Memphis Bleek: The Understanding : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

On "They'll Never Play Me," Roc-A-Fella young gun Memphis Bleek orders, "Nigga, don't compare me to Jay-Z." But it's hard not to: Bleek's second offering, The Understanding, presents him as a lavish-living lothario and throws in supersized servings of liquor, weed and guns for realness' sake. Still, Bleek is growing -- kind of: "I done learnt from that Puff and that Lopez shit," he rhymes over the angelic chorale of "Hustlers." "I ain't running in no club on some loco shit/I'm-a catch you where you sit/Put four in your whip/Catch your girl in the club/Put nut in yo' bitch." Bleek's money, ho's and flows are spread over blends of thunderous electrobump such as Timbaland's irresistible "Is That Your Chick." Bleek strays from the thug norm to recount hard times and dead homeys on "In My Life," which manages to sample Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is" without being corny. It's a lone moment of vulnerability that -- if Bleek's skill grows into true wisdom -- may speak of bigger things to come. (RS 861)

KRIS EX

(Posted: Feb 1, 2001)

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Track List

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Intro - U Know Bleek (track not available in Rhapsody)
Do My... - (featuring Jay-Z) (track not available in Rhapsody)
I Get High (track not available in Rhapsody)
We Get Low
Change Up - (featuring Jay-Z/Beanie Sigel)
My Mind Right - (remix, featuring Jay-Z/H. Money Bags/Beanie Sigel) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Hustlers - (featuring Beanie Sigel)
All Types Of S**+ (track not available in Rhapsody)
PYT - (featuring Jay-Z/Amil)
Bounce B***+
They'll Never Play Me
Everyday - (featuring Carl Thomas) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses) - (featuring Jay-Z/Twista/Missy Elliott)
In My Life (track not available in Rhapsody)