A lot of artists (especially hip-hop artists) suffer from the "sophomore slump" where the follow-up to a successful debut album is a critical and/or commercial disappointment. This happened to rapper Bubba Sparxxx with his 2003 album Deliverance. That ambitious album combined country and hip-hop in a way that was thoughtful as opposed to silly. The album didn't sell well, however, and, as if to add insult to injury, Bubba's label (Timbaland's Beat Club) folded not long after it was released.
Now, he returns with The Charm, his first album on Purple Ribbon Entertainment, the label run by OutKast's Big Boi. With a "new" sound and tight construction, The Charm is indeed the perfect title for Bubba Sparxxx's third album.
The most noticeable difference between The Charm and Bubba's earlier albums is the overall sound. On Dark Days, Bright Nights and Deliverance, Timbaland provided most of the beats. This time around, most of the beats are provided by Organized Noize, the collective that was responsible for much of the production on OutKast's early albums. Their sound is not unfamiliar to Bubba since they produced a few tracks on his previous albums. However, it certainly bears little resemblance to Timbaland's frenetic beats.
One of the refreshing things about The Charm is the way it's constructed. It has been trimmed of all excess stuff as there are no skits or interludes to be found. Also, no filler songs have been added to pad the album's running time. It's simply 11 songs, of which most are pretty good.
"Ms. New Booty," the album's first single, is a fun piece of fluff from hot producer Mr. Collipark. Bubba addresses everything from his fall from success to white rappers on "Represent" and Big Boi produces the dark "Ain't Life Grand." Frankie J supplies vocals to the pop-inflected love song "Run Away" and Bubba's lyrics keep the song from feeling too sappy.
Article comments