Lately, no news has been good news for Trill Entertainment. The boutique labelâs star, Lil Boosie, has been indicted for a murder that could see him facing the death penalty. A month removed from Boosieâs last solo album, Trill Famâs All Or Nothing seemingly came out of nowhere. Perhaps itâs the fourth quarter swarm of releases, or maybe parent label Warner Brothers is simply trying to wash their hands of troubled Trill. Those questions aside, the ones that matter going forward plague this project. Can Webbie, Foxx and company carry the weight of negative press, dwindling expectations and the fact that their biggest group member is looking at extensive time? The label is unquestionably at a crossroads. And All Or Nothing is a big wager that may not work to the futureâs favor.
With All Or Nothing being a springboard for the new artists, the label sees potentially its biggest hit since âWipe Me Downâ with âTurn the Beat Up.â Mouse rides the high energy beat to perfection and the catchy hook will be heard in clubs and stadiums for the considerable future. On a record that has over 10 features, Mouse is the only true winner. Between âTurn the Beat Upâ and the show-stealing âRubbing On My Headâ Mouse demonstrates his worth to the label and its future. Aside from the clichĂ© âDuck Off,â Mouse should have drummed enough of attention to spark a proper solo feature.
The compilationâs production varies from ridiculously solid to annoyingly simple. For every dope synth that the project features, a producer will strike out stretching for a hit. âMemoriesâ is an example of when the Trill Entertainment production team hits gold. The high energy production matches the intensity of Webbie and Boosie. Meanwhile, âMy Babyâ sees overused subject matter meet extremely simplistic music. The album canât afford to have offerings like the aforementioned âMy Baby.â No one is disillusioned to the fact that Trill doesnât have a roster of artists who are lyrical, or insightful. However, fans do expect the music to bang in their trunk and if nothing else make their head nod. The inconsistencies throughout All Or Nothing fail to do either for an extended period of time. Â
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When the album is bad, itâs just plain awful. âMy Peopleâ clearly wins the prize. Itâs not the production, which is surprisingly solid. The negative is the songâs repetitiveness and dumbed-down lyrics that chase any hope of the song being anything but a club moment in 2010. The track almost comes off as a parody of southern music, which is surprising considering Webbie is one of Trillâs most established artists. Webbieâs lack of top notch features on the album is a cause for concern for the already star-depleted roster.
âWhere Would I Beâ is the only track on the project that delves into the depth of human emotion. Lil Boosieâs verse is the highlight of the project. Itâs the first time he goes in depth about the time heâs facing. In a mere two minutes of rapping, Boosie is able to tell his story better than any media outlet can. Lines like, âI fucked up all my blessingsâ and âLook what balling gotchaâ sees an artist reflecting on a lifestyle that seems rather meaningless compared to the time heâs facing and the family heâs missing. Later lyrics like âAll I got is all of my family and we ainât really talking,â arenât lyrical, but their utter honesty draws the listener in. The song doesnât save the album but it is a verse that Boosie will ultimately be remembered for. Facing a lengthy bid, itâs a rare moment where an embattled artist sees âWhat balling got him.â
Trill Famâs All Or Nothing shows a label at the brink of rising to the top or fading away. The direction and attitude they choose will dictate the length of time they have to make their mark. As expected, the compilation affirms that innocent or guilty, Lil Boosie remains their brightest voice. As Webbie shows that heâs no longer capable of holding the line himself, a lot will fall to Mouse if Trill is to keep diversifying. With a knack for making music for Western Louisiana and the surrounding areas, the group remains strong, but the national and mainstream appeal appears deeply jeopardized.