Black Rob - The Black Rob Report

Where You Been?

When was the last time we heard from Black Rob? Whoa, it’s been a minute. But did you think you were ever going to hear from him again? All of a sudden he drops. No single, no radio play and very little promotion. He just showed up; SURPRISE! This report to let you know that he’s still alive (barely…have you seen him?) and he’s still an MC. The first go around, that dude from Spanish Harlem didn’t even get a chance to let you know what kind of MC he was. But this time, as they say in Texas, he showed his naked ass. He knows he isn’t going to do big numbers. Diddy knows that too. This album, untouched by the Bad Boy glam of the late 90s, is The Black Rob Report.

The trial of Black Rob begins this album. They Heard I got Life, the first full track on the record has a nice sound except that Rob doesn’t make much sense on it. He sounds more like a punch drunk boxer during a post fight interview. Then Akon makes an appearance on Watch Your Movements combining with Rob to make one of the few hits on the album. The title B.R. is indicative of the song. Mad simple. So simple that it is borderline lazy. Ready is also a diamond in the rough employing an old school beat and an army of little kids on the ultimate shit talk track. B.L.A.C.K. is a real mellow banger in which his verses are interrupted by periodic radio like spellings of his name. Team is the track that makes this album totally incredible (not a good thing) to me. Rob shares his album with a bunch of people that Diddy selected from an MTV reality show…not exactly how you want to represent yourself Rob. Unless, of course, Diddy made you do it.

The whole album really sounds like it should have been released in the mid 90s. It has that kind of sound along with that kind of flow. There are no glittery beats, sure hit singles or made for club anthems and that’s what I like about it. Black Rob kept it real Black Rob this time. But what happened to that BR that we used to know? The one who could have emerged as Bad Boy’s second best storyteller? It seems like he never came to fruition. He shows a glimmer of the skill he showcased on Life Story, but he’s been away far too long. Valiant effort Black. You had about 3 or 4 hot ones, but the rest…not so good. The last track is called The Verdict. The judge or the jury foreman starts to read it, but the track ends before it is announced…so I’ll finish. Guilty. Guilty of wackness in the second degree, but he gets off with 3 years probation.

Hot Trax: Ready, B.L.A.C.K., Ya’ll Know Who Killed Him, Smile In Ya Face