Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Freeway, Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Nate Dogg, Peedi Crakk, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Young Gunz, Sparks (rap vocals); Mariah Carey, Faith Evans, Allen Anthony (vocals); Just Blaze (various instruments). | | Producers include: Kanye West, E-Bass, Ruggedness, Bink, Just Blaze. | | Personnel: M. Aj (vocals); Jay-Z (rap vocals); E Bass (guitar); Mariah Carey (background vocals). | | Audio Mixers: Manny Marroquin; Doug Wilson; Ken Lewis ; Patrick Viala. | | Recording information: Baseline Studios, New York, NY; Capri Digital Studios, Capri, Italy; Circle House Studios, Miami, FL; Larrabee Sound North, Los Angeles, CA; Quad Recording, New York, NY; Right Track Studios, New York, NY; Sound on Sound Studios, New York, NY; Studio Atlantis, CA. | | Photographer: Jonathan Mannion. | | Not even an appearance on Mariah Carey's Charmbracelet was able to squelch anticipation for Freeway's 2003 Roc-A-Fella debut. With his hustling put on ice, Freeway delivers a strong album that should lay to rest the speculation that his unique vocal style -- alternating between a scratchy crack and an anything-but-gruff shout, filtered through a consistently high pitch -- would have difficulty remaining tolerable across a full album. Although his experience on the streets is tempered by his Muslim roots, the rough edges are never compromised. A lengthy supporting cast includes Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Snoop Dogg, Faith Evans, Nelly, and -- returning the favor -- Mariah Carey, but Philadelphia Freeway is clearly the domain of the State Property member; none of his thunder is stolen. ~ Andy Kellman | | On PHILADELPHIA FREEWAY, rapper Freeway debuts with an enigmatic, instantly recognizable vocal style that eschews the gruff, slurring, tough-guy shouting of many gangsta hip-hop artists in favor of a punchy, higher-pitched style that often recalls the Old School pioneers. Don't be fooled, though--there aren't any block party anthems here; this is aggressive, hardcore stuff. Freeway has a take-no-prisoners approach that often sounds like a fist in the face. Just Blaze's production matches perfectly, using beats that contain elements of jungle to give each track a manic intensity. Standouts include "On My Own," for which Nelly provides a characteristically hooky chorus that imprints itself on the listener's brain after a single listen, and "Life," which uses an Eddie Money (!) sample to paint an unnerving picture of ghetto survival. |
Engineer: Carlisle Young; Dana Jon Chappelle; Doug Wilson; Paul Gregory; Shane Woodley; Brian Stanley |
Musical Guests | | Jay-Z | | Beanie Sigel | | Nate Dogg | | Faith Evans | | Mariah Carey | | Snoop Dogg | | Nelly | | Peedie Crakk | | Young Gunz | | Rell | | Sparks | | Allen Anthony | | Young Chris |
|
CD
