I didn't get my copy of Street Hop until late, but here is the review. Enjoy!

Gun Harmonizing (feat. Crooked I) - The opening track is a ferocious attack on anybody standing in the way of Royce and the Slaughterhouse gang. The tone of his voice and a freestyle hook of imitation gun sounds makes listeners really feel Royce's fury over the track. Crooked I also joins in on the song, with his tone of voice getting darker and angrier the longer he spits. Nothing but emotion and lyrics on this track. Still, not really the best opener and lacks in substance somewhat, so I'll give it a 4.

Count for Nothing - This track is full of quotables, and finds Royce using the sample from Biggies "10 Crack Commandments" to help fill in the rhyme and plays off of numbers throughout the track. Once again, we get a gritty feel from Royce, which is expected, and will continue to see that through the rest of the album. All in all, great song, but still not quite the height of the album, so a 4.5 rating for this one.

Soldier (feat. Kid Vishis) - The production on this song is crazy. It fits Royce really well and he takes full advantage. With word play and complex word tangling, it makes for a great song. And while not taking away from Kid Vishis at all, Royce probably should have just rode out all three verses because he seemed to be in a zone. Still a great song though and Vishis still did his thing. This gets another 4.5. 

Something 2 Ride 2 (feat. Phonte) - There is no hiding that this is supposed to be the radio-friendly joint, but Nickle still makes sure that he pays attention to the lyrical content. In all honesty, its just like the formula of much of the 90s music; pop beats with street lyrics. Those that aren't paying attention to what is being said, they would probably assume this is something dedicated to the ladies or something of that nature, but is actually pretty far from it. Still, it's still a little too crossover, so a 3.5.

Dinner Time (feat. Busta Rhymes) - Here it is! Royce completely took charge of the song. His flow is ridiculous and the lyrics are just one after the other and don't stop until the beat rides out. It will take a number of listens to catch everything, but everybody should enjoy repeating this song. Busta Rhymes gets into a zone of his own and tries to show out himself (sidenote: Royce seems to bring something out of Busta because on a mixtape they did a track together and had the same result). They really do feast on the industry on this one. No doubt, a 5.

Far Away - This song is definitely unique. Another one of the slower song, but Royce's lyrics and voice are hard. The auto-tune assisted hook probably isn't completely welcomed by most hip hop heads, but Royce addresses this by saying "I'm using the auto-tune cuz I'm clownin'". While probably more shocking during the first listen than anything else, the song is actually still hot and people will enjoy it the more they listen. Royce somehow manages to get over the use of the auto-tune (although it doesn't help), so this gets a 4.25.

The Warriors (feat. Slaughterhouse) - Ya'll already know what to expect when Slaughterhouse gets on the track together. The production on here is crazy once again and the beat is perfect for a group attack. It is also a treat for Slaughterhouse fans because each MC gets two goes, which just adds to the appeal. Royce and Crooked show out on the track and match each other in both tone and lyrics. But don't sleep on the verses by Joell or Budden as all four continue to do what they do best. This is another 5.

New Money - Although the title may suggest that the content in the song is simply about nothing more than riches, it is actually a little deceiving. While there is plenty of bragadoccious lyrics and emphasis on possessions and wealth, Royce also drops some knowledge with rhymes like "Yall ni**as pray that your baby come out havin' good hair/I pray mines have all they toes and fingers", as well as the fallen state of MCing, etc. But then he slips back into the more materialistic, yet still very clever wordsmithing. It gets a 5.

Shake This - The first song on the album that Royce really gets personal and lets the listeners into his life. This is a track that has been floating around for a while, but it's good that it made it's way on the LP. You can definitely hear the pain in Royce's voice and fans get a chance to hear about some of his troubles as well as see his maturation in the third verse. Just short of a 5, it's a 4.75.

Gangsta (feat. Trick Trick) - The title says it all. You get the same feeling and emotion in Royce's voice and puts on the tough-guy persona for this one. Song is solid, but certainly isn't the high point of the album. This is a 3.75.

Mine In Thiz (feat. Mr. Porter) - On this track, Nickle's style is very similar to the one he had when first entering the game with Eminem. Although not completely out there, it is the more comical, more crazy side of Royce where the rhymes are a little more cynical. It is a slight reminder of him and Eminem of Em's "Bad Meets Evil" and songs of that nature. The production is also a little "wacky" but everything seems to come together. Still not really a highlight, however. Only a 3.5.

Street Hop 2010 - This is exactly the type of song you would expect on this album (and not because of the name). The production is very dark, which is right up Royce's alley. He digs deep to come up with some of the hardest rhymes he could in order to make the most imitating track that targets all of the commercial aspects of rap and hip hop. This is a 5.

Thing For Your Girlfriend (feat K-Young) - Although another more laid back and "popish" feel, Royce goes in the opposite direction with they lyrics. With what would basically be considered misogynistic, it is both a more humorous and direct attempt to go against the grain. The song does still have a lot of memorable moments, so it gets a 3.5.

On The Run - Filling in the story line with a skit at the beginning, Royce gets into his storytelling mode. Royce may be one of the, if not the, most slept on storyteller in hip hop. This is demonstrated again on another couple tracks in the rest of the album, but he definitely has a great imagination. This is a crime story about a good guy that got caught up in a bad situation. The only problem with it is that the story seems a little incomplete. It is not until you start the next song that you realize that there is a part 2. It's a great beginning to the story, though, so it gets 4.5.

Murder - Here, Royce puts the whole story together and gets very detailed. This song starts off with him trying to get revenge, but turns into a completely different situation. The last thing we want to do is give it away, but if you are a fan of hip hop storytelling, you will love this one. Even better than the part 1, this song will leave you in suspense, waiting to see what will happen. Another 5.

Bad Boy - We all know the Jamaican influence has been huge on hip hop (which only makes sense since its founder was from Jamaica), so the hook is held down by Jungle Rock Jr. and the track is littered with his ad-libs from beginning to in. Royce also uses a Jamaican accent through the majority of the song. There's nothing wrong with it, but it can take the attention away from the lyrics a little bit. The song is still pretty good. Deserving of a 4.

Part Of Me - If you haven't seen this video yet, it is posted below because this is honestly one of the most creative songs with one of the most twisted endings ever. You may know where it is leading, but once Royce reveals the final part of the story, your mouth may just drop. No story like this anywhere else. Most definitely a 5.

Hood Love - Three great MCs bless the tracks on here. All of them have lines that stand out and it makes for a great song. The production and feel of the song doesn't quite match that of the rest of the album, especially following three heavier songs and the "Bad Boy" track between those. It doesn't quite feel like it wraps the album up, but the track in-and-of itself is still very nice. It's a 4.5.

Overall, pretty much get what you would expect from Royce. There is a lot of anger and emotion as well as narratives, a little comedy, and imagination. There are maybe a few tracks that, while very good, didn't quite fit the rest of the project. That makes the album not quite as easy to listen to, but overall it is a very good effort and is one that any true hip hop fan should add to their collection. Rating of the whole album is a 4.25.

Let me know what you think of the album and/or review. Agreements? Disagreements? Let your opinion be heard by commenting or email at straightouttahiphop@gmail.com. And don't forget to check out the "Part of Me" video below.



Peace.