Juelz Santana What The Game's Been Missing

HHH Official rating: 3.5/5
Beats rating: 4/5
Lyrics rating: 3.5/5
Music Quality: 4/5



by the god Dirty Backpacks






This has been a hell of a year for The Dipset. Cam'Ron's Kanye West-assisted "Down & Out" bumped in everyone's car stereo earlier in the year. They've flooded the mixtape circuit with quality music. Jim Jones is a hands down candidate for comeback of the year with his surprisingly good 2nd album, and the More Than Music album was a very good effort that showcased the efforts of the entire collective. Combine all of that with the seemingly endless amount of collabos they've done, and it's not hard to see why they are the pre-eminent Hip Hop collective today, 2nd in notoriety only to G-Unit.

So when Juelz Santana dropped "Mic Check" earlier this year, based on Dipset's impeccable record this past year, expectations for his sophomore album rose. His flow had seemingly matured, and based on his many mixtape bangers, people were actually checking for the kid. Could the self-proclaimed "Human Crack In The Fleash" live up to both his nickname and the hype?

The answer quite simply is yes.

Don't get it twisted - this album is not the end all to be all. But it is a good, solid effort from Killa Cam's young lieutenant. And compared to his disappointing debut album, it most definitely stands out when you observe the lyrical growth and maturity of the Hip Hop game that he exhibits on this album.

I have mixed feelings about songs and/or skits that use kids in an adult way, but the album's intro with his young nephew Ja conversing with Juelz over a dope beat is very enjoyable and, dare I say it - somewhat cute. And by the time you get into the actual first song on the album, the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League-produced "Rumble Young Man Rumble", you know you've got something really good on your hands as Juelz flows over yet another dope beat with hot guitar riffs accentuating his double-speak flow.

And that's always been the entire Dipset's saving grace; I've said it before and I'll say it again - as a collective, they may have the best ears for beats in the game today. Seriously - when you listen to the quality of beats on this album and the diversity of these beats, you're bound to be impressed. You'll be even more impressed when you read the credits and realize that Juelz only used Dipset-favorites The Heatmakerz on 3 of the album's 22 tracks. This diverse array of producers hit Juelz off with some really dope beats for him to spit over.

This is straight hood music. Problem is, if you don't like the Dipset style of double-talking and Santana's constant use of "Ay!" then you may not like this album as much as others. As much as I like it, it's not a transcedent type of album where you can say "even though I don't like him, this is dope". Pretty much if you hate the Dips, you may not see reason to give this album the benefit of the doubt.

But I'm not a Dipset-hater, so I can appreciate when they drop good stuff.

Juelz Santana has a certain energy and vibe different than Cam'Ron's laid-back style that can hype you up and make you move. This is evident on club bangers like his collabo with Cam and Sizzla, "Shottas", or the hit song "There It Go (The Whistle Song)". And of course, you get the usual thugganometry and drug references, but here's the thing - this album is more than that.

Santana proves he has depth as an artist with his ability to tell compelling stories that draw you in, something casual listeners may not have given him credit for. Tracks like the introspective "This Is Me", the hustler's story "Lil' Boy Fresh" (with it's twist ending) and "Gone" show you son has done his Hip Hop history homework - you may even wonder if one of his major influences is Slick Rick, his story-telling is so good. More jewels await on his collabo with Hell Rell (love this cat)"Whatever U Wanna Call It", and he even pulls your emotional heartstrings as he analyzes the effect his newborn son has had on his life and mindset on "Daddy", which utilizes a dope sample from the Aerosmith song "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing".

And I appreciate the fact that, for the most part, this is all Santana. Collabos are kept ot a minimum - Hell Rell, his nephew Ja, and Bezel all have tracks with him. And of course Killa Cam is present - on 3 of these tracks, and they stand out due to the chemistry these two exhibit. They're definitely like a Dipset Batman & Robin team, both complementing each other perfectly with hard rhymes and witty metaphors and punchlines. On the mixtape favorite "Murda Murda", Cam hits us with lines like:

"...somew good coke, dog
Go get ya base pipe
Put on my Laker jersey
Then I go rape white (number 8)..."

That's an ill line, especially considering I'm like the biggest Kobe fan in the world (he's the best in the league - face it, haters)....

Amazingly, the only track featuring non-Dipset rappers ("Make It Work For You") is the only track where you can truly say he's outdone by his collaborators. Seriously, his verses are nice, but when Young Jeezy grabs the mic, he steals Santana's thunder with surprising ease. And by the time Lil' Wayne jumps in, it's a wrap - both Southern boys have pulled a "Renegade" on Juelz (you know -when Eminem outdid Jay-Z on his own track).

Y'all know I ain't no Jeezy-lover, but I'm also not a hater - The Snowman and Weezy rip it.

But with that exception, Juelz does bring heat throughout this effort - nicely. And for those who may have criticized him as a gimmicky rapper with no real lyrical content, he puts all grumblings to rest on the aptly titled "I Am Crack":

"You ever see a man gag and gargle?
Sounds like a newborn trying to ask for a bottle
They like 'cut it out, you slackin'
But I bust it out in rappin'
Can you name a ni99a better without me bustin' out and laughing? (Ha Ha Ha)
Ni99a - you couldn't spit enough to get at me
I'll stretch ya for extracurricular activity
Forget hollering for help
I'll make you wanna pull ya lip over ya head
And just swallow yourself
You're not on my level, you're not on my shelf
But you can and you will be just another notch on my belt
I'm more amazing than grace is
When I say sh*t
You should say 'Amen' after my name, kid."

Nuff said!

While not the best album of the year, What The Game's Been Missing does live up to the name and is a worthy effort that gives you a major label album with a little something for everyone, whether it be street hits, club bangers, emotional fare, compelling stories, and even a little bit for the ladies (without sounding too R&B-ish).

What The Game's Been Missing instantly vaults Juelz Santana into the heights of credible MCs and may even cause some to put him in the most underrated debate. It's only fault is it may not have enough to turn any Dipset haters into instant Dipset fans - but if you've ever liked any Dipset music, then you'll love this.


Track List:



1. Intro [4]
2. Rumble Young Man Rumble [4]
3. Oh Yes [3]
4. Shottas w/Cam'Ron & Sizzla [3.5]
5. Clockwork [3]
6. Kill 'Em w/Cam'Ron [3.5]
7. This Is Me [3]
8. Make It Work For You w/Lil' Wayne & Young Jeezy [4]
9. Whatever U Wanna Call It w/Hell Rell [4]
10. Gangsta Sh*t [3]
11. Lil' Boy Fresh [4]
12. Good Times [4]
13. Freaky [3.5]
14. Murda Murda w/Cam'Ron [4]
15. Gone [4]
16. Kid Is Back [3]
17. Changes w/Razah [2.5]
18. I Am Crack [4.5]
19. There It Go (The Whistle Song) [3.5]
20. Violence w/Bezel [3]
21. Daddy [4.5]
22. Mic Check [4.5]