Album Review: Ridin High by Keelay & Zaire

[Ridin High] by Keelay & Zaire reminds me of what happens when you try and do what has worked...already...really well...for someone else.

The production quality of the is album is good. Dr. Dre-ish sounding tracks from front to back. The lyrical content is what you might "expect" from an album entitled "Ridin High"...a bounty of herbal references woven throughout many of the songs. This worked really well for Snoop Dogg back in 1993, and several others since Snoop for that matter, but it makes this project sound dated.

To be fair, there are songs that are NOT riddle with "I'm the livest/I smoke/I drank/I'm supposed to stop but I can't" type of subject matter. "Trapped" is about how artists try to represent a city that just doesn't seem to support them in the same way. I (and many Birmingham artists) can identify with with one. The song "Beautiful" (complete with sped up voice hook ah-lah Kanye West-ish sound) is a positive song about things that are beautiful to them like a child, waking up, fresh air, God, etc. It sounds a little "after school special-ish" after listening to the first 12 or so songs.

The over-all feel of this album is more "jazzed-out" than traditional "hip-hop"..which is cool but the actual raps are nothing to write home about...nothing really exceptional as far as MC's go. I felt like I was waiting for the "instant classic" or the "undeniable hit" the entire ride. Overall I'd give this one a 3 out of 7 on the Head Nod Scale.

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this review.

* Head Nod Scale
1=Don't waste your time like I did mine.
2=Waste your time like I did mine but I dare you to disagree.
3=Well, there was the single.
4=If it were a hand in spades there's "two and a possible".
5=It's a "good" album. Meaning at least 3 or 4 solid songs.
6=Really Good Project. Has the "Rewind Factor" more than once.
7=The number of completion. Great Album. Instant Classic.