Hip-Hop Island

Welcome to Hustlenomics 101, today we learn to get it done by any means necessary. That pretty much sums up Yung Joc’s latest Hustlenomics (Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South)—lying, cheating, stealing, and genuinely being sly are the building block to any successful hustler. And Joc plays an amazing hustler because he sure did a great job hustling the public into thinking this album would make bank.

Between Joc’s southern drawl and weak rhymes about dealing drugs and being the greatest hustler known to mankind, Hustlenomics is packed with much-needed guest appearances from Hip-Hop’s biggest names Snoop Dogg, Diddy, Jim Jones, The Game and Rick Ross. Joc’s collaborations manage to save this album from itself, yet it’s still a lame collection of get-rich quick anthems.

On the Fixxers produced “Cut Throat” featuring The Game, Jim Jones and Block, Joc and his boys brag about kickin’ it with the greatest gangstas from the east to the west coast. Jones outshines the rest of the players on this track with his solo: “You either slang crack/Or had a wick jump shot/Either or there was no between/It was either be poor/Or move coke and feigns.” On “Getting to da Money,” Joc not so cleverly manages to connect the dots of hustling—it’s all about making money. Really? We had no idea. Thanks, Joc.

“Coffee Shop” has already become a summer favorite because of its playful beat and childish, anthem-like lyrics, but Hustlenomics features jumpin’ club tracks like “BYOB” where Joc rhymes over a Neptunes provided, slinky-like beat, “Gotta make the quota/I mix it with the soda/I chop the dope and sell it/With the rings of the Motorola.” Then there’s the R&B flavored track “Livin’ The Life” where Joc tries to show off his soft side for the ladies as he boasts about his hustler ways and player status.

Giving thanks to his mother on “Momma,” Joc unconvincingly attempts to come off as a newer version of Tupac by showing respect to the game and respect to the woman who made him who he is. Hustlenomics features snippets of greatness which comes mostly from guest artists; on “Brand New,” Snoop’s OG status overshadows Joc’s weak chatter. Joc put this album together with a “go get it” attitude, and unfortunately he fails to actually get anything going. This Bad Boy hustler's ideology lacks a strong thesis as to what really makes a hustler; instead, Hustlenomics is a collaborated effort of weak songs with no vision.

Originally published @ http://allhiphop.com/blogs/reviews/archive/2007/08/27/18484996.aspx