Logo

Rating: 4.5/5

In his first release since his 2008 departure from Shady Records; Obie Trice drops his 11 track street LP Special Reserve collaborating exclusively with producer MoSS. This album is far from a lyrical let down. Obie is a lyricist true and through. The album has a timelessness to it where you'd never know these songs were recorded from 1997 - 2000. According to Obie in an online interview, "This is some of the music that signed me to Eminem's label." I see why Eminem was so impressed by the MC. This is definitely the epitome of true Detroit hip-hop. Being a native of the West side of Detroit myself, the moment the intro "Welcome" started, I became instantly home sick and longing for a bag of Better Made Hot potato chips and a Faygo Orange pop....real Detroit ish!

Trust me, you don't have to be a Detroiter to feel this one though. You just have to be a fan of real hip-hop. Special Reserve is short on disappointments, even earning an XL rating from XXL Magazine. Obie truly holds his own; with no features outside of the one with Deuce Wonder on "Roughnecks". One of my favorites on the LP is "Got Hungry". The track was produced by Moss and brilliantly scratched by DJ Grouch. With this one, Trice vividly describes the mentality of a "hungry" Detroiter on his daily grind. Another one of my top picks from the album is "Dope, Jobs, Homeless". Here Obie goes into detail with his experience in being homeless, selling drugs and working the typical job. Another top pick is "Cool Cats" where Obie reminds us that he's a "Cool nigga first/ Grimy nigga later." All of these have a ridiculous flow and grime that the MoSS production compliments so well. No need to go track for track here. Special Reserve is jam packed with 11 tracks of real, anti gimmicky music. I do have to admit though, there is one track I'm partial on, "Jack My Dick". It's a comedic take on being fed up with women and their diseases, attitudes and being told he has to wait so he handles business on his own. Not a bad song at all just an ultimate TMI track for me.

All in all this a great way for Obie to gain some buzz for the upcoming album Bottoms Up. He's definitely got me sold. Put me down for two! Check out the MoSS point of view on working with Obie on this project in the video below. By the way Obie, why did you leave Shady? Hopefully we'll find out on Bottoms Up. Cheers!

Total # of tracks: 11

Total # of tracks worth listening to : 11