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Like Father Like Son Review - Nobodysmiling.com Review
There was once a time when you would have considered the idea of Cash Money Records taking control in the world of Hip-Hop. It was quite easy to make the comparison and say that they were the equivalent to the Bad Boy label back in its prime, only a southern version instead. Cash Money had its superstar in Juvenile and many other key players that kept the hits coming in. But just as the Bad Boy label, Cash Money faltered some, as artists left to pursue other endeavors and Bryan ''Birdman'' Williams was also left to hold the weight and become the biggest artist on the label that he co-owned with his brother, Slim.
The one constant however was Lil Wayne; always loyal to the Number One Stunna himself, staying aboard when so many others had jumped ship and therefore keeping Cash Money a float with his presence. With the emergence of Lil Wayne as a true bonafide lyrical heavyweight, riding off the success of 'The Carter' and 'The Carter2' albums and with more guest appearance spots in the last few months then one can keep track of, it was only fitting that the two of them should come together for this collaboration effort. With Birdman as the teacher, and Lil Wayne as his star pupil, ''Like Father, Like Son'' was born.
After an over exaggerated Mafia introduction skit, in which the Mafia boss explains to his up and coming son of how loyalty and respect are the keys to success in their business, Lil Wayne grabs the reigns as he continues to execute his new lyrical style that, for the most part, seemed to elude him during the beginning of his career. The collaborations on the album are held down to a minimum, as both the Birdman and Lil Wayne equally share the limelight.
The boss of Miami, Rick Ross drops in on 'What I'm Doin' to help trade drug tales, and talk about how they all accumulate unimaginable sums of money do to with as they please, while ghetto crooner, T-Pain adds in on the hook. Even though the album is titled 'Like Father, Like Son' it's actually more of a who's teaching who as the son gives the father a true lesson in lyricism. It's pretty obvious that the Birdman isn't a rapper of any sorts, but to his credit he puts up a valiant effort in assisting the real star of the album, Lil Weezy.
On 'Don't Die' Stunna Sr. and Stunna Jr. abandon their typical formula of big baselines and drum loops, as they go for more of a somber, and smooth type of production. As the guitars play in the background, Lil Wayne lays down lines like ''Bitch I bop like Diddy/I pop like when he gon' stop-when it's empty/and you still drawin, Leonardo Da Vinci''.
'Army Gunz' is a huge display of Wayne's newfound swagger as he simply annihilates this track laced with heavy horns and drum rolls hugely sounding like the theme from a fight song. ''Here it come, gotta gun, never caught without one/ni**as wanna boss, so I guess I have to boss 'em''. Birdman himself is content on this particular song by just reciting the hook, and letting Lil Wayne's braggadocio persona run wild. Fat Joe returns the collabo favor as he joins the millionaires from the Big Easy on 'About All That'.
The phrase, ''if it ain't broke, don't fix it'' truly applies to the Cash Money Millionaires. They don't venture too much out of their comfort zone, staying close to home with their philosophy of clothes, bank rolls, and hoes that first brought them stardom back in the late 90's. Basically 'Like Father, Like Son' was just another plateau in which Lil Wayne showed the world that he is one of the most improved artists in the business and with him in your corner, Cash Money Records should have no trouble in staying valid contenders.
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