Young Jeezy - The Real Is Back (CTE, 2011)
While everyone is writing about strange white girls that happen to rap and trying to play A&R by breaking the next hipster-rap act to emerge, Young Jeezy quietly releases his first mixtape with DJ Drama since I Am The Street Dream. The Real Is Back is easily the best thing Jeezy’s done since last year’s Trap Or Die 2. While it’s not a complete return to form (there’s still some lazy rapping and too many CTE features), the production remains on point throughout and Jeezy has rediscovered his natural charisma. Focusing on his strengths (double and sometimes triple layering his vocals to the point that he sounds like a strong-arm militia/double entendres that allow him to rap half short, twice strong), The Real Is Back is a breath of fresh air in this blog-rap thick atmosphere. Mainstream gangsta shit by someone other than Ross and Brick Squad that bangs.
