Fifth, last, album for the Philadelphia duo Jeffrey Townes & Will Smith. Running out of ideas and not wanting to completely surrender to the gangsta rap that has been dominating the scene for some years, the duo decides to go more hardcore thematically and approach dance musically. The result may appeal to fans of hip-hop, dance and hardcore, but it cannot satisfy anyone.
Pete Rock produces "Somethin' Like Dis", the only decent cut of these 54 minutes, and that's not a case: simple and cheerful jazzy boom bap rhythm, festive intro, syncopated drum machine, simple hook, festive song corroborated by a rare delivery decent Smith. Song number two is a ballad that immediately kills the record: sort of pop-dance crossover with pop dance / hip dance beats made by brothers Markell and Teddy Riley with vocoder on the hook and a vocal background provided by dudes who are credited as New Jack Swing Productions Crew. Drum machine lean and pounding, Smith's easy delivery in this badly-done commercial track for the club.
"Boom! Shake the Room" is a mediocre, commercial, party tune with simple production by Mr. Lee and cheerful delivery by Smith. Christopher Williams shows up on track four, but is not credited: festive pop rap hook, fresh Prince's cheerful commercial delivery in another commercial slant, with frenetic and simplistic production by Smith himself. The record starts to get ridiculous from "Twinkie Twinkie (I'm Not a Star)", when Jazzy Jeff creates a jazzy boom bap close to hip house. Midway through the record, Pete Rock returns and delivers one of his worst beats ever, yes, a unique case: fast-paced and cheap tense beat, tight drum, squeaky synths close to the hook, nothing works in this beat for the title track.
Smith's delivery doesn't help, he seems to have no personality here: in "Shadow Dreams", there is a simple and cheap rhythm, hip house / hip dance by Hula & K. Fingers, hook dance / hip dance, commercial, for the club, Will Smith's slow syncopated delivery on this lean, pounding, perhaps not too tight drum, mediocre cut. Hula & K. Fingers also produce the next track, which is no better, Smith and Jazzy Jeff still attempt the hip dance / hip dance hit, tight and pounding drum machine, commercial pop delivery, hip dance / rnb chorus, slow, for the club.
Xavier Hargrove makes the hip dance / hip house production of "Ain't No Place Like Home", skinny light thumping syncopated drum machine, light syncopated delivery, pop dance hook, simplistic track. With "I Wanna Rock", the album turns to its natural ending: six minutes, prohibitive cut, lean light slow drum, classic sample, pop chorus, decent rhythm by Jazzy Jeff & Victor Cook, and Smith's acceptable delivery. Dallas Austin provides one of the best rhythms on the record, fresh jazzy boom bap with great jazzy sample and slow pounding drum for "Scream". Closes the remix of "Boom! Shake the Room" made by Jazzy Jeff, Victor Cooke and DJ Jazz (young DJ from Philly), jazzy rhythm better than the original.
In summary, the duo disappoints here, they try the international dance / hip dance / hip house hit with every song and fail to produce the much hoped-for commercial success despite five single extracts, still managing to find a following in the United States, where it's gold certified. Between 1992 and early 1993, "the Fresh Prince of Bel Air" series also arrived in Europe, where it was a big success: this explains the gold record in Spain.
Rating: 4/10.
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