B.G – It’s All On U Vol. 2

B.G - It's All On U Vol. 2Back in 1997, before Cash Money’s prime and multimillion dollar deal with Universal, the label released a string of albums from their first marquee star – 17 year old B.G. After releasing the regional smash “Chopper City” in 1996, B.G. followed it up with the release of “It’s All On U Vol. 1” in early ’97. “Vol. 2” was put out later that same year.

 

1.) Don’t Hate Me

Anybody that knows anything about Cash Money knows that The Big Tymers always set an album off with an intro. Mannie Fresh’s smooth production make for a melodic way while gaming haters and non sayers.

2.) What U Want Do

The first real track from B.G. is the uptempo “What U Want Do.” While B.G. manages to properly ride the beat, his lyrics are noticabley amateur. However, his delivery, combined with Fresh’s production, makes for a good track.

3.) Get Your Shine On feat. Big Tymers

Before Cash Money blew with Juvenile’s “Ha” and “Back That Azz Up”, B.G. gave labels a reason to sign them with his New Orleans anthem “Get Your Shine On.” Over very soothing production, both B.G. and The Big Tymers deliver a classic song.

4.) Livin’ Legend

My personal favorite on the album, B.G. (even at the age of 17) spends this song declaring his status as a ‘livin legend’. 6 years before the release of his album of the same name, and only 4 albums into his career, B.G. provides proof he was already a legend in the game. Great song, with even better production by Mannie Fresh.

5.) Hot Boys 226 feat. Hot Boys

B.G.’s delivery on this song is noticabley strong, keeping up with Fresh’s upbeat bassline driven production. Lil Wayne makes for a strong guest appearence, as does Juvenile making for an above average song by the Hot Boys.

6.) Ride Or Die feat. Hot Boys

Using the same sample Lil Kim used for one of her earliest singles, B.G. and Lil Wayne trade verses, with sharp flows, over this mellow track. Juvenile adds another guest appearence at the end of a track, before B.G. steals the show at the end of the song.

7.) Plan Went Sour

Over another mellow beat, courtesy of Mannie Fresh, B.G. attempts at telling the story of a heist that went wrong. Lyrics are once again a drawback, but a good hook and delivery make for a listenable song, on a New Orleans classic.

8.) Clean Up Man

The Baby Gangsta gets violent on this track, explaining his role as the “clean up man” with a “K in his hand”, ready to clean up any mess. This is one of those tracks where B.G.’s laid back southern drawl works with the production extremely well. Good song.

9.) I’m Try’n feat. Juvenile, Lil Wayne

B.G. expresses his attempt at abandoning the gangsta lifestyle, but how it keeps callin him. A teenage heroin addict, B.G. has obviously had his share of what he calls “that monkey on my back.” Juvenile assists with the hook (as does Lil Wayne with a forgettable verse), giving the hook a lil Hot Boy flavor, over Mannie’s funk driven bassline.

10.) ‘U’ All ‘N’

This is one of the only tracks on the disc that the album could do without. Production sounds stale, and B.G.’s vocals are noticabley low, along with lyrics that aren’t up to par with the rest of the album. Skip.

11.) 6 Figure feat. Hot Boys

This is more of what I expect out of a B.G. song. Over dark Mannie Fresh production, Gizzle’s altered vocals blend perfectly with the beat, as he describes his need for 6 figures. Lil Wayne and Turk follow his verse up with recognizable flows, but the song is undoubtedly stolen by Juvenile, who serves up the songs best verse. Great track, and clearly one of the album’s best.

12.) Stay N Line Hoe

To close the album out, B.G. chooses to express his hate for those ‘dog ass hoes’. Production is very simplistic, as is B.G.’s verse, making this track a very dissapointing way to close out a near flawless album.

In conclusion, even at the age of 17, B.G. serves up some of his best work on this Cash Money classic. Far better than the original “Chopper City” and “It’s All On U”, this album proved that Cash Money was more than just a regional success, and legitimized B.G.’s career (this was the last album before “Bling Bling” was released to the masses on Gizzle’s follow up ‘Chopper City In The Ghetto’).

Overall Rating: 4/5

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