Production From: AblazeDaArchitek,Chad Beatz, Chink Santana, Green Lantern, Joe Black, M. Rell, Majik [For Solid Projects], Nardo, Noyz, Oneya, Young Los
Circle the date on the calendar, get out your diary, text your friends, because I’m about to write an extraordinarily rare sentence. I was wrong. Not only was I wrong, I was wrong about Jim Jones. It wasn’t long ago that I hated the raspy rapper, and not in the “hater” sense. I mean I hated him in the “I threw up in my mouth every time someone screamed Ballin!” sense. But things changed. First Jones talked openly on BET about AIDS’ terrible effect on his family, and I had to admit he was a man of remarkable courage. Then he expanded his often-monotonous flow on the surprisingly not-terrible Harlem’s American Gangster, and I had to admit he was decent rapper. And now that he’s formed the Byrdgang crew and dropped an impressive group album, I have to admit he’s a leader. I thought there was no way Jones would have last in hip-hop. I was wrong.
Since they first formed in 2006, the Byrdgang has undergone more changes than Lil Kim’s breasts. The gang started as a four man line-up before watching two members depart: Max B due to “creative difficulties” and Stack Bundles due to his tragic slaying, leaving just Jones and long-time collaborator Mel Matrix. Jones filled in the gaps by first adding NOE, then Sandman, and finally Chink Santana (who despite the name is not Juelz Santana’s racist Chinese brother). With the Byrdgang roster finally set, Jones and the boys have hit the streets and stores with M.O.B. The Album, an occasionally misguided but ultimately strong album that should still cement Jones’s place as a force in the game.
The album starts out with a musical crime scene as Mobbin swaggers and storms through the speakers. Green Lantern’s production is simultaneously ghetto and rich, like driving a Bentley while drinking Kool-Aid, and the whole crew drop blunt-force rhymes that may not be dope, but match the track’s stripped-down sound perfectly. On a side note, NOE’s voice sounds so much like Jay-Z’s you’ll find yourself constantly thinking “is that Hova?” every time he’s on the track, until you listen more closely and catch the lack of Jay-esque lyricism. More importantly, Byrdgang can do more (but not much more) than rhyme about moving weight. Splash brings together the two Santanas (Juelz and Chink), along with Jones and NOE, for some club-friendly vibes that manages to...wait a minute...I’m listening to the track again...no, I was mistaken. Splash is terrible. The concept’s weak, that ridiculously exaggerated “splash” is unintentionally hilarious, and Juelz’ verse is atrocious (“young flossy-floss, young flashy-flash”). I must have been thinking of some other song, maybe the atmospheric Money Right? Yeah, Money Right is a much better example of their ability to make songs for the club and the streets. My bad.
But enough messing around, let’s ask the really tough question: is M.O.B. a better album than G-Unit’s Terminate on Sight? I’m glad you asked. On one hand there’s no way Jones and his posse can match the 50 Cent media empire, and T.O.S. is certainly going to sell more. But on the other hand, if you were to take the average quality of rap on both albums, I’d have to give the slight edge, shockingly, to Byrdgang. The best comparison is undoubtedly Byrdgang Money, a song that could easily have been a Unit track in a parallel universe, right down to the half-spoken, half-sung hook. While Jones apparently still insists on spitting the same way every song, he’s managed to elevate his lyrical complexity above 50, NOE’s Hova impression gives Lloyd Banks a run for his money, and Mel Matrix is definitely on Tony Yayo’s level (which isn’t saying much). Even better, take Heartbeat, a track that shows the Byrdgang can drop the kind of emotionally-real track G-Unit would never touch. Then again, as I write those words I’m looking at M.O.B.’s track list and remembering just how bad tracks like Oopsy Daisy and She So Gangsta were. See, this is what happens when you admit you were wrong, you start doubting your judgment. Is M.O.B. just as good as Terminate On Sight, even though it won’t get nearly as much attention? Or are my expectations so low that when they’re surpassed I overreact? I honesty don’t know. I’m gonna have to leave the final word to you, loyal readers. We all need a shoulder to lean on sometimes, help me out here people.
def. impressed me
is it better than t.o.s.?
no
is it more grimey than t.o.s.?
yes
byrdgang has a while to go to reach g-unit's level. way too long to go. but this is a solid effort. this is gutter music. that harlem music....not terminate on sight by any means, but i opened the books for jim jones.
3 (cant give a 4. gave it to the unit)
No worries Z, I gotcha! I felt the same way as you about Jim Jones (although I suffered less: the screaming “ballin” fever didn’t catch over here in Europe) but he’s been consistently growing on me since “Love me no more” (I decided then to hate him no more). It’s so characteristic the way he always screams something after every line I find it to be a catchy soundmark.
Now the comparison between M.O.B and T.O.S is so irresistible I had already made it on the T.O.S. review: “Give JIM JONES & BYRDGANG - THE M.O.B. ALBUM a chance and you’ll see how easy it is to have a BETTER album than G-Unit’s these days.” I’ll explain the sentence. More than on their own merit, Byrdgang benefits from the fact that G-Unit is far from being as good as they were (Yayo in jail was a better premise).
The comparison you made between the members is perfect Nathan, so I’ll just add my view on the production. M.O.B is better on this aspect, I’d say even smarter, cuz G-Unit could have had just as good production or better if they wanted. “Only 17”s sound instantly made me think of Eminem, like he was about to start raping over it! “Byrdgang money” has that Timbo drumming signature with some nice strings in the background throughout: production as a whole is sophisticated. I just can’t go into as deep musical analysis with G-Unit’s effort! T.O.S.’s sonority (and I mean what ultimately gets to your ears) is genuinely unpleasant! I guess they were tryin to sound serious and aggressive but ended up creating an album that’s just not enjoyable. If you’re having doubts on your judgement by looking at Oopsy daisy Nathan, try thinking about Kitty Kat. That should help! ;)
i like jim jones and the whole dipset. i miss cam though (no homo) and wish he would of atleast been on the album. But its still good, my favorite song would have to be heartbeat. And NOE sounds to much like jay-z! Even when i know jay-z isnt on the song half way through the verse Im second guessing myself...O AND DEFINETLY BETTER THEN G-UNOT!
Dis CD is better than T.O.S. but barely i think splash is the best jim jones song that ive herd and the rest of the group is better than banks and yayo but not buck maybe thats why hes gone
yall are all fuckin idiots jim is betta than 50 now u forgot 50 wrote all of games hits who made his album go 5x platinum. banks is better than all of byrdgang if stacks was alive dat wuld be the only nigga dat culd rival banks yayo is betta than matrix but matrix a real nigga. i am a fan of both groups but the review was right by sayin byrdgang album betta than tos by a hair. money right byrdgang money splash heartbeat are the front runners of the album. tos southside party aint over get down are the fron runners southside and money right are the top 2 tracks from both parties jim is not a great lyricist but a great song creater in much of the same way as 50 is but 50 puts out hits so gunit has the edge out of both camps. but byrdgang is on the come up they faced a lot of adversity
@ DREWDAGOD29, actually Game’s albums never went 5x platinum (although he sold 5 million albums worldwide with Documentary)! And people are NOT comparing Jim Jones with the 2005 50Cent! If you look at the present 50, sayin that Jim Jones is better (lyrically) is not that absurd. But you’re right that 50 still has that hit magic in him, although his last hits were nothing compared to The Massacre and Get rich or die tryin…
PS: @ NATHAN, I meant “No worries Nathan, I gotcha!”, not Z! lol Sorry for the inconvenience!
The album wasn't too bad. I rocks wit Dipset all day but I didn't used to like Jim Jones either except for that "We Fly High" record. This album was impressive though and the Byrdgang still hard as always.
Oh and by the way... MUCH BETTER THAN T.O.S. But then again, I can't stand G-Unuts... To each his/her own.
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