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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Complete Idiot's Guide to..., December 27, 2007
I've never been a huge fan of Yung Joc, but I heard from other people that his latest album Hustlenomics is much better than his first album. I didn't hear his first album, but I listened to THIS and while there are some good moments, there are more moments that are not-so-good.
But first, the good news: Joc has really improved his style for the most part. He shines on songs like "Cut Throat" (featuring Jim Jones, who also sounds better than he usually does; and the Game, who actually DOESN'T name-check anyone), "Play Your Cards" and the necessary honey-sings-the-chorus track, "Livin' the Life". The Jazze Phizzle productizzle "Momma" is also pretty decent except that, well, I guess people still don't realize that it sounds a little weird to want a woman that's like your mother. Also good is the title track, but considering that Joc keeps saying "welcome to Hustlenomics", it would make sense if it were the opening track; instead, it's the closing track -- well, depending on what version of the album you have (more on that later).
Now, the bad news. Joc often raps alongside his alter-ego Pak Man, a habit that tends to get pretty annoying (T.I. vs. T.I.P., anyone?). This is especially evidenced on "Pak Man", but it is also shown on the overrated "Coffee Shop" as well as "Hustlemania", a pointless game show skit. Speaking of "Coffee Shop", though, Gorilla Zoe is on that song, and when he shows up elsewhere on the album with screwed and chopped choruses, he doesn't hold much weight (see "Coloso" or "Bottle Poppin'"). "BYOB" is a filler track, and "Brand New" has Joc and Rick Ross completely butchering the Stylistics' "You Make Me Feel Brand New" with their sing-along chorus -- and although Snoop Dogg kicks a nice verse on that song, his talking at the end is stupid. And the otherwise dope "I'm a G" suffers from a painfully weak chorus ("I'm the seventh letter of the alphabet/I'm a G"???).
I also wonder what version of the album I have because I don't have "Hell Yeah" or a few of the skits; instead I have "Coloso" and some different skits. Hustlenomics isn't wack, but it isn't the crash course you need to get educated in the game, so if you're not a fan of Yung Joc, leave it in the store.
Anthony Rupert
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
not good, September 15, 2007
I really think people/artist need to stop signing with Puff/Diddy or what ever hell he want to call him self. His first album wasn't the best, but at least I would listen to that more than once or leave it in the cd player. How many careers is Puff going to mess up; he's damn sho doing it to 8Ball & MJG. Is Yung Joc going to be another one. The Best song to me is Momma. I see why Jeezy left and did his own thing.
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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Improvement Over His Debut - 3 Stars, August 27, 2007
Yung Joc is one of the new rappers from Diddy's Bad Boy. He released debut album New Joc City one year ago and had a few hits with "It's Goin' Down" reaching #3 and "I Know You See It" #17 and he also appeared on T-Pain's chart topper "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" while his third single, a ballad "1st Time" with Marques Houston and Trey Songz didn't work very well on the charts. His debut album was mostly produced by Nitti, but both his big hits were extremly beatoriented and repetitive and I wonder how "It's Going Down" became such a big hit in the first place?. His album sold alright but the critics didn't like him. They thought he sound too much like his idols Young Jeezy and T.I and that his lyrics didn't make much sense, however he was even more pop-rap then the two put together. What Yung Joc had to do for his sophmore album was to find an identity for himself and hopefully find some better producers also. Will this be possible?.
Sophmore album is called "Hustlenomics" and it does feature a fair share of good producers like Neptunes, Cool & Dre, Jazze Pha and Khao. After listening through it I can already tell you that he doesn't emulate others that much on this album and that the production is far better. Alright, let's take a look at the songs. Joc starts the album with an intro where he sais that both his parents were hustlers and hustling is the only thing he knew. I have my doubts but I guess it makes sense when you're a rapper. "Play Your Cards" from Cool & Dre is an outstanding production and even if it just aswell could have been a song for T.I's T.I. vs T.I.P. I think it's a great hype number and possible hit. "Coffea Shop" from Don Vito shows a new side of Joc which is very humouristic. In the video Joc is dressed up as himself, a dwarf and an old man and when the hook comes they speed up his voice to sound like the little man. This is pop-rap but surprisingly enough it didn't become a hit when it was released as a single. If you've seen the video, check all the cameos. "Bottle Poppin'" is unbearable and feautures a guy called Gorilla Zoe who was also in the previous song. Considering he's another Bad Boy artist, I guess Diddy tries to squeeze him in as often as possible. "Hell Yeah" is the best song of the album, and it shows my favorites producers Neptunes back in old form. If this is not the next single I don't know. Even Diddy makes a not so highly anticipated cameo. The song sounds like a videogame and well it's pop-rap but it's catchy. A very rough song with beats that sound very old skool called "Cut Throat" with The Game and Jim Jones and someone called Block. It's basically about his reputation all around America and not to mess with him and his friends. The Game and Jim Jones couldn't be better suited for this.
On the skit "Hustlemania" Joc is funny again, his alter ego Pacman (with speed up voice) is playing some kind of game called Hustlemania and wins 1 million dollars. More songs about his reputation on "I'm a G" with Bun B and Young Dro. Skippable. Neptunes comes back with the minimalistic song "BYOB" with robotic beats. It's another party song and works fine for what it is. "Pakman" a song with Joc and his alter ego Pacman is mostly fun when he raps with the speedup voice. Pakman seem to think he's really cool which he really isn't. Produced by Khao. Another rough song like "Cut Throat" called "Getting to Da Money" with Gorilla Zoe and Mike Carlito is skippable but the next song "Brand New" that samples an old Stylistics song feauture Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg on his 1000th guest appearence this year. This is a ballad. More slow numbers on "Livin' the Life" with someone called Southern Girl that sings the hook. Jazze Pha produce a song called "Momma" where Joc gets all emotional and say that he won't find any girl like his momma and then he talks about his tough upbringing and how his momma always helped him to get things through. Recalls Tupac's "Dear Mama" quite alot, but good song nonetheless. Trick Daddy appears on "Chevy Smile" and it's an alright cut about his ride. Closer, "Hustlenomics" follows what he said on the intro.
Overall, Yung Joc may not be one of the best Mc's but this is defenitely an improvement over his mediocre debut. He doesn't sound like his idols alot anymore and thanks to great productions from Neptunes, Cool & Dre, Jazze Pha and others there are plenty of enjoyable songs here. It's still a bit uneven from time to time with some skippable and rather contradictory songs but the Pacman alter ego is a welcomeded addition for the fun and "Momma" being a more serious take. However, Yung Joc is best on the party songs and considering that this is mostly pop-rap I think the overall result is alright.
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