Fashawn “Boy Meets World” Review
There couldn’t be a more fitting title for Fashawn’s debut album than Boy Meets World. The phenom from Fresno has been rising to the surface of West Coast hip hop like yeast over the last two years. Not only does Fash have a strong string of mixtapes, but he’s also been featured on a handfull of five star tracks with other artists. With all of the work that he’s put in, it only makes sense for Fashawn to formerly introduce himself to the world with a proper full length release. Backed by Exile’s beautiful and boisterous production, Fashawn gives the world of hip hop one of the most sonically sounding albums of 2009. To those who might feel as though hip hop has been lacking something, this is the breath of fresh air, and the return to youth that you’ve been looking for.
The listener is hit right from the jump on the album’s introduction. Fashawn turns down the way of the streets so that he can pursue his dreams of rhyming; he blasts off like a cannon:
“When I ride the drums I outshine the sun/brainstorm, I provide the floods/I can turn a whole metropolis to a peninsula/Ink pen emperor slang remain infinite/I came to re-arrange the game from all angles/Paid my dues, made my move to Lost Angels/Rock like Aesop, sound like fables/Kerosene flow melt microphone cables.”
Exile’s dope sample of the Black Star classic “Definition” gives Fashawn a canvas to paint with great animosity, “My patterns is unmatched/I leave emcees hunch-backed with one rap, guaranteed no come back/I run laps around em’/roll like Dunlup tires/Made a lotta niggas retire, I be your highness.”
California native Aloe Blacc joins Fashawn on “Hey Young World,” and both emcees provide some wise words for the youth over Exile’s beat filled with melodic piano keys. Exile’s beautiful MPC work makes “Life as a Shorty” one of the most uplifting and joyous songs on Boy Meets World, and Fashawn’s vivid Charles Dickens-like-skills illustrate images of his childhood: “Remember, living in a trailer/Cookin’ dinner out a crock-pot or we would microwave it/basic television, same seven stations on a twelve inch/I had to watch cable at the neighbors/Never knew how broke we was til’ I got older/never knew I had a father til’ he showed up,” Fashawn’s nasty narrative on “The Ecology” paints a picture of his environment like an etch-a-sketch, and Exile’s beat is so sinister that it is sure to leave every hip hop head bobbing in approval.
One of the best emcees in the game right now—Evidence—joins Fashawn on the track “Our Way,” the results are amazing when both emcees describe their way of life in the Sunshine State. “Why” is surely one of the main highlights of Boy Meets World. Exile’s soulful strings and cheerful chops create the perfect platform for Fash to get all of his questions out in the open, and in the interim he pens one of the best lines of the year, “God got like a million names, and if we made in his image does he see it the same?/And if we flesh of his flesh, could he feel my pain?/Tear drops symbolizing the rain.”
On the track “Samsonite Man”, Exile crafts one of the most amazing beats I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing; his perfectly selected soul-filled sample connects with carefully chopped piano keys, and the outcome is jaw dropping, on top of that, Exile’s other partner in crime—Blu—joins Fashawn to spit liquid smooth lines about life on the road. Boy Meets World‘s self-titled track is the defining opus on the album. Fash’s story telling skills come alive yet again much like a phoenix rising from the ashes to navigate stories of growing up in the world; however, the most engaging part of the track is when it breaks down and Fashawn sings, “Swear I can’t figure why my brothers sell Caine, to survive in these times I don’t know who to blame/Could blame the media like, they the reason I might just start a revolution, know the devil recruitin’/They got us oversees, killing people that bleed innocent color as your brother, but we too blind to see.”
Boy Meets World is more than a debut album; it’s a young man’s testament to the trials and tribulations of growing up. Once a year an album comes along that leaves a major impression on me, and this year Boy Meets World is it. Exile steps up to the plate and hits a home run with his epic beats; from beginning to end, this album has some of the best all-around production of the year. Not to mention Fashawn; with efforts like Boy Meets World, he could be well on his way to becoming the future king of the West Coast.
Don’t think you’re doing yourself any favors here if you wanted to avoid the kinda grief you got on your last Fashawn post… following it up by saying “Boy Meets World” has one of the best beats you’ve heard in your entire life and that it’ll likely lead to him reaching the heights of Snoop and the like.
Big words my friend. Big words.
Very true Chris, very true. But here’s how I see it: Fashawn is only 21 years old, and he has only dropped one album. With an album of this quality starting off his career, the sky truly is the limit. Who knows where Fashawn will be in 20 years? or even 10? I still stand by the fact that “Samsonite Man” is easily one of the best beats I’ve ever heard; Exile is a monster.
21? Maaan, by that age Bow Wow had already dropped five albums on the world.
Can’t predict where this dude is going, but I do have to say this is one of the rap records of the year for me, easy.
HAHA yeah, but Bow Wow’s music is garbage.
Watchu know about Bow Wow?
I’d probably put this in my top 10 so far this year. But it’ll be interesting to see how much staying power a relative unknown like Fashawn has. Do you think “Samsonite Man” will be one of the best beats ever 5 months from now? I would say it’s just a matter of recency.
Now how the hell is bow wow’s name even mentioned here? fashawn/exile reps hip hop as an art form. bow wow reps the commercial side. two different sides of the same coin…not wanting to impose on anyone but i know where my love is. ps: and this is definately an amazing album for me. the underground/ commercial debate is played years ago.
Thanks man, you know where I stand.
Nice article and I feel the love in here, but on the strength of your words I went a copped this album and gotta say it is very solid but IMO its just another really good ‘backpacker’ album. You praised this ish like it was ultra-hot and from your hype alone I felt kinda like ‘eh’?
Of course I cannot take anything away from your personal views, but putting in respect to other classics, I’d say that Blu and Exiles Above the Heavens far outshines this joint. And the fact he is 21 means naught. Nas dropped the biblical, eternal, colossal ‘Illmatic’ when he was 20. That is like THE all-time hiphop classic LP with unmatchable beats by hiphop legends.
As far as ‘Samsonite Man’ being one of the best beats you ever heard?? well….No disrespect but I can think of about 50 beats off the dome that blows that away! just listening to the way you hyped this album has me thinking you got a serious lack of hiphop history.
Blu and Exile – *Below the Heavens – my bad.
Damn.
@williest1, I personally have never been a huge fan of Nas. I know I would probably catch a lot of shit for saying that, but I really haven’t. IMO, Ready to Die was a much more solid outing than Illmatic, like I said though, in my opinion, not to mention that Liquid Swords is IMO probably better than Illmatic & Ready to Die. I’m just a person that is fascinated as to how far Hip-Hop has come and the boundaries it’s transcended. I will admit hands down that I like production WAY more now than I did in the 90′s. I absolutely loved Below the Heavens, and it was easily one of my favorite albums of 2007, but IMO Exile’s production is definitely elevated on this album. Ex is the type of guy that makes great producers even better, he elevates the game. I mean, I’m really not trying to sound defensive here, but did I make any allusions to Nas or Illmatic at all? And why does it sound like I lack knowledge in Hip-Hop history? All I’m saying is this is arguably one of the strongest outings this year, not in the history of Hip-Hop.
*No Shots
Word, why cant we ever move past classics like the illmatic in hip hop. sure it was a superb drop by nas, but i do feel that there have been albums just as good if not better r we saying that hip hop has not progressed over nearly 20yrs? i dunno…i think the fault does nt lie in hip hop but in the audience who r stuck in the past. Fashawn’s album is very good i dont think its fair to compare it to albums that drop decades ago after all as the audience we have changed(and mature) over the years, and so has hip hop in my view.
and those rymes nd beats on illmatic was amazing but releasing it today would probably be a bad…bcoz honestly it would sound dated. and no it is not the hip hop bible or covenant just ask yourself does it really cover a wide range of topics? i certainly dont think so today. illmatic is a classic to me becoz it gives one a sense of what alota things were like during the 80s nd 90s. fashawn album is great for me bcoz of the way he writes/rhymes about his own experience without neccesarily glamourizing/’gangstifying’, something which is clearly evident in illmatic nd ready to die.
lol at the comparison to Bow Wow.
I don’t see why Alteez is coming under fire here! I think he reviewed the album well and after all it’s only his personal opinion. I also consider this to be a great album, certainly one of the rap highlights of 2009.
Is it really necessary to compare Boy Meets World to Illmatic? Ofcourse not.
Does Bow Wow even deserve to get a mention in the same breath as Fashawn? Ofcourse not.
And for the record, I also think Samsonite Man in a sick beat.
Cheers
Good article and review. Fashawn is definitely a new face of hip hop. He’s the new generation. IMO, the fact that people comparing him to Nas, one of the greatest of all time, should be a compliment towards Fash. Can I safely say that this album can contend for the modern “Illmatic”? Nas had fresh beats, so does Boy Meets World. Nas is one of the best lyricists, Fashawn is an insane poet. If you hadn’t heard, I strongly suggest you listen to Fash’s remix to Nas’ “Memory Lane” (myspace is where you’ll find it). It’s a perfect example of the two’s poetic similarities; fashawn paints images with both his verses and the remix proves that Fashawn can be considered one of the best up and comers. He’s artistic and real, two characteristics lacking in present-day hip hop. Hopefully he’ll be able to go far and achieve a lot. 599 baby.
The significance of illmatic lies in the corner it represents in hiphop. cats werent rhyming as conversationally complex as nas before illmatic. illmatic was the first album where the best producers were snatched from other crews to provide the background (Premo, Tip, etc) as opposed to only making tracks for their crew. Thats the reason heads have trouble getting passed it…because ever since illmatic, the way albums are structured, the way emcees rhyme completely changed. it was a significant corner in hip hop history.
With that being said, this is a dope review and mentions nothing about illmatic. I agree that Boy Meets World is sensational, honest, sonically impressive, loaded with replay value and meets the standard of quality all debut albums should strive…along with Below The Heavens…along with College Dropout…along with Food & Liquor. Not necessarily better or worse. But different in similarly dope ways. Great review. I enjoyed it.
I have to agree that Bow-Wow’s music is trash. Definately not a fan, but hey that’s just me. Fash is original, upbeat, and brings a style unlike that of any I’ve ever heard. This review is a personal opinion, so I’m confused as to where Chris is getting off acting as if it was wrong to hype up Fash, Boy Meets World does have some incredibly sick beats with some deep lyrics to go with it. Hip hop has changed, gangster rap is out, a thing of the past. If illmatic were to drop today it wouldn’t compare to alot of the “real” music nowadays. Personally, I’ve never been a huge fan of Nas either, but at the end of the still have respect for him. Honestly,Fash & Wiz Khalifa are doing their thing right now, rhymesayers,and even Drake deserve some props too. The face of hip hop has changed, and for the better.