Review Summary: Jones' first album is a fine example of the Houston rap scene. Featuring the classic one-two punch of "Still Tippin'" and "Back Then" this album easily overcomes its shortcomings.
As a suburban white guy living in Colorado, I'm probably not the target audience for this album. That said, "Who Is Mike Jones" is one of my favorite rap albums and it has gracefully aged over these past four years. Unlike most of the H-Town scene, Jones remains a relevant figure with a current top 50 pop single "Next To You" along with a string of urban hits. However, the Voice of the Streets got his start on this debut album and
Still Tippin' answered the question with a decisive statement.
Still Tippin' is famous for its trippy video that was inescapable throughout 2005. Introducing America (at least the America outside of Texas) to the chopped n' screwed style, Still Tippin' would be a thunderous entry to the rap game. Though not next on the tracklisting, the second single would pack an even stronger punch.
Back Then is the quintessential Jones' track, featuring his sublime raps over a dirty screwed beat and features his strangely ironic lyrics. Though his lyrics are frequently criticized as being sophomoric, his approach is effective, particularly on this track. Featuring the memorable chorus, "Back then hoes didn't want me, now I'm hot, they all know me" sampled from Still Tippin' and excellent liners such as "Back then hoes couldn't stand me, now the same hoes beggin me to put on their panties, a couple of them said I was cute but I was just chubby, same size, a year later, the same hoes want to F*** me." Try reading that out loud without cracking up--Jones' lyrics, though shallow, are both hilarious and powerful, at the end of the song you're both laughing at him and with him. I first listened to this cd intending to make fun on Jones but instead found myself captivated by his personality.
A lot of digital ink has been wasted on Jones' repetitive lyrics and repeated usage of his (now disconnected) phone number. As I see it, the average Jones' song is about three themes. Theme A is his cars, he loves to talk cars. The average rock band has their own cliche--they love to talk about how much they rock, yet the critics bash Jones and give your joe schmoe arena rock snoozer band a pass. Theme B is his distrust of "Scandalous Hoes" and Theme C is his love and desire to get action with said hoes. This is little different than the average rock band that devotes eleven out of twelve songs to a relationship. She loves me, she hates me, come back, oh wait she loves me again! Oh no, she left again. I'm so sad, insert power ballad here. Jones' lyrics are no more repetitive than say Linkin Park, in fact the songs "Five Years From Now" and "Grandma" are both decided breaks from the lyrical repetitiveness. People also like to criticize Jones' for repeating his name so frequently. This is merely part of the ambience--once again, take a prog rock band, they have irritating guitar solos ever minute or two, Jones is just added his bit of digital ambience while putting his watermark onto his beats.
In short, while there are some issues with "Who Is Mike Jones?" particularly in the lyrical department, the strengths of this cd far outnumber them. "Back Then" and "Still Tippin'" are one of the strongest one-two punches I've heard on a rap album. "Turning Lane," "Law's Patrolling" and "What Ya Know Bout" are all strong tacks and "Scandaleous Hoes" is a hilarious warning about girls who want to take you for a ride and leave you broke. "Grandma" is a touching ode to his deceased grandma who inspired him to join the rap game (though I'd appreciate it if Jones didn't try to sing.) This is one of my favorite rap albums and an essential album to own if you're interesting in the Houston scene. And with Jones' new album "The Voice" dropping later this Spring, Houston's best rapper will be back with another relevant album. I recommend this album to all fans of rap and to anyone who heard "Back Then" "Still Tippin" or "Mr. Jones" and want to discover who Mike Jones is.
Recommended Tracks:
Still Tippin'
Back Then
What Ya Know Bout
Scandalous Hoes
Avoid
Five Years From Now
4.2/5
