V.I.C.-Beast
1
By btaznpride
The newest act on Mr. Collipark’s label, V.I.C. follows Soulja Boy’s footsteps and attempts to find the same success with a similar formula. V.I.C. brings us Beast, his debut.
Beast: Package Store produced, V.I.C. right off the bat delivers the title track and tries to lay down his rep as a beast. From the constant references to “beast” and “V.I.C. is hard!”, its comical at how hard they’re trying to establish his street credibility. Lyrically he’s very undeveloped dropping lines like “like 50 I’m creatin more Ja Rule’s”. 2.5/5
Bop, Bop, Bop: Following the mediocre intro, V.I.C. brings in Phunk Dawg the producer that created hits for Hurricane Chris. V.I.C. isn’t anything special, dropping lines about getting your girl and bragging about his ability to pick up girls. The catchy “bop, bop, bop” and decent production, make this a decent club track. 2.5/5
We Ridin’: Self produced, V.I.C. samples the batman tune to create another repetitive and attempt at catchy club rap. Hurricane Chris guests with a decent verse, the track is one of the better ones on the album. 3/5
Flawless: Uncredited vocals on the hook aren’t bad, decent production but the track doesn’t do much. It’s the typical “she’s so fly” track and V.I.C. lyrically doesn’t make it any better than the hook and production. 2.5/5
Get Silly: The lead single that had a similar success to “Crank That”, just not quite as global and more street. Soulja Boy’s fruitloops production and batman theme was catchy, while V.I.C.’s flow works well here. The hook is catchy and the accompanying dance helped in its success. 3.5/5
Jaw Jackin: Bun B easily outmuscles V.I.C. on this tough swaggering number. Busy production and Bun B’s hook are decent, but Bun’s verse takes the show here and V.I.C. doesn’t seem believable. 3/5
Beat That: Very poor production here, although the hook is pretty funny, but sadly the track is a skipper. Boring lyrics and never establishing whether its a love track or a hyped up club track makes this one garbage. .5/5
Wobble: The second single and rightfully so, as Collipark’s tribal drums create a fun club banger for V.I.C. This is the type of lane that V.I.C. needs to pursue, as his slow drawling of lyrics work well with the excellent production provided. 4/5
Blow My Mind: Decent track that has some okay production. V.I.C. continues his typical flow, while singing the hook and creating one for the many female fans he has. Decent effort. 2.5/5
Do You Know: Autotuned hook and a wack V.I.C. flow don’t work well here. V.I.C. actually has a decent topic of protecting his brother, but sadly is wasted due to a horrible hook and wack rhymes “gon have to spray you with a chopper, fat lady singin like I’m playin in a opera”. 2/5
By Faith: The best track that shows some perspective from V.I.C. Swole of the Package Store produces the track with a piano loop and a autotuned hook work well here. Nice track that shows V.I.C. is more than the club and girls. 4/5
Can I Get Her: Repetitive hook and choppy lyrics make for another poor club track. Decent production but nothing comes out of it, as building horns sound good. 1/5
Duck Off: Bass snap beat with stuttering keyboard keys and a screaming horn create this relaxed track. The hook isn’t bad either and the track is decent. 2.5/5
Wifey Type: V.I.C. finally hits on a lady track, as this one should hit female fans hearts. Canton Jones croons nicely and his production is very laid back, allowing V.I.C.’s slow flow to sound very intimate with its female listener. 3.5/5
I’m The S***: Simplistic production that is a bit lackluster, but V.I.C. goes hard here. He delivers a much better flow, but only has a decent hook. 3/5
Get Silly [Mr. Collipark Remix]: Southern hitmaker Jermaine Dupri, star producer Polow Da Don, West Coast vet E-40, H-Town vet Bun B and southern phenoms Unk and Soulja Boy join V.I.C. for the remix. V.I.C. drops a better verse, Soulja Boy delivers some elementary styled lyrics, Bun B is consistent as always, while E-40’s unique flow works well with the beat. Polow Da Don creates a catchy verse that is simple, but works off its catchiness and JD drops a decent verse. Unk has a medicore performance, but overall the remix is much better than the original. 4/5
V.I.C.’s debut is nothing surprising, constant attempts at club appeal and tough swaggering are the main points. Its when V.I.C. switches things up, for one, the excellent “By Faith” shows his relation with God and that he’s more than the club scene. Funny how V.I.C. stands for Victory In Christ because he was originally a Christian rap artist that rapped over other famous rappers instrumentals with God related lyrics. That image was obviously scrapped and instead changed to a less annoying Soulja Boy with better lyrics, but still lacking in creativity and image. The batman theme is used twice as a sample, the decent “We Ridin’” and catchy “Get Silly”. When I first heard V.I.C. I found him comical and funny, however you listen to “Jaw Jackin”, “Beast” and “Do You Know” and V.I.C. tries to act tough and hard, which is definitely not his image. Other club and female tailored tracks fall a bit flat, with “Wifey Type” being the only bearable ladies track. Predictable debut that needs great polishing and is overlong at 19 tracks.
Rating: 4.5 out of 10
