Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

Consumer Guide:
  User's Guide
  Grades 1990-
  Grades 1969-89
  And It Don't Stop
Books:
  Book Reports
  Is It Still Good to Ya?
  Going Into the City
  Consumer Guide: 90s
  Grown Up All Wrong
  Consumer Guide: 80s
  Consumer Guide: 70s
  Any Old Way You Choose It
  Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
Xgau Sez
Writings:
  And It Don't Stop
  CG Columns
  Rock&Roll& [new]
  Rock&Roll& [old]
  Music Essays
  Music Reviews
  Book Reviews
  NAJP Blog
  Playboy
  Blender
  Rolling Stone
  Billboard
  Video Reviews
  Pazz & Jop
  Recyclables
  Newsprint
  Lists
  Miscellany
Bibliography
NPR
Web Site:
  Home
  Site Map
  Contact
  What's New?
    RSS
Carola Dibbell:
  Carola's Website
  Archive
CG Search:
Google Search:
Twitter:

Freeway [extended]

  • Philadelphia Freeway [Roc-A-Fella, 2003] *
  • Stimulus Package [Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2010] B

See Also:

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Philadelphia Freeway [Roc-A-Fella, 2003]
"victim of the ghetto" shit at its most up-to-date ("What We Do . . . ," "Line 'Em Up") *

Freeway & Jake One: Stimulus Package [Rhymesayers Entertainment, 2010]
Known, moderately talented Philadelphia rapper whose gold album failed to make him a star on Roc-a-Fella in the good old early '00s hooks up with quality, deservedly solvent Twin Cities indie-rap label hungry for street cred. The co-billed producer is a Seattleite who works both sides of the cred street, the packaging elaborately impractical--paperboard wallet surrounded by giant Freeway/Jake One Bucks with lyrics etc. on back. And the CD reveals a talent as moderate as ever, still on the lookout for that "pot of gold." The standout "One Foot In" states the options he sees: "I got one foot in the game one foot in the gutter/If my music don't bubble I feel sorry for your mother." The Raekwon-enhanced hookmobile "One Thing" reserves special contumely for that lowly creature, the snitch. So I'm asking myself, is this "reality"? Or is he fronting like so many hip-hop hards before him? Does "criticizing" his talent constitute snitching? Should I like him so nobody gets hurt? Poor Freeway. Poor Rhymesayers. Poor everybody. B