Free At Last : Freeway : Review : Rolling Stone

This Philly rapper and Sunni Muslim debuted in 2003 with Philadelphia Freeway, which showed off his raspy flow and gift for sharp-eyed rhymes about violence and poverty. Then, for reasons that aren't clear, Freeway all but disappeared for four years, although he apparently maintained some industry connections: Free at Last is executive-produced by Jay-Z and 50 Cent, and has cameos from Scarface and Busta Rhymes. Still, Freeway's impressive rhymes dominate the mix: On tracks such as "Reppin' the Streets," the ex-dealer raps about street life with heartsickness and thick details, evoking a lesser Ghostface or Jeezy with a quicker tongue and more feeling. The production is state-of-the-art soul-hop — sample-specked funk that stays hooky and relatively lean. Over the flutes and soul-diva coos of "When They Remember," Free delivers an anguished but nimble sermon about his own struggles as a rapper; more than any other, the track shows off the mix of grit and pleasure that defines Free at Last.

CHRISTIAN HOARD

(Posted: Nov 29, 2007)

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Track List

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This Can't Be Real featuring Marsha Ambrosius (Album Version (Edited)) (track not available in Rhapsody)
It's Over (Album Version (Edited)) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Still Got Love (Album Version (Edited)) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Roc-A-Fella Billionaires featuring Jay-Z (Album Version (Edited)) (track not available in Rhapsody)
When They Remember (Album Version (Edited)) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Take It To The Top featuring 50 Cent (Album Version (Edited))
Spit That Sh*t (Album Version (Edited))
Reppin' The Streets (Album Version (Edited)) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Free At Last (Album Version (Edited)) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Baby Don't Do It featuring Scarface (Album Version (Edited)) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Nuttin' On Me (Album Version (Edited))
Walk Wit Me featuring Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss (Album Version (Edited))
Lights Get Low featuring Rick Ross (Album Version (Edited))
I Cry (Album Version (Edited)) (track not available in Rhapsody)