Black Rob - Game Tested Street Approved

Black Rob, bet  you haven’t heard that name in while, and at a time when hip hop is everything but dead, or at least on life support, everything we think and know about hip hop is being changed, taken for granted and exploited for the worst. No one knows how to rap, its all but pop music, pre-crafted and made specifically for the radio and  the youtube generation that knows nothing about hip hop. Clearly , we don’t need another one hit wonder that has never put in dues, another pop record with accompanying dance or any other fad, we just need good solid music for the streets and real hip hop heads. Lyrics and Beats.

In walks who? Black Rob, like an old vet back to prove he still got it with Game Tested, Street Approved. Black wastes no time showing and proving, from the Albums intro track Welcome Back, he gets in his lane and commands it, not going overboard, but sets a tone and expectation that he easily upholds  for the rest of the album.

With a bunch of solid album cuts, a few underground bangers, BR shows these young cats about Lyricism, flow, delivery and consistency. He even takes time to teach a lesson in versatility with the surprise cut Celebration, which is one of my favorites, because it fits even though unexpected based on the rest of the album. But Black Rob is at his best, when most rappers are at their worst, on slow  and cinematic tracks when every word stands out, as evidenced on tracks like Showin’ Up and Made Me a Man when his story telling and introspection shine.

There are a few misses, a number of the hooks could have been a little stronger and the song Sand to the Beach, could have not been done, sounded stripped down, forced, simple and redundant. It disappointed hugely, because it didn’t go with the rest of the albums flow , but sadly because it talks about getting at women, it’ll probably find its way on radio somehow.

Overall Game Tested Street Approved is a good hip hop album. Street Approved indeed. Good lyrics, good flows, good beats . The production is good. Sonically its Black Rob music, some people make types of songs he makes a brand of music somewhere between Kool G Rap and Slick Rick. Its a very consistent showing for Black Rob it doesn’t really show any growth, new style or technique. There is no experimentation. Its not made with a particular mainstream audience in mind, it doesn’t reach, its just good solid music that speaks for itself.


I give 3 1/2  stars of 6