Album Reviews
Lil'
Jon & The Eastside Boyz
Crunk Juice
TVT Records, 2005
7.5 Anuses out of 10
Review by: Eliminator
Crunk Juice may just be one of those albums that ranks up there with The Chronic as a definitive hip hop album. I was compelled to buy the Crunk Juice album after reading a review of the album that claimed that Crunk Juice was "Lil' Jon's Back In Black"
How could that be? How could they compare the new Lil' Jon to AC/DC's classic album? So I immediately ran out and purchased it. I don't know if it is on that same level of quality as Back In Black but it is certainly quality.
Before you scoff at the possibility of a good review of a Lil' Jon album, just remember you should listen to it in context. Lil' Jon isn't looking to make the next great political statement or gain props as a "dope MC" he's just making party music. In other genres of music these kind of carefree, badass, "in your face" artists have been celebrated. AC/DC is a prime example as is Motorhead (and the Godlike figure Lemmy), Ozzy, and even Zakk Wylde.
However, it seems as though in hip hop and on an even larger pop culture scale the kind of songs and behavior that have given Motorhead and AC/DC hit records is frowned upon as ignorant. A lot of "true" hip hop fans, and even most people reading who listen to Motorhead or AC/DC probably shake their head in disapproval when they see Lil' Jon and his challis on MTV.
But, the kiddies love him. He's on the top of the charts, on the MTV constantly, and even has become a pop culture icon, parodied by Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock. If that isn't having an impact I don't know what is....
It almost seems like Lil' Jon is even trying to branch out to the "rock" crowd with some of the songs on this album. The title track features a nice guitar riff. The Rick Rubin-produced "Stop Fuckin' With Me" features a sample of the Slayer classic "Angel Of Death." This song is kind of an embarrassment though and only gives more fuel to the metalheads that already hate rap music. Jon even references starting a "mosh pit" on the title track. Perhaps Lil' Jon has a secret heavy metal obsession. I wouldn't be surprised if Lil' Jon collaborated with Motorhead or even Andrew W.K. for that matter. You watch. The next MTV-sponsored "mash up" CD will feature Lil' Jon and one of the above. And when it happens, remember where you heard it first!
I must say, Lil' Jon should also get an 'A' from Moe Dee for sticking to themes. On "What You Gonna Do" (the album's first single that I once referred to as the song with the beat that sounds like ass ripping) Jon states, "Now let's talk about some mo' niggas!" And he does. Most of the album hatefully refers to the mystical "bitch nigga" and what Lil' Jon is/was/going to do/did to them. Now this I can relate to since I spend 90% of my LiveJournal talking about the mystical "fucking tool."
In fact, I could re-record the album replacing every instance of "bitch nigga" with "fucking tool" and call it the Elimination Dept. Soundtrack. What more reason do you need to buy an album than that?
Another comparison that might be as controversial as the Back In Black comparison is the one I am going to make right now. Crunk Juice may just be the next generation's The Chronic. If you are looking for that new-age "gangsta" sound look no further than Lil' Jon. Eazy-E is dead; Ice Cube has escaped to the big screen (although he returns to the mic on this very album); Dr. Dre records about as often as Quincy Jones does. No big "gangsta" icons are left. They keep billing 50 Cent as the next big "gangsta" thing, but since most of it is promotion and hype the kids aren't catching onto it as much as they are to Lil' Jon. Now Lil' Jon just showed up one day, yelled "YEEEAAAHHHH!" and ended up being parodied on Chappelle's Show. Now everybody's screaming "YEEEAAAHHHH!" and "OKKAAAYYY!" like it is going out of style (and it is).
The album features the key components of The Chronic and even Chronic 2001: Songs about blunts, drinking, and fucking people up. Throw in enough homophobia and misogyny to make even the biggest free speech advocate blush just a little and you've got this album. They even have a track titled "Bitches Ain't Shit." Which is a disappointment if you are a fan of the original song from The Chronic. It is neither a cover nor a sequel. It just is. Snoop even appears on it, but it is just not the same.
Jon allows himself to be ridiculed as well. He inserts a clip of a Chappelle comedy routine where he wittingly notes "You know the great thing about 'skeet'? White people don't know what it means yet...."
'Skeet' of course gained national recognition as part of the chorus of Lil' Jon's hit song "Get Low" and refers to, well, jiz. Most white people probably didn't know what it means, but they do now! I didn't even know, and I should have caught on when it appeared in a song off of the aforementioned Chronic 2001 ("I skeeted in her throat/been knowin' the hoe for four days...").
Of course there are filler tracks, including the previously mentioned "Bitches Ain't Shit" and "Stop Fuckin' Wit Me." Another "filler" track is Lil' Jon's (along with Usher and Ludacris) ode to platonic friendship and the confusion usually involved in it on "Lovers & Friends." It is good because after a while hearing about "bitch niggas" gets tedious, but I'd rather hear about bitch niggas than Lil' Jon whipping it out and then having to put it away because the girl just wants to be friends (a real scenario from the song).
But overall, the album is a solid effort. The opening four-song suite of "Crunk Juice," "Get Crunk," "What You Gonna Do," and "Real Nigga Roll Call" is enough to make you want to jump up and punch somebody in the face for no reason. And if that doesn't define a great album I don't know what does.
Track Listing:
1. Crunk Juice
2. Get Crunk (feat. Bo Hagon)
3. What You Gonna Do (feat. Lil' Scrappy)
4. Real Nigga Roll Call (feat. Ice Cube)
5. Bo Hagon's Phone Call (skit)
6. Da Blow
7. Contract (feat. Pimpin' Ken)
8. Choppin (skit feat. E-40)
9. White Meat (feat. Eightball & MJG)
10. Stop Fuckin' Wit Me
11. Let's Be Friends (skit feat. Chris Rock)
12. Lovers & Friends (feat. Usher and Ludacris)
13. One Night Stand
14. Aww Skeet Skeet
15. Chris Rock In Da Club (skit)
16. In Da Club (feat. R. Kelly and Ludacris)
17. Bitches Ain't Shit (feat. Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Oobie)
18. Get Lower (skit feat. Chris Rock)
19. Stick That Thang Out (Skeezer) (feat. Pharell Williams and The Ying
Yang Twins)
20. Grand Finale (feat. Bun B, Jadakiss, T.I., Nas, and Ice Cube)
©2010 The Elimination Dept.
