Review Summary: This album is frustrating as it is good, a good solid listen that as aged pretty well, but has a handful of flaws that could have been avoided.
So, 2008 was a limbo period for the heavyweights we know as g-unit. 50 cents popularity was in sharp decline, Lloyd banks 2nd solo effort undersold 2 years prior, not to mention the whole young buck situation and many date push backs this album had.
Originally penned as shoot to kill and then lock and load, the TOS title was the 2nd studio effort from g-unit, highly anticipated and over due in my opinion, a 2006 g-unbum would have been more fitting, however, it came eventually.
Now before I go into why this album is good, I'm going to say why it's bad, I bought this album in 2008 and have been listening to It for 10 years so I think I can give it a fair review.
Right off the bat this album only really has one bad song, and it happened to be the lead single, I like the way she do it is plagued heavily with something I like to call "50 cent syndrome" a phrase I've coined to describe 50 cent despertley trying to gain mainstream attention, hogging song times (get down is a brilliant example) and pretty ruining anything he touches that would otherwise be great. This song does not belong on this album, it doesn't fit and the video is trash, kitty kat would have been the better choice. Personally I think they should have gone in with a harder track like piano man, straight outta South side or even casualties of war.
Then we get to the second lead single, a good song but was 65 percent sensord with no real clean version recorded (damn it 50!) The result was choppy and garbage. Plus young buck was cut from both single versions.
The second big problem is young buck, or lack of him, I hated 50 with a passion for what he done to young buck and his appreacne is relegated to a handful of songs on here. Piano man; rider2, I like the way she do it and party ain't over (chase the cat too which is an iTunes bonus track)
If young buck was on every track this album would have a wrecking ball of aggression and diversity, but the 50 cent syndrome strikes again, how on earth 50 thought fans would be ok with no young buck on this album is beyond me, Especially after his buck the world effort.
All of the above reasons is why this potentially amazing album didn't have no where near of a successful punch as it should have
Now onto the positives
The production is amazing, every beat is hard, thick and refined and very g-unit, they suit the group down to a T and they ooz aggression, banks is on top form, even yayo is on amazing form and him and banks bounce of eschother in perfect harmony, (listen to let it go, ready or not and money make the world go round)
As mentioned above the song called "get down" could have a huge banger, but 50 cent hogs 70 percent of the track and relagates banks and yayo to meer features, if this Track had of been a 50 banks yayo and buck track it would have been off the chain.
50 cent is ok on this album, but is very annoying for the most part, especially on the lead singles, he shows a hint of desperation more than passion such as the other 2 members and he comes across as corny on a few songs. Especially using phrases like retarded money and so much swag. But 50 turns up hard on casualties of war, especially with banks and yayo on form, probably one of the top tracks of the album, along with straight out of Southside, don't wanna talk about it, No days off and t.o.s.
On the whole, this is a solid g-unit album taken as it is, it was out of place and really aggressive for the time period, with rise of soft pop rap and general decline of real hip hop this was a diamond in the dirt.
But would have 10x better if young buck was fully involved, and 50 had less control. Banks ans yayo carry this album for the most part.
Looking back I thoroughly enjoy this project, but everytime I listen to it (Especially since young buck is now back with the group) I always think damn, buck would have killed that track......
Recommended tracks
Casualties of war
No days off
Don't wanna talk
T.o.s
Straight outta Southside
Let it go
Piano man.
Ready or not
Tracks to skip
I like the way she do it
