Customer Reviews

Philadelphia Freeway 2

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

 

 

I was watching Music Choice rap station on Comcast a month ago and it said that Freeway released this album early this year and I was in shock. I did not know that he had nor when or on what label. Was it a major release? A bootleg? A mixtape? A crappy low budget kinda deal. So I came on here and listened to the samples and was convinced on them alone to buy this album. I have never been more content with a purchase. This album is definitely up there with his past two albums and especially his debut, Philadelphia Freeway. It made have even surpassed it in terms of beats. There is not one bad beat on this album, while the first album had a couple songs that I tend to skip. I also liked the lack of guest appearances. Freeway was able to hold this album down on his own with big name producers, label or guests (with the exception of Sheek). My only downside to this album is its 13 songs and four of them are skits (the intro, outro and two interludes). So its really only a 9 song album. But those 9 songs are biddanging! Check out tracks "Finally Free" (which would be a good album title; kinda like Free At Last), Gots to be the Bomb (best song on the album), and Murder Muzic

So if you like Freeway, I say DEFINITELY add this album to your collection! Holla!

I remember when I first heard Freeway on Jay Z's "1-900-Husler". I thought he dropped a good 16 and wanted to hear more. Then "State Property" dropped. Then "Philadelphia Freeway". By this point I was getting tired of his sound, his voice and everything he was talking about. But then "Free At Last" came out (I only brought it cause nothing else was out and I needed a new CD), and I was blown away. He stepped his game up tremendously. It stayed in my rotation for over a year. So when I heard that "Philadelphia Freeway 2" was out, I knew it was a must have.

I had no idea Freeway had a new album coming out. I saw it on Amazon and thought it was a mixtape or collection CD. I was surprised to find out it was all new songs. I didn't know Free had left Def Jam. He released this album independently through Real Talk Entertainment who is known for getting rappers way past they time (Bone Thugs, MC Eiht). So that raised another eyebrow, but once I listened to this CD a couple times I was hooked. The beats are the right fit for Freeway's high pitch tone. There aren't any song I don't like. I actually like all of them equally. That's good but it can also be bad. With no heavy reapeats, you tend to forget about the CD. But that's not a major flaw.

What I like about Freeway is that he waste no time with gimmicks or silly hooks. He and Young Jeezy are throwbacks to the days of hip hop I loved. Not too many artist are doing that these days. Some substitute good lyrics for sing-a-long hooks or disguise beats with auto tune. Rumor has it that Free has found a home with Cash Money Records. That will be very interesting to see Free rhyming over Birdman beats. That is enough to keep me grabbing Freeway albums for awhile.

Freeway returns after just a year and a half and drops his 3rd solo, and his best a definite classic ("Philadelphia Freeway" I'd give 4.5 and "Free at Last" I'd give 4 stars). Like all Real Talk Ent. albums, it's short at just 9 songs, of the 9, 1 is a Classic, 3 are almost classics, the other 5 are good, mostly real good songs. Guests are only on 1 song doing 1 verse, so though short, you get to hear a decent amount of Freeway. Glad to see Real Talk puts out another album from a big name rapper with little or no promortion (they have done the same with: Pastor Troy, Edi Amin & Young Noble of the Outlawz, MC Eiht, Spice 1, 8Ball & MJG, Sheek, Layzie & Bizzy Bone, Lil Flip, Brotha Lynch Hung and a few others over the past few years). Production is great as well and handled by the same 3 who do all Real Talk albums, Cozmo does 4 songs, Vinve V does 3, and Big Hollis does 2. A must have classic album from Freeway.

#2 - 9
#3 - 8.5
#4 - 8.5
#6 - 9.5
#7 - 9.5
#8 - 9.5
#9 - 8
#11 - 10 (Classic)
#12 - 9 (f/ Sheek Louch)

Leslie Prodgen -- b. 1979 -- Philadelphia, PA
Check all my reviews

This is the third hot release from Free. I believe he is one of the greats of our time. jay was a wise man for sticking with him.

He's the greatest to never hit the radar.

I cringed when I saw that Freeway had fallen into the clutches of Real Talk Ent., a distributor that tends to ink well-known rappers, offer zero promotion, and exploit the artists once they've left the label with unauthorized releases. I'm not sure of the circumstances surrounding this release or Free's current standing with Roc-A-Fella (he has some not-so-kind words for Jay but shouts out the label on the outro), but in any event, "Philadelphia Freeway 2," billed as a sequel to his hit-laden, star-studded 2003 debut, came out of nowhere without so much as a press release. It's a little humbling to see a rapper I still consider up-and-coming relegated to independents so quickly in the current market, because he's a rapper with real star potential: incredible talent and immediate commercial appeal. It seems like just yesterday he was the face of State Property and one of Jay-Z's rising stars.

But leave it to Free to shine despite the odds. From the fiery opener "Finally Free," it's clear that he is back rhyming as ferociously as ever. His emotional, inimitable flow sounds great and his verses show the same hunger as on his first two albums. The biggest surprise, though, is the beats. These tracks are fresh, polished, and upbeat, perfectly suited for Freeway's Philly style. "Philadelphia Freeway 2" is a concise, extremely consistent listen with no skip material, and Free brings inspired energy for the entire thirteen tracks. The most notable track is "Crack Rap," a tour de force chronicling a personal experience with drug use and the hypocrisy in street trade. This shows Freeway at his best: immersed in hood culture yet conscious of the evil and pitfalls. The rich beat also makes this track a winner. "Murda Music," both mixes of "Hands Up," and "Gotz 2 Be the Bomb" are rallying street anthems, and "Streets Won't Miss `Em" and "Around the World" are thoughtful, effective songs with great production. My favorite song, though, is "It's a Good Day," where Freeway tells of a happy day in his neighborhood and delivers commentary on the state of life over a somber track.

Time and time again I find that Freeway is one of rap's best, a rapper so technically and lyrically sound yet energetic and original that he sounds like no other, and perfectly balanced between street music and philosophical musings. He makes it a perfect three for three with "Philadelphia Freeway 2" and proves that whether indie or major, he's still one of rap's most captivating and powerful MCs. This is a perfect sequel to his first two LPs, one of the best rap releases of 2009, and should definitely be heard.

I liked Free when he first came out with Philadelphia Freeway. Prior to that he was a big buzz on a few Jay-Z songs and various other appearances from other notable big name rappers. At one point, I turned away from Free when he was trying to battle Cassidy on a few mixtape joints. Free literally got chewed and spit out by some of the punchlines Cassidy was spittin.

I think Free has gotten better lyrically. Philadelphia Freeway 2 is better than Free at Last and way better than his first album, Philadelphia Freeway. I think that this album should have been better promoted. Free's current album shows the growth and versatility in his lyrics and beat of choice. I'm surprised at how good the production value of this album is, considering it was released on an independent label.

I recommend picking this album up. I started listening to this about a week ago. I think this album is better than Ghostface's new album, which is more of a mainstream rap and R&B album (What the hell was he thinking).
9-29-2009

First of all, I will start off by saying I am a HUGE Freeway fan. I love his high energy ferocious rhymes, gusto, enthusiasm, and his beats/production are usually on point. I thought Free at Last was the best rap album of last year - FIRE! I copped this album the day it dropped. That being said, this album is definiteley my least favorite out of his three...BUT, it's still a good album and worth buying if you already own his other two - if not pick up Free at last as a starting point. I thought he could have used a couple guest appearances on this one to balance him out - the guests he had on Free at last really boosted the album.

1. Pay attention - intro good beat, hypes you up!
2. Finally Free - he spits fire over a sick beat! 9
3. Gots to be the bomb - 100 bricks or 100 bars? 8
4. Good production on this one, hook gets old 8
5. skit
6. Crack Rap - good beat...another so so hook 7
7. Murda Music - street song - 7
8. Around the world - more FIRE - sick beat and great lyrics - he shines on this one! 9
9. Streets won't miss him - 7 - good beat - something missing here
10. skit
11. It's a good day - I usually don't like remakes - this song is OK - 5
12. Keep your hands up - good production, good lyrics, but I don't like the fact he has two songs about keeping your hands up...shows he was running out of material and needed some guest artists to bring some fresh lyrics and hooks

In conclusion, a good album. Just not his best. The production is good and feels cohesive - but I was a little disappointed in the final product. He needs a little Jay Z, rick ross, kanye..couple other tight producers to mix things up. This album was good...just stuck a little too tight to the formula.

Freeway is one of my favorate rappers and he is very underrated. He delivers on this cd as usual.