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Life & Arts

There's nothing about Remy

Female rapper's debut offers decent tracks, but mostly forgettable

by ELI JABBE
The Daily Cougar

Remy Ma automatically stands out because she's one of the few female hip-hop rappers. Her first appearance in the mainstream was on the remix to "Ante Up," the classic 2000 record by New York duo M.O.P. She was known as Remy Martin back then and didn't become popular until the 2004 hit "Lean Back." 

The single, which was a club hit throughout that summer, was made by Terror Squad, the New York group led by Fat Joe, and the late, great Big Pun. Terror Squad and Remy were nominated for a Grammy for "Lean Back" and since then she's been working on her solo debut and built buzz recently with her appearance on the remix of the Purple Ribbon All-Star's "Kryptonite." 

Remy isn't comparable to somebody "feminine" like Trina in that she doesn't use her looks as her main selling point: Let's just say male fans won't be glued to the television whenever Remy's video comes on, which is what they would do for the latter.

There's Something About Remy (which obviously has an album title and cover inspired by the classic Cameron Diaz movie There's Something About Mary) starts off with an intro from legend Big Pun, who passed away in 2000. On "Pun's Words" the rapper says about Remy, "sometimes you gotta send a woman to do a man's job." This is a lengthy debut (17 tracks), but some songs manage to stand out.

"Tight" is collaboration featuring Fat Joe on the chorus and a crazy beat from 2005 rookies of the year Cool and Dre, who produced hits like The Game's "Hate It or Love It." Remy addresses the doubters, saying, "I came in the game with Pun and they ain't believe me, so I made them wonder like Stevie." She addresses the aforementioned Grammy nod saying, "I'm Grammy-nominated because they liked my performance / But it's just a nomination; don't blow it out of proportion.

" Next is "Whuteva" featuring hit producer Swizz Beatz, who just didn't bring his usual heat. "Conceited Messages" is an answering machine skit that obviously borrows from the intro to "One More Chance" on Biggie's Ready to Die. This skit leads into "Conceited," another much-hyped Remy single produced by Scott Storch. This (and basically every Scott Storch-produced song the last two years) should be called "Lean Back Part 2." Ever since making a big hit using Middle Eastern-style flutes on "Lean Back" Storch has milked that style until it became played out (on 50 Cent's "Candy Shop" "Just a Lil' Bit," and countless other songs).

Storch was once a favorite because he used to make creative beats, but he's driven the "flute-style" beat idea into the ground.

"I'm" features an energetic beat from David Banner (who previously has produced hits like T.I.'s "Rubberband Man"), and Remy brags, "I'm the queen of rap, there is none higher." 

"Thug Love" was hyped because it features an unheard Pun verse. Pun also sings the hook on this Alchemist-produced track.

Remy shows her song-writing skills on "What's Going On," a collaboration with r&b artist Keyshia Cole about abortion. Remy asks herself, "There's a life living in my body, but it don't got to live / it's up to me, but if I keep it what do I have to give? / I'm still young and don't have anything." This song will likely win numerous awards if it's released as a single.

On the last track, "Still," Cool and Dre clock in once more with a piano melody-based beat, where Remy says, "Nothing's changed, I'm still the same."

Remy Ma

There's Something About Remy
Universal
Verdict: This album offers more good songs than bad, but I don't think people will be listening to it several months from now.
 

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