There’s a poignant moment at the beginning of “Greatness,” the second song on Freeway’s fourth studio album, Diamond In The Ruff. Before the beat drops and Vivian Green’s triumphant vocals float through the speakers like renewing incense, an audio clip of Muhammad Ali giving an interview ahead of his 1974 bout with George Foreman drops. “I’m better now than I was when you saw that 22 year old undeveloped kid running from Sonny Liston,” says the former boxing heavyweight champion. “I’m experienced now. Professional. Jaw’s been broke. Been lost. Knocked down a couple times.”
Now, it’s dishonest to portray a time when Free was Hip Hop’s undisputed King of the Ring. Switching obligatory sports metaphors, he was more like a lyrical James Worthy during The Roc’s high octane heyday. But the prelude resonates as righteously in the broader context of Freezer’s career. 2003’s Philadelphia Freeway is absolutely his most commercially known body of work, but through experience, artistically he’s on a higher level now. With 2007’s Free At Last – and his critically praised Rhymesayers release, The Stimulus Package (with Jake One) – Freeway has stitched together a decade’s worth of quality full-lengths, all while weathering the breakup of Roc-A-Fella Records, the trials of life, and a new free agent status. Creatively and contextually, for the most part, Diamond In The Ruff continues that streak.
Free’s Babygrande Records debut is loaded with great songs – enough to garner worthy purchase status. He gets earnestly inspirational without crossing into hokey-territory on “Wonder Tape” and “Dream Big.” He kicks a soliloquy of unity on “Right Back” (featuring Marsha Ambrosius), imploring a type of religious tolerance unseen during this election cycle (“Some Jew and some Muslim and some Christian / One nation under God / We gonna make a way / They tried to build a Masjid next to Ground Zero / Y’all need to stop being weirdos / Let them people pray”). The Mike Jerz-produced “No Doubt” and “Numbers” (produced by Sonny Dukes, featuring an awesome appearance by Neef Buck) are natural forays into Rap music’s current ratchet-friendly era. And “Sweet Temptation” is not only timeless, but one of the best songs Free’s ever made. The second verse is personal and touches on the conflicting dichotomy between player-status and manhood. The first boasts this album’s most addictive stanza:
“I’m a Muslim not a banger / But / If you want danger I can definitely situate that / ASAP / I’m just tryna come up / I was tryna lay back / But drug money ran out / Then niggas tried to run up / But we had one up / Left them niggas done up / They snitched about money and lawyer fees had to pay that / Wish I would’ve knew that / Probably would’ve fell back / Tough guys: the new rats / Where they do that? / On top of that, niggas with tight slacks is the new Rap / I’m bout to grab a plane ticket to Africa and move back.”
Through the first 11 tracks on Diamond In The Ruff, Freeway is near flawless, showcasing an array of styles and fresh patterns while refusing to peddle shallow perspective. And then, over the course of the final five songs, the album nearly falls off a cliff. The Bink! produced “All The Hoods” is not only redundant following “Dream Big” and “Wonder Tape,” but uncomfortably close to cheesy. Metaphors like “Call us Dominoes Pizza cause we bring it,” feel fatigued, for example. The brooding “Hottest Akhi” sounds lifeless on the same project as “The Thirst.” “Money Is My Medicine” is the only song suffocated by cliche, “Jungle” is supremely skippable, and “Lil Mama” feels like “Show Me What You Got’s” (by Jay-Z) C-team cousin. None are completely awful individually. But together – in a row, and as the closing run – they distract from an otherwise impressive outing. Switching to another obligatory sports metaphor, it’s like watching a pitcher throw a shutout through eight innings, give up five runs in the ninth, and still come away with the win. It’s a victory nonetheless, but it was so close to being so much more.
Early!
Completely agree with the review. Could have been damn near classic with only 12 or so tracks.
I think this album wasn’t good at all.
I am a big fan of Freeway’s music.
I have to agree, Stimulus Package was much better, but I guess this has more commercially viable singles.
I haven’t head “Diamond In the Ruff” yet, but “Stimulus Package” was one of the most overlooked project for me in the past years.
I just recently listened it for the first time and still wondering how could I missed this. Especially that while I’m not the biggest Freeway fan but respect the dudes hustle, I got mad love for Jake One’s work. So everything he’s on worth to give a shot, but again, “Stimulus Package” is much more than that, its a surprisingly dope LP.
So I hope Freeway delivers again, tracklist and featured artist looks good, and based on the review I won’t be disappointed. Thanks for it, HHDX!
I need to add; Just finished listening.
This is a major improvement from Stimulus Package, imo. I’m buying this one.
dope
I disagree with this review. Nowhere near as good as the soul-infused Stimulus Package. And nowhere near as well-rounded as Free At Last…not gonna even bother comparing this to Philadelphia Freeway.
The production is lackluster, which is surprising seeing as Just Blaze, Bink, DJ Khalil, and Jake One all have beats on here. None of them seem to have brought their A-game. Freeway can still rap his ass off, but there was nothing fresh or new here.
As a longtime Freeway fan, I was pretty disappointed.
“Jungle” is skippable? Um… dumbest statement in this review.
Jungle is one of my favorite tracks on the album. Beat is crazy and Free kills it, plus the hook at catchy.
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Great album
Philly Freeway was always the most stable member of State Property. Never beefing, never in jail & always true. His album was over do. Nobody in the game has his flow & never will.
Listing the cd right now. Damn I miss the old Roc!
This cd is a near classic!
If 11 out of 15 are flawless that’s a damn good record.
Not really feeling this one.
I respect how you posted your negative opinion of the album without sounding like a jackass. Well done.
I actually went to best buy and bought this cd for 9.99 since iTunes got gready and wanted 11.99 for it. love this album, I’ve always liked Freeway, but this is my new favorite album by him, so good!
Free brought the good once again with this album. I agree that the first 11 joints are flawless, with a bit of a dive at the end. All-in-all, this is a quality release.
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Not a bad review. I agree that the start, such as the first 11 tracks are stronger than what ends the album but Jungle goes HAM. I’m not sure how you can call it skippable. It feels like a better version of Early at track 7.
This is the most overlooked album of 2012 Freeway has got to be the most humble and stable rapper in this game he still has that rocafella sound in him #RocMemories
the only one still around still doing late 1999s early 2000s roc sound, still sick.
dsdsfsdfds
For all my Freeway fans you’ve been listening to to Freeway since 1-900-Hustler, how does this album stack up against his 1st album, Free At Last, and Stimulus Package? I just don’t buy that this could be any where close to those, even with Bink!, Just Blaze, and Jake One on here.
my first impression is that it doesn’t
Hard to rate after one listen but once that track with Neef hit the album became pretty bad to me. Will give it a few more listens but I don’t agree with that 4/5 score
just not feeling this. found it a bit boring
solid album. there are only a few songs on this album I don’t care for. It did take me a few listens to really appreciate this album on a whole tho.
I preferred his mixtape FOS…the album was kinda disappointing coming after that..he shoulda dropped this as a mixtape & FOS as a album
Great release