Young Jeezy – “Trap Or Die 2″ (Mixtape Review)

I like the back cover better than the front. Simple, but effective.

The last mixtape or two from Young Jeezy have been underwhelming at the most to me, so when I got word that he was finally releasing the follow up to arguably his best mixtape ever, “Trap or Die,” (yes, it’s as hood as it sounds) I was excited, but skeptical at the same time. I don’t like the “Lose My Mind” single (hook’s eh, Plies is screaming for NO REASON, etc) so I wasn’t excited about Jeezy’s music at all. It was by chance I saw his “Introduction” video for Trap or Die 2, and the quick 16-bar verse was enough to make me download the mixtape.

The Good:

One of the things I like about Jeezy is that he’s developing more as an artist even though he’s staying true to himself. He’s not trying to be a syllable-flipping lyricist, but his lyrics and his content are developing in itself as a whole. That’s why he’s remained relevant in my opinion, and he caters to most of the majority of hip-hop and rap, which is something a high percentage of rappers cannot do.

This mixtape blends that for the most part. There are songs on here that have the hip-hop feel (“Greatest Trapper Alive”), and then there are songs that completely cater to the street (dumbed-down hooks included, i.e. “My Camaro”). That’s a gift and a curse though, considering who is asking.

The production should not be questioned, at all. The mixtape bangs in this area, short story shorter. Also, the guest slots on the album are all well-placed and add to the mixtape. Yes, even Birdman’s.

(P.S: Pusha T of the Clipse throws some shots at Lil Wayne. Again. Just throwing it out there)

The Bad:

This mixtape is a double-edged sword in this case, because a lot of the positives I mentioned can easily be a negative. The mixtape production bangs, but the tone of the mixtape is pretty much the same throughout. The mix of hip-hop and rap is majority tilted towards the street/rap area, but that’s to be expected. The name of the mixtape is “Trap or Die 2” so if you didn’t see that coming, I don’t know what to tell you.

As an added flaw, I think that any project that needs Birdman on it loses points, just because.

Bottom Line:

If you enjoy Jeezy’s music in any way, then you’ll probably enjoy this mixtape. I personally like it better than the original “Trap or Die”, but that’s just my opinion. Because of its content, the mixtape will either bore you or amaze you; it doesn’t leave much room for the middle-ground. That being said, if you like Jeezy’s catalog of music, don’t miss this one.

Eljay’s Favorites:

• “Trap Or Die Reloaded”
• “Ill’in” feat. The Clipse
• “The Introduction”
• “Greatest Trapper Alive” / “My Tool” feat. Birdman and Bun B

(As requested… click here for a link to download “Trap or Die 2″)