"I Woke Up Feelin' Trap or Die 2 ish..." TRAP OR DIE 2 REVIEW

It was almost 5 years ago, when ATL's own Young Jeezy alongside DJ Drama dropped what many still to this day consider a classic. Trap Or Die was the magnum opus of a mixtape that both introduced Young Jeezy to a much wider audience and undeniably created the platform for his proper entrance with Thug Motivation 101.


"Last time I checked, I was the man on these streets..."


Now 5 years later, and stamped as one of hip-hop's most prolific artists, along with having a much anticipated Thug Motivation 103 on the way, Jeezy alongside this time Don Cannon, returns back to the trap with Trap or Die 2.

Trap or Die 2 features Jeezy and Don Cannon providing nothing but hit after hit. For the first time in the series, Trap Or Die 2 boosts nothing but original tracks over original sampled beats which sets the standard at an all time high compared to the first.

The 21 track 103 prelude include guest appearances outside of the CTE camp, such as Trick Daddy, Scarface, Birdman, Bun B, Bigga Rankins, Plies, and Clipse.

Tracks like "My Camaro" "Greatest Trapper Alive" "Hood Politics" are instant favorites but it is the Clipse featured "ILL'in" that clearly becomes the highlight.

Pusha dominates the track single handily, taking the beat hostage, "Tell Hova don't pass the crown so soon, Unless he got a crown for every writer in the room/There's too many spirits on these ghostwritten tunes, So you can't crown the heir until you seance the room ..." (The infamous Hov line). The trio ends the track leaving an eagerness by listeners for another collaboration.

What makes this sequel special is the fact that Jeezy displays tremendous growth lyrically compared to the predecessor. Fans will not be dissapointed one bit. What is noteworthy is that Don Cannon and Jeezy flipped the script on this tape and the ending result, remarkable. Instead of the usual and plain format of mixtapes, which often consists of the expected freestyles over other artists' instrumentals, Don Cannon & Jeezy took the different route and provided a street album. As stated earlier, original verses over original beats.

Although fans of the first tape, including DJ Drama, may feel a certain way about comparing the two (because of Trap Or Die's cultural/musical impact and significance during its time) Trap Or Die 2 raised the bar just as the first, proving that time is of the essence. As much as we would have loved to hear Jeezy kill it over a Young Money Instrumental or maybe yet even Hov's "Politics As Usual", original tracks provide more classics in an artists' musical catalog.

Overall, Jeezy provides what many of his fans have appreciated from him for years, spitting that real sh*t on wax. Compared to part one, the realest MC has matured both lyrically and mentally. If TM 103 sounds much like Trap or Die 2 then another classic isn't far from reach.

"Trap or Die 2 Mothafu÷kers!!!"

4.5/5.0

Bonus:

ILL'in (Featuring Clipse) (Produced by The Alchemist) - Young Jeezy