Record review: ‘Trap Or Die 3’
New album proves that Jeezy is still a god in these streets
When Jeezy revealed the title of his seventh album, Trap Or Die 3, the announcement was met with mixed reactions. Those who bemoaned the political tone on Church In These Streets welcomed the return to the trapstar aesthetic Jeezy hasn’t been able to shake. Others wondered if this return to street music was a desperate attempt to reclaim a level of popularity Jeezy hadn’t reached with Church and Seen It All, which presented an artist desperately attempting to evolve.
Trap Or Die 3 (out Oct. 28) delivers enough to satisfy fans of both the old and new Jeezy. The album opens with a batch of street anthems Jeezy is known for crafting. The first two — “In The Air” and “G-Wagon” — even call on longtime collaborator Shawty Redd who produced the single “Trap or Die.” On both songs, Jeezy is playfully boisterous, heralding his return and proclaiming an end to the “watered down shit” he keeps hearing on the radio on “In The Air.” On the last verse of “G-Wagon,” however, it’s clear that Jeezy’s calmer delivery makes a better case for reclaiming his title as Atlanta’s street general.
He doesn’t seem to find that pocket until the Lil Wayne-assisted “Bout That,” which abandons the rowdy pre-game vibe without losing any of the street essence.
Phoned-in appearance by Weezy aside, this song marks the beginning of a cohesive project that strikes a balance between Trap Or Die and Church In These Streets. On the Mike Will Made-It-produced “Recipe,” we finally get the feeling that the position Jeezy hopes to reclaim has never belonged to anyone else. Even the requisite hood love songs — “Like That,” “Sexé (ft. Plies), and “Pretty Diamonds (ft. Chris Brown)” — feel natural.
Trap or Die 3 plays like the soundtrack to the perfect Saturday night, for those who were a 20-something Jeezy fan when the original Trap or Die came out. And despite a few missteps, it proves that Jeezy is still a god in these streets. ★★★☆☆