Swizz Beatz, POISON, Album Review
Swizz Beatz
POISON
Album Review
If there's one thing that I can truly appreciate when it comes to hip-hop music especially, it's a good producer. I was fortunate enough to discover this album recently, which is the second full length album from the producer known as Swizz Beatz.
This album was release quite some years after the 2007 debut from Swizz Beatz, titled "One Band Man". But this is admittedly the first set of material that I have heard personally. This newest release features quite an impressive collection of other artists featuring on this record, including the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Nas, 2 Chainz, Pusha T, French Montana, Giggs and many more.
It isn't the features that solely steal the spotlight however, there are an diverse range of exceptionally made and refreshingly unique beats. And despite being a producers album, still has a solid enough flow and aesthetic that rival a lot of amazing rap records that have released this year.
The album gets off to a very theatrical start with "Poison Intro" which as the title suggests, introduces the album and does so extremely well. Beginning with what sounds like a sort of spoken word piece from Aine Zion, it then explodes into this incredibly dramatic instrumental that really gives a good impression of the album as a whole. In fact, I would argue that it is one of the best self-aware "intro" tracks of the year!
Following up is "Pistol On My Side (P.O.M.S)" which features Lil Wayne. The production of this track seems pretty standard on the surface being this moody and cold piano piece. However, I feel that it is incredibly suitable for a track such as this one and melds very well with Lil Waynes signature vocal style. Its a very decent track which doesn't try anything too crazy but also remains very engaging.
While I've never really listened to Giggs admittedly, I do love the track that he features in. "Come Again" has a very gritty, moody and sinister atmosphere surrounding it and compliments Giggs just as well as the last track did with Lil Wayne. While the vocals from Swizz Beatz himself can get a little tiresome this track especially, the track itself still remains an all-round solid number.
One of the tracks to instantly have my attention, the next track features Kendrick Lamar, Jadakiss and Styles P. Titled "Something Dirty/Pic Got Us" and featured this triumphant sounding trumpeting jazz loop as the production. Add a beat to this and the verses from everyone involved, and you have yourself a hip-hop masterpiece! Given its placement and the amount of artists featuring on it, I can imagine that Swizz Beatz himself is very proud of this track.
The following track "Preach" features Jim Jones and has a very catchy flow to it. Despite the fact that it isn't the best track on this album lyrically, it still has quite a unique production that I can at least appreciate as such.
"Echo" is up next and has a very immersive sound clip from Swizz as he makes a toast to Nas, who features on the track. The monologue sort of progresses into what I could only describe as a sort of freestyle which then gives way to the progressive beat. I found it to be a marvellous way to begin the track and it is incredibly helpful when it comes to immersing the listener with the track. The complete production has this incredibly soulful, groovy and nocturnal sound to it. It pairs very well with Nas' vocal style whilst also being quite unique in comparison to the production beind other tracks from Nas. Certainly one of my favourite tracks on the album!
Pusha T assists Swizz on the next track "Cold Blooded". The production does indeed sound very icy with the instrumentation that it uses. The only thing that frustrates me about this track is that it didn't really progress the way that I hoped it would. The production remains pretty much the same throughout and would've been much better is a beat kicked in midway or somewhere around then. I most certainly wanted to get into this track, but ultimately couldn't connect with it enough.
"25 Soldiers" unfortunately also lacks quite a bit of substance. The production seemed incredibly standard and doesn't really have much in the way of standing out. In other words, it sounds like a type of production that a tonne of producers could pull off. Not to mention that Young Thug's feature didn't meld with the production either. The mood of the instrumental just clashed completely with Young Thung's sharp and raspy vocal style.
Things do thankfully return to a more positive atmosphere with the penultimate track "Stunt", which features 2 Chainz. I do kind of see it as a bit of a guilty pleasure track due to how flashy and reminiscent to the bling era this track is. But regardless, I still find it very catchy and at times, even humorous. It is the quintessential show-off rap number and it is executed extremely well.
The album gets off to the most dynamic finish possible with the incredible "SWIZZMONTANA". In a way it kind of reminds me a tiny bit of Diplo's "Welcome To The Party", only much, much better! funnily enough, both of these tracks feature French Montana (whose bars fit into "SWIZZMONTANA" very well). But the real draw here was the upbeat, psychedelic and explosive production which really finishes this album off with a bang.
All in all, I think this album is incredible when it comes to the sheer quality of the production. And as I have already mentioned, I am a sucker for a stellar beat behind a hip-hop track. This album has several of them. As for the tracks bars, the majority of the features and Swizz Beatz himself display some good enough bars for this to be up there with the better rap albums. Fantastic work!
Thank You for reading,
Booth Boy
The album gets off to a very theatrical start with "Poison Intro" which as the title suggests, introduces the album and does so extremely well. Beginning with what sounds like a sort of spoken word piece from Aine Zion, it then explodes into this incredibly dramatic instrumental that really gives a good impression of the album as a whole. In fact, I would argue that it is one of the best self-aware "intro" tracks of the year!
Following up is "Pistol On My Side (P.O.M.S)" which features Lil Wayne. The production of this track seems pretty standard on the surface being this moody and cold piano piece. However, I feel that it is incredibly suitable for a track such as this one and melds very well with Lil Waynes signature vocal style. Its a very decent track which doesn't try anything too crazy but also remains very engaging.
While I've never really listened to Giggs admittedly, I do love the track that he features in. "Come Again" has a very gritty, moody and sinister atmosphere surrounding it and compliments Giggs just as well as the last track did with Lil Wayne. While the vocals from Swizz Beatz himself can get a little tiresome this track especially, the track itself still remains an all-round solid number.
One of the tracks to instantly have my attention, the next track features Kendrick Lamar, Jadakiss and Styles P. Titled "Something Dirty/Pic Got Us" and featured this triumphant sounding trumpeting jazz loop as the production. Add a beat to this and the verses from everyone involved, and you have yourself a hip-hop masterpiece! Given its placement and the amount of artists featuring on it, I can imagine that Swizz Beatz himself is very proud of this track.
The following track "Preach" features Jim Jones and has a very catchy flow to it. Despite the fact that it isn't the best track on this album lyrically, it still has quite a unique production that I can at least appreciate as such.
"Echo" is up next and has a very immersive sound clip from Swizz as he makes a toast to Nas, who features on the track. The monologue sort of progresses into what I could only describe as a sort of freestyle which then gives way to the progressive beat. I found it to be a marvellous way to begin the track and it is incredibly helpful when it comes to immersing the listener with the track. The complete production has this incredibly soulful, groovy and nocturnal sound to it. It pairs very well with Nas' vocal style whilst also being quite unique in comparison to the production beind other tracks from Nas. Certainly one of my favourite tracks on the album!
Pusha T assists Swizz on the next track "Cold Blooded". The production does indeed sound very icy with the instrumentation that it uses. The only thing that frustrates me about this track is that it didn't really progress the way that I hoped it would. The production remains pretty much the same throughout and would've been much better is a beat kicked in midway or somewhere around then. I most certainly wanted to get into this track, but ultimately couldn't connect with it enough.
"25 Soldiers" unfortunately also lacks quite a bit of substance. The production seemed incredibly standard and doesn't really have much in the way of standing out. In other words, it sounds like a type of production that a tonne of producers could pull off. Not to mention that Young Thug's feature didn't meld with the production either. The mood of the instrumental just clashed completely with Young Thung's sharp and raspy vocal style.
Things do thankfully return to a more positive atmosphere with the penultimate track "Stunt", which features 2 Chainz. I do kind of see it as a bit of a guilty pleasure track due to how flashy and reminiscent to the bling era this track is. But regardless, I still find it very catchy and at times, even humorous. It is the quintessential show-off rap number and it is executed extremely well.
The album gets off to the most dynamic finish possible with the incredible "SWIZZMONTANA". In a way it kind of reminds me a tiny bit of Diplo's "Welcome To The Party", only much, much better! funnily enough, both of these tracks feature French Montana (whose bars fit into "SWIZZMONTANA" very well). But the real draw here was the upbeat, psychedelic and explosive production which really finishes this album off with a bang.
All in all, I think this album is incredible when it comes to the sheer quality of the production. And as I have already mentioned, I am a sucker for a stellar beat behind a hip-hop track. This album has several of them. As for the tracks bars, the majority of the features and Swizz Beatz himself display some good enough bars for this to be up there with the better rap albums. Fantastic work!
Thank You for reading,
Booth Boy
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