Block Music

Block Music

Shawnna, daughter of the inimitable blues legend Buddy Guy, is meant to be huge; base that on tracks like "Damn"--as fine an ode to bootyliciousness as listeners far removed from the block will ever trip across--and the puff-chested, big-banging title track. But early boosts from BET aside (the kind that may be inevitable when DTP, Pharrell, Ludacris, Lil Wayne, Too Short, 8 Ball, Bobby Valentino, and world-class daddy Guy line up as insurance against a sophomore slump) Shawnna still feels like a best-kept secret--a hard-nosed, downhome chip off her old block. Late-disc surprises such as "Can't Break Me" and "In the Chi" trade in the grit for go-deep truth-telling, and they're bolstered by production that feels snap-tight in some places and billowy in others. Fourteen tracks in, the effect is somehow intimate, as if only block-centric types should be allowed a listen, but through skill alone, Shawnna's made room on the stoop for the whole world. --Tammy La Gorce



Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0602498579879
Format: Explicit Lyrics
Label: Def Jam
Manufacturer: Def Jam
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Def Jam
Release Date: 2006-06-27
Studio: Def Jam



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Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: certified hood platinum
Comment: Shawnna is the homegirl that lives around the corner from your cousin pookie that can rap her a$$ off. She takes you on a ride thru the Chi and tells it like it's supposed to be. Check out the "Getting Some" remix and "On my way home" and the joint with Fred Hampton Jr is a banger just way too short. I would have gave this 6 stars if I could!

Customer Rating: Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5
Summary: A female emcee worth listening to?
Comment: "Gettin' Some" had to be one of the most explicit songs to garner radio play in recent years; it was also backed by one of the most infectious beats I've ever heard. While minimalistic, the draw of "Gettin' Some" cannot be ignored; it's repetitiveness is actually a positive in this situation. While the production on the track may not be the most complex, or multi-fauceted you'll listen to, you can't deny how catchy it is. While the original was definitely a selling point for this album, the best track found within is the remix to the original - featuring guest spots from Ludacris, Too Short, Pharrell, and Lil' Wayne, all of whom drop exceptionally tight verses.

Those two tracks are the strongest found on the LP, but that by no means insinuates that the rest of this album is cannon-fodder. While most associate Shawnna with the South because of her (former) affiliate with Disturbing Tha Peace, she's actually from the Chi-Town, and her Mid-West influences shine through brightly on this release. Both of her tracks dedicated to her home town of Chicago are soulful numbers, something commonly associate with the Chi. In tha Chi is an exceptional track featuring well-known 'Ye collaborator, Syleena Johnson, while Chicago is a dope track featuring Shawnna's father, as well as Malik Yuself.

Other tracks are sure to get the clubs bumping, such as Can't Do It Like Me, the title-track, and Damn featuring Field Mob member Smoke. All of those tracks have dope production, supplied with some pretty hot rhymes from Shawnna. Unfortunately, not every track is as tight as the aforementioned tracks; negatives come in the former of the dissapointing DTP posse cut, featuring Luda and Bobby Valentino, Take It Slow. The message is decent, but the track never really gets off the ground, which is definitely a shame. With the exception of Gettin' Some, Shawnna's sexual side is also a bit of a damper; tracks like Lil Daddy What's Good and Slide In The Back are nothing more than the typical Lil Kim rip-off.

While most female emcees have a difficult time commanding an audience, fortunately, Shawnna doesn't have this problem. While the album isn't anything revolutionary, it never tries to be. This album is more than worth picking up for the dope tracks included, and it's only a shame that she won't have Def Jam or DTP backing her on her next solo release.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5Average rating of 4/5
Summary: Good bass and hip beats
Comment: I decided to buy this CD because I heard some of her as a guest on other male rappers' albums. But, after listening to this CD, I found that Shawnna actually is a pretty good rapper herself. She has a good flow and her beats are pretty darn catchy. Some of her tracks sound as if Dr. Dre influenced it, and a few others are quite apparent that the crunk sounds had impact. She also has a nice mix of guests on her various tracks, but not too much to the point where you start feeling as if the CD wasn't her own. It's nice to have a CD from a female rapper without feeling like you lose any street cred or hard-core image. Although Shawnna is far from the old shcool likes of Salt 'N Pepa and other popular female rap stars, she displays quite a knack for rapping and finding catchy beats on this album.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
Summary: SHAWNNA IS THE BEST LYRICAL FEMALE IN THE GAME.
Comment: I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM HER.

Customer Rating: Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5Average rating of 2/5
Summary: Bad production kills this album
Comment: Dont think that I have it in for Shawnna. Lyrically she is a titan but these beats make it hard for you to enjoy this album. Her problem was never one of lyrics but of production. Standout Tracks:Block Music is crazy plus Shawnna rips the track in half. Songs like Chicago, In Tha Chi, Cant Do It Like Me and Roll Wit Me would be standout tracks if the beats werent so awful! Filler: Damn is the only song with a decent beat but it is ruined by preschool lyrics like /I got a pink poodle named Fifi/ sipping on some vodka and fiji/WTF?. Lil Daddy whats good, Gettin some, getting Some remix(garbage plus Pharrell had the worst verse in the song), Take it slow(boring love joint)and Candy coated bring this album down some stars. Bottom Line: One of the low lights of 2006 by default. Somebody should have told Shawnna that TIGHT LYRICS AND CAMPY BEATS DONT MIX! This album is a lot better than the first one lyrically but the basement sounding production(which sounds like Khia produced it LOL)makes it hard to enjoy the lyrics. Tip for DTP: If you want your artists to be heard get better production because this Vodou Spellz(who produced half the album) or Doodoo Spellz producer is not going to cut it!


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