Sheek Louch Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
Landing on Real Talk instead of his usual label Koch, Life on D-Block is Sheek Louch's street album for 2009 and not the proper follow-up to 2008's Silverback Gorilla. By going underground, the rapper doesn't try to challenge The Last Kiss, the high-profile, early 2009 effort from his D-Block brother Jadakiss, but unity given doesn't mean unity returned, as both Jada and Styles P are absent here. As a matter of fact, you won't find any guests on the track list, although Bully lands on two tracks, plus the production is handled almost exclusively by Real Talk's Cozmo. The result is a shorter and very raw alternative to Silverback with Sheek sounding as hungry as a newcomer over properly gutter-flavored backing tracks. "It's On" sets the tone with its proclamation "I don't have to act my age" while the title cut takes it further back, suggesting the rapper is back at square one with its "no pot to piss in" hook. "Time to Get Paid" breaks the chain as an older but not wiser Sheek wonders why he never broke through, while dropping moldy references to Puffy and MTV's canceled show TRL. The great missed opportunity is that it's either Sheek's veteran knowledge, or his debut artist attitude, and no track finds the proper balance between the two. Shame the autobiographical journey the album's title hints at never happens either, but this disjointed street effort offers enough nostalgia and soul-searching to be of interest to the D-Block faithful. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'Extinction: Last of a Dying Breed'
Release Date 11/25/2008
Tracks 9
Label Koch
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
After a decade in the game, everything finally falls into place for the underappreciated Sheek Louch. He's been considered a distant third behind his fellow LOX members Jadakiss and Styles P., and his satisfying but not stunning albums prior haven't helped to put him over the top. If Silverback Gorilla isn't stunning it's only because it's a slow grower. Without a unifying theme, the album takes a couple listens before this collection of varied showcase tracks becomes something solid and powerful. The listener must hang on tight as the opening, screwed and chopped styled "Think We Got a Problem" with Bun B. and the Game gives way to the bright, grand, and motivational "Keep Pushin'." With its Betty Wright sample and soulful bounce, "Good Love" is a radio-friendly, "for the ladies" track that works. The hip-hop dream collaboration that follows -- "D-Block/Dipset," where the LOX meet the Diplomats -- is just as successful and while "We Comin'" with party starter Unk sounds like a horrible idea, this Sheek song for pep rallies is instead, horribly infectious. "Rubber Grip" with Fat Joe is the last of the slick cuts aimed at radio, but the key tracks on Silverback are really the down and dirty hip-hop numbers, some easily spotted with titles like "2 Turntables & a Mic" or "Mic Check." His ten years of experience turns into advice for aspiring MCs on the simple but effective "Don't Be Them," and the unrefined "We Spray Crowds" lays it all on the line with "I'm the sleeper of the crew/I'm supposed to be after P." On Silverback Gorilla, Sheek doesn't leapfrog over Styles or Jada, but by proving he can sound vital in any surrounding, he's set himself up to be on equal footing whenever the next LOX/D-Block reunion rolls around. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
There's a refreshing moment during "On the Road Again" where LOX member Sheek Louch admits his last album didn't do well, but it's back to the drawing board, this time the independent label drawing board where there's more freedom. Without this freedom, the great "45 Minutes to Broadway" probably wouldn't have the quirky, hypnotic Havoc-produced loop it does, or the sleazy swagger of "One Name" probably wouldn't be as irresponsible as it is (although the seduction-oriented track with Carl Thomas as guest does go against the album's opening declaration that Sheek is so free there will be "no R&B"). Frequent target 50 Cent gets a proper thrashing on "Maybe If I Sing," a track that's triumphantly vicious or simply amusing depending on whether or not you take the D-Block versus G-Unit war to heart. All these tracks make After Taxes a filling, winningly diverse street album, but it's the infectious "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" that really makes the album pop, partly because Beanie Sigel delivers a line about feeding and burping his disrespectful protégés, but mostly because of Sheek's snide verses and extremely catchy chorus. Topping it off is Ghostface's cool boasting on "Movie Niggaz" as the man brags about having "Enron money" over the Alchemist's soulful production. Skits that are funny and an endless parade of wry putdowns and pop culture references that deserve a laugh out loud are all contrasted with bleak, vivid verses that are primal rage and provocative (leaving your enemy's dead body where his children play isn't even the worst of it). It's an interesting, uncompromising combination that suggests Sheek is a more complicated artist than given credit for, but the bile and thugging that make the album so street and independent is intense enough to alienate gangsta detractors. There is an overall feeling the tracks could have been ordered in a more sensible way, but After Taxes handily beats his solo debut while giving the LOX faithful something to bump as they enter their fifth year of waiting for the crew's return. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The final LOX member to release a solo album, Sheek Louch made the long wait worthwhile by dropping a low-key yet impressive debut, Walk Witt Me. Unlike so many major-label rap albums, the 14-track effort is solid: clocking in at a bit under 60 minutes (rather than the usual 80) and padded out with no filler. Furthermore, the album feels street. There aren't the usual commercial concessions like excessive guest features, overwrought hooks, big-money producers, and the usual clichés; instead, the lyrics rather than the hooks are the emphasis, the few guests are family, the producers are street-level beatmakers with original sounds, and most importantly, Sheek keeps it real, spitting sincere rhymes from the heart rather than the standard bling-bling boasting (particularly note "I Ain't Forget"). This is real hip-hop, albeit of the hardcore East Coast rap variety. "OK" and "Turn It Up" could be mass-market hits with the proper marketing push, but for the most part, Walk Witt Me isn't your standard major-label rap album. And for this reason, it deserves more notice that it got upon its initial release. It doesn't have the big-budget fireworks that fellow LOX members Jadakiss and Styles P had on their debuts -- Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001) and A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002), respectively -- yet it's an album that fans of the group should definitely hear despite its lack of commercial appeal. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
