Customer Reviews

Life of Joseph W Mcvey

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Man dis cd is hot from start to finish. Z-ro outdid himself on this album no doubt. I wsh I could give it 10 stars. His lyrical talents were shown off to the max on this one. On some songs tho He sounds a tad bit like tupac but his voice is a lil heavier. Either way He is out to claim da south as his and especially Screwston, Tx.
Now alil bit on da songz:
#1 On My Grind - Good way to start off - 4.5/5
#2 Z-Ro - He lets u kno his name - 5/5
#3 These Ni***Z - His single and the best song on da album - 10/5
#4 King of The Ghetto - Tight beat and nice flow - 4/5
#5 II Many Ni***Z - Great beat my second fav. song - 5/5
#6 I Hate U B***h - He's speakin to a girl on dis one - 3.5/5
#7 Hey Lil Mama - Funky beat, but the only 1 I skip - 2/5
#8 So Much - Great Beat (ol skool)- 3.5/5
#9 That'Z Who I Am - One of the best songs on here - 4.5/5
#10 Everyday - A real one for ya - 4/5
#11 Crooked Officer - Another good one (title say it all) 4.5/5
#12 Why? - He answers bacc hard - 4/5

#13 Happy FeelingZ - good one, talkin religiously - 4/5
#14 Z-Ro (Screwed Up) also dedication to DJ Screw (R.I.P.) - 5/5
#15 II Many Ni***Z (Screwed Up) even better screwed up - 5/5

Recently came across Z-Ro's "The Life of Joseph W Mcvey" (2004), and I have to same I am really impressed. To be honest I had never heard of this rapper before this, even though he has a prolific catalogue of releases. Houston's own Z-Ro holds this album down by himself mostly on this fifteen-track release, getting some help from Trae, Tanya Herron and Scarface. The album starts off with Z-Ro showing his hunger on "On My Grind", and repping himself on "Z-Ro". Rap Legend Scarface then makes an appearance on the memorable (...). Two tracks later Z-Ro shines again on (...), backed by a sad beat Z-Ro delivers some impressive lyrics and an addictive chorus. Z-Ro then rhymes and sings soulfully on more laidback cuts like (...) and "So Much" . My favourite track at the moment is "That'z who I Am", a track where Z-Ro provides some real talk and Trae hooks up a first class chorus. "Everyday" with Trae is about making it through hard times while "Crooked Officer" has Z-Ro giving a strong message to the police. Another standout is "Why", Tanya Herron delivers a soulfully sad chorus while Z-Ro delivering some deep lyrics. Z-Ro closes things off strong with the upbeat "Happy Feelings". Two Screwed versions of "Z-Ro" and (...) finish the album off. Overall this is a very solid album, a highly slept on release that I highly recommend checking out.

Formally of the Guerrilla Maab Click, Z-Ro is back with The Life of Joseph W. McVey. However, now he is with Scarface and Rap-A-Lot Records. Z-Ro has been on many labels. I think he needs to find him a label home and stick with it or start up his own label. This album is phenomenal. If you are a fan of his past albums such as S.U.C. Representa, Life, and Look What You Did To Me then you'll love this album.

Lyrics: A+
Delivery: A+
Style: A
Heart: A
Production: B-

1.On My Grind -5/5 Great Intro, wish it could have been longer.
2.Z-Ro -5/5 He shouts his name, hella tyte beat.One of my favs
3.These Niggaz Feat. Scarface -5/5 He talks about his enemies.
Another one of my favs.
4.King of Da Ghetto -4/5 He describes his street credibility.
5.II Many Niggaz -5/5 He lets you know bout these hataz.
Another one of my favs.
6.I Hate You Bitch -4/5 He talks about his baby mama drama,
smooth beat.
7.Hey Lil' Mama -3/5 It's all about infactuated hoez.
8.So Much -5/5 Talks about his struggle in life.
9.Thatz Who I Am Feat. Trae -4/5 - He describes who he is.
10.Everyday Feat. Trae -5/5 Talks about the everyday struggle,
this is my fav, smooth ass hook and beat.
11.Crooked Officer -4/5 Self explanatory.
12.Why Feat. Tanya Herron -4/5 He answers the question why,
smooth beat.
13.Happy Feelingz -5/5 Deliveries a deep religious message.
14.Z-Ro (Chopped and Screwed)-5/5 Dedicated to DJ Screw (R.I.P.)
15.II Many Niggaz (Chopped and Screwed)-5/5

Z-Ro IS The King of the Ghetto - also check out Smoke Sessions, Vol. 1- from his homie Devin the Dude another 5 Stars.

Don't think that Z-Ro is a newcommer to this game, just before you've never heard his music (which is a pity!). Before signing with Houston powerhouse Rap-A-Lot, Z-Ro had been putting work for many years (since 1998) on the underground, releasing many independent albums. It took 6 years for J Prince to sign Z-Ro and once again J Price showed he's got the eye for the best rappers available on the market. Z-Ro is one of the most unique and special rappers to ever spit lyrics on the mic. His music is deep, very personal and candid. Z-Ro is very much down to earth and is not afraid to bear his soul to the listeners (therefore reminding many of the late 2Pac). Not only he raps with his deep voice (reminding a bit of Scarface), but he also sings all the hooks to his songs, and he's actually very good at this! Just listen to the albums biggest hit "I Hate You B_____". Ro's singins there is untouchable and you can feel his pain on this song and throughout the album as well. This album is more than 4 stars actually. I think it deserve about 4.5 start - just because there are a couple of songs that I didn't really feel (they were still all right but not on the same level as the others on the album). One reason for this is that right before the album was finished, Z-Ro had to do some jail time, so many of the last touches on the album were done without his anticapating. However, this IS a classic album, even though it's not perfect. I am sure that Z-Ro's albums in the future will only get better, since Rap-A-Lot has never delivered a weak album (think about it - is there another rap label that never ever fell off and always kept it real? I don't think so). Production on the album is great and different than anything else on the market (just like Rap A Lot always does). It's soulful, with an RnB feel and only a couple of songs got a hard beat ("Z-Ro" and "Crooked Officer"). Producers include the one and only Mike Dean doing the majority of the beats, as well as Mr. Lee, Tone Capone, Solo and Big Tyme. Guest artists are kept to the minimum - only Scarface delivers a full verse, while the other 2 guests (Z-Ro's partner Trae and singer Tanya Herron) only help out on the hooks. "The life of Joseph McVey is a great album, reminscent of the times, when rappers did have a lot to say, other than flossing and talking about clubbin' and fu___ing top notch girls. Z-Ro is a bright spot in this industry and his first big album shows there still a lot more to come (as long as Z-Ro stays out of trouble of course).

Anyone who gives this album a bad review really DON'T know the truth about music. Z-RO is the best Hip Hop artist, let me repeat, the best artist of the SCREW UP CLICK, out of TEXAS, out da Whole Dirty South, and soon the Nation. This album is just another great chapter to the already epic story of Z-RO. I have a rare copy of a DJ Screw mixtape where he was choppin up one of Z-RO's old songs, I know how good he was and is now. If this album doesn't go platinum then I don't know what's wrong with the world today. "The Life of Joseph W. McVey" is a must have in your deck. Of the whole down south movement, Z-RO's got my attention, And this is coming from Boston Mass a native.

I just moved to Texas not to long ago, and all i heard was Z-Ro this, Z-Ro that. So i went ahead and scooped the CD and i was amazed. This CD goes so hard. Definately worth buying.

This is my first Z-ro album I have bought....And I mainly bought it because he was on Rap-a-Lot records. This album is a self portrait and I mean this...He took his feelings and put them to some gritty trks and makes you understand him without u knowing him. That is what makes him strong in my opinion, theres no hype or major "industry" playas on the album to help him. Its only two guest on the album and one of them is Scarface.

What kills me is dude has been grinding so hard under the rader that i think this is his tenth album....i went and heard some trks from the other albums and plan to purchase most of them!! Give this cat a try....Because it's Real Talk on this album.

This album is a must have for anyone who appreciates real rap. Z-ro Da Crooked is definatly keeping gangsta to the fullest with this off the hook album, he once again amazes me with his vocals and his ability to rhyme fast and slow. So get your mind correct and get this album.

It figures that they wouldn't even have a photo available of this CD. It's probably Z-Ro's best album of his career and it's a shame that many still don't know about this man. His lyrics are deep and masterfully delivered. You can actually feel the pain he's going through in songs like "I Hate You" and "Happy Feelingz". I could relate to just about everything he was going through. Sometimes it was like he was reading my mind! So why not a 5 star rating if I consider this a classic?? Well, while Z-Ro's performance is basically flawless throughout the entire disc, there is some below average production on a few of the beats. Songs like "These Ni**az" and the self titled "Z-Ro" would've benefited from some better background music. Just about every other song is a classic, though. Anyone from the south who hasn't heard "That'Z Who I Am" should be ashamed of themselves. Do yourself a favor and check out this album and get a taste of real southern rap...outside of booty/jewelry songs and that horrible snap music [...] that's strangely popular right now for whatever reason. That was never what we were all about down here.