Freeway - Free At Last

I like "Rocafella Billionaires". Hot track...

Freeway f. Lil Wayne - Step Back (Prod by: Don Cannon)

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/audio/id.3372/title.freeway-f-lil-wayne-step-back

Freeway f. 50 Cent - Take It To The Top

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/audio/id.3558/title.freeway-f-50-cent-take-it-to-the-top

Freeway - Still Got Love (Video)

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/videos/id.504/title.freeway-still-got-love

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/mixtape/id.275/title.freeway-free-at-last-snippets

The snippets for FAL.

Wow, only three replies, and it doesn't sound like anyone's bought this yet ... pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me y'all aren't sleeping on this record.

I'm definetely thoroughly happy with this record, and I'm sure I've been anticipating this record for far longer and far more eagerly than anyone else in this forum. Here's my thoughts on the tracks:

1. "This Can't Be Real" - 4.5/5

Nice way to start off the record; when I threw in the record and heard this track I knew this record was gonna be something special. The only real fault for this song is that Freeway's lyrics are so specifically about him and his life that it's kinda hard to relate ... Jay always did a good job on songs like this making it so the listener could relate even though it's Jay's life story. Still, he tells a great story, and he does it all while stretching syllables over his gravel-y voice. And for real, that beat is just amazing.

2. "It's Over" - 4/5

Jake One is capable of a lot better and more diverse than this; I would've liked to see some of the stuff he's been doing for the bay lately; some of that stuff he's been doing with Turf Talk. But this is still a dope beat regardless, and the track is growing on me hella much anyways. Free comes hard (no homo on this track too, and I like how he starts each verse off talking about not having a Kanye or Just Blaze beat on his record - I only wish Jay could come to this realization. I mean, they're good producers, but ****, it's not like they're the only good producers out there.

3. "Still Got Love" - 5/5

Bink! I've been saying it ever since Dynasty and Reasonable Doubt; I don't know why Bink doesn't get the respect he deserves; his tracks on Blueprint are as good, if not better than Just Blaze and Kanye's. But, just like Rick Rock, for whatever reason, Jay doesn't work with him anymore. I see Bink is with Bad Boy now ... what's with all these slept on producers signing with clowns? (No ID signing with JD, etc.). But yeah, this beat slaps with tremendous knock and Free is a monster. I especially like the parts where the beat drops out and it's just Free's voice ... the dude doesn't really need a beat, his voice is captivating enough.

Y'all rusty
Y'all can't touch Free
Noooooooooooooooooo

4. "Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" - 4/5

WTF? Is it 1999 again? I swear this is a leftover Swizz Beatz track for DMX (I realize Dame Grease was one of DMX's main producers, so I understand the sound ... but really, is it not 2007?). But whatever, the beat is still hot and Jay sounds more focused on here than he does pretty much ever on American Gangster. There's still a lot of other tracks on this record I would've rather heard Jay on, and other tracks I would've rather been the lead single, but this still is hardly a bad track.

5. "When They Remembeer" - 5/5

Another amazing track by Bink ... I mean, nothing short of stunning; one of the year's best for sure. I'm pretty sure this track's been sampled a few times, but probably never like this. This is the kind of beat that 9th Wonder usually tries to do, the kind of beat with way too much singing going on for anyone to rap over, but the differences here are that 1. 9th doesn't have a wall of monster drums and percussion like Bink and 2. weak voiced rappers like Little Brother with no mic presence have nothing on Freeway, who could probably rap over a track of chainsaws. This is really everything you could want out of a Freeway track ... amazing.

Oh, and nice bay area shout out on the track. I still really wish he would've returned the favor and had Turf Talk on the album.

6. "Take It to the Top" - 3.5/5

Yeah, 50 is pretty much the corniest mother****** ever, and JR keeps putting his mainstream beats on records that are supposed to be hard (Ya Boy, Clyde Carson, this, etc.), but I'm not gonna lie, I still been playing this song a lot, and I kinda really like it. I'd much rather have this spinning on mainstream radio than most of the other garbage out there, but if this were to become a hit, hopefully Free's next album isn't an album full of this song.

7. "Spit That **** - 3.5/5

Again, I really wish Turf Talk was on this record; especially this song. I think it's because Free kinda reminds me on this song, especially on the chorus and when the backing vocals refer to him in the third person; you hear that on like every other Turf song. But Turf would've probably murdered him on this track, so it might be for the best. This track is growing on me quite a bit, but it just doesn't quite keeps up the level of energy of the tracks so far into the record. Still, pretty gutter track.

8. "Reppin' the Streets" - 5/5

What can I say; I'm a sucker for this type of beat, and this Turf Talk ****introspection. Not a whole lot else to say here. just a solid as hell track.

9. "Free at Last" - 4/5

Another solid track, a dope beat that gives Free room to go where he wants. Chorus could be better though. Really like the break coming out of the first chorus.

10. "Baby Don't Do It" - 4/5

Good look on Scarface for showing up on this record; he seems to have great taste in what records to show up on. I'm a little sick of these type of beats at this point, but it's a good beat and I can't front on that.

11. "Nuttin' On Me" - 4/5

Needlz is such a slept on producer with such a unique **** I still haven't gotten enough chances to listen to this track but I think this definetely has potential to become on of my favorite tracks on this record. Plus it's just a good change of pace from all the sampled beats, and Free just excels at this type of track.

12. "Walk Wit Me" featuring Busta and Jadakiss - 3/5

I was really looking forward to this record after reading so much praise for it on the net, especially being a Don Cannon beat (does this dude make like one beat a year?), but I think he should maybe stick to sampling, because this has nothing on his Young Jeezy beats - "Go Crazy" this is not. Busta and Jada pretty much do their thing here ... really, outside of the beat, you can pretty much imagine this whole song without even having heard it if you already know how these guys usually rap. Not a bad song, but not on the level of the rest of the record.

13. "Lights Get Low" feat Rick Ross - 3.5/5

I'm still not quite sure what to think of this song. I usually dread seeing Cool & Dre in the producer column because their names mean two things basically: 1. overproduced and 2. filler. But ocassionally they get it right, and when they do, it's great. I'm still not quite sure what to think of this track; the synths almost sound like something I'd expect out of Young L. The chorus just sucks though. It's too bad that Free comes pretty correct here, 'cuz Rick Ross just murders him. Obviously, it's in large part to Rick Ross's voice and flow, but incidentally, those are the two things that make Freeway so great too. Good pairing; could've maybe used a better, or at the very least, less awkward, beat.

14. "I Cry" - 4.5/5

Freeway is probably always going to be remembered for his voice, but it's tracks like this that make it so you can't front on his abilities as an mc. He's already got a few tracks on the record talking about his life story, so it's a little redundant at this point, but this is one of the best.

Overall: Freeway is a much more diverse and versatile record than you really get to hear on this record, and that really is a shame. Whether it's on bay **** - just check out his cameo on Turf Talk's "West Coast Vaccine" - or the south - just check out his verses on Paul Wall's last two albums - especially the last record; that's one of the best verses of the year imo - he's able to do it all. So it's just kinda disappointing that this record is, through and through, pretty much entirely an east coast rap record. But, the world really does need a good east coast rap record right now, and regardless of what this record is not, what it is is one of the year's best, and hopefully it'll be the record that wakes up everyone sleeping on Freeway. Buy it.

Wow, only three replies, and it doesn't sound like anyone's bought this yet ... pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me y'all aren't sleeping on this record.

I'm definetely thoroughly happy with this record, and I'm sure I've been anticipating this record for far longer and far more eagerly than anyone else in this forum. Here's my thoughts on the tracks:

1. "This Can't Be Real" - 4.5/5

Nice way to start off the record; when I threw in the record and heard this track I knew this record was gonna be something special. The only real fault for this song is that Freeway's lyrics are so specifically about him and his life that it's kinda hard to relate ... Jay always did a good job on songs like this making it so the listener could relate even though it's Jay's life story. Still, he tells a great story, and he does it all while stretching syllables over his gravel-y voice. And for real, that beat is just amazing.

2. "It's Over" - 4/5

Jake One is capable of a lot better and more diverse than this; I would've liked to see some of the stuff he's been doing for the bay lately; some of that stuff he's been doing with Turf Talk. But this is still a dope beat regardless, and the track is growing on me hella much anyways. Free comes hard (no homo on this track too, and I like how he starts each verse off talking about not having a Kanye or Just Blaze beat on his record - I only wish Jay could come to this realization. I mean, they're good producers, but ****, it's not like they're the only good producers out there.

3. "Still Got Love" - 5/5

Bink! I've been saying it ever since Dynasty and Reasonable Doubt; I don't know why Bink doesn't get the respect he deserves; his tracks on Blueprint are as good, if not better than Just Blaze and Kanye's. But, just like Rick Rock, for whatever reason, Jay doesn't work with him anymore. I see Bink is with Bad Boy now ... what's with all these slept on producers signing with clowns? (No ID signing with JD, etc.). But yeah, this beat slaps with tremendous knock and Free is a monster. I especially like the parts where the beat drops out and it's just Free's voice ... the dude doesn't really need a beat, his voice is captivating enough.

Y'all rusty
Y'all can't touch Free
Noooooooooooooooooo

4. "Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" - 4/5

WTF? Is it 1999 again? I swear this is a leftover Swizz Beatz track for DMX (I realize Dame Grease was one of DMX's main producers, so I understand the sound ... but really, is it not 2007?). But whatever, the beat is still hot and Jay sounds more focused on here than he does pretty much ever on American Gangster. There's still a lot of other tracks on this record I would've rather heard Jay on, and other tracks I would've rather been the lead single, but this still is hardly a bad track.

5. "When They Remembeer" - 5/5

Another amazing track by Bink ... I mean, nothing short of stunning; one of the year's best for sure. I'm pretty sure this track's been sampled a few times, but probably never like this. This is the kind of beat that 9th Wonder usually tries to do, the kind of beat with way too much singing going on for anyone to rap over, but the differences here are that 1. 9th doesn't have a wall of monster drums and percussion like Bink and 2. weak voiced rappers like Little Brother with no mic presence have nothing on Freeway, who could probably rap over a track of chainsaws. This is really everything you could want out of a Freeway track ... amazing.

Oh, and nice bay area shout out on the track. I still really wish he would've returned the favor and had Turf Talk on the album.

6. "Take It to the Top" - 3.5/5

Yeah, 50 is pretty much the corniest mother****** ever, and JR keeps putting his mainstream beats on records that are supposed to be hard (Ya Boy, Clyde Carson, this, etc.), but I'm not gonna lie, I still been playing this song a lot, and I kinda really like it. I'd much rather have this spinning on mainstream radio than most of the other garbage out there, but if this were to become a hit, hopefully Free's next album isn't an album full of this song.

7. "Spit That **** - 3.5/5

Again, I really wish Turf Talk was on this record; especially this song. I think it's because Free kinda reminds me on this song, especially on the chorus and when the backing vocals refer to him in the third person; you hear that on like every other Turf song. But Turf would've probably murdered him on this track, so it might be for the best. This track is growing on me quite a bit, but it just doesn't quite keeps up the level of energy of the tracks so far into the record. Still, pretty gutter track.

8. "Reppin' the Streets" - 5/5

What can I say; I'm a sucker for this type of beat, and this Turf Talk ****introspection. Not a whole lot else to say here. just a solid as hell track.

9. "Free at Last" - 4/5

Another solid track, a dope beat that gives Free room to go where he wants. Chorus could be better though. Really like the break coming out of the first chorus.

10. "Baby Don't Do It" - 4/5

Good look on Scarface for showing up on this record; he seems to have great taste in what records to show up on. I'm a little sick of these type of beats at this point, but it's a good beat and I can't front on that.

11. "Nuttin' On Me" - 4/5

Needlz is such a slept on producer with such a unique **** I still haven't gotten enough chances to listen to this track but I think this definetely has potential to become on of my favorite tracks on this record. Plus it's just a good change of pace from all the sampled beats, and Free just excels at this type of track.

12. "Walk Wit Me" featuring Busta and Jadakiss - 3/5

I was really looking forward to this record after reading so much praise for it on the net, especially being a Don Cannon beat (does this dude make like one beat a year?), but I think he should maybe stick to sampling, because this has nothing on his Young Jeezy beats - "Go Crazy" this is not. Busta and Jada pretty much do their thing here ... really, outside of the beat, you can pretty much imagine this whole song without even having heard it if you already know how these guys usually rap. Not a bad song, but not on the level of the rest of the record.

13. "Lights Get Low" feat Rick Ross - 3.5/5

I'm still not quite sure what to think of this song. I usually dread seeing Cool & Dre in the producer column because their names mean two things basically: 1. overproduced and 2. filler. But ocassionally they get it right, and when they do, it's great. I'm still not quite sure what to think of this track; the synths almost sound like something I'd expect out of Young L. The chorus just sucks though. It's too bad that Free comes pretty correct here, 'cuz Rick Ross just murders him. Obviously, it's in large part to Rick Ross's voice and flow, but incidentally, those are the two things that make Freeway so great too. Good pairing; could've maybe used a better, or at the very least, less awkward, beat.

14. "I Cry" - 4.5/5

Freeway is probably always going to be remembered for his voice, but it's tracks like this that make it so you can't front on his abilities as an mc. He's already got a few tracks on the record talking about his life story, so it's a little redundant at this point, but this is one of the best.

Overall: Freeway is a much more diverse and versatile record than you really get to hear on this record, and that really is a shame. Whether it's on bay **** - just check out his cameo on Turf Talk's "West Coast Vaccine" - or the south - just check out his verses on Paul Wall's last two albums - especially the last record; that's one of the best verses of the year imo - he's able to do it all. So it's just kinda disappointing that this record is, through and through, pretty much entirely an east coast rap record. But, the world really does need a good east coast rap record right now, and regardless of what this record is not, what it is is one of the year's best, and hopefully it'll be the record that wakes up everyone sleeping on Freeway. Buy it.

IsThisIt_basic

"Step Back" featuring Lil Wayne didn't make it?

5. "When They Remembeer" - 5/5

This is the kind of beat that 9th Wonder usually tries to do, the kind of beat with way too much singing going on for anyone to rap over, but the differences here are that 1. 9th doesn't have a wall of monster drums and percussion like Bink and 2. weak voiced rappers like Little Brother with no mic presence have nothing on Freeway, who could probably rap over a track of chainsaws. This is really everything you could want out of a Freeway track ... amazing.

IsThisIt_basic

are you serious? the beat is pretty corny. the actual sample is real weak, i have no idea what bink was thinking with this one. that's why he had to added a wall of (ridiculous, in a bad way) drums and that stupid synth, just to thicken the sound up a bit. if he knew how to EQ like 9th wonder though, that wouldnt be a problem. also the sample is real annoying, hardly singing, just diva-type shouting. poor sample choice and stupid drum sequencing.

anyway the entire album is pretty bland beat wise. bad sample choice from all the producers all around, plus added main stream jiggyness on every beat (claps, tom rolls, added crash symbals, synth lines, silly little shakers and whitsles and kazoos and other dumb stuff). also recycled samples (baby dont do it :roll: 9th wonder already sampled it! surprise... and, oh yeah, royce already used the exact same beat on "the dream" from bar exam, lol). of course freeway's voice and flow gets REAL old.

Gladys Knight and the Pips- "The Way We Were"

Found the sample for Freeway's When They Remember... 3:33. I knew I heard it before, Can It Be All So Simple uses this song too.

2. "It's Over" - 4/5

Jake One is capable of a lot better and more diverse than this; I would've liked to see some of the stuff he's been doing for the bay lately; some of that stuff he's been doing with Turf Talk. But this is still a dope beat regardless, and the track is growing on me hella much anyways. Free comes hard (no homo on this track too, and I like how he starts each verse off talking about not having a Kanye or Just Blaze beat on his record - I only wish Jay could come to this realization. I mean, they're good producers, but ****, it's not like they're the only good producers out there.

IsThisIt_basic

[QUOTE="IsThisIt_basic"]

2. "It's Over" - 4/5

Jake One is capable of a lot better and more diverse than this; I would've liked to see some of the stuff he's been doing for the bay lately; some of that stuff he's been doing with Turf Talk. But this is still a dope beat regardless, and the track is growing on me hella much anyways. Free comes hard (no homo on this track too, and I like how he starts each verse off talking about not having a Kanye or Just Blaze beat on his record - I only wish Jay could come to this realization. I mean, they're good producers, but ****, it's not like they're the only good producers out there.

Orlando_Magic

Freeway and Just Blaze has problems right now.

What is the sample to this song? It reminds of something off Ghostface's Supreme Clientele, maybe "Saturday Nite" but I'm still ehhhh on it.Orlando_Magic

actually on supreme clientele, "nutmeg" samples an eddie holman song called "it's over". what a coincidence~!

[QUOTE="Orlando_Magic"]
What is the sample to this song? It reminds of something off Ghostface's Supreme Clientele, maybe "Saturday Nite" but I'm still ehhhh on it.Constrobuz

actually on supreme clientele, "nutmeg" samples an eddie holman song called "it's over". what a coincidence~!

[QUOTE="Constrobuz"]

[QUOTE="Orlando_Magic"]
What is the sample to this song? It reminds of something off Ghostface's Supreme Clientele, maybe "Saturday Nite" but I'm still ehhhh on it.Orlando_Magic

actually on supreme clientele, "nutmeg" samples an eddie holman song called "it's over". what a coincidence~!

but the song in question by freeway is called "it's over". and you mentioned ghostface's supreme clientele. it's just a coincidence i found interesting.

David Porter- "I'm Afraid This Masquerade Is Over"

Man... I knew it was something by Ghostface that sampled the same song. "It's Over" off the Pretty Toney Album, how easy was that:? The Ghost samples part at the beginning and the Freeway samples part at the end. Oh well.

Biggie's "Who Shot Ya" samples that David Porter song too. Orlando_Magic

I thought the production on this was better then the production on American Gangster.

^^Agreed.

I'm jamming Free At Last and I'm loving it. The production is nice:)

Oh noes I got Vyse all butt hurt :(.

lol yeah, I kinda did make that Kanye/Blaze statement fit my own agenda, but honestly, he sounds like he's saying he's better off without them imo.

The sample is David Porter, "I'm Afraid the Masquerade is Over". I know that's been sampled before; I think it might be that Ghostface track. It's an interpolation, not a sample, though. I'm loving this Freeway track more and more with every listen ... Jake One is so dope.

Edit: sorry, guess you already got that. I typed up this post yesterday just didn't get to post it until now.

And after Freeway showing up on Turf's album I just really wanted to see Turf show up on this record; if even just for the exposure it'd get him. But there's alot of tracks Turf would've killed on this record, and I like both artists for a lot of the same reasons. But yeah, hella ... I'm not proud of that, but it's entered my every day language thanks to the bay and I really can't stop using it.

I'm gonna be disappointed if "Ligths Get Low" is the next single off this record ... it's a fine song, but there are sooooooooooo many better songs on this record.