Styles P---Float

Styles P.-Float-E1/Nature Sounds-(2013)

Artist: Styles P.

Album: Float  

Label: Nature Sounds

Producers: Scram Jones

Styles P. has held it down throughout many years as one third of the notorious trio the LOX. He has paid his dues from the Bad Boy days, the Ruff Ryders days and working with D-Block. Styles P. worked his way through the group albums including making a remarkable debut album “Gangsta and a Gentleman”. He now teams up with Grammy award producer Scram Jones with the acclaimed album Float.

            The strength of the album brings the energy up from the start. The intro keeps the heads nodding all day. The album brings a great sound and vibe towards it. This is where Scram Jones up the ante with his production sound and master the soul sample beats. “Shoot You Down” is a prime example of how to take a soulful track to the next level. The guest appearances are well placed. Noreaga makes an appearance worked well with Styles P on “Manson Murder”. The formula of the LOX brethren is Sheek with the high energy, Jadakiss with the witty wordplay and Styles P is a combination of both. “Hater Love” and “Red Eye” are examples of the formula that works all the time with the hard Scram Jones production.

Majority of the album brings a good LOX experience. The minor miscues didn’t work well. “I Need Weed” is the album filler that sounds forgettable; doesn’t bring memories of an experience like the Swizz Beats gem “Good Times” and Screw Y’all” is a good track but not as powerful as the other tracks on the album. Old school influences like “Take it Back” and “Reckless” featuring Wu-Tang’s Raekwon the Chef works with a bouncy beat. The pounding kicks on Take It Back and the scratches on Reckless bring that old feel back with contemporary rhymes that gel together.

            It is an amazing well packaged album from the ghost that keeps the listener floating through the project. The production of Scram Jones fit well with Styles P delivery. There should be another project by the dynamic duo in the works. A few missteps where in play but did not affect the focus of the album. With a strong attempt from the LOX’s story teller spitter, this will bring the momentum up for a forthcoming LOX album. Meanwhile, the listeners will float to a great album!  

            Strong Tracks: “Shoot You Down”, “Hater Love”, “Manson Murder”, “Red Eye”, “Open Up”, “Reckless”, “Bodies in the Basement”, “Take it Back”

            Average Tracks: “Screw Y’all “,

            Weak Tracks:  “I Need Weed”

            Rating:out of