Album Review: Young Money, Rise of an Empire

Young Money

Rise of an Empire (released March 11, 2014)

My how times have changed.

A few years ago, Young Money Entertainment could make a legitimate claim of being hip-hop’s reigning empire. Lil’ Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj and even the Birdman himself were ever-present and their success was laced in platinum and gold.

These days, though, the cracks are starting to show and even the most obsessive Young Money fans will admit that YM’s foundation is starting to shake.

Rise of an Empire, the label’s second compilation, might market itself as a showcase of growing dynasty, but in reality it’s scrambling to regain lost momentum and prove its relevance.

They fail.

It’s clear YM is betting the farm on Euro, and Rise of an Empire seems to be built as his coming-out party. He’s the only rookie fortunate enough to have a solo track, “Induction Speech,” which plays out as a rags-to-riches tale. Lyrically, “Induction Speech is imaginative, a forceful narrative that’s littered with little nuances that add detail to his sprawling story (“Chauffeur was waiting with sign/Except my name wasn’t right”).

The track is far from flawless but at least Euro sounds hungry. He’s the ONLY person on the entire album who sounds hungry. Everyone else is mailing it in.

Don’t be mad. UPS is hiring.

The best track by far is Drake’s triumphant “Trophies,” but the beat is so bombastic that Drizzy doesn’t have to do anything but sprinkle in a couple of lines about champagne and women. It wouldn’t surprise me if he recorded it in 15 minutes. I’m sure it will get the club hyped but the lack of effort is apparent.

Lil Wayne, who has become more decrepit on the mike than Mumm-Ra, tries his best to regain his crown but it’s clear his glory days are gone. He brings a bit of fire with Euro on “We Alright” (canceling out Birdman’s usual struggle bars) but can’t save Tyga and Nicki from totally sleepwalking through “Senile.” And Wayne is so clearly faded on “Moment” that I bet he recorded his verse while sitting in a lawn chair. It’s embarrassing.

With YM’s A-team clearly in cruise control, this would be the perfect opportunity for the B-team to make their mark. But nope, the benchwarmers don’t do anything but contribute horribly lazy posse cuts (“Fresher Than Ever”) and pitiful attempts and club bangers (“Back It Up”). Years ago, when I gave juvenile rapper Lil’ Twist grief for being absolutely awful, my brother-in-law defended him, saying that he was “young and learning” and just needed time to mature on the mike. Well, dude is 21 and still can barely piece syllables together. I don’t understand why he continues to get the spotlight while poor Cory Gunz continues to get ignored. Gunz’s double-time flow steals the show on “Bang” – if you can endure Twist’s terrible hook to hear it.

Young Money is a mess right now, literally and figuratively. The label veterans are either unwilling or unable to put forth any effort while the second-stringers struggle to keep up.

Rise of an Empire? Nah, this empire is burning while Nicki Minaj twerks.

Best tracks: “Trophies.” And “Induction Speech” is OK.

2.5 stars out of 5