[Review] Jim Jones Presents: DJ Webstar - The Rooftop

Artist: DJ Webstar
Album: The Rooftop
Label: Scrilla Hil
Release Date: 6th October 2009
Guests: Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Styles P, Sin, Ricky Blaze, Young B, Young Deion, Brucie B, DJ Mix, Brittany Taylor, Ron G, Rex & Bradhurst.
Production: DJ Webstar, Remo Green, Da Drizzle.

When it comes to Harlem rappers, most of us will associate them with being at street status, gangster lyrics and lack of mainstream success. This is one of the reasons which DJ Webstar has been shunned by so many Hip Hop listeners - the fact he has released "corny" records in the past, and has set himself a different goal of making music than most of the people around him.

"Chicken Noodle Soup" will probably have stayed with Webstar till the grave, and to be honoust, it was a bit of a novalty record. However, having recently hooked up with Jim Jones, it may be that Webstar is now heading in a new direction.

Afterall, the former Dipset cappo has dropped one of the hottest albums so far in '09, and in terms of consistancy, is competing with Fabolous, Eminem and Jay-Z for album of the year (well until 50 Cent drops his new album next month). Jones has taken Hip Hop by storm in the last three or four years, and has established himself near the top of the Hip Hop ladder, despte being the "quiet one" in the Dipset group.

While Dipset have come to an end with Cam'ron leaving, Jones and Juelz Santana have formed new groups, worked with new artists in the game, and built their own power among the Diplomat ashes, and it seems to be working. NOE has become a recognised voice on The Jim Jones albums and Byrdgang mixtapes, and getting a reputation of being the "lyrical Jay-Z" with his similar vocals to the Brooklyn MC. Then there was the late Stack Bundles who was sadly shot dead a couple of years ago, and Chink Santana.

Now working with Webstar, this is something new for Jones. The album is a new sound - swapping the adrenaline fuelled hits such as 'We Fly High', 'Jackin Swagga From Us', 'Pin The Tail' and much more, to the slower, more basic dance songs. In fact when I first heard songs from the album, I was sure that Ron Browz had something to do with the project, as it had a similar sort of bounce in all of the records. In fact, if you want to know what the sound of this album is like, think of the 'Pop Champaign' tempo and flow. In fact think again - think Ron Browz meets Swizz Beatz.

The first single released was 'Dancing On Me' which featured Jones himself, as well as Juelz Santana. The song is very simple indeed, with lack of strings in the tune, a constant drum loop and a rather repetitive hook from Webstar. In fact, the key to this song was Santana's verse, which as usual, is full of his normal slick lady talk.

I will be real, a lot of the album bored me. There is not a lot of varient within the actual beats, but do not despair, some of the artists Webstar has featured, have decent lyrics which save the day.

'OMG' was a song which stood out, due to its catchy hook, but lacked in other departments. For a club song, it does not have the 'thump' that it should have. I soon began to realise that this was happening in all of the other songs, there is not a reason for a DJ to say: "Hang on, I need to get that Webstar song on next, right after I play 'In Da Club', or some DMX, Flo Rida or Dizzee Rascal." In fact, I dont think he will be getting many requests for much of this either. 'Dancing On Me' might have been played in the last few weeks, but it wont be a classic, and certainly will not be getting plaed in six months.

And if Webstar is not the giant in Hip Hop that he wishes, he then has a song called 'Follow Me On Twitter' which actually sounds like a beg for more followers. The beat was actually OK, but perhaps if he had written a more appropriate song, then it could have been turned into the next single.

Its not all bad news though, I generally liked some of the song content. As a radio DJ myself, there are one or two records that could be played. In fact, most of the album sticks to positive lyrical content, its almost like an album of singles, although more like an album of 'Top 200' chart singles. If your a fan of that layed back, chilled in the club music, then you're probably better off just waiting for the new Ron Browz album whenever he decides to drop it.

So to round it off, I dont want anybody to get the impression that this is a disaster, it is not. But with input from one of the most prominant figures in rap, I was expecting more. Perhaps there could have been more well known collaborations, some of the new artists did 'standard verses' that do not stand out, though I was actually impressed with the features Ricky Blaze had. He that heis knocking on the Hip Hop door for a future entrance. I really wanted to give this album a higher score, but I was just left feeling let down in the end, and a bit disappointed.

4/10