Drug habits don’t always relate to the user. Dependence can also fall on the pusher as well. Something that Jeezy understands that wholeheartedly. For over a decade, The Snowman created some of the best street anthems Atlanta Hip Hop had to offer while evolving in small yet significant increments. Despite having mainstream gains — from earning double platinum status alongside Rihanna to “My President” being the theme song for the historic 2008 U.S. presidential election, his past life which included an association with the notorious Black Mafia Family normally dominated the topics of his records. However, he was shadowed with questions of reinvention when he dropped last year’s Church in These Streets.
The end result yielded a semi-woke project chronicling Black America’s social political shift from someone who wanted to make a change, but necessarily couldn’t deliver. (It was also his lowest-selling album to date.)
This is what makes Trap or Die 3 such an engrossing project as it’s the first in the storied series that’s devoid of the “Young” moniker he dropped back in 2014. Thematically, Trap or Die 3 is a disappointing regression stuck in the same trap raps he’s been spitting since Boyz n da Hood. Yet, it’s still sonically above anything Church in These Streets provided. Kicking off with “In The Air,” The Snowman dials back the clock and relives his old trap sensibility. “Heard the streets is talking to them bitches I’m listening/Y’all gon’ make me whip a quarter mil up wit my wrist and shit/Shawty Redd got the beat banging Snow back on his Snow shit/The way I feel nigga I might call up my old bitch/Lexus coupe bubble eye I was paying 24,” he spits on one of Shawty Redd’s best production in years.
Gone are the simple melodies and drum snare patterns that dominated past street releases; there are nuanced dynamics which continues on the second track “G-Wagon” and once again sounds Tempur-Pedic comfortable with his day one beatsmith on the later-half track, “U Kno It” becomes a flat-out trunk rattler featuring the same textured feel inside haunting score.
It’s quite a shame Redd’s production only gets three placements and defines Jeezy’s TOD3 sound a lot better than the others who provided instrumentals. Established producers from D. Rich to DJ Monty to even Mike WiLL Made It give mixed results laying The Snowman’s soundtrack. Current unknown PD does lend one of Trap or Die 3 more surprising tracks as Jeezy calls himself the Walt Disney of The Trap on “So What.” The drunk piano loop compliments standard drums/snare combo and allows some good beat riding. Another great production from PD gives Yo Gotti the juice to spit his best boss lingo on “Where It At.”
Outside of TM:103, Jeezy doesn’t offer albums stuffed with unnecessary guest appearances but things done changed. There are some run-of-the-mill features from Lil Wayne (“Bout That”), French Montana (“Going Crazy”) and Chris Brown (“Pretty Diamonds”), but the rest of the supporting cast help elevate below-average tracks. Plies proves that anything geared toward the ladies is one of Jeezy’s Achilles’ heel as his unmixed sounding verse saves “Sexé’s” cringeworthy hook. The clear-cut TOD3 highlight, “All There,” is sadly that moment when you remember Bankroll Fresh was more actually on his way to superstardom.
Jeezy is better than Trap or Die 3 and he knows it. If Church in These Streets were a commercial success, he would have continued to plow that road. Instead, he harkens back to his better years and plays it safe. “You still talkin’ blow?/You goddamn right / What else I’m gon’ say? That’s my mu-fuckin’ life,” he once proclaimed on U.S.D.A. mixtape Cold Summer track, “Corporate Thuggin.” Since that line of brilliant complacency, he has proved time and time again his artistry is bigger than the trap. It might be the time he finally embraces it.
It’s not supposed to be risky. This is for the day ones. A message from our idol.
He got a whole catalog full of music for the day ones already. Like Jayz said “niggas want that old shit buy my old albums”
Jeezy is in the same place DMX was after Grand Champ. Hip-hop “caught up,” duplicated and evolved on sound you created. Evolve or die….
DaYum after listening to the album a couple times I’m a little disappointed…Jeezy a legend but this album is pretty bad.
The idea that artists have to constantly evolve and produce the same tracks as everyone else is outdated. I still buy Jeezy albums hoping that they sound like 101 and it’s certainly not fair to compare anything to that, but this one brought me back. Wordplay may not be his best but he went back to what made him. If you don’t like Young Jeezy then stop fucking with Jeezy. His shit bangs like drum line and it belongs on the streets
Fo real!!! Best album since recession with at least 9 bangers!!!
I wholeheartedly agree with this review….and still really like this album.
IMO Trap or Die 3 is Jeezy shifting toward today’s more accessible and more disposable music tastes. Gone are the days where trap artists pour themselves into a 17 track album with a 6 month promotional build-up. Look at Gucci, 2-Chainz and Tip. They’re all doing the same thing. Feeding the fickle nature of the masses by releasing multiple projects a year with shorter run-times and less over-arching themes or cross-over singles. Judging by the response of the younger tastemakers I follow on Twitter, I’d say the strategy is working. Even if the artistry and risk-taking (Check out Seen It All and TM103 for ‘deep’ Jeezy) is sacrificed.
It’s definitely not Young’s best work, but it’s still better than most of the albums out now. I think everyone’s expecting TM101 or the first Trap or Die but its not that. He’s matured so his style has evolved as well. Still a banger in my opinion.
This whole “trap” sound is getting played, the production sounds very redundant. The Depression was Jeezy’s last great effort….
The what?
I feel like Seen It All was but overall I hear you. that era is over and they tryna keep it goin and its done
No, he meant the “depression” cause that’s wat you feel after listening to jeezys music…….DEPRESSED!
you mean the Recession.
I WOULD GIVE THIS ALBUM 3.5/5
I totally disagree. As a true alt trap Dude in his 30’s I can tell u that we have missed an effort like this for awhile. Triple Salute to one of the few rap dudes who really had bricks in the city!!
Church in the Streets will get its props years later because its not a bad album.
IM AM BIG JEEZY FAN I GOT ALL HIS ALBUMS BUT I GOTTA KEEP IT 100 DIS ALBUM IS WACK THE BEST SONGS IS ALL THERE,GOLDMINE,NEVER SETTLE EVERYTHING ELSE IS GARBAGE JEEZY MY NIGGA BUT HE GOTTA GET MORE CREATIVE WIT HIS SHIT
facts bruh…i feel the same. i miss that whitty creative young. fck this nga Jeezy, where young at!
This writer doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Church in these streets was fire??
Huge Jeezy fan, he’s my favorite, I’m really bias…but the writer is correct. This album is lack luster, especially for an artist as rooted and deep in the game as Jeezy. Church in the Streets was wack as well. Ive come to face it that we will never get another Trap or Die or The Recession. This album gems are GoldMine, All There, In The Air and everything else is like the same song over and over. Actually all songs on this album is like that but those are the better of the loops. Actually if you want some good trap/street music take a listen to his homies Boo Rossalini and Boston George cd Drug Wars, way better than TOD3….Young come back bruh!
That’s what I been saying for almost the past year, Jeezy music has just been lacking…he hasn’t grown as an artist. My folks like it but I really wasn’t feeling C in these S….After a few spins, I never played it…
Album was dope and full of bangers, at LEAST a 4
Solid Jezzy project. Worth checking out.
I LOVE YOUNG JEEZY REAL RECOGNIZE REAl
..+RiN __2•• pÛ$]~/å /iL _–_–_ __* WhiTË g!R/_ ..eѲ__* MiCHALe JaçK$0ñ; ØÑ _$+âGEtew___ $奀__dÃy__* #$&! Då¥__* d!D _sÛM .._ #$%?!& yõ | N!ga’$ __äINT -|- d!D __-_–$)~{_ .2 gE-/- d奣.Å$% __*oUT +H +RaïLer!pARk #$&- eN__ ou+ d°}{hH! #%&!’*@ day___* wå$_in__ **
KuD .beE(dæ__*) $tor¥ ___ +E||€ñ ..& wï$}[!Ñ …___.. N꥕.._ pUT %0- sÖ .mU©]~/ pÔWe® [&EF|=°rT*] •.._________.. bĒhiN__1 bLAÇk .__MåN .._4
,^ taUt ..taUGht toUgH-|~• dÅ¥__^* linGO in..- +]~{€ £xCÅPë _-_AreA tEw!! 1_$ Då¥.©ã -|-ru$_+
___________0____O wHÅt è/$__ woóD då¥_€ b_-_–* dÖÍÑ _öWñæ -__-dāY __ /iKè Dhis _ _ __
..tELL*Å +RÛT}[! _________
I like both albums. I feel TOD3 could of been a lil better but i dont agree with it being better than Church in these streets. That album was banggin. Idk how this guy feels this way over that album