Royal Review | @Settle4Les: Menace
by LonghornBrit • March 19, 2012 • Houston Spotlight, Royal Reviews • 1 Comment
Menace takes me back to the summer of ’93 or ’94 when everybody in the hood was jamming that west coast cruising music (Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Dr. Dre, etc.). I just couldn’t listen to the tape all the way through at once. I have adult ADHD so that wasn’t going to happen for me.
My favorites: “Ride With The Trill,” “Smile 2K12,” “Friend Like Me,” “Rollin,” “Black Hoody Rap,” “Check,” “Regulate,” “Heads Ringin’” & “40 Oz Dreams.”
“Smile“ was always a favorite of mine & I thought Le$ did this track justice. There is a lot that Le$ says on this track that will make you think twice. For instance:
Nigga my back’s against the wall, but I still fight. Just livin’ & ain’t thinkin’ bout what’s wrong or right. Shit any night could be my last so I’m all in. Lord I’m just tryna survive off what they call sin. Trip off religion cuz I’m thinkin’ that it’s man-made. We think we freein’ our mind but shit we damn slaves.
How many of us are just living & doing what we are told is the ‘right’ thing to do? We have to have a voice & beliefs of our own to survive. Don’t believe they hype.
Is “Friend Like Me“ another Tupac track or is Le$ a hidden fan of Alladin? (Kidding!) Come on, y’all know Genie jams!
This is another track where Le$’ lyrics are thought provoking.
But on my knees I’ma pray for my enemies.
How many of us ever really do this? Le$ is trying to make us do some soul searching with these Tupac tracks.
“Rollin,” featuring M.U.G, reminds me of “3rd Coastin” (Settle 4 Le$ Vol. 2) because of the way both tracks are so relaxing & carefree. I could just see myself sitting passenger side in a blue drop top cruising to the beach with a Patron margarita in my hand while listening to either of these songs.
“Regulate“ & “Heads Ringin” (word to Warren G, Nate Dogg & Dr. Dre) speak for themselves. Two more dope west coast tracks that Le$ connected with & killed.
I love that the tape ends with a line from one of my favorite movies Boyz In The Hood.
I started thinkin’ man. Either they don’t know…don’t show…or don’t care about what’s goin’ on in the hood.
Menace jams although I do prefer to listen to more songs on Settle 4 Le$ Vol. 2. I’m definitely expecting his next project to be better than the last two. There’s a lot to look forward to from the Boss Hogg Outlawz camp.
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Settle 4 L.E.$ – MenaceReleased: March 1, 2012
Label: Boss Hogg Outlawz
Download: Live Mixtapes
