It is my pleasure to introduce my fellow Texan, his majesty, the undisputed King of The Streets Mike Jones. Who Is Mike Jones? has been coming soon for two years and now it’s finally here.

He was major without a major deal and now his mantra of, “You don’t work, you don’t eat. You don’t grind, you don’t shine” has paid off in the form of a major label deal with Warner Brothers. The whole world is about to get a taste of the music that underground hip-hop fans down here in the South have been bumping for the past three years.

So get ready to hear a name you won’t soon forget, not just because you’ll be impressed with his music, but because he will remind you again and again on every track. Also, be sure to charge up your cell so you can hit him up on the low at 281-330-8004. Does this seem like it will be unlike anything you ever heard before? Well, it is.

Like most of today’s hip-hop CD’s, Who Is Mike Jones? opens with an Intro. With an echo and no musical accompaniment Mike Jones welcomes his listeners with, “Shyeah…the wait is over…Who Is Mike Jones?…is finally here baby…be on the look out… for my next album…be on the look out for my next album…The American Dream…hit me up𠢡-330-8004 baby…Who Mike Jones dot com…Shyeah.”

The first single off the album, Back Then, starts seamlessly after the Intro. The song opens with a blast of synthesizer that sounds like that used in Eazy E’s Boyz-N-The-Hood. The chorus, “Back then hoes didn’t want me, now I’m hot hoes all me.” This slightly slowed sample comes from Mike Jones' song. On this track, Mike Jones raps about how hoes dissed him before he blew up and now those same hoes can’t wait to get with him. This is by far one of the strongest tracks on the album.

Song number three is Flossin’ featuring Big Moe. On this track Mike Jones raps about driving around in candy painted cars, blowing weed and sipping on syrup. This one isn’t really spectacular, but it’s still better than the filler on most Dirty South hip-hop records.

The fourth track is the song that earned Mike Jones nationwide acclaim. Still Tippin’ is perhaps the best track on the CD. I admit it has lost a tad bit of it’s luster to me personally, but that’s because I’ve been listening to it everyday for two years since it first came out on The Day Hell Broke Loose II. The beat is slow and backed up with violin. Slim Thug opens the song with a strong flow. He’s followed by Mike Jones who also succeeds in flowing flawlessly. Paul Wall expertly delivers the last verse of this great song.

Track five is the remix of Got It Sewed Up. Like Still Tippin’, the un-remixed version of this song came from the album The Day Hell Broke Loose Volume II. This remix is produced by D.J. Paul and Juicy J from 666 Mafia. Unlike the remix of Cuttin’ that comes later on CD, Got It Sewed Up doesn’t quite keep the same degree of appeal. In the original the sample of The Nutcracker Suite was much more discernable. I found that appealing because it was such a unique sample choice. I personally prefer the original version of the song, but the remix has some great flows that differ from the First Round Draft Picks version. How you feel about the original, depends on how strongly you felt about the original. First time listeners, will most likely enjoy this one.

Scandalous Hoes, featuring Lil’ Bran is the sixth song on the album. Mike Jones flows flawlessly about the dangers of, yes, you guessed it—scandalous hoes. He raps about women that will get with you for your money and leave you if you go broke. On this one raps fast over a medium paced beat backed up by sitar riffs and horns. I really like this one.

Track seven is the slow paced Screw Dat. The chorus to this song uses a rhyme formula similar to that of Lil’ Flip’s I Can Do That. Each line of the chorus ends with “We gon’ screw dat,” slowed down D.J. Screw style. “Bring your music your down to H-Town, We gon’ screw dat, You betta cup your girl ‘cause if she come around, We gon’ screw dat, You see some eighty-fours creepin’ through your town, We gon’ screw dat, We started the purple stuff down in H-Town, We gon’ screw dat.” In this song Mike Jones raps about Houston and his ascension from the underground to a major label.

The fast paced, piano heavy song, Turning Lane, comes in at track eight. The unusually long chorus a series of lines that end in the phrase, “In the turning lane,” makes up a majority of this song. This song is basically a run down of everything Mike Jones is doing in the turning lane. Don’t ask me how, but the concept works. It’s a pretty good track.

The ninth song on the album is Laws Patrolling featuring CJ, Mellow and Lil’ Bran. In this song reminiscent of TRU’s Somebody’s Watchin’ Me, Mike Jones and Mellow warn that jackers will be sorry if they try anything with them. Lil’ Bran really brings the song together with his singing of the chorus. If you like old TRU stuff, odds are you will one.

Track ten shows another side of Mike Jones. In 5 Years From Now he ponders what the future will bring. He also speculates on the current state of affairs in the world. Lil’ Bran does a nice job of singing the chorus in a style similar to that of Devin The Dude and Z-Ro. I’m glad he decided to slip this one in on the record. If you like this track check out Slim Thug’s song Listen from the Boss Hogg Outlaws album Boyz-N-Blue, Lil Flip’s song I Shoulda Listened from his album Undaground Legend and Slim Thug’s song This Is My Life from D.J. Chuck T’s Mix Tape Down South Slangin’ 13.

The eleventh track is the remix of the song Cuttin’ that, in un-remixed form, was originally on Mike Jones’ only other widely distributed album First Round Draft Picks. One of the major differences between the remix and the original is the absence of Magno. I’m not exactly sure why he isn’t on the record. I’m assuming it is because he is on Wildlife Records now. I like this version of the song because unlike many of today’s remixes, the song does not get ruined. It still has the original medium tempo, the organs and the word “Cuttin’” chopped under the chorus of, “Got drink, well pour it up, claim a set then throw it up.” I like the remix as much, if not more than, the original. This is still a tight track after two years.

Track number twelve is called What You Know About and features Paul Wall and Killa Kyleon. This is one of my personal favorites on the CD. In this song the talented trio introduces themselves and their hometown. The song is fairly fast paced that consists of a simple beat backed up by piano and a chorus that chops the phrase, “Watcha know about switchin’ lanes in the turn lane.” This is one of my personal favorites from the album. If you’ve heard Paul Wall and Kyleon on other records and liked them, then this is definitely a song for you.

The thirteenth track is Know What I’m Sayin’ featuring Bun B from UGK and long-time Houston underground fixture Lil’ Keke. If you like track seven, odds are, you will like this one. It’s slow paced song that alternates the screwed phrases, “Know what I’m sayin’?” and “Know I’m talkin’ about?” at the end of every third line of the rhyme. The chorus consists of Represent your hood, represent your block, represent your spot, Know what I’m Sayin’…” On this track Bun B warns haters not mess with him and Mike Jones talks about himself and H-Town.

A song for the ladies, called Type Of N*gga U Need, comes in at track fourteen. I don’t really care much for this song, but I guess it doesn’t really matter because I’m not the audience Mike Jones had in mind when he wrote this song. On this track Mike Jones talks about how if a woman stays with him during the lean times it will pay off when he blows up. Even though this is probably my least favorite song on the album, it’s not really too bad and I can see how a lot of people would probably like it.

The last track on the CD is called Grandma. In this song Mike Jones raps about the positive influence his grandmother had on his career in hip-hop. At the end he explains how his grandmother gave him the idea to use the hook, “Who is Mike Jones? It’s a pretty good song as tribute records go. It’s not on the same level as Tupac’s Dear Mama, but it’s a good track.

I bought the Limited Edition CD. It differs from the regular version in that it comes with the chopped and screwed version of the album. This screwed and chopped mix was done by D.J. Michael 5000 Watts. In my opinions he is the best in the business. I have several other screwed and chopped versions of albums that he put together and they were outstanding. This particular endeavor proved to be no disappointment whatsoever.

I’d like to point out that all the comparisons I made to other rappers were done solely to give you an idea of what you are in store for. I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, Mike Jones’ rhyme style and music is some of the most original I have heard come out of the South or anywhere for that matter, in quite a long time. The similarities pointed out are only meant to give those who have not had the pleasure of having their ears blessed by the flows of Mike Jones a better idea of what the songs sound like so that they may in turn make the most informed purchase possible. The bottom line is if you are the least bit curious about this CD you owe it to yourself to pick it up and find out for yourself. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Overall, I think this is a really good record. There are not really any weak songs on the CD. I think that die-hard Mike Jones fans like myself might be just a tad disappointed. I only say this because many of the strongest tracks on the album appeared on earlier, not as widely distributed CD’s.

If you're into more politically conscious hip-hop or don't listen to anything but East Coast, odds are this album isn't for you. If you saw the Still Tippin" video you'll most likely enjoy this CD.

I strongly recommend this record to anyone who wants to hear some really innovative Dirty South hip-hop. It’s not quite as raw as his underground stuff, but I’m sure that has a lot to do with the fact that this is a major label release. If this CD is your first foray into the musical stylings of Mike Jones I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in the least.

My only hope is that Mike Jones will keep his underground edge now that he’s on a major label. Who Is Mike Jones? is a good start, but I look forward to American Dream showcasing even more of the raw style that got him this far.

Update
As of April 29, 2005, Who Is Mike Jones? was #1 on the Billboard R&B/Rap Charts and #3 on the Pop Charts.

If this CD leaves you hungry for more Dirty South hip-hop you might also want to check out:

The Day Hell Broke Loose Volume II—Various Swishahouse Artists

First Round Draft Picks—Mike Jones and Magno

King Of The Streets—Mike Jones (extremely limited distribution)

This Is Why Mike Jones Is Running The Game—Mike Jones (extremely limited distribution)

Ballin' Underground--Mike Jones

Texas Take Over--DJ RPM

Texas Massacre 7--DJ 31 Degrees

The People's Champ--Paul Wall

Chick Magnet--Paul Wall

Contraversy Sells--Paul Wall & Chamillionaire

Already Platnum--Slim Thug

Boyz-N-Blue—Boss Hogg Outlawz

DJ Chuck T—Down South Slangin’ 13 (available for purchase from www.DJChuckT.com)

For more about Mike Jones check out www.whomikejones.com or www.swishahouse.com

For more about Slim Thug and Killa Kyleon check out www.bosshoggoutlawz.com

For more about Paul Wall check out www.paidnphull.com and www.swishahouse.com

More reviews of Houston rappers:
Geto Boys The Foundation
Underground Kingz Front, Back and Side To Side Single
Big Jut Screwed Up Fo Life

© 2005 Theodore Yeager


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving