When you think about that good ole fashion “Gangsta Music” bumping from out the West Coast what comes to mine? Compton of course, maybe even the Bay Area but I highly doubt that Orange Country rings bells. Yes the O.C. most known for that 90210 rip off Fox had of rich white kids with rich white kid problems is the home of the newest Shady recruit. Introducing Cashis, the man Eminem dubs “Roy Jones in his prime” and his debut EP “County Hound”.
We first heard the pacish flow laced with a voice similar to the late Proof on last years platinum selling “Eminem Presents...The Re-Up”. Scoring a boat load of tracks on the mixtape turned album, he gave us a taste of what was to come. Now he’s out to show us all what he’s about with the assistance of Mr. Shady himself. On the opening track “That Ni**a A Gangsta”, Cashis does nothing really to separate himself from anyone else out now spitting that “I’m more thugged out than you” shit over Em’s lackluster production. The EP’s single “Lac Lotion” is more entertaining as the track sinister vibe has a Dr. Dre feel. The song is hot, Cash rides the beat well and gives a catchy hook but he makes the severe mistake of having Em slaughter him on the song. Shady gives warning to foes that he’s once again close to the edge after seeing both Proof and Obie Trice getting shot this past year, Proof’s being fatal.
To be honest the fact that Cashis made this EP seven songs long might very well be a good thing in his favor. Do to the fact he isn’t the most interesting a listen. Even though he goes in on “Thoughts Of Suicide” as he gets high, he questions peoples thoughts of him after death. He drops lines like “if I die like Malcolm will you feel my pain?/ or just cry like a bitch while I lay in my grave/ if I die like Pac, cuz I yearn to bang/ you discredit me/ like I never learned a thing/ if I died like Big, would you praise my rhymes?/ and give me the spot best of all time?” some-how I doubt the last line would occur. What Cashis lacks in charisma he puts out there in passion. You could almost hear his lungs bout to explode as he batters the mic with his voice.
It just seems that this album really didn’t impress me much at all. The production was below average, and the concepts where the same as most things out. I was really expecting for an eight track album debut to be something to make me at least hunger for more. Yet in truth I just found myself looking at the fast forward button. I don’t want to trash the album, and I do believe that maybe with a few more listens it’ll grow on me. Then again I really have no desire to play it again. Cashis has the passion but lacks the will in his latest effort, but hopefully under the tutor-ledge of Em and Dre things will work out.
Album Review by: Jason Fleurant - NoBodySmiling.com
