Memphis Bleek Coming Of Age CD

The Debut Album From The Artist Who Describes Himself As 'A New Improved Jay-Z'/.

Personnel includes: Memphis Bleek, Noreaga, Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, Beanie Sigel, Sauce Money, Amil, Ranjahz, Reb (rap vocals); Tai (various instruments).
Producers include: Pat Viala, Swizz Beats, Buckwild, Mr.Fingers, Irv Gotti.
Engineers include: Pat Viala. Joe Quinde, Chico Spades.
Personnel includes: Memphis Bleek, Noreaga, Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, Beanie Sigel, Sauce Money, Amil, Ranjahz, Reb (rap vocals); Tai (various instruments).
Producers include: Pat Viala, Swizz Beats, Buckwild, Mr.Fingers, Irv Gotti.
Engineers include: Pat Viala. Joe Quinde, Chico Spades.
A collaborator on many of Jay-Z's albums (and a fellow native of Brooklyn's Marcy Projects), Memphis Bleek debuted his own solo career with the album Coming of Age, released on his mentor's Roc-A-Fella label, a subsidiary of Def Jam. Bleek's rapping style is a bit more street-level than Jay-Z's, making for a distinctive album that comes as a bit of a surprise given the large amount of samey records that often come from the same hip-hop labels. Besides the obvious cameos -- from Jay-Z, fellow Roc-A-Fella rappers Ja Rule and Beanie Sigel, plus Noreaga and Da Ranjahz -- Memphis Bleek sounds good throughout. For the spotlight single "Memphis Bleek Is...," the rapper recruited Swizz Beatz, the hottest producer in hip-hop. The move pays off, too, as the track is a solid DMX-style shouter, with the obvious catch phrase in the title. Many of the productions were recorded by Roc-A-Fella comrades, and the highlights ("What Do You Think of That," "Murda 4 Life," "You a Thug Nigga") have the same emphasis on bruising urban-funk as most Jay-Z material. Still, Coming of Age is a fine debut that shows Memphis Bleek already leaps and bounds ahead of most rappers. ~ Keith Farley
Jay-Z protege Memphis Bleek doesn't ever shine as bright as his mentor, but manages to make his own sparks, mostly through his potent, energetic delivery. Nearly half of COMING OF AGE finds Bleek rapping with guest MCs, including Noreaga on "Why U Wanna Hate For" and Jay-Z himself on "What U Think of That." It's on this track in particular that Bleek, when compared to his longer-in-the-game guru Jay-Z, reveals his hyper-enthusiasm.
But on tracks like "Stay Alive in N.Y.C." and "You a Thug Nigga," Memphis lays a cinematic, narrative vibe onto Swizz Beats' loops. Memphis is best on solo tracks when he's not trying to outdo another MC, although "N.O.W.," shared with Da Ranjahz, is a stand-out. Producers Swizz Beats and Buckwild deliver familiar digitalized beats influenced by Timbaland's now much-imitated style.

Entertainment Weekly (9/3/99, p.71) - "...[Bleek's] totally thugged-out debut....the ominous inner-city symphonies and raw street beats backing him...[are] of such fresh vintage they don't need age." - Rating: B+
Q (11/99, p.114) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...raps as hard as they come about the ghetto gang world....he does have a strange ear for adornment of basic rhythm-track earquake....Even so, non-thugs need not apply."
Q (11/99, p.114) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...raps as hard as they come about the ghetto gang world....he does have a strange ear for adornment of basic rhythm-track earquake....Even so, non-thugs need not apply."
The Source (9/99, pp.304-6) - 3 mics (out of 5) - "...[proves] that Bleek has indeed stepped out of his mentor's shadow to become his own MC....COMING OF AGE comes off as an extremely promising debut, showcasing Bleek's potential..."
The Source (9/99, pp.304-6) - 3 mics (out of 5) - "...[proves] that Bleek has indeed stepped out of his mentor's shadow to become his own MC....COMING OF AGE comes off as an extremely promising debut, showcasing Bleek's potential..."
Rap Pages (10/99, p.147) - "...street flava and tight hooks....COMING OF AGE and Memph Bleek seem anything but bleak." - Rating: B