11/21/07 - Freeway: Free At Last (allhiphop)

Legendz · 11-21-2007, 02:22 PM

Philadelphia is quickly moving from being the City of Brotherly Love, to the last refuge of the prodigal child. As such, it produces emcees with a visual style that is griping and razor witted; mirroring the mentalities of those that inhabit it. Freeway knows this as personally as many others, but has the rare ability to convey this to listeners on a second album. The sophomore re-up is a fleeting opportunity for artists teetering on the edge of mainstream acceptance. Free At Last (Roc-A-Fella Records) provides this outlet, not only for a conflicted man, but for a troubled city that needs a herald for its reality.

When Free first dropped in 2003 with Philadelphia Freeway, it was at the peak of the first Roc dynasty. Now that a new roster has emerged and some of the former members scattered, Free is left to essentially re-climb toward success. He starts this journey chronicling his entire career with "This Can't Be Real" featuring Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius. The slow thump of the kick and toms progress the trills of a jazz flute that would impress Ron Burgundy. The track provides a hometown foundation from which the rest of the album builds. Following up is "It's Over" produced by Virginia's Bink! Free makes a point to clean house and call out those who left him in the wake of progress. He guns at both Just Blaze and the limelight's darling Kanye with burning lines like, "Things just ain't the same for gangsters/ But I don't give a F**k/ I'm Back without a Just track/ I tried to reach out and work/ But he ain't chirp back." He makes no misconceptions about who he is in it for this time, and sets it up that everyone will get wise to the fact as well.

"Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" boasts a lyrical give-and-go between Jay-Z and Free that is reminiscent of "You Got Me" but a more celebratory march, with the chant of Shirley Bassey belting though a simplistic track created by Dame Grease. "Take It To The Top" featuring co-executive producer 50 Cent and "Lights Get Low" featuring Rick Ross add to this albums high grade. The title track "Free At Last" is key to this album's identity. It allows Free to speak about who his music is, and what he's truly about over a low contemplative beat, completing the image of the album.

Freeway snatches back what is rightfully his with a snarky smirk that has become commonplace in Philadelphia. It feels raw, but it sounds polished; a tell-tale sign of an emcee with something to say, waiting for the proper time to say it. That real vigor is what gives him true freedom.

Phantom_rydaz · 11-21-2007, 08:04 PM

wonder how it wil sell ?

killadji · 11-22-2007, 11:14 AM

I doubt it will plat out, but the album is damn good

TrajaD · 11-22-2007, 07:46 PM

Good shittttttt there...

BR4V3_H34RT · 11-23-2007, 06:51 PM

Hott album...

zeus803 · 11-24-2007, 10:11 AM

The shit is fire.

DBlock513 · 11-27-2007, 04:15 PM

album is up there with his first one, unfortunately no one at Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam is pushing this.

Outlaw · 11-27-2007, 04:22 PM

Dope Album

THE GAME TIME · 11-27-2007, 05:05 PM

props...was alrite....

18th letter · 11-29-2007, 05:42 AM

This album is fire!!!!!!!!!! 8.5/10

11-21-2007, 02:22 PM	#1
Legendz Veteran Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,808 Repped: 889 Repped 9,384 Times in 1,437 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	11/21/07 - Freeway: Free At Last (allhiphop) 11/21/07 - Freeway: Free At Last (allhiphop) Philadelphia is quickly moving from being the City of Brotherly Love, to the last refuge of the prodigal child. As such, it produces emcees with a visual style that is griping and razor witted; mirroring the mentalities of those that inhabit it. Freeway knows this as personally as many others, but has the rare ability to convey this to listeners on a second album. The sophomore re-up is a fleeting opportunity for artists teetering on the edge of mainstream acceptance. Free At Last (Roc-A-Fella Records) provides this outlet, not only for a conflicted man, but for a troubled city that needs a herald for its reality. When Free first dropped in 2003 with Philadelphia Freeway, it was at the peak of the first Roc dynasty. Now that a new roster has emerged and some of the former members scattered, Free is left to essentially re-climb toward success. He starts this journey chronicling his entire career with "This Can't Be Real" featuring Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius. The slow thump of the kick and toms progress the trills of a jazz flute that would impress Ron Burgundy. The track provides a hometown foundation from which the rest of the album builds. Following up is "It's Over" produced by Virginia's Bink! Free makes a point to clean house and call out those who left him in the wake of progress. He guns at both Just Blaze and the limelight's darling Kanye with burning lines like, "Things just ain't the same for gangsters/ But I don't give a F**k/ I'm Back without a Just track/ I tried to reach out and work/ But he ain't chirp back." He makes no misconceptions about who he is in it for this time, and sets it up that everyone will get wise to the fact as well. "Roc-A-Fella Billionaires" boasts a lyrical give-and-go between Jay-Z and Free that is reminiscent of "You Got Me" but a more celebratory march, with the chant of Shirley Bassey belting though a simplistic track created by Dame Grease. "Take It To The Top" featuring co-executive producer 50 Cent and "Lights Get Low" featuring Rick Ross add to this albums high grade. The title track "Free At Last" is key to this album's identity. It allows Free to speak about who his music is, and what he's truly about over a low contemplative beat, completing the image of the album. Freeway snatches back what is rightfully his with a snarky smirk that has become commonplace in Philadelphia. It feels raw, but it sounds polished; a tell-tale sign of an emcee with something to say, waiting for the proper time to say it. That real vigor is what gives him true freedom.

11-29-2007, 05:42 AM	#10
18th letter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 148 Repped: 25 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	This album is fire!!!!!!!!!! 8.5/10 __________________ Everything i'm not maybe everything i am

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11-21-2007, 08:04 PM	#2
Phantom_rydaz Veteran Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,014 Repped: 133 Repped 141 Times in 36 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	wonder how it wil sell ?

11-22-2007, 11:14 AM	#3
killadji http://ohnan.skyblog.com Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 298 Repped: 43 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I doubt it will plat out, but the album is damn good

11-22-2007, 07:46 PM	#4
TrajaD 514 the city's callin Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Where its real talk around Posts: 625 Repped: 93 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Good shittttttt there...

11-23-2007, 06:51 PM	#5
BR4V3_H34RT Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DAS Posts: 99 Repped: 25 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hott album...

11-24-2007, 10:11 AM	#6
zeus803 Noob Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sumter SC Posts: 124 Repped: 37 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	The shit is fire.

11-27-2007, 04:15 PM	#7
DBlock513 total.selctions.com Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 33 Repped: 0 Repped 34 Times in 10 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	album is up there with his first one, unfortunately no one at Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam is pushing this.

11-27-2007, 04:22 PM	#8
Outlaw Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 881 Repped: 154 Repped 8 Times in 6 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dope Album

11-27-2007, 05:05 PM	#9
THE GAME TIME Veteran Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ... Posts: 2,875 Repped: 686 Repped 12,653 Times in 912 Posts Neg Reps: 35 Neg Repped at 45 Times in 34 Posts	props...was alrite....