HipHopDx.com Reviews Of The Clipse & Juvenile Albums

The Clipse: Till The Casket Drops

Till The Casket Drops, by most standards, is an inconsistent, sometimes-brilliant project. That might cut it for some acts, but Clipse isn’t one of them. After dropping two arguable classics, both of which could be bumped damn near front-to-back, it’s astonishing to see one of their albums reach such dizzying highs and perilous lows. This “day and night” quality is what costs Malice and Pusha an opportunity to complete their trifecta of outstanding LPs, and that’s what is most disappointing.


Juvenile: Cocky And Confident

Cocky & Confident may sound like it’s all money and women, and for the most part, that’s true. In fact, there’s significantly less social commentary here than on Juvenile’s previous effort, Reality Check. It’s clear that, at this stage in his life, Juve isn’t quite prepared to spend an album reflecting on his losses or the ills of the world. He does, however, close out the album with an introspective offering in “Listen.” That it’s a cover of '80s hairspray anthem Roxette’s “Listen To Your Heart” adds a bit of a cheese factor, but the knowledge Juve drops for his son cannot be denied: “Make sure you keep yourself surrounded by all the right people / Take advantage of all the little things that life teach you / Every dog got a day, we all equal / Follow your heart and prepare yourself for the sequel.” While he may not be ready to let go of his partying days, it here that Juvenile affirms that he has indeed matured through all the drama – as a person, and as an artist.