Part 2
6) Universal Soldier - Introspective track. Not gonna lie; this track gave me Lupe vibes the whole time. E goes into his super smart lyricist bag on this. DEFINITELY needed a 2nd verse from him on here.
Was Hov needed? No. I'd say E got him on this because this type of track isn't Hov's alley.
7) Flux Capacitor - YUCK. How did this track make the final cut? Or better yet, how did Hov's verse make it? He seemed rushed, and out of place here. Those NFL bars everyone in here's creaming came out was so fast and rushed, it was hard to even dicipher what he said. He could've said that statement on 'The Blinding.' E actually sounds more comfortable on here - minus the silly, phony Island accent bars. I also don't understand the Rhianna portion of the track on the end. Why all the dead air? Why didn't E do something wit it?
Was Hov needed? See above. NO. Hov should've sat that track out.
8) Fruits of the Spirit - FINALLY....a track without Hov. And the shit is one verse, and only 1:35 long. Figures. You lazy fucker. This is also one of those mixtape holdovers, or it least it sounded like it.
9) Ezekiel's Wheel - Honestly, this one will grow on me. I like the direction of this one. And Jay E lays it down with the Jackson bars and"it's the hour of chaos, the Black Steel is on me right now", that's dope; but that one bar where he's just mumbling.....LAZY. At least E gives a 2nd verse here, and the rhyme scheme is DOPE.
Was Hov needed? Why WAS he here? Just to do a hook? If I wasn't annoyed at hearing him this much on the tracks, by now, I'm actually angry.
10) A.P.I.D.T.A. - Cool way to end the album. Production is solid, and E sounds like he's at the last chapter of a journey. “The salt that heals my wounds pour out my eyes is like libations." Those type of bars are lyrical craftsmanship. THAT's what I think most of us wanted an album of.
Was Hov needed? On this one, no. Jay E should've once again took control, and guided this one down himself. Hov didn't offer much to this song. Why? What's the point of him being there?
My final thoughts: This album is actually great. What's holding it back from being potentially classic is that it's LAZY. This album is LAZY AS FUCK. That's my biggest gripe with this. If you had 10+ years to put something together, and you come out with an album that has you being crutched by one of the game's greatest artist, you should feel like you cheated yourself, and the game.
Jay Electricity is entitled. He damn near admits himself on Ezekiel's Wheel, "My debut album, featuring Hov/Man, this is highway robbery".
LAZY.
Having only had ONE song where he raps more than one verse in it - LAZY
Letting Hov appear five-to-six tracks too many - LAZY
Throwing on tracks 10+ years old - SUPER LAZY
Taking bars off, or letting tracks play for more than a minute with NO bars spoke - LAZY AS SHIT
As much as I wanna give this effort a 9 or 9.25/10, the sheer laziness of it has to have me knock it down to an 8/10.
Shame, really. I hope this shit sells terrible, just so he really gets motivated enough to do a real solo LP, because dude has serious potential to be great. He just needs to learn how to write songs, not just hot ass bars about Allah.
Personal Favorite Tracks: Ghost of Soulja Slim, Shiny Suit Theory, The Neverending Story
