Shawty Lo
Album : Units in the City
Release Date : February 26, 2008
Label : Asylum Records

review :
Shawty Lo’s Units In The City is a cd that will catch a lot of hate from people that haven’t listened to the album ( some of em already reviewed the album !) and for those not willing to remove themselves from hip hop that was released 5,10, 20 years ago. Also people whine and cry about lyrics without realizing that Lo is pretty clever and humorous in his lyrics. We all know he isn’t the greatest rapper but he is far from the worst. He’s straightforward. Also his slow flow and unique voice and delivery make him likable. People are so uptight and hardheaded that they don’t realize there are different types of rappers each does their own thing. Shawty Lo happens to be pretty good at what he does. He’s also a pretty interesting character (check his DVD Real Bankhead Story).

Shawty Lo is one fourth of the highly hated group D4L because they dropped Laffy Taffy and helped create the `snap’ movement. While I’m not a big fan of Laffy Taffy (and Lo wasn’t either !), the D4L album was a sleeper. The album had some bangers on it (minus the awful Laffy Taffy) and managed to go platinum. Down for Life Shawty Lo’s solo song I’m Da Man from that group album gave him many fans because it was undoubtedly the hottest song on the album. Two DJ Scream mixtapes, his "disagreements" with T.I. (the apparent King of The City) and his DVD Real Bankhead Story helped fuel the fire and helped anticipation for his solo album.

Units In The City was pretty highly anticipated however after numerous pushbacks you would think it would lose a little bit of its appeal or flare. After all some of these songs have been out for a while (They Know (please don’t think that was new when it dropped !), Dunn Dunn, Lets Get It, Got Em 4 The L-O, and GA Lotto. But these songs have become anthems instead of becoming old and played. Shawty Lo doesn’t disappoint with the newer songs either.100,000 is flat out dope, Foolish and Easily I Approach are all certified bangers. My favorite songs are Aint Telling You and Cut The Check. Despite popular belief he takes a break from bragging and "flexing" on the songs Feels Good To Be Here, Live My Life, and Count On Me and gets down to earth and reflective. The only wack song is That’s Shawty Lo with its horrible kids sung chorus that makes it instant skip material, but other than that the album is riding.

At just under 55 minutes, Units In the City is highly enjoyable. Shawty Lo does it all by himself with no name producers and features. Say what you want about Shawty Lo he doesn’t try to be something he’s not. He is himself all throughout the album. The cd is pretty good. I’ll probably catch some flack for this review but who cares check my resume’ I know what I’m talking about. I recommend Units In The City, it gets play next to my Lupe Fiasco, Erykah Badu, One Republic, and Outkast cds.

Track listing

1. 100,000
2. They Know (Dey Know)
3. Dunn, Dunn
4. Foolish
5. Let’s Get It - (featuring Yola)
6. Feels Good To Be Here
7. Ain’t Tellin’ You - (featuring Phace Baity)
8. Cut the Check - (featuring Braski/Lil’ Mark)
9. Ga Lotto
10. That’s Shawty Lo
11. Easily I Approach
12. Live My Life - (featuring Kool Ace)
13. Got Em 4 the Lo - (featuring Gucci Mane/Stuntman)
14. Count On Me - (featuring Miss T)
15. We Gon Ride - (featuring G-Child/40/Lil’ Mark/Stuntman/Mook B)

No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.