Except for their shiny suit era under Puffy’s tenure at Bad Boy, one would have to agree that the LOX have to be definitely considered as one of the most gully hip-hop groups out there. And unlike most other crews in the game, the LOX possess no weak links. Jada’s solo album sold almost platinum buoyed by the credible street anthem “We’re gon’ make it” and the Neptunes’ laced club banga “Knock yourself Out.” Styles P held down the limelight on his own scoring big with the Soundbombing single “My Life” with Pharoahe Monche and his hard-as-nails solo debut “A Gangster and a Gentleman.” So the time was definitely right for resident Lox trash talker, Sheek Louch to take the stage with his solo LP – Walk Wit me.
By now, you’ve already heard Sheek’s break-out, Green Lantern-produced first single “Mighty D-Block.” You know, the one tearing up clubs and the radio waves with the catchy-ass, sing-along hook: “Everywhere I goo – ooo, People want to know – ooow, who we aaaare ….” If you were thinking this would be the one stand-out cut on the album, try again. Sheek Louch is sure to creep up on a lot of non-believers with this album, because the album is loaded with crazy gems.
Most listeners will be surprised with Sheek’s highly evolved story telling abilities that up till now have pretty much been kept under wraps. Check out tracks like “I Ain’t Forget” over which Sheek gives an abridged albeit extremely honest account of his trials in the rap biz from hooking up with Puffy in the beginning all the way to the forming of D-Block records and his decision to release a solo album. Another excellent storytelling track on the disc is the gritty, shoot-out tale “3-5-4” about a gun fight with a bunch of dreadlocks that recalls visions of B.I.G.’s crime caper track, “Niggas Bleed.”
The title track, “Walk Wit Me” is another standout cut on which Sheek lets down his hardcore persona for a hot second and dreams about a ghetto utopia where hardships like single-parent homes, drugs, gangs, and guns don’t exist. It’s original tracks like these, along with stellar production, and creative interludes that make this album hover leagues above the majority of gangsta rap albums hitting music shelves every week.
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All the posse cuts on the album are on point as well; with seasoned spitters like Jada and Styles holding Sheek down, and promising D-Block rookie J-Hood getting better with each turn on the mic, one would have to try extremely hard to make a whack group cut.
This is one of those rugged albums to knock in your headphones during the winter time with your meanest screw face, your boots laced up, and your NorthFace bubble coat zipped all the way up. Cop this one in a hurry, people … real heat for the streets – nuff said.
