Album Review: Scarface - Emeritus

Scarface is not the type of rapper you'll find doing the late night performance circuit, or collaborating with one of your favorite pop stars for heavy music rotation. He's just not that high profile guy.

By the same token, he isn't the underground rapper who isn't accepted because he defies convention. In fact, Scarface fills his albums with the same sort of material that bogs down popular hip hop today: respect, money, violence, and a claim to being the best around. Any hopes for his presumed final album, Emeritus, to bring out the sentimental side of Scarface are destined for futility: Scarface does exactly what he has done through 9 albums, and even if the result isn't satisfying, it's reliable.

The beginning of Emeritus hits hard once you skip the intro from J. Prince that, while being interesting, doesn't warrant more than one confused listen. After that is the accurate "High Powered" and the only two great songs on the album: "Forgot About Me" and "Can't Get Right." The former is a jam-packed collaboration song with Lil Wayne and Bun B, and both do what they're supposed to (Wayne even makes fun of his multiple guest appearances by renaming himself "Featuring Lil Wayne" in the song). The latter is a soulful song of mourning for trying to break out of the hard way of life and finding it impossible. Bilal's guest vocals contribute wonderfully to this purpose.

However, the rest of the album kind of moves along after that, with few songs sticking out for good reasons. Songs like "Who Are They" and "We Need You" only stand out for their grating choruses. The other songs aren't particularly bad, but they also aren't particularly good. There are no one-liners, no big points, nothing that makes you stop and say "this is why I'm listening to this album." Scarface seems content on this album to just go for the ride, not realizing that he might be the only one in the car.

The music is done well in some parts and mediocre in others. The disparity is such that when the Cool and Dre-produced track "Forgot About Me" hits, the other songs following it sound poorly made as a result. There was certainly ambition in the production, as evidenced in the flutes in "I'm Still Here" and certain string arrangements throughout the album. To that end, the music created a somber mood for the majority of the album as Scarface continues to contemplate why there is still so much hatred in the world while simultaneously glorifying guns and murder.

Scarface is one of those rappers who calls himself "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper," and by listening to this album it is apparent how his body of work as a solo artist and as part of the Geto Boys influenced a lot of today's hip hop acts. But for a potentially final album, Emeritus isn't going out with a bang: more like the pop of a cap gun.

Scoring:

Replayability: (15/20) Several songs might be worth a listen or two, but the only two songs that will really warrant several plays are "Forgot About Me" and "Can't Get Right."

Music: (17/20) Where it's good, it's good. The beats help give the album a real, gritty feel that complements Scarface's simple subject matter...

Lyrics: (13/20) Which costs him here. The problem with his lyrics is that they are nothing new. He doesn't sample anyone else's lyrics, but he doesn't say anything different or interesting in any of the songs.

Completeness: (15/20) "Who Are They" and "We Need You" curb the album's momentum, but not by much: for the most part the transitions are smooth from track to track and the mixing was properly done. A lot of the beats towards the end of the album take elements of beats from the first few songs, and it gives the album a complete feel.

Emotional Pull: (11/20) There is absolutely nothing here to grasp onto. Seeing as this could be his last album, there should be a lot of pathos-inspiring elements reminiscent of Jay-Z's Black Album (no matter the outcome with that), but there is absolutely nothing here that you haven't heard a million times. There is no tearful goodbye, no big stunt to remember him by: this is who he has always been, and it doesn't get a reaction.

Total Scoring: 71

Grade: C-

Check, Check Plus, X
High Powered √
Forgot About Me √+
Can’t Get Right √+
Still Here √
It’s Not a Game √
Who Are They X
Soldier’s Story √
Redemption Song √
High Note √
We Need You X
Unexpected √
Emeritus √

Sticking with the hip-hop theme I've brought upon myself, today Common releases his 8th album, Universal Mind Control, which is waiting for me when I get off of work. Expect the review soon.

Sit tight til the next grade,
RRC