Pusha T

Let's define what Pusha T's world is: a lyrical thesaurus of cocaine terms, grandiose stories of the drug trade and high calibre production from collaborators like Pharrell Williams and Kanye West. Taking these familiar key elements, Pusha T (one half of hip-hop duo the Clipse) has created an enticing product with solo debut My Name is My Name. Opening with the rapid snare of "King Push," the album goes knee-deep into an 11-track coke diatribe, from the introspective "Hold On" to the menacing "Nosetalgia." A majority of My Name is My Name's sounds are wrapped in minimalistic saran wrap that allows Pusha T's cold delivery to flourish, with more abstract drug references than a paranoid dealer over a tapped phone line. Songs like "Pain" showcase his knack for clever, multi-layered lines, such as, "Pyrex on the platter like hot sex/But my tribe don't quest like love." However, Pusha T is most at home on Pharrell-produced standout "Suicide," which sounds like a throwback to Clipse's classic Hell Hath No Fury. However, the album isn't all spades. "Let Me Love," featuring Kelly Rowland, telling the story of Pusha T's sexual infidelity, feels forced, joining the hallowed ranks of misfired Pusha T love songs. Another issue is that the high ratio of guest-assisted singles to solo tracks gives the feeling that Pusha T is still getting used to the absence of brother and collaborator No Malice. Despite these misgivings, each song is injected with sharp, drug-filled commentaries that deliver, brick-by-brick, a solid foundation for King Push's cocaine castle.