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Chic Raw & Ace McClowd - What You Expect From MeAlbum Review by:
Mike Ivey Jr.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
 It’s fitting that a guy named Chic Raw, whose raps sound shot out of a canon, releases a “street album” about expectations; for almost eight years Chic’s blustering bars have, via DVD, permeated ghettoes in the nations new murder capitol, Philadelphia, PA. Inter-crew squabbles and gunshot wounds notwithstanding, Chic, AKA CR, lives to tell about the his struggle in ‘What You Expect From Me?,’ hosted by Ace McClowd.
From the outset Chic establishes himself as rapper of hard truth-whether introspective or venomous: “…follow what the streets taught but rules broken/ make me wanna squeeze on these pu**ies ‘til the tool’s smokin.’ Chic, 23, rumored to be a virtual mute in public when cameras are absent, lets friends promote him in a few skits that don’t obstruct but add lure to his growing legend.
The albums’ title track finds Chic gunning for the top spot in the chorus over triumphant strings and patient bass that fit his defiance; he declares, “Chic Raw! I remain number one!” It’s a shame “Do What U Gotta Do,” w/Meek Millz, only includes one Chic verse; the juke-joint feeling chords and knocking snares make the feel more hopeful than helpless, but it seems a “Dopeman” “…Feelin Stressed Out” by the “Street Mentality” has little time to wax spiritual. Maybe the title of this “street album” should’ve been punctuated differently because the aforementioned songs are predictably gutter. The only other album standouts include “Da Feelin Of Money,” a quality concept record w/Kre Forch, the dark bounce “Man On Da Block” and “Hangin On;” here, Chic zones on dilemmas of a “crack baby” whose mom was strung out young; “they say that money take the stress away/ wonder what happens when the one who created it take my breath away.”
Labeling ‘What You Expect…?’ a “street album,” enlisting “voice of the hood” Ace McClowd and telling his thoughts strictly through lyrics are smart moves by a young hip hop artist. The music business is a thinking man’s game after all. ‘What You Expect…?’ is solid, however, raw talent and potential don’t always translate into future classics that aren’t so conceptually limited.
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