Lost and Found

by

Will Smith

Edit

Easily the best thing that Will has done since he was known as The Fresh Prince. Some of the reviewers state that you aren't a true rap fan if you say this a good album, but that is just silly - I listen to Public Enemy, Busta Rhymes, The Roots, Eminem and tons of underground rap and this album is easily just as good - better than the trash 50 Cent put out last month (worst sophmore album of all time??) and easily better than Encore. A harder sound, more like building on the sound of Code Red. Jazzy Jeff is a refreshing sound on several of these tracks. Highly recommended - for fans of mainstraim rap (eminem, 50 cent) as well as underground (Qwel, Sage Francis). Will appeals to everyone.

Will Smith isn't a bad rapper and honestly, in the rap industry he is a legend. He has been a rapper a long time, yet in this day and age, his rap is considered by many to be outdated. Party rap and children-friendly rap has taken a backseat to gangsta-rap, crunk, dirty-south, and so forth. The fact that Will Smith has released a party-rap album with a top ten single via "Switch", and the fact that the album has earned him gold certification, isn't bad. After all, Smith has been out of the game since his BORN TO REIGN came out in 2002 and only went gold. The only way Smith would truly be as successful as his earlier albums would be if he completely reinvented himself, and that isn't going to happen. And if he did, would it be worth it?

Anyways, LOST & FOUND is merely a good album. Good, in my book is average. There is no stellar material on here to make this any better than an average album. Too much filler material in some instances makes it only average. "Switch" was an excellent choice for a first single, and I'll have to admit, it is definitely catchy. "Tell Me Why" feat. Mary J. Blige is suprisingly believable considering the fact that this is a party rap album. I think it was risky to put such a deep song feat. hip-hop soul chanteuse and critical darling Mary J. Blige on a party album, but yet it works out to better the album by showing that Will Smith can pull off a serious rhyme. "Switch...R&B REmix" feat. Robin Thicke is also a positive for the album. Those are the true highlights, but there are other very enjoyble songs including "Here He Comes"(corny but fun), "Party Starter" (cornier but fun), "Mr. Niceguy", "Pump Ya Brakes" feat. Snoop Dogg, and "Loretta".

If you are into party rap, then I recommend this album to you. If your kids are into rap, and you don't want them to go to rap way of gangsta, crunk, dirty south, then this is the album for your kids. It has a few references, but very little, subtle cursing. Good album, 3 stars.