Before “The Voice†came out, I could have sworn that Mike Jones was destined to be a one-hit wonder. However, the work that ey has put forth on “The Voice†is enough to cement eir in the annals of rap music. On this release, Jones is all business – there is only one skit (the introduction to “Scandalous Hoesâ€) – and nary a weak track to be heard here. The aforementioned “Scandalous Hoes†may not be the next single (“Swagg Thru The Roof†looks to be the most viable contender here), but this Jones and T-Pain track just begs to be a crossover hit.
Other tracks fare just as well, no matter whether the name power on the track is strong. Some relative newcomers on the rap and R&B scene tear it up during “The Voiceâ€, especially during “On Top Of the Coversâ€, where Essay Potna rivals the quality of Jones eirself. A similar thing occurs during “Hate on Meâ€, where Tanya Herron takes Jones’ vocals to the next level. This release is good not only because it provides the first physical (legal) way to get a copy of “Cuddy Buddy†and 2007’s hit “Drop & Gimme 50â€.
Beyond providing the ability for fans to get their hands on these songs, there are a number of other cuts that will ensure that “The Voice†will remain in CD players long after the person first listens to the disc. While I am a bigger fan of the physical copies of releases, there is a reason to purchase “The Voice†off of iTunes. This is due to the fact that Jones eirself made two exclusive tracks for the release – “I Got It†(which features both members of UGK before Pimp C passed on) and “Shit On Boyzâ€, which features Lil Flip and two up and coming rappers – Killa Kyleon and King Mello. Mike Jones is going to be a force in a rap music for a long time after “The Voice†comes out. If you only knew eir for previous tracks, make sure to give “The Voice†a few spins. You’ll be a convert.
Top Tracks: Give Me A Call, Next To You
Rating: 7.6/10
Mike Jones – The Voice (CD) / 2009 Asylum / 16 Tracks / http://www.whomikejones.com / http://www.asylumrecords.com