Shawnna Album: “Block Music [PA]”

I decided to buy this CD because I heard some of her as a guest on other male rappers' albums. But, after listening to this CD, I found that Shawnna actually is a pretty good rapper herself. She has a good flow and her beats are pretty darn catchy. Some of her tracks sound as if Dr. Dre influenced it, and a few others are quite apparent that the crunk sounds had impact. She also has a nice mix of guests on her various tracks, but not too much to the point where you start feeling as if the CD wasn't her own. It's nice to have a CD from a female rapper without feeling like you lose any street cred or hard-core image. Although Shawnna is far from the old shcool likes of Salt 'N Pepa and other popular female rap stars, she displays quite a knack for rapping and finding catchy beats on this album.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM HER.

I love the CD, I can listen to it from beginning to end. Then she is doing the most important thing keeping it real. There are a lot of people that can't keep it real. Female Rappers moving up in the game.

"Gettin' Some" had to be one of the most explicit songs to garner radio play in recent years; it was also backed by one of the most infectious beats I've ever heard. While minimalistic, the draw of "Gettin' Some" cannot be ignored; it's repetitiveness is actually a positive in this situation. While the production on the track may not be the most complex, or multi-fauceted you'll listen to, you can't deny how catchy it is. While the original was definitely a selling point for this album, the best track found within is the remix to the original - featuring guest spots from Ludacris, Too Short, Pharrell, and Lil' Wayne, all of whom drop exceptionally tight verses.

Those two tracks are the strongest found on the LP, but that by no means insinuates that the rest of this album is cannon-fodder. While most associate Shawnna with the South because of her (former) affiliate with Disturbing Tha Peace, she's actually from the Chi-Town, and her Mid-West influences shine through brightly on this release. Both of her tracks dedicated to her home town of Chicago are soulful numbers, something commonly associate with the Chi. In tha Chi is an exceptional track featuring well-known 'Ye collaborator, Syleena Johnson, while Chicago is a dope track featuring Shawnna's father, as well as Malik Yuself.

Other tracks are sure to get the clubs bumping, such as Can't Do It Like Me, the title-track, and Damn featuring Field Mob member Smoke. All of those tracks have dope production, supplied with some pretty hot rhymes from Shawnna. Unfortunately, not every track is as tight as the aforementioned tracks; negatives come in the former of the dissapointing DTP posse cut, featuring Luda and Bobby Valentino, Take It Slow. The message is decent, but the track never really gets off the ground, which is definitely a shame. With the exception of Gettin' Some, Shawnna's sexual side is also a bit of a damper; tracks like Lil Daddy What's Good and Slide In The Back are nothing more than the typical Lil Kim rip-off.

While most female emcees have a difficult time commanding an audience, fortunately, Shawnna doesn't have this problem. While the album isn't anything revolutionary, it never tries to be. This album is more than worth picking up for the dope tracks included, and it's only a shame that she won't have Def Jam or DTP backing her on her next solo release.

this is some hip-hop at its best!shawnna has what it takes to get flowin on these tracks!!highly recommended stuff here!check it out and please your ears!you will have a good time!