2007 in Review: Let's Get This Paper

What would you expect this album to sound like?

I knew what to expect from Rich Boy's self-titled debut. Sure, it's no good to judge an album by its cover, but, with songs named "Touch That Ass," "Hustla Balla Gangsta Mack," and "Ghetto Rich," the tracklist was pretty damning also. Besides, the dude named himself fucking Rich Boy; it doesn't get more Southern Rap cliché than that. When I finally got around to listening to the album, I realized that I had been depriving myself of the most underrated album of 2007.

Almost the entire album is produced by Atlanta-based producer-of-the-moment Polow da Don, the genius behind Ciara's Promise. Polow's M.O is total bombast. Marching band drums, cinematic orchestras, and brass instruments (yes, the sousaphone has finally found its way into hip-hop) all make frequent appearances on his tracks. In fact, this album seems to exist as much to announce Polow's arrival as it does to showcase Rich Boy's slippery flow.

And flow, he does. Rich Boy raps in a distinctive drawl, indiscriminately melding and reforming consonants to pleasing effect. His serpentine style soothes the ear and takes the edge off of his lame come-ons and empty threats. There is no arguing that there is little in his content to edify the listener, but his songs have their instructive moments. None more than "Let's Get This Paper," the most perfectly realized track on the album.

Producer and rapper are perfectly aligned on the album closer. Against the background of Polow's celestial choir, Rich weaves a yarn of worldly ills. As Rich's description of black ghetto life gets increasingly bleak progressing from incarcerated 15 year-olds to bullshitting clergymen to a decidedly demonic version of the Lord's Prayer, Polow conducts his choir to greater and greater heights of ethereal beauty. This jarring dichotomy works to spectacular effect.



Download:
Rich Boy - Let's Get This Paper
Note: There is a bonus track at the end of this song where Rich Boy claims that "when [he] really makes it rain in the club, [he's] really just trying to reach his niggas that's in the sky." Ignorance is bliss.