Avg Rating: 
2.9 ( 24 total votes )
It would be easy to just blast the New Boyz, point to them as signs of everything that’s wrong with hip-hop, make a couple skinny jeans jokes and move on. Sorry, I don’t do easy. For all the hardcore hip-hop heads that saw the New Boyz surrounded by dancing teenagers on BET and launched into a frenzy of hatred, let me say this: relax. First of all, if you’re that serious about your hip-hop, what are you doing listening to the New Boyz? Go memorize the new Raekwon. Second, I hate to break this to … ...Read the full album review
DJBooth Album Review
It would be easy to just blast the New Boyz, point to them as signs of everything that’s wrong with hip-hop, make a couple skinny jeans jokes and move on. Sorry, I don’t do easy. For all the hardcore hip-hop heads that saw the New Boyz surrounded by dancing teenagers on BET and launched into a frenzy of hatred, let me say this: relax. First of all, if you’re that serious about your hip-hop, what are you doing listening to the New Boyz? Go memorize the new Raekwon. Second, I hate to break this to you, but you can’t expect everyone to only make the music you like. Like a healthy democracy, hip-hop’s better when it has as many different voices as possible. Yeah that’s right. I just tied the advent of democracy to a group whose known for “jerkin.”
Point is, let’s not be so quick to write off the New Boyz and their debut album Skinny Jeanz and a Mic. Unlike past one hit wonders - anyone remember who did Party Like a Rockstar? – the New Boyz are part of a larger youth-fueled movement that ironically draws on hip-hop’s early days to produce stripped down, percussively heavy beats and slowly paced rhymes. I’m not saying that the California bred duo of Ben J and Legacy are the future of hip-hop, I’m just saying that bashing Skinny Jeanz and a Mic because it isn’t Illmatic is like bashing McDonald’s for not making delicious steaks. The New Boyz are what they are: a popular teenage rap group that will either have to evolve or inevitably fade away.
If we’re talking about the New Boyz we’re really talking about You’re a Jerk. Not only was the catchy single the track that introduced the duo to the world, it’s a blueprint for their entire sound: sparse production, booming bass, sped up vocal sample for the hook and lyrics about girls and clothes. (Careful listeners will catch a surprising reference to Jim Crow laws in You’re a Jerk. Looks like someone paid attention in U.S. history class). In other words, You’re a Jerk comes complete with a dance, style and catch phrase, exactly the type of track teenagers fall in love with, then promptly forget about a year later. It’s what teenagers do – and what you did when you were a teenager too. In fact, despite its one hit wonder label, You’re a Jerk isn’t entirely an anomaly; their music is in the same ballpark as other back to basics rap from crews like The Cool Kids. The opening track Cricketz is an pre-emptive strike on naysayers with a gold rope chain worth beat that shows that Ben and Legacy are respectably skilled rappers for youngsters, and Bunz is a 2 Live Crew-esque ode to booty that is classic guilty pleasure material. Come on, admit it haters, Skinny Jeanz has its moments.
As accepting as I try to be, there are portions of Skinny Jeanz and a Mic that are completely indefensible, starting with Tie Me Down (aka “the song that god put on this earth to punish me”). First of all, there’s something creepy about Ray J appearing on a New Boyz track, like after the sex tape and the affront to humanity that is For the Love of Ray J show he shouldn’t be allowed near children, or tracks whose primary audience is minors. Regardless of Ray J, I simply can’t forgive the auto-tuned verses from the New Boyz. What’s more, while the rest of the album’s minimalistic approach to hip-hip can get monotonous, the last third of Skinny Jeanz turns into a pop-R&B fest, starting with Tie Me Down and ending with the terrible quasi-ballad One Night. Someone undoubtedly told the boys they needed to do more to attract teenage girls, but in the course of doing so they throw out everything that made them unique and become, yes, just another forgettable teen sensation.
So where does that leave us? If I had to bet, I’d say that Skinny Jeanz and a Mic will be the last time we hear from the New Boyz, but the duo show just enough skill on the album to provide a glimmer of hope. If Ben J and Legacy can put aside the lame R&B attempts and focus on making their unique brand of hip-hop, they could have some life in the game. And if they can’t, well, there’s gonna be a lot of people donating their skinny jeans to the Salvation Army in a couple years.
Listen to More: New Boyz Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 24
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DJ Booth Member |
this album wont sell.. It will be the last time we hear from them
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| Posted on Sep 22, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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it was catchy. i listened to it three or four times all the way through. it's nice. just a couple of dudes who enjoy what they do.
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| Posted on Sep 22, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 31 |
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I think i took a left at the blueprint 3...wait wtf is this!
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| Posted on Sep 22, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
Im not goin to lie Nathan S., when i compare your reviews on albums to your ratings for them, i get confused sometimes.
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| Posted on Sep 22, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2476 |
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@joshL Fair enough. I learned a long time ago that rating albums is an almost impossible task. Someday I'll break down why, but no one wants to hear me complain about how "hard" my job is when I have one of the best jobs I could possibly imagine. Let's just say that your comment was one of the nicer "how could you have rated this album that?" comments/emails I get.
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| Posted on Sep 22, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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its cool
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| Posted on Sep 22, 2009 |
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if anyone lives near DC, they see skinny jeans everywhere, and i mean everywhere. It's just what some peeps do. Not for me, but I can't really hate on it.
I think these 2 dudes have a lot of promise. Some of the songs were entertaining, and the rhymes weren't bad by any means. However, the whole album is repetitive. After Cricketz and You're a Jerk, the first half of the album sounds the same. For example, So Dope is pretty much a remix of You're a Jerk with the opposite lyrics. I'm not really sure how creative these guys are, but their style is so niche, I don't really expect much more from them. In the mean time, I'll enjoy the hell out of You're a Jerk. Fun times. |
| Posted on Sep 22, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Sucks Like Hell No Hater I Don't Like Dance Songs Thats Wat Made Rap Dead Dumass
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| Posted on Sep 23, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
i put both crickets and so dope on my recent mixtape and people said they really enjoyed those two songs..their entire mixtape sounds nearly alike...but they showed promise of diversifying themselves wit tie me down
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| Posted on Sep 23, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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These dudes will be gone after this album (thankfully) and there only hit song will be played during the "One hit wonders at 1" portion on the local radio station... if that.
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| Posted on Sep 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
@Burmy- lol fair enough. i can see it bein hard, especially when there is ppl sayin ur rating is messed up on about all of ur reviews. its all jus about opinion and interpretation.
btw, my comment has nothin to do with "how could u of rated this album that,"(based on the music). its jus based on how i am interpreting ur review and comparing that to ur rating. reading ur review here, i thought u would rate it a 1.5 or 2 at the highest. |
| Posted on Sep 25, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1642 |
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man. every song sounds about the same lol.
but once they get passed their jerk-phaze, i can see some really hot songs comin out of them, bcuz they can rap pretty decently! |
| Posted on Sep 25, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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I LOVE THEIRR SONGSS.:)
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| Posted on Sep 26, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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people r messing up rap nd hip hop there killing wat the gravediggaz, tu pac, biggie, wu tang clan,and the geto boyz did all because of soulja boy, new boyz and other wack ass rappers
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| Posted on Sep 29, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
umm i think they could of done better but it was good tie me down is way better ofarol park blood tho all the way whats brackin b?
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| Posted on Sep 30, 2009 |
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| Posted on Oct 01, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 391 |
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mai lil brothers listen to "your a jerk" and i doo find it catchy!!! so this rating if for them!!! coz thts there target audience not us :p
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| Posted on Oct 02, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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personally idk how they got this far these are regular highschool kids who made a lil song when they were bored...but unfortunately went popular an went local, by the way they rap i knew they wouldnt have a career in the rap game after this album we will never see them again
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| Posted on Oct 03, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
love the album skinny jeans and a mic and love your a jerk.......... love to kill the dance cuz aint no body freasher than me.....$!$!
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| Posted on Oct 12, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
this is a good
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| Posted on Oct 16, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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SUCKS!
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| Posted on Oct 22, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Jerkin all day baby
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| Posted on Nov 03, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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they sound alright but they aren't well enough known and they won't ever get big enough to stick around
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| Posted on Nov 13, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
yall trippin' boy they raw
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| Posted on Nov 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
umm ohkk well thats yuu oppion!.. if yuu ask mee i personaly lovee there music i always be listen ta there songz everywhere i go its always on!.. there was no need ta put them on blast lykk dat when yuur the only one who thinks different bout then nd the song wiff Ray J in it just made it that much better!...
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| Posted on Nov 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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thiz shit iz tha bizznis 4 rilzz man
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| Posted on Nov 19, 2009 |
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| Posted on Nov 29, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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THE NEW BOYZ ARE F**KIN FIIIIIIIIIINE ASSS HELL!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Posted on Dec 16, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 1 |
bruh is gudd wen u can rap, dance dn u got swagger!!!:D ben j ixx so fine
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
I luv them..thier both fine as hell
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| Posted on Jan 30, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 3 |
They are gonna go big. I love them!
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| Posted on Mar 16, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 3 |
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i love these boys and they're music is so amazing. they are so hot, but way to fly for me. damn
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| Posted on Apr 08, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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megga sexxii
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| Posted on Apr 10, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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wow stop hating Blnight84!!! this song is good ur jusst a fagg that hates so much.. errone like new boyz.. :) love this song and woody douglas your right.
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| Posted on Apr 27, 2010 |
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| Posted on Feb 19, 2011 |
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this alum is ok my favorite song was tie me down but i wont put anyone down but it wasnt that....good
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| Posted on Aug 05, 2011 |
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