This is the soundtrack of the movie "State Property", a hood movie released in 2002, produced by Dame Dash and Phyllis Cedar and distributed by Lions Gate Films. The film tells the story of a gang of thugs who want to get out of ghetto poverty through drug dealing and rap in Philadelphia, and the album replicates the plot.
The interpreters of both works of art are almost identical: the protagonist of the film is Dwight "Beanie Sigel" Grant (Beans), the other main performers are Kenneth "Omillio Sparks" Johnson (Baby Boy), Malik "Memphis Bleek" Cox (Blizz), who is not part of the group and does not participate in the record, Omar "Oschino" Alwan aka Oschino Vasquez (D-Nice), Christopher "Young Chris" Ries (Ricky), Hanif "Young Neef" Muhammad aka Neef Buck (Troy), group affiliates Rell (Butter), Amil (Boss' Assassin) and DJ Clue (Boss Informant), and Roc-A-Fella bosses Dame Dash (Boss Dame) and Jay-Z (Untouchable J), who plays Beans' rival in the film.
Leslie "Freeway" Pridgen and Pedro "Peedi Crakk" Zayas are the only two members of the group not featured in the film. The film, inspired by the real Philadelphia criminal organization and filmed in some of the city's most infamous neighborhoods, was panned by critics, 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and 9% on Metacritic. The soundtrack is taken from the film, which is made by the homonymous group founded by Jay-Z and announced in his album "The Blueprint" (2001), composed of the aforementioned Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Crakk, Oschino Vasquez, Omiilio Sparks and the duo Young Gunz, composed of Young Chris and Neef Buck.
The soundtrack is at the same time also the group's debut album. A third of the disc is produced by Just Blaze, the other beatmakers are Kanye West, N.O. Joe, Rick Rock, Ruggedness, Zukhan, Qu'ran, D.R. Period, T.T. & Mo Betta and Big Demi. The disc features few group songs and is instead the union of many tracks made by one or two artists. Beanie Sigel is the leader of the group and the major presence on the disc, as well as being the main protagonist of the film, you can also see him in the center of the cover while the other guys are in the background: from left to right Omillio Sparks, Young Chris, Oschino Vasquez, Neef Buck and Freeway. Although he's actually a member of the group, Peedi Crakk is not present in either the film or the soundtrack. Beanie Sigel appears nine times, succeeded by Sparks (7), Freeway (6), Oschino (5), Young Chris (4) and Neef Buck, who is featured on only one song. Sigel and Freeway are the only ones to get a solo cut as well, while childhood friends Omillio Sparks and Oschino get their own track as an unofficial duo inside State Property. Roc-A-Fella member Rell is the only guest on the record.
It's not as bad or catastrophic as the harshest critics say and it's an entertaining listen at times even if it's far from being a good record. When you put together some of Philadelphia's top rappers like Beanie Sigel & Freeway on the same track you can't go wrong, although Just Blaze tries by sending both into the club with the opening track "Roc the Mic", single that flies in the charts and becomes one of the best-selling rap songs of the season. All the guys are trying hard, unfortunately, they are not favored by a selection of rhythms that is questionable, too bouncy and confusing. The other beats provided by Just Blaze are enjoyable and accessible and always meet Sigel, so they are never wasted, while Kanye West produces "Got Nowhere", almost automatically the best soundscape of the soundtrack, on which Freeway and Beanie Sigel perform, resulting in a must-listen.
Sigel and Freeway confirm their certainties also in their solo tracks, with the former lighting up "No Glory" over a lively jazz production by N.O. Joe, and with the latter carving out his own space in "International Hustler", making a hardcore track on a robust beat by DR Period. Young Chris, Oschino and Sparks can't particularly stand out in this hour, despite being employed often, drowned by forgettable performances and bad hooks: the unofficial duo Oschino & Sparks fail to push "Sing My Song" and the other tracks it is featured on, and even the two tracks in a row with Sigel & Sparks only work when there's a strong beat to support their rapping.
Released by Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam, the album reaches the top of the rap chart, the top 15 of the pop chart and is one of the best-selling hip-hop records of 2002, garnering a lukewarm response from critics. The disc is quite digestible and the many strong moments are counterbalanced by several low points, Jay-Z thinks of these guys for the future of Roc-A-Fella in view of his upcoming retirement, but due to several problems in the following years, this legacy will never happen.
Rating: 6/10.
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