Silkk's new way offers little new substance to rap
By LAURA ROMPF
Scene Music Critic
Movies with the biggest stars aren't always the best pictures, and CDs with the biggest rappers aren't always the best albums. In Silkk the Shocker's fourth album, My World, My Way, he raps along with Master P., Snoop Dogg, Mystikal and Trina, but of the album's 23 songs, only a few emerge as quality tracks.
In the album's best song, "He Did That," Silkk raps along side older brother and executive producer Master P. The song's upbeat tempo fits Silkk's slower flow and the lyrics are more refined than many other songs on the album. The catchy chorus provides a perfect break between verses.
The first single off the album, "That's Cool," is tearing up the charts on BET's top 10 as well as MTV's R&B video countdown. Silkk trades verses with Trina, who was first introduced while rapping along side Trick Daddy last year. Trina and Silkk play well off each other, trying to one-up offers of what they can do in a relationship. The pair aren't as comfortable with each other as Amil and JayZ were in "Can I Get a ...," but the song is sure to climb the charts.
Several tracks on the album appear to be filler songs in which the production falls as short as the lyrics. "Funny Guy" and "Haters" do not have catchy beats and the lyrics sound as if they were free-styled or written quickly. Perhaps Silkk should have cut more songs and condensed the album.
Track six "Pop Lockin'" starts strong with Snoop's rapping teamed with a catchy chorus and background beat, but overall the beat becomes mundane and the lyrics offer nothing new.
"Uh Ha" is a strong song. Silkk's arrogance shines through, but he backs it up with his lyrics and flow. Slay Sean raps along with Silkk and says, "They way I live makes 'em wanna change their life. See my girl, makes 'em wanna change their wife." The two `No Limit Soldiers' proudly boast of yachts and Cadillacs that rapping mogul and producer Master P. has helped them earn.
The songs "What's Heaven Like" and "The Day After" show Silkk's deeper side. In "What's Heaven Like," Silkk laments over his brother who was killed. He asks God to judge him for his heart and not his actions. The song is ok, but seems to be searching for sympathy.
However, in "The Day After," Silkk's lyrics are stronger and offer hope. He says, "There's always sunshine after the rain. There's always happiness after the pain... No matter how bad it might look today, there's always the day after."
There are strong tracks on My World, My Way, but without Tupac's lyrics, Dre's producing, and JayZ's rapping skills, Silkk's newest album dishes up several songs that won't ever be main course hits. Overall, Silkk brings nothing new to the table and most of the songs will remain unheard leftovers.
All Scene Stories for Tuesday, March 20, 2001
