Rocko is no newcomer to the industry. He started Rocky Road Records back in 2002 and recently put out two mixtapes with the most recent being 2007’s Swag Season. This mixtape helped make himself more familiar as a rapper in and around Atlanta. He’s now brought his swag to the frontlines with his first studio album Self-Made (Island Def Jam). Many of the tracks are typical bass heavy beats which can easily be enjoyed in your vehicle; however the lyrics are very questionable.
The first single off the album which is probably one of the better songs is “Umma Do Me.” The track is very catchy and the horn blaring beat easily helped it become a hit in the club circuit. Yet with lyrics like “I talk to the car and the car talk back / Then I step up out the car and the car back back,” it makes you feel as though you’ve fallen victim to listening to another rapper boast about how fresh his car, clothes, women and jewelry are.
Unfortunately, the buck doesn’t stop there. “Old Skool” is a dedication to how fly his old school car fleet is and that it costs more than your new school collection. He refers to many of the whips in second person and just like any great car sales person, he gives you full details from the rims, to the body to the gut of the car.
Another track that has ringtone potential is “Tomorrow.” The Mannie Fresh sounding single takes a break from over indulging us with details about his cars, but he does talk about spending dollars today but getting it back tomorrow; buying the neck piece today and getting the watch tomorrow and the like.
One other fairly decent track on the album which probably has slightly more substance than the other thirteen is “Hustle Fo” featuring Lloyd. He talks about hustling to be able to live good and take care of his family which is the only clear attempt to go left of the materialistic zone that he calls home.
Overall, the beats on the album are pretty tough, just don’t expect deliberation over the content to follow suit. Rocko himself did a pretty good job of summarizing the album by stating “Ain’t even know how to rap and bought a studio;” proving that if you come with good beats and a lot of swag, you too can jump on the trap rapper bandwagon.
Rocko
“Umma Do Me”
Rocko Featuring Lloyd
“Hustle Fo”
