Artist: Young Money
Album: We Are Young Money
Release Date: 12.21.09

And the award for Wackest Rap Album by a Duo or Group goes to…. congratulations Young Money!! Not only does this album lack any discernable direction, it also fails to establish a distinct identity for any member of this motley crew. The undercard rappers spend most of the album trying to out-rhyme each other for shine with none striking above average. There is also no variation in sound so by album’s end, you STILL won’t be able to distinguish one member from another.

Aside from the album’s first two singles Every Girl and Bedrock, there’s not much to be impressed with on this project. Ms. Parker recalls the curvaceous character from the comedy classic movie Friday but the excessive auto-tune kills the track. In fact most of the auto-tune on the album sounds like Wayne is slumped in a chair, high on a few E-pills, foaming at the mouth and trying to sing at the same time. The rest of the album suggests a normal day for Young Money only involves smoking weed and having sex all day – and when they’re not having sex they’re writing about having sex. Roger That is one of busty beauty Nicki Minaj’s few appearances and is another of the few decent tracks. Wayne is at his best on this project with Steady Mobbin, which features Gucci Mane. The only other track worth a spin is Finale, aptly titled to close out the album. Finale spotlights each member of the group, and for once they sound like a group working together, not against one another.

The We Are Young Money album is a poor representation of many things: the quality of artists signed to Young Money, the amount of time put into this project, and Lil Wayne. Though it’s not a reflection of Wayne as a solo artist (Tha Carter 3 was dope!), it speaks to his level of discretion as a label head and businessman. More importantly, with a title like We Are Young Money, one would naturally expect to get a feel for the group’s members. Don’t get your hopes up – I still don’t know a Tyga from a Gudda Gudda, and can’t tell you anyone else’s name beyond Drake, Wayne and Nicki. In short, FAIL….

Sound-Savvy rates We Are Young Money with 1.5 out of 5 platinum headphones.

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