| Product Summary | | Label: JIVE RECORDS/SBME | | UPC: 00886970853323 | | Release Date: 6/19/2007 | | Buy.com Sku: 204708958 | | Item#: M3MKWF | | Buy.com Sales Rank: 25050 | Format:  CD |
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(C) (P) 2007, 2006 Zomba Recording LLC
| | Perhaps it's the inherent cool that he carries like an extended limb; he's debonair as LL. Or maybe it's the seriousness that masks his face when in deep thought; he's business as a young Master P. His mind to get money by any means necessary is virtuous as a young Russell Simmons and his no holds barred, relentless nature has the likes of 2pac written all over it. Whether he's the playboy that gets all the girls, the businessman that makes all the ends or the thug that you love to hate, St. Louis Hip Hop hardhead Huey, has arrived. Grounded on the same streets that produced successes among the likes of Nelly, Chingy and the St. Lunatics, the 19-year-old's approach is a refreshing one. "I'm versatile," he offers matter of factly. "It's like whatever the beat tells me to do - it could be relaxed on a cool level to where I'm explaining my feelings for a female. It could be me explaining my feelings for money. It could be dancing in the club, crunk in the club. It's a bunch of everything that's going to be on this album." Notebook Paper, Huey's official offering to the masses, comes with perfect timing. Inundated in a world beset by rappers preoccupied with immersing themselves in the superficial elements of the world, Huey allowed his heartbeat to dictate where the music would take him.
| | Album Notes and Credits |
Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Taj Jackson (vocals); Aaron Clay (guitar); Carlton McClendon (keyboards); Donyella Brothers (background vocals). | | Audio Mixers: John Frye; Phil Tan; Leslie Brathwaite; Fabian Marasciullo. | | Recording information: Battery Studios, New York, NY; Chevy Shack Studios, Atlanta, GA; Doppler Studios, Atlanta, GA; I&E Studios, Memphis, TN; Patchwerk Studios, Atlanta, GA; Phat Buddha Studios, St. Louis, MO; Tha Not Factor, St. Louis, MO; Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA. | | Photographer: Daniel Hastings. | | The Midwestern MC known simply as Huey follows in the footsteps of fellow St. Louis rap stars Nelly and Chingy on his debut album, NOTEBOOK PAPER. Hot off the success of his smash lead single, the club banger "Pop, Lock and Drop It," Huey keeps things moving with a slew of slick party anthems set to zooming synthesizers and stammering drum machines. NOTEBOOK PAPER features production from Jazzy Pha, Tha Bakery, and Raw Beatzz, as well cameos from Kydd Trell, Bow Wow, Memphitz, T-Pain, and Lloyd. | | Mix Nelly, Chingy, and a very beneficial helping of Ludacris, and you're close to the sound of Huey, the St. Louis rapper who burst onto the scene with the infectious club track "Pop, Lock & Drop It." The single had the necessary simple hook, catch phrase, and accompanying line dance to make it a "Chains Hang Low" or "Chicken Noodle Soup"-sized phenomena. The big difference was that the verses equaled the chorus for a change, since Huey has skills and swagger to burn. The two minor complaints about his first full-length, Notebook Paper, are that executive producer Mickey "MeMpHiTz" Wright pimps his new Hitz Committee label a little too often for what should be a Huey showcase and doesn't take full advantage of the rapper's ability to go street. "Aye" and "Closet Full of Clothes" surround "Drop It" with other club flavors -- Lil Jon, crunk style for the first; Southern, syrup-sippin' sounds for the second -- while "2 Nite" is polished and just waiting for a crooner like Bobby Valentino to add a verse. It all works to varying degrees, but when the vicious "Money Ova" hits with Yo Gotti and an especially hard Diamond it seems like the hood is right where Huey should be ("Nobody Loves the Hood" notwithstanding). Still, smooth numbers like "When I Hustle" -- featuring Lloyd and the biggest-name producer on the album, Jazze Pha -- and the rest of the gloss end up sounding more like highlights than missed opportunities. While more outside help might have shown them the way to something stunning, it's a testament to Huey and the Hitz Committee team that they made a rewarding rather than just promising debut out of some everyday beats and ideas. ~ David Jeffries |
Producer: Raw Beatzzz; Dandre "Po Po" Smith; Calvin Miller; J$mil; Jay Wes; Key; DScorch; Jazze Pha; Mickey 'MempHitz' Wright; Lawrence 'Huey' Franks, Jr. |
Engineer: Mikkel S. Eriksen; Travis Daniels; James Stassen; Matt Sawicki; Chris Robinson; Howard Vanderslice "Ross"; Nico Solis; Leo Godd; Denny Ogle; Mike Wilson; Ralph Cacciurri; Rich Tapper |
| | Compilation Appearances |
| | Technical Info | | Release Date : 06/19/2007 | | Original Release Date : 2007 | | Catalog ID : 708533 | | Label : Jive Records (USA) | | Number of Discs : 1 | | Studio/Live : Studio | | Mono/Stereo : Stereo | | SPAR Code : n/a | | UPC : 00886970853323 |
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| | Professional Reviews | | XXL (Magazine)
(p.131)
- "Huey fills his notebook with enough decent material to make people wanna pop, lock and cop it." |
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| | Bio | | | Huey Born on the 50 Block of Arlington Ave., Huey explored his musical side early on. Along with a neighborhood friend, he initially crafted beats to express his inner artistry and eventually started writing songs. "I never really took it seriously though," he remembers." However, as his confidence and love for the craft grew though, Huey tried his luck on the block. Only fifteen at the time, he was showered with genuine support and reinforcement that obviously worked to encourage him that much more. Huey's older brother took a special interest in furthering the cause by bringing entrepreneur Angela Richardson into the fold. "She had a group she was managing at the time, so I was just waiting my turn," Huey remembers. "But they didn't play out the right way and I was the next project." Without fear or favor, Huey became the sole emphasis of Richardson's outfit. Already a hit on the streets, he soon became the talk of the town, performing any and everywhere Richardson could book him. His visibility didn't stop on the stage either. The relationships that he built with DJs, promoters and the like, worked to establish him as a force in clubs and on the radio, ultimately finding nominal success with local gems, "Oh" and later "Pop, Lock & Drop It."
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