Webbie Savage Life CD

In the wake of Lil Jon and the explosion of crunk, producer/rapper Trill came onto the scene, first as part of the trio Trillville, and then as label head/producer. In the latter guise, Trill ushers Webbie onto the national stage with SAVAGE LIFE. The young rapper's debut album is a mixture of crunk-style production, gangsta themes, and Dirty South attitude. The complex verbal dance of some rappers is not for Webbie, though. Instead he keeps his flow straightforward and his wordplay concise. SAVAGE LIFE's subject matter will be familiar to anyone who's listened to Trillville or Lil Jon; such perennial themes as women, street life, and the pursuit of the gangsta lifestyle dominate the album. Though there are guest artists aplenty (Mannie Fresh, B.G., and others) the mixture of sparse beats and Webbie's singleminded, insistent rapping style are what made SAVAGE LIFE a success and a representative snapshot of the crunk sound circa 2005.

Webbie places in the Top Ten cockiest Dirty South rappers of all time and in the Top 20 when it comes to filthiness, but his confidence is genuine and his verbal skills are quick and whimsical if not witty in an ashamed-to-admit-it way. He's love 'em or hate 'em, take it or leave it, and according to the man himself, "Full of Dat Shit." If 50 Cent is Playboy, Webbie is Hustler and parents should dig through junior's closet and remove any of his material immediately. If you haven't figured it out already, Savage Life isn't the deepest album and Webbie's rhymes aren't cerebral, but rarely are such degenerate, horny roughhousers able to collect so many distasteful but catchy party tracks on one album. It's overstuffed for sure and best taken in halves, but the hooks are strong and if Webbie's style isn't offensive to you from the get-go, you'll be surprised at how well and how long he can hold your attention. Since "I can't say that I love you/but you ain't just another ho/I kinda got feelings for ya" is the highest accolade he can pay a woman, it's obvious this is this a male thug's album. It's this misogynist, hellbound-for-destruction thug's fiery combination of volatility and recklessness that makes the album tracks fascinating like a traffic accident, while the singles are sleazy party tunes straight from the gutter. The creeping "Gutta Bitch" being the exception, the highlights on the album display just how few new ideas Webbie has -- they're titled "Like That," "Give Me That," and "I Got That" -- but as with any 2 Live Crew album, you don't come here for innovation. The beats are simple and stark, which is a smart move since Webbie is wordy and always jabbering. Separating the "artist" from the "art" is going to be the main issue for anyone with a hint of moral fiber. If you can do that, Savage Life is entertaining and good for a lost weekend or two. [Savage Life was also made available in a clean version, with all explicit material removed.] ~ David Jeffries

Personnel: Webbie (rap vocals); Lil' Boosie, Mannie Fresh, B.G., Trina, Big Head, Bun B (rap vocals).

Recording information: Studio 7303, Houston, TX; Trill, Baton Rouge, LA.