05/08/07 - Joell Ortiz-The Brick: (Bodega Chronicles) [XXL Review]

YounG AleX · 05-08-2007, 04:10 PM

It’s always good having friends in high places; just ask Joell Ortiz. Last year, the Brooklyn bomber’s manager used his connections to get Joell’s demo into the hands of Dr. Dre. One flight to Cali later, and the portly Puerto Rock became the latest Aftermath signee. Before dropping his Dre-guided debut, though, Mr. Ortiz decides to let off a little steam with The Brick (Bodega Chronicles), a collection of lengthy freestyles and New York bravado.

Joell’s skills on the mic are undeniable, but an MC cannot live by bars alone. J.O.’s popular “125” series may have expanded his mixtape following, but here the over-five-minute-long lyrical marathons come off as four extensive advertisements for How to Rap by Joell Ortiz. Still, his vocabulary is so grand that these hookless tirades are somewhat acceptable. On “125 Pt. 4,” he capably spits, “We play lotto in hope that we hit our way out/Be honest, I stopped playing, my legs gave out/Don’t be mad, UPS is hiring/Tried that, after the first check came retirement.”

After ODing on wordplay, the rhyme animal finally gets down to making songs. The Alchemist-assisted “BQE” provides Joell with an ominous setting to shout out his favorite boroughs, while “Hip Hop” finds him writing an endearing letter to his non-Boricua culture over a piano-laced backdrop. On the latter, Ortiz spits, “Look at me, gaze into my eyes/See the poverty?/Now understand why this music and me gotta be/It’s something that’s inside of me.”

Underneath the surface does lie a complete artist. That’s evident in street collabos like “I’m From the Bottom Like You,” with M.O.P.’s Fame, and radio-friendly singles like “Keep On Calling,” featuring Akon. Problem is, Joell’s overzealousness to display his way with words gets in the way. Hopefully, with a little direction from good ol’ Dr. Dre, Mr. Ortiz can be more than a player who just rhymes a lot.

source-xxlmag.com

Retired. · 05-08-2007, 04:47 PM

i woulda rated it a XL, nice album

EDIT:

damn i went back and listened to that, SMH at this mag man

id give it a XXL now... didnt really listen to it before...

unitblue13 · 05-08-2007, 04:52 PM

that-shit-was-crack-xxl

GoodMusicFam805 · 05-08-2007, 07:21 PM

fuuukk maaiinnee.. so then XXL mag is basically puttin the Brick in the same category wit young joc city who also got a 'L' nd so thn the Brick falls below Rick Ross who received an XL......... it should of at least received an XL but it musta been reviewed by sumone frm the South. no hate!!!

Young Nicks · 05-08-2007, 08:13 PM

dam son i thought hip hop was about rhyming and joell was hot on each track talking about different topics like on tha track where he spit with immortal technique or tha one where he shouted out latino's shit this cd fire XL and above..

Famoz · 05-09-2007, 04:16 AM

shit was wack..niaggg would flop like fish out da watere

Sean Brown · 05-12-2007, 08:36 PM

i was just listening to his mixtape

Who The Fuck Is Joell Ortiz

He Pretty Dope Reminds Me Of Sheek Louch And Big Pun

Quote:

shit was wack..niaggg would flop like fish out da watere

^ Hussle Not Offense But Please Learn Your Music
You Listen to That Garbage Full Of Battle Raps With No Meaning
I Mean I Listen To Them As Well But What Benefit Do You Dig
Your Probably Still In The D4L Era We The People Are Past That

N. Streetz · 05-13-2007, 03:17 AM

That SHit Was ALmost A Classic XXL is Falling Off

Naturalbornalkaholik · 05-13-2007, 05:48 AM

props ........

GMNRecordsCT3 · 05-14-2007, 12:54 PM

That's a bad review... that album deserved a XXL!!!

stuntzwiththaunit · 05-14-2007, 03:01 PM

wont lie shits hot, Joell is spittin some crazy shit
"when I was 1,2 I used to take on 1,2,3 niggas in battles, an won too."
his word play is crazy. The beats are tight, he someone to look out for.

|вmω| RuGeR · 05-14-2007, 05:23 PM

wat dis cd is firee man its a XXL das y dre signed him

05-08-2007, 04:10 PM	#1
YounG AleX AleX iS Like... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Where haven't we been yet? Posts: 3,193 Repped: 890 Repped 5,210 Times in 714 Posts Neg Reps: 66 Neg Repped at 13 Times in 8 Posts	05/08/07 - Joell Ortiz-The Brick: (Bodega Chronicles) [XXL Review] 05/08/07 - Joell Ortiz-The Brick: (Bodega Chronicles) [XXL Review] It’s always good having friends in high places; just ask Joell Ortiz. Last year, the Brooklyn bomber’s manager used his connections to get Joell’s demo into the hands of Dr. Dre. One flight to Cali later, and the portly Puerto Rock became the latest Aftermath signee. Before dropping his Dre-guided debut, though, Mr. Ortiz decides to let off a little steam with The Brick (Bodega Chronicles), a collection of lengthy freestyles and New York bravado. Joell’s skills on the mic are undeniable, but an MC cannot live by bars alone. J.O.’s popular “125” series may have expanded his mixtape following, but here the over-five-minute-long lyrical marathons come off as four extensive advertisements for How to Rap by Joell Ortiz. Still, his vocabulary is so grand that these hookless tirades are somewhat acceptable. On “125 Pt. 4,” he capably spits, “We play lotto in hope that we hit our way out/Be honest, I stopped playing, my legs gave out/Don’t be mad, UPS is hiring/Tried that, after the first check came retirement.” After ODing on wordplay, the rhyme animal finally gets down to making songs. The Alchemist-assisted “BQE” provides Joell with an ominous setting to shout out his favorite boroughs, while “Hip Hop” finds him writing an endearing letter to his non-Boricua culture over a piano-laced backdrop. On the latter, Ortiz spits, “Look at me, gaze into my eyes/See the poverty?/Now understand why this music and me gotta be/It’s something that’s inside of me.” Underneath the surface does lie a complete artist. That’s evident in street collabos like “I’m From the Bottom Like You,” with M.O.P.’s Fame, and radio-friendly singles like “Keep On Calling,” featuring Akon. Problem is, Joell’s overzealousness to display his way with words gets in the way. Hopefully, with a little direction from good ol’ Dr. Dre, Mr. Ortiz can be more than a player who just rhymes a lot. source-xxlmag.com __________________ I learned that everybody is not your friend. You have to watch who you associate with and surround yourself with positive things and people who want to do something positive.- Gucci!

05-08-2007, 08:13 PM	#5
Young Nicks $ C4RRYIN6 MY$3LF $ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Anderson,SC a piece of shit of a city... 864 Posts: 1,616 Repped: 426 Repped 929 Times in 249 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	dam son i thought hip hop was about rhyming and joell was hot on each track talking about different topics like on tha track where he spit with immortal technique or tha one where he shouted out latino's shit this cd fire XL and above.. __________________ Yo dont forget to click the green button or leave rep.

05-14-2007, 12:54 PM	#10
GMNRecordsCT3 Macaroni wit the Cheeesse Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wash Heights, NYC Posts: 17,607 Repped: 6,779 Repped 2,309 Times in 618 Posts Neg Reps: 202 Neg Repped at 50 Times in 40 Posts	That's a bad review... that album deserved a XXL!!! __________________ myspace.com/bummydavis - soundclick.com/gmnproductions "The name on my car insurance is YOUR FUKIN FAULT!!"

05-14-2007, 05:23 PM	#12
\|вmω\| RuGeR DOPE BOI Join Date: May 2007 Location: BOSTON Posts: 114 Repped: 24 Repped 12 Times in 5 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	wat dis cd is firee man its a XXL das y dre signed him __________________

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05-08-2007, 04:47 PM	#2
Retired. 2D GFX Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ya know Posts: 5,045 Repped: 245 Repped 255 Times in 121 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	i woulda rated it a XL, nice album EDIT: damn i went back and listened to that, SMH at this mag man id give it a XXL now... didnt really listen to it before...

05-08-2007, 04:52 PM	#3
unitblue13 Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 117 Repped: 0 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	that-shit-was-crack-xxl

05-08-2007, 07:21 PM	#4
GoodMusicFam805 Aftermath & BDP Collabo Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: 805 OXNARD So-Muthafuukin-CALI Posts: 1,956 Repped: 1,231 Repped 7 Times in 5 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 2 Times in 2 Posts	fuuukk maaiinnee.. so then XXL mag is basically puttin the Brick in the same category wit young joc city who also got a 'L' nd so thn the Brick falls below Rick Ross who received an XL......... it should of at least received an XL but it musta been reviewed by sumone frm the South. no hate!!!

05-09-2007, 04:16 AM	#6
Famoz Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,548 Repped: 126 Repped 391 Times in 210 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 2 Times in 2 Posts	shit was wack..niaggg would flop like fish out da watere

05-13-2007, 03:17 AM	#8
N. Streetz I Was Born Elite Join Date: May 2007 Location: In The Place Of Daydreams Posts: 704 Repped: 104 Repped 82 Times in 47 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	That SHit Was ALmost A Classic XXL is Falling Off

05-13-2007, 05:48 AM	#9
Naturalbornalkaholik Veteran Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: belgium Posts: 8,906 Repped: 5,401 Repped 1,065 Times in 239 Posts Neg Reps: 355 Neg Repped at 39 Times in 23 Posts	props ........

05-14-2007, 03:01 PM	#11
stuntzwiththaunit Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: boston Posts: 107 Repped: 21 Repped 1 Time in 1 Post Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	wont lie shits hot, Joell is spittin some crazy shit "when I was 1,2 I used to take on 1,2,3 niggas in battles, an won too." his word play is crazy. The beats are tight, he someone to look out for.