Angie Martinez has it, uses it
Whether you’re a fan of Angie Martinez or not, prepare to get knocked back by her second album, Animal House.
Being overly critical will only make you appreciate her work more.
It’s no secret that she’s not, lyrically, the hottest female rapper on the mic, but she does her thing anyway.
She knows what it takes to make a mediocre album into quality entertainment – and that’s finding what suits you and running with it.
For Martinez that means using only tracks with airtight production, teaming up with your industry friends and talking about what you know.
Martinez deserves credit for not taking the easy route with her lyrics – only talking about clothes, cars, sex and violence.
She keeps it real with her rhymes about hanging with the girls, matching wits with the fellas and, of course, partying.
She even talks about keeping a positive mindset through the negativity she’s experienced.
The first single, “If I Could Go,” is a Latin-kissed track featuring Lil’ Mo. Label mate and Jay-Z-sound-alike Sacario is also on the track.
His and Angie’s flows complement each other as they daydream about heading for a secret location. Lil’ Mo riffs and ad-libs her heart out on the hook, but the spoken part sounds a little awkward.
The skits really disrupt the momentum of the album and should have been left off the disc.
The best songs on the project are “We Can Get It On” with N.O.R.E. and “What’s That Sound” featuring Missy Elliot.
Martinez and N.O.R.E. team up to make “We Can Get It On,” a Latin pride jam hot enough to start riots at New York City’s Puerto Rican Day parade.
On “What’s That Sound” Martinez shoots a rapid-fire flow – a style that definitely fits her.
The beat has an undeniable melody with potential to get the party or strip club jumping. Elliot drops in for a quick verse, but Martinez outshines her easily.
Petey Pablo guests on another standout track, “Waitin’ On.” Martinez kicks the Dirty South flow with ease, and Petey holds it down with his signature hollering on the hook.
The Verdict: It’s a good album, but skip the skits. Listen closely to the first track, it’ll prepare you for what Martinez is serving up.
She sounds decent through most of the album, but truly shines while spitting her faster flows.
