Southwest Connection - Third & West Coasts Collide
Review: Tim Smooth - Da Franchise Player
Tim Smooth - Da Franchise Player
Reviewed By: Chopper Kapone
Album Rate: 4 out of 5 Stars

1. I'm Da Shit-Fuck an intro, the album starts off with a pretty dope track, where the King of the punchlines spits some tight shit. "You could search the world, or surf the net/you couldn't find a sicker nigga unless he got a birth defect." B+

2. Behind Mine f/ Rated X-Featuring the now deceased Rated X(r.i.p.), this is one of my favorite joints off the album. Tim rips shit up as usual, and X's gangsta voice don't do nothing but make it even better. The beat fits the song perfectly, reason #2 to buy the album thus far. "Money done married me, we divorce when they bury me". A-

3. What Niggas Do 4 Pussy-Excellent story-telling, so-so beat from Precise. Tim shines, but the beat doesn't move me too much. Nevertheless a decent mellow track with a message, but definitely outshined by the rest of the fire tracks on the album. "You big dummy, this bitch ain't worth a quarter in chinese money." C

4. Freak Nasty- This is about, yeah you guessed, them hoes. Decent club track, and Ice Mike lays down a fire beat. "Can we cut through this propaganda/that monkey look juicy as a tropicana/droolin over my banana" C+

5. Handle Yo Business f/Mystikal-I think this was the only real gimmick that mobo used to sell the album. Mystikal is only doing the hook, probably a sample at that. But fuck it, this was the 2nd single released to radio, and with good cause. Precise put down a wicked track for Tim to flow his ass off over. This is one of my favorites also. "Details at 6:30/Can't let that disturb me/Before I fill em' with more holes than a practice jersey" A

6. KABOOM!!-This was the first single off the album. This basically letting you know who's back. Tim's last solo project was in 94 on Rap-A-Lot, and he spent a couple of years with big boy as Playboy Sha-burnke, ghostwriting for some of the rappers *ahem*mystikal*cough. This was produced by Ice Mike, and it's definitely bangin. "Tim couldn't be seen, If I was wearin fluorescent green, with a 20 inch fro with no sheen." B

7. Olivia f/King Goldie & Nas-T. This was produced by Swift, not a terrible track, but I always skip over it for some reason. Another slower type beat, with some singin bullshit in the background. "Lo and behold, gimme hooka/passin by superfly, feelin like Jimmy Snukka." C-

8. Fonkey Lil Monkey-This was produced by Precise, and the beat is reminiscent of Mytikal's "Here I Go", but with a few more sound effects. Yet another pimpin type song, actually he talkin about stank pussy this time. But that's what Tim is known for. "Put on the quiet storm, went for her underwear/Put on my raincoat in case there was thunder there." C-

9. Da Plan f/G-Slimm-My favorite track off the album. Featuring the late great G-Slimm, this has a good message behind it. Swift lays down a flawless beat to match the lyrics spit by Smooth and Slimm. Text doesn't do that verse any justice, but the album is worth copping for this track alone. A+

10)Is Dat Yo Hoe? f/King Goldie & G-Slimm. *sigh* yet another pussy song, which is getting pretty damn redundant and tiring at this point of the album, regardless of who's doing it. Ice Mike lays down an aight beat, and this King Goldie cat even comes nice, but nothing spectacular. C

11)Gameballa F/Kangol Slimm. This track grew on me. At first listen it sounds like filler, but the beat, Tim, and Kangol mesh together for a perfect track that puts it down for the N.O. Solid A

12)Knee Deep-Produced by Swift, nothing exceptional. Tim's flowin unusually faster than normal, and the outcome isn't pretty. D

13)Tell Me Why F/Nate-N. Ice Mike puts down a nice track with the piano keys in the background. Nate N sings the vocals, this is a nice R.I.P. type song. Too bad it's just under 2 minutes long. "Now you say he goin up yonder/ pastor, preacher, brother, let me remind ya/ I'm the, nigga that was with him, when you told him the doors of hell, was gonna open up wide enough to hold him" B-

14) Ladi Dadi-Even Tim takes a turn doin his own version of the Slick Rick classic, with Roc giving the backdrop. This song rivals even snoops version. B+

This was Tim's first and last album on Mobo Records, which isn't very surprising. Overall, Tim shines throughout all 54 minutes of the album, but some of the tracks were definitely lacking. Look out for more from Tim Smooth, I've been informed he has formed the group "The Pimptations" with fellow West Bank native Jr. Mack. Overall, I'd Give Da Franchise Player a B+, the tight songs definitely make up for the subpar ones.


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