Customer Reviews

Jermaine Dupri Presents Young Fly & Flashy 1

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Does anyone else find it odd that on the CD of a "producer-rapper" (who Dre already blew out of the water) that the hit single is a Mannie Fresh beat? JD can't even produce hits anymore, let alone flow on them.

First things first: this compilation shouldn't even be called Jermaine Dupri Presents... because JD is only involved with two songs on here (he stars in "Gotta Getcha", and he produces one other song). Anyway, I'm not exactly sure what possessed him to put together Young, Fly & Flashy Vol. 1; whether he was just thinking about "the way we were", or if he just wanted to showcase some new young talent. Actually, maybe I shouldn't have said the latter, because it looks like JD dug up some of the most UNtalented people ever.

But things aren't very inspiring with the known artists, like when J-Kwon and Daz try to save "10 Toes". And I wonder how long ago that song was made because in it, J-Kwon says he's 17, but that's how old he was when "Tipsy" came out. I don't know WHY JD decided to dig up has-beens KP & Envyi for the dismal "Put Cha Hands Up" (that title even sounds like it came from 1997), and as for "I Think They Like Me", if it's really Dem Franchize Boyz' song, how come they're the only ones in there that can't rap?

Most of the rappers on here are unknowns, but in the end they really aren't WORTH knowing because even JD is a better rapper than they are. Miss B's "Grown Man" suffers from a corny chorus, and T. Waters' "Throw'd Off" is just plain wack. And Cato's lazy "So What" made me say just that. But the album's nadir is the title track, performed by Young Capone, Midnight, Champagne Shawty and C-Dirt. Not only is there lackluster production, but the guys' rapping is so bad that they make Chingy look like Rakim.

The only saving grace to this whole compilation is Bun-B's verse on the otherwise terrible "Kodak Moment". Unlike that title, though, this album isn't anything to remember. If Jermaine ever makes a Young, Fly & Flashy Vol. 2, I'll be the first person not to get it.

Anthony Rupert

It's been nine years since So So Def CEO (and now Virgin Records' President of Black Music) Jermaine Dupri released the label's gold-certified compilation So So Def Bass All Stars, Vol. 1. Since then he has steered the careers of rappers Da Brat and Bow Wow as well as releasing three other compilations showcasing the diversity and talent among the South. In the past, all of Dupri's compilations have been launching pads for regional artists as well as critically-acclaimed albums. Not so with his latest effort, Young, Fly & Flashy Vol.1 (So So Def/Virgin). A poor attempt at showcasing the newest So So Def signees, the album falls short of providing a taste of how innovative and dope Southern Hip-Hop can be. Instead we are given a project full of lackluster tracks, recycled concepts and artists whose passion is just not enough to set them a part from the popular players of today's burgeoning Southern rap scene.

Newcomers Young Capone and The Kid Slim fail to impress on tracks like "I'm Hot" and the tedious "10 Toes". With talented artists like Boyz N Da Hood and Slim Thug repping heavily for the South, competition is too fierce for Dupri's newest draft picks to deliver with no originality. Party joints like "Gotta Getcha", which is too short to be enjoyed, and KP and Envyi's "Put Cha Hands Up" are both mediocre attempts at club-friendly radio songs. "Put Cha Hands Up" just does not get the party started the same way the duo's 1997 hit "Shorty Swing My Way" did. And what could have been a hot ode to exotic dancers if it was just a little longer ("Gotta Getcha"), clocks in at less than three minutes.

But Southern enthusiasts don't fret; all is not lost on this LP and there are a few tracks worth checking for. "Kodak Moment" is authentic down-South rider music featuring Kavious, Pastor Troy and UGK's Bun B. The addictive "I Think They Like Me" (Remix) is made for stuntin' in your ride and worth a listen just to hear Da Brat's scene-stealing bars. ATL veteran Pastor Troy shines again on "Just to Fight", which is reminiscent of his classics "No More Play in GA" and "I Declare War." Another heater, "Throw'd Off" featuring T. Waters is a catchy party joint guaranteed to have heads nodding in the club although the Asian-influenced track sounds similar to the Terror Squad's 2004 hit "Lean Back".

Staying true to today's formulaic topics (bling, pimping and the streets) combined with a lack of originality, Young, Fly and Flashy Vol. 1 could not have been more appropriately-titled. The album does little to give a true glimpse of the potential these newcomers possess, nor does it highlight the musical creativity and hit-making ability Jermaine Dupri is known and celebrated for.

Jermaine Durpri has always been a horrible rapper. All of his albums suck and this is no different. It is a flat out mess from start to finish. Even the tracks that he's not on suck. Don't buy this garbage, it's absolutely one of the worst albums of the year. Jermaine Durpri should stick to producing since that's the only thing he's good at.

No one can deny that Jermaine Dupri is a talented producer and rapper. He's produced material for many big time artists and has collaborated with many other artists. The one true standout on this overall mediocre album is Jermaine Dupri's performance on "Gotta Getcha". The track itself isn't truly innovative by any means, but it isn't a bad performance.

For the most part, the rest of the disc has nothing new and exciting to offer. The opening track "I'm Hot" which is Young Capone feat. Daz & T. Rock isn't a bad track at all to open the album with. The production is good and the police sounds are neat. It isn't new or truly inventive; it is however one of the best cuts from this surprisingly mediocre compilation.

"Just To Fight" is definitely one of the albums better tracks. It is Pastor Troy on the mic and he has a nice rap with a hookier hook than a considerable number of the other tracks. It still isn't particular a grammy winning performance, but it is ok.

The other tracks just don't quite do anything for me.
"I Think They Like Me (Remix)" features notable raps by Da Brat, Bow Wow, and JD, but it isn't remarkable either. The production is good, but it doesn't leave you feeling like you've experienced a truly superb cut. "Put Cha Hands Up" is alright, but after hearing it, you go SO WHAT? There are better dance, pop-rapish tracks out there done by Missy Elliott, Ciara and other newcomers; this track comes over as second rate. "Grown Man" is a pretty good track, overall. The remainder of the tracks "Kodak Moment (Remix)", "So What", "Throw'd Off", "10 Toes" and "Young, Fly & Flashy" just aren't even worth mentioning. This compilation could've been much better.

I think that had Durpi added more of an R&B edge mixed with hip-hop/rap, it would've been more varied and more exciting. Furthermore, Dupri should've urged the artist to present forward their very best material. To me, I listen to the whole collection and I think SO WHAT? because I could spend my money to buy a solo CD and it be better spent than buying such a boring, uninspired compilation of sub-par material for the most part. But in general, compilations tend to rarely work. 2 stars.

Jermaine Dupri deserves a lot of kudos for staying in the game this long. He's managed to build a career that patterns itself after nobody not to mention landing Janet Jackson when others couldn't. That says a lot about a person who used to be a dancer trying to break into the business any way possible. Nobody could have imagined a more distinguished way of establishing a multi-million dollar franchise like he did with So So Def or being Executive V.P. of one of the top music labels in the business. He's launched the careers of Kris Kross, Da Brat, Xscape, and many others with his all-or-nothing attitude. Don't get me wrong...he has some sidesteps from time to time (any album by the Da Brat after Funkdafied, So So Def Bass All Stars, etc). But nothing beats the freefall on his latest effort entitled Young, Fly & Flashy Vol. 1, a collection of songs from So So Def's past, present, and future artists.
Newcomer Young Capone has to be one of the biggest jokes that has ever signed to So So Def. His tales are based on things he only WISHED he had. You can hear his hankering on the first track entitled "I'm Hot" and title track "Young, Fly and Flashy" Dem Franchise Boyz show up on "I Think They Like Me" which meaningless features Da Brat and Bow Wow due to the fact that it sounds just like their horrible breakout single "In My White Tee." Anybody remember K.P. and Envyi? Somehow J.D. mindlessly digs up these wannabes for even more pain and suffering with "Put Cha Hands Up" which sounds like it would have been a B-side to "Shorty Swing My Way." And let's not forget about the laughable song "10 Toes," one of J.D. worst selections of his rapping career. The only listenable track on the whole cd is Jermaine's "Gotta Getcha" and that's barely within acceptable limits.

Young, Fly & Flashy Vol. 1 was meant to not only showcase estblished emcees in the rap game, but also to be the launch pad for So So Def's newer talent to present themselves to the music world. In the end, it probably solidified their fate as fly-by-night artists nobody will ever even remember.

I'm reading these reviews and I noticed that very few of them talk about the album. Instead, they take shots at Jermaine Dupri like he reads these things or something. That's kind of weak. Don't get me wrong, this album is pretty bad, but I'm just curious as to how many of these people have even heard it.

Young, Fly, and Flashy Vol. 1 is a chore to listen to though. Want to know how bad it is? The hottest line on the entire album comes from Bow Wow (I Think They Like Me (Remix)) when he spits "...swimmin' pool in the front and the back yard / I ain't gotta act hard / I'm under 21 with a black card..." Bow Wow's verse is about as hot as you're going to get on this album.....and that should speak volumes. I mean, there are some real laughers on this album in the form of "Grown Man", "Kodak Moment", "I'm Hot", and "Throw'd Off". Those songs should've never seen the light of day. None of the unknown acts are even worth mentioning because they all sound alike. You'll probably forget who they are as soon as you take the disc out of your CD player.

There are a few songs on the album that aren't completely terrible. Even though I think it's incredibly corny, "Gotta Getcha" is catchy and is one of my few guilty pleasures. And the aforementtioned "They Like Me (Remix)" is pretty catchy even though it does sound a lot like "White Tee". But it's still catchy nonetheless. And "Just To Fight" is something I would play to get folks rowdy in the club. And even though KP & Envyi's "Put Cha Hands Up" sounds like a B-side to the Kings of Crunk album, I like it.

Maybe next time Jermaine will think before releasing stuff like this to the public. Who am I kidding, he won't even blink. It's kind of sad that a man with a spark and some talent has fallen into Suge "I'll do anything to keep my label relevant" Knight territory. He's sinking fast and this boulder of an album will only drag him down quicker. Young, Fly, and Flashy is anything but. I can only reccomend this to the die hard JD fans......if they even exist anymore.

Standout Tracks: Put Cha Hands Up feat. KP & Envyi, Gotta Getcha, Just To Fight feat. Pastor Troy, & I Think They Like Me (Remix) feat. Dem Franchise Boyz, Da Brat, and Bow Wow

From the past years Jermaine Dupri has been producing one of the hottest songs to this very day.But on this album Dupri delivers songs with alot effort especially his first single ''Gotta Getcha''. The remixes are hot too including the featured guests with So So Def artists like Da Brat,Bow Wow,Daz and the new T. Waters and Daz Dillinger. JD keep on producing hot songs your are one of my favorite producers. I can't wait until SunN.Y's new album comes out ''Overnight Celebrity''.

past So-SO Def Projects have been interesting but this one is kinda flat throughout.I ain't that Big on Jermaine Dupri though I Respect His Hustle,but this time He just seems to be going through the Motions.He has had better Compilations than this one.this is just average at best.

I rate this CD 2 stars solely off Bun B's verse on Kodak Moment (RMX). He flows that hard. Everything else: is trash.

This is a very weak CD and the fact that it is CONTENT PROTECTED easily make this CD the worst in my collection. Sad.