Album Review – Paul Wall: Heart Of A Champion

By Arasia

What’s good about declaring yourself the “People’s Champ” is that you only have to satisfy one group—your fans. So any commentary from a critic is a simple technicality. And Paul Wall is ignoring his critics and giving his fans what they want with Heart of a Champion.

Without question, there is something about Paul Wall that keeps his fans coming back. Rather it’s his undeniable grind, the simplicity in his rhymes, or his representation of the South, his presence is felt. He does service those that relate to him and I understand what he provides. And I don’t have any qualms about it but what I do have an issue with is that he doesn’t do it well.

Every album doesn’t need a grandiose opening but they can set the tone, which can be a good thing. And this album needed that element because it is all over the place. The cohesiveness never truly starts and you will be left searching for a compass to help you navigate.

On the album opener “Take Notes,” Wall spits for a full three minutes–no interruption–with ease over a beat that doesn’t steal any shine from him. His delivery is on point but loses out because the lyrics are just not up to par. Lyrics/statements like: “I am flyer than a mosquito” and  “If you got a problem with me getting my paper, then hit me on my website at www.kissmyass.com” makes me call his lyrical offering into question. Had he come up with a witty approach way to these thoughts, this track could’ve had a chance.

Unfortunately, the next three tracks don’t pick up the momentum of this album either as they sound lackadasical in effort. “Showin Skillz” featuring Lil Keke, “I’m On Patron,” and “Round Here” featuring Chamillionaire all have lyrics that lack any type of inventiveness and beats that are translucent, which ultimately becomes a theme throughout this album.

But just when you think the light is about to completely go out, it ignites a spark and “Imma Get It” featuring Bun B and Kid Sister comes on. Sonically, this track does what it is supposed to do—BANGS. Travis Barker of Blink 182 fame produced this track and captured the vigor and presence that will get it spins in the club, the ride, or wherever you decide to play it. It has a universal sound but Bun B and Kid Sister outshine Wall on his own track. They sound hungry, charismatic, and believable while Wall remains stuck.

As quickly as it looks up, it goes right back down. “Stay Iced Up” featuring C. Stone and Johnny Dang along with “My City” featuring Dallas Blocker and Yo Gotti sound as if someone found them in a time capsule from six years ago. They are stale and drenched in mediocrity with weak bars and need a creative resurrection—–stat. And once again, Paul Wall and friends offer nothing witty or even entertaining in regards to what they are spitting.
Paul Wall attempts to save this album by bringing in the big guns—Raekwon and Jay Electronica along with Yelawolf on the track “Live It.” But even they can’t save the album or this track as the beat sounds boring and is a sure indication that Barker needs more training in the Hip Hop production department. The content goes a little deeper but your ignore the context because the beat is such a hindrance.

I respect the fact that PW took a chance with Beanz N Kornbread and Travis Barker behind the boards but it just didn’t work. Majority of the beats sound like a bad rip of the sound that has the South at the forefront of Hip Hop. I also get that Paul Wall’s lyrics aren’t decorated in mind-bending metaphors and similes and he more than likely won’t have too much substance to his rhymes. But again, that isn’t the problem. The issue is the fact that he isn’t navigating his lane as well as he should. If you are going to be a rapper that has very simplistic rhyme patterns, make sure you step your creative game up with those rhyme patterns. Every rapper doesn’t need to have deep meaningful lyrics because that isn’t everyone’s lane. But if you are going to take that route, make it funny, entertaining, or offer something that will cause it to stand out—in a good way. Unfortunately, Paul didn’t do that causing his lyrics to run together and lose steam. However, he is the people’s champ and they seem to be okay with it so that makes my words a technicality, right?