After months and months of delays Pharrell's maiden voyage into solo artistry hit the seas a few weeks back and unfortunates it is a rocky voyage. The CD is 50% rap, 50% R&B and 100% disappointing. Actually that may be a bit much because there are a few stand out tracks but overall it is mired in mediocrocy and a lack of soul.
The disc starts srong, giving the listener hope that this 16 track disc will have been worth the wait. The lead cut is the lead single "can I have it like that." When that song burst onto radios at the end of last year it burned up urban radio. The call and response hook featuring the lovely Gwen Stefani was simple and catchy and the production was on point. The second track "How does it feel" also captures the crisp production most people have come to expect from Pharrell. The only other track where the production really shines "Baby" is unfortunately ruined by terribly weak falsetto singing and an uninspired cameo by Nelly. Which brings me to my next issue with this disc: With all this industry muscle Pharrell has acquired by being half of the monster producing team The Neptunes, you'd think he could bring out the big guns talent wise when it comes to guest appearances. Instead we get Snoop Dogg, Nelly and slim Thug. Even the Jay-Z verse can't save the mess that is "Young Girl" and one would think the pairing of Pharrell and Kanye West would give us a blockbuster of astronomical proportions but instead Pharrell uses a throw-away beat, sings off key and Kanye West phones it in with one of his now trademark weak verses bragging about amazing he is.
Pharrell has talent. He has been writing songs and making hits for over a decade now and is responsible for jump starting careers. Recently he has been making waves as a rapper, outshinging Snoop dogg on "drop it like its hot" but here there is almost nothing worthwhile. The whole thing feels thrown together which makes no sense due to the 8 months of pushbacks. I love when he fronts N.E.R.D and i can even listen to him singing hooks on all those number 1 singles he produced but here he just comes off as a Michael Jackson rip-off. We know Pharrell doesn't sell drugs or shoot guns yet he tries his hand at gangsta posturing more than once on this disc. I had high hopes for this thing but i guess i want him to stick to the rock style rap singing of N.E.R.D. Do yourself a favor and download "Can I have it like that" "How does it feel" and "raspy shit" and then passing on the rest of this thing.
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