Young Buck has been through a lot. Three years removed from his debut “Straight Outta Cashville”, an album that went gold, it would appear G-Unit is falling apart. An industry backlash has seen 50 Cent & Co. take a lot of verbal abuse. However, Young Buck manages to serve up his sophomore effort “Buck The World”, after the recent dissapointments of Lloyd Banks and Mobb Deep. Boasting production from Dr. Dre, Polow Da Don, and Hi-Tek, Young Buck hopes to revive the energy and fans the Unit once had.
1.) Push Em Back: Great effort to open up the album, production is laced crisply, while Buck re-assures everyone that the Unit is still getting money. Over smooth piano chords, Buck provides a note worthy opening track.
2.) Say It To My Face feat. 8Ball & MJG, Bun B: Typical southern production on this one, as Young Buck, 8Ball, MJG, and Bun B provide predictable southern bragging, that make for a slightly above average song. Bun B serves up the best verse.
3.) Buss Yo Head: An underground anthem, this is Buck at his best. Over epic production, Buck lets everybody knows that it’s his time to shine, so move over. Aggression and perfect production, make this a classic track.
4.) I Ain’t *****ing With U feat. Snoop Dogg, Trick Daddy: This song is a letdown. More should be expected out of Hi-Tek production, and Snoop Dogg is featured singing here. Trick Daddy serves up an average verse, but this track is an overall letdown. One of the album’s lackluster efforts.
5.) Get Buck: The 2nd single from the album, this is Polow Da Don at his best. After the recent success of “Throw Some D’s”, Polow provides Buck with horn blaring production, that brings the best out of Young Buck. Great choice for a single, and should be an anthem in the club for a minute to come.
6.) Buck The World feat. Lyfe: A frustrated Young Buck details how he woke up one morning screaming “***** The World” (sound familiar, 2Pac?). Good song none the less, with Lyfe Jennings on the hook. Buck mellows out for this one.
7.) Slow Ya Roll feat. Chester Bennington: Dr. Dre produces this gem, featuring Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington. This is Buck’s version of detailing an everyday struggle in different situations. Production is perfect on this track, and Buck delivers one of his best efforts to date. Great song.
8.) Hold On feat. 50 Cent: Typical G-Unit track, featuring 50 Cent crooning the hook. Over another Dre produced beat, this is somewhat reminiscent of an old time gangster track, which is also evident when watching the video. This song will grow on you, and becomes more addictive after each listen.
9.) Pocket Full Of Paper feat. Young Jeezy: A somewhat dissapointing effort, featuring what sounds like Lil Jon production. Same synths are used, and Jeezy’s adlibs are tiring on this track. Skip it, it’s a little too similar to everything else on the radio.
10.) Haters feat. Kokane: Recruiting West Coast legend Kokane for the hook, Young Buck lets his haters know that he still doesn’t give a *****. Smooth west coast production, provide for another superb track, as Buck wishes “Tupac was here to witness this”.
11.) U Ain’t Going Nowhere feat. Latoiya Williams: Smooth production is apparent here, but the song’s theme is recycled. As Buck and his girl go back and forth about how they can’t leave each other, it becomes a little too much. Banks is better at these type of songs, making the track under achieving.
12.) Money Good: At first sounding like another tried club attempt, Buck lets his lyrical side show, with lines like “things done changed, i’m hotter then a flame/ so i aint got time to beef with Jada, Joe, or Game”. Buck shows his will to move past conflicts, and focuses on getting money, over smooth production.
13.) Puff Puff Pass feat. Ky-Mani Marley: Buck is no stranger to weed. Nicknamed “Buck Marley”, a weed anthem was not even questionable for his second album. Sure to get the tokers chokin on that sticky, Buck provides a perfect track featuring Jamaican singer, Ky-Mani Marley.
14.) Clean Up Man: Quite possibly one of the best tracks on the album, Young Buck’s aggression once again carries this track. Production really helps the album, and this track is no exception. Young Buck describes his role as the Units clean up man, and nobody can do it like he can. Great track.
15.) 4 Kings feat. T.I., Pimp C, Young Jeezy, Jazze Pha: Looking at the featured list, you’d expect more out of this track. Jazze does the hook, and while the song’s decent, it’s also been available since mid-2006, and is a little bit of a dissapointment. Decent track none the less.
16.) I Know You Want Me feat. Jazze Pha: An obvious attempt at reaching the ladies in the club scene, this song works suprisingly well. Better then the previous track, Jazze provides a smooth beat for Buck to work with. Not the best choice for a single though, as it is out of Buck’s element.
17.) Lose My Mind: The track on the album that will take most listeners by complete surprise. Featuring a very aggressive Buck shouting like a rocker, this song is perfect. I would’ve never expected a track like this, and most fans won’t either. Perfect way to close out the album, on a suicidal note.
18.) Bonus Track – Funeral Music: 50 Cent’s diss to Cam’ron. Has nothing to do with Young Buck, and is a failed attempt at selling the album using the same G-Unit beef formula. Not worthy to be on the album.
So did Young Buck pick up where Lloyd Banks, and the rest of the Unit have failed the past 2 years? The answer is yes. This album, minus two or three filler tracks, is nothing less then perfect. Buck surpasses his debut album by far (which is a great album in its own right), and opts to go with big name producers who suit his style perfectly. I think it’s apparent The Unit is back in the game, thanks to Young Buck, and Young Buck alone.
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Young Buck. G-Unit’s first Southern member and probably the least “lyrical,” Buck is–like most Southern artists–all about the flow, jewels, hoes, and as indicated by his album’s title, ca$h. Since the G-Unit group album, hip hop heads have increasingly embraced him, and the G-Unit soldier hopes the fame will help sell his album (if not that, then the G-Unit imprint on his CD case will, at least).