Young Buck - Buck The World

Don’t be fooled by Young Buck’s appearance on the front cover of his new album, Buck The World.  The slender, toned and tatted up MC graces his album art with a serious look on his face and a silent yet distinct attitude firmly in place.  While his listed occupation on both his medical records and tax forms probably indicate that he is a musician by trade, on his long overdue sophomore release, Buck’s job includes a new title: Clean Up Man.  Given to him by Interscope CEO Jimmy Iovine, the title indicates the extreme need for Buck to make up for lost time (and money,) while helping G-Unit Records ascend once again to the top of the charts.

On board for round two of Buck’s career boxing match is a group of A-list producers who don’t disappoint.  Fresh off the success of Rich Boy’s Throw Some D’s, Polow Da Don provides a legit hit single with the fiery “Get Buck,” while Dr. Dre offers the melodically head-nodding “Slow Ya Roll,” which features an unlikely collaboration with Linkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington.  Notables Lil’ Jon and Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem also provide solid production on Money Good, and Puff Puff Pass, respectively; however Buck falls short on both, rapping about nothing new in particular and providing nothing more than filler for the album.

What Young Buck offers as both a lyricist and an MC that help to differentiate him from most of his competition is realness.  Buck is able to introspectively, and angrily, express his feelings on the dark, Eminem-produced Lose My Mind.  Riding the beat of a chilling and demonic track, Buck pours his heart and soul into the album’s final cut, exclaiming “Everybody try to kill me, I don’t have no friends.  I’m all by myself, in this @*#$! biz.”  In this singular offering Buck displays raw emotion, a quality label mates Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo couldn’t attempt to duplicate, even with their G-Unit signature tank tops immersed in flames.

After disappointing efforts from both Mobb Deep and the aformentioned Banks, Young Buck serves his newest title well and in turn should make his employer a very happy man.  At 17 tracks deep, Buck The World, to some might seem a bit lengthy.  However, without any annoying skits and meaningless beginning or ending monotone-sounding monologues, the flow never staggers or even comes close to falling down.  The overall message of the album, made clear by the chosen title and the mere swapping of a single letter, couldn’t be more concise.  “I wanted to title it @*#$! The World… [but] they wouldn’t let me.”