Beanie Sigel: The B.Coming
After cultivating intense anticipation for The B.Coming, Beanie Sigel finally adds a remarkable album to Hip Hop’s roster. Touching on diverse issues, ranging from endogenous assertions (Look At Me Now) to lack of appreciation from opposite sex (Bread and Butter), against all odds (and evens), The B.Coming has managed to put Beanie's transformation into perspective .The album opens with the Heavy D-laced mixtape hit, “Feel It In The Air” where Beans spits classic heat on the subject of distrust, “I read between the lines of your eyes and your brows; your handshake ain’t matching your smile”. Guest appearances, comprise mostly of the usual suspects, State Property: impressive performances by Freeway(except his trademark off-key crooning) & Young Chris (I Can’t Go On This Way), a lousy Peedi and an invisible Twista on the sonically repulsive “Gotta Have It”, the energetic pairing of O & Sparks on the cinematic “Tales of A Hustler II”. But it’s the appearance by a rejuvenated Redman on the high-octane “One Shot Deal” that really stands out. Besides Reggie’s veteran voice , “It’s On” embodies another powerful collabo bundled in Jay-Z’s bow-tie flow(surprisingly lost in the bonus tracks section). Mack Mittens trades rhymes with his mentor affirming his ferocity, “I’m a live-wire…run to hell with gasoline draws on” while Hov spits bragadoccio and masterfully name-drops his trio of Roc favorites: “ Philadelphia Freeway and I’m back without leaving…..If my life is a movie, then Sigel be the sequel, we bring it to your door with Bleek peeking through your peak hole”Although, The B-Coming is dogged by a superfluity of guest features, Beans manages to drown every track with his emphatic flow, taking more than just a fair share of 16’s throughout the album. What really hurts this album is creative compromise for crew loyalty( “Gotta Have It”), and occasional bland production ( “Flatline” ). However, The B.Coming weaves street lamentations with spiritual philosophies ("Lord Have Mercy") , and is easily Beanie Sigel’s most accessible and engraving album till date.
The B.Coming - Beanie Sigel : 4/5
