Juelz Santana - What the Game's been Missin'

Not Quite.

The first time I heard Juelz Santana was on Welcome to New York City with Cam and Jay-Z. Oh Boy was the first time I heard him and knew who he was. That was the anthem that summer. The shit was mad catchy and it didn’t matter what they were saying…you just said “oh boy” after it. Well this album is not exactly what the game’s been missing. Really it’s not even close and in face it’s exactly what the game needs less of; the formula of charismatic rappers over catchy beats saying next to nothing. The game is flooded with them. The game is drowning because of them. Santana is one of many.

Oh Yes is the first track to jump out at you on the album. We all recognize the song and Santana succeeds in giving “wai-ai-ait” a whole new meaning. The song will definitely get you moving and although cheesy no one else has a place on that track besides one of the Purple City Bird Gang. Jeezy and Lil Wayne make an appearance on a cut that looks promising on paper. But the two cameos got their Santana on. I am Crack (me shaking my head). Real bold Juelz. Unless you are rocks in a vial, you are not crack. Period. The last redeeming value of this album would definitely be Mic Check. The beat is crazy thick and it’s probably something you’re going to be singing along to.

You know how you keep buying Tyson fights expecting to see Tyson knock a dude out like he did in the late 80s and early 90s? You keep lying to yourself, convinced that this will be the time that the real Mike shows up. Well this is Santana in the flesh. You want him to be Cam, you expect him to be as amusing, but he doesn’t quite make it. He’s Bleek to Jay, Nashawn to Nas, Harold Minor, Grant Hill and Jerry Stackhouse to Jordan. He just never panned out. This album is no different. Juelz Santana has energy and hot beats, but you need a little more than that to make good product. Get your wai-ai-ait up!

Hot Trax: Lil Boy Fresh, Oh Yes, Good Times, Mic Check