Review #281: A.R. "Out The Gate Pt. 2"

Reviewed on 8.15.2009 (Review #281)

Wat up? Ya boy FrankieThaLuckyDog here, tryna grind my ass off wit these reviewz, ya dig! Next one I got iz from Baton Rouge artist A.R.; I neva heard of him. However, my boy 225savageboi from Word Of South hooked tha board up wit this CD. Based off of peoples' expectations, my anticipation has significantly dropped, sadly, 'cause I almost feel like there's goin' to be overration goin' on compared to tha Yung Yola & D.$.G. CD he gave me back in March 2009, which that one defined a good piece of this year for me. Anyway, I'ma see what happens. Here goes my review for A.R. "Out The Gate Pt. 2"! Where's Part 1? LOL...

EDIT: I saw that Part 1 was downloadable at problemchildent.com , but iz no longer downloadable. Oh well, at least (I think) you can hear tha songs on there. Regardless, I would still like a download link for a review! Start Time: 10:59 PM | End Time: 12:41 AM

Disclaimer: I rate each song from 1.0 – 5.0; each rating iz my own opinion! I only please myself wit my ratings! I don’t care how lyrical you are, as long as it’s jammin’ enough for me to like it! I look for beats, then vocals, and then lyrics. To determine my favorites, I will differ tha 4.0 ratings. If a song gets at least a 4.0 rating from me, I love it already. If at least a 4.6 rating, I pretty much really love it, as it’s considered mindblowin’ when I hear it! Any song can earn up to a maximum of a 5.0 rating. Anything I type before “ >>> ” iz what I’m sayin’ before I listen to tha song; anything after I type “ >>> ” iz what I think of tha song while I’m listening to it. If you sound like anything too mainstream for me or have auto-tune in your vocals, I’m not buyin’ it!

 © 2009 CD Review (Review #281) reviewed on 8.15.2009 by FrankieThaLuckyDog.

01. "Bless The Tape"
Tha start... Here we go. >>> Sounds like talkin' in tha beginning, but who knows, it might lead into a song... Makin' a beat off a table? I'm not into Christian Rap, so if this iz that, then I'm not gonna last wit this tape. Tha freestylin' REAL good wit all tha consistency; REAL GREAT!! Feelin' all tha rhymes, includin' tha Rugrats part wit "Tommy, Chuckie, Phil & Lil," lol. My Rating: 4.5


02. "Make It Happen"
Let's see what we got here... >>> Tha same producer from Lil' Boxx's "Wanna Bite Chu", lol. Good beat start here; let's see what you do. Likin' tha beat style here, includin' that you said "tha dumb way," but deliverin' a different way (although I like tha crazy dumb way type better). Tha flow iz boring on this one; not much excitement. At least wit tha freestyle, you sounded better. I like tha "pause" part at 1:36, lol. Okay 2nd verse, and tha hook doesn't have much, but tha beat holds it down. Tha 3rd verse sounds a lil' betta. I like tha "H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P-U-S-S-Y" part a WHOLE lot!! Best part in this song! My Rating: 4.3


03. "I'm Here"
Titles that usually give me that clueless anticipation level... >>> Tha same producer as tha last song, and tha beat continues ta be great!! Nice start to tha lyrics in tha 1st verse. Nice 1st verse, although tha verse iz betta than tha hook. Not bad hook though on this. Okay 2nd verse wit no comment. I like tha "provide sexual healin'" part in tha hook. Tha beat sounds REAL GOOD towards tha last 30 seconds!! My Rating: 4.0


04. "I'm Sorry Ms. Jackson"
Don't like tha title, and when I first saw tha title, I thought this was gonna be a jacked beat CD 'cause tha 1st thing I would think of iz tha Outkast song from 2000... >>> Talk about luck suckin', it iz that beat? Tha 1st verse aight. Not bad on tha 2nd verse. Your words are keepin' tha attention here 'cause there ain't much catchin' on. Pretty good 3rd verse I guess. My Rating: 3.2


05. "Brothers Gon Work It Out" Feat. Twin Towers Acoustic
Iz this an Acoustic song, or iz Acoustic a part of tha featured artist? >>> I guess it a part of tha artist name 'cause this ain't Acoustic at all. Beat iz SO not for me; too fast and East Coasty... Great rhymes in this one; lol @ "smells like du-du." I hate when hooks have ta be a sample and shit; at least it ain't a high-pitched female sample! Boring hook. Not much to say about tha 2nd verse; it didn't catch on like tha 1st verse. Yuck that you started tha 3rd verse wit Rick Ross/T-Pain "The Boss" hook. You sound a lot like Lil' Wayne towards tha end of tha last verse. Although not my style, I thought it was weird that you said, "Ask dem hoes...," towards tha end of tha hook on this song. I'll give credit to tha lyrics on this one vs. my rating. Lyrical Rating: 4.7 | My Rating: 3.4


06. "Wake Up"
>>> LOL @ Ya Boy Earl. A jacked beat here (old, fast, lol). Sounds pretty good on tha flow, although not too much interest. Good lyrics too, mainly for tha females. I guess it ain't a jacked beat (although it sounds like somethin' from a few years ago) since you said tha producer iz tha same from tha 1st few songs. LOL @ "even Jesus had dreads;" nice fact! I like tha "SUPPORT OBAMA! SUPPORT OBAMA! Let a real nigga go and find Osama" part. It wasn't that bad after hearin' tha whole thang. I don't like how tha end rappin' sounds like Lil' Wayne on DJ Khaled's "We Takin' Over". LOL @ tha alarm clock at tha end too. Lyrical Rating: 4.6 | My Rating: 3.6


07. "Wake Up (Da Speech)"
Ooh, a "speech" and a skit! Lookin' forward ta this one! >>> No skit, more rappin'. Why tha Christian style on freestyles? I like tha alarm clock beat. Nice minute of freestylin', and great alarm clock holdin' it down, lol! Lyrical Rating: 4.9 | My Rating: 4.3


08. "Never Thought I'd Do"
Longer length (4:38), so I hope it ain't boring... >>> Sounds like a bad intro... God, tha fuckin' hook came a LIL' TOO FAST at :27. Didn't like how it sound, and tha rappin' in tha hook sounds like T.I. on this. Very boring and not for me right here. Sad ta hear about what's goin' on in tha 1st verse about "losing touch." I don't like when tight producers go versitile wit their songs. Save that for producers that can make sad/depressing songs. I have a lotta patience sittin' here reviewin' this song 'cause I wouldn't be able to handle it. And it cut off 37 seconds short wit nothin' but silence, lol. Lyrical Rating: 4.8 | My Rating: 2.3


09. "Do It"
A long length again (4:41). I wonder if it's a real length...? Actually, wit tha title, it looks like it gon be tha T.I. beat, so I'm assumin' this a real length. Not really lookin' forward if it that beat! >>> Nope, back to tha same producer again/original beat. Simple start wit that simple hook wit tha title repeatin'. This a lil' betta wit tha fast style in tha tempo of tha beat. Sounds like a lil' Gillie Da Kid flow on tha 1st verse almost. Not bad on tha 1st verse. Good job deliverin' tha 2nd verse. Tha hook actually ain't just tha title repeatin' like tha beginning; it has words in it, and it's pretty good. Pretty good 3rd verse on this. Lyrical Rating: 4.1 | My Rating: 3.7


10. "I Meant Every Word"
These titles can touch people, but nearly scare me wit my anticipation... >>> Anotha terrible start for me; what's wit all this sad music?!? When I hear mixtapes, I don't expect sad music; mixtapes go hard! Tha 1st verse sounded like you were depressed, as well as tha hook soundin' like you strong wit your emotions. Tha 2nd verse goes wit tha 1st verse. I don't know why I have ta type shit when my boy who reviews Dance music can just say, "not for me." Rappers NEED "every word" from me for some reason. I thought there would be a 3rd verse, but a very long ending iz here, just repeatin' tha title. When it's songs like this, pay attention to tha lyrical ratings and not my ratings 'cause really, this ain't my kinda Rap music, ESPECIALLY Louisiana, ESPECIALLY Baton Rouge! Lyrical Rating: 4.9 | My Rating: 1.6


½time: Well, tha beginning was off to a pretty good start, but then, it just got too much to tha point where I can't handle it. It almost iz hard to finish this review, but, I gotta do it! Need I say more? Just, don't take my ratings to a personal level 'cause I don't hate on people. Average CD rating iz currently 3.5.


11. "I Feel Like" Feat. Issue
Issue on this (which I think I 'bout ta know if he tha same as Lil' Issue 'cause Camp Life representative mailed me CDs recently featurin' Lil' Issue), but 6:18 on tha length? If I can't take this song, I'm turnin' it off! >>> Not bad for a start. I don't know how this song iz so long. Pretty catchy hook, and nice beat. Tha 1st verse here, and you're doin' a pretty nice job on this one. I like tha endin' to tha 1st verse wit tha "top of tha class" part. Let's hear this Issue dude... Sounds younger than me, so that could be a plus for lookin' up ta me. "Dreads long," so that's anotha plus! Pretty good rappin' here from him. Not much fa me ta comment on though. Tha hook iz too long, especially wit tha random talkin' goin' on. I feel like it neva ends... Now, you're on tha 3rd verse. Sounded like it catered to tha females more on that one. Nice lil' comeback to tha CD. That ending was kinda long, especially wit tha producer's name bein' said 2x, as well as all those "hoes" parts. Lyrical Rating: 3.9 | My Rating: 3.8


12. "Yeah"
??? >>> I guess "D Jackson/Sabrina Action" (whoeva they are) produced your whole mixtape here ('cept tha Outkast beat). Tha hook aight; nothin' special. Good rhymes on tha 1st verse; sounded betta towards tha end. LOL @ tha Rocko "Umma Do Me" lyrics startin' off tha 2nd verse. Not bad verse, regardless. Tha 3rd verse sounded a lil' betta, but was short. LOL, there's a 4th verse? It sounds a lil' like tha 3rd verse. Lyrical Rating: 4.1 | My Rating: 3.7


13. "Show Off"
Hope you have FUN finally wit these songs, lol! >>> Can anything beat my expectations?!? Long-ass 55 second intro, and I have a feelin' this dedicated to tha females? Well, tha 1st verse sounds like you're gettin' stuff you need ta "show off." Aight 1st verse, and tha hook iz dedicated to tha females. Not much went on in tha 2nd verse, so I don't really have any comment. Tha 3rd verse sounds much betta wit tha lyrics this time. Lyrical Rating: 4.3 | My Rating: 2.8


14. "They Love Me Dog"
Huh??? >>> If you "love" all those thingz you just said (girl, posse, money), don't you love your life? Beat iz way too slow here. There's absolutely nothin' goin' in it also. Oh, I see what tha title iz: Tha ID iz missin' a "y", so it's "They Love Me Dog". It says "the" in my mp3. Either way, glad you put "dog" in tha title, and tha hook was pretty catchy. I don't see anything goin' on in tha 2nd verse, so, no comment. I think a lotta people would not like this song that much. LOL @ tha 45 second beat outro. This didn't need a beat outro at all 'cause it was SOOOOOOOO plain! This don't need a lyrical rating either. My Rating: 3.0


15. "All My Niggas"
Anotha long song (5:05)... Please, don't be boring! >>> Nothin' special in tha start. An okay 1st verse, but nothin' at all goin' on in tha hook. Glad at least you're "makin' it for us!" Still, this iz boring for a title like that! Okay 2nd verse too on this. Don't really like all those "you, you, you, and you" parts; sounds like some old shit. Nice job on tha 3rd verse wit "all about a dolla like lotto" and tha "jiggaz" part. Anotha long-ass ending... Lyrical Rating: 4.4 | My Rating: 2.5


16. "Where U R"
You know it's sad to have no preview for a #16 song! >>> Sounds like a familiar beat, but it's pretty bad for me. Once again, good lyrics in tha 1st verse, although not a song for me at all. Anotha sample hook... Interesting lyrics in tha 2nd verse wit tha "overdose wit needles in tha house" or whateva it was; great job! Tha 3rd verse was okay though; didn't catch on like tha 2nd verse. Lyrical Rating: 4.6 | My Rating: 2.7


17. "Live Large"
Anotha good title, but prolly not for me. >>> Much better beat. Reminds me a lil' of Max Minelli "U Gotta Luv Me Baby". Pretty good 1st verse, and nice hook too. LOL @ your "large--large--lar--lar--large" part in tha hook; gr8 dubbin'! Not bad on tha 2nd verse here. Why does tha producer name have ta repeat in tha beat outro? That's quite annoying. Lyrical Rating: 4.2 | My Rating: 3.9


18. "Get Out Yo Mind" Feat. Ya Boy Earl
What does Earl have ta do on this song? Iz he just talkin'? >>> LOL, tha producer name was speeded up. Oh God, this iz gonna be on sum different shit! Oh, so Earl's chantin'! FINALLY, A FUN SONG!!!!! LOL!!!!! More on tha Bounce side here, and it's an automatic plus! That hook was catchy, so thumbs up! Rappin' pretty good on tha 1st verse here, doin' a nice job on a real fast beat! It took 18 songs for an easy potential playlist song for me. Tha 2nd verse here, and it went pretty good overall. LOL @ tha ending wit "G-Lane;" glad you mentioned G-Lane in tha verse! LOL @ tha Ya Boy Earl chantin' at tha end. Tha Lil' Jon of Baton Rouge, lol? No lyrical rating on this one since it easily passes my rating's stats! Great ending from Earl, but no need for tha "ringtones," lol. My Rating: 4.4


19. "Changes"
I guess back to tha upside-down smile now... >>> Even this title I had a feelin' was gonna be a jacked beat at first, and it iz. Real great lyrics on tha 2Pac beat!! Looks like it gon be a REAL nice lyrical rating on this one! Tha 2nd verse just continues ta be REAL GREAT wit tha lyrical content, especially wit tha "dopeman, dopeman" part. What's wit all tha talkin' throughout most of tha 2 minute mark? Kinda hurt tha lyrical consistency throughout tha whole song 'cause it was very consistent. However, tha 3rd verse here, and it's still soundin' great. Nice job, once again! Lyrical Rating: 4.9 | My Rating: 3.8


20. "Outro"
It's a song, I'm assumin', 'cause that D Jackson dude produced it... >>> Ya Boy Earl in tha beginning, but I hear a REAL gay sample playin' in tha background. Beat iz quite stale. Why D Jackson doin' tha versitile shit again? Why does this have ta be an ending song? Great lyrics for tha 1st verse, especially tha "crossin' barriers" part. I guess it was just one verse, but it sounded REAL nice on tha lyrical content! Tha only problem wit your MySpace link iz it's not myspace.com/aroutthegatethemixtape; it's myspace.com/aroutthegatemixtape . Earl sounds so futuristic at tha end, lol. Lyrical Rating: 4.7 | My Rating: 3.2


Overall: Well, no hate, but this mixtape was like 95% not my style at all. It's like I was handed a salad wit nothin' but celery in soup. Not my music taste, so don't take it too personal. Hope you like how I felt about tha lyrical ratings, and as for those readin', y'all prolly like this CD, especially if you're a black dude.


Rankings (according to my ratings):

20. "I Meant Every Word" 1.6
19. "Never Thought I'd Do" 2.3
18. "All My Niggas" 2.5
17. "Where U R" 2.7
16. "Show Off" 2.8
15. "They Love Me Dog" 3.0
14. "I'm Sorry Ms. Jackson" 3.2
13. "Outro" 3.2
12. "Brothers Gon Work It Out" Feat. Twin Towers Acoustic 3.4
11. "Wake Up" 3.6
10. "Do It" 3.7
09. "Yeah" 3.7
08. "Changes" 3.8
07. "I Feel Like" Feat. Issue 3.8
06. "Live Large" 3.9
05. "I'm Here" 4.0
04. "Wake Up (Da Speech)" 4.3
03. "Make It Happen" 4.3
02. "Get Out Yo Mind" Feat. Ya Boy Earl 4.4
01. "Bless The Tape" 4.5


Average CD Review:

Total Score: 68.7
Total Songs: / 20
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Average CD Rating: 3.4