Review of the album Gangsta Melodiez by Boosie Badazz
I first heard of Boosie Badazz years ago when a sports reporter was interviewing Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch before a game. The reporter inquired about his pregame ritual to which Lynch replied, “I listen to Lil’ Boosie and take a shot or two of Hennessy.” This was around 2010-11 when Lil’ Boosie’s album Incarcerated was released. I decided to find out more about LIl’ Boosie and have been listening to him ever since.
Lil’ Boosie changed his name to Boosie Badazz around 2014 after a string of criminal charges, prison time and more than one murder charge Boosie somehow sidestepped. Boosie also claimed he had grown out of the “Lil'” moniker. Now and again Boosie will show up on my radar and when he releases a new album I always listen. In 2023 Boosie stopped in Killeen, TX to eat at the infamous Tillie Marie’s Soul Food restaurant and it made the news in Belton, where I live.
While I don’t follow Boosie on social media a reel of his pops up when I doom scroll sometimes. Years ago Boosie bought 88 acres in Palmetto, GA (even though he’s from Louisiana), built a lake and stocked it full of giant catfish. Boosie posts videos of himself catching catfish and caught 126 catfish in one day. It seemed like it was a pretty big deal. If I catch more than 3 or 4 fish in one day I go home feeling successful.
Boosie’s catfishing videos, videos of him eating and tipping in restaurants and overall online persona are extremely interesting.
Last month, Boosie Badazz released his 13th solo album. I’ve listened to it 4 or 5 times so far and it’s another solid release that will please Boosie fans. The only issue I have with this album is the order of the songs. More than one of the songs feel out of place or take the listener to an emotional spot too quickly after a machismo quip. I’m not sure this matters as most people aren’t going to listen to the album from front to back like I do. I think listening to the entire album in one sitting better captures what the artist is trying to relay at any given moment.
Also, the photo on the cover doesn’t match what’s inside the album. The photo of Boosie in a cell draped in gold gives one the expectation of hardcore gangster rap and this album is much better than that. A better photo would have been Boosie sitting on his fishing pier writing in a notebook while the sun set behind him. Title the album “Checked In Again” or anything else that gives a summation of his overall mindset as Boosie matures and becomes more thoughtful. Instead of shooting his shot with the title track I’d rather see him embrace what is really on his mind as he sets the record straight by getting right with himself, God and his family.
The new album is called Gangsta Melodiez which is also the first track. This song is a long question that is posed in the “What do you know about gangster melodies? Felonies? Playing basketball in a prison yard without referees?” etc. Boosie insinuates his listener knows little of the gangster ways in a somewhat condescending manner. Towards the end of the song he references notorious DC hitman Wayne Perry as someone who might be capable of understanding his life and / or language. Jay-Z did the same thing in his song Tom Ford in 2013. You’ll be hearing more about Wayne Perry soon.
Boosie is 42 years old now so this hits different than Top 40 hip-hop, 20-something mumble ballads in all the right ways. Each song is subjective and ranges from a few hard nosed gangster cliches to more insightful and emotional pleas. Boosie laments and reflects more than ever with songs like Pac Died Tragedy where he story boards how he felt / where he was when 2Pac was killed. Oh Lord I Have Sinned and Gangsters Up In Heaven get religious and resentful while Jumping Out of a Plane and Down On My Luck admit that the life of a successful rapper has its pitfalls.
Boosie returns to court this month after pleading guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
I want to spend a line expressing my respect for Boosie’s writing here. While he does fall culprit to rhyming a word with the same word at times and songs like Whisper You Some are easy and raunchy, the overall depth of his poetic craft are becoming wiser. It’s obvious he has taken the time to think about his life and what has transpired, regardless of which direction the moral compass pointed at the time. It’s a rare thing in today’s rap game and should be noted.
My favorite song on the album is Granny House. A fun and reflective song about what it was like when he stayed at his Granny’s house when he was young. It reminded me of my own Granny and how it was at her house, but obviously in my own personal way.
Anyhow, if you’re looking for a new album by an old school southern rapper then give this one a listen. You won’t hear these songs on the radio because Boosie is still too badazz for bullshit like that.
Oh and Boosie, I feel you. I also miss my Granny.