Avg Rating: 
3.0 ( 12 total votes )
In honor of today’s review I spent last night watching The Godfather, the epic gangster movie that’s been the inspiration for all other gangster movies, and more than a couple gangster rap albums. It’s not often I get to bust out the popcorn as part of my job, but I thought it was essential to understanding the life and times of Baby, a.k.a. Birdman, a man who modeled his Southern hip-hop empire on the mafia model. In fact, he could rightfully be called the Godfather of New Orleans rap: just like Don Corleone he’s an … ...Read the full album review
DJBooth Album Review
In honor of today’s review I spent last night watching The Godfather, the epic gangster movie that’s been the inspiration for all other gangster movies, and more than a couple gangster rap albums. It’s not often I get to bust out the popcorn as part of my job, but I thought it was essential to understanding the life and times of Baby, a.k.a. Birdman, a man who modeled his Southern hip-hop empire on the mafia model. In fact, he could rightfully be called the Godfather of New Orleans rap: just like Don Corleone he’s an immensely rich and powerful man at the end of his career, young men looking to get into the game seek out his endorsement, and sometimes you can’t understand a word he’s saying.
While comparing The Godfather and Baby’s new album 5 Star Stunna isn’t completely accurate; The Godfather is one of the ten best movies ever made, while 5 Star Stunna is one of the ten best albums released last week, there’s more than enough evidence to make some pretty solid connections. Don Corleone knew he was getting older and was counting on his sons to carry on the family business. In Baby’s case that would make B.G. the Fredo of Cash Money (the son who betrayed the family but was mournfully accepted back), Juvenille would be Sonny (the strong son who was too hot tempered to run the business), and Weezy F. Baby is Michael (the son who unexpectedly emerges as a capable and talented heir to the throne).
Weezy’s place at the top of the rap game has been Baby’s biggest success, and so it’s no surprise he plasters his son’s name all over 5 Star Stunna. He’s undoubtedly banking on Wayne’s name to draw listeners, but fans will be disappointed to find that while he appears on seven tracks, he only really raps on two. Most of the work put in by “the greatest rapper alive” is on the chorus side of the equation, like the trunk-rattling I Run This. A mediocre beat and a surprisingly tame hook from Weezy isn’t nearly enough to save I Run This from mediocrity, especially considering Baby’s nearly comatose flow. No one’s expecting the Birdfather to be Nas, but I have to believe he can do better than rhyming “b****es” with “b****es.” Genuis. It’s no surprise then that the most Wayne heavy song on the album is also its best, the unstoppable Pop Bottles. The beat manages to combine every Southern production trick in the book, from trap music drum rolls to snap music breakdowns. Meanwhille, Wayne spits some gloriously obscene rhymes and Baby drops a straight cash flow that gets the job done. Pop Bottles isn’t a dope Baby song, it’s a dope song Baby happens to be on, but it’s still worth throwing on the next time you’re poppin’ bottles.
Don Corleone knew his strength was in loyalty and debts owed, and Baby must have collected on some serious favors for the radio-ready 100 Million. The Cash Money crew has relocated to Miami since Katrina’s devastation of New Orleans, and you can hear the sunny Miami sound invading 100 Million’s banging production. The MC roster runs deep on 100 Million, with Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, and yes Lil Wayne putting in work. Aside from some predictably aggravating ad-libs from DJ Khaled, everyone who grabs a mic does the damn thing. Birdman reaches out to his Terror Squad associates for some help on Make Way, a synth-dominated track featuring a crackin’ verse from Fat Joe and some insanely reggae-influenced singing from Weezy. Oh, and Baby raps for exactly 23 seconds. That’s about 12 seconds too long.
Though I would never question Baby’s abilities as a businessman and a stunna, I get the feeling even he knows he’s no 5 star rapper. With that in mind 5 Star Stunna is exactly what it’s supposed to be; an album that will bring in some dollars from Baby’s longtime fans, and maybe pick up a few new fans while its at it. By the way, 5 Star Stunna is also one of the most instrumental-worthy albums in recent memory. From the stomping Head Busta to the cinematic I Love My Hood, the beats alone might be worth picking up a copy. And no I’m not being paid to say that - though for the record if Baby offered me 100 million for a great review, well that might be an offer I couldn’t refuse.
Listen to More: Baby aka Birdman Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 12
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11866 |
Rating:
The end of your review couldn't have been a more perfect to wrap up your analogy to The Godfather. I am going to go out on a limb when I say... Baby probably had less hair on his chest. The album is a banger out the speakers of your whip. That is worth something. Only wish I had for this album = include some classic Mannie Fresh production. Too bad he has left the family...
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| Posted on Dec 20, 2007 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Baby sucks
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| Posted on Dec 20, 2007 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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¸For The Song ''make Way featuring fat joe & lil wayne''..I Rate ''Classic''!I Like Pop Bottles,So Tired & We Gangsta
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| Posted on Dec 20, 2007 |
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DJ Booth Member |
I run this ft. lil wayne is a good song as well !!!
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| Posted on Dec 21, 2007 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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wow, gilly wasn't available?
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| Posted on Dec 25, 2007 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Birdman CD wuz ight. But back when Birdman and Mannie Fresh were the Big Tymers is when they were killin it, even tho Manny Fresh is droppin some good beats as a producer. But i think the best songs on here were: We Gangsta, R.I.P. , Pop Bottles, Fully Loaded, and Hundred Million.
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| Posted on Dec 26, 2007 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 41 |
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He'll never be like he was back in the day and 5*Stunna helped me realize that...i love "make way" & "bossy" was like the worst damn sonq on the CD..oh and you will remember that it's HIS cd because he mentions the title in every sonq.
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| Posted on Jan 04, 2008 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 172 |
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decent cd not worth buy tho just dl it
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| Posted on Jan 11, 2008 |
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| Posted on Jan 18, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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only songs i have on my ipod from this are the 1s with wayne
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2008 |
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this cd's got dope beats. i play it when i'm at the gym workin out
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| Posted on Feb 07, 2008 |
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DJ Booth Member |
U'r rilly a 5 star stunner.kip it up
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| Posted on Feb 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Birdman knowz he kant rap da only time u will hea a birdman song on da radio iz if itz ft wayne 3 starz 4 beatz and guest appearancez
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| Posted on Nov 21, 2009 |
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| Posted on Apr 02, 2011 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 1 |
BIRDMAN 5 STAR G MONEY EVER.POWER IS THE POWER
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| Posted on Nov 11, 2011 |
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