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It wasn't so long ago that I was almost positive that Ali was to surely become the next Nas. Judging by classic lyrical efforts like "Theme Of New York", "The Specialist" and "The Co-sign" from his earliest days as a 15 year old prodigal recording artist, and a few really strong mixtapes that seemed to pick up that same momentum, I was all but ready to crown him the new Nas. I was sure that the public would also do the same in due time. It was so easy to become enamored with his flow; sharpened and complimentary to his nasally and distinctly eastern accent, he routinely spewed lines that painted pictures entrenched with vivid description; thee ideal New York street artist.
So what has happened that has caused me to remove my stamp of approval? Well, one of the things that has brought him down is time...he never capitalized off that initial interest from the fans...his debut "Generation Gap" was shelved for some reason or another and only the hardcore fans went online in order to retrieve it. That project I still stand behind and give my full endorsement of....it's a classic effort and a damn shame that he couldn't release it retail. Meanwhile his career went underground and the ever present "ticking clock" for his and every artist's career started. He managed to pull himself up by his boot straps, dropping tapes that ranged from very strong ("Heir To The Throne" & "America's Prince"), to very suspect ("Wait Til' They Get A Load Of Me"), but still staying busy and keeping his name out there. One thing that I found to be a disturbing trend however was his incessant inclusion of work that was far beneath the level of his prior stuff. Ali started dumbing shit down.
Remaining true to his original formula would be the logical choice if he wanted to keep his fans from 10 years ago, but alas, Ali must feel as if he has new demographics to conquer. Nowaday's you can find plenty of his new material littered with commercial and pop-esque type songs and subject matter. He's not built for that at all, he's a lyricist and he shouldn't' suppress that.
"Transition To Power" pretty much falls into the same bucket as what Ali's previous bad mixtapes do...he at times dazzles over strong and well crafted production and then at other times he totally sells out. Combining his new and only "so-so" lyrical output with a bevy of novice newcomers who gloriously fuck things up, this here just don't add up to much....
-BIG D O
01. INTRO
02. WISE YOUNG MAN [PROD. SILVA]
03. FRESH GUTTA FEAT. SAV KILLZ
04. START
05. DON’T YOU MISS ME
06. INTERLUDE
07. RESPECT MINE
08. CRITICS
09. REASONABLE DOUBT
10. REBIRTH OF MY TESTIMONY
11. INTERLUDE
12. QUEENS
13. FREESTYLE FEAT. 50 CENT
14. INTERLUDE
15. TESTIFY
16. EXCUSE ME FEAT. SHIRE’
17. SWAG (SKIT)
18. HARDHEADED FEAT. YAY HIGH & WHIP MONTEZ
19. NARCOTICS
20. PUT THE PAST BEHIND ME
21. INTERLUDE
22. THE ROOF
23. STILL BALLIN FEAT. B.U. DA LOCAL
24. TOUGH LUCK FEAT. HOOD
25. BETRAYAL OF A THUG
26. GANGSTA BOOGIE
27. THE PRINCE HAS RETURNED
28. TALKING TO THE GHETTO [PROD. SILVA]
29. MY BROTHER
30. OUTRO
http://www.zshare.net/download/524531934a50debd/
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