Harlem: Diary of a Summer [DUAL DISC] [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Jim Jones

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 23, 2005)
• Original Release Date: August 23, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Dual Disc, Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B0009UVCJO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,991 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Jim Jones has insisted that he's "not a rapper," and who are we to disagree? Though his last album was better than many expected, the business manager for the Diplomats shows the limitations of his abilities on this sophomore release. Compared to Cam'ron's slick appeal or even Juelz Santana's unflappable confidence, Jones sounds more like a Dipset placeholder than a lyrical star in his own right. He simply lacks the kind of presence to hold down a sixteen song album, especially with a gruff and rather garbled flow that often feels muddled in the mix. This said, for fans of the Dipset sound--shiny soul and thuggy anthems--Harlem Diary should satisfy a few cravings, whether on Jones' hometown lullaby, "Harlem," or "G's Up," with its classic '60s sound, or dramatic and aggressive "What Is This." Santana pops up on a few cameos, as does Hell Rell, alongside Diddy and Houston's Paul Wall though Killa Kam is strangely M.I.A. on his label captain's album. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars One Luke Warm Summer For Mr. Jones [3 stars], June 16, 2006

By	Chandler "Infamous" (Atlanta (College Park), Georgia) - See all my reviews

Jim Jones sophomre effort Harlem: Diary Of A Summer truefully is better than his previous On My Way To Church, but unfortunately it falls short of many expectations.

Lets start off with the good first. Jim Jones thought that he could come with a more mainstream appealing on this album which works in a sucessful way (thats why I bought this). The second single "Summer In Miami" is actually a good song that features Tray Songz. The song "Honey Dip" come off nice and will guarantee to move some butts inside of a club. Jim Jones stepped his rhymes up a tad bit in the intro "My Diary" which works in the winning side.

Now the bad parts of this album are also consistant. "J.I.M.M.Y." would have been a nice song if the annoying high pitched sounding title wasn't said a various parts. I said Jim Jones stepped is rhymes up on some songs, but he shows lack of improvement in others such as "Baby Girl" and "What Is This", both also suffering from weak hooks. Actually a lot of songs could have been good if it wern't for sorry hooks. "Ride With Me" would fall into this category, as well as terrible singing by Denise Weeks in the song "I'm in Love With A Thug". "We Just Ballin" is considered a halfassed first take of trying to make a club track, as the whole song comes off terrible. "Tupac Joint" is a joke with lack luster gangstafied production. Why is the song titled that questions me, because the only somewhat connection it has to Tupac is former Outlaw member Hussein Fatal. No verse or snippet from Tupac anywhwere, not to mention Fatal's rhymes wern't as good either.

As you see, this album is a step up from his first, but still sufferes from medicoricy. It seems as Jim Jones was doing a good job as it starts off, but it falls apart after about 15 minutes later, with good songs mixed in with some horrible songs pulling the album down. Guest appearances are wack. 40 Cal couldn't have said a stupider rhyme in "Tupac Joint" (Why ya act like I'm new to this?/Mack to the uzi clip/When it comes to beef, we all packed like Luis Rich/Battlin' is ludacris, half of ya uterus/Matter fact, Jimmy, pass me the Kufi List..." he gets worse as it goes on) another reason why this album isn't a 4 star album. Truefully I'm trying to decide whether I should throw in the towel on this one. Halem: Diary Of A Summer isn't all bad but theres major room for improvement. It's actually the best Dip Set album I've heard as of today, since I purchased this when it was first released. Jim Jones will have to come off better the next time around, because this one falls short of being certified gangsta status. I recommend this to Dip Set fans only.

Since most of the albums are dual discs, the DVD side is okay as it plays the videos "Summer In Miami" and "Baby Girl b/w G's Up" from this album and "Crunk Muzik" (another medicore song) from the last album. If you don't have the DVD side, you're aren't missing anything.

Lyrics: C+
Production: C+
Guest Appearances: D
Overall: C

Favorite Tracks: My Diary, Honey Dip, Summer In Miami

A few more things:

1. If you people think that that song "What You Been Drinkin On" is at least somewhat decent, either:

A. you've been locked in a 4x4 foot box for 10 years, or

B. just plain deaf & stupid

2. For all of you who are crying about Cam'ron's absance, I for one am thankful he isn't on this album, because he could have easily made this CD a decoration for my wall or a drink coaster.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jim Jones is doin big things, August 26, 2005

By	Ricardy "Romain" - See all my reviews

After buyin the previous album (on my way to church)I thought Jim Jones was a weak rapper, the only 2 cuts I liked off it were certified gangstas, and crunk music. But on this album he really did his thing, better beats, better rhymes, and he proved he don't need Killa Cam to make a hit single. I'm a dipset fan and I feel Jim Jones really proved why he's Capo status.

THIS ALBUM IS FIRE IF YOU'RE A DIPSET FAN YOU NEED TO GO GET THIS!!!

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The next level for Jim Jones, August 26, 2005

By	Darren Majesty - See all my reviews

Jim Jones' first alblum: On my way to Church was a hot alblum, but this is the next level. Its a mixed bag of beats and rhymes, a little more eclectic compared to his first alblum, but a powerful record. Its got something for everyone, dipset is the next to blow, forget these other crews, these guys got the game on smash.