Obie Trice - Second Round's on Me

Submitted by OTB - Aug 31, 2006

Obie Trice

2nd Round's on Me

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The amount of growth an artist can make in a three year period is extremely pivotal to his or her career depending on which direction (good or bad) that growth goes. For Obie "Real Name No Gimmick's" Trice, coming off of his platinum selling '03 debut "Cheers", it seems he has grown in both directions... which is really rare. Don't get it twisted, I think "2nd Round's on Me" is an incredible LP that measures up to and in some ways, even surpasses "Cheers" (for the record, I am a big fan of his first offering), but there are weak moments of repetitive theme's that I assumed he'd gone beyond at this stage in his career- call it an appreciation for raw talent.

With every stand out track on "2nd Rounds on Me" there are at least 2 "carbon copy tracks". It almost makes you wonder, "Isn't one song on this topic enough for an album?" The obvious answer to that is "yes", but the incredible thing (and this only proves that I truly enjoy this man's work) is that I still found myself genuinely enjoying the "carbon copy tracks". No where near as much as the "stand out", but enjoyed none-the-less. Examples you ask? Well fellow Hip Hop nerds, I have them for you in category so as not to confuse.

Topic: Gun Play

Carbon Copy Tracks: "Violent" (which kinda sounds like a last second throw away track from his label mates "Get Rich or Die Tryin", but with that said, still worth a listen.), "Lay Down", "There They Go" (apparently this is the new "Detroit Anthem" and if that's the case the "D" needs a new one as even Em sounds as tired as the sub-par contributions from Big Herk & Trick Trick).

Stand Out Track: "Kill Me a Mutha". This infectious beat produced by Eminem serves as a great canvas for Obie to paint pictures with verses like "When I'm down in ATL, Stat Quo keep my 4-4, so shawty know Obie for real/When I'm chillin' in L.A., Dre keep my A-K, so I'm like an essay when I'm bangin' that steal/ When I'm out in NYC, 50 hold artillery for me/ watch me shut down son and dunny".

Topic: Braggadocios MC

Carbon Copy Tracks: "24's" (sick production from J.R. Rotem), "Wanna Know" (a heavy rock driven -sampled- track produced by Emile) offering fire from Obie like "First week sales top the toll from tsunami/ but haters like to yell it's the white boy behind me".

Stand Out Track: "Cry Now". From the intro, this track addressed all issues from haters to the shooter in his Dec. 31st '05 "road rage" incident with verses like "N***as wanna kill me, peel a n***as dome/ wanna peel my cap back, see a n***a gone/ all cause I rap actual facts on a song/ it's no fabrication, what's wrong?"

Topic: Hustlin'

Carbon Copy Tracks: "Snitch" (features Akon and sounds like a remix to Young Jeezy's "Soul Survivor"), "Out of State" (tales of movin' "weight" from state to state.).

Stand Out Track: "Ghetto". Featuring Trey Songz killing it on the hook with "I'm from all the fuckin' slums where the cops don't come/ turn the lights on and the bugs don't run/ you ain't shit with out no gun/ in the ghetto…ghetto!"

Topic: Introspective Insight

Carbon Copy Tracks: "Wake Up", "The Ballad of Obie Trice", "Mama", (again, dope production from J.R. Rotem), "Everywhere I Go" featuring 50 Cent (Obie offers "Now I recite songs with icons/ see I came from convicts and crums, my n***ga.")

Stand Out Track: "Obie Story". Here Obie vividly details his life/career, trials and tribulations with "Despite all the dope I sold/ I had to change my role/ I just might be able to grow old/ older brother said 'Yo O, Ima quit my job' so we could chase our goals."

Surprisingly Obie hits noting but home runs w/ sure fire club bangers "Jamaican Girl" (featuring Brick & Lace) and "All of My Life" (featuring Nate Dogg).

Truth be told, "2nd Round's on Me", although darker and slightly more grimier than "Cheers", is an excellent showing from Mr. Trice. As executive producer, Eminem did a great job producing 8 out 18 tracks, but it was J.R. Rotem who produced 4 ill tracks that make the LP. In my opinion, had the production duties been more 50/50 between the two, "2nd Round's on Me" would've been near classic, but I guess we'll wait have to see what's in store for "Bottom's Up" to make the final judgment. - OTB