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March 22, 2007

Music Review

Bland Boy

Rapper offers nothing new or interesting in first album

Story by: Princess McDowell

The Shorthorn editor in chief

— Courtesy art

Rich Boy poses for his self-titled debut album.

Rich Boy’s self-titled debut album is forgettable at best.

The 16-song release has nothing to make listeners want to put the entire CD on repeat.

There were a few catchy tracks on the album, like “Hustla Balla Gangsta Mack,” but most of the album fell into a simple formula — repetitive hooks and a few memorable lines in the verses.

On “Boy Looka Here,” the title words are all you hear in the song’s chorus.

Rich Boy does nothing to set himself apart from other rappers in the industry.

He represents what the industry has become — unimaginative lyrics that rely on a bass line and beats to get listeners through the album.

It’s no wonder little kids know most of the songs on the radio. A canary with half a brain could perform Rich Boy’s album.

The few bright spots on the album involve well-known heavy hitters in the business, such as Outkast’s Big Boi, John Legend and Lil Jon.

“Ghetto Rich” features Legend’s smooth vocals over Rich Boy’s jagged flow, and Big Boi adds familiar salvation on “And I Love You.”

Overall, however, my friend from first grade who is in the music industry has better songs than some of Rich Boy’s tracks.

Compounding the Mobile, Ala., native’s bland style is the album’s art. Rich Boy has the unfortunate characteristic of a large forehead, which steered me away from his release in the first place.