Mike Jones - The Voice Cover

Avg Rating: 21021   2.4 ( 18 total votes )

Mike Jones - The Voice

Label: Ice Age/Asylum

Production: Amadeus, Big E, Bigg D, Dat Boy Chyco, Essay Ponta, J.R. Rotem, Jim Jonsin, Kojack, Mike D, Mr. Collipark, Pretty Todd, Swole

Lead Single: Next To You

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All you need to know about The Voice is that Mike Jones spends much of it pointing out that his first album, the aptly-titled Who Is Mike Jones?, went double platinum. Two million in sales is a monumental achievement, but that album dropped four years ago, and the rap game’s changed so much since then it’s almost unrecognizable. Unless your last name is Carter, no one goes double platinum anymore. After exploding onto the national scene alongside his Houston compatriots, the thick-tongued Jones quickly became an unlikely rap superstar, and then just as quickly disappeared. … ...Read the full album review


DJBooth Album Review


All you need to know about The Voice is that Mike Jones spends much of it pointing out that his first album, the aptly-titled Who Is Mike Jones?, went double platinum. Two million in sales is a monumental achievement, but that album dropped four years ago, and the rap game’s changed so much since then it’s almost unrecognizable. Unless your last name is Carter, no one goes double platinum anymore. After exploding onto the national scene alongside his Houston compatriots, the thick-tongued Jones quickly became an unlikely rap superstar, and then just as quickly disappeared. Listening to Jones re-introduce himself to the world on The Voice, I had the distinct sensation I was watching a frozen caveman emerge from a melting glacier alive, confused and overwhelmed by the modern world. (I’d also point out that the man runs Ice Age Entertainment, but that metaphor’s so deep even I can barely handle it).

You have to respect Mike Jones’ hustle. He’s the proto-typical underdog, an everyman rapper who willed himself to the top of the charts largely on the sheer force of his will and a willingness to shout his name at every possible moment - if he ever does a track with DJ Khaled my head might explode. Believe me when I say that I wanted The Voice to impress me, I wanted to write a review about the return of Mike Jones, but I can’t. The Voice has its moments, but unfortunately many of those moments involve pressing the fast forward button as quickly as possible. And if you’re writing me a “f**k you hater” email now, at least spell “f**k” correctly. The word has a “c” in it people. I don’t ask for much.

Based on the album’s successful lead single Next To You it might look like Mike Jones hasn’t lost his chart-topping touch. Next To You is distinctly reminiscent of those old school Ja Rule and Ashanti tracks, using a sweetly singing lady to bring out the softer side of a gruff rapper (in this case newcomer Nae Nae plays the Ashanti role). Add in some pop-based production by J.R. Rotem and it’s easy to see why radio wants to get next to Next To You. The Voice smartly tries several more times to win over the charts by winning over the ladies, including the Trey Songz-assisted I Know and the uninspired Swagg Thru Da Roof, but I’d be surprised if either shares Next To You’s success. As long as we’re at it let’s throw Cutty Buddy into that mix. Cutty is Jones’ attempt to buy a hit by bringing on Lil Wayne, Twista, and T-Pain for a slow-paced grinder, and while all parties involved put in an honest effort, most notably Jones switches up his syrup-slow with a full-on Twista impression, Cutty is a reminder that much like an NBA All-Star game, putting a bunch of superstars on the same track does not guarantee a great team.

If The Voice was full of tracks like Next to You and Cutty Buddy that’d be fine, it really would, but unfortunately the album takes some detours into almost unlistenable territory. We might as well start with Drop And Give Me 50, the album’s half-baked attempt at starting a dance craze by combining recycled Mr. Collipark production with a Hurricane Chris chorus. (Who? Hurricane Chris? Who? That guy who did A Bay Bay. Oh, that guy). As a general rule I like any song that includes the line “put your right hand in the air, put your left hand in your underwear” but even unintentionally hilarious lyrics can’t save Give Me 50. Somehow Happy Birthday manages to be even worse – imagine the real Happy Birthday song sung by Mike Jones over a Casio keyboard beat. It’s a travesty, and we haven’t even gotten to Scandalous Hoes II. You’d think a song called Scandalous Hoes wouldn’t need any context, but Jones apparently found it necessary to include a Scandalous Hoes intro during which he explains that the song is about, you guessed it, hoes that behave scandalously. God bless Mike Jones, but you can’t be gone for four years and then expect to regain elite status with tracks like these. You just can’t. Jones has already announced that his next album will be titled Expect The Unexpected. Sadly expectations will be low after The Voice, here’s hoping he truly delivers something unexpected.

DJBooth Rating - 2.5 Spins

Listen to More: Mike Jones     Written by Nathan S.


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Member Reviews and Ratings


Average Member Rating:   21021       Total Ratings:   18

Mr.Top Hat
Tastemaker

Mr.Top Hat
Total Ratings: 4267
Rating:  21321
Ok, I gave it a listen and I gotta say its - What? Weak Sauce (like we were xpectin anything different,ha!)...
Besides a couple decent singles nuthin else is worth mentioning ...
Jones weaknesses are crystal clear on this as he isn’t saying much or nothing that he rhymes here really jumps out at you ... he keeps on using the same lines over and over ...
Track-after-Track his guest features outclasses him (Devin,Weezy,TP) ... and it’s dangerous to let that happen on your own Records ...
This is a perfect example where a listener, for most of the time is thinkin WHO! else could have just murked these beats ... tsk~tsk ...

Top Picks
1. Cuddy Buddy
2. Scandolous Hoes II
3. Swag Thru Roof
4. Next To You


Posted on Apr 28, 2009    

zurijewell22
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 1
its cool


Posted on Apr 28, 2009    

smokethej
Rating:  14321
Posted on Apr 28, 2009    

Aguil
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 72
Rating:  54321
cool


Posted on Apr 28, 2009    

Gr33nBowlP4ck3r
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 99
Rating:  14321
DIKE jones fell off because everybody realized what a douchbag he was with no skills whatsoever DIKE JONES WHO DIKE JONES. look up what he did to magno better yet listen to magno song about him everything dike jones does is trash


Posted on Apr 28, 2009    

frozilla33
Tastemaker

frozilla33
Total Ratings: 385
Rating:  21321
Dike jones......?

Anyways.. just listened to it a lil bit. Although production seems pretty tight, I feel like a large majority of the songs are lacking anything unique or great, leaving a bunch of OK songs. Next to you was nice, but first thing I thought was Ja Rule and Ashanti. Dudes first CD was banging and he just took so long to come out with this one and I feel like he gets away from what made him great before by trying hard to fit into todays rap scene. I would have appreciated that classic mike jones sound.


Posted on Apr 28, 2009    

Mr. Gamble
DJ Booth Member

Mr. Gamble
Total Ratings: 32
Rating:  14321
Okay...I'm sitting here listening to the album and I'm like "Let me see if DJ Booth did a review." After reading the review, I must say that I agree. Jones isn't talking about much except his first album going double. And the fact that dude still says "Who, Mike Jones...Who, Mike Jones" is just crazy....we know your name folk. He even goes into giving out his NEW phone number on Swagg Thru Da Roof. That was cool when you did it the first time, but now its a bit played out. He joins the rapper auto-tune bandwagon, which is a bad idea...we can barely understand you normally. Overall, he has no songs that stand out. Trust, I'm not exaggerating when I say that. Mike Jones isn't the worst rapper and I'd give props if this album was at least decent. I hate to give dude a 1 Star, but it is deserving on this effort. I wish him better on the next album...


Posted on Apr 28, 2009    

mo city
Tastemaker

 
Total Ratings: 357
Rating:  32121
SHID LISTEN TO BOI ON HIS SONG ITS FIRE REAL TALK MIKE JONES CANT RAP ON SOME REAL TALK BUT I GOTTA RIP TEXAS ALL THE WAY H-TOWN TELL I DIE.............


Posted on Apr 29, 2009    

youngboytizzy
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 26
Rating:  14321
this is hilarious...so im watchin 106&park; today and mike jones performs hes wack...like his performance was so dead but thats beside the point...i loved mike jones last album songs like flossin back then scandelous hoes etc. are GREAT songs i wonder what happened...this dude is wack now...i DIDNT buy or even listen to the album..i could tell it was gonna be wack when i saw the cutty buddy video and noticed none of the artists featured on the track werent in the video and how weak the concept was i was obvious...better luck next time mike jones-swagg thru da roff lmao worst song ever


Posted on Apr 29, 2009    

youngboytizzy
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 26
Rating:  14321
this is hilarious...so im watchin 106&park; today and mike jones performs hes wack...like his performance was so dead but thats beside the point...i loved mike jones last album songs like flossin back then scandelous hoes etc. are GREAT songs i wonder what happened...this dude is wack now...i DIDNT buy or even listen to the album..i could tell it was gonna be wack when i saw the cutty buddy video and noticed none of the artists featured on the track werent in the video and how weak the concept was i was obvious...better luck next time mike jones-swagg thru da roff lmao worst song ever


Posted on Apr 29, 2009    

LAMELEON
Tastemaker

LAMELEON
Total Ratings: 312
Rating:  14321
frozilla33..go listen to chamillionaire's mixtape messiah 1 and it'll cacth you up on the who? Dike jones thing...

um as far as "the voice" goes, THATS THE WORST PART..HIS VOICE. There was one time I liked mike jones. His verse on "city of the syrup" go to youtube and listen to that song its mike jones, bun b and slim thug. After I heard him sit on that I gave mike the benefit of a doubt..but today I heard the happy birthday track.

if you want to ruin a birthday listen to that. My birthday is in september and that song managed to ruin it for me


Posted on Apr 29, 2009    

mmoore1127
Tastemaker

mmoore1127
Total Ratings: 725
Rating:  32121
I gotta agree, "Birthday" is a sad, terrible, ridiculous, etc. attempt at recreating "In the Club."


Posted on Apr 29, 2009    

bibi_rios
DJ Booth Member

bibi_rios
Total Ratings: 76
Rating:  54321
are you kidding me?
wel;
as for me personally,
i haven't really listened to the WHOLE album;
but i've heard the big ones like Next To You;
[which is my fave]
Cutty Buddy;
I know; &
Swag Thru Roof.
i like 'em.
now as for Mike Jones himself,
i really like him;
he's always come out w/some crazy or funni crap.
like Back Then?
thas a classic for me,
i STILL listen to that ho.
anyways,
i gotta give Mike Jones props for doin what he does and reppin that H-Town 281.
thas wsussup betch!


Posted on Apr 29, 2009    

DJSquintz
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 31
Rating:  43211
Man people on here are some Mike Jones haters. I agree this album falls a bit short from his first album but still is a pretty solid effort. The beats and the production are on point. Jones could use a bit of work on some of his lyrics but this is a cd that you can bump in the ride while going down the street. Best tracks Swagger right, Boi, cuddy buudy, next to you, swag thru da roof, scandalous hoe$ 2, and drop and gimme 50.


Posted on Apr 30, 2009    

Aussie_Pride
Tastemaker

Aussie_Pride
Total Ratings: 1192
Rating:  32121
You guys need to cool off. From the 9 tracks ive heard I thought The Voice was going to be pretty solid (and ill rate it as such). Dont get your love for the internets 'golden boy' (Chamillionaire) in the way of rating one of his rivals albums.

For The Record: I am a fan of Chamillionaire, but it is true that internet hip hop sites (this one included) do overate him as a MC (He's solid, but I dunno If id even put him in my top 10)

Top 5
Cutty Buddy - Though I did prefer the Trillville version more
Next To You
I Know
On Top Of The Covers
Swag Through The Roof


Posted on Apr 30, 2009    

that1kid13
Tastemaker

that1kid13
Total Ratings: 1642
Rating:  43211
come on, yall gotta admit, for mike jones, this CD BANGS.

i liked BOI, Houston Oilers, Swagga Thru The Roof, Cutty Butty, Next 2 You and Scandalous Hoes II


Posted on Apr 30, 2009    

DJSquintz
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 31
Rating:  43211
I have to agree birthday is the weakest track on the album probably should have not made it on the album but shi% happens.


Posted on Apr 30, 2009    

SoSo89
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 110
Rating:  21321
i've never been a mike jones fan, the only track i like is Scandalous Hoes II that's it. the is garbage.


Posted on May 01, 2009    

LAMELEON
Tastemaker

LAMELEON
Total Ratings: 312
Rating:  14321
i'd like to respond to aussie_pride's comment. chamillionaire is in my top 10 but thats not why i rated the album what i rated it. I rated it based on lyrical content. Its garbage. Some songs are decent, im from texas so the trunk is naturally attracted to a beat that bangs but as soon as his voice box kicks in....dont even know how to put it nicely. I love slim thug's "welcome 2 houston" but as soon as mike jones verse comes along i turn it down or fast forward to bun.

I use to mess with jones when he was rappin with magno. 1st round draft picks..so dont point the mike jones hater finger at me. After The American Dream I recieved Jesus Christ as my lord and savior...mike jones and ja rule break the 11th commandment. Thou shall not bump wack music


Posted on May 02, 2009    

bcarey
DJ Booth Member

 
Total Ratings: 4
Rating:  43211
that is agood album. he could do
a better than that.


Posted on May 04, 2009    

mmoore1127
Tastemaker

mmoore1127
Total Ratings: 725
Rating:  32121
Top 3 songs: (excluding any singles)
1. Scandalous Hoes II
2. On Top of the Covers
3. Swag Thru Da Roof

Bottom 3: 1. Birthday
2. Houston Oilers
3. BOI!

A sold CD overall - but the good ones are really good, and the bad ones are really bad....


Posted on May 06, 2009    

MAD(e) in Italy
Tastemaker

 
Total Ratings: 214
Rating:  14321
oh
my
god...

please tell me that this dude isn't featured on any major label....


Posted on May 07, 2009    

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