Gangster recession

Historically, musicians have used their music as the platform to speak their mind on our country’s condition in times of economic struggle. An unlikely candidate for this is Atlanta’s Young Jeezy, whose raps have been more about his drug dealings than his political sentiments.

Although Jeezy may not be the man for the job, his words on his third album The Recession do a sufficient job of commenting on our current situation. However, Jeezy’s diatribes do wear thin over the 18 tracks of southern rap.

As The Recession opens with a sampling of news reports speaking on our current economic problems it’s clear that Jeezy makes the political theme the center of the album. He raps about everything from gasoline (“Circulate”) to the justice system (“Crazy World”).

Jeezy also makes it apparent who he supports in the upcoming election on the closing track “My President.” Here he rhymes “Obama for mankind / We ready for damn change so ya’ll let the man shine.”

Although everyone has the right to speak their mind on political issues, Jeezy’s motivational speaker act proves ineffective when mixed with his usual thug lifestyle.

The Recession is produced by a variety of relatively no-name producers, but most of the tracks sound like those of long-time producer Shawty Redd, whose signature heavy-hitting cinematic style was mastered on Jeezy’s first two records.

The beats fit Jeezy’s rough, nonstop delivery, but when the production doesn’t begin to vary until the end of the album, the songs start to sound similar.

However, you do have to respect any rapper who can go the first 12 tracks without a single special guest, which allows Jeezy to shine throughout. But once the guests come, they offer up some of the record's highlights.

The album’s first single “Put On” is a great ode to Atlanta, but features Kanye West rapping with an Auto Tune effect that makes him sound like Akon.

Although Jeezy brings the heat on a couple great hits like “Amazin’” and “Put On,” at 18 tracks, The Recession is mostly filler and places Jeezy into a recession of his own.