First things first, Self Made in an embarrassment of an album. That is if it can be considered an “album.” It’s much more of a husk, a shell, of an album than an actual musical work. Imagine waking up on Christmas morning and opening a brightly wrapped present, only to find that it contains nothing: not a new Hi-Def TV, not 20 bucks, not even an orange reindeer sweater from your grandmother. Nothing. If you can imagine what that would feel like, then you can imagine listening to Rocko.
Just who is Rocko? Excellent question. Rocko da Don, as he prefers to be called, is an Atlanta based CEO/producer/director/Monica impregnator who recently decided that adding rapper to that already extensive resume would be a good move. From the standpoint of his bank account I’m sure it was a great idea, but it turns out that the world needs more music from Rocko like it needs another award-show performance from an incoherent Britney Spears.
Let me pause for a quick word about hating. Every time I write a negative review I get the same emails, so let me save you some time. Here, just copy this and send it my way:
”Hater! This music is hot! You’re obviously jealous because (artist name here) got more money than you. You’re just mad because you can’t make music and they can. Stop hatin.”
You’re welcome – and of course feel free to add your own obscenities. Now if you’re the type of person who’s ever sent me a letter like that, go ahead. Just know that this music is my life, I take it seriously, and I don’t have much patience for people who use the art form I’ve devoted my life to solely to make a quick buck. Thanks, I now return you to your regularly scheduled review.
I don’t demand much from an artist, but I do need their music to make me feel something. Angry, joyous, combative, desperate, horny, I’ll take anything, just make sure it’s something. So tell me, what does Busy make you feel? It makes me feel like Rocko thinks the public will buy any song with a hot Drumma Boy beat, even if the lyrics are so unoriginal he makes Mims look like Nas. “I’ve got insomnia, I can’t sleep man. I’m getting money, I’m a busy man.” I mean the way he rhymed “man” with “man” was genius, but I don’t think Weezy has to make room at the top. It’s the same story from top to bottom on Self Made, let’s just pick a song at random. How about That’s My Money? It’s never a good sign when you know exactly what the song’s going to sound like just by reading the title, and That’s My Money is a perfect example. No one’s saying that Rocko can’t buy a dope beat, Shawty Redd’s work on That’s My Money is nothing short of a banger, but that’s why it’s such a shame that Rocko, a guy who’s so lost behind the mic he’s resorted to jocking Gucci Mane’s style, gets to rhyme over it.
Rocko burst on the scene with the hit (in the loosest sense of the word) Umma Do Me, a song that’s about as enjoyable as rubbing Tabasco in your eye, but the song title does bring up a crucial question. Does Rocko really believe he can rhyme, or is he just fronting for the money. Is it all an act when he says ridiculously egotistical things like, “when I look in the mirror, I think this is too much swag to be boarded up,” or is he literally delusional? It’s a crucial question, because if Rocko has overestimated his talent level that severely than he’s almost sad, but if he’s in on the joke than Self Made has moments of “so bad it’s good” territory. The wifey stops by for some duet action on Thugs Need Love Too, and Old Skool almost dares to come up with a unique concept, but there’s just no way around it, Self Made is terrible.
Does Rocko have more money than me? Absolutely. But if having a nicer car than a journalist has become the sole criteria for MC ability then believe me, hip-hop is in serious trouble. So please, take the cash you were going to spend on Self Made and buy a mixtape from some dedicated local rapper who just spent his rent money on studio fees. They’ll be genuinely grateful, and so will hip-hop.
i gave a few songs a spin in the club before it was crowded you know just setting up kind of thing... giving a sound check and i listened to it and i can honestly say that this album really should be given away uma do me is the only one im sorry no disrespect but my thoughts on this one is tha same trash it waist of studio time
Dang,da funny thing is him and Jermaine Dupri were on 106 talking about how gud his album was and how they were undecided on what was gonna be da next single cuhz there were soo many hot ones on da album...Wat a joke!
this is the kind of music you use limewire for ...... so for all u rappers out there who jus wanna make quick dolla its gonna b pple like me whos gon fire up the limewire make sure u stay broke !!!!!!!!
Haha. The only way this CD is 'jammin' is if I stick it in the toaster and eat it with strawberry jam and butter. It is quite a shame that such GREAT production work by Marvelous J had to be used on this album.
On a side note, Nathan you made me cry from laughing.
DAYUM...everybody that commented on YouTube likes all of hiz songz and so do I. I cant real-e hate on my man Rocko:)(I heard all the tracks on hiz cd on YouTube lol)Keep do-n ya thang baby...despite all of the hatas! Z, apparently u dont like dis album either but PLEASE dont stop put-n up hiz new singles!
i have to agree this album sucks.....Wow!! r u joking or on the paid roster of Rocko cuz this is one of the worst album ive heard in a way. I was not really suprised the album suck bcuz imm do me had
imma do me had bad and predictable lyrics. Give this album of a star is too high of a rating so im not giving one( if i could give negative stars i would)
naw i aint joke-n...I LUV ROCKO and i think "imma do me" wuz a tyte track...but i do agree lyrics coulda been betta. He aint as bad as yall make him out to be...well,...idk...i cant hate.
i ono yall, in one world i got to agree with nathan. This dude has the most expensive beat that money can buy and killed the album. Now b4 i start to look like a hata, let me xplain.... when i first heard it, I was wit it big time but after reading nathan's critique. I went back and listened to it again.........and....... its a really hot album bcuz of the beats..... but nothing ryhmes at all.......... really.
and i liked all the songs, but i really didnt, he just has hot hooks....... as far as the beats go >>>>>>>>>5
Horrible.. he sounds way too much like jeezy. I wonder how jeezy feel about this wannabe taking his style.. Monica needs to be slapped if she thinks her man can really rap.. OH AND BY THE WAY i STILL LOVE MONICA..LOL
I believe Rocko is a very talented artist. Who cares if he has predictable lyrics or lyrics that "don't rhyme"-that's just his style and he owns it very well. This is a tite cd. Beautiful Rocko.
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