Life on D-Block

Landing on Real Talk instead of his usual label Koch, Life on D-Block is Sheek Louch's street album for 2009 and not the proper follow-up to 2008's Silverback Gorilla. By going underground, the rapper doesn't try to challenge The Last Kiss, the high-profile, early 2009 effort from his D-Block brother Jadakiss, but unity given doesn't mean unity returned, as both Jada and Styles P are absent here. As a matter of fact, you won't find any guests on the track list, although Bully lands on two tracks, plus the production is handled almost exclusively by Real Talk's Cozmo. The result is a shorter and very raw alternative to Silverback with Sheek sounding as hungry as a newcomer over properly gutter-flavored backing tracks. "It's On" sets the tone with its proclamation "I don't have to act my age" while the title cut takes it further back, suggesting the rapper is back at square one with its "no pot to piss in" hook. "Time to Get Paid" breaks the chain as an older but not wiser Sheek wonders why he never broke through, while dropping moldy references to Puffy and MTV's canceled show TRL. The great missed opportunity is that it's either Sheek's veteran knowledge, or his debut artist attitude, and no track finds the proper balance between the two. Shame the autobiographical journey the album's title hints at never happens either, but this disjointed street effort offers enough nostalgia and soul-searching to be of interest to the D-Block faithful.