Proof - Searching for Jerry Garcia

...the Search Continues...

Proof. You know, Big Proof from D-12 fame. Man you know D-12, Eminem’s guys. Riiiight. So for those of you who don’t know, Proof can be seen doubling as Eminem’s hype man. Now he’s Searching for Jerry Garcia. I hope he’s found what he’s looking for because if you’re looking for a good listen, you won’t find it here. Proof employs that same sound that made both of D-12’s albums wildly popular (sarcasm). The nasal-ridden, chanty hooks are tiring to listen to and the beats are down right mediocre. But make no mistake, Proof separates himself as the 2nd best rapper in the whole click…behind Bizarre of course.

Searching for Jerry Garcia opens with a skit of Proof thinking to himself at an awards show. It then goes into the first musical track Clap With Me which makes the album seem very promising, but disappoint ensues from there. Forgive Me showcases Proof’s strong lyrical skills but could do without 50 Cent’s classic pre-pop hook. Purple Gang makes an appearance on the album with a track creatively called Purple Gang. These guys sound like a much better D-12 which might lead to a successful career in rap. Pimplikeness is the obligatory D-12 cut on every D-12 related album. It’s funny, controversial and, as always, runs a little too long after six cats are squeezed into one song. Searching for Jerry Garcia ends with a concept that has been visited many times, yet he manages to keep it original and keep it Proof.

The album is well rounded and creative, but it just isn’t complete. It’s almost as if he half assed on every single song to make a half-assed album. From top to bottom, it could have been better. Lyrically, Proof is the truth and he shows that in his effort, but you need much more than words to create a song. In the other departments i.e. production and hooks (mainly production) this album was severely lacking. So instead of looking for Jerry Garcia, he should have been looking for that fire to back him up.

Hot Trax: Clap Wit Me, Purple Gang, Gurls Wit da Boom, Kurt Kobain