BBC Review
...something of an endurance test.
Adam Webb 2006-08-31
Having taken a bullet to the head at the end of 2005, and with his close friend Proof shot dead earlier this year, you'd think that Obie Trice might have a problem with glamorising firearms. Not a bit of it. Despite a heartfelt speech at the late D12 leader's funeral, gun fetish still plays a big part in Second Round's On Me.
Surprisingly old-fashioned, Trice's second long player is dominated by minor key strings, grey skies and a recurring backdrop of clicks, clacks and bangs. Titles like "Violent", "Snitch" and "Kill Me A Mutha" pretty much tell you what you're gonna get. While excursions into dancehall ("Jamaican Girl") and guest spots from 50 Cent ("Everywhere I Go") and executive producer Eminem ("There They Go") are predictable and plodding.
A few cuts offer respite; the guitar-crunching "Wanna Know", which bounces to the same beat as Jay-Z's "99 Problems", and the gospel-tinged "Cry Now" stand out.But Trice'ssoulless and ploddingvocal style,combined withgenerallyuninspiring instrumentation, make this album something of an endurance test. Not recommended for anyoneotherthanthe most die-hard fan.
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