Lil Boosie

<i>Da Beginning</i>

BY Cam LindsayPublished Apr 9, 2008

I can't say I've been there all along championing Lil Boosie, but the "Bad Azz" from Baton Rouge has been catching my eye and ear more and more lately with some charitable actions within his community, a fuckin' cool throwback fade, that unmistakable nasally delivery, and potential that just can't seem to be capped.

The latest Fader cover star's new mix-tape, Da Beginning, isn't the career-launching mark many are waiting for him to make, but it shows plenty of artistic growth and (gulp) maturity. With production handled by the Trill fam's in-house knob-twiddler BJ, Boosie's fed plenty of Dirty South bounce, but more interestingly, his prowess comes alive spitting over the soft rock glide of "Tee Lady" and some irrepressible blues riffing on "Doing This 4 U."

Making his statement on the opener, "Undeniable Talent," he's more convincing on its successor, "Dirty World," which moves along to a tender piano roll, while he goes off about school shootings and pointless warring in full seriousness without getting political on our asses. Additionally, the aforementioned "Doing This 4 U" is a grateful ode to the fans he travels and works so hard to keep, something you rarely get from such an ego-centric world like hip-hop.

That said, he breaks out of this mold to throw out some threats on the fired up "Buss Ya Head Open" and cruises for victims in the ruff-necked "Cuz Imma Gangsta," but if he can't balance both sides then how are we supposed to expect him to be true to himself?

Lil Boosie Da Beginning

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