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

B.G – Chopper City In The Ghetto

B.G - Chopper City In The GhettoThis is B.G`s sixth solo album, but his first album released on a mainstream level. The album contains the hit single “Bling Bling”.

 

1. Intro (Big Tymers)

Big Tymers are talking over a tight beat.

2. Trigga play

First track got a banging beat but the problem is that it doesn’t fit B.G his voice is to laid-back. However he still manage to make this a tight opening track.

3. Cash Money is an army

Tight beat and a good catchy hook with tight gangster lyrics is the best way to describe this track. It was also the first single off the album; don’t know why they chose this track though – the beat doesn’t have that typical club-sound. But I don’t care if it’s a single or not. The song is tight and one of the best on this album.

4. Play’n it raw feat Hot Boys

Everybody from Hot Boys (Lil Wayne. Turk, Juvenile and B.G) is dropping tight verses over the banging beat. The Hot Boys was a tight group and they’re proving it on this track.

5. With tha B.G feat Big Tymers

The beat isn’t all that, but if you can look past that, you will notice that B.G is flowing tight over it. Even the Big Tymers are dropping some good lyrics on this track. You can play this track when you drive, our while you are chilling at home.

6. Made Man feat Big Tymers

On this track B.G really showed of his skills and his tight flow. The beat fits him perfect too. Perfect track, where everything is tight.

7. Bling Bling feat Big Tymers and Hot Boys

The big hit from the album! This track got it all catchy hook with a tight beat, good performance from the features. The song is all about the “Bling Bling” And was a mayor hit for B.G. Although the song is very good, it doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the album.

8. Knock out Feat Turk

This beat is tight laid back with a gangster feel to it. The way it’s changing during the hook makes it even better. B.G and Turk are dropping some tight lyrics on this track. Good track overall.

9. Real Niggaz

The beat is very good on this song, and it’s about how B.G is down for his friends and that nothing should come between them. He is really showing of his tight skills, his flow is on point and the song is good. Everybody should listen to the lyrics because it got an important message in it.

10. Dog ass feat Juvenile

Funny song. Could been a good club song and it’s got a very original beat. Don’t really fit in with the album though.

11. Cash Money roll

The beat is laid back and B.G is dropping tight lyrics. The song is about how they do it when you are rolling with Cash Money Records. You almost wish you were down with Cash Money Records after hearing this track.

12. Niggaz in trouble feat Lil Wayne & Juvenile

This is one crazy beat, it starts with some type of orchestra music and then the bass kicks in and the beat make a switch to crunk music. Anyway it works very good and they all flow tight over the beat. They manage to make it a tight track with one of the most original beats ever.

13. Thug’n

On this track, B.G is dropping one of his best lyrics ever. Mannie Fresh´s making one of his finest beats too. This song is perfect and easily the best track on the album… I recommend every one to check out this track if you never heard of B.G.

14. Hard Times

Deep track with a good message, that’s the best way do describe this track. B.G is taking us trough his childhood in this song; the track is well written and really impressed me. I hope he will do more tracks like this.

15. Uptown my home

On this track B.G is representing for his hood. He does it well over the tight, dark beat. The track is basically about how it goes down in the Uptown. Tight track.

16. Bout my paper

The piano sample that is used in this track is flawless and fits the beat perfectly. The song is about how B.G is serious about his paper and won’t let any body stop him. Good way to end the album.

 

Overall this is a tight album from one of my favorite rapper. This isn’t the normal Cash Money Record either. B.G is on a straight gangsta feel on this album; the beats are very tight and show a lot of variety. There is really not much that I can complain about. The only thing I can say is that they should put some tracks in better order.

I give this album 4 of 5 stars.