I Really Like You Girl', you bare witness to the influences P has had. In Young Girl feat Jay-Z, Pharrell gives you an Prince vibe. Toping it off with a hot sixteen from the President himself. The track switches into a bonus cut called 'I Really Like You Girl', where just like in the case of the song 'Number One', he invokes his best rendition of Michael Jackson's 'I Wanna Rock With You' swagger. Which by the way was done impressively well.
Pharrell enlists his Star Trak family to tackle two more guest spots. On the smooth melodic 'Stay With Me' Pusha T. makes an appearances giving us a softer side, while making us all more anxious for 'Hell Have No Fury'. “I took it on the chin, when I heard about that lame/ and no I ain’t here to try and rewrite the past / that don’t measure up to all the nights that we laughed/ when considering love, you take the good with the bad.” True, true words bro. Now get your ass in the studio and finish the album! Sorry guys, I had to vent.
Slim Thugga get’s in the act on 'Keep It Playa'. A dope beat where they both spit some nice lines “rocks the nicest, ima boss/ I don’t ask hat the price cost/ my life is priceless/” by Slim Thug or Pharrell’s “her friends didn’t like us/ but I arrested her couchie/ and her feelings got cuffed/ spider web sex/ must of got caught up”. A nice track but doesn’t feel like it really belongs.
The album isn’t with out its missteps here and there. Songs like the Nelly assisted 'Baby' and 'Show You How To Hustle' feel below par. But none the less, Pharrell’s debut though not near a classic is still a hot album. If you’re looking for gutter straight hip hop or gangsta cuts, you should skip over. If you craving some Neyo or Chris Brown, keep on trucking. If your looking for a work of art, and creativeness, this is where the buck stops. Pharrell delivers on many different levels, hence his gift and his curse. The gift to make great tracks, but the curse that it maybe and acquired taste in these days of lackluster. Pharrell shows something that can’t be denied, he could very well be on the verge of being a “Dope MC”. This album is definitely something I’m dropping by the local record store to get.
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