Hip-Hop Island

Straight from the Cash Money vault, Birdman's latest album Pricele$$ is everything you've already heard from the Lil Wayne music factory. Loads of money, ice gleaming off every visible body part, and of course, tons of spinning shiny rims on flashy rides, sounds like Weezy is cutting some chunky checks for Birdman -- that or he's really nice and the goodies are on loan. And not to worry, Drake gets his part on a few hooks to secure Young Money's financial success. But whose album is this anyways? The cover says Birdman, but Lil Wayne, Drake, T-Pain and even Kevin Rudolf make saving grace appearances drowning out all chirps from the Man.

Birdman admits it's always "Been About Money" which quickly fades right into the ever notorious spending habits of the Cash Money crew on "Money To Blow" and, oh wait, if you ever wanted to know the insider details on their business plan it's all revealed on "Money Machine."

Now that we've covered that, Bird goes on to rap about the things that really matter. From the streets to riding around with suicide doors, Birdman spits his hustle on "Priceless," but it's Weezy's flow over a rocking guitar that really saves the track. Birdman's southern style and twangs surprisingly compliments Wayne's autotune whine. Trip-rock track "I Want It All" featuring Lil Wayne and Kevin Rudolf sounds like Wayne is testing his rock side on Bird's album, and it actually works for the most part.

Sans all the paper chasin' tracks, Bird and Drake are BFFs when it comes to partying in style on "4 My Town (Play Ball)" and "Mo Milly." And what's a party without a banger or two -- the autotune king T-Pain gets it done on "Shinin." And Bird actually manages to shine on "Always Strapped," but not long enough to remember Pricele$$ as an affective album.