LIL' WAYNE-- "Rebirth" (Rating 3/5)

(This week's "FEATURED ARTIST")

I don't know what a genius is...but if it's LIL' WAYNE, I'll accept it for what it is. (Or maybe it's the producers behind this album that I should be giving that label to?) An album that gained the reputation of being delayed SEVERAL times over is finally here. Rebirth can have you confused right from the very beginning...but those who are fans of Rock music will feel right at home automatically. Sounds that can be found on albums from Seether, Fall Out Boy, Kid Rock, and others are present...thanks to producers like Travis Barker, Kevin Rudolf, Cool & Dre, and others. But the question that remains unanswered...is LIL' WAYNE simply doing whatever he wants because he has nothing else better to do?

An artist who can branch out into different genres of music will have to deal with either two outcomes...a success or a failure. In this case, I am pleasantly surprised by LIL' WAYNE's ability to take a Rock album and put his own signature spin on it. He went through the process of learning to play the guitar...and on this album, he is featured playing the instrument on several songs. The only problem I have (as always) is the overuse of Auto-tune that severely distorts his vocals making it beyond difficult to understand what he's saying. That's not always the case though...on the song Runnin', LIL WAYNE's singing ability is bearable...making this song an easy favorite for me. And yes, he does keep it real to his roots by sticking to his lyrical flow on several songs, including Drop the World featuring Eminem. The one thing I do wish to have seen is more collaborations with ACTUAL Rock artists. There is one performer by the name of Shanell...and while she has a beautiful voice, some songs like Runnin' would've penetrated my soul more if someone like P!NK or CHRIS DAUGHTRY took charge of some of the vocals.

In the end, I will probably be the only one who gave LIL' WAYNE a decent review...since everyone else seems to be hating on his work. Like I said, this is an album that will not grow accustomed to most people. I enjoyed it...it is what it is. If you're looking for the LIL' WAYNE that brought you the former phenomenon that was the hits Lollipop and A Milli ...you are gonna have to wait for Tha Carter IV. Still no release date set...but it is claimed that this album will see the light of day at some point this year...and LIL' WAYNE has already recorded twenty songs for the album itself.

Songs that I Truly Enjoyed from the Album:
• American Star featuring Shanell
• Prom Queen featuring Shanell
• Da Da Da
• I'll Die For You
• On Fire

From LIL' WAYNE's new album "Rebirth", here's "Runnin'" featuring Shanell...



From the same album, here's "Paradice..."




LIL' WAYNE
"On Fire"
From the "Rebirth" album
Directed by Chris Robinson
(4.46)





REVIEW COMING UP TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9th, 2010...
SADE-- "Soldier of Love"
JAHEIM-- "Another Round"
MASSIVE ATTACK-- "Heligoland"

SADE...who has not had new music in a decade...returns with an extraordinary new single entitled Soldier of Love...which is the title track of the new album. Will the band show us that after so many years they are still a force to be reckoned with? Same thing with MASSIVE ATTACK...after seven years, the UK duo return with Heligoland...but is it gonna be as much of a icon as their 1998 album Mezzanine? On the R&B front, we have veteran JAHIEM making "Another Round" with his brand new project...but is his music beginning to sound the same...? Check back here next week for the answers to these questions and a whole lot more on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9th, 2010!

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Written by Felix-Lee "Campbells" Andrades, III